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Index Interviews: Evan Marshall John Saul Do It Yourself Music Publishing -- Part IV Writing Life Stories For the Inspirational or Religious Markets Upcoming Events Calendar Return to This Issue's Index Return to Homepage Subscribe
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Horror/Fantasy/SF Book ReviewsPage Three of FourThe Right Hand of Evil by John SaulBallantine, June, 1999.Hardcover, 344 pages. ISBN: 0345433165. Ordering information: Amazon.com. | Amazon.co.uk 
Ted and Janet Conway are having major marital troubles.
Ted is an alcoholic who can't keep a job and his wife and
three children are miserable when he's around.
Then Ted's crazy aunt leaves him a spooky old house in
St. Albans, Louisiana and the family seems to have a
chance at starting over. Of course, the house has a
really creepy history -- Ted's aunt has been in a
psychiatric hospital since her husband committed suicide and
the disappearance of her newborn child. The house itself
is dark and suffocating, but Ted seems like a new man there.
He stops drinking and starts renovating the home to turn
it into a hotel. But the house has a different effect on the kids.
Jared and Kim's mental link is broken, Jared is turning into
a juvenile delinquent, Kim is having horrible nightmares and
the family keeps hearing a child crying -- but it's not
Molly, the baby of the family. The suspense and horrifying
occurrences build until the truth is revealed about
what is lurking in the house, and controlling yet another
generation of Conways.
In the hands of a master like John Saul, the familiar plot of a family moving into a haunted house becomes something new and terrifying. The pacing is fast and the storyline is truly nerve-wracking; a few chapters will have you as nervous as the guy who skipped breakfast and downed three triple espressos at Starbucks. The teenagers are especially well-done, and their experiences will have you glued to the pages. If you're new to John Saul's books, get ready for a lifelong addiction. Highly Recommended. Lord Demon by Roger Zelazny and Jane LindskoldEos, August, 1999.Hardcover, 288 pages. ISBN: 0380973332. Ordering information: Amazon.com. | Amazon.co.uk 
Kai Wren, one of the most powerful Demons banished to
Earth from Origin five millennia ago, is renowned for
his glassblowing and artistry. He has just finished his greatest
creation -- a beautiful glass jar which can hold an entire
universe -- when tragedy strikes. His faithful human
servant and friend is murdered by some inferior demons.
Betrayed by a close friend, Kai Wren is transformed into
a human with his beautiful bottle home trashed
and his magical guardian fu dogs kidnapped.
Suddenly Kai Wren is quite interested in the goings on
in the demon community, and fast becomes involved in
intricate and complex political games in which he will
suffer a great betrayal. With the help of a human magician,
Li Paio and his granddaughter, a feng shui master,
Kai Wren must stop an evil demon from taking over
Origin and murdering Kai and his friends.
This is the second of Zelazny's books which were left unfinished at his death and which were completed by his biographer and friend, the talented Jane Lindskold (Changer, Eos). Lindskold does a brilliant job here. The pacing is fast and funny, the world is Zelazny-unique and the characters are fascinating. This is truly one of the most entertaining fantasies to come along in quite awhile. Highly Recommended. Fantasy/SF Reviews Page One | Page Two | Page Three | Page Four Return to Book Reviews Index ** To visit the archives of fantasy/sf books reviewed in The IWJ, please click here. |