FREE/BARGAIN - Horror/Supernatural

[ZodWallop]

The Lost Village by Camilla Sten is $2.99 at Amazon US. Translated from Swedish.

Documentary filmmaker Alice Lindstedt has been obsessed with the vanishing residents of the old mining town, dubbed “The Lost Village,” since she was a little girl. In 1959, her grandmother’s entire family disappeared in this mysterious tragedy, and ever since, the unanswered questions surrounding the only two people who were left—a woman stoned to death in the town center and an abandoned newborn—have plagued her. She’s gathered a small crew of friends in the remote village to make a film about what really happened.

But there will be no turning back.

Not long after they’ve set up camp, mysterious things begin to happen. Equipment is destroyed. People go missing. As doubt breeds fear and their very minds begin to crack, one thing becomes startlingly clear to Alice:

They are not alone.

They’re looking for the truth…
But what if it finds them first?

Come find out.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by salty-horse

Devil Said Bang (Sandman Slim #4) by Richard Kadrey is $1.99 on Amazon.com

Maybe this should be in the SF&F thread.

Thanks man. I've been curious about the Sandman Slim books.

I don't care for series, but those and the Felix Castor books are ones I check out from time-to-time.

I do like the 'movie poster' covers for the Sandman Slim books. Why doesn't the first book have one?

[ZodWallop]

Those Who Came Before by J.H. Moncrieff is $0.99 at Amazon US.

People are dying at Strong Lake, and the worst is yet to come.

An idyllic weekend camping trip is cut short when Reese Wallace's friends are brutally murdered. As the group's only survivor, Reese is the prime suspect, and his story doesn't make much sense. A disembodied voice warning him to leave the campground the night before? A strange, blackened tree that gave him an electric shock when he cut it down for firewood?

Detective Greyeyes isn t having any of it until she hears the voice herself and finds an arrowhead at the crime scene an arrowhead she can t get rid of. Troubling visions of a doomed Native American tribe who once called the campground home, and rumors of cursed land and a mythical beast plague the strangest murder case she s ever been a part of.

[ZodWallop]

Harrow: A 3-Novel Box Set: Nightmare House, Mischief, and The Infinite by Douglas Clegg is $1.99.

This is three books set in Clegg's haunted Harrow house. But each tale stands alone.

Haunted house, hungry ghosts, occult phenomena...once you enter, Harrow will never let you go.
From New York Times bestselling and award-winning novelist Douglas Clegg, Harrow: Three Novels collects the first three full-length novels of the Harrow series in one haunting box set. The macabre mansion called Harrow has a history of the occult and supernatural...it's a bad place of infinite hauntings and nightmare – and terror awaits those who unlock its doors.

BOOK 1: NIGHTMARE HOUSE
A quiet but chilling gothic dark fantasy of the most haunted house in the world. The house called Harrow has an ancient soul. When Ethan Gravesend claims his inheritance in Watch Point, he unlocks long-buried secrets of the notorious mansion -- and awakens the hungry spirits...Psychic manifestations, poltergeist activity, hallucinations, and other residue of terror have all been documented in Harrow.

BOOK 2: MISCHIEF
In Mischief, the horror of Harrow is reborn -- as Harrow Academy, a private school for boys. A dark fraternity exists within Harrow -- and it wants new blood in this coming of age dark supernatural novel. The mansion overlooks the Hudson River, just outside the town of Watch Point, New York. And Jim Hook, should never have come to Harrow Academy...because he may be the new key to unlocking the terrors of the house.

BOOK 3: THE INFINITE
A small band of psychics and psychic investigators converge on Harrow -- the most haunted house in the world -- to find the key to its infinite hauntings in this supernatural thriller. But will they, themselves, fall victim to the house's deadly charm?

[Dr. Drib]

^

I have this omnibus, but have only read the first novel.

This is a great price!

Douglas Clegg is a very good horror writer, in my opinion.

[salty-horse]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Why doesn't the first book have one?

It has one, just not the ebook version Amazon sells.
But since it's an ebook, you can replace it yourself.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

BUT, if you wish to read Pynchon, then I would suggest you start with the more accessible The Crying of Lot 49.

You probably weren't addressing me, but The Crying of Lot 49 is the first book that people read in a postmodern lit class, and rightly so. In fact, I got a lit. professor at NYU, who is also a sax player, to stop teaching Kerouac in his postmodern class and to teach Pynchon's novel instead. The idea that Kerouac is a literary jazz musician is false, I maintained. Kerouac doesn't riff on changes, as a jazz musician does; there's no comparable exploration of structure to that of Coltrane soloing on "Giant Steps" or McCoy Tyner riffing on "My Favorite Things." Whereas Pynchon really does riff on the myth of Oedipus, in 49, as though myths were jazz charts. The professor agreed and I had the satisfaction of knowing that Kerouac would not be taught as the literary equivalent of jazz. I've been a studio musician all my life and I've always hated that assertion.

But to respond to what seems to be your larger point:

My post consisted of a single sentence: "Then again, Gravity's Rainbow." I was careful not to say more because this is a thread about horror bargains. Was that not evident?

I was doing my best not to steer people off-course while quietly suggesting that it is perhaps impractical to expect everyone to avoid writing in present tense. Some books have to be written that way even if readers don't like it. And some authors have to write that way even if nearly everyone doesn't like it.

I think I understand the sentiment. I feel the same way about pointless time dislocations in otherwise conventional linear novels and films. I think it's a mannerism that will look stale in the future. But there might be books and flicks that have to be written that way; Time's Arrow and The Shining Girls come to mind.

Pynchon is highly regarded in the academic world. HOWEVER, (IMHO), I feel Mobileread is mainly a genre-focused forum - which is perfectly fine! - and has also become (in the last 2-3 years) a programmers' delightful darling - which is also fine. There just may not be that many adherents to literary fiction here to sustain an active discussion or interest of postmodernism.

This last bit concerns me. I am a member of MobileRead and have been for nearly ten years. Here's what I've never said out of respect for other forum members and their enjoyment of books they love: I despise most genre fiction. It's sentence that I hope never to write here again.

Are you really saying that I should be silent about the books I read and love while everyone talks about books that, most of the time, I hate? I can't think of another forum about books in general where I would be discouraged from even mentioning Pynchon in a single-sentence post.

The other issue is more concerning:

I worry that you are advocating forum-enforced anti-intellectual snobbery -- not only towards me, but, by default, toward members like Pynch (guess where his name comes from?), whose editions of difficult modernist writers in multiple languages have drawn nothing but praise from MR members.

I have tried not to derail threads with my own interests where they are not appropriate (such as this thread, where I'm sorry to have to leave this post). But anti-intellectualism can be a murderous force. People who react strongly against what they don't understand or don't know can make life cruel and difficult, and I have no choice but to stand against the intimation that we can only talk about genre books on MR.

Yes, you were careful to say I probably wouldn't find good conversations about postmodern lit on MR. I appreciate your care in making that distinction rather than forbidding me outright to talk about books I love.

But the inference that I shouldn't even mention someone like Thomas Pynchon here is troubling. I've always found you witty and welcoming, and wondered about possible connections we might share to people like Ivan Stang and Paul Mavrides. So it saddens me to have to talk to you of all people about this.

If you'd rather I talk to you about this privately, then let me know and I'll message you. If so, feel free to delete this post.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

My post consisted of a single sentence: "Then again, Gravity's Rainbow." I was careful not to say more because this is a thread about horror bargains. Was that not evident?

I wasn't exactly part of this conversation, but I enjoy a good diversion from time to time.

I was doing my best not to steer people off-course while quietly suggesting that it is perhaps impractical to expect everyone to avoid writing in present tense. Some books have to be written that way even if readers don't like it. And some authors have to write that way even if nearly everyone doesn't like it.

Writing in present tense, like writing in second person can be fine and even beautiful. I wouldn't be one to say that I won't read a book because of this or that stylistic choice.

it's just that often writing in present tense is done poorly.

This last bit concerns me. I am a member of MobileRead and have been for nearly ten years. Here's what I've never said out of respect for other forum members and their enjoyment of books they love: I despise most genre fiction. It's sentence that I hope never to write here again.

Well, if by 'here' you mean in the thread for horror bargains, sure. Hopefully it is not a sentiment that will be raised again and again.

But if by 'here' you mean MobileRead, why feel constrained? Say what you feel.

I myself enjoy all sorts of books. Don't think my gleeful enjoyment of shlock fiction doesn't mean I don't also enjoy other things.

Are you really saying that I should be silent about the books I read and love while everyone talks about books that, most of the time, I hate? I can't think of another forum about books in general where I would be discouraged from even mentioning Pynchon in a single-sentence post.

The other issue is more concerning:

I worry that you are advocating forum-enforced anti-intellectual snobbery -- not only towards me, but, by default, toward members like Pynch (guess where his name comes from?), whose editions of difficult modernist writers in multiple languages have drawn nothing but praise from MR members..

I can't speak for the good doctor, but I suspect you are reading too much into his comments.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

You probably weren't addressing me, but The Crying of Lot 49 is the first book that people read in a postmodern lit class, and rightly so. In fact, I got a lit. professor at NYU, who is also a sax player, to stop teaching Kerouac in his postmodern class and to teach Pynchon's novel instead. The idea that Kerouac is a literary jazz musician is false, I maintained. Kerouac doesn't riff on changes, as a jazz musician does; there's no comparable exploration of structure to that of Coltrane soloing on "Giant Steps" or McCoy Tyner riffing on "My Favorite Things." Whereas Pynchon really does riff on the myth of Oedipus, in 49, as though myths were jazz charts. The professor agreed and I had the satisfaction of knowing that Kerouac would not be taught as the literary equivalent of jazz. I've been a studio musician all my life and I've always hated that assertion.

But to respond to what seems to be your larger point:

My post consisted of a single sentence: "Then again, Gravity's Rainbow." I was careful not to say more because this is a thread about horror bargains. Was that not evident?

I was doing my best not to steer people off-course while quietly suggesting that it is perhaps impractical to expect everyone to avoid writing in present tense. Some books have to be written that way even if readers don't like it. And some authors have to write that way even if nearly everyone doesn't like it.

I think I understand the sentiment. I feel the same way about pointless time dislocations in otherwise conventional linear novels and films. I think it's a mannerism that will look stale in the future. But there might be books and flicks that have to be written that way; Time's Arrow and The Shining Girls come to mind.



This last bit concerns me. I am a member of MobileRead and have been for nearly ten years. Here's what I've never said out of respect for other forum members and their enjoyment of books they love: I despise most genre fiction. It's sentence that I hope never to write here again.

Are you really saying that I should be silent about the books I read and love while everyone talks about books that, most of the time, I hate? I can't think of another forum about books in general where I would be discouraged from even mentioning Pynchon in a single-sentence post.

The other issue is more concerning:

I worry that you are advocating forum-enforced anti-intellectual snobbery -- not only towards me, but, by default, toward members like Pynch (guess where his name comes from?), whose editions of difficult modernist writers in multiple languages have drawn nothing but praise from MR members.

I have tried not to derail threads with my own interests where they are not appropriate (such as this thread, where I'm sorry to have to leave this post). But anti-intellectualism can be a murderous force. People who react strongly against what they don't understand or don't know can make life cruel and difficult, and I have no choice but to stand against the intimation that we can only talk about genre books on MR.

Yes, you were careful to say I probably wouldn't find good conversations about postmodern lit on MR. I appreciate your care in making that distinction rather than forbidding me outright to talk about books I love.

But the inference that I shouldn't even mention someone like Thomas Pynchon here is troubling. I've always found you witty and welcoming, and wondered about possible connections we might share to people like Ivan Stang and Paul Mavrides. So it saddens me to have to talk to you of all people about this.

If you'd rather I talk to you about this privately, then let me know and I'll message you. If so, feel free to delete this post.

No one, in my opinion, should be silent about the books they love and read. I would never suggest that you (or anyone, for that matter, who contributes to Mobileread), be silent about the books they love.

I think you should mention Thomas Pynchon - or any author that you wish to discuss. I just don't think there will be much interest on this forum for Pynchon, unfortunately, but not because of ant-intellectualism. I don't think this forum is a 'proper' fit for postmodernism However, anytime Pychon's name is mentioned, I perk up and want to join in on the conversation.

By the way, I write genre fiction, and I love reading genre fiction. I would be the first person to vote a zombie into office as President of the United States. (Wait a minute...didn't we just finish with - whoops, I better be careful. ) But I also love literary fiction.

I've only touched on some of your salient points, but I hope I've allayed some of your concern.

(Oh, how I would love to have a full discussion on In Search of Lost Time. I'm no expert in any way whatsoever. AND, I speak no French. I just don't think there would be much interest here. Hey, maybe I'm wrong. I would love to be wrong. I would love to be wrong about Pynchon.)

[ReadingManiac]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Merfolk by Jeremy Bates is $0.99. This is listed as book 4 in a series. But each book is a stand-alone. They are only a series because Jeremy Bates is a smart marketer. Calling it a series lets him write multiple similar books and instead of being unoriginal, it's a series

Got that one for the same price on pre-sale. He's one of the few authors I trust to always be good!

[ZodWallop]

Disintegration by Scott Nicholson is $0.99 at Amazon US.

I've picked up Scott Nicholson since his books were first released as paperbacks by Pinnacle way back when. Disintegration isn't a supernatural horror novel like most of his work is.

Identical twins vie for a family empire built on deceit, cruelty, and dark secrets--and one woman stands between them while another waits in the shadows.

DISINTEGRATION
(Revised March 2011. Includes alternate ending. DRM-free)

When a mysterious fire destroys his home and shatters his family, Jacob Wells is pulled into a downward spiral that draws him ever closer to the past he thought was dead and buried.

Now his twin brother Joshua is back in town, seeking to settle old scores and claim his half of the Wells birthright. Jacob’s wife Renee is struggling with her own past and her attempts to salvage Jacob are driven by guilt and ambition.

As Jacob and Joshua return to the twisted roles they adopted at the hands of cruel, demanding parents, they wage a war of pride, wealth, and passion. They share a poisonous obsession with the provocative, manipulative Carlita, whose immigrant family helped build the Wells fortune.

Joshua wants other things, too, but Jacob’s desires are divided between the forbidden love he can’t possess, the respectability he can never have, and the revenge he is dying to taste. And Renee has dark motives of her own.

If only Jacob can figure out which of them to blame. But the lines of identity are blurred, because Joshua and Jacob share much more than blood.

And the childhood games have become deadly serious.

[ZodWallop]

More McCammon on sale. Both of these were on sale as part of compilations.

Mystery Walk by Robert McCammon is $1.99 at Amazon US.

Stinger by Robert McCammon is $1.99 at Amazon US.

[ZodWallop]

The Dead Love Longer by Scott Nicholson is FREE at Amazon US.

This is actually a novella and a short story. I haven't yet read either. But I do like Scott Nicholson.

THE DEAD LOVE LONGER
(Original print title: Transparent Lovers)

Private investigator Richard Steele must solve his most difficult case ever—his own murder—while caught between women on both sides of the grave. His lover Lee is tangled up in the mess he left behind, and his dead ex-wife Diana has been waiting on the other side for her chance at revenge.

In a race against time as his spirit slips away, Richard confronts his many, many failings and faces a power beyond his understanding--love. His only weapon is faith, and he's running out of bullets.

It's going to be a hell of a final showdown.

DRM-free. About 22,000 words, equivalent of about 110 book pages. Includes the bonus ghost story "She Climbs a Winding Stair."

[ZodWallop]

The Harvest by Scott Nicholson is $0.99 at Amazon US.

I did read this one when it was first published back in 2003 and enjoyed it. I gave it a re-read a few years ago and enjoyed it a second time.

An infection that consumes and changes people...

When an alien entity lands in the remote Appalachian Mountains, a clairvoyant psychology professor, a drunken dirt farmer, and a disillusioned tycoon must team up to stop it before the infection spreads.

But with Windshake's annual spring festival coming, the town is full of visitors, unaware of the unnatural menace creeping toward them from the woods...

[ZodWallop]

Crustaceans by William Meikle is $0.99 at Amazon US.

If you've wondered "why aren't there more books about giant crabs?" fear not. William Meikle is here to fill that void!

From Scottish writer William Meikle comes a novel that is a welcome return to those tomes of pure enjoyment that we read with guilt in our early teens, in the tradition of James Herbert’s THE RATS and Guy N. Smith’s NIGHT OF THE CRABS.

It begins with a dead whale on a Boston shoreline--not in itself an unusual occurrence. But the things that claw their way out of the blubber are very unusual indeed. A cast of giant crabs, evolved over centuries, descends on a small coastal town and, having feasted, make their way to the city using the sewer system. Soon they are swarming around Manhattan, hunted and harried by a SWAT team tasked with ridding the city of the menace...before the menace gets big enough to rid itself of the city.