Book Description
M.J., her partner Gilley, and their client, the wealthy, de-lish Dr. Steven Sable, are at his family's lodge, where his grandfather allegedly jumped to his death from the roof-although Sable says it was foul play. But the patriarch's isn't the only ghost around. The place is lousy with souls, all with something to get off their ghoulish chests. Now M.J. will have to to quell the clamor-and listen for a voice with the answers...
Customer Reviews:
Very disappointing.......2007-10-04
I couldn't even finish this book, I made it halfway through and couldn't take the romantic interest any longer. I've never not finished a book before, but with all the "How you say.." crap I couldn't take it and I really wanted to like it. Most of the reviews were good ones I just don't understand what I missed. I even tried to give it another chance but still couldn't get into it.
Fun new series!.......2007-09-06
I am ashamed to say that I did not purchase this book, but read it from the library. I am a loyal fan of Abby Cooper, so for some reason I resisted change and did not think I could like this series as well. Chalk another up for Ms. Laurie, I loved it!! It gave me the creepy crawlies at times, but that was part of the fun. MJ is a likeable character, and even though I'd normally say there's overuse of the "gay best friend" in chick lit land, Gilley is a good sidekick for MJ. My only teensy weensy dislike was that Steven's misuse of the English language got a little tiresome, and there were a few phrases that didn't seem natural for him to botch the way he did. But who cares. The storyline was well thought out, and interesting to read, and as with Abby Cooper's Psychic eye mysteries, Ms. Laurie has given a glimpse of her gift in fiction format, making me want to learn more. I see that "Crime Seen" is out, so I'd better hop down to Barnes to get it, and while I'm at it, I'll probably pick up "Ghoul" as well, since I'll want to read it again.
A fun start to a new series.......2007-08-31
What's a Ghoul to Do? is book 1 in a new series (Ghost Hunter Mysteries) by Victoria Laurie. M.J. and her partner Gilley, initially made a appearance in Book 3 (A Vision of Murder) of her Psychic Eye Mystery series.
M.J. is a medium, who enjoys using her gift to "bust" ghosts. She helps send them where they belong...to the other side. Gilley is her business partner and best friend. The two find themselves on a case where the client, Dr. Sable, wishes to contact his grandfather's ghost. Plus, he wants to be involved in the investigation process.
I had a fun time reading this story. I liked the quirky characters. M.J. owns a parrot named Doc, who has that name after a distant relative, Doc Holliday. That made me smile. I also think the author did a great job with Dr. Sable's broken English. I found reading his dialog parts highly entertaining. Plus, I liked the twists and turns and layers she created with this mystery as well.
All in all...a quick read that makes for a good time and a perfect commuter read.
How do you say, Big Disappointment .......2007-08-28
I love Victoria Laurie's Psychic Eye series, I've enjoyed each Abby Cooper book and highly recommend to readers of Romance and/or Mystery. So when I saw "What's A Ghoul to Do?", a new series, I was eager to read more by this author. I was sadly disappointed, and found it very annoying! Victoria Laurie is a good enough writer that I was able to force myself to finish reading the book, just so I could find out what happened, but I won't bother reading the next one. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who does chose to read it but the hero has a really really annoying habit that might be charming in real life but has a serious cringe factor on paper. And the torture never ends, it is throughout the book! (WARNING -- SPOILER FOLLOWS)
It is the equivalent of having a character mispronounce words, then another character constantly correcting the mispronounciation!! Oh right, what is annoying in real life becomes excruciating on paper! And at the end, we find this annoying guy will return in the second book. Lets hope he learns to saw the english, I mean, speak english, before then. Aaagh!
Wonderfully refreshing..............2007-08-17
I've read alot of wonderful reviews about Vickie's books, and I decided to give them a try. Really enjoyed reading this book. The story has a touch of paranormal mixed with a realistic theme. I also have to give her a thumbs-up with the characters,and even the minor charcters were very well introduced and played out. Liked this book so well that I've pre-ordered the second book of this series. Read this book, I think that you will enjoy it. Also glad that she is making this book into a series.
Book Description
Cadence City matchmaker and para-resonator Celinda Ingram meets her match in security specialist Davis Oakes. On the hunt for the powerful relic that Celinda supposedly bought as a toy for her pet dust bunny, Davis must use all of his unique psychic abilities to try and wrest the ruby red object from the suspicious duo, keep his desire for Celinda in check-and keep them all safe from those who will do anything to possess the relic.
Customer Reviews:
Silver Master.......2007-10-07
This book is part of the very interesting futuristic world, "Harmony", Jayne Castle has created. Reluctantly I must admit, plowing through this book is hard work! I love the characters, I love the story, however, getting to a finish becomes tedious.
Jayne does it again.......2007-10-02
I love Jayne Ann Krentz and her evil twin sisters Amada Quick and Jayne Castle. In her latest book on the world of Harmony she delves into murder and mayhem while the hero and heroine find time to solve the mystery fall in love and come out smelling like roses. I have a great fondness for dustbunnies so this book really hits the spot.
Jayne has a special gift in keeping her audience enthralled, I have a rule never read a book without a happy ending and she does that also. I enjoy her present day, futuristic and historical romances.
I have read everything she has written and some more than once and Silver Master will have a space on my bookshelf to be reread again and again.
Another fun paranormal from Jayne Castle.......2007-09-26
Jayne Castle's paranormals are all good fun if rather more lightweight than many of the others being published today. "Silver Master" returns to the world of Harmony featured in her books "After Dark", "After Glow" and "Ghost Hunter". These books are all a good read and the world Jayne Castle (AKA Jayne Ann Krentz or Amanda Quick) has created is enjoyable enough, if rather internally incongruent. Over time and reading the books I've wondered how on earth such a small group of settlers, marooned 200 years ago on a strange planet, can afford to spend time on archaeology and relic-collecting and museums when presumably they're still fighting for survival. Especially as it seems an awful lot of people are involved in the antiquities trade - rather a luxury good in a difficult and hostile time for the settlers. Anyway, if you suspend disbelief it's great fun.
"Silver Master" introduces yet another type of ghost hunter. With the last book we learned about the blue freaks but our hero in this book, Davis Oakes, works with silver light to kill his ghosts - and it also has a few other strange effects on him. One of these side-effects of silver ghost light means that Davis's fiancée was so shocked that she called off their wedding at the last minute, a wedding arranged by a matchmaking agency. Consequently this rather put him off marriage in general and matchmakers in particular.
Unfortunately Davis finds himself having to consult a matchmaker in his professional capacity as an investigator as Celinda Ingram was known to have purchased an artefact that had been stolen from a powerful man in their city, and the thief had then turned up dead. Celinda's tame dust-bunny runs off with the artefact after she has agreed to give it back and so Davis and Celinda have to spend time together whilst they hope the dust bunny returns the relic. As they learn more about each others' histories they also find that someone else is looking for the relic, someone who is violent and that Celinda isn't safe. Can she be kept safe, both from the person after the relic and from her family's matchmaking expectations?
This is a very easy read although the background information on the world of Harmony isn't as well detailed as in earlier books and so readers new to the series starting here might be occasionally confused. Nevertheless it's good fun to read and although not particularly deep in terms of characterisation, world-building or plot it's inoffensive stuff and will definitely satisfy those who have liked her other books in this series.
Cute Addition to The Harmony Series.......2007-09-26
Silver Master tells the story of matchmaker Celinda Ingram and security specialist Davis Oakes. They're both psychics as is just about everyone on the world of Harmony, and they are trying to figure out the mystery behind what looks to be like a red plastic knob which Celinda's dust bunny Ariminta pestered her into buying, but which turns out to be something far more ancient and powerful. Like the other Harmony books, the author manages to mix suspense and humor in a satisfying way. I also like it that she drops in references to the Arcane Society which she writes extensively about in her historical fiction series as well as her contemporary ones. I like other reviewers absolutely loved the dust bunnies! They added rather than distracted from the story. One word of warning: while each book in this series could stand alone, I think they make much more sense and are more enjoyable when you read them in order.
Fun and Creative.......2007-09-17
All the titles in this series are very similar - "off the charts" psi-powered main characters in a creative, futuristic alternate earth-like world meet, overcome some major threat and fall in love at the same time.
While the storylines aren't that creative, I think the world this author has created is a nice change from all the dark goth settings so popular right now. Don't get me wrong - I love those too - but I do enjoy visiting the much more relaxing world of Harmony every now and then.
Ms. Castle (aka Jayne Ann Krentz aka Amanda Quick) is very good at creating very realistic characters; people who seem much like that guy you met at the office (if perhaps a bit more of a hottie) or remind you of the girl you used to hang out with. Despite their psychic abilities, they are every-people, and I like that about them. I can relate to them and their situations, because even though they are literally out of this world, they still worry about getting to work on time and what they're going to have for breakfast.
A fun, not too deep, not too heavy story with good action, likable characters and sweet romance. Throw in the cute little dust bunnies and it's a happy mix for this reviewer!
Book Description
Harmony is a planet in the far future, aglow with an amber light and the psychic energy of its inhabitants. It is here that Jayne Castle casts her spell-over the men and women brave enough to love in a world unlike any we have ever seen before. In this unforgettable volume are two very enchanting tales set on Harmony...
After Dark...The New York Times bestselling novel of romantic suspense with a paranormal twist. A para-archaeologist and one of the most dangerous men on the planet heat up a murder investigation with a passion that cannot be extinguished-or denied...
Bridal Jitters...From the national bestselling anthology, Charmed. An official marriage-of-convenience between paranormal business partners is almost called off-because of love.
"Jayne Castle, one of the pioneers of the futuristic sub-genre, continues to set the standard against which all other such books are judged." (Affaire de Coeur)
"Writing under Jayne Castle, Jayne Ann Krentz takes her trademark combination of witty, upbeat action, lively sensuality, and appealing characters to [a] unique, synergistic world." (Library Journal)
Customer Reviews:
excellant combination.......2007-09-04
This is actually the novel "After Dark" with the novella "Bridal Jitters" included. Great stories set on Harmony but not new. "After Glow", "Ghost Hunter", and now "Silver Master" are also set on this world and are all some of her very best writing.
Another World.......2007-02-17
A life in a different world. Mysterious and intreging along with a romantic twist. I was kept wpondering what would happen all through the book. Looking forward to reading other books in in same group.
Harmony.......2006-07-03
Is a reprint of two previous novels, "After Dark" and "Bridal Jitters."
Both were cute. I liked After Dark with Lydia and Emmett although I was disappointed that it followed basically the same premiss as some of ther other Harmony novels in that the two characters end up living together in a small apartment.
Not a reprint of Amaryllis or Zinnia.......2004-03-03
While this book is a reprint of two former excellent works by Jayne Ann Krentz (writing as Jayne Castle) it is NOT Amaryllis or Zinnia. Those two books are set on the fictional planet of St. Helens in the city-state of New Seattle and are part of a trilogy ending with Orchid.
After Dark, the first in the Harmony duo, is the first story in a new series about para-archaeologist Lydia Smith and her mate Emmett London. The second in this series is the newly printed After Glow another excellent futuristic by Castle.
These stories are set on another planet named Harmony.
I recommend these stories highly... if nothing else, read the stories to meet Fuzz :o)
Bridal Jitters is from the former Charmed Anthology... it is also based on Harmony Planet, but is not part of the Lydia Smith series.
An excellent read!.......2003-01-01
Both stories in this book are two of my favorites. After Dark made me fall in love with futuristic romances. I've read it twice and can't get enough!!!
Average customer rating:
- Write more Jayne!
- Follow up to "After Dark" and another good fun outing
- The "after glow" after reading After Glow
- Dust bunnies!
- Yet another failure
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After Glow (Ghost Hunters, Book 2)
Jayne Castle
Manufacturer: Jove
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Binding: Paperback
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After Dark (Ghost Hunters, Book 1)
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Harmony (Ghost Hunters)
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Ghost Hunter (Ghost Hunters, Book 3)
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Orchid
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Silver Master (Ghost Hunters, Book 4)
ASIN: 0515136948
Release Date: 2004-02-24 |
Book Description
Para-archaeologist Lydia Smith has spent her entire adult life digging into the past, and building a career. But all that changes when she finds herself lost in the catacombs below the city, with no memory of how she came to be there. Now it's her own past that is eluding her; and the secret of what happened to her will endanger everything she's worked to rebuild, including her new marriage to Emmett London, who has a dangerous past of his own to overcome.
Download Description
"The followup to her bestselling After Dark. Para-archaeologist Lydia Smith has spent her entire adult life digging into the past, and building a career. But all that changes when she find herself lost in the catacombs below the city, with no memory of how she came to be there. Now it's her own past that is eluding her; an the secret of what happened to her will endanger everything she's worked to rebuild, including her new marriage to Emmett London, who has a dangerous past of his own to overcome."
Customer Reviews:
Write more Jayne!.......2007-10-02
I loved the Orchid series books she wrote. And then I really enjoyed the two books in this series. It was different, but same kind of interesting setting as the Orchid series. For years I've been checking back at book stores hoping she has written more in these series. But no such luck for me.
Follow up to "After Dark" and another good fun outing.......2007-04-14
This book follows "After Dark" which includes the same characters and describes how Lydia Smith and Emmett London met. It isn't necessary to have read the first book to understand this one (in fact I read this one first and didn't have any difficulties in understanding what's going on) but it does rather give away some of the events in the first book, if you haven't yet read it.
The events in After Glow take place a month after the end of the previous book. Lydia is still working in Shrimpton's museum, is continuing her relationship with Emmett London, and is getting along quietly with her life after the excitement of the murders and the discovery of the dreamstone jar in the previous book. However she finds herself at the scene of another death - this time a former professor of archaeology who appears to have overdosed on drugs. As she waits for the police to arrive Emmett London meets up with her and she discovers that the head of the Cadence Guild, the local Ghost Hunter organisation which sometimes seems rather like its own private army, has been shot. Emmett is now acting head of the Guild, for reasons which he eventually explains to Lydia.
The first section of this book is taken up with Lydia coming to terms with Emmett's position in the Guild. She's not sure about their relationship - how seriously he takes it - and has strong misgivings about the Guild. But when she discovers there's a threat to Emmett's safety with this new position she does all she can to protect him, involving some surprising actions. The threads of events start to click together for Lydia and she realises the death of the Professor might have something to do with her 'Lost Weekend', a 48 hour amnesia that she experienced 7 months ago and which put an end to her highbrow career. When events get nasty Lydia has to fight for her safety and freedom as well as understanding more about her relationship with Emmett.
Jayne Castle (aka Jayne Ann Krentz and Amanda Quick) is good at writing books that are well paced and interesting. Her worldbuilding in this book isn't brilliant - there are a lot of irritating repetitions of things like "rez" to apparently show it's a different type of world but the whole underlying Ghosts and Traps ideas are enough and some of her writing seems to be rather silly. Still, the characters are good, particularly Lydia who is feisty and honest and appealing, and the relationship with Emmett isn't the main focus of the book, there's more about the plot and whodunit aspect to keep the reader's attention. It's a worthy sequel to the previous book and one that I can recommend.
The "after glow" after reading After Glow.......2007-02-10
I really, really liked this book. It picks up just weeks after the events in After Dark which can be read in the book Harmony. The main reason I am so enthusiastic about this book is that After Dark took me into a completely new genre and After Glow has made me an avowed "Harmonic".
This futuristic/romantic/mystery was a delight for me from beginning to end. Since I had already read After Dark it was fascinating to find that Jayne Castle had written this book as if the first book had been an installment, not a separate writing. All the lovely characters were there (except for those killed off in the first book, of course!) with Lydia and Emmett moving directly into their second adventure. As a futuristic novel I am happy to say that I had no trouble coming up with my concept of what the "world" (both above and below ground) looked like. That is pretty important as I have never ventured into any alien landscapes in my reading material. As a romantic novel I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the relationship between Lydia and Emmett mature. Some reviewers did not find favor with the lack of descriptions for the physical relationship side for this couple. As for me, I have a great imagination and appreciate Ms Castle giving me the opportunity to utilize it and fill in the blanks myself. Minute descriptive details are not always welcomed. As a mystery novel it was quite good. I consider myself a huge fan of mysteries and I was satisfied with this plotting. The author threw in a double blind but there is only so much she could do to draw attention away from the villian of the piece. Still, I kept on reading and I think that is what the author wants to hear.
All in all, a lovely book. An absorbing book, and a book which makes me want to read more about those folks of Harmony.
Dust bunnies!.......2006-08-24
2nd in Castle's books about Harmony, a colonized planet that has been cut off from Earth, this is another "dust-bunny" book. It follows After Dark - and continues the story of Lydia Smith, former professor and current curator, and her Ghost Hunter boyfriend Emmett London, who is trying desperately to avoid the life of Guild Master. Lydia and Emmett get caught up in guild business when the local guild master checks himself into a hospital after an attempt on his life, and Emmett has been selected as the stand-in until his recovery. Lydia, as usual, winds up in the midst of trouble when she walks into a meeting to find the other person dead of an apparent overdose. Emmett and Lydia, accompanied by Fuzz, a dust bunny, follow the clues and mazes while dodging ghost attacks to find the links to all of the mysteries, and their own happiness. You definitely want to read After Dark first, and follow it with Ghost Hunter.
Yet another failure.......2006-05-11
the story from "After dark" gets a second wind. Now Emmet has to act as guild boss and Lydia manages to "save" him from peril by marrying him. The same idiotic problems of a love affair spiced with two-three rather boring sex scenes, the worst use of an alien enviroment ever to be found in a book.
Still, a beautiful cover. Too bad, again.
Not recommended.
Book Description
After leaving her too-secretive fiancé-powerful ghost hunter Cooper Boone-botanist Elly St. Clair starts over in the thriving metropolis of Cadence City. But when one of her new friends disappears in the eerie catacombs beneath the streets, Cooper turns up just in time to help-and this time he's holding nothing back.
Customer Reviews:
I wanted the world to go away!.......2007-05-18
My attention was completely focused on this book. I just wanted the world to go away so that I could enjoy it uninterupted. It didn't quite happen like that but I never left the book for longer than I had to. That is a ringing endorsement of how much I was enjoying this story. GHOST HUNTER had it all; excitement, mystery, romance, and two lead characters that I really liked.
Elly was considered the unusual one in her family. Her parents and brothers had powers which she did not posess and so she was always treated as the delicate one. A future in botany was just fine with her, she loved that field of science and was content with her teaching role. What she wasn't content with was the seeming indifference Cooper Boone had to her and their upcoming marriage. He was not interested in a Marriage of Convenience but wanted to go directly to a Covenant Marriage. How could she commit to being his wife when he so obviously put being the Guild Boss ahead of her? Like any red blooded woman she broke the engagement, quit her job, and moved to the big city. Life began to change for her immediately and she learned a lot about herself.
Cooper Boone had wanted to be a Guild Boss since the age of nine. He was a man who planned every move in his life. His only problem was that he did not remember to include Elly's possible reactions to his well laid plans. He was stunned to have her return his ring. He decided to give her six months to get tired of big city life and then he would tell her he had never considered their engagement at an end, the marriage had just been postponed. Imagine his surprise when he arrived in Cadence City to find Elly with a new haircut, sexy new clothes and a thriving herbal shop.
Jayne Castle has written the third novel featuring Cadence City and ghost hunters with her usual style and high quality. It contained a wonderful romance and a good suspense/mystery plot which was not quite as exciting and absorbing as the plots of AFTER DARK and AFTER GLOW, at least for me. But the fantasy world which she has created is so interesting and the interaction between Elly and Cooper was such a delight for me to read that I am willing to accept whatever her creative imagination has to offer. I would love to meet this woman, she has incredible storytelling abilities.
Ghost Hunter.......2007-02-24
Elly St. Clair and Cooper Boone are engaged-until Elly finds out that Cooper has fought a duel over her. It's not the dueling she minds so much, as the reason for it-control of the Aurora Springs Guild. Elly had hoped Cooper was at last showing a bit of passion toward her. Instead he was only concerned with his rival's attempt to worm his way into Guild leadership by marrying Elly, whose father sits on the Guild council.
And Elly naturally suspects Cooper of the same motive-especially since he has always wanted to head the Guild. So she breaks off their engagement and moves to the big city-Cadence City-where she starts her own business. But Cooper has no intention of letting her go.
Taking us into the world of Harmony, a planet settled by earth's descendants, who have begun to develop psi powers after a few centuries there, Jayne Castle, AKA Jayne Ann Krentz, AKA Amanda Quick pens yet another winner for the reader to enjoy.
Mix action, suspense, drama, hot romance and plop it down into the middle of Castle's lush and intriguing world, and you have the author's usual can't-put-it-down-`til-the-last-page success. Castle's imagination has carried us through many incredible and riveting yarns, and it doesn't fail us here as she skillfully draws us into Elly and Cooper's hunt for a psi killer who is peddling an extremely dangerous new drug.
I enjoyed this book as I always enjoy Castle's work: way too much. But when Castle/Krentz/Quick has a new book available, the rest of the world will just have to wait. Recommended.
Reviewed by Lee M
Copyright © 2006-2007 CK2S Kwips and Kritiques. All rights reserved.
Great read!.......2007-02-02
I loved this book. I'm a great fan of Jayne Anne Krantz and Amanda Quick, so I decided to try one of Ms. Krantz's science fiction novels. It was love at first read! She does a masterful job of creating the world of Harmony. From its ancient and eerie alien city built of acid green quartz to the lovable dust bunnies, it was completely believable. Ghost Hunter was my first Jayne Castle book but is certainly won't be my last. If you enjoy romance with a science fiction twist, or love Ms. Krantz's other work, add this one to your TBR pile. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
JAK scores agin as Jayne Castle.......2006-12-13
This was another great installment in this series - I wish she would write more of these
Good Story.......2006-11-10
I really liked this story, I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Book Description
What if a world-renowned professor of psychology at Harvard University, a doctor and scientist acclaimed as one of the leading intellects of the time, suddenly announced that he believed in ghosts? At the close of the nineteenth century, to great public and professional astonishment, William James-the great philosopher, a founder of the American Psychological Association and brother of Henry James-did just that and embarked on a determined, lifelong pursuit of scientific evidence to prove it.
James came together with two other brilliant and charismatic thinkers of the day-Richard Hodgson, a converted skeptic, and James Hyslop, a natural grandstander who would often visit mediums unannounced, a hooded mask covering his face-to form the core of the American Society for Psychical Research. They eventually merged with the British Society for Psychical Research, adding to the group the Cambridge philosopher Henry Sidgwick and his tiny, ferociously smart wife Eleanor, as well as the mythically handsome Edmund Gurney and others. While studies of ESP and ghostly visitations have occurred since the days of the society, at no other time have scientists of the caliber of James and his colleagues devoted themselves in such an ambitious and driven way for evidence of a life beyond. James and his band of brothers staked their reputations, their careers, even their sanity, on one of the most extraordinary (and entertaining) psychological quests ever undertaken, a quest that brought its followers right up against the limits of science.
This riveting book is about the investigation of the ghost stories-the instances of supernatural phenomena that could not be explained away-and it is about the courage and conviction of William James and his colleagues to study science with an open mind. At the heart of the story is the ongoing tension between empiricism and spiritualism-between a way of explaining the world that is grounded in the purely tangible and a way that is grounded in a mixture of the evident and the hidden. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Deborah Blum uses her extraordinary storytelling skills and scientific insight to explore nothing less than the nexus of science and religion. It is a territory as fascinating to us now as it was to William James and his colleagues then.
Customer Reviews:
Ghost Hunters.......2007-09-25
This is an engrossing account of the history of psychic research in Europe (particularly the U.K.) and the U.S. The cast of characters includes some of the greatest minds of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including William James, considered to be one of the most brilliant psychologists the U.S. has ever produced. Two important facts derived from reading this book are (1) that there is much and well-documented evidence for the existence of telepathic and possibly spiritual phenomena, and (2) that mainstream scientists could not care less. The most depressing conclusion, in my opinion, is that there is simply no evidence, no experience, and no scientific data, that will convince your typical scientist to even consider the possibility of such paranormal events, or at least to be open-minded about it. Of course, as the book points out, the ample abundance of frauds and quacks in the "psychic" world is a huge obstacle to the acceptance of the available empirical data on these phenomena. James and his colleagues presented the best case they could for the existence of the paranormal, only to be met with rejection, denial, and sheer hostility from the scientific world. At least they tried!
When Geniuses Confronted the Paranormal.......2007-09-11
Give a legion of thrill-seekers emf meters, digital cameras, lap-top computers, and set them loose on the nearest park, or cemetery, or historical property, and what do you have? Websites full of pictures of "orbs," evp "voices" and notices about when and where and how often the "cops" patrol a certain area side by side with badly-written anecdotes lacking any kind of documentation, and vandalism. What new technology renders up is lots of so-called "evidence" but of what? The current situation in paranormal "investigation" reminds me of the decades-old dichotomy between "pot hunters" and archaeologists. One might end up with a box full of pretty Clovis points, or a website full of twinkling "orbs" but the next step--that of attempting to make sense of what one has so assiduously collected, is not forthcoming. This was not always the case. Back in the 1880's a group of gifted men and women--many of them real geniuses--attempted to rationally investigate haunted houses, mediumistic phenomena, death-bed apparitions, telepathy, precognition, second-sight, and other subjects associated with the paranormal. William James, the great pioneering psychologist, was one of them, and this book centers on his ideas and experiences as well as his interactions with the philosopher Edmund Gurney, the Nobel Prize winners William Crookes and Sir Oliver Lodge, and other leading thinkers of those times. Of course, just as today, representatives of the Scientific Establishment attacked these people with varying degrees of success (to this day, for instance, Crooks' name is associated with a yen for young girls disguised as ghosts.) The great thing that Deborah Blum does in Ghost Hunters is to reintroduce us to this cast of characters and the context of their times and to clear away some of the innuendos and down-right lies that have been associated with these people for the past 120 years or so, so that we can again see them for the gifted people that they really were. Far from being slack observers and dupes of the duplicitous, these were real scientists and humanists of note. However, the problem they faced remains that which is inherent in so-called anecdotal evidence. It doesn't matter what your I.Q. is, if an apparition walks up to you on some dark and stormy night, and shakes your hand, and you write it up in a reasoned manner and publish it in some journal, skeptics could still find ample reason to call your character and your abilities into question. And even if five or six or a hundred of your associates see the same thing at the same time, collusion or shared hallucination, or any number of explanations could be trotted out. This also holds true for photographing what's out there (photo-shop, right?), recording it, or videotaping it. And if none of that works, skeptics can still point to misinterpretation of natural phenomena or just plain wishful thinking. In other words, one must first trust the intention and respect the character and the intelligence of the witness in order for anecdotal evidence to work. I, for one, am a fan of William James' Varieties of Religious Experience, so I am inclined to give much of what he says a more-than-sympathetic ear. Similarly, when the mathematician Nora Sidgwick reports her findings concerning haunted houses, I am interested. When Edmund Gurney tells us his speculations on the nature of ghosts, I am fascinated. Of course, the soft underbelly of anecdotal evidence drove parapsychology in the direction of the laboratory and the reproducible results championed by Dr Rhine and his Duke statistical studies, effectively stripping the paranormal of its most fascinating elements in order to comply with the demands of science. It is as if one were attempting to study birds by examining a statistical break-down of the incidence of blue plumage versus red in ring-necked pheasants. What Deborah Blum does well with this book is to bring up interesting examples of the value of non-reproducible (anecdotal) results. One of the most fascinating examples of this is the so-called Cross-Correspondence case of c. 1906--1907 in which Leonora Piper and two other mediums unknown to each other, and separated by great distances, reported bits and pieces of codes and messages communicated through the purportedly active participation of the discarnate intelligences of Gurney, Hodgson, Myers, Sidgwick--all members of the SPR who had passed on. Still, even though this particular series of events was rigorously over-seen by the SPR, one could yet, from this remove in time, posit fraud. Indeed, Deborah Bloom gives the reader of Ghost Hunters a great deal to think about. She herself, though a noted science writer, seems to suggest a middle way. After examining the letters, diaries and published writings of this extraordinary group, she is no longer sure that she can dismiss their investigations so easily. Would to God that such a level of intelligence could again be brought to the table in paranormal investigations. Then perhaps, given our current state of quantum understanding and technological expertise, something new might be forthcoming. (Though from the slippery nature of the subject, I somehow doubt it.) But typically, just a week or so ago, I was informed by a member of a so-called investigations group that investigating the paranormal was merely "a gut feeling," which had little or nothing to do with the ability to articulate findings or to analyze results. My suggestion to him and to the proliferation of other "ghost hunters" of this ilk is to do us all a favor: throw away the emf meters and the digital equipment and reach for the stomach medicine.
Disappointingly Subjective and Boring, Considering the Nature of the Subject Matter.......2007-08-12
The author had an agenda to declare spiritualism fraudulent, I noticed. Chapter 8 is titled "The Invention of Ectoplasm", but it appears she made no effort at all to examine any evidence as to whether it might be an objective phenomenon. Also, I noticed this entry on page 99: "With a good distraction, most mediums also showed a flair for opening envelope flaps in time to avoid detection. But Mrs. Piper kept things simple that day." The author implies that Mrs Piper was a fraud despite nothing in this book to support this smear. There's no mention of W. Stainton Moses, somewhat surprisingly, considering that he had the same "spirit controls", Rector and Imperator, as Mrs. Piper. In vol. 2 of his Human Personality book, Myers states that when he and Gurney first visited Moses the evening was "epoch making".
I found the book to be irritatingly written, like a fiction novel, with frequent scene changes and unnecessary irrelevancies such as William James's hair being rimmed with gray and his body being wiry and compact. According to the author, in the late 1800s, the 20th century did not approach, it "drew closer, gleaming with all the bright sheen of well-polished metal." Somewhat controversially, she devotes space to "the great Charles Darwin", of whom one can look up the "genius of" in the index. Never mind that there is not a scrap of evidence to support the theory of macro-evolution and that his questionable "genius" did not extend to the matter of "ghost hunting". I wanted to throw this book across the other side of the room on occasion, in the direction of the trash. (I didn't because I'd borrowed it from a library.)
I would recommend The Encyclopaedia of Psychic Science by Nandor Fodor for more objective details on the people and events and phenomenon observed back then.
A Picture Would Be Worth a Thousand Words.......2007-07-10
Another reviewer stated that most people who come to this book have already made up their minds about the possibility of survival after death, certainly that the subject is worth serious investigation. Ms. Blum makes the latter argument very well. The time and effort she put into researching this book is evident and Herculean and reinforced by her solid reputation as a science writer. It is obvious that she believes there is some evidence for the survival of the human spirit after death; she admits that at the end of the book. I would like to know WHY as a sceptic she came to this conclusion. I believe that would be an interesting story in itself. As it is, GHOST HUNTERS is a very good history of William James's and his colleagues' efforts to use scientific methods in the investigtion of spiritualism's claims and to prove to the scientific world of the day that the subject was worthy of serious inquiry. This book has no illustrations, a serious deficiency. At the very least photos of the principal characters involved would be most intriguing but of particular value would be photocopies of the transcripts made during the hundreds of hours of "automatic writing" sessions that makes up a significant part of this book. I know, for instance, that photographs were taken by serious researchers of phenomena observed at seances, "ectoplasmic" extrusions, levitated objects, etc., and published in books printed back in the 1920s; I owned one but that was more than 50 years ago now. But I for one would like to see a page or two of this automatic writing from the spirit world Ms. Blum quotes so frequently and judge for myself if it is even readable which I suspect most of it is not. As it is, Ms. Blum has one more book in her on this subject and I will withhold judgment on the possibility of Life After Death until it is written -- or until I find out for myself what lies over there.
Our Conflicted Affections.......2007-06-26
Psychical energy, even in its subtle form, is felt directly when our affections are found conflicted. Deborah Blum's "Ghost Hunters" provides many examples of conflicted affection, both in the positive and in the negative.
In the positive form, a dominant science is found expressing an outward arrogance; while concealing this very act of deception imposed to their own person (a self deception). For example, Charles Darwin discovered his theory of evolution by natural selection, and he found himself arrogantly extending his theory into areas of mind thereby replacing spirituality. Blum tells us that Alfred Russel Wallace co-founded this same theory, but Wallace expressed a more balanced sensibility. Eventually Wallace turned from dogmatic science, and became interested in spiritualism. Blum (page 40) writes: "As Charles Darwin promptly warned him, Wallace was sending the wrong message to their critics and lending unwarranted credibility to the concept of spirit powers. Darwin feared that Wallace now gave the impression that one of evolution theory's founders had abandoned science in favor of superstition."
The arrogance coming from the most vocal scientists was widespread in this day. Blum (page 54) quotes the gifted scientists John Tyndall saying: "the impregnable position of science may be described in a few words. We claim, and we shall wrest from theology, the entire domain of cosmological theory. All schemes and systems which thus infringe upon the domain of science must, in so far as they do this, submit to its control, and relinquish all thought of controlling it." Nevertheless, more free minded scientists, like Wallace, became interested in study of the paranormal.
In its negative form, conflicted affection may express an outward deception; while concealing an inside self arrogance. Most of the mediums that touted their powers of the paranormal were discovered to be frauds. And the free-minded scientists, such as Wallace and William Crookes, were most vulnerable to this deception. Crookes was taken by the beauty of Anna Eva Fay, concluding a successful test of her presumed skills. But Henry Sidgwick, Fred Myers and others, saw through the deceit. Blum (page 61) writes: "the Sidgwick group was reaching a new awareness -- that in their smug sense of superior intelligence and capabilities, trained scientists did not always see what was obvious to others. " Meyers was quoted (Blum, page 119): "There are natures ... which stand so far removed from the meaner temptations of humanity that those gifted at birth can no more enter into the true mind of a cheat than I can enter into the true mind of a chimpanzee."
Our conflicted affections in the positive and negative are sense-certain, and these temptations must be outgrown to reach a genuine psychical awareness. Psychical energy as a power must be met with a brutal honesty. Otherwise, we will be confused by our own affections, seeing only what we want to see. Daniel Dunglas Home was thought to be such an honest medium, presumably he transcended above the temptations offered by his affections (which might explain his talent). Blum tells us that Home's "Lights and Shadows of Spiritualism" exposed the treachery of deception coming from supposed mediums. But this enlightened view could not be accepted by Crookes who became involved with yet another female medium. Ironically, it was Home that first impressed Crookes with spiritualism, yet the subtleness offered by psychical energy found its escape.
Blum tells us that the psychic researcher, Edmund Gurney, interacted closely with the famous philosopher and professor of psychiatry, William James. Gurney was to write "Phantasms of the Living". James had a first encounter (among many more) with the famed medium, Leonore Evelina Piper. Piper seemed to communicate the details of a tragedy that fell on James, the death of his own son Herman.
Blum (pages 158-159) writes: "In the debate over whether the scientific worldview should replace religion, [Darwinist] Huxley considered the answer already given. It had. William James, Henry Sidgwick, and their fellows, although they also counted themselves as rationalists, could not go nearly so far. To exclude from reality anything not demonstrated through the scientific method was to accept on faith, they would argue, that there is no reality beyond what a select group of people (on an insignificant planet) say is so. To deny the existence of the spirit--without thoroughly exhausting the subject through dogged research--to accept such arbitrary limits, was to them a prejudicial view, closed-minded and unscientific."
Blum (page 169) writes: " In this landmark psychology text [Principles of Psychology], James discussed trance personalities, telepathy, spirit possession, even Leonora Piper. He didn't, as Alfred Russel Wallace had done, declare psychic phenomena to be proven laws of nature. But he did emphasize that if one wished to understand the human mind, it was necessary also to understand why such phenomena were seen and experienced by so many people."
Blum (page 223) writes about spirit utterances coming from Piper: "If Mrs. Piper didn't cheat--and no evidence yet existed that she did--then it was still unclear to James how she accessed the information revealed in her trances. He continued to believe that she possessed some exceptional power; he continued to have no idea exactly what that power might be."
James was exceedingly fair-minded, and Piper was principled and honest as she was never exposed as a fraud. And therefore, it is not surprising that the James-Piper interacting led to the greatest expression of psychical energy. Much of what Blum writes is about this unique interaction between two very rare talents. But what springs between them was meant to escape among the many (including the returning spirit of Richard Hodgson), leaving a feeling as it goes. Otherwise, the caricatures will confuse even the strongest mind.
Trinity: The Scientific Basis of Vitalism and Transcendentalism
Average customer rating:
- Super Reader
- Try, try again
- Ugh ... Book burning anyone???
- As bad a book by a popular writer as I have ever read
- I can see how others viewed the series going downhill
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Narcissus in Chains (An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Novel, Book 10)
Laurell K. Hamilton
Manufacturer: Berkley Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0425181685 |
Book Description
"I've never read a writer with a more fertile imagination - and fewer inhibitions about using it." (Diana Gabaldon)
Six months of celibacy have made Anita crave the two men in her life like never before. But merging their powers together will give this mortal woman a taste of immortal hunger that she'll never be able to forget...
Download Description
"With the highly-acclaimed Obsidian Butterfly, Laurell K. Hamilton?s vampire hunter, Anita Blake, came into her own. She survived a supernatural onslaught unlike any she had ever faced before?and she did it without the two men in her life. Now, six months have passed since Anita has seen either Jean-Claude or Richard. Six months of celibacy. Six months of indecision. Six months of danger. For her body carries the marks of both vampire and werewolf, and until the triumvirate is consummated, all three remain vulnerable. But when a kidnapper targets innocents that Anita has sworn to protect, she needs all the help she can get. In a earth-shattering union, Anita, Jean-Claude and Richard merge the marks?and melt into one another. Suddenly, Anita can harness both their powers. She can feel their hearts?hear their thoughts?know their hungers? Nothing can save Anita from a twist of fate that draws her ever closer to the brink of humanity?to finally surrender to the bloodlust, the beast, and the desire transforming her body and consuming her soul? "
Customer Reviews:
Super Reader.......2007-08-26
Back to the erotica themes. The adversary in this one basically runs a deadly supernatural BDSM club of an often particularly nasty kind.
Anita discovers that she has Jean Claude's s*x you up, give you the horn and s*x slave you vampire ardeur powers.
She also adds being master of a vampire to her ever growing list of supernatural abilities and titles, and gets herself yet another boyfriend, a new male wereleopard in town.
There is just enough of a plot in there to keep some interest.
Threesomes abound for this chick.
Try, try again.......2007-08-26
This was the first Anita Blake novel I picked up, and hard as I tried, it just didn't work for me. I couldn't find a plot, there were sooo many characters and the kink was kinda bland.
So...having heard so many times how great the series is, I was a good little reader and went back and started at the beginning of the series and read in order. Okay...now I get it.
Some fans seem to be seriously turned off by the sexual content, but really, considering that Anita is a succubus in the making, it works. She's also a bit of a prude being thrown into the deep end, she's not sluttish, and has major issues with her new physical nature. Frankly, the ardeur is a lot less creepy than Anita channeling the munin of Raina.
This book is the beginning of a story arc that seems to resolve in book 15, Harlequin. Serious characters are stepping up here that will have big influence on where the future books go: Nathanial, Jason, and Asher, as well as the current Swan King. Oh...Micah...forgot about him. The author seems to want really bad to make Micah work, but for some reason, his character is really slow in developing, even in later books. Narcissus is just a seriously creepy fellow, and I'm glad he's still with us. Richard continues to be a wild card, a flawed hero who can throw a major monkey wrench into Anita's story. Ya love him, ya hate him. Long may he live...
Ugh ... Book burning anyone???.......2007-08-07
One Redeeming quality: if I run out of toilet paper, I can put this to use as my ancestor's did the Sears catalog.
The author totally trashed this series, we have the Vampire Humper meets the Hardback Whore.
What a pity.
I strongly recommend you try something by any of the following authors instead: Charlaine Harris (I love her Shakespeare series), Jim Butcher, Wen Spencer, Patricia Briggs, Rebecca Bradley, Lilith Saintcrow, Rob Thurman, Tanya Huff, Lois McMasters Bujold.
Life's too short to read crap.
RIP Anita Blake.
As bad a book by a popular writer as I have ever read.......2007-08-01
This is something of a joint review. I recently finished two novels in the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton: OBSIDIAN BUTTERFLY and NARCISSUS IN CHAINS. These represent respectively, in my opinion, perhaps the best and the worst novels in the sequence and highlights both Hamilton's strengths and many weaknesses as a writer. By approaching why I think the earlier novel is quite good and why the latter is so dreadful hope to get at the reasons I've had such a love-hate relationship with the Anita Blake series.
There is something of a formula in the Anita Blake novels: the less sex, the better the book. I'm hardly a prude and sexual content in a novel certainly doesn't bother me. I'm not a home schooler type who fears that any content with sexual matters will corrupt the soul and send one to hell. But neither do I subscribe to the fallacy that writing about sex makes for a better novel. The philosopher Wittgenstein once wrote that raisins make for a better cake, but that didn't mean that too many raisins made a better cake. On sexual matters everyone is going to have their own idea of what constitutes good or bad, interesting or uninteresting sex. In my humble opinion, few writers deal with sex less ably than does Ms. Hamilton. Much of the time when she writes of sex I'm put in mind of the covers those romance novels for which Fabio posed for covers. The passages in her novels that deal with sex are among the most cringe-worthy that I have ever encountered and I often find myself skipping entire paragraphs or pages or groups of pages to escape her libidinously challenged characters. And from what I read in the reviews of her books by other readers, I don't appear to be alone in this. In fact, I seem to be a part of a solid majority.
OBSIDIAN BUTTERFLY has less sex than almost any of the Anita Blake books apart from some of the very early ones. I don't think it is a coincidence that it is perhaps her best book. Because there is so little sex and so little of the horrid love triangle between her and Jean-Claude (my nominee for one the worst characters in fiction) and Richard (can I have two nominees?). I have read the Anita Blake novels because I enjoy the alternative universe that Hamilton has created with vampires, werewolves, fairies, and other supernatural entities living in civil society alongside nonempowered human beings. In reading the books I want that world explored. Instead, we get way too much laboring over poor Anita's sex life. Who gives a flip! A lot of sex does not make these books interesting. The alternative universe I described above is what makes these books fun.
OBSIDIAN BUTTERFLY is great because we focus on a number of characters--some over the top admittedly--with whom Anita is not sexually involved. This forces Hamilton to focus on the world she has created. Anita goes to New Mexico to help her associate Edward solve a series of bizarre murders. The action takes place during a time during which Anita is spending time away from both Richard and Jean-Claude (if only she had left both for good!). Apart from Edward we meet none of the characters who have become fixtures in the previous novels. The action is great, the story compelling, and the situation described is unique and fascinating.
Unfortunately, Hamilton seems to have failed to learn the lessons OBSIDIAN BUTTERFLY should have taught her. Instead, in NARCISSUS IN CHAINS she reverts to the increasing sexuality that afflicted BLUE MOON and earlier books. I read OBSIDIAN BUTTERFLY in three or four days. It took me nearly a month to read NARCISSUS IN CHAINS and even then I toyed with the idea of quitting the entire series. I am something of a completist and if I read one book in a series I usually like to read all. But after this most recent clunker I may join those other Anita Blake readers who found this to be the final straw. Instead of keeping the sex minimal as in OBSIDIAN BUTTERFLY, she ratcheted up the sex to a degree unknown in any previous novel in the series. There were chapters in this book that I found to be close to unreadable there was so much poorly written sex. As bad as Anne Rice is writing about sex (unless you happen to be a sadomasochist), Hamilton is worse.
But sex isn't the only reason Hamilton is such a terrible writer. She violates one of the most important rules of writing: she constantly puts at the heart of her books incoherent, incomprehensible concepts. For comparison, there is a deeply flawed book by the Sci-fi novelist Robert Heinlein entitled STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND. The flaw lies in the fact that a central character, a Martian, is supposed to be deep and wise and insightful, all of which others can only recognize if they can speak Martian. But since the reader cannot speak Martian, we have to accept the testimony of the characters that this character truly is wise and sage. In the same way, we are supposed to accept Hamilton's assumption that "power" can be used in the vague, sloppy, and absurd way that she employs it and still have it refer to something rather than nothing. Her characters are perpetually sensing the power of other characters. Power paralyzes, intimidates, inspires, terrorizes, and afflicts her characters. But her concept of "power" puts me in mind of another philosopher, Gilbert Ryle and his famous essay "Systematically Misleading Expressions." Every sentence in which she employs the concept "power" is a sentence that does no real work because there is nothing in human experience to which her concept of "power" can denote. It is a nonsense word as she employs it and all she can do is concoct more and more nonsense. I find every passage in which one character feels the "power" of another to be infuriating, because we are just supposed to take her word for it that such a thing is possible. One reason that I find BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER so marvelous is that Joss Whedon and his writers never have to leave the kind of existence that we normal human beings experience to tell any of his stories. Yes, he has vampires and monsters, but he never introduces vague and unintelligible ideas like "power." He would be ashamed to do so.
Up to a hundred pages from the end of NARCISSUS IN CHAINS I was convinced that it was going to be my last Anita Blake novel. Luckily, those last hundred pages reminded me of why I continued in the series to begin with. They were exciting, suspenseful, and thrilling, everything the first five hundred pages of the novel were not. I'll try one more novel, but at this point I'm so tired of the horrid tangle of over-sexualized relationships that Hamilton has concocted that it won't take much for me to quit for good. In reading the various reviews others have written here I wonder if she has misread her audience. Perhaps she thinks fans really love the sex and that is why they read the books. Perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps there are legions of readers who think the sex is the highpoint. I don't discount the possibility. I find AMERICAN IDOL to be almost inconceivably boring, so obviously I'm not always a good judge as to what most people like. But for my part, I'd love to see more books in the Anita Blake series like OBSIDIAN BUTTERFLY and fewer like NARCUSSUS IN CHAINS.
I can see how others viewed the series going downhill.......2007-05-29
I wasn't impressed with this installment at all. The shower scene w/Micah was just...unclassy. Even getting past that part then Anita gets all protective of him. So what if they're one part of a whole (Nimir-ra & Nimir-raj)? The whole discovery of the ardeur was interesting but it took so long to all pan out. Then bringing Damian back from the cross-bound coffin was supposed to be this huge deal yet they got through it so quickly, with the only side effect Anita passing out from the hot tub. As in the other recent books all the men fall over themselves for Anita. There was barely any mystery/crime going on. It seemed like it was thrown in just to keep the theme of Anita's day job involved. Many of the better previous novels had a crime theme w/romance-erotic overtones. this one was the opposite.
Book Description
The Ghost Hunter's Bible was written to help people understand and deal with the phenomenon of ghosts, poltergeists and other paranormal entities. It presents facts and methods, covering in detail, what a ghost hunter should have and exactly what they must do on every investigation. This book will teach you the correct methods of conducting a paranormal investigation, from using the proper specialized equipment to finding the ghosts. It will prepare you for everything that you might encounter on a ghost hunt.
This book clearly defines what types of ghosts to expect and how to handle each case. Ghost hunters literally travel in the footsteps of history. They take on the role of paranormal investigator and journey to some of the most amazing haunted locations throughout the world. Ghost hunters encounter mysteries that most people will never have the opportunity to experience in their lifetime. If you have the courage, venture inside some of the most intriguing haunted houses to learn about their dark secrets. One in every ten homes experiences some kind of paranormal activity. With this book you will not be left in the dark!
Customer Reviews:
Ghost Hunter's Bible book review.......2007-02-18
As a member of IGT (Indiana Ghost Trackers) I found this book pretty informative. It does not go into great review of many subjects, though.
informative how to.......2007-01-22
I found the Ghost Hunter's Bible to be a very interesting read. I was very impressed with the explanations and definitions in each section. The tips and ideas offered should be very useful to the beginner. I would recommend this book as a beginning resource.
JUNK JUNK JUNK.......2005-12-07
Just look at the cover and you know what you're getting into. The author of this book is probably a bigger horror film fan than ghost hunter. You don't go writing a book about ghost hunter guessing your way though the facts and then even worse.... giving your opinions instead of facts. This is by far not an exact science and it should not be treated as one especially if your as opinionated as this wanna be who wrote this book.
Burn it!
Do not buy this book!.......2005-10-20
Seriously read the title. There are more spelling and grammar errors in this book than most netspeak blogs. Also the way the author goes about speaking of the paranormal is laughable. These kinds of people are what is hurting the field of paranormal research. I bought this book and immediately sold it to a book reseller. It was not worth the space it took up on my shelf.
Interesting book, but flawed by author's prejudices.......2003-09-20
Interesting book, and filled with some interesting information, but the author has some strong beliefs and prejudices that flaw the book. For one thing, for someone who is writing on a fairly controversial subject to begin with, and evidences a belief in ghosts and the paranormal, he rejects out of hand psychics and mediums, and confuses their use in paranormal investigation with magic and witchcraft. Since the presigious Rhine Institute and the British Society for Psychical Research are investigating mediumship (and E.S.P) scientifically for decades this is a strange attitude for someone presenting themselves as a professional to have. Also, Mr. Brandon seems to be either unaware, or lacks knowledge, of the differences between types of hauntings and methods to get rid of some of them since he expresses the opinion that there is "no way to get rid of a ghost." I'd recommend one of Troy Taylor's books, or Joshua Warren's How To Hunt Ghosts as better, more knowledgeable, and more balanced in presentation.
Average customer rating:
- Moody and thoughtful
- Vampires rule the night...
- Yet Again Wonderful Book
- Would make a great movie
- progress is being made
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Vampire Hunter D Volume 4: Tale Of The Dead Town (Vampire Hunter D)
Hideyuki Kikuchi , and
Yoshitaka Amano
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1595820930 |
Book Description
Eons in the future in a toxic, terror-stricken world, The City is a veritable paradise. A tiny hamlet of a few hundred sheltered citizens, it floats serenely just a few feet above the ground on a seemingly random course, safe from the predation of marauding monsters. But paradise is shattered when a vampire invasion threatens the peaceful haven. While the Vampire Hunter known only as “D” struggles to exterminate the lethal scourge, the gorgeous Raleigh Knight and the brash John M. Brassalli Pluto VIII seize control of The City, launching it on a new and deadly course. D’s travails are just beginning.
The heart-stopping thrills and nightmarish plot twists that fans of series have come to expect are on full display in Vampire Hunter D, Volume 4. Six stunning illustrations by the renowned Yoshitaka Amano underscore Hideyuki Kikuchi’s hellish vision of the future.
Customer Reviews:
Moody and thoughtful.......2007-09-22
Raiser of Gales is an interesting, and I think introspective and thoughtful adventure. It more firmly establishes the what and why of D's world. Also, the wording in this novel is well written, far less "All your base-" than ended up getting through in the first translation.
My favorite is that an enemy uses a type of trap that was later incorporated into the second D movie, but I've risked spoiling it enough here.
Vampires rule the night..........2007-08-21
...but when they're victims start moving about and killing people during the day time hours that can be a problem. The people of the village of Tepes are starting to become paranoid, seeing evil in everybody and everything. And they weren't too pure to begin with. Now they have the tall, dark, and handsome Vampire Hunter D in their town. And he is not too sure it is a vampire that is the problem.
Can D solve the mystery before too many people die at the hands of the new type of vampire? Can he solve the mystery before too many people die at the hands of their own protectors?
Great story, great illustrations, great second book to the ongoing Japanese horror series. I will be collecting as many as I can. Get it used or new!
Yet Again Wonderful Book.......2007-07-16
I liked this book as much as I love the first one. This time D finds himself a world he just can't get out of. It keep repeating itself over and over again. The girl in this book as quit a charcter and did not annoyed me as much as Doris Lang. She keeps following D where ever he goes. And he always tell her to "Go Home" Which always made me laugh. The girl he meets is very interested in Vampires and D in the novel finds her strange. WOW that something coming from D. The book was fantasic as always. But it's little sad at the end though.
Would make a great movie.......2007-01-24
This book would definitely make a great anime movie. The story is action-packed and full of unexpected twists and turns. However for me it was not as exciting as the second and third novel, may be because of the fact that it was all action and no feelings. I personally like to see a softer side of D. As much as I love reading all Kikuchi's novels I still don't understand why D enjoys hunting Nobles and protecting humans despite of the fact that humans are always trying to kill him one way or the other. Maybe we'll find out by the end of 17th novel...
progress is being made.......2007-01-14
Many have already commented on the translation, so I will just take a moment to note that it has certainly progressed a bit beyond that of the previous novel. Action sequences in particular seem to have taken on a smoother pace, though the rather spartan and abrupt nature of the original text still causes the occasional coltish wobble.
As with all VHD novels there is a haunting quality to the prose that shines moon bright: D is still more or less at war with his soul, and our plucky coquette-du-livre is enjoyable. The odd coyness about Left-hand (the wise cracking sidekick/parasite) remains; though, since the novels are not particularly linear, this may be less noticeable to those who do not read the books in order or back to back.
Average customer rating:
- From Movie to Book
- Just amazing!
- Unfortunately, the movie was better
- I Can't Get Enough of the Vampire Hunter D Novles! :)
- charming
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Vampire Hunter D Volume 3: Demon Deathchase (Vampire Hunter D)
Hideyuki Kikuchi , and
Yoshitaka Amano
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1595820310 |
Book Description
The third volume of the popular Japanese series comes to America in Vampire Hunter D: Demon Deathchase. The vampire hunter known only as D has been hired by a wealthy, dying man to find his daughter, who was kidnapped by the powerful vampire Lord Meierlink. Though humans speak well of Meierlink, the price on his head is too high for D to ignore and he sets out to save her before she can be turned into an undead creature of the night. In the nightmare world of 12090 A.D., finding Meierlink before he reaches the spaceport in the Clayborn States and gets off the planet will be hard enough, but D has more than just Meierlink to worry about. The dying man is taking no chances, and has also enlisted the Marcus family, a renegade clan of four brothers and a sister who don't care who they kill as long as they get paid. Beautiful illustrations by Yoshitaka Amano complement the post-apocalyptic plot, filled with chilling twists. Co-Published with Digital Manga Publishing.
Customer Reviews:
From Movie to Book.......2007-06-12
I first watched Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust before picking up this novel, and I am glad I did because it makes me respect this book even more! At first I thought it was going to be a hard read after reading some reviews... so I watched the movie (which I loved) so I bought the book. As is in most cases, the book trumps the movie by far. There really is much deeper story to the book than the movie. I was unable to put down this book for days. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the movie(s) and/or Vampire Tales.
Just amazing!.......2007-01-05
This is the book that the second Vampire Hunter D movie is based on. If you thought the movie was good: this is WAY better. Some of the scenes that might not have made much sense in the movie are better explained in the original story, and there are pleny of shocking elements in here (probably considered too much for the movie) to keep you turning each page. Definately worth the money!
Unfortunately, the movie was better.......2006-07-01
I bought this book from Barnes and Nobles a few weeks ago, along with the first volume of the series. I was really excited to get started on them and found the first volume, simply titled "Vampire Hunter D" a very entertaining book. After reading that, I immeadiately snatched the third book off of my bedside table, beginning to devour the words. The opening was interesting, but it didn't really capture me the way the first book did.
Well, I didn't enjoy this as much as I enjoyed the movie. The book had scenes that were WAY different from the movie. Leila actually expresses her feelings for D, Meir Link is known as Mayerling in the book, Charlotte isn't called Charlotte in the book but is an unnamed girl instead. But this book should be appreciated since it IS the original version that inspired the movie. But there were parts where I went, "Oh man, when is this chapter gonna finish?" and got sort of bored, but I just kept on reading, nonetheless. When I finished, well, I didn't feel the satisfaction I had when I read the first book. This version is somewhat creepier (not that it's bad) but boring. Some of the characters use the f-word throughout the book, which really annoys me! I mean, hello! Kids at a high level of reading could be reading this!
But don't skip this book if you're gonna watch the movie. It's still worth your time.
I Can't Get Enough of the Vampire Hunter D Novles! :).......2006-05-27
So far I love all the Vampire Hunter D Novles. It was a lot better than the movie. It was nothing like the movie. It was very different from the movie. Hopefully next time they make another Vampire Hunter D Movie (I hope they do.) I hope they follow it more closely to the book. D as a twisted, cold sense of humor. I love the book and I can't wait to read the next one.
charming.......2006-03-10
I read all three volumes now, don't ask me why, and at last I decided to "believe" the translator. I'm quite sure this is how literal translations of Japanese horror novels might look. I do doubt you'd find many published books in this style, so go for it. It's a highly entertaining read. Perhaps I have a twisted sense of humour, but sometimes I was laughing so hard that I had to put the book down, and I really have to refrain from screaming at random people "oh you countenanced carbuncle, you!"
As to the plot of volume 3 - well, no, you don't need it to enjoy "Bloodlust". The love-life inside the Marcus tank might even be a bit off-putting for sensitive minds (the Hand's unfulfilled desires are very interesting though!), and you don't really want to hear D's musings about the female soul, believe me.
I give three stars, two for the brave translator and one for another great detail about D's luggage: After learning in volume 2 that he carries a self-heating sleeping-bag, I was now delighted to see that his emergency kit expired like 500 years ago. So much for being invincible, ha!
Books:
- White Lies (The Arcane Society, Book 2)
- Wicked Fantasy: A Novel
- Without Reservations: The Travels of an Independent Woman
- Wizard Twins: Menage a Magick (Book 1)
- Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter
- Younger Next Year: A Guide to Living Like 50 Until You're 80 and Beyond
- A Kingdom of Dreams
- A Perfect Hero
- A Stroke of Midnight: A Meredith Gentry Novel
- A Tendering in the Storm (Change and Cherish Historical Series #2)
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