The Dead Girls' Dance (The Morganville Vampires, Book 2)

Book Description

Claire has her share of challenges. Like being a genius in a school that favors beauty over brains; homicidal girls in her dorm, and finding out that her college town is overrun with the living dead. On the up side, she has a new boyfriend with a vampire-hunting dad. But when a local fraternity throws the Dead Girls' Dance, hell is really going to break loose.

Customer Reviews:

NOT MUCH OF A DANCE.......2007-10-05

I did enjoy reading it; however it did not live up to the 1st book. The character development is interesting though. Feels like it's slightly unfinished. Not a stand alone book-read book 1 first.

Couldn't put it down.......2007-06-15

I was lucky enough to pick this up just days after I'd read Glass Houses and had cooled off from facing the unwelcome cliffhanger that topped off what was otherwise a terrific book. As the other reviewers say, this picks up moments later and the action is non-stop until the end -- where we get another cliffhanger, though not QUITE as traumatic. I mean, this one you have to think about for the full scope of the potential trauma to set in.

The characters are getting more dimensional and interesting and the worldbuilding shows how intricate it is, hiding so many mysteries that we want to investigate. I don't usually like vampire novels, but this series has lots of original ideas in it -- and its characters carry them to even higher levels. The cliffhangers are frustrating, but I'm currently writing a series that has its own set so I guess I should welcome this as setting a precedent. Be assured that the basic plot of the book is complete within it; you won't be dissatisfied.

You'll also get some really good scares. Have fun reading it! (And Rachel Caine: WRITE FASTER!!!)

5 stars.......2007-06-12

Picking up right where Glass Houses ended, the story of Claire, Shane, Michael, and Eve not only continues, but turns up the volume and intensity. A cold war, cold as only vampires could make it, has been declared now that Shane's father and his vampire hunters have arrived. When one of the "leading citizens" among the undead is killed, Shane is implicated and his life forfeit unless his three friends can do something to stop it. Even those who claim to know he is innocent refuse to help, and so, Claire and Eve are forced to take desperate risks to save him. None of them could have foreseen the terrible prices that will have to be paid for the sake of love.

***** Book one in this series left me emotionally spent, in a good way. The intensity is cubed in this latest entry. It was hard to put this down for even the slightest break and, forget what happens to the kid with the scar and glasses, I want to know what happens next in Morganville. If you love to read about characters with whom you can get deeply involved, Rachel Caine is so far a one hundred percent sure bet to satisfy that need. I love her Weather Warden stories, and her vampires are even better. *****

Amanda Killgore

Much better then Glass Houses.......2007-06-06

I just recently finished this book and I definitely enjoyed it a lot more then Glass Houses. I sped through GH and didn't take it all in and on a second reading I was kind of disappointed (I would rate it 3 stars). But Dead Girls' Dance is a LOT better.

The story isn't as crazy this time around, all the introduction of the characters and the town is over and done with so you can now concentrate on the story itself which is turning out to be interesting.

I felt Glass Houses was a bit rushed, like Rachel tried to fit in too much stuff into the book. This one is much more even. The story is non-stop as it usually is in all of Rachel's book, but it doesn't feel rushed or overdone.

This book is short, but it squeezes a lot in - deaths, vampires, a crazy party and even a bit of romance. I'm glad Claire and Shane got together even though he still thinks Claire is a little bit too young for him.

When I finished Glass Houses I wasn't so enthused to read Dead Girls' Dance as I didn't enjoy the 1st book but I'm glad I read it now as it's a LOT better.

This book ain't no Weather Warden book (Rachel's other series, one of the best book series ever written), but it's still loads of good fun and a great quick read. I'm looking forward to the 3rd book, released in October. 4 stars.

4.5 stars. Leaves a lot of threads dangling........2007-05-22

Claire Danvers is a genius. She thinks studying and learning are fun. Since she is only sixteen, her parents will not allow her to attend college far away. They want to be able to drive up anytime they believe Claire needs them. Therefore, Claire attends Texas Prairie University (TPU). Due to problems with the previous dorm's popular girl, Monica Morrell, trying to kill her, Claire lives off campus at Glass House with three other house mates.

Claire is only now getting used to knowing that vampires rule the town and the local humans are pledged to certain vampires as life-long servants and blood donors. Anyone without a bracelet showing that he has Protection is nothing more than meat if he roams the streets after dark. It is a little more tolerable, thanks to her roommates. Eve has become Claire's best friend. Shane has become Claire's boyfriend. David is still strange, even though Claire now understands why David is never seen during the day. No, David is not a vampire, but that would be a blessing compared to what he is now.

Now a fraternity is throwing its annual Dead Girls' Dance. Amazingly, Claire and Eve have been invited. They have no idea WHY they were issued the invitation though. Since Claire is so young, she would have declined, except that Shane's father, along with a gang of bikers, are on a vendetta to kill all vampires. If humans get in the way, that's just too bad.

***** This book picks up EXACTLY where the first left off. If you have not read book one (Glass Houses), then you will find yourself lost a few times. Thankfully, this time the story does not end in the middle of something horrible, like a murder. It does, however, leave many threads dangling. I am still confused on when Claire's two days dead line got extended by her parents. Did the author forget about it? Loop hole? Who knows? Hopefully, the dead line will be explained in the third novel (Midnight Alley), due for release October 2007. Teens and Young Adults will not be the only ones to be enthralled by this series. If you like vampires, this is for you! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Maggie: The Sequel to The Dead Don't Dance

Average customer rating:

Martin has a GIFT!!!
Each segment of this story offers a singular lesson framed by faithful and enduring hope.
maggie
Endearing and Inspirational
A love story continued.......

Maggie: The Sequel to The Dead Don't Dance
Charles Martin
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Dead Don't Dance
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Chasing Fireflies: A Novel of Discovery
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ASIN: 1595540555

Book Description

"When Maggie opened her eyes that New Year's Day some seventeen months ago, I felt like I could see again. The fog lifted off my soul, and for the first time since our son had died and she had gone to sleep--some four months, sixteen days, eighteen hours, and nineteen minutes earlier--I took a breath deep enough to fill both my lungs."

Life began again for Dylan Styles when his beloved wife Maggie awoke from a coma. A coma brought upon by the intense two-day labor that resulted in heartbreaking loss. In this poignant love story that is redolent with Southern atmosphere, Dylan and Maggie must come to terms with their past before they can embrace their future.

Customer Reviews:

Martin has a GIFT!!!.......2007-09-10

Here I am again giving a Charles Martin novel 5 stars. I have read all but one of his novels and while I can't wait to start the next one, I am a bit slow to pick it up..what will I do when I finish it and don't have another one to move onto???? Mr. Martin has a gift. His words are soothing to the soul. His characters are so real. This book was a great follow up to "The Dead Don't Dance". I enjoyed reading it and highly recommend this book and all of Charles Martin's books to anyone who truly loves to read. Mr. Martin is a great story teller. I wish I had a few more stars to give!

Each segment of this story offers a singular lesson framed by faithful and enduring hope........2007-06-06

Fans of Charles Martin's THE DEAD DON'T DANCE happily will receive this moving sequel. Beginning where Martin's tale of husband and wife Dylan and Maggie Styles's loss of their newborn son and Maggie's subsequent slip into a coma left off, this follow-up opens with a brief explanation of the couple's horrendous experience. Dylan's voice speaks throughout the text with a raw edged candor, the kind born of grief. Though still suffering from the aftereffects of having held watch over his beloved Maggie during her four-month-plus coma, Dylan can't help but be awed by every move his wife now makes. Whether sleeping, eating or working in the garden, Dylan doesn't miss a beat if it concerns Maggie. His alertness to her movements is so beautifully depicted, readers instinctively understand how deep and abiding Dylan's commitment is to his wife and her full recovery.

As Maggie gains strength again, the yearning for another child becomes the topic around which their lives revolve. In both fear and wonder Dylan is greeted with the news that Maggie has conceived again. He can't help but trace his thoughts back to the results of her first pregnancy, the death of their baby and the coma. Dylan is preoccupied with the "what ifs" and Maggie takes note. Day by day, Dylan gives it his all to ensure Maggie's continued progress both physically and emotionally. Just when he starts to relax somewhat, the inconceivable occurs --- Maggie is assaulted and loses the baby. Another loss, coming so closely on the heels of the previous one, feels like a bombardment from every vantage point. After grief, tears and some physical mending, Maggie seems to rally at first. Then mounting despair pulls her down and away from Dylan.

Almost as destructive as the attack on Maggie, Dylan internalizes her silent rebuffs and attempts to continue loving her out of her depression. In every practical way possible, Dylan softens the blows of life for her. He doesn't tell Maggie that they've been rejected as potential adoptive parents. He doesn't explain how much it hurt to sell his truck in order to pay for the hefty loan to even apply for the adoption, nor does he tell her how deeply he struggled while she was "away" in her coma. Dylan's own despair forces him to ask difficult questions about life, faith and love. Meanwhile, Maggie is barely surviving on any front.

Amidst their personal woes, a few good friends supply slim assurances of hope with their small generosities and just enough encouragement to hang on for another day. As the climax of the story intensifies, both Dylan and Maggie must look within their hearts and decide whether or not they will allow the hurt, the anguish and the injustices of a fallen world to steal their future.

As readers contemplate the various life markers revealed by way of personal pain, rejection and bereavement, each segment of this story offers a singular lesson framed by faithful and enduring hope.

--- Reviewed by Michele Howe

maggie.......2007-03-12

As with all his other books, Charles Martin continues to hold you spellbound as you read Maggie

Endearing and Inspirational.......2007-03-02

Charles Martin is a Christian writer without being obvious about it, and this book is a story of redemption that will leave you feeling happy and uplifted about your fellow mankind. Don't try to rush through this one... rather take your time and fully absorb it as the author intended. It's well worth it. I'm glad that Martin is a young man--readers can look forward to many, many more inspirational stories from this author.

A love story continued..............2007-01-26

The "Dead Don't Dance" ends with Maggie Styles waking up from a coma after a traumatic labor and this book continues the story of Maggie and Dylan. Their problems are far from over and they struggle with many issues which begin to drive a wedge into their once-wonderful relationship. They are surrounded by an interesting array of characters from the first book and these characters are further developed and explained in "Maggie". Dylan and Maggie go through many frightening experiences, perhaps TOO many, but Charles Martin always seems to find a way out of seemingly hopeless circumstances without making his solutions too easy or too black and white in a gray world. Perhaps his biggest accomplishment is creating characters who, while certainly not perfect, are usually loveable and very human.

The Joe Leaphorn Mysteries: Three Classic Hillerman Mysteries Featuring Lt. Joe Leaphorn: The Blessing Way/Dance Hall of the Dead/Listening Woman

Average customer rating:

Three Joe Leaphorn Mysteries
You'll Enjoy Hillerman's Flights of Imagination
My first Hillerman book, it made me buy all the others!

The Joe Leaphorn Mysteries: Three Classic Hillerman Mysteries Featuring Lt. Joe Leaphorn: The Blessing Way/Dance Hall of the Dead/Listening Woman
Tony Hillerman
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Jim Chee Mysteries: Three Classic Hillerman Mysteries Featuring Officer Jim Chee: The Dark
Tony Hillerman: The Leaphorn & Chee Novels : Skinwalkers, A Thief of Time, Coyote Waits
Tony Hillerman: Leaphorn, Chee, and More: The Fallen Man, The First Eagle, Hunting Badger
Talking God (Jim Chee Novels)
The Shape Shifter (Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Novels)

ASIN: 0060161744

Customer Reviews:

Three Joe Leaphorn Mysteries.......2005-07-24

---"The Blessing Way"---

"He stirs, he stirs, he stirs, he stirs,"

"Among the lands of dawning, he stirs, he stirs.
The pollen of dawning, he stirs, he stirs.
Now in old age wandering, he stirs, he stirs.
Now on the trail of beauty, he stirs,
Talking God, he stirs..."
It is in the 1970's pre-cell phone where parallel lives take place. We have an Indian wanted for a stabbing who turns up dead. Not just dead but in the wrong place. Not the wrong place but in a mysterious way. There is also a team of archeologists looking into which craft (they just may find it). One archeologist seems to be missing. A strange Navaho has his hat stolen but the silver hat band left. A woman is coming to visit her fiancé is in for an adventure she did not count on. From all of this Joe Leaphorn must make some sort of sense.
It is the descriptiveness of Tony Hillerman that goes beyond the mystery to pant a picture of a different world that we get to glimpse in the process of reading.
Read the book but the addition of the voice of George Guidall ads a dimension to the story by helping visualize the people and correcting pronunciation of certain words. I suggest you read the book and listen to the recorded version.

----------------------------------------
---"Dance Hall of the Dead"---

The Fire God is missing

Twelve-year-old Ernesto Cata (Zuñi) is practicing to be the Fire God in a local ceremony. His best buddy George Bowlegs (Navaho) is a Zuñi wana-be.

Ernesto is missing and there is a pool of blood by his bike. The next day his buddy George runs off. It is up to Sgt. Joe Leaphorn to find the boys before anything happens to them (if it has not already.)

As with most of Hillerman's novels everyone has different agendas and stories that overlap. There are alleged stolen artifacts form and archeological dig, and possibly a drug interest. They may or may not interact. We also get a good dose of Zuñi culture, and a feel that we are in the area.

Hillerman is nice enough to leave sufficient clues to let you figure out the mystery before Leaphorn and you then get to watch as he finally comes around to your way of thinking.

Another book by Hillerman "The Boy who Made Dragonfly" further describes the dance hall of the dead (Kothluwalawa.)

Author's Note:
"In this book, the setting is genuine. The village of Zuñi and the landscape of the Zuñi reservation are depicted to the best of my ability. The characters are purely fictional. The view the reader receives of the Sha'lak'o religion is as it might be seen by a Navajo with an interest in ethnology. It does not pretend to be more than that."
--------------------------------
---"Listening Woman"---

A great cliff hanger

Joe Leaphorn can put the loose ends together even when no one else realizes there are loose ends. The story starts out with an old man being bludgeoned and later Leaphorn is intentionally almost rundown by a mysterious man in gold rimed glasses. He tries to tie these together. Then he uses an old robbery as an excuse to get out of a Boy Scout commitment and track down the antagonist. Needles to say the story gets more convoluted for everyone but Leaphorn.
This is an excellent story with the added plus of the description of the area and the Navaho that occupies this area. What seems at first to be over description later enhances the final scenes.
Speaking about the location and Navaho, even the schools, this story is even more enjoyable if you read "Seldom Disappointed" first. Tony describes how he comes by the plot and the people. He even goes out to locations first as research.
I have read the book but the addition of the voice of George Guidall adds a dimension to the story by helping visualize the people and correcting pronunciation of certain words. I suggest you read the book and listen to the recorded version.

You'll Enjoy Hillerman's Flights of Imagination.......2000-07-17

In this volume, encompassing three novels, we are introduced to Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, educated at a White college yet living on the reservation, and discover some of the ways of the Dineh, the people. The subject novels -- "The Blessing Way," "Dance Hall of the Dead," and "Listening Women" were written between 1970 and 1978, and deal with the effects of jealousy, greed, rage, and revenge brought onto the Navajo reservation by outsiders. Hillerman has an unerring talent for using small bits of Indian culture to weave convincing stories laced with an inticate pattern of mystery.

From day one, Hillerman has been a successful mystery writer. He writes with integrity about the lives of the Southwest Indians (emphasis on the Navajo) with perception and understanding. Hillerman has won many fans with his series of mysteries but some in the Navajo nation are disturbed over a White author writing about their "ways" even though Hillerman doesn't get into secret tribal matters. Regardless, Hillerman has fostered a lot of good will for the Navajo, the Zuni, and the Hopi with his large audience of readers.

Over the years, the possibilities inherent in the mystery formula have become exhausted. Hillerman has developed, within the framework of the formula, a Navajo policeman who solves crimes with a mixture of modern and ancient skills and also educates readers about Navajo beliefs. Hillerman's stories don't challenge a reader's intellect. That isn't the author's intention. What he produces is a likable hero, descriptions of fabulous scenery, unobtrusive murders, and the absorbing lives of the Navajo. The author ably works the White and the Idnian worlds as he explains the reality of Whites and some off-reservation Indians intruding on the reservation and the resulting conflicts. In Hillerman's mysteries the reservation Indians always win.

The author's writing skills are evident as he mixes the acts and thoughts of different individuals smoothly and coherently in "The Blessing Way." The author employs McKee, a close friend of Leaphorn, to do most of the work. McKee deduces, faces danger, solves dilemmas, but Leaphorn actually ties the loose ends together at the finale. Leaphorn reveals clues but you'll be none the wiser unless you have some knowledge of Southwestern weather, fauna, hieroglyphics, Indian beliefs, and similar arcana.

The author uses the "Dance hall of the Dead," to really educate a reader in SW Indian lore. The central point to the story is an archeological excavation and the disruption brought by the White man to the reservation. Navajo mysticism pervades this murder mystery. We learn about the Beautiful Mesa Families, who elected to die when Kit Carson arrived in 1864; Zuni Indian spirits who join the Kachinas and become one of them; the Navajo Chindi who spread sickness and evil among the Dineh; and the Shalako Ceremony which grants fertility to crops and brings needed rain to the desert regions of the reservation.

In the "Listening Women," Hopi ways are introduced as are the Navajo concepts of -- Remaining in harmony with the universe; Navajo wolves identified as men and women who turn from harmony to chaos and assume the guise of Coyotes, Dogs, Wolves, and Bears in order to spread sickness among the Dineh; Disharmonious sand paintings which can cause death; and Destruction of tradtitional Kiowa medicine bundles when the Buffalo disappeared. While this quantity of information might seem daunting to a reader, author Hillerman allows Joe Leaphorn to solve a murder while smoothly inculcating a reader in Native American lore.

The author has applied a gentle and refined twist to the mystery formula by creating an intriguing product employing Southwest Indian lore, the masterful Joe Leaphorn, and a little murder or two wrappoed up in a pleasing package. Try Tony Hillerman's mysteries, you'll enjoy his flights of imagination.

My first Hillerman book, it made me buy all the others!.......1997-11-10

The Joe Leaphorn mysteries by Tony Hillerman have become one of my favorite reads. I never thought that I would be interested in mysteries set on an indian reservation but this book changed all that. After reading this book I found and read every Hillerman book I could find and watch the lists for new ones. I have also learned a lot about reservation life and have a new-found respect and understanding of what life is like for the American Indian today. Kudos to Tony Hillerman!

The Standing Dead: Book Two of the Stone Dance of the Chameleon

Average customer rating:

Interesting
And it continues....
Another great book by Pinto
A struggle for substance
extremely complex world filled with deep social systems

The Standing Dead: Book Two of the Stone Dance of the Chameleon
Ricardo Pinto
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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The Chosen (The Stone Dance of the Chameleon, Book 1)
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The Granite Shield (Branion series, Book 3)

ASIN: 0312872097

Book Description

At the heart of The Three Lands, there is a paradise, filled with beauty and wonders of all kinds. A lush and vibrant place, it stands in sharp contrast to the baseness and squalor of the world outside the walls of Osrakum.

But this beauty comes at a cost. The Masters who rule the world are driven by sadistic dreams and mythic charms. They use their vast powers to leech the resources of the world unto themselves, to create an artificial haven where they play out twisted games of power amid a decadent splendor. Within the inner circle of power lies a glittering court where the royal houses plot vile atrocities, and madness and bestiality hold sway. The Masters are nothing less than gods in this realm and their plans (or whims) can bring either perfect pleasure... or death.

Young Carnelian has spent his entire life in exile with his father, a nobleman who rejected the evil ways of his people and fled to the ends of the known world. But forces conspired to change all that, and Carnelian returned to his homeland. He is a sheep among wolves, and it has taken every ounce of his strength to resist the temptations of power that threaten to seduce his very soul.

What Carnelian could never have imagined was that he would fall in love with none other than Osidian, one of the twin Gods, ruler of his world--or that forces far darker than he thought possible would use him as a weapon. When the young lovers are kidnapped by the Empress Ykoriana and forced from the safety of the empire, it appears that their lives are forfeit. But Carnelian and Osidian fall into the hands of barbarians from the southern plain they call the Undersky. These raiders manage to elude the legions of the Masters, and after enduring terrible hardships, they succeed in bringing their prizes home to their tribe.

Carnelian comes to realize that the world is much more bizarre than he could ever imagine, that love can sometimes blind you to things that may destroy you, that the simple things the heart can teach you will prove to be the most true....

And that he holds in his hands the potential to save or doom all of his world.

The Standing Dead is the powerful sequel to Ricardo Pinto's first novel The Chosen, and it continues this unique fantasy series about power, eros, and madness...and the depths a man will go to for love. It is the second volume in The Stone Dance of the Chameleon series, and he is currently at work on the third. Ricardo Pinto resides in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting.......2006-08-03

A real departure from the first book, "The Chosen" I prefer the first one because it just strikes me as more evocative work. It is really interesting however to watch Carnelian torn between the desire for a peaceful life and Osidian Nephron and watch the desire for peace (for once) actually win out over his supposed love for Osidian.

This book deals a great deal with the subjects of love, ambition and disaster. Osidian is unable to accept that he, the God-Emperor elect, has been dethroned through betrayal. Carnelian begs him to accept a life among the "barbarians" but Osidian has other plans. Namely, forging the plainsmen into an army so he can retake his throne.

An interesting novel, but I think I prefered the story of the Chosen of Osrakum to the story of Carnelian and Osidian living on the plains. No fault of the other, I simply prefered the first book, this book is still excellent!

And it continues...........2006-04-20

Not much more I can add here that I didn't already said in my review of The Chosen. My only complaint at this point is how long I'm having to wait for the third and final book.

I see from Amazon UK that the new release date is March 2007. I have to wait another year???? It better be good. After all this delaying the third book better wrap up everything perfectly! So, Ricardo, much pressure yet?

Another great book by Pinto.......2005-08-11

What a pleasure is to read a book so well written. Pinto continues developing the world introduced in The Chosen with a
richness of atmosphere and characters that makes one savour every sentence as if it were delicious food. The plot and characters have the depth and complexity one only finds in series like Dune or Hyperion, and one can't help but caring for all of them. I highly recommend this book and the series. I can't wait for the third installment!

A struggle for substance.......2003-06-17

In 2000's highly acclaimed "The Chosen", debut author Pinto chose style over substance and vision over plot. And he did so with some brilliance. "The Chosen" was, summarily put, an intelligent and convincing (if somewhat gruesome) portrayal of an oligarchic and dominant master race - "The Chosen", or "Masters" - caught up in their internal feuds and machinations, whilst around them simple humanity suffered in their name in a world somewhat reminiscent of, say, old China.

The problem with "Chosen" was, however, both simple and profound: it had little or no plot. It was a wonderful - even grand - canvas, but it hardly moved an inch.

In "The Standing Dead" - the second part of what seems to be a trilogy - Pinto has had to face this drawback by attempting to to drive the story forwards. He's done so bravely, but with less than perfect results.

Essentially, the story in "Dead" takes off where "Chosen" left off: with Pinto's protagonist Carnelian, along with his new-found lover Osidian, being held captive by what turns out to be a simple bunch of slavers. On their way to cash in on their prize, the slavers are attacked by Tribesmen from the Outer Reach (a people dominated by the Chosen and forced to proffer a number of their childern as slaves regularly, but otherwise left generally unmolested). Carnelian and Osidian are then taken by the Tribesmen to their home - the Koppie - where Carnelian becomes enamoured of the local customs, whilst Osidian becomes an increasingly dominating and debilitating force in the local community, slowly destroying their (imagined) rural peace.

The rest of the story follows these lines - Carnelian's basic goodness and Osidian's essential decrepitude being portrayed in equally stark measure - without hardly a single twist (or even an occasional surprising insight) to enliven matters.

What this means is that, in terms of plot, "Dead" is basically a one-way street. You can see what's coming, then it comes. And then it comes again. And throughout, you find yourself wondering, with increasing puzzlement, why Carnelian (or anyone else you may care about, for that matter) doesn't simply *do* something, instead of letting all hell slowly settle around them.

Given "Chosen's" weakness (style over substance, vision over plot), this is not that surprising. Whilst Pinto does try to provide a better storyline this time round, he's still struggling. He's great at painting portraits, at depicting static visions - but he's still not good at action. In fact, he doesn't seem to understand the concept all that clearly: "Dead" hardly contains a character that seems alive - that appears capable of moment of his or her own accord. To put it another way: Pinto's moulding his cast to fit his vision, instead of allowing them to embody that vision themselves. And, more strongly than in "Chosen", the vision we're talking about is ultimately one of horror: this book doesn't end on a happy note, to say the least.

That ending, by the way, reminded me of a combination of "Heart of Darkness" and just about any good modern-day horror story you might like to come up with (Stephen King's Pet Semetary, for example). And it must be said that Pinto pulls this off with considerable skill; it is in the closing chapters that his undeniable writing skills combine with his subject material and he manages to create something very memorable.

Still, a capacity for convincing and intelligent horror is, in itself, perhaps insufficient for being a great fantasy author. And since Pinto has embarked on what can only be judged as an epic fantasy, he should be judged along those lines.

In my view, in "Dead", he is yet found wanting, despite obvious and enviable talents. Perhaps the next (and final) volume will re-address this, perhaps not. Assuming that it will conclude this story, it should, in any case, answer many questions.

extremely complex world filled with deep social systems.......2003-03-15

Masters Carnelian and the God-Emperor elect Osidian are lovers. However, the latter's enemies have slavers kidnap them. The duo is fortunate that the nomadic Ochre tribe rescue them on the dangerous Earthsky. Carnelian, who grew up outside the hedonistic capital of the Three Lands, Osrakum, adapts to the tribe's way of life and quickly becomes assimilated. On the other hand, Osidian is in a depression but also believes these wild wanderers are beneath him and fails to communicate with anyone except his lover.

As Osidian heals in mind and body, he becomes angry with those who betrayed him. He seeks vengeance and realizes this tribe is the first cannon fodder tool to succeed. Carnelian tries to talk him out of it as he enjoys his new lifestyle and just wants to live in peace. However, the charismatic Osidian begins rallying the impressionable young around his cause while Carnelian attempts to stop the rising tide.

As he did in his first book THE CHOSEN of the Stone Dance of the Chameleon trilogy, Ricardo Pinto paints an extremely complex world filled with deep social systems. The varying races and tribes seem so authentic and the Masters come across as the ruling God-like upper caste. Though it helps to read the first novel because the audience will have a greater understanding of the predicament that the lead couple face at the start, fans of violent barbaric fantasy that hides nothing will appreciate the middle endeavor.

Book Description

"COMPELLING . . . NOBODY WRITES A CHASE BETTER THAN PERRY."

  *The Washington Post Book World

When eight-year-old Timothy Decker finds his parents brutally murdered, it's clear the Deckers weren't the intended victims: Timothy's own room--ransacked, all traces of his existence expertly obliterated *is the shocking evidence. Timothy's nanny, Mona, is certain about only one thing. Timmy needs to disappear, fast.

Only Jane Whitefield, a Native American "guide" who specializes in making victims vanish, can lead him to safety. But diverting Jane's attention is Mary Perkins, a desperate woman with S&L fraud in her past. Stalking Mary is a ruthless predator determined to find her *and the fortune she claims she doesn't have. Jane quickly creates a new life for Mary and jumps back on Timmy's case . . . not knowing that the two are fatefully linked to one calculating killer. . . .

"Spellbinding . . . Terrific . . . Jane Whitefield may be the most arresting protagonist in the 90s thriller arena. . . . Thrillers need good villains, and this one has a formidable SOB who is cold-blooded enough to satisfy anybody's taste."

  *Entertainment Weekly

"A terse thriller . . . Perry starts the story with a bang."

  *San Francisco Chronicle

Customer Reviews:

Extremely Disappointing.......2007-09-24

I really enjoyed the first Jane Whitefield book and was eager to read the second. Yuck. Jane was totally unappealing this time around; the plot was incredibly contrived. She has, all of a sudden, a lover. Their conversation is contrived and stilted. She acts like a teenager about his phonecalls. What gives?

I was bored by the long descriptions of how money was stolen from savings and loans. The descriptions of sadism were unnecessary. Jane does all kind of illegal things and gets away with all of them, including killing people. She performs tasks such as climbing fences and running for miles that seem impossible to me. She sees people from long distances away in office windows and can tell whether they are bosses or secretaries.

In the first book, the Native American sequences were woven in seamlessly. Here they were a mere add on.

And then, just when I thought I would make it through to the end, I'm stuck in the head of this sadistic guy who's after her. Yuck again. This will be my last Jane Whitefield.

Thomas Perry is a great author!.......2006-12-14

I have read all of Thomas Perry's books. He is a great author! He manages to combine huge amounts of action and suspense with literate writing and well-developed, sensitive and interesting characters. "Dance for the Dead" is about Jane Whitfield, my favorite Thomas Perry character. Jane is a Seneca Indian who grew up near Niagara Falls, and the book is loaded with Indian history. Jane saves people by giving them a new identity and helping them to hide from whatever trouble they are in. This puts her in a lot of danger and provides plenty of opportunity to meet interesting people. Since her life is so dangerous, she keeps a very low profile and doesn't have much of a social life. In this book, she begins a romance with a doctor from her hometown who she has known for a long time, but thankfully this series really sticks to the action and adventure, and never veers too far into romance territory. As other reviewers have noted, it makes me really happy to find a male author who chose to write about such a take-charge, capable woman. I would recommend this whole series to anyone who likes well-written action adventure.

Love Jane!.......2005-04-10

I love books that are both exciting and actually teach me something--trusts and banking--without slowing down the story. Jane is a fascinating character, a Native American whose culture and history are provided through visions and dreams, who is capable and inventive. This is a very good book in a fascinating series.

Needs something........2004-09-14

You know when someone is cooking something on the stove and they want you to taste it? You take some off the spoon and it tastes good,but it needs a little something to make it better. Maybe a dash of salt? or pepper? That's the way I feel about Thomas Perry's books. He writes interesting characters, I love Jane W.,and his plots are plausible and engaging, but there is just something missing that I can't quite put my finger on.

I found the romance with Dr. McKinnon to be rushed and contrived. It's not unusual to develop romantic feelings for a long time friend but it is unusual to propose marriage to her right after making love for the first time. It would have read much more realisticly to let this relationship develop over two or more novels.

Dance for the Dead, was my fourth or fifth Perry novel. So far, I haven't been blown away like many other reviewers have. Until Perry finds that dash of something, he'll always be a 3 star writer to me.

Go Jane!.......2004-03-02

I'm not a big fan of mystery/suspense novels, but one dull Sunday afternoon I saw this book sitting on my parents' coffee table, and began flipping through it. The concept hooked me almost at once -- there's something enormously appealing about Jane Whitefield and her endless supply of ingenuity as she helps people create new identities. I read my way through the series and strongly recommend the books to anyone. Sure, Jane's clever escapes and rescues occasionally stretch credulity, but that's part of the fun of reading fiction. I like it when the good guys win, thanks.

Book Description

A touching tale that is part love story, part loss, and part discovery-but all triumph.

A sleepy rural town in South Carolina. The end of summer and a baby about to be born. But in the midst of hope and celebration comes unexpected tragedy, and Dylan Styles must come to terms with how much he's lost. Will the music of his heart be stilled forever-or will he choose to dance with life once more, in spite of sorrow and heartbreak?

Customer Reviews:

The Dead Don't Dance.......2007-10-06

I like the way Charles Martin writes. I used to only read books written by
women. But after reading Crickets Don't Cry by C. Martine i was hooked.

Martin is a GIFTED writer!.......2007-08-30

This is the third book I have read written by Charles Martin and also the third to get 5 stars! His characters are so real. They grab your heart and pull..in all directions. I was deeply touched by the feelings of the main male character. He was just so genuine and honest. Charles Martin's novels are the kind of books that make you want to be a better person once you finish reading them. Amazing!

Real life reading.......2007-08-13

I read this book after I read "When Crickets Cry" and although a bit different it had the same real life feel. Mr Martin knows how to tell a story and hooks you almost immediately. I think his books would make awesome movies too!

Powerful read.......2007-02-27

In a world of books that are predictable and lack true depth, The Dead Don't Dance stands alone-far above the rest. Charles Martin's language is phenominal and the story flows so easily across the pages. Few books evoke such wrenching emotions as this. Dylan speaks with such raw honesty that the reader's heart cannot be left behind as he muddles through and often seems to suffocate in the midst of agony. And yet, the so true-to-life events that surround him on a daily basis lead him and the reader along the healing path that none could dismiss as simply "fiction". A wonderfully insightful and poignant read.

Where have you been all my life!??.......2007-02-26

I positively loved this book! A great story all the way through. There is just nothing bad to say about this writer. I liked it so well that I bought all that he had out which was 4 at this time. I'm anxiously waiting the next one! I generally get my books from the library but this one is one to share with all my friends and relatives and then keep.

Average customer rating:

Good and interesting read
Compare and contrast
Dance Hall of the Deat
Among Hillerman's Best
The Fire God is missing

Dance Hall of the Dead
Tony Hillerman
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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The Ghostway

ASIN: 0061000027
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Book Description

Two young boys suddenly disappear. One of them, a Zuni, leaves a pool of blood behind. Lt. Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal Police tracks the brutal killer. Three things complicate the search: an archeological dig, a steel hypodermic needle, and the strange laws of the Zuni. Compelling, terrifying, and highly suspenseful, "Dance Hall of the Dead" never relents from first page til last.

Download Description

Loaded with e-book extras (not available in the print edition), including Tony Hillerman's running commentary on his work, his series heroes Leaphorn and Chee, and a special profile of the Navajo nation.

Customer Reviews:

Good and interesting read.......2007-06-17

My first book by this author, and if I get a hand on another I will gladly read it. The mystery plot is quite decent and the cultural background mixed into it makes the reading also a learning experience. It is not a bad thing to pickup bits and pieces of information about topics that one would never make inquiries into. Even though that some experts in the field might argue that the author does not portray the native Indian groups involved in the novel correctly, I think that it is still quite sufficient for a general knowledge, after all if you really want to know about native Indians you would not get it out of mystery novels.

Compare and contrast.......2007-01-13

George Bowlegs is a curious and unusual Navajo boy. There are certain things George is not allowed to know. Ed Pasquaandi is the Chief of Police, Zuni. He is discussing a jurisdictional dispute with Joe Leaphorn. Leaphorn is summoned to help find George Bowlegs. Leaphorn had had a Zuni roommate his freshman year at Arizona State.

Leaphorn finds that two boys are missing. In addition to Bowlegs there is a Zuni boy named Ernesto Cata. Cata is to be Shulawitsi, the Fire God, in a Zuni ceremony, the Shalako. Leaphorn learns from a younger brother that George Bowlegs is running away from the Kachina, a mask representing ancestral spirits. The younger brother believes that Ernesto is breaking a taboo in talking to George about Zuni rituals.

George had intended to find out about the Kachina in school; but he had run off when he learned that Ernesto was missing and investigators had found blood. Ernesto had stolen something from the archaeologists. Leaphorn interrupts Ted Isaacs, apprentice archaeologist and graduate student, digging at the site of a Folsom hunting camp. He learns that a more senior archaeologist sent the boys away from the site several days earlier and that they had not returned.

It seems that George is studying to be a Zuni, really an impossibility, although a nineteenth century arcaeologist, Frank Cushing, had been made a member of the tribe. George is claiming that Ernesto can make him a member of the Badger clan. Visiting some white people, 'hippies', at a hogan deserted by the Indians since there had been a death there, Leaphorn sees the man-bird, the Kachina.

At the hogan of the Bowlegs family, Leaphorn discovers Shorty Bowlegs, George's father, dead. The hogan of the Bowlegs family is visited by Leaphorn after his observation of the funeral rites for Ernesto Cata who had also died.

In reporting the deaths offically, Leaphorn finds that there are two investigators involved, one from the FBI and the other from the Bureau of Narcotics. Leaphorn is driven to realize that he doesn't respect the FBI agent, O'Malley, and O'Malley doesn't respect him since there is a refusal to share information.

In the end the solution to the deaths, (George Bowlegs dies, too), lies in understanding the essential nature of majoritarian and Indian cultures. Joe Leaphorn is shocked. The reader shares his dismay. The book is a marvel.

Dance Hall of the Deat.......2005-08-16

Tony Hillerman's stories are always captavating and this is definately one of the best.

Among Hillerman's Best.......2004-12-08

First published in 1973, DANCE HALL OF THE DEAD was and is still considered among the best of Tony Hillerman's "Joe Leaphorn" novels, a series set on Southwestern Native American lands and following the adventures of Lt. Leaphorn as he investigates crimes on the reservation. In this particular novel, Leaphorn, a Navajo, is summoned to Zunni lands to assist in a particularly unpleasant crime: a Zunni teenager's blood has soaked the land, but his body is missing--and so is the Navajo teenager who was with him.

As usual, Hillerman writes in a strong prose voice, and much of the novel's interest stems from his depiction of the character, traditions, and lore of Native Americans who live on the reservation. Unlike some other Hillerman novels, the plot is fairly tight and does indeed live up to its description as a mystery--but even so the mystery here is remarkably transparent; even the most niave reader should be able to spot both killer and motive in the first quarter of the novel. That is unfortunate--but still, Hillerman's expert prose and his portrait of Native American society make DANCE HALL OF THE DEAD an interesting, entertaining, and often informative read. Generally recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

The Fire God is missing.......2004-10-23

Twelve-year-old Ernesto Cata (Zuñi) is practicing to be the Fire God in a local ceremony. His best buddy George Bowlegs (Navaho) is a Zuñi wana-be.

Ernesto is missing and there is a pool of blood by his bike. The next day his buddy George runs off. It is up to Sgt. Joe Leaphorn to find the boys before anything happens to them (if it has not already.)

As with most of Hillerman's novels everyone has different agendas and stories that overlap. There are alleged stolen artifacts form and archeological dig, and possibly a drug interest. They may or may not interact. We also get a good dose of Zuñi culture, and a feel that we are in the area.

Hillerman is nice enough to leave sufficient clues to let you figure out the mystery before Leaphorn and you then get to watch as he finally comes around to your way of thinking.

Another book by Hillerman "The Boy who Made Dragonfly" further describes the dance hall of the dead (Kothluwalawa.)

Author's Note:
"In this book, the setting is genuine. The village of Zuñi and the landscape of the Zuñi reservation are depicted to the best of my ability. The characters are purely fictional. The view the reader receives of the Sha'lak'o religion is as it might be seen by a Navajo with an interest in ethnology. It does not pretend to be more than that."

Average customer rating:

Definately entertaining for Raimi and Campbell fans particularly...
Evil Dead Companion
If you're an Evil Dead fan, you will enjoy this book
Your Evil Dead Source
A wonderful look at the first movie in need of an update.

The Evil Dead Companion
Bill Warren
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0312275013

Book Description

Don't you see, Ash, they're alive!In the dank cellar of a dilapidated cabin tucked away in a great forest, there is a book, bound in human skin, and filled with incantations writ in blood. To read the words therein is to release a hideously unspeakable force....The Evil DeadRigorously made on an almost absent budget in the backwoods of Tennessee, the film was a phenomenal success - the true definition of "cult film" -- launching the careers of its director, Sam Raimi; producer, Bob Tapert; and star, Bruce Campbell. It also spawned two deliriously different and wildly inventive sequels, The Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn and Army of Darkness, which have won over legions of fright-fans around the globe. At last, acclaimed film critic Bill Warren takes us on a no-holds-barred behind-the-scenes tour of the making of the three films, including exclusive interviews with key cast and crew; rare and previously unpublished photographs, storyboards, and concept sketches; harrowing tales of hardship, discomfort, and practical jokes; and much more. Enough to keep any puss-oozing deadite drooling through the night.Join us!

Customer Reviews:

Definately entertaining for Raimi and Campbell fans particularly..........2007-04-16

This book is very well written with a great deal of humor to keep it from dragging. It's quite heavily 'Evil Dead'-centric, although the treatment of 'Evil Dead II' and 'Army of Darkness' are still highly entertaining. If you are a fan of any of the movies, or any of the key actors or crew (ie. mainly Bruce Campbell or Sam Raimi), you'll find this quite amusing. I am finding quite a bit of overlap between this book and Bruce Campbell's "If Chins Could Kill," but not enough to damage my enjoyment of either one. As a huge Ted Raimi fan, I thought this book was worth buying simply for the three paragraph or so description of how his older brothers used to torment him as a child...Chinese water torture, anyone?? The pictures are also spectacular; black-and-white never hurt anyone before. They give a lot of good behind-the-scenes expressions that would be totally missing if you only watch the movies. Plus, who wouldn't love photos of all the major players as cute little pre-teens... Overall, this book was well worth what I payed for it, and will provide endless reading and re-reading hours of enjoyment.

Evil Dead Companion.......2007-02-20

If you're an Evil Dead fan then you'll like this one. Interesting reading.

If you're an Evil Dead fan, you will enjoy this book.......2004-03-23

The Evil Dead Companion is about the movie, Evil Dead. If you haven't seen it, you should see Evil Dead II (funnier and not quite as disturbing). Then, if you're drunk, see Army of Darkness. Then come back to this review -- it won't make much sense otherwise.

In the bookstore, I picked up the Evil Dead Companion, flipped through it, and put it back down. It seemed mildly interesting, but it didn't have enough to hold my attention. I forgot about it.

Then for Christmas, lo and behold, Maleficent bought it for me. So I figured it'd be worth a good read, especially in fleshing out my D20 Modern supplement, Evil Dead: Swallow This! If you don't know what that is, 1) shame on you, 2) visit my web site for more details.

Bill Warren's a fan of Raimi and Bruce and co. A big fan. In fact, he's so much of a fan, there's a slant to the material that wasn't quite hard-hitting enough for my tastes. I submit this evidence at the end of the book:

These guys from Detroit are among the most decent, likeable people this writer has ever met, and it has been an enormous pleasure, one of the greatest of my professional life, to have been associated with them.
Okay, WHOA. I really like Bruce Campbell. When I finally do meet him, I'll proably make a stuttering idiot of myself. But come on now. Even if this is true, and I'm sure it is, would you be quite so effusive with the praise?

Also, a good chunk of the book -- pages 180 through 251 -- is a summary of the script with commentary from Bruce. Some if it's interesting. Some of it is irritating in its lack of specifics. It's not the REAL script, it's a summary.

But I'm griping about things that ultimately should be meaningless to a true-blue (true-red?) fan of Evil Dead. The book actually is more about the first movie, Evil Dead, than Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness because...well because that's what Sam and Bruce wanted to talk about most.

The stories are funny. Sam takes a wicked glee in abusing Bruce. And the early days of filming were hell -- literally and cinematically. The behind the scenes stuff is interesting.

The writer makes a half-hearted attempt to make the book an inspirational tale. The idea being that if Sam can do it, you can do it. But that isn't true at all. These friends were all connected to other people who were hell-bent on making movies too. In short, the average hopeful filmmaker is probably NOT working with a bunch of other guys who were ultimately making it on their own. In my experience, the average filmmaker is a kid in a basement trying to film stuff on his own. Sam and Bruce were talented guys with a level of desperation and daring most sane people aren't willing to go. And oh yeah, they don't appear to have had long-term relationships at the time either.

The book's becoming rapidly outdated. I checked all the web sites listed in the back and over 50% of them are gone. The game mentioned, Hail to the King, came and went.

In short, if you're an Evil Dead fan, you will enjoy this book. A lot of the quotes are taken from other sources vs. interviewing (I can write a book that way too, duh), but there's enough hidden gems that make it worthwhile. If you're not that big a fan, this book will probably bore you pretty quickly.

Your Evil Dead Source.......2003-06-02

As a fan of the Evil Dead movies, I felt like I had to buy this book.. because it's the only Evil Dead Trilogy source I knew of..
Unfortunately, the book is all black and white, no colored pictures except for the cover and back cover.
The book is focused on the first film (which is, in my opinion, the best), but it covers the other ones too.. Unfortunately, I think an awesome trilogy like Evil Dead diserved a better book, with colored pictures and this kind of stuff... The pros are basically that it's the only Evil Dead Movies-only book in here; the cons are mainly because of the black-and-white-only pictures, and because almost half of this book is a transcription of the crew's comments for the movies (which are taken from the serie's DVDs), and this is a waste..
But, as Evil Dead fans, I think we should all buy it...

A wonderful look at the first movie in need of an update........2003-02-25

It really says something about the quality of this book when most of the reviews can only grumble about that lack of color pictures, or the lack of in depth study given to Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn and Army of Darkness. While the lack of color pictures did not bother me at all, the rather abbreviated look at the making of the two sequels (as well as Raimi's other movies) left me wanting, especially in comparison to the wonderful amount of information in the first half on how this tightly knit team of friends became one of the most beloved cult movie producers of the 1980s and 1990s. Quite literally the books reads like a fly on the wall look at the filmmakers baptism by fire, then it shifts gears to..."and they went on to make this, this, and this and lived happily ever after." A little more depth and time about the professional differences in making Dead II and Army of Darkness from the first movie would have been rewarding. Not helping are the concluding chapters which offer nothing but detailed descriptions of the on screen action in the ED trilogy with parenthetical comments by Bruce Campbell. Author Bill Warren refers to it as a DVD commentary on paper. To this reader it just felt like padding. Nonetheless, more than a few fans will find reflections of themselves in this group of movie makers to be and I don't think any admirer of Raimi and Company will want to do without it. Highly recommended.

Dead Boys Can't Dance: Sexual Orientation, Masculinity, and Suicide

Average customer rating:

Dead Boys Can't Dance: Sexual Orientation, Masculinity, and Suicide
Michel Dorais , and Simon L. Lajeunesse
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The Cinema of George A. Romero: Knight of the Living Dead (Directors' Cuts)

Average customer rating:

A little forced...
Romero - More than just a zombie maker
A Well-Deserved Comprehensive Critical Treatment
Why do they come here?

The Cinema of George A. Romero: Knight of the Living Dead (Directors' Cuts)
Tony Williams
Manufacturer: Wallflower Press
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Book Description

The Cinema of George A. Romero: Knight of the Living Dead is the first in-depth study in English of the career of this foremost auteur working at the margins of the Hollywood mainstream in the horror genre. In placing Romero's oeuvre in the context of literary naturalism, the book explores the relevance of the director's films within American cultural traditions and thus explains the potency of such work beyond 'splatter movie' models. The author explores the roots of naturalism in the work of Emile Zola and traces this through to the EC Comics of the 1950s and on to the work of Stephen King. In so doing, the book illuminates the importance of seminal Romero texts such as Night of the Living Dead (1968), Creepshow (1982), Monkey Shines (1988), The Dark Half (1992). This study also includes full coverage of Romero's latest feature, Bruiser (2000), as well as his screenplays and teleplays.

Customer Reviews:

A little forced... .......2006-07-14

Well written, but a little forced. The author's preconceived theory (a connection between Romero's works and the literary Naturalism inspired by Emile Zola) overwhelms almost every other aspect of his critical analysis and prevails on more objective aspects of Romero's art; not to mention the historical and documentary insight, which is very poor here. Unfortunately, Williams never doubts of his critical intuitions in this book, despite G. A. Romero himself never mentioned any link between his movies and Zola or others. Maybe a relashionship between Naturalism and Romero could have been an interesting idea, but to say that every single element of his work is probably linked to Dreiser, Zola or Norris, is really too much. Nevertherless, the book examines every single movie of Romero's filmography as far as "Bruiser": it is the most exhaustive (even if one-sided) critical essay about his films up to now.

Romero - More than just a zombie maker.......2006-02-22

I doubt there's a single horror-movie fan on this entire earth who doesn't know who George A. Romero is, the creator of zombie classics Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Day of the Dead (and the fourth one, Land of the Dead, however, this movie hadn't yet been made when The Cinema of George A. Romero came out and thus it's not included in the book).

But Romero is more than just a creator of zombies, and Tony Williams presents in his book a study of all Romero's movies, not just the ones where the living dead stumbles around in the streets, looking for the next human being they can get a snack from. Romero is a creator of movies where he likes to make a point, or points; he has tons of thoughts and ideas - and especially social criticism - that he includes in his work, and Williams manages to offer a clear picture of Romero's complete production and the reasons as to why it looks the way it does.

This is most definitely a book for movie-lovers, and even though it happens to be a scholarly book this still doesn't mean that movie-lovers who are not scholars cannot get something good out of it. Or put in other words, The Cinema of George A. Romero is a book that can be read by all, scholars as well as non-scholars.

But even though Romero, as we all know, not only masters how to create creepy zombies it's still these creatures and the movies they star in that most people think of when they hear his name. And perhaps that isn't much of a surprise, considering how immensely popular they still are, despite having been made quite a few years ago. The horror genre of today isn't what it used to be, and most contemporary horror flicks are "almost entirely devoid of social meaning and dependent upon gratuitous sensationalism" (p. 21).

Well, not so with the ones made by Romero, and this book will most definitely tell you the reasons why.

A Well-Deserved Comprehensive Critical Treatment .......2006-02-07

I am submitting these comments largely to serve as a sort of counterpoint to those of N. P. Stathoupolous. Mr./Ms. Stathoupolous's point regarding the arid, academic tenor of this work is valid. I would suggest, however, that the popular critical evaluations of Romero's better known films for which Mr./Ms. Stathoupolous is looking have already been published; while a comprehensive academic evaluation of the whole of Romero's oeuvre was lacking. I feel that Mr. Williams has done a great service to american cinephiles by giving Romero's corpus the complete exegesis that it deserves. It is unfortunate that the academic community has a general tendency to view the horror genre as somewhat less than true cinematic art. I think it would be an equal disservice for the genre fans of Romero's zombie films to similarly dismiss Mr. Williams' fine work out of hand.

Why do they come here?.......2004-09-21

When you see a book titled 'The Cinema of', you know it's supposed to be serious. (Instead of 'The Films of', 'The Movies of', etc.)

Williams, who did a good book about families in the American horror film (Hearths of Darkness) asserts that much of Romero's work is connected with the naturalist tradition of writers like Zola. He also traces lines to EC comics, and connects up Romero works like Dawn of the Dead with the director's hometown of Pittsburgh and a certain vision of a consumerist society that masks a certain social decay.

The problem with books like this, however good the points they make, is often the language and the presentation. There is a large body of Romero fans, particularly Dawn of the Dead fans who may appreciate a 'serious' consideration of the director's films (or his 'cinema'). However, I think most fans are alienated by work like this, which is too stuck in academia and is often bloated by unnecessarily flowery language and interpretation to appeal to the people who are watching these films regularly. It's unfortunate, because film is such a mass, popular medium, and yet the academic study of the medium is too stuck in the ivory tower. It seems like you can't just write the obvious, or even just discuss the films if you want to be taken seriously. In order to be write a 'serious' book about an American indie's 'cinema', you have to wrap it up in frameworks that are as lifelike as some of Romero's zombies. The book certainly has good points to make and provides some food for thought (or flesh for thought), but I found it a bit much at times as Williams almost painfully recounts scenes from the films with weighty pronouncements (not particularly backed up) and also, annoyingly, gets names and quotes wrong (fact-checking).

Maybe Romero will return to the sub-genre he created with a film about zombies running rampant in a university...

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