Horror Aficionados discussion

I'm totally loving Dead Sea so far. It's got me hooked.

Just finished reading "Puppet Graveyard" of the "Blood, Bones, and Bullets" novella collection.

Short review--classic Curran creepiness that had me shaking my head in places at the imagery he conjures up. Exceptionally well done. Glad I read it during the day :)

Keith C wrote: "Just finished reading "Puppet Graveyard" of the "Blood, Bones, and Bullets" novella collection.

Short review--classic Curran creepiness that had me shaking my head in places at the imagery he conj..."

That collection of novellas is superb. :)

Irena wrote: "I liked Toxic Shadows."

I haven't read that one yet, Irena. I think I own it, though. :)

I tried to read "Dead Sea" but gave up because I found the writing pretty cliché ridden. Phrases like "lit up like the fourth of July" should be stricken from the English language.

Are there other Curran titles I should give a shot before I write him off completely?

Charlene wrote: "Irena wrote: "I liked Toxic Shadows."

I haven't read that one yet, Irena. I think I own it, though. :)"

I liked Skin Medicine more though.

Braden yes. The collection Keith mentioned below. 3 novellas that all rock. :)

Woops, meant to come back here sooner. I loved Dead Sea, even if it frustrated me at times, and I went out (very far away, to the kindle bookstore on my couch) and purchased the novella collection. Finished reading Puppet Graveyard today, and it was a lot of fun.

Wow I totally loved Dead sea, I'm sorry you didn't like it Brandon. I plan reading as much of his books as possible. I read Puppet graveyard and another novella can't remember the name ( the wife was pregnant and changing)

I loved Dead Sea too. I did get a little bit frustrated at around the 25% mark, but once I got by that, I was totally wowed.

Charlene wrote: "I loved Dead Sea too. I did get a little bit frustrated at around the 25% mark, but once I got by that, I was totally wowed."

Still not there, but it's good to know.

Keith C wrote: "K4tie wrote: "Keith - I see what you mean about The Hive being lovecraftian. It looks like a mix between At the Mountains of Madness and The Thing. I am not going to be able to pass this series up!..."

Most likely because THE HIVE and its sequel THE SPAWNING are direct sequels to ATMOM :p

Blood, Bones and Bullets is 99 cents for the next five days. It's three excellent novellas - Fear Me, The Underdwelling and Puppet Graveyard. It's currently the only way to get Fear Me and The Underdwelling on your kindle as they're no longer available on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J...

FWIW - Puppet Graveyard isn't available on Amazon by itself either. This collection is the only way to get all three novellas.

There's been so many Curran books coming out recently, there was no way I could keep up. I think I can now, though, which makes me happy. I love and miss binge reading Curran's novels.

Natasa wrote: "Wow I totally loved Dead sea, I'm sorry you didn't like it Brandon. I plan reading as much of his books as possible. I read Puppet graveyard and another novella can't remember the name ( the wife w..."

That would be Sow. I loved that story!

Matthew wrote: "Dead Sea has a lot of profanity but it fits the characters - they're old sailors. It'd be weird if they didn't use it. I don't remember for the others so that means either it wasn't used or wasn't ..."

Yea, anytime you have a sailor or a priest, you gotta have the bad language or it just doesn't ring true.

I absolutely loved Fear Me. Certainly my favorite Tim Curran and my favorite of novellas. The story for me was very heart-felt. Tim really brings you into the scene, YOU are there when you read his work. Every thing is so colorful, not white. I suppose those are music terms, but it's so real. I think that is why I despised Sow, it was so realistic and so gross and even thinking about it now makes me not want to eat dinner tonight.

I recently read his new one, Blackout. Several others I have read. I enjoyed Long Black Coffin. I read a zombie short story of his, sorry don't recall name right now, and I enjoyed it. Very different.

I like different stuff. One of the chapters in Nightcrawlerswas a beautifully written poetic piece of work...unique how it was there in the middle of horror genre.

Tim's a genius. He lives in the same state as I, confused...no, jk. He lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I live in the Lower Peninsula. When we vacationed in the UP this summer I sent him a message and invited him and his family out for dinner with my family. He said it was too far...I was disappointed, but he's gotta have his own private space, I understand that. But I would be honored to take him out to dinner!!

PS...couldn't get through Dead Sea. It was the fog...I should have just medicated myself and read on, but couldn't. I have several of his books on my kindle that I will be reading sometime soon...:-)

The fog in Dead Sea can be a little repetitive but it's important to the atmosphere. And then there's the things that live in the fog that want to eat you...

Matthew wrote: "The fog in Dead Sea can be a little repetitive but it's important to the atmosphere. And then there's the things that live in the fog that want to eat you..."

You know, Matt, some day I'm going to pick up Dead Sea and finish reading it. I know it's got to be a good read

I'm currently reading Blackout. It's alright so far.

Oh happy day, just got in my trade paperback copy of Hive 2, just have to read the first one.

Has anyone read House of Skin? I have yet to read any Curran novels, and this one looks pretty interesting.

House of Skin was pretty average.

Look like it's Dead Sea then.

Pamellia wrote: "Matthew wrote: "The fog in Dead Sea can be a little repetitive but it's important to the atmosphere. And then there's the things that live in the fog that want to eat you..."

You know, Matt, some ..."

Pamelia, I totally loved Dead Sea! This was my first Curran book :)

Now being an active member of the Weird Westerns group I'm definitely going to try and read Skin Medicine sometime soon. Way Way overdue!

Skin Medicine! It was excellent. :)

Charlene wrote: "Skin Medicine! It was excellent. :)"

It is a great book. :)

Yeah, it's definitely calling my name!

My favorite of his is Skull Moon. Skin Medicine ran a little long in the middle, but picked back up at the end. I really liked Head Hunter...probably my second favorite of his books. Both Nightcrawlers and Blackout were pretty good too. Just started Leviathan...so far, so good.

I got that marked to-read as well. Looks good.

So I went to purchase a free book on Amazon and it recommended Tim Curran books since I had previously searched some. Oh dear god it seems I'm going to be adding more of his works to my list. I already wanted to read Four Rode Out and Skin Medicine but now I'm liking Afterburn, Blood, Bone and Bullets, Skull Moon, Leviathan and Head Hunter. They all sound so good!

Nice!

Blood, Bones and Bullets is beyond good. It's 3 novellas and they all kick ass.

Dead Sea was awesome. :)

I've never understood why there wasn't more hoopla about Tim Curran. I've always liked his stuff, because he seems to properly understand the importance of setting and atmosphere, and goes to great lengths to underscore the desolation and alienation of the places he describes in books like Dead Sea and Hive. Really strong set pieces as well.

Well said, Philip!

Just read Afterburn yesterday in one sitting, so I can definitely say I enjoyed it and there was some really striking imagery throughout. My to-read pile is immense compared to the time that I have to actually do so, but I suspect Curran will keep finding his way to the top of said list. Also read Worm/Fear Me/The Underdwelling/Deadlock which were all pretty great in their own ways.

I've read all of those and thought they were all good. I haven't read Afterburn yet, but I bought it. :)

I'm working on an interview with Mr. Curran right now. He's an interesting guy.

Living in the UP will do that to a guy. Signed Brian the troll from under the bridge.

If I read that interview then I'll definitely want to dip into one of his novels!

Charlene wrote: "I'm working on an interview with Mr. Curran right now. He's an interesting guy."

I think it's great that you're interviewing him. There are so many wonderful and talented authors that I've discovered here in H.A. that don't seem to be known in the mainstream crowd. Curran is definitely one that deserves more exposure.

I'm having a hard time finding his books. Scribd is lacking, only two I think. I really want to read Dead Sea.

Alissa, I think most (if not all) of his books are loanable so you can often find them on lendle.me or Goodreads here - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I can loan you Dead Sea if you pm me the address to send it to.

Alissa wrote: "I'm having a hard time finding his books. Scribd is lacking, only two I think. I really want to read Dead Sea."

I have the following book that are loanable if you're interested.
Long Black Coffin Afterburn Deadlock Toxic Shadows Zombie Pulp Headhunter Resurrection: Zombie Epic House of Skin Graveworm Skull Moon Leviathan Morbid Anatomy Biohazard Dead Bait Zombie Zoology Hive Sow Dead Sea

New Tim Curran book available, called GRIMWEAVE...yay! :)

I've read Dead Sea, Biohazard and The Devil Next Door sofar. Dead Sea was excellent, with a depiction of alien horrors similar to King's The Mist. Biohazard had some minor weakpoints, for example the description of the post-apocalyptic, post-nuclear world and its atmosphere were sometimes a bit inconsistent.

I want to read his lovecratian Hive series sometime soon.

Speaking of Mr. Curran, it's his birthday today. Happy Birthday Tim!