Zombie infestation? You may want this manual!

Posted by JPWilder on

I don’t talk a lot about Zombies on this blog. But, I want to assure everyone that it is not because I don’t love zombie books and zombie stories.  In fact, zombies are a staple of gothic and horror fiction.  Obviously Mary Shelley’s famous zombie (though some might argue with me that he is a true zombie) Frankenstiein’s monster is the quintessential Gothic monster.  He has been the genesis of a thousand stories since then.

In the old days, Zombies represented the futility of humanity’s hubric trek to be gods.  They are the ultimate culmination of the futile pursuit of the God-power–determining life over death (or simply the Creation power). Even in much of today’s story telling, it represents the same thing.  One has to look no further than the wildly successful franchise, Resident Evil for that comparison.

But more and more, it is a subliminal attack on the state of our corporate culture.  Modern zombie masters are painting a bleak comparison between the walking dead—mindless creatures that pursue the simple act of eating for survival—to the millions of us walking the treadmill to work each day to work in a cube, faceless, nameless and pursing an existence of subsitence. The likeness is stunning.

But, I wanted to talk about surviving today.  Last week, I received a tweet from someone that I am following.  He has a website named Last Man(s) on Earth. It is really a well-made and fun video-tutorial on how to survive a zombie attack and infestation.

I found it pretty cool. I don’t think you want to employ the techniques in your daily commute when you find yourself among all the zombies driving the 405 freeway, but its fun nonetheless.   The creativity and thought that went into the survival manual only makes you appreciate it that much more.  I recommend you take a look.

Anyway, check it out. And when you come back, I’ll keep the lantern lit.

Vampires of a New Ilk: Blood Destiny

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Read Blood Destiny by Tessa Dawn.  I think you will find it everything you want in a Vamp book.

Many moons ago, I downloaded a book for my kindle called Blood Destiny, written by Tessa Dawn.  I only recently read it (my reading list is entirely too long).  I must tell you that on my first blush, I was worried that it would be another one of these 21st century goodie-two shoes vampire stories.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Although the vampires are not what I would say are typical, Gothic, Dracula types, the story has its share of good old dark, and Gothic Material.  What’s more, the characters lure you in.  You find yourself involved with them before you are aware what really  happened.

If you like vampires, this is a good story for you.  I would suggest you download it and take a read.  It is an engrossing tale, and you will find yourself entrenched with all of the players.   Better yet, this is only the first book in the set. More are coming.

If you’re interested, take a look a the website, here.  I recommend it.

Until next time, i’ll keep the lantern lit.

Gothic Quotations: Jonathon Harker’s Journal #5: Sherlock Holmes on the Moor

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For those that think that the Gothic is limited to writings of horror, take a look at this quote from the famous Sherlock Holmes thriller, The Hound of The Baskervilles.  Description, setting and mood don’t get much more Gothic than this wonderful piece of writing:

“…A dull and foggy day with a drizzle of rain. The house is banked in with rolling clouds, which rise now and then to show the dreary curves of the moor, with thin, silver veins upon the sides of the hills, and the distant boulders gleaming where the light strikes upon their wet faces. It is melancholy outside and in. The baronet is in a black reaction after the excitements of the night. I am conscious myself of a weight at my heart and a feeling of impending danger–ever present danger, which is the more terrible because I am unable to define it.”

—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle…

But then again, maybe it isn’t that Sherlock Holmes is just a famous Who Dunnit.  Maybe, just maybe there is a bit of horror there too.

So…please don’t go on the moor tonight without your service revolver by your side.

 

 

 

And if you do…well, I’ll keep the lantern lit.

Blogs to Visit: An interesting interview with Teresa Frohok.

Posted by JPWilder on

So, surfing and tweeting last night, I happened across this pretty cool blog called The Qwillery.  check it out here. I think you will find it  a fun blog site, and some pretty insightful reviews.

In particular, their blog this week was an interview with Teresa Frohok, the author of Miserere: an Autumn Tale, by Nightshade books.

Now, I haven’t read the book, but the interview and the excerpts look interesting. I found Ms. Frohok pretty compelling. I plan on getting the book and seeing whats what.

Anyhoo, I thought you might be interested in the blog–all you aspiring writers out there might learn a little, just as I did.

I plan on going back to The Qwillery Soon, and seeing what else might be there.

As always, if  you’re interested in my writing, click here.

Come back soon.  I’ll keep the lantern lit.

Gothic Quotations: Jonathon Harker’s Journal #4: Wisdom From a Mad Doctor

Posted by JPWilder on

Commentary on human nature and our endless pursuits and their inevitable conclusion in our mortality from Doc Frankenstein.

After witnessing the results of his experiment, the good doctor comments on his mad pursuit of that which (in the end) should be left to nature and the creator:

The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature. I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardor that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart. Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room.

-Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

If your interested in my writing, click here.  Come back soon. 

I’ll keep a lantern lit.