When We're Not Podcasting

Between episodes of Pod of Horror, you can find some other cool stuff on our site, including industry news and book reviews.

We just put up a review of The Complex by Brian Keene, a novel that scored a spot on my Top Books of the Year list.

Feel free to leave feedback for Pod of Horror at the links at the top of the page.

Top Books of 2015

Since Pod of Horror #79 has been out for a few days, and others are posting about the list, I wanted to share my picks for Top Books of 2015.

If you’d like a little more info, check out the show.

#3 A tie! Wolf Land by Jonathan Janz and The Complex by Brian Keene.

#2 Slowly We Rot by Bryan Smith.

#1 The Border by Robert McCammon.

You can listen to the entire episode free here. 

Depraved Darkness

Here are a couple of recent reads that horror fans may enjoy.

First is Darkness on the Edge of Town by Brian Keene. A small burg in Virginia is cut off from the world, if there even is a world, anymore. Darkness surrounds them, total and complete. Anyone who ventures into the darkness screams and never returns. Those who get to close to the city limits see disturbing visions. The residents turn into savages. Much craziness ensues.

This reads like a bleak B movie. It’s sleek (sleek and bleak? Yeah, that works), compact and brutal. Keene’s ongoing mythos play a part here, but you don’t have to be familiar with his previous work to enjoy Darkness. The writer has become much better at weaving the exposition unobtrusively into the narrative.

Definitely not for wimps.




Next up is Depraved by Bryan Smith. Okay, I’m going to be honest with you. This novel has no redeeming social value. It’s a non-stop gore-and-sex-filled romp. And I loved every page.

This is an 80s movie turned to print. Various characters pick a bad time to show up in a small town, where the backwoods residents participate in an annual ritual of cannibalism. And guess what weekend the tourists drop by? If you have a weak stomach or are easily offended by graphic descriptions of violence and sex (in other words, if you can’t read a book by Edward Lee), then skip Depraved and pick up a paranormal romance.

However if you enjoyed The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or chortled your way through Header, you’ll probably get a kick out of Depraved.

Tidbits

Currently Watching: In Plain Sight. This is one of Norma’s favorite shows, and we’ve caught up on Season Two. Star Mary McCormack’s lips have gone from hideously overinflated to just kind of rough looking. Check out photos of her from the movie Private Parts or The West Wing series. Nothing wrong with those lips. But she got ‘em all mangled up for In Plain Sight. Thankfully, in the second season, those monster lips are start to return to normal.


Currently reading: Castaways by Brian Keene. Cross Survivor with Richard Laymon’s Beast House and you’ve got a real page-turner. Great fun.


Here’s an interview with my buddy Ron Fortier, the man who’s working harder than anybody at keeping pulp fiction alive.

Pimping Pod of Horror

Help spread the word about Pod of Horror and you could win an ARC of TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME by Brian Keene.

Here’s how it works:

Post a link to the current episode of PoH on your website, blog, Live Journal or My Space page.

Here’s the URL: http://www.horrorworld.org/poh.htm

Then post a link to your site in this thread on the Justice & Wilbanks message board : http://horrorworld.org/v-web/bulletin/bb/viewtopic.php?p=17363#17363

The deadline is August 31, 2007.

In early September, I’ll select a winner by random drawing to win the ARC of TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME.

Start posting. And thanks for listening to Pod of Horror.

–Mark