What are you currently reading?

[BigJoeHillfan]

Just finished reading Summer of Night by Dan Simmons. One of the best horror books I have read in years!! I put it up there with the 1980's King. Just started Children of Night which is the sequel to Summer of Night. Not as good so far but getting better.

Summer of Night is one of my all-time favorites. Although Dan Simmons denies it, SON was clearly influenced by IT. A Winter Haunting is the sequel to SON. Children of the Night features a major character from SON but wasn't written as a sequel.

I loved a Winter Haunting and the site you suggested for the follow up.

I was going to post the link for Watching The Presidential Debate in Elm Haven but is no longer on the Dan Simmons website. It is an excellent coda to Summer Of Night.

Is that a short story Dan wrote? Was it ever printed anywhere? Sounds cool.

I was able to locate the link on the Dan Simmons website for Watching The Presidential Debates In Elm Haven. It was a two part segment in the & November Message From Dan section:

Part 1 https://www.dansimmons.com/news/message/2008_10.html.
Part 2 https://www.dansimmons.com/news/message/2008_11.html.

Dan also published a chapbook titled Banished Dreams that included dream sequences for Mike O'Rourke, Dale Stewart, Lawrence Stewart and Kevin Grumbacher that were cut from the published version of Summer Of Night. I believe that Sub Press really messed up by not including both Banished Dreams and Watching The Presidential Debates In Elm Haven as bonus content in their limited edition of Summer Of Night.

Thanks Ben!
Would reading it before I read Winter Haunting mess anything up?

[webstar1000]

Just finished reading Summer of Night by Dan Simmons. One of the best horror books I have read in years!! I put it up there with the 1980's King. Just started Children of Night which is the sequel to Summer of Night. Not as good so far but getting better.

Summer of Night is one of my all-time favorites. Although Dan Simmons denies it, SON was clearly influenced by IT. A Winter Haunting is the sequel to SON. Children of the Night features a major character from SON but wasn't written as a sequel.

I loved a Winter Haunting and the site you suggested for the follow up.

I was going to post the link for Watching The Presidential Debate in Elm Haven but is no longer on the Dan Simmons website. It is an excellent coda to Summer Of Night.

Is that a short story Dan wrote? Was it ever printed anywhere? Sounds cool.

I was able to locate the link on the Dan Simmons website for Watching The Presidential Debates In Elm Haven. It was a two part segment in the & November Message From Dan section:

Part 1 https://www.dansimmons.com/news/message/2008_10.html.
Part 2 https://www.dansimmons.com/news/message/2008_11.html.

Dan also published a chapbook titled Banished Dreams that included dream sequences for Mike O'Rourke, Dale Stewart, Lawrence Stewart and Kevin Grumbacher that were cut from the published version of Summer Of Night. I believe that Sub Press really messed up by not including both Banished Dreams and Watching The Presidential Debates In Elm Haven as bonus content in their limited edition of Summer Of Night.

Thanks Ben!
Would reading it before I read Winter Haunting mess anything up?

no

[Ben Mears]

Just finished reading Summer of Night by Dan Simmons. One of the best horror books I have read in years!! I put it up there with the 1980's King. Just started Children of Night which is the sequel to Summer of Night. Not as good so far but getting better.

Summer of Night is one of my all-time favorites. Although Dan Simmons denies it, SON was clearly influenced by IT. A Winter Haunting is the sequel to SON. Children of the Night features a major character from SON but wasn't written as a sequel.

I loved a Winter Haunting and the site you suggested for the follow up.

I was going to post the link for Watching The Presidential Debate in Elm Haven but is no longer on the Dan Simmons website. It is an excellent coda to Summer Of Night.

Is that a short story Dan wrote? Was it ever printed anywhere? Sounds cool.

I was able to locate the link on the Dan Simmons website for Watching The Presidential Debates In Elm Haven. It was a two part segment in the & November Message From Dan section:

Part 1 https://www.dansimmons.com/news/message/2008_10.html.
Part 2 https://www.dansimmons.com/news/message/2008_11.html.

Dan also published a chapbook titled Banished Dreams that included dream sequences for Mike O'Rourke, Dale Stewart, Lawrence Stewart and Kevin Grumbacher that were cut from the published version of Summer Of Night. I believe that Sub Press really messed up by not including both Banished Dreams and Watching The Presidential Debates In Elm Haven as bonus content in their limited edition of Summer Of Night.

Thanks Ben!
Would reading it before I read Winter Haunting mess anything up?

It was written several years after A Winter Haunting was published so it does contain some references to AWH in the section featuring Dale Stewart which is in Part 1 of Watching The Presidential Debates In Elm Haven.

[Heather19]

Am I the only one that didn't care for A Winter Haunting?

[Brian861]

I just read Cheeseboy by Graham Masterton. It is the first of his works I’ve read, and I must say it is one of the most bizarre stories I’ve ever read. Has anyone else read this yet?

I have it as I collect the series but haven't read it yet. Do you recommend reading it or no?

[Father Cody]

The Rats by James Herbert

[BROWNINGS CHILDE]

I just read Cheeseboy by Graham Masterton. It is the first of his works I’ve read, and I must say it is one of the most bizarre stories I’ve ever read. Has anyone else read this yet?

I have it as I collect the series but haven't read it yet. Do you recommend reading it or no?

It’s worth the 30-45 minutes it takes to read it. I gave it a 4/5. Horrific for sure. Don’t really get all the British slang, but it’s good.

[BigJoeHillfan]

Just finished reading Summer of Night by Dan Simmons. One of the best horror books I have read in years!! I put it up there with the 1980's King. Just started Children of Night which is the sequel to Summer of Night. Not as good so far but getting better.

Summer of Night is one of my all-time favorites. Although Dan Simmons denies it, SON was clearly influenced by IT. A Winter Haunting is the sequel to SON. Children of the Night features a major character from SON but wasn't written as a sequel.

I loved a Winter Haunting and the site you suggested for the follow up.

I was going to post the link for Watching The Presidential Debate in Elm Haven but is no longer on the Dan Simmons website. It is an excellent coda to Summer Of Night.

Is that a short story Dan wrote? Was it ever printed anywhere? Sounds cool.

I was able to locate the link on the Dan Simmons website for Watching The Presidential Debates In Elm Haven. It was a two part segment in the & November Message From Dan section:

Part 1 https://www.dansimmons.com/news/message/2008_10.html.
Part 2 https://www.dansimmons.com/news/message/2008_11.html.

Dan also published a chapbook titled Banished Dreams that included dream sequences for Mike O'Rourke, Dale Stewart, Lawrence Stewart and Kevin Grumbacher that were cut from the published version of Summer Of Night. I believe that Sub Press really messed up by not including both Banished Dreams and Watching The Presidential Debates In Elm Haven as bonus content in their limited edition of Summer Of Night.

Thanks Ben!
Would reading it before I read Winter Haunting mess anything up?

It was written several years after A Winter Haunting was published so it does contain some references to AWH in the section featuring Dale Stewart which is in Part 1 of Watching The Presidential Debates In Elm Haven.

Thanks Ben. I think I will wait until I read A Winter Haunting until I read it. It is next on my list after Children of night.

[Brice]

I'm re-reading Sometimes A Great Notion by Ken Kesey

[BigJoeHillfan]

Well I finished Children of Night last night and really liked it. Like I said before the first half is good but has a huge amount of technical medical explanation which went overboard in my opinion. The rest of the book was really cool. It had action, suspense, a little romance. Not as good as SON but good.
I am now starting A Winter Haunting. Hope it is as good.

[Father Cody]

Just started The Terror by Dan Simmons. Man, I really have to check out A Winter Haunting. Maybe in six months when I finish The Terror.

[BigJoeHillfan]

Just started The Terror by Dan Simmons. Man, I really have to check out A Winter Haunting. Maybe in six months when I finish The Terror.

I have not read the Terror yet but is on my list! It is a long book. You will have to let me know what you think of it.

[Heather19]

The first time I read The Terror, I think I devoured it in less than a week. Same thing happened the first time I read It. I couldn't put them down. My re-reads however took a bit longer. I'll be curious what you guys think of A Winter Haunting.

[Father Cody]

Just started The Terror by Dan Simmons. Man, I really have to check out A Winter Haunting. Maybe in six months when I finish The Terror.

I have not read the Terror yet but is on my list! It is a long book. You will have to let me know what you think of it.

I’ll definitely let you know! It took about 60 pages or so before I got hooked but I’m really into it now. That seems to be the consensus, that it’s a creeper and starts off slow but then blows you away.

[Father Cody]

The first time I read The Terror, I think I devoured it in less than a week. Same thing happened the first time I read It. I couldn't put them down. My re-reads however took a bit longer. I'll be curious what you guys think of A Winter Haunting.

Now that’s impressive. If I could take a week off to read it, and believe me I would, maybe. I’m a pretty slow reader as it is though. I’ll definitely post back here when I get through A Winter Haunting to let you know!

[biomieg]

You guys reminded me that I still have a few Simmons' books on my TBR pile.. thanks!

Another great Simmons read (IMO) is The Hollow Man. It's very different from The Terror or Summer of Night or any of his SF or 'hard-boiled' novels. He is such a diverse author.

[Heather19]

He definitely is. Just based on the handful of books I've read of his, they are pretty diverse. Has anyone here read The Abominable? Read that one last winter. It wasn't nearly as good as The Terror, but still enjoyable.

[biomieg]

Yes, I read it. I agree with your assessment

[Father Cody]

And my reading list keeps on growing...

[Ben Mears]

...I'll be curious what you guys think of A Winter Haunting.

A Winter Haunting was a completely different reading experience from Summer Of Night. It wasn't intended to be a direct sequel to SON and if read in that light it is a decent story but not nearly as enjoyable.

[Ben Mears]

You guys reminded me that I still have a few Simmons' books on my TBR pile.. thanks!

Another great Simmons read (IMO) is The Hollow Man.

+1

[Ben Mears]

[QUOTE=BigJoeHillfan;1105943]Well I finished Children of Night...but has a huge amount of technical medical explanation which went overboard in my opinion.QUOTE]

Mr. Simmons tends to be a bit too thorough with his scientific explanations. Often times I would prefer he subscribe to the less is more theory.

[Heather19]

...I'll be curious what you guys think of A Winter Haunting.

A Winter Haunting was a completely different reading experience from Summer Of Night. It wasn't intended to be a direct sequel to SON and if read in that light it is a decent story but not nearly as enjoyable.

I've read it before, probably not too long after Summer of Night and hated it. It was very different, and there were a few directions he went with the characters in that I really didn't like. I wonder if I had waited longer so Summer of Night wasn't so fresh in my mind if I would have enjoyed it more.

[Father Cody]

[QUOTE=Ben Mears;1106104]

Well I finished Children of Night...but has a huge amount of technical medical explanation which went overboard in my opinion.QUOTE]

Mr. Simmons tends to be a bit too thorough with his scientific explanations. Often times I would prefer he subscribe to the less is more theory.

But would he then possibly not stumble across language like this?

“Avast that, God-damn your blind eyes, you fucking lubbing idle-brained shit-for-wits idiot!”

Because that would be unfortunate.

[Ben Mears]

...I'll be curious what you guys think of A Winter Haunting.

A Winter Haunting was a completely different reading experience from Summer Of Night. It wasn't intended to be a direct sequel to SON and if read in that light it is a decent story but not nearly as enjoyable.

I've read it before, probably not too long after Summer of Night and hated it. It was very different, and there were a few directions he went with the characters in that I really didn't like. I wonder if I had waited longer so Summer of Night wasn't so fresh in my mind if I would have enjoyed it more.

Not sure if the timing would have made a difference. AWH isn't a very nice book and the direction DS went with the main character was not what I was expecting nor wanting. That said DS didn't take the easy way out with a nostalgic revisit to Elm Haven; it was anything but.