entertainment. Much like a “popcorn movie,” we want an experience that may not be life-changing or a book that becomes analyzed academically, just a piece of a larger story that invited us in2. This is not condemning the format; it’s hard enough to write a story that people want to read, much less come back for the sequel. These authors have to draw you in and leave you wanting more. Much like movie sequels, a book series can develop a fan base eager for the next instalment. A shocker for the regular readers of this column: There are no hated books being savaged here! All these series had enough redeeming value to be recommended for mass consumption. Either ye olde reviewer is mellowing in old age/daddy-hood or truly lucked out. Another interesting point is that all of these books are available in eBook format as well as physically (with the exception of Infinite Kung Fu); having made the leap to a Kindle this year, it is interesting to see how much of the small press has embraced the format. It also makes it cheaper and easier to discover new writers. The convenience of digital delivery is a plus, especially in the storage realm; there used to be ample space in the Catacombs... Hopefully, the market for printed books will remain as there is something about the heft and permanence of a “real” book. The Spawning (Book Two of The Hive Series) By Tim Curran Elder Signs Press http://eldersignspress.com Based in the cold environs of Antarctica, the Hive series (planned to be a trilogy, but we’ve seen what success can do) is billed as a continuation of H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness3. As it is set in modern times, none of Lovecraft’s characters make an appearance; the concepts are here: strange structures and creatures that predate mankind are discovered in the ice, madness-inducing dreams follow. Curran is able to set the mood and scene quite well. Much like the author he is continuing, the sense of dread permeates the chapters, enhancing the otherworldly menace of the alien dreams. The isolation and paranoia are palpable; this assists in forgiving the stock nature of the characters. While better at conveying realistic dialogue than many, our
protagonists feel fairly generic: veteran worker, scientist, ice rookie, etc. The addition of a possible (probable?) government conspiracy that desires to study or exploit the strange things in the ice adds to the tension, ramping up the paranoia from the first instalment. Much like the poor souls in the old gentleman’s prose excursions, the protagonists are here to place a human face on the experiences; they are not guaranteed to survive the experience with their sanity, if at all. Suffice to say, none of the Arctic adventurers from The Hive make a repeat appearance. It is not necessary to read The Hive to enjoy The Spawning as it is the concept, not the characters that persists in this series. Reading both helps expand on the nature of the Old Ones and the world they inhabit; there is no hope and they hunger – the lucky ones die quickly. Hard Spell By Justin Gustainis Angry Robot Books http://angryrobotbooks.com Welcome to Scranton, Pennsylvania – home of Detective Sergeant Stanley Markowski of the Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit. Some crimes need special investigative techniques and preparation, especially after the “supes,” who received equal rights in the 1960s, were not myths or legends any longer. Vampires, wizards and goblins are all in a day’s work for Murkowski. The main driver of the plot is the horrific torture and murder of a wizard who guarded a rare and powerful grimoire with unknown (to the police force) powers and implications. Hard Spell transfers the police procedural into a supernatural background, with several minor subplots that, in the end, enhance the over-arcing storyline; they also fill in back-story on the main protagonists without blatantly spoon-feeding it to the reader. There are points where ye olde reviewer wondered whether we would get resolution of some of these points, which could be either a pacing or a patience problem. While not breathtakingly original4, this is an entertaining start to a series that was hard to put down and a recommended read. The next instalment is due in the first quarter of 2012 and Gustainis has another (similar sounding) series with two volumes in print.
2
Case in point: Do you really want to read Infinite Jest in the airport? Yes, it is a fantastic work of literary art, but I want bread and circuses while traveling. 3 You knew there would be at least one Lovecraft reference, right?
4
Suddenly, I am removed from the Angry Robot books reviewer list…