Reaves, Michael

Average customer rating:

This book is as chilling as its name
a great new entry to the batman novel series
LOOKS LIKE AND IS
Major Primer for The Dark Knight in 2008
This may be the best Batman novelization I have ever read

Batman: Fear Itself
Michael Reaves , and Steven-Elliot Altman
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Batman: Inferno
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ASIN: 0345479432
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Book Description

Batman strikes fear in the hearts of criminals, but there’s a killer stalking Gotham who’s even better at inspiring fright–and his method just might be unbeatable . . . because it’s invisible.

Unbeknownst to the general public, a powerful new designer drug has hit the streets of Gotham, courtesy of an evil genius determined to turn the expression “scared to death” into lethal reality. Unlike the Caped Crusader, who petrifies only villains, this mastermind is targeting decent citizens–and he’s come up with the ultimate delivery system. After all, the public can’t refuse something they can’t see, hear, or smell. That’s the beauty of a terror toxin that is undetectable by the human senses. And with all of Gotham’s super-villains incarcerated, Batman must hunt down a mystery madman about whom he knows nothing.

Maybe the Dark Knight should be afraid . . . because there’s plenty to fear when you go head-to-head with fear itself.

Customer Reviews:

This book is as chilling as its name.......2007-06-25

I tell you, the recent series of Batman novels produced have been...on and off for me. Dead white was a very good novel, but Inferno was written in a poor, first person narrative style that I found very distracting. So, picking up this book, I knew that it could go either way. What I found was a very intense and bone chillingly descriptive book about fear and one of my favorite Batman villains, the Scarecrow. Its fast paced, and with more twists and turns than a mountain highway. I really enjoyed this book, and I think any Batman fan should read this.

a great new entry to the batman novel series.......2007-03-29

Well, once again a new batman novel is out in stores and the time has come to review it. This like the previous two novels, is well written and adds to the legend of the Batman. This novel, in particular, explores the topic of fear. This topic is constantly mentioned thorughout the story and is the major mystery that batman has to solve. Most of the story can be predicted easily, but the book is still well written.

I would recommend this novel for batman fans and readers looking for a novel the explores parts of the human mind.

PARTY ON, DUDES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOOKS LIKE AND IS.......2007-03-24

It can be said (and proved) that in life...nothing is linear.

Nothing moves in a straight line. Everything curves, bends, crosses, intersects and comes together and falls apart in a series of waves, explosions and tears throughout this reality (and all those still left to discover). So, it comes as some (but no real) surprise that there is an expection to this rule and that expection is FEAR ITSELF by Micheal Reaves and (not good enough for the cover) Steven-Elliot Altman.

From the cover to the final page there is not one plot twist, turn about, curveball, surprise, or GOTCHA! moment to be found in this book. As sure as B follows A there is no mystery here. Who's behind the latest bio-terror generated fear attacks in Gotham? What fiend is "thrilling" people to death with pulp fiction? The cover gives the game away even before you turn to page one... and it takes Micheal Reaves (and shy guy) Steven-Elliot Altman nearly three quarters of the book to catch up to something YOU already know (and, I should point out here, that I lay full blame for this on the marketing department at BALLANTINE BOOKS, not on Reaves and (hide and seek) Altman. I'm sure if BALLANTINE released a novalization of CITIZEN KANE, ROSEBUD would rest dead center on the cover - giving the jig up). So, as Batman and company work their way fresh through the "mystery" the only thing you have to do is keep turning the pages and fight the urge to skip ahead to find out how this villain managed to do what he did and why.

Don't fight that urge. Skip three quarters in and just finish the book. Don't worry about who's who or what they have to do with the plot or each other, they're just company characters with cardboard problems and stock and trade payoffs. It's so linear, so common and so mindless that it amazes me that it took two people to write it. I assume one was there to wake the other if they happened to fall asleep while typing (which must have happened often).

If there is ever any more perfect example of SWEAT SHOP FICTION, then FEAR ITSELF is it. A major disappointment here for BATMAN fans. Avoid.

Major Primer for The Dark Knight in 2008.......2007-03-22

I hope they keep cranking out these new Batman books!

Batman: Inferno had trumped Batman: Dead White by leaps and bounds but Fear Itself is an entirely different animal devoid of the money-shot moments from Inferno. I admit I'm usually a little biased in favor of Joker stories but this book was more what I'll call passively satisfying - a very real world with nothing too over the top, very believable.

Fear Itself is a toned down, flat black story. As with the previous books, it is set in a kind of post-Batman Begins continuity that blends some flavors from the modern Batman comic. There is a constant mention of "The Quake" which rocked Gotham - very reminiscent of Cataclysm/No Man's Land story line. Other ingredients of modern Batman include the familiarity with a long list of various martial arts Bruce has studied, mention of Joker, Two-Face, Riddler, Mad Hatter, Poison Ivy and the introduction of an improved grappling gun, resembling the current mono-filament grapnel in the comics.

This book does a little better job of the previous 2 in the series in making you feel in a very familiar world to Begins. You have Lucious Fox's involvement, plenty of Wayne Enterprises involvement, new gadgets, & a very healthy dose of the Bruce Wayne side of things. The ratio of Bruce Wayne to Batman in this book seemed like 85% to 15% to me and that's not a bad thing at all so don't let is scare you. It's done very well and taps into what they were trying to do in Begins since it is such an interesting side to the story.

Bat-Fans will salivate when reading this at all the possibilities for the new movie that they touch on in this book, including suit modifications to a reactive hardening material, mentions of the new improved Batcave & its entrances, layout, systems etc.

Despite the give away cover art & title, you'll find yourself in suspense when the villain you're waiting for is merely suspected for two thirds of the book before anything happens - the building action was very satisfying & a good amount of character development done on new characters Grey Berwald, horror novelist & Maggie Tolleyer the journalist type. Reaves has a solid grasp on the Batman universe. He really makes you want to see Jonathan Crane pop up again in full-on Scarecrow garb!

If you liked Batman Begins and are counting down the days until the next movie is released, then this book is definitely for you.

This may be the best Batman novelization I have ever read.......2007-03-09

A train in the subway has gone out of control and when Batman goes to investigate, he finds the driver nearly frightened to death and mumbling something under her breath. Other instances of people becoming similarly frightened trigger the Batman to investigate further, but with all of his nemesises locked up, Batman has a new enemy that he knows nothing about.

This story was very well crafted and the descriptions were terrific. I found it very heard to put this book down. All the characters were desribed wonderfully. Unlike some of the other novelizations I have read, you don't need to know all that much about Batman to figure out what is going on in this book. I highly recommend this book!

Average customer rating:

"Shadow Hunter" pretty much says it all!
Shadown Hunter
Unecessary and frivolous, but still fun.
Darth Maul: Great Character - Not so Great Story
Not too bad

Shadow Hunter (Star Wars: Darth Maul)
Michael Reaves
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Cloak of Deception (Star Wars)
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Star Wars, Episode I - The Phantom Menace

ASIN: 0345435419
Release Date: 2001-11-27

Amazon.com

Here's another Star Wars spinoff novel, a brisk and extremely uncomplicated action-adventure romp set on planet Coruscant immediately before the events of The Phantom Menace. After a few setting-up exercises, it's essentially a prolonged chase sequence whose implacable pursuer is Darth Maul--the almost absurdly villainous-looking Sith Lord with the biggest lightsaber and worst makeup job in the entire saga to date.

The plot? Insidiously evil Darth Sidious is poised to launch the Naboo trade blockade featured in The Phantom Menace. But one of his alien henchmen has sneaked away to betray this scheme and must die. So must the traitor's contacts, smalltime crook Lorn Pavan and his uppity droid, I-Five. Likewise Darsha Assant, the female Jedi Knight apprentice who gets entangled with Pavan through either mind-boggling coincidence or the mysterious ways of the Force.

Michael Reaves makes a reasonably slick job of all this nonsense and is not afraid of clichés. Plenty of characters have wooden lines like "I've got a bad feeling about this," and "Too many questions, and not enough answers." Meanwhile in the Jedi council, Yoda makes characteristic remarks: "A good choice he would be... No accident this was."

Unfortunately, the well-known story line of The Phantom Menace defuses suspense in Shadow Hunter. That trade blockade has to happen despite the good folks' doomed heroics, and horrible Darth Maul (already far more powerful and deadly than the puny opposition he faces here) is fated to win out. This novel is for dedicated fans only. --David Langford

Book Description

For the infamous, power-hungry Sith,
beholden to the dark side,
the time has come to rise again . . .

After years of waiting in the shadows, Darth Sidious is taking the first step in his master plan to bring the Republic to its knees. Key to his scheme are the Neimoidians of the Trade Federation. Then one of his Neimoidian contacts disappears, and Sidious does not need his Force-honed instincts to suspect betrayal. He orders his apprentice, Darth Maul, to hunt the traitor down.

But he is too late. The secret has already passed into the hands of information broker Lorn Pavan, which places him right on the top of Darth Maul's hit list. Then, in the labyrinthine alleyways and sewers of Coruscant, capital city of the Republic, Lorn crosses paths with Darsha Assant, a Jedi Padawan on a mission to earn her Knighthood. Now the future of the Republic depends on Darsha and Lorn. But how can an untried Jedi and an ordinary man, stranger to the powerful ways of the Force, hope to triumph over one of the deadliest killers in the galaxy?

SPECIAL BONUS INSIDE--the exclusive story, "Star Wars(R) Darth Maul: Saboteur" by James Luceno, previously available in e-book format only!

Customer Reviews:

"Shadow Hunter" pretty much says it all!.......2007-04-17

Fans of Episode I were also fascinated by the mysterious Darth Maul, the first Sith apprentice shown since Darth Vader in the classic trilogy. But don't assume like I first did that this is a story with a villain protagonist. While we are shown some of the thoughts and motivations of the title character, this story has two original main protagonists: Darsha Assant (Jedi padawan), and Lorn Pavan (underworld information broker). Following initiatives provided by his Sith Master, Darth Maul is the driving force behind the plot of this novel, a vile killer hunting the protagonists through the undercity of Coruscant. By the time I realized that the heroes must be doomed to failure (to maintain continuity with the movie), I couldn't put this thriller down anyway. Just like the prequels with respect to the original films, it's not how this story ends but the journey there that makes this novel so good. This action-packed tragedy also contains interesting dispositions of Sith and Jedi philosophies. The story takes place soon after Cloak of Deception and ends with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan preparing to leave for Naboo (leading to the opening of Episode I).

The paperback edition also contains an bonus short story by James Luceno entitled "Darth Maul: Saboteur" which takes place before Cloak of Deception. "Saboteur" sets up some elements of that novel, introducing Tarkin. The end of "Saboteur" along with the beginning of Shadow Hunter explain Maul's absence from the story of Cloak of Deception, which remotely ties in with the novel Shadows of the Empire (below). If you plan on reading both Cloak of Deception and Shadow Hunter, my suggestion is to read the "Saboteur" short story first, then the Deception novel, then Shadow Hunter to maintain chronological order.

I highly recommend the following 5-star novels that are extremely relevant to the film series:

Cloak of Deception (Star Wars)
Labyrinth of Evil (Star Wars, Episode III Prequel Novel)
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (Star Wars)
Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars)

Shadown Hunter.......2007-03-29

Great read. Filled with action, good length. Only regret is that Darth Maul didn't meet anyone that really challenging skill set.

Read the E-book in the rear of the book first, it precedes shadow hunter.

Unecessary and frivolous, but still fun. .......2007-01-26

This book is not integral to the plot of Star Wars in any way. Don't feel obliged to read it. In fact, the whole plot concerns covering up information. Information that anyone who saw TPM already knows, so nothing important actually happens.

If you're into Darth Maul, and I know that there are plenty of people who are, you'll like this piece of Maul action and insight. You really get to see him on the job, and get some nice looks into his psyche. Although fanboys may be as frustrated as he is at how often he seems to be eluded yet again for the sake of continuing the story.

Otherwise, the book is just an exciting game of cat and mouse, a wild chase through the dangerous and mysterious depths of Coruscant.

One thing I'll say is that the author tends to go overboard with adding new things. The back of the book will tell you that there are exciting new creature never before seen, and it's true. They're also never see again. I think the author got too excited about making up new things to add to Star Wars, and the end result is something like a fan-fic, when they should have just tied the book to the sage through existing source material.

Overall, it's a fun read. Interesting, exciting, and Maul-a-rific. It's not very well written, and it's extremely unimportant and insignificant, but still, a fun, easy read.

Darth Maul: Great Character - Not so Great Story.......2007-01-06

As much as I loved the new characters in the book, I would have liked to have seen more of Darth Maul. There are often large gaps between his appearances. However, I realize it could be difficult to have him around all the time and keep it interesting. Maul can be a rather flat character if not used sparingly.

I also would have liked to have seen more background on Maul. Why does he hate the Jedi so much? How did he hook up with Sidious? What was his training like? Some is given on this, but not a lot. Most of that was told in the Darth Maul Journal, something many fans will probably not read. It should have been saved for this.

The timing of this book is also confusing. It takes place days, if not hours, before the Naboo blockade. The whole point of the novel is that the Sith don't want the Jedi to know about their existence or the blockade. However, just a couple of days later, they completely reveal themselves to the Jedi and their plans. If the events were so close to happening that they were almost unstoppable, why did they care if some little information broker tried to sell the info? If it had been months before, their concern would have been more understandable. The closeness in chronology kind of takes away from the urgency of the events in the book.

Final Thoughts: Only read this book if you are a Darth Maul junkie. If you read this book for any other reason, you will be let down. Reading this book is not necessary to stay abreast of the Star Wars galaxy.

Not too bad.......2006-12-27

Introduction to the `newest' Dark Lord of the Sith, this book is one of a couple preludes to the Star Wars Phantom Menace. It is not the best SW book I have read, but it gives the origins of another key player in the SW universe. I read this after reading Phantom Menace and things made a little more sense. Any serious fan of the Star Wars series will need to read this one.

Average customer rating:

InterWorld
Neil Gaiman
Manufacturer: Eos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Eternals
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Neil Gaiman & Charles Vess' Stardust

ASIN: 0061238961
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Book Description

Joey Harker isn't a hero.

In fact, he's the kind of guy who gets lost in his own house.

But then one day, Joey gets really lost. He walks straight out of his world and into another dimension.

Joey's walk between the worlds makes him prey to two terrible forces—armies of magic and science who will do anything to harness his power to travel between dimensions.

When he sees the evil those forces are capable of, Joey makes the only possible choice: to join an army of his own, an army of versions of himself from different dimensions who all share his amazing power and who are all determined to fight to save the worlds.

Book Description

<BLOCKQUOTE>"I can't be...just a person, I can't be helpless like that...." -- Buffy, "Helpless"</BLOCKQUOTE>

At eighteen, each Slayer must face a terrifying trial: the Tento di Cruciamentum. This time-honored, albeit cruel, rite of passage forces each Watcher to drain the Slayer of all her physical powers and then send her to vanquish a powerful vampire using only her wits. When Buffy Summers underwent her Cruciamentum, she managed to defeat Kralik, a vampire who had been committed to a sanitarium as a human for torturing and murdering more than a dozen young women before he was turned. However, not all Slayers have been so cunning.

Tales of the Slayer, Vol. 4 chronicles the Cruciamentum of eight earlier Slayers. From Prohibition Chicago to beatnik New York City, from the sideshows of a traveling carnival to a small Irish farm, from the fifteenth century to the twentieth, the Cruciamentum has tested the prowess of Slayers throughout history. Each of them has had to fight: for her job, for the lives of those she loved, and for her own existence....

Customer Reviews:

Just Like the others a 5 star review.......2005-09-11

I love the Tales of The Slayer books they are great this one is no different.

Interesting stories, doesn't quite track with Buffy series.......2004-12-06

I've collected all four of the Tales volumes now and once again found some interesting stories to read. This time around all 8 stories are set around the Cruciamentum which all slayers are put through on reaching 18.
I found that these writers (some of whom also wrote for the series) each had their own style and usually didn't tell their Cruciamentum stories anything like what we saw Buffy go through in the TV version, in some the girl's parents even knew she was a slayer. I haven't read the whole book yet but found, as before, stories running through the centuries- from Nikki in 1973 back to Esperanza in 1481. I didn't care for the beatnik story but thought the Spanish Inquisition story was interesting. I kind of liked Survivors and Sideshow Slayer. Jane Espenson's "Two teenage girls at the Mall" was one of the more interesting stories, and told mostly from the viewpoint of the vampire girl.

Tales of the Cruciamentum.......2004-11-01

The eight tales in this book deal with slayers facing the cruel test called The Cruciamentum, in which a slayer is deliberately weakened and, on her 18th birthday, must face a vampire alone, using only her wits. Most of the stories take place in 20th century North America, 2 in New York, 1 in Chicago just before the onset of Prohibition, 1 in rural Pennsylvania, 1 in a small town in Nebraska, and 1 in Nova Scotia. The other two are set in 1876 Ireland and 1981 Seville, during the Spanish Inquisition, which I found to be the most interesting of the lot. The Grand Inquisitor Tomas de Torquemada makes an appearance in this one.

The stories have an interesting variety, considering that the subject of all of them is the same. One girl is a pacifist, not wanting to be the Slayer any more. Another is a carnival performer. Two are Jewish and, for that reason, are probably less than beloved of the Watcher's Council.

I found the story Survivors to be quite sad, as Dot's Watcher, who left to fight in World War I, has descended into melancholia and perhaps madness. Dot virtually becomes his caretaker as he lapses into delusion. Two Teenage Girls at the Mall, told by a 16 year old newly made female vampire, is also very sad, making the reader wish that somehow there could be a positive resolution for both the Slayer and Julie, the vampire.

The first story, It's All About the Mission, deals with Nikki Wood, who is pregnant with her son Robin, who will become the principal of Sunnydale High School one day. We all know that she will eventually be killed by Spike, so the focus of the story is how she survives rather than if she will survive.

In the story Undeadsville, the Slayer Zoe Kuryakin refers to her cousin Illya, who is studying in Russia. Could he become one of the Men from U.N.C.L.E., portrayed by David McCallum? It wouldn't surprise me if it was meant to be a reference to the popular television show of the 60's!

In an earlier volume in this series, reference was made to "the doxy Darla." She is mentioned again as a friend of hers says,
"Has ever a Slayer met her end in such a delightfully slapstick manner? I shall have to tell Darla about this when next we meet. She's bound to find the tale uproarious." That was quite clever. It's rather surprising that we see so little of the vampires from the Order of Aurelius--Darla, Angelus, Drusilla, and William the Bloody--in these stories. Quentin Travers does make an appearance, and he was every bit as unpleasant then as he is in the present time.

These are interesting stories, fun and quick to read. I recommend them.

Exploring the cruel and stupid ritual of the Cruciamentum.......2004-11-01

The authors who contributed original short stories to "Tales of the Slayer, Volume 4" are constrained by having to write about the Tento di Cruciamentum. This is the rite of passage first introduced in Season Three of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" in the episode "Helpless" (written by David Fury), that is administered to Slayers when they reach their 18th birthday. Drained of her powers by her Watcher, the Slayer is forced to vanquish a vampire using only her wits. Buffy defeated Kralik, her vampire foe, but because Giles defied the authority of the Watcher's Council to aid Buffy he is fired by Quentin Rravers for violating the test rules (and because he has a father's love for his Slayer). What was important in terms of the third season story arc was the Giles was fired, to be replaced, in a manner of speaking, by the bumbling Wesley Wyndham-Pryce, but in this collection of stories we have to deal with the legacy of the Cruciamentum.

If you want you can skip this paragraph to get to the review of the stories, because I am going to start ranting now about how the Cruciamentum is a stupid idea. First, how did the Watcher's Council come up with this stupid idea? They would have to either stumble upon the drugs that strip the Slayer of her powers or they went looking for it, and in that latter case the question becomes why they felt this was necessary. We still do not know the story of the true origin of the Cruciamentum, but my best guess would be that the arrogant men of the Watcher's Council had a Slayer or too that they would rather see dead than have to deal with (probably because of issues of class, ethnicity, and/or race). Second, why would they think this stupid idea was a good thing to put Slayer's through? I do not see how it could be an improvement on the previous status quo. You can quote Nietzsche all you want, and someone in this collection does, but a traumatic experience is more likely to make you really ticked off rather than stronger. Besides, if a Watcher has not been teaching a Slayer to use their brains as well as their brawn, then I do not see why the Slayer has to play the ultimate price. So like Riker being able to hear Troi's thoughts on the pilot for "STNG," the Cruciamentum is something that needed to be forgotten and not embraced. However, that is too late now, so we turn to reviewing the stories in "Tales of the Slayer, Volume 4":

"It's All About the Mission" by Nancy Holder, set in the Harlem of 1973, is the one story that covers familiar ground as the Slayer turning 18 is Nikki Wood, who would eventually be killed by Spike, but not before she gave birth to the man who would be the last principal of Sunnydale High School. Nikki's Watcher, Bernard Crowley, knows exactly how idiotic the whole ritual is, and while Holder tries to deal with this in the story's resolution, the fact that it involves another familiar character from the Buffy mythos actually undercuts her point. Still, this story does a nice job of dealing with a pregnant Slayer, which is something I have long been curious about. 4 Stakes.

"Undeadsville" by Michael Reaves takes place in New York City as well, but back in 1952 when the Slayer is a beatnik named Zoe who says things like "Sorry, Daddy-O, but you're dust" as she stakes a vamp. Zoe's Watcher, Ian Sykes, is so affronted by her lifestyle that he conspires with a vampire named Faust to see that the Slayer does not survive her test. Certainly an interesting idea, but Reaves comes up with some other twists as well. 4-and-a-half Stakes.

"Alone" by Scott Allie is set outside Ulster in 1876 and that means we have to endure the prejudice of the predominantly English Watchers Council for having an Irish Slayer in Catherine Callan. To make it even more fun, she pretends to be married to her Watcher, Mr. Spelling. This is just one of several things that Catherine's father is not happy about. Unfortunately, this is one of the briefest stories in the collection and does not really take advantage of the interesting aspects of the situation. 3 Stakes.

"Sideshow Slayer" by Greg Cox gets bonus points because Millicent "Millie" Rose Gresham is from the Zenith City of Duluth, Minnesota, even if the story finds her in a carnival side show in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania in 1911. The idea of a traveling Slayer is certainly worth pursuing and being in a carny is an interesting cover. Cox also comes up with an interesting place for the powerless slayer to confront her vampire. 4 Stakes.

"Survivors" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch in set in Chicago in 1919, where Dorothy "Dot" Singers date with the ritual becomes secondary to her concern for her Watcher, Reginald Hill, who suffers from shell shock after having abandoned his Potential to go to war and make the world safe for democracy. There is also a concern that the vampires have their own agenda working against the interest of the Watchers Council, but it is the interplay between Watcher and Slayer that matters most in this one. 4-and-a-half Stakes.

"Back to the Garden" by Robert Joseph Levy offers a pacifist Slayer in Beryl MacKenzie, who joins a commune in Nova Scotia in 1969 on the eve of her coming into her power. So we have the irony of her Cruciamentum being her initiation into Slayerhood. So Levy's story has the virtue of having two interesting ideas that unfortunately work against each other in this case. 4 Stakes.

"The Rule of Silence" by Kara Dalkey takes us back to the days of the Spanish Inquisition in Seville, Spain in 1481, so you know this is not going to be a good thing. This is especially true since the Slayer, Esperanza de la Vega, has not only been reading about demons, which makes her a witch, but is a Marrano, which makes her a heretic. The lesson here will obviously be that human beings can be the greatest monsters of all. 4-and-a-half Stakes.

"Two Teenage Girls at the Mall" by Jane Espenson is my favorite of the eight stories. Set in Keller, Nebraska in 1983, it is told from the perspective of Julie Lemmer, a sixteen year old who has just been turned into a vampire. Starved by her sire, she is tossed into the Westgrand Mall, where she eventually discovers that there is another teenage girl locked in that night. We know that the other girl has to be the Slayer, but the twist is that Julie knows here. Those who enjoyed Espenson's sense of humor in her "BtVS" scripts will enjoy the climax of this one. Five stakes.

I have to admit that I was someone disappointed that none of these stories ended with the Slayer coming out and slaughtering the haughty members of the Watchers Council that assemble for their cruel rite of passage. Beyond that, I certainly anticipated more tales in which the Slayer does not survive. What did not surprise me is that my lack of respect for the Watcher's Council continues to decline as a result of reading these stories, all of which continues to make Rupert Giles look as phenomenal as a Watcher and his charge proved to be as a Slayer. If there is a thematic motif to the next volume in this series, it will be interesting to see what the editors choose to explore, because there are certainly other aspects of the Slayer mythos worth exploring besides the idiocy of the Cruciamentum.

Tales of the Slayer, Vol. 2 (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer)

Average customer rating:

Another good book
1 of the best Buffy books
I loved this Book..........
Not as good as the first
I like it better than Volume 1

Tales of the Slayer, Vol. 2 (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer)
Todd A. McIntosh , Kara Dalkey , Laura J. Burns , Melinda Metz , Greg Cox , Scott Allie , Kristine Kathryn Rusch , and Michael Reaves
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743427440

Book Description

<CENTER>"Sacred duty, yadda yadda." -- Buffy Summers</CENTER>

Buffy the Vampire Slayer has always held an irreverent attitude toward her calling, but ultimately she understands the ramifications of her destiny and is prepared to die to protect the world from Evil. In fact, she has died. Twice. <CENTER>"I remember the drill. One Slayer dies, another is called." -- Buffy Summers</CENTER>

It's an ancient tradition, steeped in lore, mythology, and fateful prophecies. Slayerdom consists of a Council of Watchers, a continuum of slayers, an archive of journals, and even a handbook.

<CENTER>"Handbook? What handbook? How come I didn't have a handbook?" -- Buffy Summers</CENTER>

But first and foremost, it begins with a girl. One girl in all the world. A Chosen One. Now, catch up on other Slayers past and present, in the second short-story collection, Tales of the Slayer, Vol. 2!

<CENTER>"[Another] Slayer? I knew this, 'I'm the only one, I'm the only one,' thing was just an attention getter." -- Xander Harris</CENTER>

With contributions from Scott Allie, Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz, Max Allan Collins and Matthew V. Clemens, Greg Cox, Kara Dalkey, Jane Espenson, Rebecca Rand Kirshner, Todd McIntosh, Michael Reaves, and Kristine Kathryn Rusch.

Customer Reviews:

Another good book.......2004-09-03

This is the type of book I get a little sad when I get near the end. Must read!

1 of the best Buffy books.......2003-12-12

This is 1 of my favorite books ever, 1 f my favorite story lines was Blood and Brine I loved the pirate slayer. My favorite story in this book was the last 1 where Buffy, Willow, and Xander go back in time I loved the fact that Buffy got to see her mom again and that she wasn't stuck with Dawn for once. I think that when the show brought Dawn on the show and killed Buffy's mom is when they ruint Buffy, from the 5th season on the show slowly went downhill. I HIGHLY recommend this book it is definitely the best Buffy book in the series.

I loved this Book.................2003-09-08

I've always love BTVS because of the Mythology of the Slayer line and how she's Chosen and all of that, I also love the characters and how they're written so well.....But i've often wondered about Past Slayers, what they were like, and what their life was like because as we've always known, Buffy is just one of many Slayers throughout the Years. I loved this Book and how it told about Different Slayers from Different Era's and how that particular Era effected their Duty as the Slayer.
I've seen other Reviews where people ask what good a 'Pirate' Slayer would be and if you really think about it, all of the Vampires that Migrate from country too country more than likely use Ships too Travel in because of the Dark Rooms beneath the Surface, she could stop that from happening.
My Favorite story in this book was probably "Stake out on Rush Street", among a few other's....I also liked the one about the Civil War Slayer and the one about the Slayer who fought Dracula........
I thought it was a very good book and I recommend it to other fans of Buffy and especially Fans of the Buffy Books.

Not as good as the first.......2003-06-25

It felt like it took me forever to finish this book. The stories were not as well written as the first book and it wasn't as interesting. The only highslight stories were Again written by Jane Espenson and Abonmination by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Mertz.

I like it better than Volume 1.......2003-04-27

Volume 1 had some good stories, even some good writing but I like this second, slightly larger, book even better. There are a couple of "Buffy" stories, one by the guy who was in charge of Makeup for the first six years of the series production,(his story is a little weak, set in fourth season, and has at least acouple of details wrong). The other is by show writer Jane Espenson, set in 6th season there is some time travel back to late third season and it is better than some of the episodes that actually were aired. I liked it about as well as any in the book.
I didn't care for the Pirate Slayer or the [imitation] of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" but I did think a lot of the story of the Slayer serving in the Union Army as a young man during the American Civil War,it gives General Sherman's destructive march through the South a much better angle.

Medstar II: Jedi Healer (Star Wars: Clone Wars Novel)

Average customer rating:

Clone Wars MASH Unit - Part 2
Solid conclusion to the duology
An Enjoyable Read
Excellent conclusion to the Medstar series
Conclusion of Medstar duology will leave you empty

Medstar II: Jedi Healer (Star Wars: Clone Wars Novel)
Michael Reaves , and Steve Perry
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Medstar I: Battle Surgeons (Star Wars: Clone Wars Novel)
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Hard Contact (Star Wars: Republic Commando)

ASIN: 0345463110
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Book Description

While the Clone Wars wreak havoc throughout the galaxy, the situation on the far world of Drongar is desperate, as Republic forces engage in a fierce fight with the Separatists. . . .

The threatened enemy offensive begins as the Separatists employ legions of droids into their attack. Even with reinforcements, the flesh and blood of the Republic forces are just no match for battle droids’ durasteel. Nowhere is this point more painfully clear than in the steaming Jasserak jungle, where the doctors and nurses of a small med unit face an impossible situation. As the dead and wounded start to pile up, surgeons Jos Vandar and Kornell “Uli” Divini know that time is running out.

Even the Jedi abilities of Padawan Barriss Offee have been stretched to the limit. Ahead lies a test for Barriss that could very well lead to her death–and that of countless others. For the conflict is growing–and for this obscure mobile med unit, there’s only one resolution. Shocking, bold, unprecedented, it’s the only option Jos and his colleagues really have. The unthinkable has become the inevitable. Whether it kills them or not remains to be seen.

Customer Reviews:

Clone Wars MASH Unit - Part 2.......2006-11-14

Jedi Healer is the continued story of the Clone Wars MASH unit on the Planet Drongar. The Republic medical team of surgeons, nurses, and droids is still headed by Dr. Jos Vondar, but his close friend Dr. Zan Yant did not survive Medstar I. The wounded clone troopers continue to be brought in by medlift, and the doctors continue to exert every possible effort to save lives.

Much of this tale deals with the efforts of the Separatist spy to create chaos on Drongar and the efforts of the Black Sun operative to obtain as much of the miracle plant bota as possible. At the same time we are treated to the ongoing love affair between Dr. Vondar and his chief nurse Tolk le Trene as they try to overcome cultural prejudices stemming from Vondar's upbringing. The droid I-5 and the reported Den Dhur are still with us and have significant roles as the story unfolds.

Much of the book deals with Jedi Padawan Barris Offee and her experiences with the Force. She discovers that an injection of the miracle plant bota opens up areas of the Force that she never dreamed existed. She would be able to perform miraculous feats by using the bota. However, could this be a direct path to the power of the dark side? Offee struggles with this situation and finally manages to reach a conclusion.

This book, along with Medstar I, gives us an extremely interesting look at the world of the medical teams serving in the Clone Wars.

Solid conclusion to the duology.......2006-11-08

The Medstar Duology is the only multi-book series in the prequel era published to date. Medstar II: Jedi Healer picks up the story one week after the events of the first novel and brings the tale to a satisfying conclusion. I'm not clear why this story in particular was chosen to be split into two books, when a slightly edited version could have been condensed to a single volume, but this is a curiosity rather than a complaint. The extra breathing room permits a story that features some slices-of-life a tighter focus likely would have precluded.

Uli Divini, a barely out of school but highly skilled doctor, arrives at the Rimsoo early in this book to replace the main character lost at the end of book one. Uli adds youthful energy and naivete to the mix, as well as providing Barriss Offee with some insight on her personal inward journey to Jedi Knighthood. The other major new character, Admiral Erel Kersos, brings turmoil to our hero doctor Jos Vondar and complicates his burgeoning relationship with nurse Tolk Le Trene.

Den Dhur, the scrappy Sullustan reporter, is tiring of his nomadic life and faces temptation to abandon his career and settle down when an attractive entertainer is stranded on Drongar and makes him an unexpected offer. I-Five has continued his journey to reclaim his memories (wiped at the climax of Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter), as well as his exploration of self. Michael Reaves and Steve Perry have done a good job of interweaving many main characters' soul-searching explorations and logically connecting most of them together in believable and entertaining ways. Additionally, as authors they are strong with realistic and often funny dialogue, something some of the Star Wars EU can be a little weak on.

The unexpected weather change mid-book in the Rimsoo was a great idea, fleshing out the "force dome" concept and some of the possible side effects of shielding a facility in this way. I enjoyed the visit from the galactic entertainment troupe and the frequent visits to the cantina. Barriss Offee's path to Knighthood is continued well and the form her hardest trial takes, in the form of organically-fueled limitless power, is unexpected.

I'm still a bit cold on the Column/Lens spy story - it simply feels rather forced. Early in the first book, there's a sentence that uses a male pronoun for the spy, so the suspense of who it was when the candidates are reduced to two was non-existent for me. The reasons the spy has for his actions are solid, but the storyline could have been re-written to give you his point of view early on and then explored from a more engaging angle. Black Sun agent Kaird and his two henchmen are decent antagonists, but the real star of this show is the focus on the lives of the heroes and their incredible struggles against the nature of war itself, rather than any personal direct confrontations with the book's villains.

The two Medstar books were a fun read and I'd be delighted to link back up with Den Dhur and I-Five on Coruscant in a future novel.

An Enjoyable Read.......2006-03-08

I enjoy how these authors write. The characters really come to life after the first book. It's still not the most exciting Star Wars book I've read, but it sure isn't the worst one either. Not too much to say...overall I think that the Medstar books are worth reading.

Excellent conclusion to the Medstar series.......2005-12-25

Jedi Healer was every bit as good as Battle Surgeons. The story of life in a Republic Mobile Surgical Unit (known as a Rimsoo) on Drongar continues. This book starts off on a sad note since Zan Yant, Jos Vondar's best friend, died in the last chapter of Battle Surgeons. Also, the identity of the spy from book 1 is still unsolved. The story keeps getting better and better as "accidents" start occuring. The Rimsoo's climate systems begin malfunctioning, causing snow when it's normally hot and humid, a bota shuttle blows up, a portion of the Medstar in orbit explodes, etc. Only Barriss Offee believes these weren't accidents. In a chapter near the end she begins suspecting people of causing it. Finally, the Seperatists launch an attack and the spy is discovered. Despite the Medstar books feeling far too short, Jedi Healer was a great ending to a great series.

Conclusion of Medstar duology will leave you empty.......2005-10-28

I never thought I'd see the day when I gave a Star Wars novel three stars. Yet, the rating is truly deserved. After reading Medstar I, you start feeling a connection to the characters, seeing how they struggle with issues that are true to life, perhaps even some you can relate to on a personal level. The second installment, however, misses the mark. Here's why:

The title is misleading. Barriss Offee, Padawan learner, has been sent to the mobile surgical unit on Drongar to use her Jedi healing skills on the sick and injured. You definitely see more of her in action in the first installment. Not so much in Medstar II.

Nothing really happens that has any substance. News reporter Den Dhur meets an attractive female of his species, they get together, she basically "proposes" to him, she leaves and tells him to come back to their home planet ASAP, and then he gets cold feet. The romance between Jos Vondar and Tolk la Trene gets up and running in the first book, runs somewhat awry in this one, just to get back on track again by the end. These stories just didn't go anywhere.

Although Barriss is still a Padawan, her stay on Drongar is essentially her trial to become a Jedi Knight. In my mind, that means the she should already be skilled, controlled, intelligent, patient, and very strong in the Force (especially since she's a healer). When she accidentally gets injected with bota, the adaptogenic drug found on Drongar, she, in lack of better terms, had an "acid trip" experience where she became one with the Force and all of a sudden the whole galaxy made sense. Couldn't she figure out that the bota had a hallucinogenic effect on her? I would think she would have known better. Instead, she takes it again, but this time on purpose?! I think the author was trying to illustrate how easy it is to start down the path of the dark side, but the attempt fell flat.

On a positive note, the human-like droid I-5 kept things going in the right direction. And, the part of the book where he gets drunk (yes, drunk), is quite entertaining. Also, the double agent who was working for the Separatists and the Black Sun criminal organization was identified. At the end of the first installment, I had a pretty good idea who it was, but I was glad to see that the author didn't forget to wrap that part of the story up.

All in all, Medstar II is worth reading, if anything, just to complete the duology. Just don't expect any exciting action sequences or any radical changes in character. If that's what you're looking for, read Republic Commando: Hard Contact. I really do not like to give three stars, but compared to books like the one above, Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter, and the Cestus Deception, it just doesn't pass muster.

May the force be with you!

Average customer rating:

Star Wars(r) Death Star (Star Wars)
Michael Reaves , and Steve Perry
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0345477421
Release Date: 2007-10-16

Medstar I: Battle Surgeons (Star Wars: Clone Wars Novel)

Average customer rating:

Clone Wars MASH Unit
Medical adventures in the Clone Wars
M*A*S*H in space...sort of
Not enough Barriss Offee
Surprisingly good!

Medstar I: Battle Surgeons (Star Wars: Clone Wars Novel)
Michael Reaves , and Steve Perry
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Hard Contact (Star Wars: Republic Commando)

ASIN: 0345463102
Release Date: 2004-06-29

Customer Reviews:

Clone Wars MASH Unit.......2006-11-14

Battle Surgeons is our introduction to a Clone Wars MASH unit on the Planet Drongar, a pestilential quagmire of a world. The Republic medical team of surgeons, nurses, and droids is headed by Dr. Jos Vondar. Their primary function is to keep as many wounded clone troopers alive as possible. Their medical skills are impressive but the team is working under extremely difficult conditions and is having to treat a steady flow of injured troopers brought in by medlift.

Further complicating the situation is the presence of a Separatist spy and a Black Sun operative. Black Sun is particularly interested in a miracle plant called bota that is a cross between a mold and a fungus and has amazing medical uses. Bota grows only on Drongar and is immensely valuable.

As the book unfolds we come to understand the pressures of constantly trying to save lives while operating under huge pressure. We also are introduced again to Jedi Padawan Barriss Offee. We first met her in The Approaching Storm. We also meet once again the droid I-5, one of my favorite characters from Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter. Throw these characters in with the Sullustan reporter Den Dhur and Dr. Vondar's fellow surgeon and friend Zan Yant, and you get a volatile mix. The tale moves along at a good pace and gets the reader to think about the ethics of using clone troopers as cannon fodder. Also, Padawan Offee continues to struggle with the use of the Force and the appropriate ways for a Jedi to function. An entertaining tale that will be followed by Medstar II: Jedi Healer.

Medical adventures in the Clone Wars.......2006-09-18

Much of the Star Wars Expanded Universe is heavily focused on the main characters as presented in the films. However, there are some definite exceptions to this rule, and what I find particularly interesting is how little of the Clone Wars literature follows that trend. This is the fifth book in chronological order telling the story of the war, and so far one has focused on Obi-Wan, one on Mace Windu, and three have not featured main film characters in any meaningful way. Anakin has had essentially a handful of paragraphs, while Padme has been non-existent.

Medstar I: Battle Surgeons is the tale of a medical unit desperately fighting to keep clone troopers alive on a hostile world. The story could be summarized as M.A.S.H. blended with Star Wars. Like in Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter, Michael Reaves (with Steve Perry this time) shows a strong capability for writing likable characters and snappy dialogue. The book flows well and is a quick read. I was excited to see the return of I-Five, the protocol-droid-with-an-attitude from Shadow Hunter. His acerbic attitude fits perfectly with the survival-through-sarcasm approach of the Rimsoo (a medical unit) the book follows.

I-Five also is a tool for exploring the nature of droids and their standing in the order of the universe. Jos Vondar, the lead surgeon in this particular camp, has narrowed his worldview to exclude many possibilities. This keeps him able to make it through the daily horror of his wartime surgery post. However, this attitude prevents him from dating outside his culture, from keeping an open mind to the possibilities inherent in a developed artificial intelligence, and from gaining a deeper understanding of the hundreds of clone troopers passing by his operating table. I-Five's self-exploration, important to him after the climactic events of Shadow Hunter, pushes Jos to begin his own journey within.

Also, the encounters Jos has with a clone trooper, CT-914, stir within him a dawning awareness that these soldiers are not just simple mindless vat-grown automatons; they are fully functioning human beings, only limited by the environment they were raised in and the accelerated aging forced into their genes. This running theme in the EU has totally changed how I view the troops of the Star Wars universe, adding considerably more interest to their progression from servants of the Republic and the Jedi to enforcers of the Empire. In the two Republic Commando books, The Cestus Deception, and Battle Surgeons, this theme has gotten some serious play.

I was struck by the Jedi Master/Padawan pair of Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee the very first time I saw them together in Attack of the Clones publicity photos, and it's cool to get Barriss as a main character for a second time (The Approaching Storm being the first). Keeping a Jedi in the character mix helps to firmly root this book in the Star Wars universe. The rest of the cast is a snappy group as well: Den Dhur the Sullustan reporter adds a non-combatant viewpoint to the war and the shadowy intrigues of several other characters look to be setting up a big payoff in Medstar II: Jedi Healer.

I wasn't hooked yet by the spy segment of this story: Column/Lens is written so vaguely as to be more frustrating than teasing. Generally my favorite stories focus very closely on following what the main characters know, and when knowledge is introduced that we as readers know but the heroes don't, I like to have some explanation. Otherwise I generally prefer to see these elements only come to light when the main characters discover them.

Overall, Medstar I: Battle Surgeons is an engaging and breezy tale, with strong characterization and solid if not completely gripping plotlines. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the duology.

M*A*S*H in space...sort of.......2006-07-26

I originally bought this book based on how the back cover made it sound like it was MASH, Star Wars style. I love both MASH and Star Wars, so I thought putting them together would be awesome. It's not bad, but not that great either.

This book is on the verge of making way too many MASH-like references, down to the main wise-cracking surgeon, to an alien phrase that's obviously from "meatball surgery". But before you get too critical, the whole idea has an interested message: even in a technologically advanced and sophisticated future, war is still violent and pointless.

So all in all, give this book a chance. As soon as I finished this one, I went out to buy the next one. The middle drags a bit, but the end is pretty good. Overall an entertaining book.

Not enough Barriss Offee.......2006-03-07

Based on the authors and the character Barriss Offee, I was looking forward to reading this one. The characters were made interesting enough, but Barriss was not included in very much of the story. It was well written, but seemed to go nowhere. It was enjoyable enough to read I guess, but nothing special.

Surprisingly good!.......2006-01-02

I really wasn't expecting much from this novel. In fact, I'm not sure what even led me to pick it up. Suffice to say I was pleasantly surprised. This is one of the few Star Wars books I've read that contains almost no references to the main characters from any of the movies, and that's what makes it so refreshing. The idea of a Star Wars MASH unit may sound a little cheesy, but the book doesn't try to be 'Star Wars ER' rather it's much more of a character-driven novel that emphasizes the human cost of the Clone Wars. It's nice to see Star Wars novelists finally stop trying to create characters who can "out-Vader" Darth Vader and instead focus on the personalities who populate the Star Wars universe.

Shadows Over Baker Street: New Tales of Terror!

Average customer rating:

Fantasic!
3 1/2 stars for clever collection imagining Holmes (and company) up against tigers and monsters oh my!
My dear Lovecraft, it was elementary!
The Game's Afoot...Or A-Tentacle...
Excellent collection of tales

Shadows Over Baker Street: New Tales of Terror!

Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Singular Adventures of Mr Sherlock Holmes

ASIN: 0345452739
Release Date: 2005-03-01

Book Description

Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes is among the most famous literary figures of all time. For more than a hundred years, his adventures have stood as imperishable monuments to the ability of human reason to penetrate every mystery, solve every puzzle, and punish every crime.

For nearly as long, the macabre tales of H. P. Lovecraft have haunted readers with their nightmarish glimpses into realms of cosmic chaos and undying evil. But what would happen if Conan Doyle’s peerless detective and his allies were to find themselves faced with mysteries whose solutions lay not only beyond the grasp of logic, but of sanity itself.

In this collection of all-new, all-original tales, twenty of today’s most cutting edge writers provide their answers to that burning question.

“A Study in Emerald” by Neil Gaiman: A gruesome murder exposes a plot against the Crown, a seditious conspiracy so cunningly wrought that only one man in all London could have planned it–and only one man can hope to stop it.

“A Case of Royal Blood” by Steven-Elliot Altman: Sherlock Holmes and H. G. Wells join forces to protect a princess stalked by a ghost–or perhaps something far worse than a ghost.

“Art in the Blood” by Brian Stableford: One man’s horrific affliction leads Sherlock Holmes to an ancient curse that threatens to awaken the crawling chaos slumbering in the blood of all humankind.

“The Curious Case of Miss Violet Stone” by Poppy Z. Brite and David Ferguson: A girl who has not eaten in more than three years teaches Holmes and Watson that sometimes the impossible cannot be eliminated.

“The Horror of the Many Faces” by Tim Lebbon: Dr. Watson witnesses a maniacal murder in London–and recognizes the villain as none other than his friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

With these and fourteen other dark tales of madness, horror, and deduction, a new and terrible game is afoot.

The terrifyingly surreal universe of horror master H. P. Lovecraft bleeds into the logical world of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s champion of rational deduction–in these brand-new stories by twenty of today’s top horror, mystery, fantasy, and science fiction writers, including:

• Steven-Elliot Altman
• Elizabeth Bear
• Poppy Z. Brite
• Simon Clark
• David Ferguson
• Paul Finch
• Neil Gaiman
• Barbara Hambly
• Caitlin R. Kiernan
• Tim Lebbon
• James Lowder
• Richard A. Lupoff
• F. Gwynplaine McIntyre
• John Pelan
• Steve Perry
• Michael Reaves
• Brian Stableford
• John P. Vourlis
• David Niall Wilson & Patricia Lee Macomber

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Fantasic!.......2007-06-19

I am often leary of collections that combine two of my favorite "universes" in literature, but this worked better than I could have hoped.

Facing the ultimate empiricist with the ultimate unknowable has produced a series of tales that kept me reading long after I should have been abed. A few did not satisfy (one involving Irene Adler instead of Holmes, another more about Vlad Tepes than HPL, for example), but overall, this collection was fantastic in all senses of the word.

Anyone who is a fan of both Doyle and LOvecraft will be very well served with this collection.

3 1/2 stars for clever collection imagining Holmes (and company) up against tigers and monsters oh my!.......2007-05-09

Holmes continues to fascinate as a character. This brilliant detective who underneath his sharp intellect has all too human flaws has appeared in a number of novels over the years by those who appreciate Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation. Featuring Holmes, Watson and other characters associated with the Doyle universe,they face the monsters of H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulu mythos in this collection. This short story collection is exceptionally good with most of the stories top notch flights of fancy (or fantasy in this case). Keep in mind that Holmes and Watson are not in every story here (the subtitle "Sherlock Holmes enters the nightmare world of H.P. Lovecraft" makes it sound as if Holmes and his logic are the focus of every story).

The most fascinating ones for me were the ones in which Holmes partnered with H.G. Wells and Neil Gaiman's clever inversion of the Holmes/Lovecraft universe in "A Study in Emerald". Elizabeth Bear's "Tiger, Tiger!" set in India is solid with a lot of build up but the conclusion fizzles. Different folks will find other stories equally as fascinating. Simon Clark's "Nightmare in Wax" also made for fun reading as well. Actually this concept would make a great TV series since it takes characters and stories that might seem predictable now because of the passage of time and breathes new life into them.

Overall, I'd recommend Shadows Over Break Street. Editor Michael Reaves (an Emmy winner for his writing on "Batman:The Animated Series as well as a novelist and short story writer) and John Pelan (short story author and editor)have done a good job commissioning/selecting the stories in this collection with an eye for both detail and suspense. This is definitely well worth checking out for fans of both authors.

My dear Lovecraft, it was elementary!.......2007-02-09

This collection of short stories, fusing the Great Detective and the Great Old Ones, wins on a number of points. I have always thought the combination was a natural (has anyone else seen the Yorkshire Horror adventure for Call of Cthulhu?) My favorite story has to be A Study in Emerald by Neil Gaiman, however all the stories had their own charm. The collection is well written and collected and will enhance your Mythos library.

The Game's Afoot...Or A-Tentacle..........2006-08-22

Many people have asked, "Why didn't Sherlock Holmes do more to destroy Cthulhu?" The 2002 short story collection "Shadows Over Baker Street" seeks to answer this question.

In this volume you will find many references to Elder Gods, Old Ones, Voorish signs, star stones, R'lyeh, the monstrous half-breeds of Innsmouth, the mad Arab Abdul Alhazred, and, of course, the Necronomicon. Being a gamer and having played a few sessions of the 1920s version of the Call Of Cthulhu RPG, I'm vaguely familiar with some of this, but by no means an expert. But you don't really have to be steeped in the esoteric lore of the Cthulhu Mythos in order to enjoy the stories.

Most are told in the standard Watson-narrated "It was a dreary night in the winter of 1887 as Holmes and I smoked contentedly in our Baker Street digs" mold. Some, though, are third-person narratives and one is in an epistolary format. Featured characters include, of course, Holmes and Watson, as well as Mycroft, Moriarty, and Colonel Moran, plus one or two figures from Lovecraftian fiction and an occasional passerby from other assorted fantastic Victoriana.

Neil Gaiman contributed "A Study In Emerald", which won a Hugo award, although I find it clever rather than truly skillful. I kinda got the feeling that they just lobbed a Hugo at him rather randomly because he deserved some kind of trophy. Most of the stories are reasonably good, and there are a couple of standouts.

These latter include Elizabeth Bear's "Tiger! Tiger!", Steve Perry's "The Case Of The Wavy Black Dagger", Steven-Elliott Altman's "A Case Of Royal Blood" (guest-starring one H.G. Wells), Paul Finch's rousing "The Mystery Of The Hanged Man's Puzzle" (possibly one of the few times Holmes has been menaced by a Gatling gun), "The Adventure Of The Arab's Manuscript" by Michael Reeves (editor of this tome, and who years ago wrote the sadly underappreciated fantasy "The Shattered World"), the aforementioned epistolary tale "The Drowned Geologist" by Caitlin Kiernan, and Simon Clark's ingeniously-rendered "Nightmare In Wax".

This collection had the blessings of the Arthur Conan Doyle estate, although I reckon Holmes and company are in the public domain now. So the treatment of the characters is accordingly respectful, and if it is your dream to read about the Great Detective being carried off to Yith by the spawn of Shuggoth, well, then, you'll be disappointed. Good stuff otherwise!

Excellent collection of tales.......2006-06-08

The entire book was thoroughly enjoyable. Sherlock Holmes running into the Mythos of Lovecraft was a great idea, adding new "takes" on the mythos of HPL

Star Wars: Coruscant Nights: Jedi Twilight (Star Wars)

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Star Wars: Coruscant Nights: Jedi Twilight (Star Wars)
Michael Reaves
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345477502
Release Date: 2008-06-24

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