Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready

Ciara Griffin comes from a family of con artists, at the top of her game up until she decided to live straight and get a real job. Desperate for a summer internship so she can complete College, Ciara manages to land a position at local radio station WMMP. Broadcasting syndicated talk shows and paid programs during the day, it's only at night when the station truly "comes alive," when a group of eccentric DJs play music from the forties through to the nineties. Not only do they know their genres inside out, they seem to fully embrace the time in which the music was released, using lingo and dressing accordingly, as if they were scooped out of that time period into the present day.

Which is essentially the case. You see, every DJ is in fact a vampire, stuck forever within the cultural time period in which they were turned. Aside from following standard vampire conventions regarding sunlight, crosses, etc, these bloodsuckers also have great difficulty in dealing with the modern world. So WMMP is a perfect fit; they can be anchored in the present, while essentially remaining in the time period in which they are most comfortable.

Staked by J. F. Lewis

In a genre filled to capacity with romanticized vampires, Staked -- by new author J.F. Lewis -- offers a distinct alternative in his anti-hero Eric, a vampire who's a bit of a jerk. He turns his faithful girlfriend into a vampire, only to dump her in favor of her younger sister; he's a smart ass strip club owner who cares little about the people around him and only wants to be left alone; and he isn't shy about killing his own kind, let alone the other supernatural creatures that inhabit the locale known as Void City.

The story opens with Eric, who suffers from rage blackouts and general memory problems, unaware of why he has just killed a fellow vampire. The only thing he can deduce is that it was a "Master" vampire, a level in power below him -- he's known as a "Vlad." Soon a werewolf enters the scene and, being a natural enemy to the vampire, tries to destroy him. But he fails, and his death ultimately leads to an escalating series of revenge killings back and forth between the two groups.

The Vampire Survival Guide by Scott Bowen

If vampires truly existed, then wouldn't it make sense that someone would write a guide to assist in the war against these undead? That's the premise of The Vampire Survival Guide by Scott Bowen, published by Skyhorse Publishing, the company also behind The Zen of Zombie.

As a pure survival guide, this book covers everything necessary -- how to detect the undead, how to arm and defend yourself, and how to ensure you don't become infected and join their ranks (think of it as collected methodologies in part gleaned from various vampire books and movies). That's only a sampling of what you'll find inside, and such useful knowledge comes with a price. At 260 pages, some content does seem like filler; it could have been a much more enjoyable read at a slimmer 200 pages.

Rick Mercer Report: The Paperback Book

Rick Mercer is a well-known Canadian comedian, political satirist and news junkie, having co-created and performed on This Hour Has 22 Minutes as well as the eponymous The Rick Mercer Report.

One feature of both shows are his 3-4 minute one-camera rants against the Canadian government and parliamentary system. Rick Mercer Report: The Book contains a selection of these rants, as well as excerpts from his interviews with politicians. Short comments are also included to tie it all together.


Recommended for fans of the RMR, as well those interested in sharp, witty political commentary.

5 out of 5

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: Anchor Canada (September 16, 2008)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0385665199

ISBN-13: 978-0385665193

Time flies....

Zoiks! It's been almost a year since my last post -- unfortunately I've been too busy working on the website and other writing duties.

I'm in the middle of researching some more obscure appearances of vampires on television, but have been having a great deal of trouble hunting down a few productions so I can take a look at them. If anyone out there in the blogosphere can help me find sources for the following productions, I'd really appreciate it!

Desperately trying to find:

McCloud – McCloud Meets Dracula (S07E06)
Love, American Style - Love and the Monsters (S03E02)
Adderly – Nina Who? (S01E08)
Fantasy Island – Vampire (S02E13)
The Passion of Dracula (Showtime 1980)

Thanks!

Sanctuary (Canada / 2008-2012)

Sanctuary follows the exploits of Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping) and her quest to protect what most people would consider monsters. "The Sanctuary" serves as a safe haven for these "Abnormals." She is aided in her quest by her reluctant protégé Will Zimmerman (Robin Dunne); her intrepid, if somewhat reckless, daughter Ashley (Emilie Ullerup); the talkative geek Henry Foss (Ryan Robbins), a computer and security expert; and her taciturn Neanderthal-like unnamed assistant (a Bigfoot), sometimes called "Big Guy" (Christopher Heyerdahl).