Edge by Koji Suzuki

 

(hb; 2012. Translated from the Japanese into English by Camellia Nieh and Jonathan Lloyd-Davies.)

From the inside flap

“When a team of American scientists tests a new computer hardware by calculating the value of Pi into the deep decimals, the figures begin to repeat a pattern where there ought to be none. After older machines of certified reliability give the same result. A seemingly irrational fear sets in. It’s mathematically untenable—unless the physical constants that undergird our universe have altered, ever so slightly.

“Suddenly, on the west coat of the U.S., people start disappearing without a trace. Police and family—when it isn’t the whole family that vanished—don’t have a clue as to why or how. In Japan, too, similar incidents occur, and they seem to have something to do with geological fault lines.

“TV director Hashiba who has latched onto the story, at first in a flippant manner, employing a psychic to investigate the mystery, is forced to recalibrate when the disappearances increase in scale and frequency. What lurks behind them, far from being supernatural, threatens to be natural—a profound disturbance in being itself. Joining him on his quest for the devastating answer is his lover Saeko, whose millionaire publisher father cryptically left her behind when she was still young.

“Eerie developments build up to a mind trip of a crescendo in this tale of quantum horror.”

 

Review

Set in 2012, Edge is a complex, hybrid genre (science fiction, mystery, with a touch of existential horror) work with equally multilayered characters who sometimes, in good way, surprise, just like the well-foreshadowed twists in this cosmic-horrific and quiet-apocalypse read.  While the science fact, spouted in brief intervals throughout Edge, is a bit deep, prolonged and possibly dizzying for the casual reader, it elevates the story and deepens the sorrow, horror, and dark delight experienced by the characters (and hopefully readers). Like Suzuki’s Ringu (English translation: Ring), Edge possesses the same chilly, steady-build pacing mood and atmosphere of the Ringu. It, like Ringu, also is a landmark work, one that haunts (at least this reader) while it informs and entertains. Worth owning, this.

Rogues of Edomia by J.M. Kind

 

(pb; 2023: third novel in the Edomia series; aka Rogues of Edomia: Tales from the Edomian Mythos (Book 3))

From the back cover

“Forced against his will to take a risky job with scant hope of reward, diminutive swindler Drogn the Magnificent has little to rely on save his own uniquely twisted set of wits. Drawing on a shallow wellspring of dubious talent, the fast-talking dwarf must find a way to convince a brazen would-be queen to give up her most cherished ambitions: It’s either that or Drogn’s head when Svrosh, the ruthless Serpent-Prince, demands his pound of flesh.

“Architect of the coup that marked the falloff Taugwadeth, the traitorous Stethine k’ Flerion is holed up with her henchmen in the fortress-like Library of Rvnshrah. Now Drogn and his companions must find a way to infiltrate the citadel, discover the location of a priceless book of ancient lore, and get close enough to Stethine to administer a dose of numbing spider venom, the better to deliver her into the vile Prince-Regent’s clutches. Along with Vasto the giant (Svrosh’s musclebound enforcer), stolid farmboy Bymno, two-headed scholar-bird Klevix-Wrder, and lovely outworlder Gemma (a refugee from Medieval Scotland where she was once accused of witchcraft), Drogn will face more than his share of hardships and horrors, wonders, perils, and galling inconvenience in pursuit of liberty, respect, and his own dreamed-of life of ease.”

Review

Rogues, a relatively short and light Edomia novel, is an entertaining, erudite and straightforward tale, a side-work that serves as a bridge to the forthcoming Empires of Edomia—Rogues maintains the themes, engaging characters and feel of the previous Edomia books while being less plot- and character-intricate (it helps that the first two books did the heavy lifting of being full-on world-builders), making Rogues lighter on its story-telling feet. Excellent series for those who like fantasy genre brains, brawn, humor and a touch of sex, a book worth owning and revisiting (re-reading) at a later date, when all the books are published.

The Successful Novelist by David Morrell

 

(pb; 2008: nonfiction)

From the back cover

“David Morrell, bestselling author of First Blood, The Brotherhood of the Rose and The Fifth Profession, distlls four decades of writing experience and publishing experience into this single masterwork of advice and instruction for fiction writers looking to make it big in the publishing world.

“With advice proven to create successful novels, Morrell teaches you everything you need to know about: Plot, Character, Research, Structure, Viewpoint, Description, Dialogue, The business of publishing, and much more.”

 

Review

Successful is one of the best books I’ve read on novel writing, branding one’s work,  juggling life and work, and the financial end of one’s work after it’s reached a multimedia platform-level. Whether or not your writing habits and notions gel with Morrell’s, Successful is a worthwhile (and excellent) read for the author’s hard-won common sense/dealing-with-rights-and-finances. Great writer’s resource book, one of my all-time favorites in the business-of-writing genre.

Killing Moon by Jo Nesbø

 

(hb; 2022: thirteenth book in the Harry Hole series. Translated from the Norwegian by Seán Kinsella)

From the inside flap

“Two young women are missing, and the only connection is a party they both attended, hosted by a notorious real-estate magnate. When one of the women is found murdered, the police discover an unusual signature left by the killer, giving them reason to suspect he will strike again.

“They’re facing a killer unlike any other. And exposing the killer calls for a detective like no other. But the legendary Harry Hole is gone—fired from the force, drinking himself to oblivion in Los Angeles. It seems that nothing can entice him back to Oslo. Until the woman who saved Harry’s life is put in grave danger, and he has no choice but to return to the city that haunts him and track down the murderer.

“Catching him will push Harry to the limit. He’ll need to bring together a misfit team of former operatives to prevent another killing. But as the evidence mounts, it becomes clear that there is more to the case than meets the eye.”

 

Review

Killing Moon, like Nesbø’s previous Harry Hole novels, is a near-impossible-to-set-down thriller, with effectively foreshadowed twists and shocks, and an ending that introduces a new (possible) deadly player in Hole’s life, a dark-hearted somebody who may pop up in future Hole books—not the first time Nesbø has done this.

Many of Hole’s Oslo-based (ex-)lovers, friends, and frenemies are, again, essential characters in Killing’s wild-ride storyline, spiced with plenty of red herrings (some easily spotted, others not). Part of the attraction of Nesbø’s Hole series is the author’s willingness to irrevocably turn his characters’ worlds upside down and the bordering-on-quirky inclusion of science-based elements as well as a love of music (especially rock ‘n’ roll, particularly David Bowie, Keith Richards, and even, in Katrine Bratt’s case, death metal [hello, early-in-their-career Carcass!]).

This is one of my favorite reads this year, one worth seeking out. Looking forward to the next Hole thriller.

Angel's Inferno by William Hjortsberg

 

(pb; 2018: sequel to Falling Angel)

From the back cover

“Private investigator Harry Angel is in a jam. Handcuffed in his apartment along with the cops and a corpse, he stands accused of violently murdering three people. The good news is he knows who did it. But in order to exonerate himself, Harry must first make his escape—and figure out his own identity.

“With the authorities hot on his heels, Harry travels from New York and Boston to Paris and the Vatican in search of an elusive stage magician. Eventually piecing together his mysterious past, he descends into the dark world of the occult. And very soon he will have vengeance upon the devil himself.”

 

Review

Angel’s Inferno picks up in the same scene where its prequel, Falling Angel, ends—if you’ve read Falling Angel, or seen its resulting 1987 film Angel Heart, you know what that scene looks like. After Angel escapes from police custody, accused of murders he may or may not have committed, he goes down another dark, increasingly ambitious rabbit hole littered with more death, voodoo, music, regret, and famous, real-life personalities (Ada “Bricktop” Smith, William S. Burroughs, Kenny Clarke, others).This time out, though, Angel’s head isn’t the only one on the main chopping block.

Angel’s is an excellent, more-intense-than-its-source-novel read, one with—like its prequel—full of effectively foreshadowed, character-based twists and not-quite-revelations. Great book, one of my favorite reads this year.

The Avengers: Too Many Targets by John Peel and Dave Rogers

 

(pb; 1998)

From the back cover

“‘Mrs. Peel, we’re needed’

“The Avengers are back! British super-spies John Steed and Emma Peel return in a brand-new adventure that pits them against the bizarre and sinister machinations of a criminal genius.

“A murderer double agent is afoot in London, and the evidence points to John Steed. To clear his name and catch the killer, the dapper Steed must reunite with his former partner, the brilliant and formidable Emma Peel.

“The twisting trail leads them to old allies and adversaries, a berserk gorilla, and a graveyard full of homicidal angels. In short, the Avengers are on the case again—and anything less than justice simply wouldn’t be sporting.”

 

Review

Avengers is an excellent book follow-up to The Avengers television series (ABC and Associated British Productions, 1961-69) and The New Avengers (ITV, 1976-77), with all the wit, set piece action, overall humor and eccentricity of its source series and, beyond that, brings together four of John Steed’s partners: doctor David Keel, the mega-popular Emma Peel, Cathy Gale (now an expert in gorilla behavior), and his current partner, martial artist Tara King. Their interactions reflect the feel of the show, as do the initially quirky villains and their plots, some of whom have tangled with Steed and company before. Avengers is a fun, charming read, worth purchasing if you’re a fan of the shows and characters. 

Destination: Universe! by A.E. van Vogt

 

(pb; 1953: science fiction story anthology)

From the back cover

“Meet a terrifying creature on a remote Pacific Island whose soul is atomic fire.

“Observe the first man on Venus encounter a can of paint—a maddening test of his capacities for survival.

“Read the bizarre correspondence between two interstellar pen pals.

“Watch an artificial, manlike monster turn against its captors and threaten a cosmic empire.

“Follow a lovely saleswoman of uncanny gadgets on a tour through new vistas of time and space.”

 

Overall review

The stories within this collection range from solid to excellent, a superior-to-other-anthologies book that’s worth owning, if you’re a science fiction and turn-on-a-sentence-or-two writing.

 

Review, story by story

“Far Centaurus”: A four-man crew on a five-hundred-year mission encounter unexpected death, and a daunting alien encounter—are they saved or doomed by their intentions, and do the aliens, as well as a fractured crewmate (Jim Renfrew) have their best interests at heart?

This is one my all-time favorite science fiction tales, with initially-solid-then-great-written characters and motives, and a memorable twist, that thrilled me not only as a reader and a writer.

 

“The Monster”: On an environmentally devastated planet, a team of dismayed alien scientists encounter a willful, wily human. Solid story.

 

“Dormant”: A resurrected “monster” awakens to find itself being investigated then attacked by militaristic humans—with serious repercussions for all involved. Good, creature-interesting read.

 

“The Enchanted Village”: The only survivor (Jenner) of a ship-crash on desolate, hot Mars stumbles onto a strangely pristine village that poses challenges and possibilities for survival for the desperate astronaut. Intriguing, fun, unpredictable tale, one of my favorites in Destination.

 

“A Can of Paint”: A thematic-and-structural-sequel-of-sorts to “The Enchanted Village”, “Can” tells of  the Venusian adventures of an astronaut (Kilgour), the first man to successfully land on Venus—not unlike Jenner’s relationship with Mars in “Enchanted”.

Kilgour finds a small cube outside his ship, and once he starts understanding it, tries to find a way out of his possibly fatal dilemma. Humorously light, tightly written and edited (while maintaining a boisterous spirit) and memorable. This, too, is one of my favorite entries in Destination.

 

“Defence”: Old machinery within a “dead planet” turns on, setting off a chain of chaotic events. Excellent, sharp two-page story.

 

“The Rulers”: At a Washington dinner party, a guest (Dr. Latham) recounts how he dealt with a thirteen-member, h-drug-pushing cabal. What is h-drug? Read and find out! Good, fun stuff.

 

“Dear Pen Pal”: A criminal alien (Skander, on planet Aurigae II) becomes pen pals with a wary Earthling—resulting in possibly twisty, dangerous communications. Solid, word-economical, fun.

 

“The Sound”: Yevds (alien spies), intent on defeating humans, kidnap and try to manipulate a boy (Diddy) into helping them with their espionage. Good, offbeat story.

 

“The Search”: Ralph Carson Drake, Quik-Rite Company stationary salesman, wakes in the hospital; it seems he has amnesia regarding his activities for the past two weeks. When he retraces his steps leading up to them, wild truths and characters gradually reveal themselves—and himself. Excellent speculative fiction piece.

Remina by Junji Ito

 

(hb; 2005: manga)

From the back cover

“An unknown planet emerges from inside a wormhole, and its discoverer, Dr. Oguro, christens the body ‘Remina’ after his own daughter. His finding is met with great fanfare, and Remina herself rises to fame. However, the object picks up speed as it moves along its curious course, eliminating planets and stars one after another, until finally Earth itself faces extinction.  . . Is the girl Remina the true cause of the catastrophe?”

 

Review

This one-book for-mature-readers horrific science fiction manga series is excellent, gripping, its intense characters (and their actions) and storyline made more so by its stellar and disturbing artwork that highlights the escalating madness of humanity as they howl with madness, even as the devouring planet’s relentless, coming-ever-closer stare promises undeniable doom. Great read, worth owning.

Paprika by Yasutaka Tsutsui

 

(pb; 1993)

From the back cover

“When the prototype models for a dream-invading device go missing at the Institute for Psychic Research, employees soon learn that someone is using these new machines to drive them all insane. Brilliant psychotherapist Atsuko Chiba—whose alter ego is a dream detective named Paprika—realizes she is in danger. She must venture into the dream world in order to fight her mysterious opponents. Soon nightmares begin to leak into daily life and the borderline between dream and reality grows unclear. The future of the waking world is at stake.”

 

Review

Paprika is an excellent hybrid science fiction/thriller/horror detective story that blends bleeding-edge technology, eroticism, corporate and scientific malfeasance, religious fervor, hope and darker aspects of human nature. Initially mostly waking-world realistic in its storytelling Paprika gradually, entertainingly slips further into dreason (“dream reason”), sleeping nightmare situations seamlessly mixing with waking-world reality, until it becomes a phantasmagoric-monster orgiastic horror novel, with characters worth rooting for or hissing at. Worth owning, this, especially for fans of Christopher Nolan's 2010 film Inception.

#

The resulting 2006 fêted Japanese anime feature of the same name was directed and co-scripted by Satoshi Kon. Kon’s fellow screenwriters: source book-author Yasutaka Tsutsui and Seishi Minakami.

The Elementals by Michael McDowell

 

(pb; 1981)

From the back cover

“After a bizarre and disturbing incident at the funeral of matriarch Marian Savage, the McCray and Savage families look forward to a restful and relaxing summer at Beldame, on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, where three Victorian houses rise above the shimmering beach. Two of the houses are habitable, while the third is slowly and mysteriously being buried beneath an enormous dune of blindingly white sand. But though long uninhabited, the third house is not empty. Inside, something deadly lies in wait. Something that has terrified Dauphin Savage and Luker McCray since they were boys, and which still haunts their nightmares. Something horrific that may be responsible for several and unexplained deaths earlier—and now is ready to kill again.”

 

Review

 Elementals is a masterful, immediately immersive novel, one whose pacing, thick-with-thematic-atmosphere and striking, sometimes fun characters makes it stand out in the best way possible in a genre glutted with less-than-stellar/standard spookhouse works. (It’s a thin line between lag-time writing in serious need of editing and well-foreshadowed/low-key events and chills, and McDowell’s best work falls on the side of the latter approach).

If it ends in a non-surprising, quiet way—it has character-based twists, so I wouldn’t call it predictable—it’s because I got to know the characters and locations well enough to get a sense of their personalities. This is one of my all-time favorite spookhouse reads, one worth owning and keeping beyond its initial reading.

The Folks by Ray Garton

 

(hb; 2001: novella. Published by Cemetery Dance Publications.)

From the inside flap

“Welcome to Pinecrest, an isolated mountain village halfway up rural Mt. Crag. . . a place of natural beauty and solitude. . . a place where village life has remained unchanged for decades. . . but also a place where dead bodies have a strange way of showing up every couple of years. . . ravaged, mutilated bodies.”

 

Review

Told from the point of view of polite, non-religious twenty-one-year-old Andy Sayers, whose fire-scarred face scares many of his fellow Pinecrest residents, Folks details what happens when a mysterious benefactor offers Sayers a scholarship to the nearby College of Hand of God, and he’s seduced at a Halloween party by a mysterious, wealthy Amanda Bollinger whose familial, vine-covered house is hidden within neighboring Mt. Crag, hotbed of unyielding Christianity (and the aforementioned college).

Folks’s hybrid horror tropes and set-up may likely be familiar to those longtime genre readers but that’s a moot in point in this Old School 1980s, 130-page novella, given Garton’s excellent, tightly edited play-with-cliches writing, quick-but-effective characterization, and equally effective pacing. For Garton fans, the author’s fondness for well-written (brief in Folks) sex scenes and effective/cringe-worthy ickiness may further sell the tale to them. This is a great, hourlong read, with a finish that brings to mind the ending of King Diamond’s Conspiracy (1989) album. Folks is worth owning if the above description appeals to you.