- Home
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
The white light surrounded her, exuding from the ground within the circle. The mist rose towards the sky to form a billowing cloud. From within the largest stone a ball of blue light steadily made its way towards her.Late one evening, a car accident leaves Tory - a daughter of a prominent history professor - stranded near a ring of stones in the English countryside. She resolves to spend the night at the sacred site; a black belt in Tae-kwon-do, Tory holds little fear for her safety...But across the vortex of time and space, she is being watched. The Merlin knows of the legend Tory is to become, and through the wisdom of the Old Ones, teleports her back to the Dark Age.Prince Maelgwyn of Gwynedd and his band of knights stumble across this mysterious woman dressed in jeans and a leather jacket. Believing she is the witch of the stones, they threaten to kill her. Rising to her own defence, Tory challenges the Prince's champion to unarmed combat. With her superior fighting skill she easily overwhelms the warrior, winning the admiration of the Prince, and changing the course of British history forever. Views: 112
The graffiti spread through London that summer like
wildfire. Its population carried on with life as usual in one of the richest
cities on the planet. But beneath the surface there is change. Men and women are
going missing without trace. What has the old African preacher seen emerging
from undergrowth near the river? Is this the essence of evil encountered long
ago? Ben Ashton is an investigative writer. When he's commissioned to find out
who is responsible for the 'Vampire Sharkz' graffiti he thinks his luck has
changed for the better. Little does he guess how wrong he is?
***
From Publishers Weekly
Clark's efforts at an original variation on the vampire
theme yield a novel whose plot is farfetched even by the standards of
supernatural fiction. Journalist Ben Ashton is researching the origins of a
graffiti tag scrawled around London warning of "Vampire Sharkz" when he
encounters a real vampire in the person of unrequited flame April Connor. April
is one of a rapidly growing pack of vampirized mortals doing the bidding of
Edshu, an African trickster god who, for reasons murkily elaborated, is using
London, and his antagonism of Ben specifically, as a means of testing the moral
mettle of all humanity. Much mayhem ensues before Ben discovers that the only
effective way to eliminate the vampire scourge is through the power of positive
thinking. Clark (Darkness Demands) keeps the action brisk and the gore
pulsing, but the novel's events are so contrived that they have to be explained
for the reader's benefit in windy oratory passages from an eccentric displaced
African preacher, who's the only one who can make any sense out of them. This is
passable pulp, but anemic fare as far as vampire fiction goes.
***
From Booklist
Here's a treat for horror fans. When mysterious graffiti
starts appearing all over London, magazine writer Ben Ashton is hired to write a
story about the person behind it. Little does Ben know that the graffiti
("Vampire Sharkz. They're coming to get you") isn't just pointless vandalism.
Like Anne Rice in her early vampire novels, Clark really gets under the skin of
the modern vampire; rarely has the psychological trauma of transforming from
mortal to immortal been rendered so movingly, and rarely has the vampire
bloodlust been so vividly described. Clark, familiar to some fans of horror
fiction but largely unknown by everybody else, deserves a much wider audience.
This thrilling, terrifying, and deeply affecting story might just be the one
that captures it for him.
***
From Kirkus Reviews
A rapacious breed of vampire inundates London under the
direction of an African trickster god in this horrorfest set against an urban
backdrop.
Some smart-alecky graffiti artist is marking London with
the creepy message, "Vampire Sharkz: They're coming to get you," and bright
young writer Ben Ashton's editor at glossy Click This magazine gives him 11 days
to get to the bottom of what seems to be a hot story. His research takes Ben to
visit the apparently nutty old African preacher Elmo Kigoma, who's seated in a
boat perched on top of a pole along the Thames. The end of the world is coming,
Elmo warns passersby: From his vantage point during the night, he has witnessed
raving gangs of savage creatures emerging from the river, attacking bikers and
pedestrians at random, sucking their blood greedily, then regurgitating their
feast back into the victims, who in turn become vampires. Ben doesn't believe a
word of it… until he sees for himself. Elmo tells him the vampires are acting on
the mischievous prodding of African trickster god Edshu, who tests humans
periodically by pitting them against each other. When Ben hears of the attack on
his old friend (and unrequited love) April Connor, who then disappears, he moves
into action. He enlists the help of both Elmo and April's fiance, wealthy
shipping scion Trajan, to identify the vampires and locate the island in the
Thames where they find shelter. Clark dramatizes April's ghastly plight on the
vampire island; eventually, she and another bloodsucker decide they have to
return to London proper and spread the news of the amazing benefits of drinking
blood. Descriptions of ripping flesh and dripping liquids become repetitive,
though Elmo's resolution of the vampire crisis through New Age-y visualization
techniques is clever, even endearing.
Plenty of gore, but pretty routine.
***
"Without doubt the best horror author the UK can
currently claim as its own."
-SFX
"Simon Clark has what it takes to be another Stephen
King."
-Hellnotes Views: 112
Three years after discovering that her biological parents are convicted serial killers, Olivia finally has her life back, and it’s better than ever. Views: 112
Shyla fears for her life when the King unexpectedly summons her, but the true reason proves to be even more terrifying... The nail-biting finale of the award-winning fantasy series by New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder. 'You can join me or you can die.'Hard on the heels of trouble in Zirdai city, Shyla Sun-Kissed and Rendor are ordered to report to the King of Koraha - a summons that is deadly to ignore. The King holds the key to Koraha's existence, but a formidable new enemy threatens Koraha's very survival and the King desperately needs Shyla and Rendor's help.Wielding a terrifying and unknown magical power that can convert opponents into devoted soldiers, the mysterious army is hellbent on usurping the crown. Shyla and Rendor are tasked with discovering who in the seven hells these insurgents are. And what their real endgame is.Trekking through the punishing conditions across the searing surface of... Views: 112
Are they the hunters…or hell’s hunted?With the troubling aftermath of Project Demon Hunters’ first investigation still heavy on his mind, Michael Covenant awaits Audrey Barrett’s arrival in Tucson to film the second episode. Except she never shows up.Michael's sense of foreboding is confirmed when his psychic gift pinpoints the exact spot outside the airport terminal where her panic and terror have left an indelible impression. Someone has taken her against her will, and it’s anyone’s guess where she is now.Audrey can’t believe her eyes. Her kidnapper is a demon wearing a dead man’s face — a demon furious that she and Michael closed the portal he’d been using as a direct connection to hell…a demon who’ll stop at nothing to take his revenge.Like a homing beacon, Audrey’s very soul reaches out for the man who broke her trust but still holds her heart — Michael, who fears that even if he reaches her in time, their fight with this particular demon has only just begun…. psychic mind reader mentalist demon devil possession haunting ghost spirit haunted house horror demonic summoning reality television cable show ghosthunter Southern California Glendora Pasadena witch wiccan protection spell Views: 112
Book 3. Having voyaged to the Otherworld in his quest to find himself, the young wizard must face fire in many different forms and deal with the possibility of losing his own magical power. Views: 112
Fans of Stick Dog and My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish will LOL over Suzanne Selfors's hilarious illustrated series about the growing pains of blended families and the secret rivalry of pets."A delightfully fun read that will leave you in stitches!"—Caldecott Medalist Dan SantatWedgie LOVES the new micro-pig next door. And she LOVES him! They both like to go for walks and roll in smelly things. They are going to be in the school pet parade together. They are best friends.But Gizmo knows the truth. The pig is Wedgie's new sidekick. Super Wedgie and the Toof have teamed up to stop Gizmo from taking over the world.But they will not win! Gizmo is an evil genius. He is smarter than most comic book villains. And more powerful than even Darth Vader! He ordered a flying machine online and he will use it to set free all the guinea pigs at the pet parade.Then they will crush both dog and pig and make all humans feel their wrath.... Views: 112
How do you fight fire without fire? When a freak storm uncovers the entrance to a mysterious underground chamber, Ivy and Martin expect to find treasure. But what they discover is even more valuable: a barrow full of sleeping spriggans, magically preserved for centuries. With the vengeful piskey queen Betony determined to capture Ivy and her followers, the secret hideaway could be key to both their peoples' survival. But the piskeys and spriggans are ancient enemies, and when Ivy tries to make peace her own followers threaten to turn against her. Plagued by treachery, betrayal and desertion on every side, Ivy must find a way to unite the magical folk of Cornwall—or doom herself, Martin and everyone she loves to death at Betony's hand. Yet without the legendary fire-wielding power that marks a true piskey queen, can Ivy convince her people to believe? Views: 112
He's a billionaire in hiding. She's a yoga instructor with an ex-boyfriend problem. When they attend a gala together and Tawny's ex is there, the next thing she knows, she's engaged to the handsome Tyler - who the children's wing is named after. Tawny Loveless loves her beach yoga, her Women's Beach Club, and fruity drinks. Oh, and dogs. So it's no wonder when a golden retriever brings her face-to-face with a man she's seen plenty of times on the beach. He's hot, with a dazzling smile - but seemingly without a job. Tyler Rigby doesn't need to work. As the reknowned "Poker King," the man has more money than he knows what to do with. So he donates here and there around the island and then he has to attend the galas honoring him. Tawny's caught his eye, and he asks her to one such party. No strings attached, he says. That is until her ex-boyfriend is there and she's on the verge of a panic attack. Then there are way more than... Views: 112
