Thursday, August 23, 2007

CHALLENGE | Readers Imbibing Peril II


For the R.I.P. II Challenge, I'm going to go low-key. I will be undertaking Peril the First - which just requires me to read 4 books of any length, from any subgenre of scary stories that you choose.

So, the goal is to read at least 4 books from this list:

  1. Baltimore,: Or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire by Mike Mignola & Christopher Golden
    Mike Mignola is one of my favourite artist/comic writer. I loved the moody starkness of his signature artwork, which just brings out his well-researched tales of monsters and supernatural terrors. I have the hardcover of this illustrated novel sitting at my desk right now. Come 1st September I will purchase it and read it.
  2. Hellboy: The Troll Witch and Other Stories by Mike Mignola, P. Craig Russell & Richard Corben
    This is supposed to be published in October, but let's see if I can throw it in. Hellboy is my hero. A demonspawn, a Prince of Hell summoned by the Nazi to bring about the Apocalypse, he grew into his own man. The two round stumps on his forehead are the stumps from his broken hell-horns - horns that he broke off in declaration of his own Free Will, against his demonic destiny. I love my Hellboy.
  3. The Stress of Her Regard by Tim Powers
    Had wanted to read this earlier this year, but just never got around to it. A historical fantasy starring the Romantic poets Keats, Byron and Shelley. Now, where did I put that book?
  4. 30 Days of Night by Steve Niles & Ben Templesmith
    Vampires visit a far northern Alaskan town that experience 30 days of continuous nights. Blood. Murder. Mwhahaha!
  5. The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski

    This is a new Polish author I picked up from the bookstore. I know very little about him but the synopsis at the back looks interesting:

    Geralt was always going to stand out, with his white hair and piercing eyes, his cynicism and lack of respect for authority ... but he is far more than a striking-looking man. He's a witcher; his sorcerous powers, enhanced by elixirs and long years of training, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless assassin. ...

    In his role as guardian of the innocent, Geralt, the witcher from Rivia, meets incestuous kings with undead daughters, vengeful djinns, rancorous maidens, shrieking harpies, love-lorn vampires and despondent ghouls. Many are pernicious, some are wicked, and none are quite as they seem.

  6. Angelica by Arthur Phillips

    I've been eyeing this title for s while now. Since I managed to get my paws on a library copy this week, I think I shall add it to the list. From the New Yorker:

    Phillips’s third novel, set in Victorian London, starts as a ghost story. When Joseph instructs his wife, Constance, to have their four-year-old daughter, Angelica, moved from their bedroom into a room of her own, Constance becomes convinced that a seductive spectral force is preying on the child. The catastrophe that follows is relayed from the perspectives of Constance; of her supposed redeemer, an actress turned exorcist; and of Joseph—each view ultimately being rendered by the adult Angelica. What at first appears a rather glib ghost story predicated on Victorian clichés of sexual repression and patriarchal tyranny turns into a spectacular, ever-proliferating tale of mingled motives, psychological menace, and delicately told crises of appetite and loneliness. Phillips sustains a pastiche of Victorian writing and ideas with enticing playfulness, and without making his characters or their complex fears and desires laughable


As usual, I may add to this reading list when something interesting comes along. And if I can squeeze it in, I shall attempt Dracula by Bram Stoker.

Challenge is from 1st September 1st ~ 31st October 2007.

Also visit R.I.P.ing Yarns: The Official R.I.P. II Review Site.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really need to remember to stop by here more often. I'm terrible!

Great choices. Baltimore is going on my "to read list" after Carl's review, so I will be interested to see what you think of it!

Ana S. said...

I like the sound of all the books in your list. I look forward to reading your thoughts on them. I'm really tempted to add "Baltimore" as an extra to mine...hopefully I will have the time.

Anonymous said...

That last one - The Last Wish - sounds great! And, of course, there isn't a library in my state that has a copy. {Did you go through Amazon UK to get it or did you luck out and find it somewhere else?}

I'll be very interested to know what you think of it!

darkorpheus said...

Quixtoic It's okay. No pressure. Just drop by when you feel like it. You're always welcome.

I decide to start from the back - with "The Steadfast Soldier" first, then start from the beginning. Will try to post something on Baltimore soon.

Nymeth After Carl's good example, I feel like giving the challenge a head-start with "Baltimore" too. If you have time, do join in. *grin*

Chelle The Last Wish really looks fun, does it? Exotic Polish gothic fiction. I hope it lives up to its promises.

Oh, I live in Asia, where we have Commonwealth rights to import UK titles. So "The Last Wish" is available in local bookstores.

chrisa511 said...

The Stress of Her Regard sounds really cool! I haven't heard of that one. Damn these challenges are dangerous. I have a feeling that one may be added to my list. 30 Days of Night sounds cool too!

"Hellboy is my hero." Love that!

darkorpheus said...

Chris Yay to Hellboy! :)
But I have the feeling that The Stress of Her Regard is out of print - I might be wrong.

I'll try to post something about it if I can finish it in time. But a gothic tale guest-starring the Romantics. Ah.

Stephanie said...

Sounds like a great bunch of books! I can't wait until 30 Days of Night hits the screen! The previews look fantastic!

Anonymous said...

I'm going to do the first peril as well but I'm still trying to decide which books to list. Oh the pressure!
I'd love to read Dracula and that may be my bonus book too. I've had Angelica on my radar for a while so I will be looking forward to your thoughts on that one.

darkorpheus said...

Stephanie Thanks! I just hope I can find the time to squeeze in all the readings. I'm so looking forward to "30 Days of Night" and "Day Watch"!

Iliana Yeah, "Angelica" just stirs the imagination, doesn't it? Waiting for your list!