Here Be Monsters! (The Ratbridge Chronicles)

Book Description

Skulduggery is afoot!

Welcome to Ratbridge. But beware -- for there is skulduggery afoot. Young Arthur has fallen foul of the appalling outlaw, Snatcher, and is trapped alone in the town with every way home sealed. Meanwhile Snatcher and his men are working tirelessly in secret on a fiendish and dastardly plan to take over -- and destroy -- the entire town. With the help of Willbury Nibble, QC; some friendly boxtrolls and cabbageheads; Marjorie the frustrated inventor; and the rats and pirates from the Ratbridge Nautical Laundry, can Arthur thwart Snatcher's evil plans -- and find his way home?

Customer Reviews:

Monsters are your friends.......2007-03-23

Monsters are not monsters at all in this great read. I enjoyed reading this as a bedtime story. It was a little tough to stop and display the illustrations to kids on a bunk bed, but the pictures are just too good and meant to be shared.

A Dodgy Tanner.......2006-11-14

If you ask me, HERE BE MONSTERS! is no classic, not even a keeper. I tried reading this book to some kids, and they weren't even interested an iota. Even some English children visiting San Francisco turned their nose up at it, seeing it for what it is, a goodhumored attempt to capture some of the late Roald Dahl's popularity by marrying his "children come first" philosophy to the epic fantasy saga plot of Philip Pullman or whoever the latest upstart is. That's where the big money is, you see. I will say that three of the children (ages 4-7) enjoyed Snow's cross hatched drawings of the many inventivce creatures who populate his underground kingdom. Where I see sloppy sub-par Tenniel drawings, children see the many-shadowed intimations of adulthood drawing around them like night shades. I expect that Snow will bewitch some readers, especially those with visual acuity, while turning off some with his witless puns ("I'm a BIG CHEESE") and the incredibly longwinded storytelling--five hundred pages, and this is just volume one! Does he farm out the drawings to others? How does he get all his work done?

As for little Arthur, he was okay, with gumption to spare--but I hate gumption. Long ago there was a great novel for young people called THE GAMMAGE CUP by Carol Kendall--anyone remember this book? It had everything that HERE BE MONSTERS has and more (well, it didn't have MONSTERS' exclamation point, but it didn't need one) (indeed Grandma always said, never trust a book that tries to excite you with an exclamation mark)--only THE GAMMAGE CUP was a shapely 160 pages, so wouldn't make much of a splash in today's steroid driven market where the longer the better. In the meantime, I know a few kids who will be looking forward to the next installment of RATBRIDGE, and one of them has taken up drawing all by himself, after Snow, saying, "Kevin, look at Snow's people, the way they start out by being tic tac toe puzzles, then next time you look they have arms and legs and faces."

Here be No Monsters.......2006-10-22

I was immediately drawn into Here be Monsters when I saw it on a shelf in a local bookstore. It is captivating, seeming to meld the curious Victorian imagery of Edmund Gorey with the density and endlessness of a 100 year old Sears Roebuck catalog.

But I have to be frank. My son has a very active imagination (read "nightmares") and I was not that interested in providing more grist for that mill!

So let me clear the air here. The only monsters are humans, and while they are dastardly and mean, they are not terrifying. Just the same mean, self-centered, narcissistic jerks that life is full of.

The so-called monsters in this book (boxtrolls, cabbageheads and the like) are charming, caring, thoughtful, and endearing. But not scary.

Please buy this book. Buy five copies. Buy ten. If only that you will bless five or ten children (so far I have tested on a five and a ten year old) with a sweet, fun, clever, creative romp through Ratbridge.

"awesome".......2006-10-20

If it was up to me, every single person in the world would have a copy of this book. G-d knows everyone needs it. Sometimes you have to escape everyday life where your on the brink of being fired from your job and your kids (or if you're a kid, parents) are nagging you to do this or that and experiance the trust of the boxtrolls, kindness of Willbury and "Ratbridge Nautical laundry",and the absoulute senslesness of the "fashonable" ladies,Hexagonal buttocks anyone? Add a notorious plot, a few shady characters, and the mysterious "great one", and you've got a book guaranteed to satisfy all ages, kids and adults alike. All in all, this book is not one that you'll ever put down before the very last page.Hey, I didn't

Wonderful family treat!.......2006-10-19

I read this book aloud to my children who are six and eight, they were entranced! As we got closer to the end we added extra reading times to move us along. It was a delight to read out loud as opposed to some of the other books my children have chosen. We can't wait for the next volume!

Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 3: Here There Be Monsters

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Spider-Man takes on the Lizard, plus: a very special issue

Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 3: Here There Be Monsters
Paul Jenkins , and Damion Scott
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785113339

Customer Reviews:

Spider-Man takes on the Lizard, plus: a very special issue.......2004-10-17

"Spectacular Spider-Man, Volume 3: Here There Be Monsters" collects issues #11-14 of "The Spectacular Spider-Man." The tradepaperback contains the three-part story "The Lizard's Tale" and a poignant change of pace story that features painted art by Paolo Rivera (His cover for "The Spectacular Spider-Man" #14 serves as the cover for this collection). Paul Jenkins is the writer on all four stories, while the first three feature a new artistic team for the comic book with penciler Damion Scott and Inker Rob Campanella.

In "The Lizard's Tale," Curt Connors, Peter Parker's friend, is a widower trying to deal with the loss of his wife and struggling to have a relationship with his young son while working desperately to get a research grant from the Montalbetti Foundation. However, when the grant is awarded to another scientist an enraged Connors once again turns into the Lizard. Spider-Man is able to stop his rampage, but not before the Lizard has destroyed his competitor's research lab. The Lizard turns back into Connors, who insists the destruction is not his fault. Peter puts Connors in a safe room with some sedatives to help him stay calm while he tries to figure out what is going on. But when Spider-Man returns, he finds Connors in the middle of what appears to be a deliberate transformation.

"The Lizard's Tale" explores the tragic character of Curt Connors, who apparently has even more bad luck than Peter Parker. Connors is working on a cure for cancer, but loose the grant to somebody trying to cure foot fungus. The problem is that Connors is considered a loose cannon, and his actions before the Foundation's board only confirm that line of thinking. What makes this story distinctive is that in the end it is Connors and not Spider-Man who finds a way to solve the problem of the Lizard.

"The Spectacular Spider-Man" #14 begins with eight New Yorkers, including J. Jonah Jameson and Aunt May, sharing their diverse thoughts about Spider-Man. Then we are introduced to Joey Beal, a young man who is crippled by cerebral palsy. Most days he sits in his wheelchair on the roof of his apartment building, enable to talk, but perfectly able to look at the world around him, especially when Spider-Man flies by on his webs. But now that it something going on in the abandoned apartment building across the street involving a Spider-Man villain who only comes out at night and Joey ends up in the middle.

There is a nice moment at the end of this one, when Spider-Man talks to Joey before going off into the night for his next fight and leaves the young man with a better understanding of what it is like to be Spider-Man than almost everybody else. We all know that when it comes to Spider-Man the key dictum is that "with great power comes great responsibility," but in this story we get the caveat that so much responsibility is not fair. At the heart of Spider-Man has the idea that he is misunderstood and that his efforts are unappreciated. The bottom line with Spider-Man is all too often the simple idea that he cannot win. But in this touching story we see that sometimes he has his moments.

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It was written, but why?
Pleasant but not essential
Warlock Redux
Contrived Plot creates Boredom
Still love them Warlock books...

Here be Monsters
Christopher Stasheff
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0441008518
Release Date: 2001-08-29

Book Description

The Warlock novels are "fresh...well-written and entertaining!" (Fantasy Review)

BRAND-NEW IN THE MILLION-COPY SELLING WARLOCK SERIES!
You are invited to a Warlock wedding...
B.Y.O.M. (Bring Your Own Monster).

The perennially popular Gallowglass family has three weddings to plan. But what Warlock wedding could be complete without an army of monsters threatening the planet?

Download Description

Love is in the air as the planet of Gramarye readies itself to celebrate three weddings all at once: those of Geoffrey, Cordelia, and Gregory Gallowglass. When Alouette, Gregory's fiance, has a horrible vision of monsters attacking the land, cold feet becomes the least of their worries.

Customer Reviews:

It was written, but why?.......2003-10-06

This is indeed another of the Warlock series, but it doesn't advance anything. It was like reading about the time I went to the store to buy bread. It was an activity, but it did little to advance any of the characters. I picked it up as the latest in the Warlock series and I realised what I liked about the original books. The modern approach to mideval attitudes and lifestyles. I really got tired of wading through the ancient wording and turn of phrase.

If you like to read a manuscrpt written in old english, then you will love this. Otherwise, skip it.

Pleasant but not essential.......2003-05-23

When his fiancee sees a vision of a monster invasion, Gregory gathers his brother Geoffrey and their friend and future brother-in-law, Alain, Crown Prince of Gramarye to investigate. Their respective fiancees, however, are hardly the type to stay at home and worry. Alouette, Cordelia (sister to Gregory and Geoffrey), and Quicksilver set off to watch over their men and perform any rescues that may be needed.

Someone, or something, has launched a plague of monsters on Gramarye--a plague that seems to have some purpose beyond terrorizing the natives. As they confront and defeat each of the monsters, the two groups of travellers begins to gather hints of that purpose and of an intended invasion of their world. Defeating local monsters is one thing--defeating an extra-dimensional invasion is something else.

Author Christopher Stasheff was one of the originators of the funny fantasy with his wonderful THE WARLOCK IN SPITE OF HIMSELF--the first novel in this series. As with many continuing series, the Warlock series seems to consist of a mix of essential novels and novels that could be missed. HERE BE MONSTERS falls into the second category. It contains plenty of puns, a bit of character growth, particularly on the part of future king Alain, and your basic magic and sword fighting. Unlike the original WARLOCK or earlier novels in this HEIRS series (where each of the Warlock's children finds their mate), HERE BE MONSTERS lacks the real emotional impact that makes for a powerful book.

HERE BE MONSTERS is a pleasant light read. Fans of the series will want to read it. Fantasy fans who haven't discovered the series yet would do better to start with one of the other novels in the series.

Warlock Redux.......2002-02-07

If you enjoy the Warlock series of books you should enjoy this. Personnally i think Stasheff stretched HERE BE MONSTERS from a good short story into a full book. While it promises the mass wedding of the Warlock children. All it really does, is deal with the latest crisis. With the wedding not even really happening. I thought this was going to be Excellent. But IMO it's nothing but another mediocre novel in the series. Stasheff is capable of great work. This is'nt one of them.

Contrived Plot creates Boredom.......2002-01-27

As an avid fan of the Warlock books for many years, and a reader of the Heirs to the Warlock series, I was excited about reading this book. However, it fell short of my expectations. As other reviewers have mentioned, the plot involves monsters coming out of mist to plague Gramarye. This comes across as very contrived, however, since it is only a way for the author to develop the relationships between the soon-to-be-related characters. (Alloutte must deal with the distrust of nearly everyone except her fiancee.) Bouts of fighting terrible monsters are interspersed with soul-searching conversations.

I found myself skipping huge portions of the book out of boredom. If you're a person who loves to read about fights against monsters, you'll love this book. For me, it got old fast. The end explanation behind the monsters was also, in my opinion, ridiculous. Obviously these are fantasy books, but nonetheless I had come to expect convincing plots from Christopher Stasheff. I was left with the sense that the events of this book hadn't _really_ happened to the characters.

The book does have its moments, though, in a few scenes that I enjoyed mostly because of the characterization. I liked the ending overall, but as I mentioned the final explanation left something to be desired. There is not much interaction between the engaged couples, and except for a few predictably wide-eyed peasants there are hardly any other characters (besides the 3 couples) significantly involved in the story. I did like the side plot in which Diarmand follows his brother (don't worrry, it's mentioned very near the beginning of the book; I'm not giving much away).

This story reminded my of "The Warlock Rock" because of its absurdity. I would say that this is not worth buying, but if you can get it from a library it provides some entertainment. Christopher Stasheff used to be my favorite author; this book is one of the reasons that he no longer is.

Still love them Warlock books..........2001-12-12

... even after all this time.

This book is the continuing saga of the Gallowglass family and their continued defense of the land of Gramarye, a land of witches and warlocks ( also known as espers).

This time the threat is not so clear cut as the warring factions from the future, but a truly otherworldly menace that seems to have no ulterior motive, just the destruction and subjection of Gramarye. More time is spent on the individual encounters of each new creature, as well as an increase of the puns and double entendres in the dialogue... something he has been doing since the very beginning. Who can forget the "...bounds of Haskerville..." from Warlock Wandering. Stasheff seems fond of 'shaggy dog' tales. While not anywhere near the volume of Piers Anthony's Xanth Series for puns, they do come at quite a pace. This book seems more like the first step in a larger story, one I look forward to reading...

For those who are expecting a wedding at the end of this tale, they would appear to be right. Just not in this book. It seems as if Stasheff is going to draw out the reunion of Magnus(the Rogue Wizard) with his family, and the weddings of the three couples established in the previous Warlock's Heirs novels. Will the next book be a new start, or the conclusion of the Warlock/Wizard series? I hope for the former. The tale is obviously NOT done, and I will continue to pay for my next installment.

Book Description

Evil Times Two

Something icky is brewing, as usual, in Sunnydale. This time it's in the form of two clean-cut, prep school-type boys. Buffy's suspicious from the start -- their fashion statement is so old it's dead, and it seems they have a slightly unnatural attachment to their mother.

But then, almost everything about these boys is unnatural -- they're vampires. Not ordinary vampires, either -- they are descendants of a clan known for its ability to summon powerful occult forces. And when the Slayer dusts this dynamic duo, she learns what you get when you mess with a vamp family tree. Now it's up to Buffy to battle her personal demons -- or risk endangering her own most cherished relation. Because mama vamp has something in mind for Joyce....

Download Description

Two clean-cut, prep school-type boys who attract Buffy's suspicions end up being vampires, descendants of a clan known for its ability to summon powerful occult forces. When the Slayer dusts this dynamic duo, she learns what you get when you mess with a vamp family tree. Mama vamp is out for revenge and has set her sights on Joyce.

Customer Reviews:

Jhaeman's Reviews.......2004-09-17

HERE BE MONSTERS
By Cameron Dokey (2000)

RATING: 2/5 Stakes

SETTING: Season Three

CAST APPEARANCES: Buffy, Xander, Willow, Angel, Giles, Cordelia, Oz, Joyce

MAJOR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS: Big Mama/Zahalia Walker (Civil War vampire); Webster & Percy (Big Mama's vampire sons); Heidi Lindstrom (victim); Suz Tompkins (victim's friend); Nemesis (other-dimensional entity of judgment)

BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY: "Something icky is brewing, as usual, in Sunnydale. This time it's in the form of two clean-cut, prep school-type boys. Buffy's suspicious from the start--their fashion statement is so old it's dead, and it seems they have a slightly unnatural attachment to their mother. But then, almost everything about these boys is unnatural--they're vampires. Not ordinary vampires, either--they are descendants of a clan known for its ability to summon powerful occult forces. And when the Slayer dusts this dynamic duo, she learns what you get when you mess with a vamp family tree. Now it's up to Buffy to battle her personal demons--or risk endangering her own most cherished relation. Because mama vamp has something in mind for Joyce. . . ."

REVIEW

Here Be Monsters starts out strong, with a creepy, unique depiction of two vampires dragging a helpless victim home to their "Mama". Big Mama, wife of a Confederate civil war soldier, works hard to bring her two boys up "proper" as Southern gentlemen in a world of declining social values (a.k.a, present-day Sunnydale). Cameron Dokey does a good job with making Big Mama come alive (so to speak) as an insanely over-protective mother, and the crazed fury that results when Buffy and Angel stake her two boys makes the first half of the novel an enjoyable read.

Unfortunately, things rapidly go down hill from there. Big Mama rather predictably kidnaps Joyce, and then the story takes a real turn for the worse when a silly, wise-talking other-dimensional entity known only as Nemesis is invoked in order to test whether Buffy loves her mom more than Big Mama loved her kids. The Trial has Buffy go through the standard mindgames (fighting her younger selves, having visions of friends being murdered) before fighting a giant spider. A limp moral is the final touch on an altogether cheesy ending.

Dokey shows real potential in the early chapters of the book--the banter between Buffy and Angel is crisp and witty, the action is fast-paced and interesting, and there is a very strong interlude with Joyce putting pictures in a scrapbook while ruminating about her daughter's life. The verdict of the Trial is clear, however: Here Be Monsters is a Buffy book best avoided.

Jhaeman's Buffy Reviews: http://www.geocities.com/jhaeman
(c) 2004, Jeremy Patrick-Justice

Better than I thought.......2003-04-27

This book was nothing like I thought it was going to turn out. The beginning of the book had me cracking up laughing at how the twins were acting. As the I read on, the book got better and better and befor I knew it, I was through. It is a must read for everone.

Expected Better.......2003-04-12

I really didn't enjoy anything about this book. The plot was suprisingly boring and the characters didn't stand out as they usually did in the other stories I have read. The only reason I finished the book was because I hoped it might pick back up somehow. It didn't.

My opinion: Don't bother buying.

The worst Buffy book to date.......2002-09-30

I own ever Buffy the Vampire Slayer book published and most of the books are really good, but this one is really bad. The plot is sub-par at best, and the writting makes one not even want to finish the book, I an avid Buffy fan could't even sit through this one. If you have to give up a book give this one up, only buy to complete a collection like me.

Not what I expected.......2001-12-03

I picked up the book at my library and thought from the back that it might be a bit hokey. I was right. I didn't really get into it, it was slow at parts, and I didn't enjoy myself like I do with other Buffy books. Definitely not one of the Buffy books that you HAVE to get.

Scarlet Monster Lives Here__An I Can Read Book

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Scarlet Monster Lives Here__An I Can Read Book
Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Manufacturer: Harper & Row Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Here Be Monsters
Anthony Price
Manufacturer: Popular Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0445405783

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Excellent reading-a real treat that leaves you wanting more.
A very good, believable story!

Here Abide Monsters
Andre Norton
Manufacturer: Atheneum Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0689304226

Customer Reviews:

Excellent reading-a real treat that leaves you wanting more........1999-01-20

Of all the books I've read by Norton, this is one of my favorites. I currently have five copies and have worn out three copies.

The book is very simply written, but gives the reader vivid mental imagery. The reader becomes involved with the story.

This is the one book I wish Andre Norton had written a sequal to. Maybe someone else will get the word to her and we can be treated.

LOVE THIS BOOK!!! If you're an Andre Norton fan, and you haven't read this book, you havent tasted Norton.

A very good, believable story!.......1998-03-09

I own the TOR copy of this book and have read it a few times. It doesn't rank with my all-time favorites of Nortons, but is is well written and it does keep your attention throughout. It would be a good read for any fan and I recommend it.

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A delightful role-reversal picturebook story

No Monsters Here
Sharon Jennings
Manufacturer: Fitzhenry and Whiteside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1550417878
Release Date: 2004-06-11

Book Description

A Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice 2005

It's bedtime. This little boy is ready to climb the stairs and say goodnight. But Father isn't ready at all. He's afraid of monsters; he doesn't want to be left alone downstairs.

This brave lad knows how to handle father. He'll patiently lead his parent through the bedtime routine. Naturally the boy won't mind looking in the closet, behind the drapes and everywhere in between if it will make his anxious father feel better. The boy will cheerfully hop into bed for a bedtime story. And he'll say, after a final hug, "I'll hear you if you need me in the night." Father should feel much better now. But what's going to happen when he has to go downstairs alone?

Maybe there are monsters in the house after all. But can you guess what they are really after? A reassuring story for confident children and timid parents everywhere.

This delightful twist on a common fear will have young ones chortling as they recognize some of the best techniques for stalling parents at bedtime. Popular author Sharon Jennings gives the boy the parental role as she gently pokes fun at the child-like dad. And illustrator Ruth Ohi creates a monster duo far more interested in having fun and stealing cookies than scaring anyone. The team responsible for the Blue Spruce Award-winner, The Bye-Bye Pie, has created a warm and cozy story that will fill youngsters with confidence night after night.

Customer Reviews:

A delightful role-reversal picturebook story .......2005-06-14

When it's his bedtime, a little boy is ready to say goodnight and climb the stairs to his bedroom. But Father isn't ready! He's afraid of monsters and doesn't want to be left alone downstairs! But the boy knows just how to handle this and leads his father through the bedtime routine which includes looking in the closet, behind the drapes, and everywhere in between if it will make his anxious father feel better. After the bedtime story it's time for lights out. Father should feel more comfortable now -- but what will happen when he has to go downstairs alone? Strongly recommended, especially for family picturebook collections, No Monsters Here is a delightful role-reversal picturebook story by Sharon Jennings that is very nicely illustrated by Ruth Ohi (who includes a father monster and his son!) so that young readers can become more comfortable when it's time for them to go to bed.

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Here Abide Monsters
Andre Norton
Manufacturer: DAW BOOKS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UD4I3C

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Here Abide Monsters
Andre Norton
Manufacturer: DAW BOOKS/ORDER FROM PENGUIN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QBP35A

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