Kazba Books - Reviews for books starting with I

I Am Behind You by John Ajvide Lindqvist

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Published October 2018 (St. Martin's Press ebook edition)
Finished reading it on October 21, 2018
I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this novel. There was so much potential and so much that I did really like but at the same time, I wasn't sure I liked how we got there. The story starts with four families in four different caravans all waking up to discover that they are no longer in the camping grounds where they parked the night before. They are in a huge empty field with no sun in the sky, just ambient light from somewhere. The families try to discover what happened but they are also experiencing various degrees of cooperation and anger. (minor spoilers below) I love that main idea. There is so much potential there: different dimensions, some super powered alien, different states of mind, an accident in reality. At first the story progresses beautifully. The characters are easy to remember and we get flashbacks to flush them out as real people. Unfortunately somewhere around a third or maybe half of the way through, things started falling apart for me. I started to actively not like a couple of the characters. No big deal; not liking the "bad guy" of the story is normal. Except I'm not sure if she was supposed to be the "bad guy". Spoiler alert, the character is Molly. It seemed that when Lindqvist needed someone to do something bad, he made Molly do it. He quasi-explained it near the end of the book and he did a great job of doing so. He made me feel totally sorry for what happened to Molly as a toddler; my God, her mother was so selfish and mean! This was one of the times I was in tears. But, at the same time, it left me confused about my feelings for Molly. I suppose that's like life though. Good people can do stupid things for no easy-to-understand reason. That was actually a huge strength in this book. The characters were so rich and real. I probably cried three or four times at some of the events that happened to the characters. I put myself in their place and felt for what was happening. But then I would go back to the plot and realize there did not seem to be one. There was a series of strange events that kept happening to which the characters would respond, but that was it. No direction, no arc. Just "how will you respond if I introduce zombie-type monsters?" or "what about acid rain?" It made me feel that Lindqvist did not have a final ending in mind as he wrote the book and that he made it up as he went. Then rather than editing that first draft and weaving the ending throughout the entire novel so that it made sense, he left it alone. A confusing and not-quite-complete story that had so much potential. (3.5 stars that I'm actually rounding down in order to not diminish my other books rated at 4 stars)

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

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Published July 1995 (paperback edition)
Finished reading it on January 21, 1999
This was yet another excellent collection of short stories by Richard Matheson. I got it originally for the title story "I Am Legend" which I have been wanting to read for a while. When I saw that what I thought was a single novel was actually a collection of stories, I was thrilled. And even more thrilled when they turned out to be as enjoyable as I had hoped they would be. Take a look below for the ones I thought of as favorites.
"I Am Legend" - The defining story of the last man on the earth combined with the ultimate vampire story.

"Prey" - A doll becomes the ultimate hunter via an accident. The basis for one of the stories in the movie Trilogy of Terror starring Karen Black.

"The Funeral" - A funeral is everything that the deceased ever hoped that it would be.

"Person to Person" - Phone calls are made directly to a person's mind.

I Shudder At Your Touch edited by Michele Slung

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22 short stories by such authors as Stephen King, Ruth Rendell, Clive Barker, Stephen R. Donaldson
Published June 1992 (paperback edition)
Finished reading it on January 24, 1996
I must say that I was pretty disappointed with this collection of stories. I was hoping for something along the lines of the Hot Blood series and this did not supply it. Not enough sex in the horror to be considered a collection of "22 tales of sex and horror." Plus most of the stories seemed to be old fashioned. Not just that they were written a while ago, but that they did not read or develop as fast as I would have hoped. Not that the whole book was worthless though. There were a few gems in there that got my blood pumping. You'll find their descriptions below.
"The Revelations of 'Becka Paulson" by Stephen King - Not one of his best short stories and I did read it before someplace else, but still worth mentioning.

"Salon Satin" by Carolyn Banks - A competitor for Weight Watcher's or any self-help facility that achieves better results.

"The Master Builder" by Christopher Fowler - A woman's new home is refurbished by someone who does more than just build.

"Death And The Single Girl" by Thomas M. Disch - Suicide is attempted by giving Death a call.

"Jacqueline Ess: Her Will And Testament" by Clive Barker - Jacqueline discovers power and how to use it. Clive is my favorite author so I'm kind of biased towards his works.

I'm Not Sam by Jack Ketchum and Lucky McKee

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Published March 2011 (Cemetery Dance Publications ebook edition)
Finished reading it on June 22, 2024
unreviewed

I, Robot: The Illustrated Screenplay by Harlan Ellison

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Published April 2004 (ibooks paperback edition)
Finished reading it on January 24, 2006
Before you start thinking that I goofed and am not crediting Isaac Asimov for his stories, let me point out that the book was actually a screenplay based on Asimov's stories. And it's not the screen play for the 2004 Will Smith version of the film; you know, the one that has nothing to do with Asimov's vision except for the three robot rules which are immediately perverted in the film. The same movie where if you check your brain at the start of the film and then really don't think about what's happening, you see that it makes an acceptable action film that is extremely formulaic. Anyway, let me get back to the book and not the film. Naturally Ellison's vision is significantly different from the film, is much truer to the source material and is intelligent in its approach. The screenplay flows the different "I, Robot" stories together through the use of an investigative reporter piecing together a story. It kept the characters alive and real without making them a normal film stereotype character. I would love to have seen this material made into the film instead. It did read a little outdated but considering that Ellison wrote it in 1977 that's understandable. It could be very easily updated with minor tweaks and play very nicely. It would have made some studio a ton of money. However any value the "I, Robot" mythos had was tainted by the recent film, making this version that much less likely to ever happen.

The Icarus Agenda by Robert Ludlum

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Published February 1992 (Bantam Books paperback edition)
Finished reading it on February 28, 1995
unreviewed

Icebound by Dean R. Koontz

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Published 1996 (paperback edition)
Finished reading it on March 25, 1998
This is actually a reprint from one of his earlier novels written under a pen name in 1975. The novel's previous name was PRISON OF ICE and was written by either David Axton or J.P. Lippincott, depending on whether you believe the afterword by Koontz or the publishing information in the masthead of the book. The novel is actually better than what I thought it was going to be. Koontz freely admits in the afterword to trying to copy Alistair MacLean's suspenseful style and Koontz does a good job of it. The story is of a team of eight scientist who end up caught on a floating iceberg with less than 24 hours until sixty different explosives destroy it. No southern California references. No secret agency out to get someone. There is a strong female who must overcome her fears but it is done appropriately. So basically there are none of Koontz's normal patterns or formulas for writing. It's all new and as a result I liked it. And this is shortly after finishing DARK RIVERS OF THE HEART in which I have sworn off any more Koontz novels. ICEBOUND's pace is extremely quick and events happen quickly, if not a little contritely. It is a novel which makes a quick and fun read. I would be pleased if Koontz were to write more like this, but he admits in the afterword that he has no more stories of this type within him. Too bad, guess that I'll not be buying any more of his books after all.

idoru by William Gibson

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Published 1997 (paperback edition)
Finished reading it on October 26, 2000
It's probably because I'm so much into technology and cutting edge developments that I continue to thoroughly enjoy Gibson's novels. As one of the "founders" of cyberpunk, Gibson continues to excel and define this style of writing. IDORU (and most if not all of his others) continues his trademark of being set in the very near future; I can easily picture his future becoming reality in anywhere from 10-40 years. But in addition to the focus on technology, Gibson includes what every story must have: well developed characters, an interesting plot, exciting developments and a story to care about. In IDORU, two stories are told in tandem. One is about Colin Laney, a "netrunner" who parses through virtual data on a person searching for their nodal points, key events which are greater than the sum of the data points. The other story follows Chia Pet McKenzie, a fan girl who is trying to determine the details of the impending marriage of a rock 'n roll artist to a Japanese idoru, virtual media star. The two stories are told in alternating chapters and by the end of the book, they have twined together in to the same story. The only problem that I had with the novel was that it took me a little bit to get involved in the story. I went through a few chapters before I found myself "in" the story and interested in what was happening. Luckily though the chapters were all pretty short so it really wasn't that far. If cyberpunk, technology, popular culture and references to Franz Kafka are your thing, then definitely read this book.

If Chins Could Kill by Bruce Campbell

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Published June 2001 (paperback edition)
Finished reading it on August 22, 2002
This book is an auto-biography of one of the most under-appreciated actors out there. Sure, Campbell qualifies himself as a B Movie actor but I wouldn't limit him there due to his TV roles in Homicide, Ellen, Hercules and Xena in addition to his bit part in Spider-Man and Serving Sara. No matter how you classify him though, the auto-biography shows a clear picture of the man. And he comes across very much like what you see in the films: a fun, out-going, energetic person with a lot of passion for what he does and who likes to have fun. From the Introduction all the way through the end, the book has you grinning and laughing out loud at the weird events that unfold. In fact, while reading the Introduction a stranger stopped me and wanted to know what I was reading since I was so obviously enjoying it. Plus one of the other fun things that you discover is that Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi grew up in the same neighborhood. It's kind of neat to see two friends who are interested in the same field both grow up and become successful in that field; it also shows why the two of them are so often collaborating together. And another thing that was nice about the book was that Campbell focuses more on the little guy than on the big star. He does not get into mud slinging or the "A list" gossip. Instead he tells more about what the average Joe on a movie set has to do. Maybe this is because for much of his earlier stuff Campbell was that average Joe in addition to having a major role. The only thing that disappointed me with the book was that when I skimmed through the paperback copy at Barnes & Noble the other day, I found an additional chapter (20-30 pages) of new material. So if you pick up a copy of the book, and I highly recommend that you do so, then I suggest you pick up the paperback version instead.

If You Could See Me Now by Peter Straub

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Published February 1979 (Pocket Books paperback edition)
Finished reading it on January 15, 1982
unreviewed

The Ignored by Bentley Little

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Published June 1997 (Signet paperback edition)
Finished reading it on April 15, 2003
This story follows Bob Jones as he moves from his college life into the professional life and then quickly discovers that he is special because he is ignored. It's sort of a step above being invisible. He is there and can be seen by people but he is basically so ordinary and bland that he is forgotten soon after the event. Bob starts out using this to his advantage at work by being absent and no one notices, but then he escalates the process with robbery and destruction and eventually murder. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it but there are a few things about this novel that I want to mention. The first fifty pages or so are pretty slow moving and I was kind of wondering why but then as Bob starts to make his discovery of being ignored, I realized that it was necessary to first see how bland his life. The story then progressed fine but there was a missed opportunity in my mind. When the group of Ignored were at Familyland, there was another group of people hunting them. I was real interested in this other group and thought the story would follow the Ignored and their adversaries, but instead they were written off with a quick explanation near the end of the book. And speaking of the end of the book, the ending was just OK. It became a little weird with the whole other world that was introduced and I wish that it hadn't been part of it but it didn't ruin the story or anything. The big thing that I really liked though was how the story plays on the desire to leave a mark on the world, how no one wants to be forgotten or ignored after they are gone, let alone while they are still there. And how there are people out there that just blend into the background that you never really notice them. The whole story focuses on that and does so quite nicely.

Imajica by Clive Barker

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Published October 1992 (Harper Prism paperback edition)
Finished reading it on June 2, 1997
This is a massive novel! At over 850 pages of small type, it took me almost a month to finish it off, but it was definitely worth it! It's story weaves a tale around Gentle (a painter involved with forgery), Judith (his ex-lover) and the majic within the worlds. There are many characters, all of whom you've care for and about. You'll become involved in their lives and wonder how you had originally classified the person as a "bad guy" when they really are just misunderstood. As with most of Barker's later books, he creates whole new worlds where the mystical and amazing are common place and where the reader can be entertained and believe in this same creation. There is symbolism throughout much of the novel and although obvious, it doesn't quite slam you over the head. Instead it adds to the mythic feel of the journey through the Dominions. And it will show you some of the potential ramifications of being within certain social groups. If you are already of fan of Barker's WEAVEWORLD and other similar novels, then definitely don't miss this one. If you aren't a fan and you aren't scared by a large novel, then give it a try. I think that you'll find yourself becoming a fan before the end.

Implant by F. Paul Wilson

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Published December 1995 (paperback edition)
Finished reading it on January 19, 1998
I finished this a few days ago (my time) and now that I'm trying to write up a review, I'm not sure of what to say. I enjoyed the story and thought it was entertaining. But other than that I'm drawing a blank. Apparently it did not leave a super impact on me so that I would cheer its ability to scare me and thrill me. I think though that this is because it is more of a medical thriller than a scary story. I do enjoy medical thrillers and I do enjoy Wilson's work (see my review of REPRISAL), but rather than being in the mood for a medical mystery, I was hoping for something more. Something to shock and scare me, something on the edge. Not a novel in which the readers know who did it and the only question is how does the female lead figure it out and stop him. No, it wasn't a fault in marketing or a misleading cover, it was just the mood I was in. So it's a good book, but just be sure to be in the mood for it, unlike myself.

In Bloom by Paul Tremblay

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Published September 2023 (Amazon Original Stories ebook edition)
Finished reading it on December 30, 2023
unreviewed

In The Dark by Richard Laymon

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Published September 2001 (Leisure Books paperback edition)
Finished reading it on September 29, 2002
What else can I say about Laymon that has not already been said about him by others more qualified than I? He's a wonderful writer that creates involving and thrilling books that are almost impossible to put down unread. From the very first book of his that I read, The Stake, to this one, I end to stay up late reading "just a little more." IN THE DARK was no different in quality or my desire to ravage it in one sitting. Luckily it was thick enough to spread out over a few days. The story this time is about Jane Kerry who gets sent on a sort of Easter Egg hunt. Someone leaves her an envelope with $50 and a clue; the clue leads her to the next envelope. As the hunt continues the money increases but then so does the task to accomplish in order to find the envelope. It literally prompts the question "What would you do for money?" and "How much money?" It shows how being offered $3,200 to break into someone's house would be rejected but if you work your way up to breaking and entering, you would do it. So not only does Laymon provide a suspenseful story but he makes you think and wonder at what point you yourself might stop.

In The Flesh by Clive Barker

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Published January 1988 (Pocket Books paperback edition)
Finished reading it on February 1, 1991
unreviewed

In The Mood by Charles L. Grant

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Published January 1999 (Tor paperback edition)
Finished reading it on September 25, 2000
This is book two of Grant's Millennium Quartet; the first book is SYMPHONY. This time the horseman is Famine. The story focuses on John Bannock who is writing a book on serial killers who have been sitting on death row. However he is also dealing with some nasty dreams, the kidnapping of his son by his ex-wife, a fanatical preacher and some very weird in-laws. However despite all this potential, I found the book to be disappointing; it is not as good as the first in the series. Once again there are a lot of characters but this time there are few and an easier amount to deal with. There is very little mention of the horseman except in a very news stories and maybe mysteriously through Bannock's family. And almost no tie-in to the first novel. On the other hand, the last thirty pages or so could very easily be a lead up in to the next book and even more mysterious things. So I'm kind of mixed on the book. I can't really recommend it but then I can't discourage the reading of it. Just don't expect it to tie-in to an idea of a Millennium Quartet very much. The marketing spin of these four books appears to not be a very viable spin.

in the night room by Peter Straub

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Published March 2006 (Ballantine Books paperback edition)
Finished reading it on April 23, 2010
One of the positives about recurring characters across novels is that they are familiar and to a degree, you know what to expect. Repairman Jack, Burke, Aloysius Pendergast (to name a few) all bring along their own cast and a story style that you can expect and love. Straub doesn't quite give us that. Instead, with Straub's Tim Underhill we have a mystery writer whose world is often blurry around the edges. Weird things happen that serve to bring you further into the novel. IN THE NIGHT ROOM gives you plenty of that. The story is a continuation of LOST BOY, LOST GIRL; the events in that book greatly impact the events in this book. Underhill is still haunted by his nephew's disappearance and is trying to deal with the events. In a similar manner, Willy Bryce Patrick is having problems dealing with the death of her family and the changes it created. The two story lines build steadily until the middle of the book where the meet with a chapter that left me shocked. I had to flip back to the first half of the book and read key sections again to make sure I understood the full ramifications. I don't want to ruin the surprise but you can trust me in knowing that it was amazing. The single story line continues on a good pace and finishes nicely; not as amazingly as the middle but still in a beautiful manner. Straub's writing is always poetic and visual and so much fun to read. You can't go wrong. My only suggestion would be to read or reread LOST BOY, LOST GIRL before starting this book. It will improve the experience of both books.

In This Skin by Simon Clark

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Published June 2004 (Leisure Books paperback edition)
Finished reading it on October 11, 2013
IN THIS SKIN is a perfectly good book that does a nice job of getting the story and chills across. Unfortunately the story didn't quite gel with me. It felt off; I was not pulled into the characters or story enough to really become invested in the book. The Luxor Dance Hall stands outside of Chicago, in a mostly abandoned area. The building is rundown and deserted, a far cry from its heyday as a dance club for alternative bands. However, the building is not that deserted as people are still pulled there to experience something. And not everyone leaves. Benedict West has tracked his ex-girlfriend to the building but it turns out that she never left it. Ellery Hann and a pregnant Robyn Vincent decide to live there when their home life becomes too hard. Together the three of them face forces and mystical creatures while discovering the truth. As I mentioned previously though, the story didn't quite gel. It wasn't one thing in particular because I know that I've read crazier stories. It's just that things did not feel right. Maybe it was because Clark had set the story in America instead of his native England; kind of like he was setting it in Chicago but all he knew about Chicago was what he read online. Note that I have no idea if Clark has ever visited the Chicago area or not; I'm just trying to explain how the story felt off. VAMPYRRHIC had mood! Despite some chilly moments, IN THIS SKIN did not. The book is entertaining and enjoyable. It is not Clark's best though and not something that I would recommend as a starting point for him.

Incarnations by Clive Barker

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Published December 1995 (Eos hardcover edition)
Finished reading it on November 16, 1997
This book is actually a collection of three plays that Clive Barker did early on in his career. The plays are well-done and contain the same feel that much of the stories from the Books of Blood contain. That is to say that Barker's raw talent in its full grisliness comes through without as much fantasy as his later novels have taken. This might just be though because these are plays and thus written differently than novels. I'm not sure; I'm usually a novel reader and not a play reader. However, I have gone to numerous productions and I know that I would love to see any of these three plays produced. My personal favorite was "Colossus", a story revolving around, at least peripherally, the painter Francisco Goya Y Lucientes. I would also think that this would be the easiest of the three to bring to the stage. "The History Of The Devil" was my next favorite and it would have been my first except for the ending. I thought that it was a little weak, but then again it wasn't the Hollywood ending which I am glad for. Finally, "Frankenstein In Love" brings up the rear. Strangely enough this was the story that I had the highest hopes for based completely of the title, which just goes to prove the old adage "You can't judge a book by its cover", or its title. You can judge this one by its author though and it is good.

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

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Published June 2024 (Random House Audio audiobook edition)
Finished reading it on July 31, 2024
unreviewed

Incredible Hulk: What Savage Beast by Peter David

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Published July 1996 (Berkley paperback edition)
Finished reading it on October 31, 1998
A totally awesome book! Peter David once more displays his talent for perfectly capturing a character and making the reader an active part of the character's life. Here he takes a character that he has been working with for over a decade in the comic books and he adds new dimensions to him. I kept up with the series completely and this was all new stuff but it fit perfectly into the time frame. And like all of David's work, it fits perfectly into the character's reality and doesn't make you think of how stupid it is or how unrealistic. He ties in old threads with new ones and creates a story that leaves a big impact. There was one point during the story that I couldn't help myself and started crying; the tears slowly rolled down my cheeks as I kept reading. I absolutely recommend it to everyone!!

Incredible Shrinking Man by Richard Matheson

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Published April 1995 (Tor paperback edition)
Finished reading it on August 1, 1998
This is one of those stories that I've been meaning to read for a long time; it's a classic story, well known, movie made of it yet I had never read it before. And to make the whole thing even better, it turns out to be a collection of stories all of which are really good, and some even famous. All the stories are a little dated but each of them still hold up and are very enjoyable. The title story is very exciting and although you might think that it would get boring fast, it doesn't. The suspense and new experiences carry on through the entire story. The collection then goes to the famous Twilight Zone episode of "Terror at 20,000 Feet" starring William Shatner. This is much better than the show. And then the other famous story "Duel" was Steven Spielberg's first film. The one came as a pleasant surprise that Matheson wrote it. I had seen the movie and already considered it a favorite but nothing that Matheson wrote it also and that I was about to read it, made it that much better. Don't pass these stories up, even if you've seen the adaptations; you'll enjoy them!

Incubi by Edward Lee

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Published February 2005 (Necro Publications paperback edition)
Finished reading it on November 22, 2008
There were parts of this book that I really liked and other parts that were tedious to get through. Fortunately the tedious parts weren't that frequent. They were key to the story but I tired of them quickly. Give me a moment and I'll explain what I mean. The story follows Police Captain Jack Cordesman as he investigates the first of several gruesome murders. These murders aren't the run of the mill gruesome as done by some psychopath; instead they are extremely ritualistic with a definite purpose. Add to this that he is barely holding on after burning himself out on previous murder cases. Plus his artist girlfriend broke up with him and went on an artist retreat hosted by a rich foreigner named Khoronos. Before long we the readers figure out the obvious that Khoronos is behind everything. Now for what annoyed me. The murders and the investigations and everything from that side of the fence was great. It was the conversation at the artist retreat. Everything was "Art is passion." or "Experience leads to opening your mind." or "Transposition is at the heart of everything." All the type of artistic philosophy that tries to justify itself and make itself into more than it is. I can look at the story and see exactly why it was needed and how it contributed to the plot. And I don't see how it could have been written without doing the same thing. But it also doesn't mean that I necessarily enjoyed those sections. Overall I liked the book and thought it was one of Lee's better books, making it even more impressive that the book is a reprint from when it was originally published in 1991. It just goes to show that Lee has always been extremely talented and none of his stuff should be missed.

Indelible by Karin Slaughter

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Published July 2004 (William Morrow hardcover edition)
Finished reading it on February 16, 2006
Here Slaughter continues her tale of Sara Linton and Jeffrey Tolliver in Grant County, Georgia. While not quite as good as the two previous novels in the shared reality, I think that had more to do with the flashback nature of the book than the story. The novel jumps back and forth between present day and the past when Sara and Jeffrey first started dating. The transitions made sense and there was a clear reason why the past should have been told but from a big picture perspective, it's a little harder to get into these types of books. Sure, you're filling in back story on characters and flushing them out but at the same time there is a degree where we know how things are going to end up and thereby eliminating any surprise. Sometimes this can be used to the reader's advantage by building up more feeling for the characters. That really wasn't done here. It is still a good novel and I plan on following Sara and Jeffrey for as long as Slaughter keeps writing about them but this wasn't one where she was at the top of her game. On a different note, for the small town that they live in, there is an awful lot of really bad stuff that happens there. Just like not wanting to be friends with the "Murder She Wrote" woman, I would not want to live here.

Indigo by Graham Joyce

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Published September 2001 (Pocket Books paperback edition)
Finished reading it on April 10, 2003
Joyce keeps writing fabulous books. This is another one that I found totally engrossing and rich and could barely put down. The story follows Jack Chambers as the executor of his estranged father's will. As he reluctantly starts the process he learns that he must publish his father's manuscript "Invisibility: A Manual of Light." He also meets his half sister whom he has more than sisterly feelings for. Together they search for the unknown woman who will inherit most of the estate while simultaneously being wrapped up in the search for the color indigo and the ability to be invisible. As in other Joyce novels, his characters are extremely three dimensional and real; their actions and speech flow smoothly and create an elusive yet off-kilter atmosphere throughout the book. This really helps get across the obsession of the deceased father to see indigo. As a basis for a lot of the story, Joyce focuses on the "controversy" around indigo and how it may or may not be a true color. There is discussion of where it does not fit into the spectrum nor does it qualify as a primary (red, yellow, blue) or secondary (orange, green, violet) color. It was a bit freaky at times to read the story and realize that parts of it are true. And then to compound things, it really sounds as if the eye exercises recommended in the father's manuscript could lead you to see things that are outside the normal range of seeing. A creepy concept done in a very engaging manner. Definitely a thumbs up and a good read!

Infernal by F. Paul Wilson

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Published September 2006 (Tor Books paperback edition)
Finished reading it on January 1, 2008
One of the ways to identify a good writer is to still be interested in the characters and events in his book even when not much is happening. And to a degree, not much happens in INFERNAL. It's another Repairman Jack story but he doesn't fix anything in the whole book. He's not confronted by a bad guy. And he only briefly goes on the offensive. For someone that plans everything and hates being stuck in a responsive mode, this is something new for Jack. All of this is not to say nothing happens at all. Lives are threatened, mysterious events occur and people die. The black cloud continues to hang over Jack's life and the lives of his family and loved ones. Additionally Jack finally accepts what he has been told: there are no more coincidences in his life. As a result he begins to attribute the actions of the last three books to plans by The Other. All told INFERNAL is another excellent chapter in the life of Repairman Jack and should not be missed. If you're already a fan though, chances are you've read or plan to read the book soon.

Infernally Yours edited by GAK

Published 2009 (Necro Publications signed, numbered, and limited to 450 copies hardcover edition)
Finished reading it on February 2, 2012
unreviewed

Infernal Angel by Edward Lee

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Published June 2003 (Cemetery Dance Publications hardcover edition)
Finished reading it on November 07, 2005
You kind of knew that a sequel was coming after CITY INFERNAL. After all the well deserved acclaim for the novel and the ending with the main character still alive, the situation was ripe for the plucking. INFERNAL ANGEL does a smash up job of competing with the original but like most sequels it was off just slightly. Some part of the story didn't resonate quite as clearly as the original. Maybe it was that we had seen Mephistopolis once before so it wasn't quite new; however most of the action takes place outside of the city so Mephistopolis not being new probably isn't it. Maybe it was that when Walter was introduced you just knew he was going to be a Etherean; OK, I'll admit that the whole Walter or his brother thing had me fooled as to who was getting the power but I knew one of them would be. Maybe it was the time machine that Lucifer was able to create to go back and screw with history was a little too much, a weird thought considering how much of the novel was about excess. Whatever it was, this novel wasn't quite as engaging. It's still a novel that I would recommend due to the fun and chaos that Lee infuses it with but lower your expectations slightly when comparing it to CITY INFERNAL.

The Inheritance by Christopher Stires

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Published March 2003 (Zumaya Publications paperback edition)
Finished reading it on March 15, 2008
When I read the back cover of the book to get a basic idea of the book, I formed some perceptions of what would happen and where the book would go. These perceptions were broken about twenty pages into the book. It ended up being much more action packed than I thought it was going to be. The idea is pretty simple: Jess Claiborne inherits from his uncle a box that will grant Jess any wish he wants. Similar to "The Monkey's Paw", the wish is not always granted without some sort of catch or negative aspect. Before Jess can really start taking advantage of his inheritance, he becomes involved with The Meridian, a secret organization that wants the secrets of the box. The rest of the story involves kidnappings, mind games, old friends and a powerful creature. The book is very fast moving and a good read. Like me, you'll probably find yourself not wanting to put it down. There were two issues that I had with the book. The first was Jess's Aunt Temple who is a little too convenient with when she shows up and what forces she can gather up. She should have been written a little more human and not with quite the capabilities she had. The second was the mysterious creature that was included. I'm not exactly sure why it was included because everything it accomplished could have been done in a way more aligned with the story. Instead this being was introduced and sort of used as an easy way out. It wasn't so unbelievable that I rolled my eyes or anything but it was one of those things where I went "I suppose you could do that." Nothing to stop me from highly recommending the book to you though.

The Inhuman Condition by Clive Barker

Published August 1987 (Pocket Books paperback edition)
Finished reading it on August 1, 1990
unreviewed

The Innswich Horror by Edward Lee

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Published 2010 (Cemetery Dance Publications hardcover signed, numbered and limited to 652 copies edition)
Finished reading it on September 30, 2014
While I acquired and read this book due to being a fan of Edward Lee, it would have been more appropriate for me to do so as a fan of H.P. Lovecraft instead. The book has more in common with Lovecraft than with Lee. It is a quasi-sequel from Lovecraft's THE SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH, very similar in idea to when Robert McCammon wrote USHER'S PASSING as a sequel/continuation from Edgar Allen Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher". The story takes place in 1939 and follows Foster Morley, a rich and bored young man who is a huge fan of H.P. Lovecraft. Morley wants to follow Lovecraft's footsteps, literally: going where Lovecraft went, seeing what Lovecraft saw. Along this journey, Morley finds a town that Lovecraft visited and which turns out to be the basis for THE SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH. Morley stays in town and explores. During this time he discovers a town filled with numerous beautiful and pregnant women. With his sense of adventure and mystery piqued, Morley stays to determine what is truly happening in this town. I found the story entertaining and enjoyable; unfortunately I did not find it quite as engaging as I would like. The only reason that I could think of as to why not would be that the story is very much in the Lovecraftian style. Although I enjoy Lovecraft and the mythos he created, I'm also not a huge fan of him. And Lee did an incredible job of writing THE INNSWICH HORROR in the Lovecraft style. It's obvious that Lee has done his resource or is a big Lovecraft fan. Or even both! Bottom line, if you are a fan of Lovecraft, you should read this book. If you are a fan of Lee, this book is good and shows his abilities but it is not over-the-top violent or sexy. It instead displays his dedication as a H.P. Lovecraft fan.

Insomnia by Stephen King

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Published December 1995 (Signet paperback edition)
Finished reading it on February 17, 1998
This novel reminded me of Stephen King's earlier work. Much of his later stuff has focused less on the supernatural and more on the abnormal activities of people at large. This time though it involved ordinary people, Ralph Roberts, mixing it up with extraordinary things. No, it is not contain the pure horror THE SHINING and yes, it does sort of feel like IT when I look back at the story, but it is still an exciting read. I found myself repeatedly marveling at the wonders which Ralph was experiencing and wishing that I could have the same happen to me. Until it started getting nasty and then I am perfectly happy staying where I am. The events in the story also complete themselves by coming around to the beginning again; meaning things which initiate trouble at the beginning of the novel and which are forgotten come back and are actually the source of the solution. This is especially true of the ending which is both sad and uplifting.

The Institute by Stephen King

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Published September 2019 (Simon & Schuster Audio audiobook edition)
Finished reading it on March 30, 2025
unreviewed

Intensity by Dean R. Koontz

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Published November 1996 (Ballantine Books paperback edition)
Finished reading it on December 06, 1998
Well, I hate to rip on yet another novel by Koontz, but unfortunately I must. This time I will give him at least part of the benefit of the doubt and blame my boredom with the story on also having seen the TV movie of it. I half remembered what was going to be happening and thus was only half reading it, just enough to remind myself of what was going to happen. Even still, there were major sections, pages, that I skipped because they were very boring. I realize that they were supposed to be setting the scene and giving background info on the characters, but I have found that Koontz will often editorialize his backgrounds by stating how much bad things happen in society and how people are getting worse. It is either that or talk about how the character has fought past the odds and overwhelmed the bad things that has happened to her in the past. It's all fine and good but not for me. Fortunately I only have one more book of his to read (TICKTOCK) and then no more Koontz for me. I hope others can enjoy him though.

Interrogator and Other Criminally Good Fiction, The edited by Ed Gorman and Martin H. Greenberg

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27 short stories by such authors as Lee Child, Joyce Carol Oates, David Morrell, Bill Pronzini
Published March 2013 (Cemetery Dance Publications paperback edition)
Finished reading it on September 16, 2024
A very good collection of crime and suspense stories. More than my usual amount of favorites!
"The Interrogator" by David Morrell - How to wait for answers.

"Section 7(A) Operational" by Lee Child - The team gets together for an operation.

"Trade Secret" by Bill Pronzini - Retired but one last job after retirement.

"The Vengeance of Kali" by David Dean - A stolen statue leads to danger.

"Winning Ticket" by Christine Matthews - Nicknames spoil a payout.

"What People Leave Behind" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch - An investigation into a house being blown up.

"The Return of Inspiration" by Tom Piccirilli - A man hits a club for some new ideas.

Into The Fire by Richard Laymon

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Published July 2006 (Leisure Books paperback edition)
Finished reading it on January 29, 2008
This is a solidly entertaining and enjoyable book. I don't feel that it is one of Laymon's better novels but it is a fun read. The book starts by following two people down different paths. Pamela has her life completely turned upside down when an obsessed classmate from high school breaks into her house, kills her husband and then kidnaps her. Norman has his life completely turned around when a weird hitchhiker plops himself into Norman's car and insists on a ride. As the book progresses you know their two lives will intersect; the only question becomes where and how. Unfortunately there are a few too many amazing coincidences that happen along the way. A mysterious benefactor shows up at just the right moment for Pamela. A stranger knowingly helps Norman escape from the police despite knowing it won't go well. Maybe if we were to find out more about either character, it would have been acceptable. But instead they stay a convenient mechanism to move the story along. Then in the second half of the book when Pamela and Norman meet up, the town they end up in has a secret. A secret that is painfully obvious to the readers. It's also one that a lot of weight is put upon the secret but at the same time no effects are felt from it. Looking back at the book again, there were a few more flaws than I originally thought. Hell, it's still a fun read but probably not one I would highly recommend.

Invisible Fences by Norman Prentiss

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Published May 2010 (Cemetery Dance Publications hardcover signed, numbered and limited to 750 copies edition)
Finished reading it on April 13, 2008
unreviewed

Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk

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Published 1999 (W.W. Norton & Company paperback edition)
Finished reading it on June 26, 2004
After reading two other books by Palahniuk, I knew pretty much what to expect going into this book: an offbeat story that is tackled from different directions with characters doing extremely weird things, all of which will cause you to think about something. Well, it didn't quite live up to expectations. Everything from the sentence before is included in the book but the characterizations just didn't do it for me. I had a hard time identifying with the main characters and the actions that they were taking. In the end they came off as being whiny and annoying rather than interesting. I also was frustrated at times at the extremely non-linear approach to the story telling. I can deal with flashbacks and even flashbacks inside of flashbacks, but this had no order to it at all. At first it was kind of cool and interesting but it got boring and more tedious than anything else. It just emphasized that it didn't really matter when in the timeline you were looking at these characters; they were always just the same. In the end I'm going to withhold any recommendation for or against this book. Take your own chances.

Invitation to Death by Bryan Smith

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Published December 2020 (Fireside Horror audiobook edition)
Finished reading it on November 5, 2022
unreviewed

Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

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Published June 1993 (paperback edition)
Finished reading it on November 23, 1996
I'm not exactly sure how to start this review. Let's say that this is not like most books that I would read. I actually received it as a gift. It is a book that will make you think and will teach you something different than what you most likely were taught while maturing/growing up. However I think that the approach and ideas carried out were done very patronizingly. I felt like the book treated me as an idiot who needed to have these ideas hammered in. Basically the pretense of the book is that modern culture is headed for disaster since it has considered itself separate from evolution. This involves pointing out how big the ego which society has is, something I already knew. There is much more to it than that, including why, how and what to do to avoid it but I won't elaborate. It is a good book and it will make you look at things differently. However I did not really like the way it grabbed me by the nose and pulled me along.

Island by Richard Laymon

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Published March 2002 (Leisure Books paperback edition)
Finished reading it on April 30, 2003
Laymon's novels continue to amaze and engross me. Not only are they entertaining but they are extremely well written and are almost impossible to put down. I always end up staying awake to the wee hours of the morning, trying to read just a little more before going to sleep. It is really sad that Laymon died and no longer producing new work. Luckily he had a large store of material that is now getting reprinted in the US. ISLAND involves a father, mother, their three grown daughters and their respective husbands/date that get shipwrecked and stuck on a island. As it quickly becomes apparent, their being trapped was actually not an accident and involves much more. And as the story unfolds for us, it becomes more scary and creepy. And then the ending, that gave me chills. Totally unexpected but making perfect sense. Expect everything in this novel that is normal for a Laymon novel: sex, violence, chills and rich characterization. ISLAND is one of his stronger books.

Island Funeral by Keith Minnion

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Published April 2011 (Cemetery Dance Publications chapbook signed and limited to 750 copies edition)
Finished reading it on May 22, 2014
I got this chapbook because I had some credit with Cemetery Dance that was about to expire and I had to spend it on something. This story, as well as some ebooks, looked interesting and thus were purchased. And I'm very glad that I did. The story was solid, well-done and interesting. It pulled me in very quickly. The story follows Tim Moser as he completes his wife's wish: to be buried in the family plot. He goes back to her hometown, meeting her family and dealing with a difficult situation. A difficult situation that we immediately feel while reading the chapbook. The mood is set from the very first page and continues the entire time. Minnion does an excellent job of keeping that dread and somber mood going. Even when circumstances change halfway through, that feeling continues. My biggest regret is that the title of the chapbook foreshadows for part of what happens at the end. Not everything but it lets you know where to focus your increasing apprehension. I feel that a different title would have left a larger impact. Either way though, it was a great story. And I look forward to reading Minnion's novel THE BONE WORMS.

It by Stephen King

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Published September 1987 (Signet paperback edition)
Finished reading it on September 1, 1990
unreviewed

It Came From The Drive-In edited by Norman Partridge and Martin H. Greenberg

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Published February 1996 (paperback edition)
Finished reading it on April 25, 1999
This is an excellent collection of stories that successfully capture the feel of going to the drive-in. OK, I'll admit that I'm at the age where I'm old enough to remember going to the drive-in all the time as a kid but too young to have gone during the height of the B-movies. So maybe I don't know the "real" feel of it but either way this collection is great. The stories are fun, monster movies, exciting aliens and a good time by all! Almost every single one become a favorite that I would like to list. Definitely read this collection so that you won't miss the favorites I've narrowed it down to such as ...
"10585" by Sean A. Moore - An alien tries to take over at a local drive-in

"The Yellers of Their Eyes" by Tia Travis - The famous jackalopes strike a small town in the wild west

"The Thing From Lover's Lane" by Nancy A. Collins - An ancient evil attempts to escape its prison and curse

"The Good, The Bad and The Danged" by Adam-Troy Castro - A cowboy takes on a supreme power in the wild west

"The Slobbering Tongue That Ate The Frightfully Huge Woman" by Robert Devereaux - An erotic, lustful tale of a gigantic woman and her needs

"Plan 10 From Inner Space" by Karl Edward Wagner - A pure homage tale to all the B-movies out there done by a true master

It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman

Purchase it here
Published September 2023 (Amazon Original Stories ebook edition)
Finished reading it on December 21, 2023
unreviewed

Send comments or your opinions on these books to mike@kazba.com.

books starting with 'i'

Last modified on October 21, 2018