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Touch the Dark
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*Amazon: £1.64
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 Customer Reviews
got hooked, 20 Oct 2008
oh WOW this book was great just glad what i got it i also got the other 2 as i have 3 to read one after the other i could not put them down and now i am waiting for the next one they are full of action and you get thinking that you are really living as cassie if you get in to your books like me and can get the pictures in you head as you read. you really get in to it a great book and left me wanting more not looking for all her books
Great Start to a Wonderful Series, 12 Oct 2008
Loved it! Wonderful characters, a swift moving plot, a deft sense of humour and a surprising ending--this book had it all. And unlike many series I've read, this one keeps getting better with each book. Claimed by Shadow, the sequel, is also a very strong title, and Embrace the Night, the third book in the series, is simply brilliant. The three work together to tell one complex and fascinating tale. Curse the Dawn, the fourth book, is out in April and I can't wait! If you're looking for something a bit different with a stronger plotline and better characterization than normal for genre fiction, this is it!
I really wanted to say I liked this book, 11 Oct 2008
This is the sort of book that anyone who reads Laurel K. Hamilton or Kim Harrison will probably end up reading.
It's set in an underground of vampires and werewolves that exists in parralel to the human world, and sees a female heroine do battle against the powers that be in that world.
One of my biggest grumbles about Hamilton and Harrison is the fact that there's too much 'love interest' and too little story in their books. That's why I turned to this book. I hoped that I'd get more story. I can't work out quite how wrong I was yet.
Don't get me wrong, the lead protagonist isn't jumping into bed with people, but the story (which sees her try and work out who's killing the Vampire Council in America and how to stop him) feels a little clunky all the same.
I don't know about you, but when I tell a story I try to weave the back story into the main text fairly seamlessly. I don't want people getting confused about what's going on, but I don't want the back story to get in the way of the story's flow either.
That didn't happen here. Every so often she'd stop to lay this whole exposition about the past on you.
This was ok at first, but it got on my nerves after a while. If you can get your head round that irritating tendency the author has, you might enjoy this book. If you can't you should go elsewhere.
I would read the sequel, 02 Sep 2008
Deliciously gory and sexy. I liked the well-established supernatural world that Chance created and her exploration of ideas. The magic involved was unusual (in that I hadn't come across it quite like that in a novel before) and the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading until the end, though I don't think I would read it again. The story is a series of detailed, lengthy scenes that takes place over a fairly short space of time and I did find the sometimes slow pace of events irritating at times, but I would buy and read the sequel for more.
Fascinating... Enjoyable, 27 Jul 2008
First book I have read by Karen Chance, and found it enjoyable.
I liked Cassie, at times she could be infuriating... but thats normal, charactors can't always do what you want them to do.
I liked the fact that we got loads more magical creatures like demons and mages, and can't wait to read the 2nd in this series.
I definately recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, vampire, werewolf type fiction.
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Customer Reviews
got hooked, 20 Oct 2008
oh WOW this book was great just glad what i got it i also got the other 2 as i have 3 to read one after the other i could not put them down and now i am waiting for the next one they are full of action and you get thinking that you are really living as cassie if you get in to your books like me and can get the pictures in you head as you read. you really get in to it a great book and left me wanting more not looking for all her books
Great Start to a Wonderful Series, 12 Oct 2008
Loved it! Wonderful characters, a swift moving plot, a deft sense of humour and a surprising ending--this book had it all. And unlike many series I've read, this one keeps getting better with each book. Claimed by Shadow, the sequel, is also a very strong title, and Embrace the Night, the third book in the series, is simply brilliant. The three work together to tell one complex and fascinating tale. Curse the Dawn, the fourth book, is out in April and I can't wait! If you're looking for something a bit different with a stronger plotline and better characterization than normal for genre fiction, this is it!
I really wanted to say I liked this book, 11 Oct 2008
This is the sort of book that anyone who reads Laurel K. Hamilton or Kim Harrison will probably end up reading.
It's set in an underground of vampires and werewolves that exists in parralel to the human world, and sees a female heroine do battle against the powers that be in that world.
One of my biggest grumbles about Hamilton and Harrison is the fact that there's too much 'love interest' and too little story in their books. That's why I turned to this book. I hoped that I'd get more story. I can't work out quite how wrong I was yet.
Don't get me wrong, the lead protagonist isn't jumping into bed with people, but the story (which sees her try and work out who's killing the Vampire Council in America and how to stop him) feels a little clunky all the same.
I don't know about you, but when I tell a story I try to weave the back story into the main text fairly seamlessly. I don't want people getting confused about what's going on, but I don't want the back story to get in the way of the story's flow either.
That didn't happen here. Every so often she'd stop to lay this whole exposition about the past on you.
This was ok at first, but it got on my nerves after a while. If you can get your head round that irritating tendency the author has, you might enjoy this book. If you can't you should go elsewhere.
I would read the sequel, 02 Sep 2008
Deliciously gory and sexy. I liked the well-established supernatural world that Chance created and her exploration of ideas. The magic involved was unusual (in that I hadn't come across it quite like that in a novel before) and the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading until the end, though I don't think I would read it again. The story is a series of detailed, lengthy scenes that takes place over a fairly short space of time and I did find the sometimes slow pace of events irritating at times, but I would buy and read the sequel for more.
Fascinating... Enjoyable, 27 Jul 2008
First book I have read by Karen Chance, and found it enjoyable.
I liked Cassie, at times she could be infuriating... but thats normal, charactors can't always do what you want them to do.
I liked the fact that we got loads more magical creatures like demons and mages, and can't wait to read the 2nd in this series.
I definately recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, vampire, werewolf type fiction.
got it, 20 Nov 2008
just got it will start reading soon :)
i got into a few lines and its quite addictive, niceee :D
Pretty good, 28 Sep 2008
I bought this recently, having never read (but often heard about) Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos.
I'm only about a third of the way through, but it seems pretty good (although the author does seem to have swallowed a thesaurus - and a particularly gibbous and over-nourished one at that, most likely recovered from some Stygian Pit that the mortal mind was not meant to know of). Plus, he does have some rather - ahem - "old fashioned" attitudes to race and class that can seem rather jarring to a modern reader.
This particular edition also does, unfortunately, have a number of typos in the text, some of which ("Necroriomicon", "clay" instead of "day", and "Gthulhu") suggest to me that the publishers had the original text scanned and digitised, but imperfectly. (I'm keeping a note of them as I find them, and will inform the publishers when I've finished the book).
Still, all said, I don't regret getting the book, and if you don't mind those faults, I'd certainly recommend this to anyone interested in the genera.
Just as I remembered!!, 14 Sep 2008
Excellent, worth the wait!! I remember reading this as a child, it's just as good as I remembered. Real Classic stuff!!
I recommend it to anyone looking for some good old creepy stories.
JOIN THE DARKSIDE!!!!, 19 Jul 2008
What can i say that already hasn't been said.
This is truly awesome, a complete collection of lovecraft in a well bound casebound book with faux Leather cover, in black.
All your favorites are there. If you're a real lovecraft fan this is deffinately for you.
And for a very reasanoble price.
100% recommended, buy now & join us on a truly Dark venture into the world of the one & the only H.P.lovecraft
Beautifully produced edition, but -2 stars for horrible tacky price sticker on the back, 28 Jun 2008
Finally a beautifully produced and complete edition of H.P. Lovecraft's works, but whoever at Gollancz/Orion decided to spoil each book with a tacky price sticker - not even put on straight - that leaves a sticky residue when removed (and believe me, it's tenacious) should be punished by the elder gods, or at least someone senior at the publishers.
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The Living Dead
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Stephen KingJoe HillGeorge R. R. MartinClive BarkerNeil GaimanLaurell K. HamiltonJoe R. LansdalePoppy Z. BriteHarlan EllisonRobert SilverbergKelly LinkSusan Palwick;
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Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £6.79
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Customer Reviews
got hooked, 20 Oct 2008
oh WOW this book was great just glad what i got it i also got the other 2 as i have 3 to read one after the other i could not put them down and now i am waiting for the next one they are full of action and you get thinking that you are really living as cassie if you get in to your books like me and can get the pictures in you head as you read. you really get in to it a great book and left me wanting more not looking for all her books
Great Start to a Wonderful Series, 12 Oct 2008
Loved it! Wonderful characters, a swift moving plot, a deft sense of humour and a surprising ending--this book had it all. And unlike many series I've read, this one keeps getting better with each book. Claimed by Shadow, the sequel, is also a very strong title, and Embrace the Night, the third book in the series, is simply brilliant. The three work together to tell one complex and fascinating tale. Curse the Dawn, the fourth book, is out in April and I can't wait! If you're looking for something a bit different with a stronger plotline and better characterization than normal for genre fiction, this is it!
I really wanted to say I liked this book, 11 Oct 2008
This is the sort of book that anyone who reads Laurel K. Hamilton or Kim Harrison will probably end up reading.
It's set in an underground of vampires and werewolves that exists in parralel to the human world, and sees a female heroine do battle against the powers that be in that world.
One of my biggest grumbles about Hamilton and Harrison is the fact that there's too much 'love interest' and too little story in their books. That's why I turned to this book. I hoped that I'd get more story. I can't work out quite how wrong I was yet.
Don't get me wrong, the lead protagonist isn't jumping into bed with people, but the story (which sees her try and work out who's killing the Vampire Council in America and how to stop him) feels a little clunky all the same.
I don't know about you, but when I tell a story I try to weave the back story into the main text fairly seamlessly. I don't want people getting confused about what's going on, but I don't want the back story to get in the way of the story's flow either.
That didn't happen here. Every so often she'd stop to lay this whole exposition about the past on you.
This was ok at first, but it got on my nerves after a while. If you can get your head round that irritating tendency the author has, you might enjoy this book. If you can't you should go elsewhere.
I would read the sequel, 02 Sep 2008
Deliciously gory and sexy. I liked the well-established supernatural world that Chance created and her exploration of ideas. The magic involved was unusual (in that I hadn't come across it quite like that in a novel before) and the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading until the end, though I don't think I would read it again. The story is a series of detailed, lengthy scenes that takes place over a fairly short space of time and I did find the sometimes slow pace of events irritating at times, but I would buy and read the sequel for more.
Fascinating... Enjoyable, 27 Jul 2008
First book I have read by Karen Chance, and found it enjoyable.
I liked Cassie, at times she could be infuriating... but thats normal, charactors can't always do what you want them to do.
I liked the fact that we got loads more magical creatures like demons and mages, and can't wait to read the 2nd in this series.
I definately recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, vampire, werewolf type fiction.
got it, 20 Nov 2008
just got it will start reading soon :)
i got into a few lines and its quite addictive, niceee :D
Pretty good, 28 Sep 2008
I bought this recently, having never read (but often heard about) Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos.
I'm only about a third of the way through, but it seems pretty good (although the author does seem to have swallowed a thesaurus - and a particularly gibbous and over-nourished one at that, most likely recovered from some Stygian Pit that the mortal mind was not meant to know of). Plus, he does have some rather - ahem - "old fashioned" attitudes to race and class that can seem rather jarring to a modern reader.
This particular edition also does, unfortunately, have a number of typos in the text, some of which ("Necroriomicon", "clay" instead of "day", and "Gthulhu") suggest to me that the publishers had the original text scanned and digitised, but imperfectly. (I'm keeping a note of them as I find them, and will inform the publishers when I've finished the book).
Still, all said, I don't regret getting the book, and if you don't mind those faults, I'd certainly recommend this to anyone interested in the genera.
Just as I remembered!!, 14 Sep 2008
Excellent, worth the wait!! I remember reading this as a child, it's just as good as I remembered. Real Classic stuff!!
I recommend it to anyone looking for some good old creepy stories.
JOIN THE DARKSIDE!!!!, 19 Jul 2008
What can i say that already hasn't been said.
This is truly awesome, a complete collection of lovecraft in a well bound casebound book with faux Leather cover, in black.
All your favorites are there. If you're a real lovecraft fan this is deffinately for you.
And for a very reasanoble price.
100% recommended, buy now & join us on a truly Dark venture into the world of the one & the only H.P.lovecraft
Beautifully produced edition, but -2 stars for horrible tacky price sticker on the back, 28 Jun 2008
Finally a beautifully produced and complete edition of H.P. Lovecraft's works, but whoever at Gollancz/Orion decided to spoil each book with a tacky price sticker - not even put on straight - that leaves a sticky residue when removed (and believe me, it's tenacious) should be punished by the elder gods, or at least someone senior at the publishers.
Brilliant!!!!, 04 Nov 2008
I cannot recommend this series of books highly enough. I discovered the Sookie books by chance (after getting fed up with the Stephanie Plum series & searching the internet for something more interesting to read. Charlaine is a fantastic story teller and the books will suck you right in. I have told all my friends about these books and they have all enjoyed them as well.Once you finish one you will be dying for the next..
Imaginative dark vampire adventure...., 17 Oct 2008
After watching the first few episodes of True Blood on HBO, I was enthralled with what seemed to be a darker, more humorous updated version of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and discovered the series was based on a set of novels by Charlaine Harris.
I ordered the first four and read them within a week. Whilst they were markedly different from HBO's version, I quickly became involved with the characters and the world in and around Bon Temps.
The novel revolves around a mind reading waitress, her vampire boyfriend and the emergence of Vampire society. The setting of Louisiana is original and the characters of Sookie and the vampires around her are fascinating. We don't leap immediately into the supernatural world, but learn along with Sookie, that not everything is as it seems, and whilst exciting - there is a much darker undertone.
Charlaine writes fromm Sookie's perspective - you can almost hear the southern drawl as the chapters progress, and Sookie's spirited and sometimes hilarious narrative keeps you riveted. The typical and traditional gothic stereotypes of vampires are deftly sidestepped, and Charlaine doesn't reinvent the concept of vampires as much as reinvigorates them.
The only shortcoming of this book is that it ends too soon, but on the plus side, the continuing books in the series are consistent and builds on previous storylines, subplots and characters. I can't believe I've not picked up these books before now, and am lookinng forward to reading the rest of the series.
Brilliant!! Vampire fiction at it's best, 11 Jul 2008
First book I have read from Charlaine, and I will be reading more!
I thought it was funny and well written, the charactors likeable.
Buy it you won't be disappointed
Disappointed!, 07 Jul 2008
A classic example of what happens when a mediocre writer happens to have a very good idea. The central conceit - vampires "out" themselves and live among us - is a great one, but not taken anywhere really interesting. For example, what actually happens when somebody is made a vampire? What thought processes would lead them to shun other vampires and live among humans? What are the philosophical and theological implications - are the vampires trying to recover lost humanity, or redeem themselves? And the book conspicuously backs away from some really interesting possibilities in exploring the parallels between the newly-outed vampires and the post-slavery southern states.
I think someone on here uttered the dreaded words "Bridget Jones" in conjunction with this book, and to be fair, that should have warned me that this is really just chick-lit with a gothic gloss. It's lightweight, insubstantial, frustrating, and the characters are poorly drawn. Sookie's not a very sympathetic heroine - her constant reference to her mind-reading abilities as a "disability" is pretty offensive - yep, you can hear other people in your head, but are you confined to a wheelchair, or a hospital bed? Nope.
Bill's a total enigma - the reader has no idea why she finds him attractive (other than he's "shiny", in which case he might need a mattifier) - he's totally devoid of any kind of charm other than the ability to uproot trees, which I guess would make him handy round the garden.
Like I said- nice idea, poorly executed.
Funny, Sexy and Completely Heartfelt!, 27 May 2008
This book was bought to me by mistake and after 1 year of it collecting dust in my bedroom i decided to give it a read before donating it to my local library. I have to say that i have red this book 4 times now and bought another set for my library so that others can enjoy it as much as i did. I related to the death in sookies family so much i cried a little.
I loved the funny moments between eric and bill!
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Customer Reviews
got hooked, 20 Oct 2008
oh WOW this book was great just glad what i got it i also got the other 2 as i have 3 to read one after the other i could not put them down and now i am waiting for the next one they are full of action and you get thinking that you are really living as cassie if you get in to your books like me and can get the pictures in you head as you read. you really get in to it a great book and left me wanting more not looking for all her books
Great Start to a Wonderful Series, 12 Oct 2008
Loved it! Wonderful characters, a swift moving plot, a deft sense of humour and a surprising ending--this book had it all. And unlike many series I've read, this one keeps getting better with each book. Claimed by Shadow, the sequel, is also a very strong title, and Embrace the Night, the third book in the series, is simply brilliant. The three work together to tell one complex and fascinating tale. Curse the Dawn, the fourth book, is out in April and I can't wait! If you're looking for something a bit different with a stronger plotline and better characterization than normal for genre fiction, this is it!
I really wanted to say I liked this book, 11 Oct 2008
This is the sort of book that anyone who reads Laurel K. Hamilton or Kim Harrison will probably end up reading.
It's set in an underground of vampires and werewolves that exists in parralel to the human world, and sees a female heroine do battle against the powers that be in that world.
One of my biggest grumbles about Hamilton and Harrison is the fact that there's too much 'love interest' and too little story in their books. That's why I turned to this book. I hoped that I'd get more story. I can't work out quite how wrong I was yet.
Don't get me wrong, the lead protagonist isn't jumping into bed with people, but the story (which sees her try and work out who's killing the Vampire Council in America and how to stop him) feels a little clunky all the same.
I don't know about you, but when I tell a story I try to weave the back story into the main text fairly seamlessly. I don't want people getting confused about what's going on, but I don't want the back story to get in the way of the story's flow either.
That didn't happen here. Every so often she'd stop to lay this whole exposition about the past on you.
This was ok at first, but it got on my nerves after a while. If you can get your head round that irritating tendency the author has, you might enjoy this book. If you can't you should go elsewhere.
I would read the sequel, 02 Sep 2008
Deliciously gory and sexy. I liked the well-established supernatural world that Chance created and her exploration of ideas. The magic involved was unusual (in that I hadn't come across it quite like that in a novel before) and the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading until the end, though I don't think I would read it again. The story is a series of detailed, lengthy scenes that takes place over a fairly short space of time and I did find the sometimes slow pace of events irritating at times, but I would buy and read the sequel for more.
Fascinating... Enjoyable, 27 Jul 2008
First book I have read by Karen Chance, and found it enjoyable.
I liked Cassie, at times she could be infuriating... but thats normal, charactors can't always do what you want them to do.
I liked the fact that we got loads more magical creatures like demons and mages, and can't wait to read the 2nd in this series.
I definately recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, vampire, werewolf type fiction.
got it, 20 Nov 2008
just got it will start reading soon :)
i got into a few lines and its quite addictive, niceee :D
Pretty good, 28 Sep 2008
I bought this recently, having never read (but often heard about) Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos.
I'm only about a third of the way through, but it seems pretty good (although the author does seem to have swallowed a thesaurus - and a particularly gibbous and over-nourished one at that, most likely recovered from some Stygian Pit that the mortal mind was not meant to know of). Plus, he does have some rather - ahem - "old fashioned" attitudes to race and class that can seem rather jarring to a modern reader.
This particular edition also does, unfortunately, have a number of typos in the text, some of which ("Necroriomicon", "clay" instead of "day", and "Gthulhu") suggest to me that the publishers had the original text scanned and digitised, but imperfectly. (I'm keeping a note of them as I find them, and will inform the publishers when I've finished the book).
Still, all said, I don't regret getting the book, and if you don't mind those faults, I'd certainly recommend this to anyone interested in the genera.
Just as I remembered!!, 14 Sep 2008
Excellent, worth the wait!! I remember reading this as a child, it's just as good as I remembered. Real Classic stuff!!
I recommend it to anyone looking for some good old creepy stories.
JOIN THE DARKSIDE!!!!, 19 Jul 2008
What can i say that already hasn't been said.
This is truly awesome, a complete collection of lovecraft in a well bound casebound book with faux Leather cover, in black.
All your favorites are there. If you're a real lovecraft fan this is deffinately for you.
And for a very reasanoble price.
100% recommended, buy now & join us on a truly Dark venture into the world of the one & the only H.P.lovecraft
Beautifully produced edition, but -2 stars for horrible tacky price sticker on the back, 28 Jun 2008
Finally a beautifully produced and complete edition of H.P. Lovecraft's works, but whoever at Gollancz/Orion decided to spoil each book with a tacky price sticker - not even put on straight - that leaves a sticky residue when removed (and believe me, it's tenacious) should be punished by the elder gods, or at least someone senior at the publishers.
Brilliant!!!!, 04 Nov 2008
I cannot recommend this series of books highly enough. I discovered the Sookie books by chance (after getting fed up with the Stephanie Plum series & searching the internet for something more interesting to read. Charlaine is a fantastic story teller and the books will suck you right in. I have told all my friends about these books and they have all enjoyed them as well.Once you finish one you will be dying for the next..
Imaginative dark vampire adventure...., 17 Oct 2008
After watching the first few episodes of True Blood on HBO, I was enthralled with what seemed to be a darker, more humorous updated version of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and discovered the series was based on a set of novels by Charlaine Harris.
I ordered the first four and read them within a week. Whilst they were markedly different from HBO's version, I quickly became involved with the characters and the world in and around Bon Temps.
The novel revolves around a mind reading waitress, her vampire boyfriend and the emergence of Vampire society. The setting of Louisiana is original and the characters of Sookie and the vampires around her are fascinating. We don't leap immediately into the supernatural world, but learn along with Sookie, that not everything is as it seems, and whilst exciting - there is a much darker undertone.
Charlaine writes fromm Sookie's perspective - you can almost hear the southern drawl as the chapters progress, and Sookie's spirited and sometimes hilarious narrative keeps you riveted. The typical and traditional gothic stereotypes of vampires are deftly sidestepped, and Charlaine doesn't reinvent the concept of vampires as much as reinvigorates them.
The only shortcoming of this book is that it ends too soon, but on the plus side, the continuing books in the series are consistent and builds on previous storylines, subplots and characters. I can't believe I've not picked up these books before now, and am lookinng forward to reading the rest of the series.
Brilliant!! Vampire fiction at it's best, 11 Jul 2008
First book I have read from Charlaine, and I will be reading more!
I thought it was funny and well written, the charactors likeable.
Buy it you won't be disappointed
Disappointed!, 07 Jul 2008
A classic example of what happens when a mediocre writer happens to have a very good idea. The central conceit - vampires "out" themselves and live among us - is a great one, but not taken anywhere really interesting. For example, what actually happens when somebody is made a vampire? What thought processes would lead them to shun other vampires and live among humans? What are the philosophical and theological implications - are the vampires trying to recover lost humanity, or redeem themselves? And the book conspicuously backs away from some really interesting possibilities in exploring the parallels between the newly-outed vampires and the post-slavery southern states.
I think someone on here uttered the dreaded words "Bridget Jones" in conjunction with this book, and to be fair, that should have warned me that this is really just chick-lit with a gothic gloss. It's lightweight, insubstantial, frustrating, and the characters are poorly drawn. Sookie's not a very sympathetic heroine - her constant reference to her mind-reading abilities as a "disability" is pretty offensive - yep, you can hear other people in your head, but are you confined to a wheelchair, or a hospital bed? Nope.
Bill's a total enigma - the reader has no idea why she finds him attractive (other than he's "shiny", in which case he might need a mattifier) - he's totally devoid of any kind of charm other than the ability to uproot trees, which I guess would make him handy round the garden.
Like I said- nice idea, poorly executed.
Funny, Sexy and Completely Heartfelt!, 27 May 2008
This book was bought to me by mistake and after 1 year of it collecting dust in my bedroom i decided to give it a read before donating it to my local library. I have to say that i have red this book 4 times now and bought another set for my library so that others can enjoy it as much as i did. I related to the death in sookies family so much i cried a little.
I loved the funny moments between eric and bill!
Outstanding, 11 Nov 2008
I read this at 14 and was my first ever stephen king book, i loved it. the powerful and vivid way it has been wrote just enticed me to read more and more. I feel this is the best one in the series and one of kings best pieces of fiction. the gunslingers struggles and choices throughtout the book make you hate him but also feel for him. this is a must buy for king fans
Utter Disappointment, 03 Nov 2008
I was convinced this series would be a joy to read, something original and sinister, the celebrated masterpiece saga of one of the masters of horror and fantasy.
I gave it a try... and tried very hard to finish it. I could not bring myself to enjoy neither the story nor the style. Still, I decided to read the second book as well, convinced that there was something I had yet to discover, this certain something that seems to make so many readers enraptured with the Dark Tower books...
Well, I haven't been able to discover it! Many have loved this book and undoubtedly many more will, but personally I find it incoherent,dragging and overtly blunt - a bluntness which feels unsupported and pointless, nothing to resemble what I have come to expect from King.
I prefer to leave the Dark Tower saga here and move on to other stories.
One of my favourites, this series gets under your skin, 23 Apr 2008
This is my favourite series of books and Gunslinger is probably one of the books I re-read most. "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed"....great opening! This book is a bit weird and different to the others in the series, but it still works well.
We get a great introduction to the enigmatic Gunslinger, Roland Deschain and his quest to catch the man in black and to find the Dark Tower. His world is a strange echo of ours, but it has 'moved on.' A strange mix of the old Wild West and a post apocalyptic future, where paper is rare and machinery is ancient, with its original purpose forgotten. Roland meets a boy called Jake, who appears to have died in our reality and somehow crossed over to this other world. They form a fragile partnership as they pursue the man in black...but things seem pretty doomed from the start.
There are many questions raised in this book, and you have to read the rest of the series to find the answers. You enter the story in the middle of it really, and there is a lot of hopping around the timeline to explain things. Roland is a tough character to love, but you get there in the end! That is his appeal, his harshness and his fervent determination to get to the Tower, no matter the cost.
Try this if you want a change! It's not like anything I have read, but it goes without saying, it's a must for King fans and people who like a good, epic fantasy. Thankee sai! Long days pleasant nights! If you read the set you may find you end up talking oddly, it has that effect! READ
Try the graphic novel too, based on the Wizard and Glass book. Great representation of young Roland.
The Gunslinger, 01 Apr 2008
The first instalment of Stephen King's fantasy series is unashamedly inspired by that other fantastic series, "The Lord of the Rings". King made no attempt to hide this and refers to it in each of his surprisingly-interesting forwards, but the thought of reading something so obviously "inspired" put me off. It was only after the release of the final book in the series I was persuaded to pick up "Gunslinger", and was appalled at how brilliant it was.
It's easy for people to say King's off his game, but he wasn't then and he isn't now - the final book, released only recently, is testament to this. "Gunslinger" is arguably everything that Stephen King isn't: beautiful, poetic, and not really horror. Technically it's fantasy, post-apocalyptic fantasy, and on top of that it's a Western of sorts. It's a glaring divergence from King's usual style, but what appalled me was that it was good. Very, very good, and despite the assumption that King's unfamiliarity with the genre would prove to be the novel's downfall, it is also full of everything that King is wonderful at: suspense, mystery, and very real characters.
A review column isn't the place for a synopsis, so I'll keep it brief. This book has one real character and that's the mysterious hero, the eponymous gunslinger who is a throwback from a bygone age that existed before the world "moved on". The brevity of the novel lends itself to this kind of storytelling, in which we follow a single character in a series of events, a tale told in a surreal, rippling narrative that is like looking through water at an alternate world. The other novels don't keep up this dreamlike form of storytelling, which makes "Gunslinger" all the more precious.
If you like King, you'll love this, regardless of the change in genre. If you pick this up and hate it, you'll still come away with a fresh idea on what novels are all about, reminded why people write. Simple story. Complex characters. You don't have to read the others if you don't like it, but if you want a fresh piece of fiction from an established super-writer, then for God's sake try "Gunslinger"!
A good 'part one' book., 02 Feb 2008
If you're thinking of getting this book I can't list a reason you shouldn't except that this really isn't a stand alone novel, rather it's an introduction to a world and a character to be taken up by the many later instalments of the series. Yes, it has it's own plot, but really it's just there to get us started on the journey. Thus, don't read this unless you're prepared to be hooked and end up forking out for all the others.
Having said that, it's hardly a major flaw and the book really is very enjoyable and extremely intriuging. King creates a world which is brutal, surreally dream-like and a million miles from anything else in fantasy, horror or any other genre. His protagonist is tragically human, his antagonist eerily sinister and beautifully cruel, and everyone who gets caught between them is made hugely sympathetic by their status as just that - something that gets caught in the way.
King's experience as a horror writer really comes across here, making this a fantasy world born of and premeated by the horror genre. The setting is a vast and desolate wasteland to which none of it's inhabitants really belong, lending the whole thing an eeriness that keeps the reader on edge throughout and adds a certain grotesque quality to much of what happens.
If you're a fan of King, a fan of horror, a fan of fantasy, or just a fan of really great storytelling then you should definitely check this out. But prepare to be hooked.
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The Long Walk
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Customer Reviews
got hooked, 20 Oct 2008
oh WOW this book was great just glad what i got it i also got the other 2 as i have 3 to read one after the other i could not put them down and now i am waiting for the next one they are full of action and you get thinking that you are really living as cassie if you get in to your books like me and can get the pictures in you head as you read. you really get in to it a great book and left me wanting more not looking for all her books
Great Start to a Wonderful Series, 12 Oct 2008
Loved it! Wonderful characters, a swift moving plot, a deft sense of humour and a surprising ending--this book had it all. And unlike many series I've read, this one keeps getting better with each book. Claimed by Shadow, the sequel, is also a very strong title, and Embrace the Night, the third book in the series, is simply brilliant. The three work together to tell one complex and fascinating tale. Curse the Dawn, the fourth book, is out in April and I can't wait! If you're looking for something a bit different with a stronger plotline and better characterization than normal for genre fiction, this is it!
I really wanted to say I liked this book, 11 Oct 2008
This is the sort of book that anyone who reads Laurel K. Hamilton or Kim Harrison will probably end up reading.
It's set in an underground of vampires and werewolves that exists in parralel to the human world, and sees a female heroine do battle against the powers that be in that world.
One of my biggest grumbles about Hamilton and Harrison is the fact that there's too much 'love interest' and too little story in their books. That's why I turned to this book. I hoped that I'd get more story. I can't work out quite how wrong I was yet.
Don't get me wrong, the lead protagonist isn't jumping into bed with people, but the story (which sees her try and work out who's killing the Vampire Council in America and how to stop him) feels a little clunky all the same.
I don't know about you, but when I tell a story I try to weave the back story into the main text fairly seamlessly. I don't want people getting confused about what's going on, but I don't want the back story to get in the way of the story's flow either.
That didn't happen here. Every so often she'd stop to lay this whole exposition about the past on you.
This was ok at first, but it got on my nerves after a while. If you can get your head round that irritating tendency the author has, you might enjoy this book. If you can't you should go elsewhere.
I would read the sequel, 02 Sep 2008
Deliciously gory and sexy. I liked the well-established supernatural world that Chance created and her exploration of ideas. The magic involved was unusual (in that I hadn't come across it quite like that in a novel before) and the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading until the end, though I don't think I would read it again. The story is a series of detailed, lengthy scenes that takes place over a fairly short space of time and I did find the sometimes slow pace of events irritating at times, but I would buy and read the sequel for more.
Fascinating... Enjoyable, 27 Jul 2008
First book I have read by Karen Chance, and found it enjoyable.
I liked Cassie, at times she could be infuriating... but thats normal, charactors can't always do what you want them to do.
I liked the fact that we got loads more magical creatures like demons and mages, and can't wait to read the 2nd in this series.
I definately recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, vampire, werewolf type fiction.
got it, 20 Nov 2008
just got it will start reading soon :)
i got into a few lines and its quite addictive, niceee :D
Pretty good, 28 Sep 2008
I bought this recently, having never read (but often heard about) Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos.
I'm only about a third of the way through, but it seems pretty good (although the author does seem to have swallowed a thesaurus - and a particularly gibbous and over-nourished one at that, most likely recovered from some Stygian Pit that the mortal mind was not meant to know of). Plus, he does have some rather - ahem - "old fashioned" attitudes to race and class that can seem rather jarring to a modern reader.
This particular edition also does, unfortunately, have a number of typos in the text, some of which ("Necroriomicon", "clay" instead of "day", and "Gthulhu") suggest to me that the publishers had the original text scanned and digitised, but imperfectly. (I'm keeping a note of them as I find them, and will inform the publishers when I've finished the book).
Still, all said, I don't regret getting the book, and if you don't mind those faults, I'd certainly recommend this to anyone interested in the genera.
Just as I remembered!!, 14 Sep 2008
Excellent, worth the wait!! I remember reading this as a child, it's just as good as I remembered. Real Classic stuff!!
I recommend it to anyone looking for some good old creepy stories.
JOIN THE DARKSIDE!!!!, 19 Jul 2008
What can i say that already hasn't been said.
This is truly awesome, a complete collection of lovecraft in a well bound casebound book with faux Leather cover, in black.
All your favorites are there. If you're a real lovecraft fan this is deffinately for you.
And for a very reasanoble price.
100% recommended, buy now & join us on a truly Dark venture into the world of the one & the only H.P.lovecraft
Beautifully produced edition, but -2 stars for horrible tacky price sticker on the back, 28 Jun 2008
Finally a beautifully produced and complete edition of H.P. Lovecraft's works, but whoever at Gollancz/Orion decided to spoil each book with a tacky price sticker - not even put on straight - that leaves a sticky residue when removed (and believe me, it's tenacious) should be punished by the elder gods, or at least someone senior at the publishers.
Brilliant!!!!, 04 Nov 2008
I cannot recommend this series of books highly enough. I discovered the Sookie books by chance (after getting fed up with the Stephanie Plum series & searching the internet for something more interesting to read. Charlaine is a fantastic story teller and the books will suck you right in. I have told all my friends about these books and they have all enjoyed them as well.Once you finish one you will be dying for the next..
Imaginative dark vampire adventure...., 17 Oct 2008
After watching the first few episodes of True Blood on HBO, I was enthralled with what seemed to be a darker, more humorous updated version of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and discovered the series was based on a set of novels by Charlaine Harris.
I ordered the first four and read them within a week. Whilst they were markedly different from HBO's version, I quickly became involved with the characters and the world in and around Bon Temps.
The novel revolves around a mind reading waitress, her vampire boyfriend and the emergence of Vampire society. The setting of Louisiana is original and the characters of Sookie and the vampires around her are fascinating. We don't leap immediately into the supernatural world, but learn along with Sookie, that not everything is as it seems, and whilst exciting - there is a much darker undertone.
Charlaine writes fromm Sookie's perspective - you can almost hear the southern drawl as the chapters progress, and Sookie's spirited and sometimes hilarious narrative keeps you riveted. The typical and traditional gothic stereotypes of vampires are deftly sidestepped, and Charlaine doesn't reinvent the concept of vampires as much as reinvigorates them.
The only shortcoming of this book is that it ends too soon, but on the plus side, the continuing books in the series are consistent and builds on previous storylines, subplots and characters. I can't believe I've not picked up these books before now, and am lookinng forward to reading the rest of the series.
Brilliant!! Vampire fiction at it's best, 11 Jul 2008
First book I have read from Charlaine, and I will be reading more!
I thought it was funny and well written, the charactors likeable.
Buy it you won't be disappointed
Disappointed!, 07 Jul 2008
A classic example of what happens when a mediocre writer happens to have a very good idea. The central conceit - vampires "out" themselves and live among us - is a great one, but not taken anywhere really interesting. For example, what actually happens when somebody is made a vampire? What thought processes would lead them to shun other vampires and live among humans? What are the philosophical and theological implications - are the vampires trying to recover lost humanity, or redeem themselves? And the book conspicuously backs away from some really interesting possibilities in exploring the parallels between the newly-outed vampires and the post-slavery southern states.
I think someone on here uttered the dreaded words "Bridget Jones" in conjunction with this book, and to be fair, that should have warned me that this is really just chick-lit with a gothic gloss. It's lightweight, insubstantial, frustrating, and the characters are poorly drawn. Sookie's not a very sympathetic heroine - her constant reference to her mind-reading abilities as a "disability" is pretty offensive - yep, you can hear other people in your head, but are you confined to a wheelchair, or a hospital bed? Nope.
Bill's a total enigma - the reader has no idea why she finds him attractive (other than he's "shiny", in which case he might need a mattifier) - he's totally devoid of any kind of charm other than the ability to uproot trees, which I guess would make him handy round the garden.
Like I said- nice idea, poorly executed.
Funny, Sexy and Completely Heartfelt!, 27 May 2008
This book was bought to me by mistake and after 1 year of it collecting dust in my bedroom i decided to give it a read before donating it to my local library. I have to say that i have red this book 4 times now and bought another set for my library so that others can enjoy it as much as i did. I related to the death in sookies family so much i cried a little.
I loved the funny moments between eric and bill!
Outstanding, 11 Nov 2008
I read this at 14 and was my first ever stephen king book, i loved it. the powerful and vivid way it has been wrote just enticed me to read more and more. I feel this is the best one in the series and one of kings best pieces of fiction. the gunslingers struggles and choices throughtout the book make you hate him but also feel for him. this is a must buy for king fans
Utter Disappointment, 03 Nov 2008
I was convinced this series would be a joy to read, something original and sinister, the celebrated masterpiece saga of one of the masters of horror and fantasy.
I gave it a try... and tried very hard to finish it. I could not bring myself to enjoy neither the story nor the style. Still, I decided to read the second book as well, convinced that there was something I had yet to discover, this certain something that seems to make so many readers enraptured with the Dark Tower books...
Well, I haven't been able to discover it! Many have loved this book and undoubtedly many more will, but personally I find it incoherent,dragging and overtly blunt - a bluntness which feels unsupported and pointless, nothing to resemble what I have come to expect from King.
I prefer to leave the Dark Tower saga here and move on to other stories.
One of my favourites, this series gets under your skin, 23 Apr 2008
This is my favourite series of books and Gunslinger is probably one of the books I re-read most. "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed"....great opening! This book is a bit weird and different to the others in the series, but it still works well.
We get a great introduction to the enigmatic Gunslinger, Roland Deschain and his quest to catch the man in black and to find the Dark Tower. His world is a strange echo of ours, but it has 'moved on.' A strange mix of the old Wild West and a post apocalyptic future, where paper is rare and machinery is ancient, with its original purpose forgotten. Roland meets a boy called Jake, who appears to have died in our reality and somehow crossed over to this other world. They form a fragile partnership as they pursue the man in black...but things seem pretty doomed from the start.
There are many questions raised in this book, and you have to read the rest of the series to find the answers. You enter the story in the middle of it really, and there is a lot of hopping around the timeline to explain things. Roland is a tough character to love, but you get there in the end! That is his appeal, his harshness and his fervent determination to get to the Tower, no matter the cost.
Try this if you want a change! It's not like anything I have read, but it goes without saying, it's a must for King fans and people who like a good, epic fantasy. Thankee sai! Long days pleasant nights! If you read the set you may find you end up talking oddly, it has that effect! READ
Try the graphic novel too, based on the Wizard and Glass book. Great representation of young Roland.
The Gunslinger, 01 Apr 2008
The first instalment of Stephen King's fantasy series is unashamedly inspired by that other fantastic series, "The Lord of the Rings". King made no attempt to hide this and refers to it in each of his surprisingly-interesting forwards, but the thought of reading something so obviously "inspired" put me off. It was only after the release of the final book in the series I was persuaded to pick up "Gunslinger", and was appalled at how brilliant it was.
It's easy for people to say King's off his game, but he wasn't then and he isn't now - the final book, released only recently, is testament to this. "Gunslinger" is arguably everything that Stephen King isn't: beautiful, poetic, and not really horror. Technically it's fantasy, post-apocalyptic fantasy, and on top of that it's a Western of sorts. It's a glaring divergence from King's usual style, but what appalled me was that it was good. Very, very good, and despite the assumption that King's unfamiliarity with the genre would prove to be the novel's downfall, it is also full of everything that King is wonderful at: suspense, mystery, and very real characters.
A review column isn't the place for a synopsis, so I'll keep it brief. This book has one real character and that's the mysterious hero, the eponymous gunslinger who is a throwback from a bygone age that existed before the world "moved on". The brevity of the novel lends itself to this kind of storytelling, in which we follow a single character in a series of events, a tale told in a surreal, rippling narrative that is like looking through water at an alternate world. The other novels don't keep up this dreamlike form of storytelling, which makes "Gunslinger" all the more precious.
If you like King, you'll love this, regardless of the change in genre. If you pick this up and hate it, you'll still come away with a fresh idea on what novels are all about, reminded why people write. Simple story. Complex characters. You don't have to read the others if you don't like it, but if you want a fresh piece of fiction from an established super-writer, then for God's sake try "Gunslinger"!
A good 'part one' book., 02 Feb 2008
If you're thinking of getting this book I can't list a reason you shouldn't except that this really isn't a stand alone novel, rather it's an introduction to a world and a character to be taken up by the many later instalments of the series. Yes, it has it's own plot, but really it's just there to get us started on the journey. Thus, don't read this unless you're prepared to be hooked and end up forking out for all the others.
Having said that, it's hardly a major flaw and the book really is very enjoyable and extremely intriuging. King creates a world which is brutal, surreally dream-like and a million miles from anything else in fantasy, horror or any other genre. His protagonist is tragically human, his antagonist eerily sinister and beautifully cruel, and everyone who gets caught between them is made hugely sympathetic by their status as just that - something that gets caught in the way.
King's experience as a horror writer really comes across here, making this a fantasy world born of and premeated by the horror genre. The setting is a vast and desolate wasteland to which none of it's inhabitants really belong, lending the whole thing an eeriness that keeps the reader on edge throughout and adds a certain grotesque quality to much of what happens.
If you're a fan of King, a fan of horror, a fan of fantasy, or just a fan of really great storytelling then you should definitely check this out. But prepare to be hooked.
Horror made by humans for humans, 17 Nov 2008
I found this story by Stephen King a little unusual to his typical style of horror, but nevertheless, I thought it was an excellent idea and a gripping read. The horror in this book doesn't come from ghosts, vampires or an alien force, but from human terror inflicted by an imaginary/future government who organize an annual long walk for teenage boys. The winner has everything to gain and the losers have everyting to lose. The Long Walk is a frightening event and along it, the participants must learn how far they can push their bodies and minds.
One of King's best!, 01 Oct 2008
I found myself thinking about this book long after it was read.
Its a simple plot, enter a competition, walk for as long as you can and if your the last man standing, claim the ultimate prize. Yet, the simplicity of the plot contrasts with the emotional turmoil which plagues the contestants. They soon come to realise that fatigue is not the only challenge they face...and whilst they walk and fight for their lives, the Crowd watch on.
Not a scary book like Salems Lot but rest assured, this is horror. There are monsters, but not the type you would expect. In a way it feels a little similar to The Mist, the real enemy is the enemy within. spooky :)
One viewer gave this a 1 star rating because you don't find out the prize at the end of the story. I might be wrong but the prize is not relevant to the story or the reader. Worst of all, at the end of the book, the prize isn't even relevant to the contestants either.
Read it, love it.
Enjoy.
fantastic, 24 Apr 2008
really really good. i can't believe this isnt a film yet. it's such a great idea. it got me thinking about it for weeks. my advice would be though, get the bachman books collection, instead of buying the novels seperately
One of the best books King has ever written, 22 Apr 2008
This novel was the first full-length novel King ever wrote (completed whilst studying at the University of Maine when he was 19-20). It didn't see the light of day for another ten years until published under his Bachman pseudonym. Charting a competition where the winner takes a large prize in a dystopian future society, it follows the lead characters quest to win. If competitors fall below a certain minimum miles per hour walking pace they are shot. It is written in a very tight style (not used much in the horror novels he is famous for) and the reader is induced into a fast pace of reading in line with the competitors walking pace. I couldn't put the book down and had to read it at one sitting. The competition is a lottery where the defeated are killed and I think there is a strong allegorical parallel with the fate of young American boys during the Vietnam War (which was raging when the book was first written).
All around I think this is one of the finest of his books and deserves to be much better known. (It is now published as a stand-alone title, but can also be found within "The Bachman Books" title.
If you like this review, why not buy my own novel on amazon - "Freya's Quest" by Julian Lawrence Brooks
You will be with them every step of the way, 06 Dec 2007
One of King's finest tales- a brutal depiction of America as a militant state, where the mysterious major has devised a gruelling marathan- a 450 mile walk. It's only as the walk gets underway that you realise that opting out essentially means being shot.
King creates a vivid picture of the hopelessness and pain the long walkers experience. If you want to win, you must accept that all those with you must die. Ray Garraty, the hero of the story, questions why he entered the competition but never seems to question why it exists.
So well does King set the scene, that I swear my feet ached after reading this book. It is by no means a cheerful tale, but it is a tale of friendship, hope over adversity, tragedy and mildly like George Orwell's 1984. This is one of King's finest- certainly in the same league as the Shawshank redemption. It is also very moving and I will admit to shedding a tear or two.
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Customer Reviews
got hooked, 20 Oct 2008
oh WOW this book was great just glad what i got it i also got the other 2 as i have 3 to read one after the other i could not put them down and now i am waiting for the next one they are full of action and you get thinking that you are really living as cassie if you get in to your books like me and can get the pictures in you head as you read. you really get in to it a great book and left me wanting more not looking for all her books
Great Start to a Wonderful Series, 12 Oct 2008
Loved it! Wonderful characters, a swift moving plot, a deft sense of humour and a surprising ending--this book had it all. And unlike many series I've read, this one keeps getting better with each book. Claimed by Shadow, the sequel, is also a very strong title, and Embrace the Night, the third book in the series, is simply brilliant. The three work together to tell one complex and fascinating tale. Curse the Dawn, the fourth book, is out in April and I can't wait! If you're looking for something a bit different with a stronger plotline and better characterization than normal for genre fiction, this is it!
I really wanted to say I liked this book, 11 Oct 2008
This is the sort of book that anyone who reads Laurel K. Hamilton or Kim Harrison will probably end up reading.
It's set in an underground of vampires and werewolves that exists in parralel to the human world, and sees a female heroine do battle against the powers that be in that world.
One of my biggest grumbles about Hamilton and Harrison is the fact that there's too much 'love interest' and too little story in their books. That's why I turned to this book. I hoped that I'd get more story. I can't work out quite how wrong I was yet.
Don't get me wrong, the lead protagonist isn't jumping into bed with people, but the story (which sees her try and work out who's killing the Vampire Council in America and how to stop him) feels a little clunky all the same.
I don't know about you, but when I tell a story I try to weave the back story into the main text fairly seamlessly. I don't want people getting confused about what's going on, but I don't want the back story to get in the way of the story's flow either.
That didn't happen here. Every so often she'd stop to lay this whole exposition about the past on you.
This was ok at first, but it got on my nerves after a while. If you can get your head round that irritating tendency the author has, you might enjoy this book. If you can't you should go elsewhere.
I would read the sequel, 02 Sep 2008
Deliciously gory and sexy. I liked the well-established supernatural world that Chance created and her exploration of ideas. The magic involved was unusual (in that I hadn't come across it quite like that in a novel before) and the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading until the end, though I don't think I would read it again. The story is a series of detailed, lengthy scenes that takes place over a fairly short space of time and I did find the sometimes slow pace of events irritating at times, but I would buy and read the sequel for more.
Fascinating... Enjoyable, 27 Jul 2008
First book I have read by Karen Chance, and found it enjoyable.
I liked Cassie, at times she could be infuriating... but thats normal, charactors can't always do what you want them to do.
I liked the fact that we got loads more magical creatures like demons and mages, and can't wait to read the 2nd in this series.
I definately recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, vampire, werewolf type fiction.
got it, 20 Nov 2008
just got it will start reading soon :)
i got into a few lines and its quite addictive, niceee :D
Pretty good, 28 Sep 2008
I bought this recently, having never read (but often heard about) Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos.
I'm only about a third of the way through, but it seems pretty good (although the author does seem to have swallowed a thesaurus - and a particularly gibbous and over-nourished one at that, most likely recovered from some Stygian Pit that the mortal mind was not meant to know of). Plus, he does have some rather - ahem - "old fashioned" attitudes to race and class that can seem rather jarring to a modern reader.
This particular edition also does, unfortunately, have a number of typos in the text, some of which ("Necroriomicon", "clay" instead of "day", and "Gthulhu") suggest to me that the publishers had the original text scanned and digitised, but imperfectly. (I'm keeping a note of them as I find them, and will inform the publishers when I've finished the book).
Still, all said, I don't regret getting the book, and if you don't mind those faults, I'd certainly recommend this to anyone interested in the genera.
Just as I remembered!!, 14 Sep 2008
Excellent, worth the wait!! I remember reading this as a child, it's just as good as I remembered. Real Classic stuff!!
I recommend it to anyone looking for some good old creepy stories.
JOIN THE DARKSIDE!!!!, 19 Jul 2008
What can i say that already hasn't been said.
This is truly awesome, a complete collection of lovecraft in a well bound casebound book with faux Leather cover, in black.
All your favorites are there. If you're a real lovecraft fan this is deffinately for you.
And for a very reasanoble price.
100% recommended, buy now & join us on a truly Dark venture into the world of the one & the only H.P.lovecraft
Beautifully produced edition, but -2 stars for horrible tacky price sticker on the back, 28 Jun 2008
Finally a beautifully produced and complete edition of H.P. Lovecraft's works, but whoever at Gollancz/Orion decided to spoil each book with a tacky price sticker - not even put on straight - that leaves a sticky residue when removed (and believe me, it's tenacious) should be punished by the elder gods, or at least someone senior at the publishers.
Brilliant!!!!, 04 Nov 2008
I cannot recommend this series of books highly enough. I discovered the Sookie books by chance (after getting fed up with the Stephanie Plum series & searching the internet for something more interesting to read. Charlaine is a fantastic story teller and the books will suck you right in. I have told all my friends about these books and they have all enjoyed them as well.Once you finish one you will be dying for the next..
Imaginative dark vampire adventure...., 17 Oct 2008
After watching the first few episodes of True Blood on HBO, I was enthralled with what seemed to be a darker, more humorous updated version of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and discovered the series was based on a set of novels by Charlaine Harris.
I ordered the first four and read them within a week. Whilst they were markedly different from HBO's version, I quickly became involved with the characters and the world in and around Bon Temps.
The novel revolves around a mind reading waitress, her vampire boyfriend and the emergence of Vampire society. The setting of Louisiana is original and the characters of Sookie and the vampires around her are fascinating. We don't leap immediately into the supernatural world, but learn along with Sookie, that not everything is as it seems, and whilst exciting - there is a much darker undertone.
Charlaine writes fromm Sookie's perspective - you can almost hear the southern drawl as the chapters progress, and Sookie's spirited and sometimes hilarious narrative keeps you riveted. The typical and traditional gothic stereotypes of vampires are deftly sidestepped, and Charlaine doesn't reinvent the concept of vampires as much as reinvigorates them.
The only shortcoming of this book is that it ends too soon, but on the plus side, the continuing books in the series are consistent and builds on previous storylines, subplots and characters. I can't believe I've not picked up these books before now, and am lookinng forward to reading the rest of the series.
Brilliant!! Vampire fiction at it's best, 11 Jul 2008
First book I have read from Charlaine, and I will be reading more!
I thought it was funny and well written, the charactors likeable.
Buy it you won't be disappointed
Disappointed!, 07 Jul 2008
A classic example of what happens when a mediocre writer happens to have a very good idea. The central conceit - vampires "out" themselves and live among us - is a great one, but not taken anywhere really interesting. For example, what actually happens when somebody is made a vampire? What thought processes would lead them to shun other vampires and live among humans? What are the philosophical and theological implications - are the vampires trying to recover lost humanity, or redeem themselves? And the book conspicuously backs away from some really interesting possibilities in exploring the parallels between the newly-outed vampires and the post-slavery southern states.
I think someone on here uttered the dreaded words "Bridget Jones" in conjunction with this book, and to be fair, that should have warned me that this is really just chick-lit with a gothic gloss. It's lightweight, insubstantial, frustrating, and the characters are poorly drawn. Sookie's not a very sympathetic heroine - her constant reference to her mind-reading abilities as a "disability" is pretty offensive - yep, you can hear other people in your head, but are you confined to a wheelchair, or a hospital bed? Nope.
Bill's a total enigma - the reader has no idea why she finds him attractive (other than he's "shiny", in which case he might need a mattifier) - he's totally devoid of any kind of charm other than the ability to uproot trees, which I guess would make him handy round the garden.
Like I said- nice idea, poorly executed.
Funny, Sexy and Completely Heartfelt!, 27 May 2008
This book was bought to me by mistake and after 1 year of it collecting dust in my bedroom i decided to give it a read before donating it to my local library. I have to say that i have red this book 4 times now and bought another set for my library so that others can enjoy it as much as i did. I related to the death in sookies family so much i cried a little.
I loved the funny moments between eric and bill!
Outstanding, 11 Nov 2008
I read this at 14 and was my first ever stephen king book, i loved it. the powerful and vivid way it has been wrote just enticed me to read more and more. I feel this is the best one in the series and one of kings best pieces of fiction. the gunslingers struggles and choices throughtout the book make you hate him but also feel for him. this is a must buy for king fans
Utter Disappointment, 03 Nov 2008
I was convinced this series would be a joy to read, something original and sinister, the celebrated masterpiece saga of one of the masters of horror and fantasy.
I gave it a try... and tried very hard to finish it. I could not bring myself to enjoy neither the story nor the style. Still, I decided to read the second book as well, convinced that there was something I had yet to discover, this certain something that seems to make so many readers enraptured with the Dark Tower books...
Well, I haven't been able to discover it! Many have loved this book and undoubtedly many more will, but personally I find it incoherent,dragging and overtly blunt - a bluntness which feels unsupported and pointless, nothing to resemble what I have come to expect from King.
I prefer to leave the Dark Tower saga here and move on to other stories.
One of my favourites, this series gets under your skin, 23 Apr 2008
This is my favourite series of books and Gunslinger is probably one of the books I re-read most. "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed"....great opening! This book is a bit weird and different to the others in the series, but it still works well.
We get a great introduction to the enigmatic Gunslinger, Roland Deschain and his quest to catch the man in black and to find the Dark Tower. His world is a strange echo of ours, but it has 'moved on.' A strange mix of the old Wild West and a post apocalyptic future, where paper is rare and machinery is ancient, with its original purpose forgotten. Roland meets a boy called Jake, who appears to have died in our reality and somehow crossed over to this other world. They form a fragile partnership as they pursue the man in black...but things seem pretty doomed from the start.
There are many questions raised in this book, and you have to read the rest of the series to find the answers. You enter the story in the middle of it really, and there is a lot of hopping around the timeline to explain things. Roland is a tough character to love, but you get there in the end! That is his appeal, his harshness and his fervent determination to get to the Tower, no matter the cost.
Try this if you want a change! It's not like anything I have read, but it goes without saying, it's a must for King fans and people who like a good, epic fantasy. Thankee sai! Long days pleasant nights! If you read the set you may find you end up talking oddly, it has that effect! READ
Try the graphic novel too, based on the Wizard and Glass book. Great representation of young Roland.
The Gunslinger, 01 Apr 2008
The first instalment of Stephen King's fantasy series is unashamedly inspired by that other fantastic series, "The Lord of the Rings". King made no attempt to hide this and refers to it in each of his surprisingly-interesting forwards, but the thought of reading something so obviously "inspired" put me off. It was only after the release of the final book in the series I was persuaded to pick up "Gunslinger", and was appalled at how brilliant it was.
It's easy for people to say King's off his game, but he wasn't then and he isn't now - the final book, released only recently, is testament to this. "Gunslinger" is arguably everything that Stephen King isn't: beautiful, poetic, and not really horror. Technically it's fantasy, post-apocalyptic fantasy, and on top of that it's a Western of sorts. It's a glaring divergence from King's usual style, but what appalled me was that it was good. Very, very good, and despite the assumption that King's unfamiliarity with the genre would prove to be the novel's downfall, it is also full of everything that King is wonderful at: suspense, mystery, and very real characters.
A review column isn't the place for a synopsis, so I'll keep it brief. This book has one real character and that's the mysterious hero, the eponymous gunslinger who is a throwback from a bygone age that existed before the world "moved on". The brevity of the novel lends itself to this kind of storytelling, in which we follow a single character in a series of events, a tale told in a surreal, rippling narrative that is like looking through water at an alternate world. The other novels don't keep up this dreamlike form of storytelling, which makes "Gunslinger" all the more precious.
If you like King, you'll love this, regardless of the change in genre. If you pick this up and hate it, you'll still come away with a fresh idea on what novels are all about, reminded why people write. Simple story. Complex characters. You don't have to read the others if you don't like it, but if you want a fresh piece of fiction from an established super-writer, then for God's sake try "Gunslinger"!
A good 'part one' book., 02 Feb 2008
If you're thinking of getting this book I can't list a reason you shouldn't except that this really isn't a stand alone novel, rather it's an introduction to a world and a character to be taken up by the many later instalments of the series. Yes, it has it's own plot, but really it's just there to get us started on the journey. Thus, don't read this unless you're prepared to be hooked and end up forking out for all the others.
Having said that, it's hardly a major flaw and the book really is very enjoyable and extremely intriuging. King creates a world which is brutal, surreally dream-like and a million miles from anything else in fantasy, horror or any other genre. His protagonist is tragically human, his antagonist eerily sinister and beautifully cruel, and everyone who gets caught between them is made hugely sympathetic by their status as just that - something that gets caught in the way.
King's experience as a horror writer really comes across here, making this a fantasy world born of and premeated by the horror genre. The setting is a vast and desolate wasteland to which none of it's inhabitants really belong, lending the whole thing an eeriness that keeps the reader on edge throughout and adds a certain grotesque quality to much of what happens.
If you're a fan of King, a fan of horror, a fan of fantasy, or just a fan of really great storytelling then you should definitely check this out. But prepare to be hooked.
Horror made by humans for humans, 17 Nov 2008
I found this story by Stephen King a little unusual to his typical style of horror, but nevertheless, I thought it was an excellent idea and a gripping read. The horror in this book doesn't come from ghosts, vampires or an alien force, but from human terror inflicted by an imaginary/future government who organize an annual long walk for teenage boys. The winner has everything to gain and the losers have everyting to lose. The Long Walk is a frightening event and along it, the participants must learn how far they can push their bodies and minds.
One of King's best!, 01 Oct 2008
I found myself thinking about this book long after it was read.
Its a simple plot, enter a competition, walk for as long as you can and if your the last man standing, claim the ultimate prize. Yet, the simplicity of the plot contrasts with the emotional turmoil which plagues the contestants. They soon come to realise that fatigue is not the only challenge they face...and whilst they walk and fight for their lives, the Crowd watch on.
Not a scary book like Salems Lot but rest assured, this is horror. There are monsters, but not the type you would expect. In a way it feels a little similar to The Mist, the real enemy is the enemy within. spooky :)
One viewer gave this a 1 star rating because you don't find out the prize at the end of the story. I might be wrong but the prize is not relevant to the story or the reader. Worst of all, at the end of the book, the prize isn't even relevant to the contestants either.
Read it, love it.
Enjoy.
fantastic, 24 Apr 2008
really really good. i can't believe this isnt a film yet. it's such a great idea. it got me thinking about it for weeks. my advice would be though, get the bachman books collection, instead of buying the novels seperately
One of the best books King has ever written, 22 Apr 2008
This novel was the first full-length novel King ever wrote (completed whilst studying at the University of Maine when he was 19-20). It didn't see the light of day for another ten years until published under his Bachman pseudonym. Charting a competition where the winner takes a large prize in a dystopian future society, it follows the lead characters quest to win. If competitors fall below a certain minimum miles per hour walking pace they are shot. It is written in a very tight style (not used much in the horror novels he is famous for) and the reader is induced into a fast pace of reading in line with the competitors walking pace. I couldn't put the book down and had to read it at one sitting. The competition is a lottery where the defeated are killed and I think there is a strong allegorical parallel with the fate of young American boys during the Vietnam War (which was raging when the book was first written).
All around I think this is one of the finest of his books and deserves to be much better known. (It is now published as a stand-alone title, but can also be found within "The Bachman Books" title.
If you like this review, why not buy my own novel on amazon - "Freya's Quest" by Julian Lawrence Brooks
You will be with them every step of the way, 06 Dec 2007
One of King's finest tales- a brutal depiction of America as a militant state, where the mysterious major has devised a gruelling marathan- a 450 mile walk. It's only as the walk gets underway that you realise that opting out essentially means being shot.
King creates a vivid picture of the hopelessness and pain the long walkers experience. If you want to win, you must accept that all those with you must die. Ray Garraty, the hero of the story, questions why he entered the competition but never seems to question why it exists.
So well does King set the scene, that I swear my feet ached after reading this book. It is by no means a cheerful tale, but it is a tale of friendship, hope over adversity, tragedy and mildly like George Orwell's 1984. This is one of King's finest- certainly in the same league as the Shawshank redemption. It is also very moving and I will admit to shedding a tear or two.
Wolves of the Calla, 01 Apr 2008
And we're back on track! After the massive flashback segment in "Wizard and Glass" the real story of the series begins to drive forward once more, picking up soon after the conclusion of book four.
This story is a little different from previous instalments. The journey towards the elusive Dark Tower slows as the team, King's own "fellowship", stop to help a town that anticipates a violent and devastating attack from the "wolves", a group of almost-men who may kill or abduct their children. There are many secrets in this book, all of which are revealed satisfactorily, and many of the mysteries surrounding Roland's world are also uncovered - although there are just as many new questions as there are answers.
The writing is, as ever, great; the dialogue particularly brings such clarity to this aspect of King's complex series that you don't feel you're reading fantasy, which, as a writer of the genre myself, can often get bogged down in the narrative. King lightens the novel where it needs light, and darkens the novel when the various truths are revealed. Speaking of light and revelations, we see the protagonist Roland in an entirely new light, adding yet another layer to the full rounded character and his companions. It's wonderful and heart-breaking to see our beloved characters in this way, who by now feel like family.
Do we want Roland to succeed? Always. Do we want him to succeed at the expense of his companions, who are also our friends? There are new aspects of the Dark Tower, its substance and purpose, that almost make us think "maybe they aren't all that important after all ..."
Don't miss it. It's a series back on track after a minor slowdown, and it is so intriguing that you'll still be thinking about it weeks later.
Suspense of plots yet to come, 17 Dec 2007
As fantasy worlds go, the parallel earth of the "Dark tower" is unique and refreshing.
The book contains some five minutes of wonderfully written action and some fascinating characters. You can glimpse the true genius of the author throughout the book. Sadly Steven King uses over 400 of 611 pages to build suspense of plots yet to come, in the next instalments of the series. Longwinded is a description that leaps to my mind.
Reading the book is like arduously digging for gold, you find minute nuggets on the way that suggests it's worth your time. When you finally strike gold it's a nice brilliant lump, but you are left with the notion that the grind was not worth the effort.
If you are in need of instant gratification this book is not for you.
OMG!, 26 Sep 2007
Loved it!!!!! I found it hard to believe how brilliantly this was pulled off! Im not a huge Tephen KIng fan but alfter reading this (iv only read this one in the Dard Tower series) i went out and got all the others.
But this one is the best in the series.
Its the most griping book i'v ever read, most good books i read i have to stop reading alfter about 150 pages coz i useally start getting disstracted but this book i read about 500 pages of it (in about three and a half hours) then i HAD to put it down coz i needed to go to have dinner but i started reading it again straught alfter.
This is THE best book in the world along side: BEC by Darren Shan, and Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris.
The Plot Thickens, 18 Jul 2007
The key theme of this book is very strong so it is easy to keep track of the direction in which you are going. There are some bad guys and they needed to be dealt with and at the end of the day they will be. The side issues though are what makes the book interesting, the further development of the 'you exist because I think your think' theme, the rapid development of Roland's and Jake's characters, the scene setting for the next book and the tying together of loose ends from previous books, all these go towards making TWOC an enjoyable read. However, there are failings, certain characters play pivotal roles but they are not developed beyond the bare minimum necessary to carry the story. In contrast there is a certain amount of wastage going over old ground; TDT books are not intended to be read on there own so repetition from previous books is pointless. Luckily he does not fall into the trap of repeating huge swathes of the previous novels (ala Jean Auel), but there is sufficient to be annoying. All in all, not as good as WaG, but still very good indeed.
magnificent 4?, 14 Jun 2007
this book is king back to his best, a fast paced story that reeks of the magnificent seven. basically the ka-tet are hired by a village that is being attacked by wolves, which look like Dr. Doom on horseback and throw harry potter sneetches.
a great book that has plenty of action and a few twists. for me the last great book in the series before king starts to play god, literally.
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Customer Reviews
got hooked, 20 Oct 2008
oh WOW this book was great just glad what i got it i also got the other 2 as i have 3 to read one after the other i could not put them down and now i am waiting for the next one they are full of action and you get thinking that you are really living as cassie if you get in to your books like me and can get the pictures in you head as you read. you really get in to it a great book and left me wanting more not looking for all her books
Great Start to a Wonderful Series, 12 Oct 2008
Loved it! Wonderful characters, a swift moving plot, a deft sense of humour and a surprising ending--this book had it all. And unlike many series I've read, this one keeps getting better with each book. Claimed by Shadow, the sequel, is also a very strong title, and Embrace the Night, the third book in the series, is simply brilliant. The three work together to tell one complex and fascinating tale. Curse the Dawn, the fourth book, is out in April and I can't wait! If you're looking for something a bit different with a stronger plotline and better characterization than normal for genre fiction, this is it!
I really wanted to say I liked this book, 11 Oct 2008
This is the sort of book that anyone who reads Laurel K. Hamilton or Kim Harrison will probably end up reading.
It's set in an underground of vampires and werewolves that exists in parralel to the human world, and sees a female heroine do battle against the powers that be in that world.
One of my biggest grumbles about Hamilton and Harrison is the fact that there's too much 'love interest' and too little story in their books. That's why I turned to this book. I hoped that I'd get more story. I can't work out quite how wrong I was yet.
Don't get me wrong, the lead protagonist isn't jumping into bed with people, but the story (which sees her try and work out who's killing the Vampire Council in America and how to stop him) feels a little clunky all the same.
I don't know about you, but when I tell a story I try to weave the back story into the main text fairly seamlessly. I don't want people getting confused about what's going on, but I don't want the back story to get in the way of the story's flow either.
That didn't happen here. Every so often she'd stop to lay this whole exposition about the past on you.
This was ok at first, but it got on my nerves after a while. If you can get your head round that irritating tendency the author has, you might enjoy this book. If you can't you should go elsewhere.
I would read the sequel, 02 Sep 2008
Deliciously gory and sexy. I liked the well-established supernatural world that Chance created and her exploration of ideas. The magic involved was unusual (in that I hadn't come across it quite like that in a novel before) and the plot was interesting enough to keep me reading until the end, though I don't think I would read it again. The story is a series of detailed, lengthy scenes that takes place over a fairly short space of time and I did find the sometimes slow pace of events irritating at times, but I would buy and read the sequel for more.
Fascinating... Enjoyable, 27 Jul 2008
First book I have read by Karen Chance, and found it enjoyable.
I liked Cassie, at times she could be infuriating... but thats normal, charactors can't always do what you want them to do.
I liked the fact that we got loads more magical creatures like demons and mages, and can't wait to read the 2nd in this series.
I definately recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, vampire, werewolf type fiction.
got it, 20 Nov 2008
just got it will start reading soon :)
i got into a few lines and its quite addictive, niceee :D
Pretty good, 28 Sep 2008
I bought this recently, having never read (but often heard about) Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos.
I'm only about a third of the way through, but it seems pretty good (although the author does seem to have swallowed a thesaurus - and a particularly gibbous and over-nourished one at that, most likely recovered from some Stygian Pit that the mortal mind was not meant to know of). Plus, he does have some rather - ahem - "old fashioned" attitudes to race and class that can seem rather jarring to a modern reader.
This particular edition also does, unfortunately, have a number of typos in the text, some of which ("Necroriomicon", "clay" instead of "day", and "Gthulhu") suggest to me that the publishers had the original text scanned and digitised, but imperfectly. (I'm keeping a note of them as I find them, and will inform the publishers when I've finished the book).
Still, all said, I don't regret getting the book, and if you don't mind those faults, I'd certainly recommend this to anyone interested in the genera.
Just as I remembered!!, 14 Sep 2008
Excellent, worth the wait!! I remember reading this as a child, it's just as good as I remembered. Real Classic stuff!!
I recommend it to anyone looking for some good old creepy stories.
JOIN THE DARKSIDE!!!!, 19 Jul 2008
What can i say that already hasn't been said.
This is truly awesome, a complete collection of lovecraft in a well bound casebound book with faux Leather cover, in black.
All your favorites are there. If you're a real lovecraft fan this is deffinately for you.
And for a very reasanoble price.
100% recommended, buy now & join us on a truly Dark venture into the world of the one & the only H.P.lovecraft
Beautifully produced edition, but -2 stars for horrible tacky price sticker on the back, 28 Jun 2008
Finally a beautifully produced and complete edition of H.P. Lovecraft's works, but whoever at Gollancz/Orion decided to spoil each book with a tacky price sticker - not even put on straight - that leaves a sticky residue when removed (and believe me, it's tenacious) should be punished by the elder gods, or at least someone senior at the publishers.
Brilliant!!!!, 04 Nov 2008
I cannot recommend this series of books highly enough. I discovered the Sookie books by chance (after getting fed up with the Stephanie Plum series & searching the internet for something more interesting to read. Charlaine is a fantastic story teller and the books will suck you right in. I have told all my friends about these books and they have all enjoyed them as well.Once you finish one you will be dying for the next..
Imaginative dark vampire adventure...., 17 Oct 2008
After watching the first few episodes of True Blood on HBO, I was enthralled with what seemed to be a darker, more humorous updated version of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and discovered the series was based on a set of novels by Charlaine Harris.
I ordered the first four and read them within a week. Whilst they were markedly different from HBO's version, I quickly became involved with the characters and the world in and around Bon Temps.
The novel revolves around a mind reading waitress, her vampire boyfriend and the emergence of Vampire society. The setting of Louisiana is original | | |