Books & Reviews: A Complete Guide to Special Effects Makeup: Conceptual Creations by Japanese Makeup Artists

I received A Complete Guide to Special Effects Makeup... as a present last year and I'm very grateful!

Acclaimed as the best book ever published on the subject, A Complete Guide to Special Effects Makeup covers everything from basic facial makeup styles, simple scars and gashes, to masks, molds and cast-making; everything you need to know to create vampires, zombies and other fantastical characters.  

Featuring step-by-step instructions, with hundreds of color photos, from makeup artist professionals who have worked on films such as Alien vs Predator and Land of the Dead. 

Whether you are a beginner preparing for a Halloween party, or a cosplayer interested in learning more complex techniques, this is the definitive guide.

"Cattleya" by Manabu Namikawa
Photo: Takuyuki Saito; Model: Marie
Beauty Make-up: Keizo

The first thing that hits you when you begin the book is the well-lit, absolutely stunning photographs of each make-up piece. They really give a sense of just how impressive these looks would be in person, as well as showing enough close-ups to see all the details.

"FBI Agent from Hell" by TOMO

It might seem doubtful that there are "hundreds of color photos" included in this collection, but once you reach the first project tutorial page, it becomes a lot more plausible. Every look shown also has a step-by-step tutorial, complete with concept drawings/ideas, tools needed, application techniques and, except in the case of full-face masks, photographs of the models before, after, and during the transformation process.

"Vampire Queen" by Akiteru Nakada & M.E.U.

There are four chapters in the book: 01: Basic Makeup and Cuts, Gashes & Scars; 02: Masks; 03: Making Molds; 04: Practical Application. In addition to providing how-to guides for the nine looks featured at the beginning of the book, there are also various guides for smaller, less time-consuming/complicated projects throughout. The projects include everything from basic beauty makeup and facial lacerations to accessory sculpting and mold making, all of which are very clear and easy to understand. There's also a "Special Effects Makeup Glossary" included at the end, which means that even complete novices will have no trouble understanding the terminology.

When the photographs finish, there is then an insightful interview with professional SFX makeup artist Yuuchi Matsui (Ringu, Ichi the Killer, The Happiness of the Katakuris, Pulse etc.) and the very last page includes short profiles of each of the makeup artists featured throughout the book.

"Executioner's Mask" by Keizo

Overall, this was a fantastic read and I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in SFX makeup!

"Goth & Loli Zombies" by Akiteru Nakada & M.E.U.
Photo: Takuyuki Saito
Models: Kancho & Mari

"Silene" by Manabu Namikawa

"Bud" by TOMO
Photo: Yosuke Komatsu Model: Marie
Beauty Make-up: Keizo
Costume: Yuta Okuyama & TOMO

Books & Art: The Book of Skulls by Faye Dowling

"The skull is one of the most recognizable symbols of today's contemporary visual culture. Since its 1970's renaissance in the iconic album designs of bands such as the Grateful Dead, the skull has found its way into the visual vocabulary of urban life, adorning T-Shirts, badges and rock memorabilia as the ultimate symbol of anarchy and rebellion. Repurposed and recast by artists, illustrators and designers, it has become one of the most iconic cultural symbols of our time. In response to this cultural phenomenon, The Book of Skulls presents a cool visual guide to the skull, charting its rebirth through music and street fashion to become today's ultimate anti-establishment icon. From Black Sabbath to Cypress Hill, skater punk graffiti to Gothic tattoos, from high-couture to Hello Kitty and Dali to Damien Hirst, this book is the ultimate collection of cool and iconic skull motifs. Drawing together artwork from music, fashion, street art and graphic design The Book of Skulls is a celebration of one of today's most iconic cultural symbols."

Last year, my sister gave me The Book of Skulls by Faye Dowling and I then spent a happy few hours pawing through the gorgeous artwork and interesting bits of information included within the book. As you may have guessed from the title, its focus is art and design pieces, all of which incorporate skulls in one way or another.

This collection is not only beautiful, but is peppered with historical contexts and insights into popular culture over the years as well. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes macabre art or - obviously - skulls, as it a quirky, semi-humorous take on what is usually a dark subject matter.

More pictures after the cut below↓

A-Z Blogging Challenge: F is for Frankenstein Pop-Ups

Frankenstein Pop-Ups

During last year's A-Z, I wrote about one of the Dracula pop-up books that I have; this year, I thought it only fair that I should include my Frankenstein pop-up book! As with the Dracula pop-up book, this adaptation of the famed Mary Shelley novel features the talents of Clare Bampton (story adaptation), Anthony Williams (illustrations) and David Hawcock (pop-ups), with the addition of Rob Taylor (colour), and is published by Walker Books as well.

Frankenstein is equally as visually appealing, and the panels featuring the creature are particularly emotive and well-executed. The story is shortened, surmised and details left out in order to fit the constraints of an illustrated pop-up book, which does make it feel slightly rushed in places. However, where an author might spend ten to twenty pages or more on each description of scenery, emotions, reactions etc. the illustrations and pop-ups create the scene in a page or less and the impact is much more immediate. 

Some of the paper craft creations, such as the one above, are close to half a metre high, which can't help but leave a lasting impression!

Whilst I won't pretend that this pop-up is a substitute for reading the original Frankenstein text, for horror fans who want something different after working through the novel several times, and for younger readers who aren't quite ready to tackle The Modern Prometheus yet, this is a fun and novel spin on a beautiful book.

This post is part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge, 2013.

Books & Art: Death: A Picture Album

Death: A Picture Album was published in 2012 by museum & gallery, The Wellcome Collection in London, UK. The book features a uniquely macabre collection of items related to death, which is being partially exhibited at The Wellcome Collection until February 24th, 2013. Richard Harris, who previously worked as a print dealer in Chicago, is the lucky owner of this fascinating array of items, which includes paintings, photographs, anatomical drawings, historical artifacts and scientific specimens from around the world.

Untitled by Andy Warhol, 1987

Featured in the book are an abundance of prints, paintings and other artworks from Harris' collection, from Renaissance vanitas to Japanese paintings; from Andy Warhol photographs to Dia de los Muertos folk artwork and much more. Alongside each picture is a short explanation, along with the date and artist, if known, which adds yet another element of interest to the book.

Frolicking Skeletons by Kawanabe Kyosai, 1850-89

Although the images are wonderful and would be a fantastic view for anyone who has a slightly morbid side, visiting the Wellcome Collection and seeing some of them in person would be even better!

Head Games by Susan Hardy Brown

Book Review: To Evil Comes a Daughter by Allen Carraway

Released in 2012, To Evil Comes a Daughter is a paranormal mystery novel by Allen Caraway.

"English magazine journalist, Sam Munro, is in Montana interviewing classic car collector, Doug Bamber, for an article when, to his horror, he discovers that his hotel is haunted, the paranormal activity terrifying him, and the disruptive and restless ghost pursuing Sam wherever he goes.  

To Sam’s astonishment, he also learns through Doug that a murder committed seven years earlier is directly linked to his tormented youth, catapulting him into a maelstrom of terror and vengeance when retired Chicago homicide detective turned PI, Gunther Parkinson, asks Sam to assist with his investigation. As he uncovers a horrific trail of violence and deception, Sam discovers that he has trusted the wrong person, and he could be the killer’s next victim..."

The plot of the book is quite standard for the paranormal mystery / detective genre; an unassuming, skeptical main character is pulled into a dangerous situation by visits from an unnerving spectre. However, the identity of the paranormal presence is unexpected, mainly because it is a character who is not previously introduced. This is also true of the name of the killer as well, with double identities and coincidences being vital to the plot. 

Unfortunately, some of the coincidences seem somewhat forced and far-fetched, serving only to create a twist at the end. The title of the book, too, is taken from one line in the book that seems thrown in specifically to create a catchy title rather than any other reason. 

Having said that, Caraway's writing style is wonderfully descriptive; he creates the beauty of the landscape in Montana just as vividly as the horror of gory murder scenes. However, the details don't become tedious and are punctuated by character developing dialogue and internal monologues. This is especially well done with the conversations between Sam and Doug, as they not only help to flesh-out the two friends, but also the other people they meet / know and discuss. It also ensures that all the characters introduced are more than just one dimensional husks and helps to keep the plot moving.

As well as great descriptions, the use of humour to break up the dramatic and traumatic scenes is effective and makes the book a little lighter than it would have been otherwise. Some of the jovial dialogue does seem a little inappropriate for the moment it's used in, but in general, it's well-timed.

To Evil Comes a Daughter moves at a good pace, has characters with whom it is easy to sympathise and reading it is enjoyable throughout. Even though there are some plot holes and predictable storylines, overall, the novel is a solid, well-written paranormal thriller. 

To find out more about To Evil Comes a Daughter, or its author Allen Caraway, visit the links below:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Kobo

Smashwords

Allen Caraway on Twitter

Allen Caraway on Facebook

Book Review & Giveaway: Meta-Horde by Sean T. Page & John McCuaig

"The year 2020 was a good one for the walking dead. 

The initial reports of a mysterious plague reanimating corpses caused unbridled chaos and as the world descended into hell, nations turned on each other in the battle to survive. Europe is devastated. 

The remnants of NATO managed to create safe zones within cities that still had the protection of medieval built stonewalls. Once again, these ancient bastions were a sanctuary from invaders, keeping back the dead legions. The rest of the continent was a dead zone - populated by hundreds of millions of walking corpses. 

The medieval fortress-city of Carcassonne, in Southern France, became the headquarters of the living but as the last pockets of human survivors rebuilt the fragile framework of a new society, one man discovers a terrifying secret. So far, what has happened is only the beginning. 

Humanity now faces a true extinction level event. 

The dead are clustering in massive numbers. Mere walls can't defend against the overwhelming force of the meta-horde."

This is the intriguing plot of Meta-Horde, the latest zombie book from Sean T. Page (The Official Zombie Handbook, War Against the Walking Dead) and John McCuaig (The Church, The Pyramid of the Dead). Whilst the book has an overt zombie theme, it's also very reminiscent of many books (and films) set during WW1 and WW2, especially with soldiers from various nations coming together to fight a common enemy and the civilian population being expected to fight as well.

The story opens in Dubrovnik, Croatia, but swiftly moves to Carcassonne, France. It's here that the main character, an English scientist called Dr. Raymond Carter, his young, German lab assistant Darcy and Gary the obnoxious, teenage computer genius are introduced. They discover the meta-hordes of hundreds of millions of zombies forming and collectively migrating together. Then, with the help of the military presence within the city, the three start to calculate and form a viable plan of attack. This part of the story line is excellent; it's well thought-out, unusual and really made me want to keep reading.

Unfortunately, there is a twist part way through that really doesn't make a lot of sense and somewhat takes away from the great story that has been built up until that point. It could have been redeemed by more in-depth explanations and solid motives, but that didn't happen. Ultimately, it seemed as though the twist was introduced to provide a way of continuing the story, should the authors decide to write a sequel. It doesn't ruin the book completely, but it does detract from Meta-Horde as a stand-alone a little though.

Apart from this plot point, the novel was well-written, on the whole, though there were quite a few typos and grammatical errors that probably should have been spotted during the editing and drafting process. (So of course this means that I will probably end up missing some errors in this review...) Still, the writing flowed well and was consistent from chapter to chapter.

Although the plot is an important part of the novel, to me it seemed largely character-driven throughout. This is somewhat problematic, as I really started to dislike Carter about halfway through. I wasn't particularly fond of the vulgar and violent soldier Taylor either, but at least he doesn't self-righteously chastise others for behaving the same way he does. Moreover, I don't think that the authors intended Taylor to be likable, for the most part.

The problem I have with Carter's character is largely due to his hypocritical attitude towards saving Darcy at the expense of other people, while constantly criticising others for that exact same kind of selfishness. I understand that she's supposed to be like a daughter to him and, therefore, the only family that he has left, but he constantly bleats on about the (lack of) morality of the actions taken by everyone else. Yet when he needs them to help Darcy, those morals are abandoned almost instantly without any regrets. Perhaps the point is that people who wouldn't ordinarily behave in such a way are changed by their circumstances and the horrific realities of war (and zombies...), but Carter is present in such a substantial portion of the book that it's hard to keep that in mind during every one of his outbursts.

However, there are a plethora of other characters, each with their own personalities and back stories, involved throughout the novel. At times it seems as though there are too many personalities crammed into the 246 pages of plot and some of the characters are left undeveloped and seem quite generic. Having said that, there are others - particularly the soldiers - to whom Page & McCuaig give lots of dimensions and slowly deepen over the course of the book.

At this point, you may be wondering why there are so few mentions of the undead contained in a review of a book about zombies. Well, there really aren't that many zombies in the book. Or rather, there are millions mentioned, but they are always in the background gnashing their teeth, moaning and lurching their way forward, driven by their unsatisfied hunger for human flesh.

Even when the survivors are in conflict with the shambling masses, the horde are still predominantly a backdrop to the story progression. They serve as a grotesque, constant threat to humanity, with the occasional unique physical description here and there, but without individual identities. This meant that there was no screaming and shrieking at the mere sight of zombies, as there are in many stories of this genre. The silence, followed by mild but quiet panic that follows the sightings of an imminent zombie danger works much better here; especially as the dead are drawn in and frenzied by particularly loud noises. Besides, I think, after years of battling zombies that people would have reached this level of desensitisation towards the dead anyway, if only to keep their nerves and sanity in tact.

Meta-Horde, like any book, has flaws but overall it was an interesting read with a great starting premise. It was well-written and had a (mostly) plausible plot. Anyone who likes zombie action-dramas, apocalyptic war-time survival horrors / dramas or even conspiracy theory narratives will probably enjoy this book immensely.

Want to get your hands on a copy of Meta-Horde? 

Enter the giveaway below before December 5th for a chance to win!
Open internationally.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Many thanks to John McCuaig for providing the giveaway prize.

Meta-Horde is out now! 
To purchase the book or find more about the authors, visit the links below:

Meta-Horde on Amazon

John McCuaig's Author Page

Sean T. Page's Author Page

John McCuaig's Blog

Ministry of Zombies

Book Reviews: Land Down Undead by John e Normal

Land Down Undead by John e Normal is a zombie comedy, set in Australia, after an outbreak of the undead. Their government allows the other nations of the world to dump their undead in secure, allocated locations, but the zombies escape, unleashing a second wave of flesh-eaters. The other countries of the world, having offloaded their zombie problems in Australia, have returned to their regular lives and the younger generation can barely even remember the outbreaks. Land Down Undead Tours Inc decide to capatalise on that by offering them guided backpacking tours across the still zombie-infested country. After surviving for several years, John, the narrator, decides to get a job as a tour guide with the company, and that's where the story begins.

The premise of the book is quite amusing and, like the book Zombie Housewives of the Apocalypse, it tells the story from a first person perspective, as though the zombie infection had actually happened. In this case, however, it's a human telling the story and not the zombies! The comedy is in a similar style to the films Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead though, in as much as there are frequent zombie killings - many times just for fun - and gory scenes intermingled with humourous quips and one-liners.

There is something I personally don't like in the zombie genre: killing zombies for fun / for sport. I don't mind the gore and flesh-eating or even the killing zombies for survival reasons and the zombie opera, but, for some reason, hacking off a zombie's arms and putting tape around their head so they can't grab or bite while a tourist bashes them over the head repeatedly with a bat bothers me.

On the other hand, you do get the sense that John has just become completely desensitised to death and violence in general because of his experiences, and uses humour as a coping mechanism. Even human deaths don't really seem to phase him much, as when any of his tour group is killed by one of the infected, he seems more concerned about getting grief from his employers and having a half-empty  tour bus, than anything else. Still, as a character, he is likable. Or I wasn't wishing he'd be eaten by zombies halfway through, at least!

Land Down Undead is promoted as a comedy and that's primarily what it is, but actually I think that there's more to it. I could be way off here, but the inclusion of zombie politicians, reality TV shows, Australian celebrities that only ever return to their country to get good publicity, and many other things seem to be something of a social commentary in the guise of a zombie book. The zombie apocalypse doesn't change human nature and there are always people looking to take advantage, no matter what the situation. As the narrator states at one point: "the scumbags who relished the new chaos were worse than the infected".

Overall, Land Down Undead is a quirky and fun read and works well as a mock travel guide to zombie tourism, especially with the references to real places in Australia. It is relatively short at 70 pages, but it doesn't really need to be any longer. Besides, the Kindle version only costs 77p, so it's not exactly expensive! I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone with a penchant for gory zombie spoofs, or who's looking for something a bit different from the genre.

You can purchase the book from Amazon here or visit the website below for more information:

Land Down Undead Promo Site

Book Reviews: Dark Water (2004) by Koji Suzuki

Dark Water by Koji Suzuki (author of Ring and Spiral) is a collection of short stories that are all connected to the theme of water in some way. You might recognise the title, as the film, Dark Water directed by Hideo Nakata, was based on the first story Floating Water. The book was originally released in 1996 in Japanese as Honogurai mizu no soko kara (Translation: From the Depths of Dark Water), which I think makes more sense in the context of the theme, but it's not really important.

The book opens with a prologue and closes with an epilogue, both of which are half of a story about a grandmother weaving eerie plots to entertain her granddaughter. These frame the collection of tales well, although only the last story Forest Under the Sea seems to be directly linked to them. I'm not sure if the other stories are supposed to be the ones which the grandmother is telling, but they don't really seem like something you'd tell a little girl, so I assume not.

Koji Suzuki's writing style is fantastic! Admittedly, I haven't read the original Japanese version, but the translation manages to make a detailed account of a man fixing a tap (in Watercolors) really interesting. I'm not sure how that's even possible, but Suzuki managed it. He's also extremely talented at building up tension and creating creepy scenes, which makes Dark Water a lot of fun to read.

However, there are two big problems with this book: the characters and the endings. For the most part, Suzuki portrays the female characters as neurotic or annoying and the male characters as violent and cold, but doesn't really add anyone with a personality that makes you care what happens to them. Adrift, Forest Under the Sea and, to a certain extent, Dream Cruise had somewhat likable characters in, but the endings were predictable. 

In fact all of the stories had predictable or unsatisfying endings to them and that, more than the characters, was the disappointing aspect to the book. Some felt unfinished, whilst others just made very little sense. I don't mind open-ended plots or fantasy / paranormal-based tales, but it often seemed like Suzuki had begun writing a full-length novel, couldn't think of a good ending and so turned it into a short story instead. 

Overall, while I did enjoy Dark Water and Suzuki's way with words is wonderful, the endings ultimately let the book down. It's worth reading, but it's not, by any means, Koji Suzuki's best work.

Posted as part of the Month Before Halloween event:

Book Reviews: Raggy Maggie (Invisible Fiends 2) by Barry Hutchison

Raggy Maggie, the second installment of the Invisible Fiends series by Barry Hutchison, continues the story of Kyle, the 12-year-old boy who is forced to battle against vengeful, forgotten imaginary friends whilst confronting painful memories from his past. Whereas the first book, Mr Mumbles, dealt with Kyle's own made-up pal, this second book sees the imaginary friend of Billy the school bully returning. She isn't quite what Kyle expected: Caddie, a little girl with a doll named Raggy Maggie. That doesn't make her any less dangerous though and she kidnaps Billy, threatening to kill him if Kyle doesn't play a game with her.

Although this is the second book in the series, apart from quoting short sections of Mr Mumbles near the beginning, it doesn't really further the plot threads started in that book. The "Darkest Corners" is explained a little more and Kyle's father is introduced as a more important character, but many questions about Kyle's parents, his mother's imaginary friend and Ameena's background aren't really even mentioned, let alone answered. That's not necessarily a negative though, as the series spans six books in total and revealing everything in the first two would make the other four somewhat redundant.

Hutchison's writing style is still quite vivid, although, unlike Mr Mumbles, Raggy Maggie definitely seems more like it was written for children and young teenagers. The descriptions of the friendship / fights between Kyle and Billy are particularly written in a style more suited to older children but it is, after all, a children's book. This didn't, however, cause the characters to become annoying. Kyle and Ameena's "battle talk" was once again trying too hard to be sassy and just ended up being embarrassing though.

Overall, I don't think Raggy Maggie was as good as Mr Mumbles, as it felt much like a filler in a series. While it did progress the plot surrounding Kyle's father a little, missing out this book wouldn't be greatly detrimental to the set. Still, it was an enjoyable and easy read and I'd recommend it to anyone who liked the first Invisible Fiends book. On the other hand, if you haven't read Mr Mumbles yet, then definitely start with that one instead.

Posted as part of the Month Before Halloween event:

Book Reviews: Mr Mumbles (Invisible Fiends 1) by Barry Hutchison

What if the imaginary friends you had as a child came back years later? What if they were no longer the fun and playful friends you remembered, but instead had become bitter and violent distortions of their former selves, after being forgotten for so long? This is the premise of the Invisible Fiends series by Barry Hutchison. Mr Mumbles is the first book in the set and centres around 12-year-old Kyle and the vicious return of his former imaginary friend Mr Mumbles.

The story itself is aimed at older children and teenagers, but Hutchison writes well and creates vivid worlds excellently. The only real differences between his books and those written for adults are the lack of sex, slightly toned-down gore and the fact that the main character is only twelve. I don't really mind those differences, to be honest, as a lot of sex and gore scenes in narratives are just filler and, although Kyle and his "sidekick" Ameena do have their cringe-worthy one-liners during fights, they aren't irritating. 

The lines between reality and imaginary are frequently blurred throughout and it's often purposefully unclear what is actually real and what is a product of imagination. For example, Hutchison uses common fears of children - banging on windows, storms, dark attics etc. - to signal Mr Mumbles' presence. However, it could easily be assumed that Mr Mumbles is simply the personification of those fears, at first and that Kyle just has an over-active imagination. This works effectively as you don't immediately guess the plot and it makes you want to read on to find out more.

There is also an unexpected and slightly odd twist involving Kyle and his parents, which still isn't explained completely by the end of this Invisible Fiends installment, but hopefully that will be addressed in later books. It is quite a big plot detail and something that will either make the series very good or not make any sense at all. It would be a shame if it was the latter though, as this is such a promising opening.

Posted as part of the Month Before Halloween event:

Giveaways: Halloween Giveaway!

Halloween is fast approaching and so, ghoulish creatures, the Horror Shock Lolipop Halloween Giveaway is here! There are 3 prize packs available: The Halloween Pack, The Vampire Pack, and The Zombie Pack. You can enter via the Rafflecopter gadget below, or in the Contests section, until October 25th 2012. Open to everyone, from any country, whether you follow the blog or not :D

The Halloween Prize Pack

The Halloween Pack includes:
1 x Mister Mumbles (Invisible Fiends 1) by Barry Huchison (book)
1 x Boo Berry lip balm
1 x Sugar Skulls key clips (black)
1 x Sugar Skulls key clips (cream)
1 x Ghost with pumpkin candle
1 x Coffin soap
1 x Silver Bullet mints
1 x Grey Web soap
1 x Orange Pumpkin soap
1 x Ghost with pumpkin soap
2 x Glowsticks
3 x Little Pumpkin soaps
6 x Candy bracelets (2 pumpkins, 2 skull & crossbones, 2 skull & crossbones clock)

The Vampire Prize Pack

The Vampire Pack includes:
1 x Dracula (1931) on DVD (region 2)
1 x Count Chocula lip balm
1 x Garlic Mints
1 x Death Mints
1 x Coffin soap
1 x Bat soap
4 x Gargoyle soaps

The Zombie Prize Pack

The Zombie Pack includes:
1 x Zombie Housewives of the Apocalypse by Sharon Day & Julie Ferguson (book)
1 x Zombie Mints
1 x Franken Berry lip balm
1 x José ~ a Skull soap
1 x Ribs on a Rope soap
2 x Brain soaps
3 x Finger soaps
4 x Candy bracelets (2 skull & crossbones, 2 skull & crossbones clocks)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


If you don't want to enter, but still want to get your hands on these treats:
All soaps, candles, and glowsticks from The Soapy Shop of Horrors.
All mints and lip balm from Cyber Candy.
All Sugar Skulls from The Works.

And don't forget, you can still get 10% off everything at The Soapy Shop of Horrors webstore, until November 1st, by adding the code SHOCK on the shopping cart page!

Book Reviews: Zombie Housewives of the Apocalypse (2012) by Sharon Day & Julie Ferguson

Zombie Housewives of the Apocalypse (2012) by Sharon Day and Julie Ferguson is a quirky, tongue-in-cheek look at the daily lives of two zombified 1950's housewives, the reserved Stella and her wild sister-in-law Liz. Featuring tips on being a good zombie housewife, raising zombie children, popular zombie recipes (with alternative ingredients included for human readers), as well as section on human misconceptions about zombies and more!

The concept of the book is brilliant! Zombie-perspective books / films are always a little hit and miss with me, but this one worked as it pretty much just adapted the stories of two human housewives and transferred their personalities and world views onto zombies. Thus, the flesh-eating nature of zombies is dealt with accordingly and Stella and Liz frequently refer to humans being like cattle (though they seem to be addressing humans in the book, which is somewhat strange if they view them only as food).

Zombie Housewives... is generously peppered with pictures, many of which feature the authors as these two shamblers. The quality of some of the images isn't great and some of the graphics are heavily pixelated. However, that could be an intentional design feature. After all, zombies - especially 1950's zombies - aren't known for their computer skills!

Although the book is seemingly short (96 pages - the last 30 of which are lists of zombie-related media and products), I don't think it could have been any longer. By the end, the novelty of Stella being a zombie that liked to keep a perfect (shell of a) house and Liz being a zombie that liked...men...had started to grow a little tired and repetitive already.

Having said that, it was an enjoyable read with a unique core idea. It didn't drag on for too long, didn't take itself too seriously and was a fun spin on the zombie genre.

There will be a Zombie Housewives of the Apocalypse book giveaway on HSL later this month, so rise from your graves again and come back soon, zombies!

Posted as part of the Month Before Halloween event:

Blog Events: Death Books & Tea: Month Before Halloween Event

The gory girls over at Death, Books and Tea are running a great event for all the book-lovers out there in the lead up to Halloween this year. The aptly titled The Month Before Halloween event will have interviews, reviews, giveaways and more!

"What I'm proposing is a month long event full of...stuff. Guest reviews, posts, interviews with people (bloggers, authors and publishers) on what, if any, scary books they like. A month full of this stuff here.  As long as it's scary to some degree, it's welcome. 

Oh, and then a giveaway. Lots of them.  On all your blogs. For the last week on October, everyone who's taken part (and wants to) will host a giveaway for anything of your choice-obviously related to spooky books."

Anything related to scary / spooky books is welcome and, obviously, the more bloggers taking part, the better it will be! If you want to join in, you can do so by visiting THIS PAGE and signing up by September 1st 2012. (And yes, we are taking part here at HSL too ;D)

Contest: Win 2 Hammer books!

Hello there little monsters!

Our beloved people from Horror Channel are organising a competition on their website and the prize are these two novellas from Hammer: "Hands of the Ripper" and "X The Unknown".

Here are the summaries if you want to know what they're about!

Hands of the Ripper

Recently widowed psychology lecturer John Pritchard visits spiritualist Aida Golding with his son. He is drawn to a troubled young woman who is trying to contact her child. One night during an intimate seance the lights go out and one of the group is brutally murdered. John has his suspicions but he can't prove anything. He senses that Aida has some hold over the girl and he offers her a place of refuge in his home. All too soon John realises he's made a terrible mistake...

X the Unknown

A huge crack has appeared in the earth's surface. And people are dying. Incinerated beyond recognition. At the same time, hospitals have noticed an increase in catastrophically deformed foetuses, and cancer levels are soaring. Dr Adam Royston, a scientist working at the nearby military base, thinks he knows what it is; a creature as old as the earth that slumbers for centuries, feeding on the energy and radiation produced by humans when he wakes.

Interested? Then join the competition here , you just need to answer one question and you have until the 8th of August.

Best of luck, little creatures from the underworld!

Interview: Peter H. Brothers, Author of 'Devil Bat Diary'

Recently, HSL had the chance to interview three-time Rondo Classic Horror Award nominee and author of 'Devil Bat Diary: The Journal of Johnny Layton', Peter H. Brothers. Below, he tells us more about 'Devil Bat Diary', his respect and admiration for Bela Lugosi, as well as exclusive details about his upcoming novel, the 'Devil Bat Diary' sequel, 'Terror in Tinseltown'!

- First of all, thank you for taking time out to do this interview. 

How would you describe your writing style, for those unfamiliar with your work?

First of all, it's my pleasure and I am grateful for your interest in my book.

  

My writing style for "DBD" is first-person subjective and what I term "poetic prose," a combination of the gritty, the romantic, the sensitive and the brusque with plenty of alliteration. 

- 'Devil Bat Diary: The Journal of Johnny Layton' - is dedicated to the memory of the late actor Bela Lugosi. Were you a fan of his films before you started writing 'Devil Bat Diary', or is it an appreciation you developed whilst doing research?

I've been a fan of Mr. Lugosi since I saw "Dracula" back in 1973 and that was the beginning.  Since then I have studiously watched his films and read all that I can on him.  Far from the short-tempered and foul-mouth bitter old man as he was portrayed in "Ed Wood" he was a gentleman, the consummate actor, a true professional who loved his craft and was intensely devoted to it.  He was intensely passionate on screen and was a fascinating person.  He is my idol and inspiration.  In summation, I would not be here today if not for his movies and I visit his grave every year around his birthday to pay him my homage and respect.  

- What drew you to creating a story inspired by 'The Devil Bat', rather than some of the other popular horror / science fiction films of the same era?

Well Bela was forced to act in a lot of 'Poverty Row Quickies' during his lifetime but always gave 100% and never played down to the material.  "The Devil Bat" is my favorite film of his and there is a very likeable quality about it.  It was an unusual film for its time and somewhat ahead of its time with its ironic tongue-in-cheek humor. 

The film manages to capture the quintessential Lugosi role: that of a man out for revenge who is in his own way justified, and in a sick sense we as audience members can identify with his frustrations and hopes he gets away with it (hey, who wouldn't want a bevy of Devil Bats at his disposal to dispose those who annoy him or who have done him wrong?).  

- Do you think readers who have seen 'The Devil Bat' will get more out of 'Devil Bat Diary' than those that haven't?

That's a good question.  Some have asked me if they should see the movie before reading the book, and I tell them that the book works both as a companion to the movie and as a stand-alone novel.  Some may expect my book to be a behind-the-scenes disclosure of the making of the movie, and others have expressed disappointment that my novel is not a verbatim retelling of the film and the subsequent liberties I have taken with some of the characters, which I did to make them stand-out more; for example, "One-Shot" McGuire did not talk with a Brooklyn accent in the film, nor was Chief Wilkins gay!

- Was it challenging working with characters that have been introduced in a story line previously?

My whole purpose in writing this book was to see if I could do it, in other words, write a novel.  To be fair I did use a proven template with established characters, but could I set a mood, descbribe personalities, create suspense?  Feeling I had accomplished this has given me the necessary impetus to write the sequel, "Terror In Tinseltown."

- As well as challenging, was it interesting reshaping / expanding upon the personalities and plot from the movie?

It was fun.  It's a little like playing God, you know, playing with these persons and giving them more to do and embellishing their personalities.  We really know very little about their backgrounds (they simply didn't have the time or inclination to worry about stuff like that back then when making these films) and so I had a good time rounding-out their characters.

- Have you included any new characters, or mainly concentrated on developing and deepening the existing ones?

As a matter-of-fact, the character of the coroner did have a part in the original film, but his scene was removed prior to release.  Getting the details on this is now impossible as all the people involved with the production have long-since passed and the records have disappeared.  I only added one-or-two new characters (such as McGinty's secretary, Gladys) but mainly stayed with the folks seen in the film, about eight or nine as I recall.  In contrast there are over two-dozen new characters in the sequel.

- Without giving away too many plot details, what would you say were the main differences between the character of Johnny Layton and his re-imagining in the novel?

Pretty much the same, or at least how I imagined him to be.  It's an interesting concept to show footage of a person reacting to situations, then creating his personae based on mere observation.  There's quite of bit of me in his character as well, as I think he and I have much in common. 

- If a new film based on 'Devil Bat Diary' was made, are there any actors that you think would be well-suited to your characters?

You know, I am amazed no one has remade this movie, it is absolutely in tune with the times, but who would play Lugosi's part?  Perhaps Robert De Niro, who was indeed slated to play Lugosi in a biographical film back in the 1970s (of course, I wouldn't mind playing the part myself as I also act, and guess who inspired me to do that?  Bela of course!).  

- In the description of the book, it's noted that subjects and situations that wouldn't have been acceptable to the 1940's film viewers are included. Was it important to update the story for a modern audience with "malicious murders, sacred sex and revolting revelations"?

I put that in to increase interest in the book and to prep the reader for some rather adult subject matter.  I have already gotten in trouble for it: a kid on a monster movie forum objected to the scene where the naked and stimulated Wilkins is chasing Layton around the office, and a lady reviewer in South Africa objected to the "vulgar" language.  Can't please them all . . . 

- Following 'Devil Bat Diary', you've also started writing 'Terror in Tinseltown'. What can we expect from it?

Well it's the Great American Novel (wink).  "Devil Bat Diary" was approximately 52,000 words long and "Terror In Tinseltown" clocks in at over 88,000.  I put everything I had into it and used all my skill.  It is a totally original work and I carry-over only a few characters from the first book (well most of them were killed-off anyway). 

In this new book - and this is the first time it has been mentioned on the WWW - Layton and McGuire are sent to Hollywood to investigate a series of grisly murders of Hollywood agents.  During their adventures they encounter monsters, mobsters, Hollywood luminaries and Layton is reunited with a lost love, but no names yet please!  I hope the book will be ready by July.

- Do you have any other upcoming projects in the works?

One item that needs to be attended to is a revised edition of my book "Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men - The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda."  That will be the next project and possibly one on the making of the first Godzilla film.

Will there be a third book in the Devil Bat series?  I hope so if sales are good, should be a trilogy you know.  

  

- Lastly, if you had to sum up 'Devil Bat Diary' in 5 words, what would they be?

To write or to read?  Well let's make it: Funny, Frightening, Thought-Provoking, Atmospheric and I hope Entertaining! 

To find out more about 'Devil Bat Diary' or Peter H. Brothers' other projects, you can visit his official website here.

Books: Devil Bat Diary by Peter H. Brothers

“DEVIL BAT DIARY - The Journal of Johnny Layton” by Peter H. Brothers 

Inspired by the famous 1940 film, “Devil Bat”, 'The Devil Bat Diary - The Journal of Johnny Layton' tells the “true” story of what really happened to the unhappy citizens of Heathville, Illinois, during that terrible prewar summer, as recorded in the long-suppressed journals of Chicago City Register’s principal newspaper correspondent, Jonathan “Johnny” Layton. 

The Devil Bats were furiously furry fiends created by a scientific genius who believes himself wrongfully relegated to concocting perfumes and colognes which he despises for wages not worth mentioning. So, as a means to an embittered end, he manufactures an evil ointment with a scent that so infuriates his giant bats to such an extent they feel compelled to tear the throats out of their unsuspecting victims. 

“Devil Bat Diary” tells for the first time the full inside story of what took place in ways not possible to show to Production Code audiences back then; did you know for example that Chief Wilkins loved Layton, or that Mary was a religious lunatic, or that Layton and his partner “One-Shot” McGuire couldn’t stand the sight of each other? 

Written to coincide with the 70th Anniversary of the film’s release and dedicated to the great Bela Lugosi, “Devil Bat Diary” is an unforgettably entertaining venture into a world filled with chirping Chiropterans, malicious murders, sacred sex and revolting revelations.  

Three-time Rondo Classic Horror Award nominee Peter H. Brothers is also the author of “Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men – The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda.” and is currently also working on another work - 'Terror in Tinseltown'. For more information you can visit his website below or buy the book on Amazon.

Peter H. Brothers Website

A-Z Challenge: D is for...Dracula Pop-Ups!

D is for...Dracula Pop-Ups!

Again, this entry has been backdated because I missed some days of the challenge, but regardless of that, today D is for...Dracula Pop-Ups! Although I wish I had random spooky haunted house hydraulic pop-up decorations around my house to show you, I don't. So instead, I bring you this adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic Gothic horror novel, 'Dracula', in the form of a graphic novel / pop-up book.  

Much to my delight, I received this book as a birthday present last year, along with a pop-up version of Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' by the same company and another 'Dracula' pop-up book by a different publisher. This one is a collaboration between three people: Clare Bampton (story adaptation), Anthony Williams (illustrations) and David Hawcock (pop-ups).

Back view of the pop-up below

Having read the original novel and watched so many film adaptations that I've lost count (no pun intended), this one was quite a fun, visually impressive format for 'Dracula' to take. Both sides of the pop-ups are printed, so there's no white card on the back showing up to ruin the atmosphere, and they are also extremely intricate. In addition to the main pop-up in the centre of each double page spread, the side panels also fold out to reveal more of the narrative and numerous mini-pop-ups. 

The main downside to this book is that is simply isn't long enough to encompass the entire story properly and so only major plot points are included. It still makes sense as a whole, but it feels somewhat rushed and incomplete at times, which you don't get with serialised graphic novels, as they are far longer.

I think it would probably be better suited to older children or possibly even younger teens, as a precursor to reading the novel, rather than older teens and adults. Having said that, I still adore the elaborate pop-ups, and it's a fairly unusual and aesthetically pleasing addition to my horror collection! 

This post is part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge.