Reading Journal
 | At The Bottom Of The Garden by Camilla Bruce Finished on Nov 22, 2025 Horror (?). Copyright 2025. 368 pages. Two special girls are taken in by their murderess aunt. Quickly they discover her hidden secrets. This book could be more scary and fraught with peril, it just isn't. But it is still an engrossing story and fast read. 3/5 stars. |
 | Phaid The Gambler by Mick Farren Finished on Nov 16, 2025 Science Fiction. Copyright 1981. 296 pages. Re-read. Book #1 in the Song of Phaid The Gambler. A two-part novel about the aimless wandering adventures of Phaid The Gambler. I remember this book being exciting and fast, but it does not hold up. The first half is the most interesting and science fictional. The second half could be anywhere and is rather disappointing. Still love the cover though. 3/5 stars. |
 | Interview With The Vampire by Ann Rice Finished on Nov 14, 2025 Horror. Copyright 1976. 346 pages. The confessions of a New Orleans vampire told to a young interviewer. This developed into a very interesting story after a slow start. But definitely not that scary and now rather dated compared to more recent vampire mythology. 3/5 stars. |
 | The Elementals by Michael McDowell Finished on Oct 14, 2025 Horror. Copyright 1981. 292 pages. Three Victorian summer houses as ornate and grandose as they are out-of-place on a remote spit of land between the Gulf and a fetid marsh. Two of the houses are still used by long allied families from nearby Mobile. The third is ramshackle and filled with sand and a vicous evil that shapes nightmares and plots bloody murder. 5/5 stars. |
 | Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson Finished on Oct 2, 2025 Science Fiction. Copyright 1996. 671 pages. The further continuation of the story of the First 100 Martians some 150 years into their future. I found this book rather boring and had some difficulty finishing it, although once I focused I read the last half in two days. It does have some interesting points, but is very high on detailed narration and low on action. 3/5 stars. |
 | The Woman In Black by Susan Hill Finished on Sep 7, 2025 Horror. Copyright 1983. 138 pages. An excellent story of a secluded house and the surrounding countryside haunted by a malevolent spirit. 5/5 stars. |
 | Seven Empty Houses by Samanta Schweblin Finished on Sep 4, 2025 Horror. Copyright 2015. 208 pages. Short Stories. Not the haunted house stories I was expecting. Just house related weird stories. 2/5 stars. |
 | The Spiral Labyrinth: A Tale Of Henghis Hapthorn by Matthew Hughes Finished on Aug 28, 2025 Fantasy. Copyright 2007. 210 pages. Book #2 of the "Henghis Hapthorn" series, following "Majestrum". This is an excellent expansion of a short story into a novel about a sentient, magic using fungus from centuries in the future hunting the Nine Planes for a barely remembered 'Apthorn. 4/5 stars. |
 | Antimatter Blues by Edward Ashton Finished on Jul 27, 2025 Science Fiction. Copyright 2023, 320 pages. Sequel to "Mickey 7". An entertaining follow-up to the original novel. Decent story. 3/5 stars. |
 | Searching For The Fleet by Kristine Kathryn Rusch Finished on Jul 10, 2024 Science Fiction. Copyright 2018, 426 pages. Book 7 in the Diving Universe. A curious fix-up novel with some back story and connections to the last two books and a small hint of what will come. 4/5 stars. |
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