Book Review
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The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
Title: The Day of the Triffids Author: John Wyndham Year: 1951 Publishing Details: Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc., 2003 Modern Library Paperback Edition Genre: Science Fiction Topical Category: Man-eating Plants, Post-Apocalyptic Synopsis and Background: Post-apocalyptic imaginings are a fixture of science fiction. From the hypothesized post-Martian future of War of the Worlds (1898), …
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The Ruins by Scott Smith
Title: The Ruins Author: Scott Smith Year: 2006 Publishing Details: First Vintage Books, Random House Inc., New York, Mass Market Edition, August 2007 Genre: Horror Topical Category: Man-eating Plants Synopsis and Background: It’s August and a small group of young people go on vacation. They wear skimpy swimwear, drink booze, make out, and generally eat…
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The Plants by Kenneth McKenney
Title: The Plants Author: Kenneth McKenney Year: 1976 Publishing Details: Bantam Book, published by arrangement with G.P. Putnam’s Sons, February 1977 Genre: Science Fiction, Horror Topical Category: Man-eating Plants, Eco-horror Synopsis and Background: I love love love man-eating plants. Sadly, they are few and far between. More often they are some variants of man-killing plants…
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Ritual by William Heffernan
Title: Ritual Author: William Heffernan Year: 1988 Publishing Details: Signet, New American Library, a division of Penguin Books USA Inc., First Signet Printing, February, 1990 Genre: Murder Mystery Topical Category: Murder Mystery, Horror Synopsis and Background: Do you recall Lincoln Child’s quote about the genesis of Relic? “Doug pitched me a murder mystery set in…
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Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Title: Relic Author: Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child Year: 1995 Publishing Details: A Forge Book, Tom Doherty Associates, Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC. First Mass Market Edition, January 1996 Genre: Science Fiction, Horror, Mystery Topical Category: Mutant-on-the-loose Synopsis and Background: “Doug pitched me a murder mystery set in the museum that was literally called ‘Zero at…
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Natural Selection by Dave Freedman
Title: Natural Selection Author: Dave Freedman Year: 2006 Publishing Details: Hyperion Books, First U.S. Mass Market Edition Genre: Science Fiction, Horror Topical Category: Eco-horror, Sea Monster, Animals Attack! Synopsis and Background: While Jaws (1974) spawned many imitators in the 70s and 80s, it’s position as a monster thriller was usurped in 1990 by the publication…
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The Accursed by Paul Boorstin
Title: The Accursed Author: Paul Boorstin Year: 1977 Publishing Details: Signet Classics, First Signet Printing, November 1977 Genre: Science Fiction, Horror Topical Category: Animals Attack! Synopsis and Background: Full-disclosure, I decided to read this book based solely on the cover which gave me both infant Hercules and creepy baby Voldemort vibes. From the title I…
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Orca by Arthur Herzog
Title: Orca Author: Arthur Herzog Year: 1977 Publishing Details: Original Pocket Book edition, June 1977, a Simon and Schuster Division Genre: Science Fiction, Horror Topical Category: Sea Monster, Animals Attack! Synopsis and Background: Once upon a time there was a movie called Jaws. Released in 1975, it was based on a bestselling novel from the…
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Prophecy by David Seltzer
Title: Prophecy Author: David Seltzer Year: 1979 Publishing Details: Ballantine Books, Random House, Inc., First Edition February 1979 Genre: Science Fiction, Horror Topical Category: Eco-horror, Mutant-on-the-loose Synopsis and Background: Rachel Carson published her environmental opus Silent Spring in 1962, warning about the harm done to the environment through the use of industrial pesticides. Its publication…
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Megalodon by Robin Brown
Title: Megalodon Author: Robin Brown Year: 1981 Publishing Details: PBJ Books, First Paperback Printing December 1982 Genre: Science Fiction, Horror Topical Category: Sea Monster, Animals Attack! Synopsis and Background: Before there was Steve Alten’s Meg, there was Megalodon. After the massive, mid-70s success of Jaws, many novelists (and filmmakers) wanted to get their slice of…
Lady Scientist Reads 