Book Review: Those Across the River

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I recently read what I’d characterize as an old-school horror novel for Tor.Com. It’s called Those Across the River, it’s a first novel by Christopher Buehlman, and the review itself is here.

Beuhlman is also known as Christophe the Insultor, Verbal Mercenary, and if you’re not at work–this really isn’t appropriate for the office–check out his stand-up comedy.

Reading this book made me think I might revisit some of the big Eighties horror novels: something by Stephen King, Floating Dragon by Peter Straub, maybe a Koontz, a Barker, Song of Kali or possibly Carrion Comfort.

And then I thought: were there no great blockbuster horror novels of the Eighties written by women?

I bet you all know the answer. Anyone feel like saving me from my ignorance?
stubby the rocket

What did you watch on your summer vacation?

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Now is, of course, the time of year when one’s thoughts turn to the new TV season… at least, they do if you’re me. The two new shows I plan to watch are Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Ringer and the fairy tale themed Once upon a Time. (Here’s the Ringer preview).

Over the summer, we tried out two new-to-us, old-to-you shows: Leverage and 30 Rock. We’re liking both: we’re midway through S2 of 30 Rock and, I think, S3 of Leverage.

Exquisite Words, Labor Day Edition

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From Christopher Beuhlman’s Those Across the River:

I went for a walk. The tree shadows stretched long and fingerlike on the dirt road that led into Whitbrow as the last light of the day spilled from the west. The few houses that lined the road were really little better than shacks, but even they looked worthy of portraiture with that amber glow washing over their pine-board and tin. Sometimes a dog would bark. Sometimes a face would appear and then recede behind the mosquito screen of a window. Once, a bony hand struck a match whose jab of flame then twinned itself on the wick of an oil lamp.

This chapter opening starts with a rather brittle phrase and then relaxes, a bit, but the lack of human contact for this character makes the atmosphere tense even though his activity, walking in the evening, might normally be thought of as relaxing.