A SASQUATCH, AN ALIEN, AND A DEMON WALK INTO A BAR

 

A SASQUATCH, AN ALIEN, AND A DEMON WALK INTO A BAR

Ghost Squad 2

By Darryle Purcell

Digital Parchment Press

193 pgs

 

In this second Ghost Squad adventure, unemployed Arizona newshound, Mike Scott, is once again plagued by his ability to see ghosts. In particular the ghosts of old Hollywood stars; all of them led by the original swashbuckler of the silent screen, Douglas Fairbank. Our story opens with Fairbanks appearing and announcing Mike, and his wife Betty, will soon be visited by a California Sasquatch named Bob who needs his their help urgently. 

When the eight-foot hairy Bob arrives, it is with a tale of alien invasion by ten-foot green worms in the mountains of California. Whereas Sasquatch can see and communicate with ghosts, the ethereal undead are of no help when it comes to fighting aliens. What they need are real live people to help confront and defeat the big bugs. Mike and his wife reluctantly agree to answer the call. Once in the high country, they soon recruit and old Vietnam Vet named Tom and a beautiful saloon owner named Red to their cause. Their initial plan is to locate the alien spaceship and proceed from there. Along the way, they discover a second threat in that of a giant alligator like demon traveling the woods devouring any unfortunate hiker in its path. Suddenly our heroes have two nightmarish threats to deal with. 

What we’ve always loved about Purcell’s tales is just how outlandish they are. Just when you think he couldn’t possibly come up with a more bizarre plot and characters, he does just that. And he does it with so much flair and humor, the reader is swept along for the ride enjoying every bloody minute of it. This latest book is no exception.

CAPTAIN NEMO - The Fantastid Adventures of a Dark Genius

 

CAPTAIN NEMO

The Fantastic Adventures of a Dark Genius

By Kevin J. Anderson

Titan Books

462 pages

 

We loved this book written in the style of the grand adventures of old. What Kevin Anderson has done is imagine that Jules Verne’s fictional character was in fact a real person named Andre Nemo. He and Jules grew up as boys in the village of Nantes France and were bosom buddies. Each dreamed of exploring the wide world when adults and having amazing adventures. Also involved in these fantasies is a local young miss named Caroline Arronax whom both boys love deeply.

 

Right from the start the boy Verne is a timid soul unlike Nemo, a reckless youth eager to plunge into whatever lies ahead. And so, fate conspires to separate them when Nemo becomes a cabin boy aboard a British ship and leaves both Verne and Caroline behind. From that point on, Nemo’s life becomes one series of fantastical adventures after another. From surviving a pirate attack, being stranded on a mysterious island and discovering a world beneath the earth’s crust. All the while back in France, Verne is failing miserably at becoming a successful author and meekly submitting to his father’s wishes to study law.

 

As the narrative moves along, years later Nemo returns and regales both Verne and Caroline with tales of his exploits. Still restless, he soon sets off again. Meanwhile, Verne is inspired to use Nemo’s stories as the plots for his fiction. It is these books that gain him success far beyond his own imaginations. Yet he remains unable to escape his fantasy prison. Meanwhile Nemo ends up in the middle of the Crimean War riding into battle with the famous Light Brigade and later encounters nurse Florence Nightingale. 

The genius of Anderson’s book is that he purposely lays the map Andre Nemo’s life against the backdrop of Jules Verne’s popular classics. He peppers supporting characters with names any reader will instantly recognize and mixes these fictional players with historical figures. Over the years, many, many writers have given us multiple versions of Captain Nemo in books, comics, and movies. Some nearly unrecognizable from Verne’s original. Whereas in this book, Anderson has given us one of the most endearing, complex and sensitive heroes to wear that name. 

“Captain Nemo – The Fantastic Adventures of a Dark Genius” is a pure delight and writing masterpiece.

DEPARTURE DAY - Biker 11

 

DEPARTURE DAY

Biker Book 11

By Mike Baron

Wolfpack Publishing

336 pgs

 

What we’ve always appreciated about Mike Baron, whether writing prose shorts, novels or comic scripts, is that he remains topical. It’s as if Baron assimilates the culture around him. He absorbs all its high points and in the same regard all its lunacy. That gift is on display in “Departure Day,” the eleventh book in his series featuring reformed biker, Josh Pratt. 

A summary history on the protagonist as follows. He grew up without a mother and a killer for a father. He got involved with biker gangs at a young age and ended up in prison. There he was saved by a charismatic pastor who brought him to Jesus and salvation. A pardon from the governor, at the pastor’s recommendation, then led to a free ex-con becoming a private investigator/summons server. Over the next nine books, Josh found himself making atonement for his early life by helping others; some of these souls in desperate straits. The stories were fast-paced thrillers and through them, Josh suffered victories and a few brutal loses. 

With this latest, and what feels like a finale, Josh is about to get married for the first time to his movie-making dancer fiancé. A few months prior a young man named Dolan appears on his doorstep claiming to be his son. Their physical resemblance is enough to convince Josh. Dolan’s mother was one of his old flames from his sordid past who has died leaving the seventeen-year-old an orphan. The second surprise is the lad is not only intelligent, he has maturity with a great deal of character and integrity. The more Josh gets to know his son, the more he is impressed and vows to be the best father he can be, whatever that entails. He has a lot to make up for. 

It's at this point when Dolan informs him that the apartment building he and his late mother resided, has been invaded by members of the Venezuelan outlaw, Tren de Aragua. They are driving out the regular tenants and using the building to sell their drugs and turn young girls into sex-slaves. Whereas Dolan managed to escape them, he left behind several old military veterans among the tenants held hostage. He worries for their safety. Can Josh help to get them out of that place? 

It seems like a simple enough question, but Josh knows better. Which is where Baron’s book launches off the narrative platform like a space-bound Nasa rocket. How Josh Pratt, not only manages to free these men and then later an entire building complex is an incredible and brilliantly told adventure. From start to finish, “Departure Day” is like nothing this reviewer has ever read before. The settings are real, the issues examined timely and the action non-stop. This may be the last Josh Pratt yarn. If that’s the case, then we want to tell you, it ends on a rousing, all cheering high note. Do not miss this one!