The Zone

by **Spandau Belly** on Sun May 25, 2008 1:33 pm

stereosforgeeks wrote:
Spandau Belly wrote:By Jose Saramago? I read that years ago, and its sequel 'Seeing'. Both good books.

Yeah we were thinking of reading it as the movie is playing at Cannes currently and will be out theatrically by the end of the year.

For the most part I don't get me knickers in a twist about a book I like getting turned into a movie, I understand that stuff has to be cut and stories are told in different ways in different artforms, but I really don't see this one working.

To me the point of the writing style was make us conscience of labels. None of the characters have names, neither do the streets, there's nothing that gives us any idea of where it's taking place or even when. When you start putting in actors and using locations you're cutting out the major development of the theme in my opinion.

I'm guessing the movie will just end up being like Children Of Men 2: The Childrening.

by **Ribbons** on Wed Aug 27, 2008 7:23 pm

Bumped like a chump!

So we haven't done one of these in a while. What say you, Zoners? Yay or a the nay? Anybody have any books they'd love to read (or love US to read)?

by **Lord Voldemoo** on Wed Aug 27, 2008 7:47 pm

Ribbons wrote:Bumped like a chump!

So we haven't done one of these in a while. What say you, Zoners? Yay or a the nay? Anybody have any books they'd love to read (or love US to read)?

I'm in if others are interested. Either for Sept if we wanna get going quickly, or for October.

I want to think a little about some noms. If we do end up doing October, then maybe something scary?

by **so sorry** on Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:45 pm

Ribbons wrote:
Lord Voldemoo wrote:
Ribbons wrote:Bumped like a chump!

So we haven't done one of these in a while. What say you, Zoners? Yay or a the nay? Anybody have any books they'd love to read (or love US to read)?

I'm in if others are interested. Either for Sept if we wanna get going quickly, or for October.

I want to think a little about some noms. If we do end up doing October, then maybe something scary?

I like the cut of your gib, ModMoo...

I WOULD say The Stand by Stephen King, since I've sort of been looking for an excuse to read that, but that bad boy's like 1200 pages, so...

I read the Stand every other year, and I think I'm due, but it literally takes me two months...

by **Fievel** on Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:38 pm

The Stand would make an excellent choice to decide now.... for January.

by **Ribbons** on Thu Aug 28, 2008 1:08 pm

Any other scary books that people have in mind? What about Hound of the Baskervilles? That's horror-esque-ish...

by **Hermanator X** on Thu Aug 28, 2008 1:15 pm

I will throw this one out there (again) it really is a fun read. "The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril"

"Let me tell you a story. You tell me where real ends and pulp begins."

Zombies, the shadow, lovecraft, Doc Savage and L. Ron Hubbard in a noirish nightmare

by **Lord Voldemoo** on Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:13 pm

Hermanator X wrote:I will throw this one out there (again) it really is a fun read. "The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril"

"Let me tell you a story. You tell me where real ends and pulp begins."

Zombies, the shadow, lovecraft, Doc Savage and L. Ron Hubbard in a noirish nightmare

haha, i just read the review, that sounds ridiculous!
I like it.

by **Hermanator X** on Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:16 pm

Ribbons wrote:Buuuuuump!

So Chinatown Death Cloud Peril sounds like a good suggestion. Anybody else want to read it or want to read something else? I need this, people! I neeeeeeeed this!!!

Heres Mori's review (link) from the main site at the books release in 2006.

by **stereosforgeeks** on Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:38 pm

Hermanator X wrote:
Ribbons wrote:Buuuuuump!

So Chinatown Death Cloud Peril sounds like a good suggestion. Anybody else want to read it or want to read something else? I need this, people! I neeeeeeeed this!!!

Heres Mori's review (link) from the main site at the books release in 2006.

Sounds like a really fun read. Id be for that or something more horror oriented come Oct.

by **Lord Voldemoo** on Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:32 pm

stereosforgeeks wrote:
Hermanator X wrote:
Ribbons wrote:Buuuuuump!

So Chinatown Death Cloud Peril sounds like a good suggestion. Anybody else want to read it or want to read something else? I need this, people! I neeeeeeeed this!!!

Heres Mori's review (link) from the main site at the books release in 2006.

Sounds like a really fun read. Id be for that or something more horror oriented come Oct.

Agreed, sounds like a blast. Hopefully we can find a few people to actually read it with us...

by **TonyWilson** on Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:59 pm

I've read The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril and while there are 3 super creepy moments with HP Lovecraft the story itelf isn't that engaging in my opinion. If people are in the mood for a scary creepy pulp thriller then let me suggest Dennis Lehane's Shutter Island.

by **stereosforgeeks** on Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:13 pm

TonyWilson wrote:I've read The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril and while there are 3 super creepy moments with HP Lovecraft the story itelf isn't that engaging in my opinion. If people are in the mood for a scary creepy pulp thriller then let me suggest Dennis Lehane's Shutter Island.

My mom and brother love Lehane and have read everything hes written so far. I keep on forgetting to read his stuff even after having met him a couple times.

by **ChaoticMoira** on Sun Sep 07, 2008 6:46 am

I came because of Moo's siggy.

So whats the scoop? Where is the horror? Whats the book? Or are you reading something else currently?

I could go for anything with Zombies for a good Halloween book.

Ahhh. "The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril"

Is that the Halloween book on the list then? I don't know if I can read that. The word pulp was used in the description too many times. It was annoying.

by **Lord Voldemoo** on Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:41 pm

Good to have you, CM! Any other suggestions?

I would love to throw some out, but honestly I don't read horror/thrillers that often (though I think it would be fun for October). It doesnt HAVE to be that, either, if someone else has another book they are burning to read...

by **Ribbons** on Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:04 pm

Everybody Poops!

by **Keepcoolbutcare** on Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:37 am

Chinatown Death Cloud Peril Thread.

by **Lord Voldemoo** on Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:41 pm

Keepcoolbutcare wrote:Chinatown Death Cloud Peril Thread.

Ooh, thanks KCBC...looks like we've been there done that.

Let's do something else...

by **Ribbons** on Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:52 pm

Uh... Everybody Poops?

by **Lord Voldemoo** on Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:32 pm

YES! wait...no...

by **stereosforgeeks** on Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:44 pm

Horror Writers Association: Top 40 Horror Novels (alphabetical)

Best Ghost stories of Algernon Blackwood
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite
The Hungry Moon by Ramsey Campbell
The Between by Tananarive Due
Darklands by Dennis Etchison
Raven by Charles L Grant
Dead in the Water by Nancy Holder
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson
Turn of the Screw by Henry James
The Ghost Stories of M.R. James
Dr. Adder by K.W. Jeter
The Metamorphosis and Other Stories by Franz Kafka
Pet Semetary by Stephen King
The Shining by Stephen King
The Stand by Stephen King
Skin by Kathe Koja
Dark Dance by Tanith Lee
Conjure Wife by Fritz Leiber
Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
Songs of a Dead Dreamer by Thomas Ligotti
Lovers Living, Lovers Dead by Richard Lortz
The Dunwich Horror and Others by H.P. Lovecraft
At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft
The Hill of Dreams by Arthur Machen
Tales of Horror and the Supernatural by Arthur Machen
Sineater by Elizabeth Massie
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Book of the Dead edited by John Skipp and Craig Spector
Ghoul by Michael Slade
Vampire Junction by S.P. Somtow
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Some of Your Blood by Theodore Sturgeon
Phantom by Thomas Tessier
Sacrifice by Andrew Vachss

Or something from Jones and Newmans Top 100 list

My personal selection would be for Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked... My guess it would be both pulp oriented yet good horror as well.

by **Lord Voldemoo** on Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:26 pm

Ribbons wrote:In all seriousness I've always kind of wanted to read a Lovecraft book, but I don't know whether his stuff is actually any good.

I'm in the same boat.

by **TonyWilson** on Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:27 pm

Ribbons wrote:In all seriousness I've always kind of wanted to read a Lovecraft book, but I don't know whether his stuff is actually any good.

H.P Lovecraft is HUGELY influential, you probably know a good deal of his ideas from other books, films and TV shows. Buffy's ancient demon mythology is pretty much pure Lovecraft, the first Hellboy film's giant sleeping gods are ripped straight from Lovecraft's Cthulu mythos. In a nutshell it's about man's total insignificance compared to these huge ancient beings. Just one look at their total otherworldliness will drive you mad because the human brain isn't built to be able to deal with it. It's a mixture of science and the supernatural - mathematics is a key to the dimensions where the Old God's reside. The language is dense and rich and earthy, highly enjoyable. Lovecraft was deeply racist by many accounts and it does show up in some of his work but it's not so prevalent as to put you off. You should definitely give it a try, Ribs. Start with The Call Of Cthulu or Re-Animator, the latter isn't so caught up with the Old God stuff but it's supremely creepy and chilling.

EDIT: Moo, you'd dig his stuff too I think.

by **stereosforgeeks** on Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:33 pm

TonyWilson wrote:
Ribbons wrote:In all seriousness I've always kind of wanted to read a Lovecraft book, but I don't know whether his stuff is actually any good.

H.P Lovecraft is HUGELY influential, you probably know a good deal of his ideas from other books, films and TV shows. Buffy's ancient demon mythology is pretty much pure Lovecraft, the first Hellboy film's giant sleeping gods are ripped straight from Lovecraft's Cthulu mythos. In a nutshell it's about man's total insignificance compared to these huge ancient beings. Just one look at their total otherworldliness will drive you mad because the human brain isn't built to be able to deal with it. It's a mixture of science and the supernatural - mathematics is a key to the dimensions where the Old God's reside. The language is dense and rich and earthy, highly enjoyable. Lovecraft was deeply racist by many accounts and it does show up in some of his work but it's not so prevalent as to put you off. You should definitely give it a try, Ribs. Start with The Call Of Cthulu or Re-Animator, the latter isn't so caught up with the Old God stuff but it's supremely creepy and chilling.

EDIT: Moo, you'd dig his stuff too I think.

Ive been reading through the Tales Collection periodically.

by **darkjedijaina** on Fri Sep 19, 2008 8:12 am

I'd be up for trying some Lovecraft if everyone else wants to. I scanned the other list and Something Wicked popped up for me as well. Been a long while since I read that.

by **darkjedijaina** on Fri Sep 19, 2008 8:31 pm

bump.

can we get a poll set up next week maybe for this?

by **ChaoticMoira** on Sun Sep 21, 2008 2:15 am

Fuck a duck. I am too sick just now to look at that LONG ASS LIST Stereos! HEH HEH! Very helpful though.

Sorry Moo, I don't read much horror either (used to), so whilst I can complain and nit pick (very useful qualities) I cannot offer up a better suggestion. The closest I get to horror is true crime, which I do read on occasion. It is a sick and disturbing thing to do however, and I don't recommend it.

I will likely go along with whatever gets picked unless I think it sounds shit. In which case I may gripe and moan and consider mentioning how I picked something WAY better and more horrifyingly fantastic. Then, it will occur to me that nobody actually cares, so I will sit and grumble silently to myself and shutthefuckup.

I will look over that list though cause I am interested in it.

UH, is there a scheduled start day for this dealio or what?

Do we try to stay at the same pace?

I have never done any book club reading. I needs to know the rules.

by **The Vicar** on Sun Sep 21, 2008 2:47 am

Well, if you haven't read The Haunting of Hill House, you should. I love the sound of this woman's writing - it's one of the books I enjoy reading aloud because, like Shakespeare or Christina Rossetti, there's music in her words.

"No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone."

Lebont should be shot and pissed on for his "version" of this story.
Then dug up and done again.

by **stereosforgeeks** on Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:39 am

What should be the poll options?

by **so sorry** on Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:07 am

Ribbons wrote:Looking at the suggestions/noms, I'd say Something Wicked This Way Comes by Bradbury, The Haunting of Hill House, and something by Lovecraft, at least, but if you want to add other stuff to the poll too, go for it.

I love the title Something Wicked This Way Comes......

by **stereosforgeeks** on Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:21 am

the stuff for Lovecraft is tough because a lot of it is collections or soemthing. I linked to the Lovecraft collection I had been reading earlier.

by **instant_karma** on Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:31 am

The Vicar wrote:Well, if you haven't read The Haunting of Hill House, you should. I love the sound of this woman's writing - it's one of the books I enjoy reading aloud because, like Shakespeare or Christina Rossetti, there's music in her words.

"No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone."

Lebont should be shot and pissed on for his "version" of this story.
Then dug up and done again.

I really love the Robert Wise movie based on the novel, so if you guys decide to go with that, I'll try and track down a copy and improve my overall reading speed so I can take part.

by **TonyWilson** on Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:37 am

stereosforgeeks wrote:the stuff for Lovecraft is tough because a lot of it is collections or soemthing. I linked to the Lovecraft collection I had been reading earlier.

The two sweetest words in the english language?

Pubic Domain

by **stereosforgeeks** on Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:55 pm

Started the poll! Get voting people!

by **Lord Voldemoo** on Tue Sep 23, 2008 5:01 pm

I hereby vote for The Haunting of Hill House because I love haunted house stories and I need something to wipe the adaptation from a few years back out of my mind.

by **stereosforgeeks** on Tue Sep 23, 2008 5:08 pm

Lord Voldemoo wrote:I hereby vote for The Haunting of Hill House because I love haunted house stories and I need something to wipe the adaptation from a few years back out of my mind.

The Vicars recommendation makes it get my vote as well.

by **darkjedijaina** on Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:58 pm

stereosforgeeks wrote:
Lord Voldemoo wrote:I hereby vote for The Haunting of Hill House because I love haunted house stories and I need something to wipe the adaptation from a few years back out of my mind.

The Vicars recommendation makes it get my vote as well.

Thirded. I'm totally down for it.

by **stereosforgeeks** on Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:02 am

darkjedijaina wrote:
stereosforgeeks wrote:
Lord Voldemoo wrote:I hereby vote for The Haunting of Hill House because I love haunted house stories and I need something to wipe the adaptation from a few years back out of my mind.

The Vicars recommendation makes it get my vote as well.

Thirded. I'm totally down for it.

Seems like it's clearly winning. Ill probably order it sometime tomorrow.

by **Ribbons** on Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:44 am

Yeah, we'll leave the poll up through this week per custom, but it seems like pretty much a formality at this point. You'd probably be pretty safe ordering The Haunting online or something.

That said... come on people! Somebody else vote for Lovecraft!

by **stereosforgeeks** on Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:44 am

Ribbons wrote:Yeah, we'll leave the poll up through this week per custom, but it seems like pretty much a formality at this point. You'd probably be pretty safe ordering The Haunting online or something.

That said... come on people! Somebody else vote for Lovecraft!

Ordered. Should arrive in the next couple of days.

by **The Todd** on Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:11 pm

Ribbons wrote:That said... come on people! Somebody else vote for Lovecraft!

Done-FIVE!!!!!

by **Lord Voldemoo** on Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:13 pm

The Todd wrote:
Ribbons wrote:That said... come on people! Somebody else vote for Lovecraft!

Done-FIVE!!!!!

WE MISSED YOU-FIVE!!!!!!

by **Samuel L. Jackson** on Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:57 pm

Samuel L. Jackson voted for The Haunting of Hill House, mutha fuckas!

And there ain't a GOT-DAMN THING you can DO ABOUT IT!!

by **Lord Voldemoo** on Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:58 pm

heheh.

Well each of these alts better have their own opinions about whatever we read!

by **instant_karma** on Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:01 pm

Lord Voldemoo wrote:heheh.

Well each of these alts better have their own opinions about whatever we read!

Did you just call Todd and alt? Or did you mean Ribbons?

by **Ribbons** on Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:17 pm

Shit, I'm somebody's alt?!

You know, I think I've known all along...

by **Lord Voldemoo** on Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:27 pm

instant_karma wrote:
Lord Voldemoo wrote:heheh.

Well each of these alts better have their own opinions about whatever we read!

Did you just call Todd and alt? Or did you mean Ribbons?

No, no, Sam Jackson is one of Kirk's alts.

Ribbons is too...

by **The Todd** on Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:52 pm

The Todd picked up his copy of Hill House tonite.

Barnes&Noble-FIVE!!!!!

by **Lord Voldemoo** on Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:59 am

The Todd wrote:The Todd picked up his copy of Hill House tonite.

Barnes&Noble-FIVE!!!!!

Ok, now I can send my 25 alts to vote for Lovecraft. :twisted:

by **The Vicar** on Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:27 pm

The Todd wrote:The Todd picked up his copy of Hill House tonite.

Barnes&Noble-FIVE!!!!!

Hope you enjoy Hill House.
Nicetohaveyouback-FIVE!!!!