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The Wolfman Movies

“I saw Lon Chaney walking with the queen doing the werewolves of London.” Psst, Warren Zevon. Lon Chaney never acted as a werewolf or wolfman. His son Crieghton, however, is a completely different story.

In celebration of the anthology Moonlight and Claws coming out, I’d like to reflect on the Universal Studios movies that made “The Wolfman” popular. One thing that hit me when the publishers called for books was they targeted “The Wolfman,” and not the more generic werewolves. In that spirit, I will examine only Universal’s Wolfman movies for this blog entry. And, I’m sorry, but the Benicio Del Toro remake and Van Helsing are not included. (Shakes head at both.)

The Wolfman (1941): Classic is too common a word to use on The Wolfman. Of the Big 4 (Frankenstien, Dracula, Wolfman, and The Mummy), the Wolfman comes later, nearly ten years after the other three. The movie shows in its production quality. Whereas the others lack a soundtrack and a less expressive style of acting, the Wolfman feels right at home with other classic black-and-white films, though clearly it’s B-grade. We know the story. Larry Talbot returns home and is bitten by a wolfman (played, ironically, by Bela Lugosi). The Wolfman is the movie that made Lon Chaney Jr.’s (real name Creighton Tull Chaney) career in monster films. Yes, today people scoff at the special effects and the lack of gore, but to me its part of the charm. The Wolfman was far more savage than prior monsters. I swear when Larry Talbot attack’s Gwen (Evelyn Ankers), it looks like he really hurt her. Kudos also to the very talented Evelyn Ankers. She, along with set design and decent acting by Claude Raines, really made this movie the masterpiece it is today.

Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman (1943): The sequel to The Wolfman sought to capitalize on Universal’s two hottest properties. Both Dracula and the Mummy were fading, so they brought their best star (in Frank) and their hottest star (in Wolfie) together. This movie should’ve never worked, but it does. They logically resurrect the Wolfman, give him even more pathos than in the first film, and construct a tale to have him meet Dr. Frankenstein to cure him. This excuse would provide the reason the Wolfman and the Monster would be together for the next two movies. With an abrupt but monstrous fight at the end, this movie has all the Universal Monster joy you’d hoped for in a movie. Of all the monster mashes, this one is the grooviest.

The House of Frankenstein (1944): The Wolfman loses title credit on this movie but you have the return of Boris Karloff, not as the monster, but as the doctor. Frank, Drac, and Wolfie come together for one fright fest, but Dracula’s role is so brief it could be a cameo. While I love Karloff and Chaney Jr., this film is a let down from the prior one. This is the movie that popularized killing the wolfman with a silver bullet and that scene is well done, but this movie feels like a repeat of Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman. Frank’s end, in particular, is a real let-down.

The House of Dracula (1945): This movie, though it treats its monster in new and unique ways, is bizarre. I liken it to the The Last Jedi of the Universal monster movies. Wanting to take their properties in a weird new direction, the story imagines a sane and kind doctor who is out to cure the various monsters. Unfortunately, one turns and the rest starts to unfold like most of the movies before it with one exception. Yes, the Wolfman has an interesting ending.

Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948): Yes, the classic, and a more fitting end to The Wolfman trilogy. Purists believe the real end is “House of Dracula” because this movie is a spoof. They’re not wrong, but “A&B meet F” still brings some fantastic scenes, including the Wolfman’s final. For my money, watch this after Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman for the best experience. This is what “The House of Frankenstein” should’ve been with Bela playing Dracula for only the second time and Chaney Jr. playing The Wolfman. If only Karloff would’ve played the monster one more time. Sometimes I wonder what this movie would’ve been like without the chuckles, though the jokes are great, too.

She-Wolf of London (1946): You thought Marvel making women versions of their superheroes was unique? No, Universal did it years before. I include this movie because Universal made it and it’s a cousin of the movies we’re talking about. This was a fun movie and well-made with June Lockhart (yes, she of the original Lost in Space fame) as the main Wolfwoman. While the end doesn’t live up to my expectations, this one is worth a watch. Of the Universal “female” monster movies (Dracula’s Daughter, She-Wolf of London, and The Invisible Woman) this one ranks third behind Dracula’s Daughter (which is excellent). If they had changed the ending, this one would’ve been great.

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Review of Silverweed

Silverweed by Dorlana Vann

Silverweed by Dorlana Vann is a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t sure what to expect from reading the blurb. Subtitled a “Supernatural Fairy Tale,” the plot centers on a few characters and one principle setting. Seventeen-year-old Aiden and his mother are visiting their long-estranged grandmother after Aiden’s aunt has died. While there, they meet Aiden’s cousin Diesel and Scarlet, his girlfriend. When Aiden’s mother is called away, the fates of Aiden, his grandmother, Diesel, and Scarlet come together in a shocking way.

This novel is hard to review without giving too much away. It ingeniously hearkens back to the Red Riding Hood fairytale with its chapter titles and sequences. The inspired titles accurately describe the increasingly desperate situation of the four snowed-in characters. As the novel continues, alliances shift, people change, and the four, especially the teenagers, have to deal with the fallout.

Silverweed refers to an ingredient in the muffins Aiden bakes for his grandmother. The muffins are a clever device that I haven’t seen used before in the legends, and they make for an interesting, and satisfactory, plot device early in the story. In fact, despite the usual beats of being trapped by snow and stuck with people you hardly know, Silverweed has a lot of new ideas. The novel keeps leading the reader on and is gripping to the climax.

The three younger characters are all distinguishable and act and talk like teenagers. They all enter into this snowbound situation with emotional baggage. Aiden’s guilty over the way he broke up with his girlfriend, Diesel feels he let his family down, and Scarlet wants to escape this two-bit town. They all must face their demons at some point in the story.

Everything escalates to a certain point and ends in a satisfying conclusion. Despite one small instance of a character finding exactly what he needs when he needs it, Silverweed doesn’t take shortcuts. It unfolds realistically with great suspense.

When I started Silverweed, I thought I was getting one thing, but ended up with something far more interesting. After a few chapters, the story unfolds into something both wondrous and frightening. The book takes its readers on a dark journey set in the harsh season of winter, and twists its narrative to its fascinating conclusion.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004D4ZXN8

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Review of Raventree Society Season Three

The third and final book in The Raventree Society Season trilogy must stand on its own and pay off the ten stories that came before in Season 1 and Season 2. Five segments comprise each Raventree novel, and each of the five is the length of a short novella. All fifteen episodes (as the book details them) across the three novels have a similar structure. They describe an encounter with a deadly spirit in different settings. They also move forward the overall narrative of a family targeted by an evil presence.

In Season One, the reader is introduced to the characters and world of Raventree. The author unfolds five thrilling encounters—each one unique and creepy. In Season Two, we start to learn why these things are happening to our main character, Kyle. Kyle starts to involve others to find a way out of the horrific events happening to him. Season Three starts with terror close to home, forcing Kyle to take his show on the road. Reasoning that ghosts lose power the further away they are from where they draw their energy, he travels to distant locations. The return of a favorite character from Season One, a last-ditch attempt at a way to save himself in New Orleans and Maine, and finally the last haunting encounter comprise this novel.

Again, Purrazzi instills the chills in each segment. The main adversary is more detailed in this collection, giving the antagonist a much larger presence. The one effective person on Kyle’s side is slowly losing leverage. The situation grows more and more desperate with each of the book’s mini-tales. Neither the reader nor Kyle have a clue of how to defeat the spirit at the end. This situation sets the states for a pulse-pounding climax.

Looking back on the entire series, the Raventree Series pulls off fifteen scary stories adeptly. The setup, the building of suspense, and the payoff work across all the tales. Purrazzi’s talent shines in each book.

Raventree as a trilogy is also a successful experiment. The author uses the unique structure to her advantage. Though the reader anticipates what’s coming in most of the stories, the segments still spin a compact horror experience. While all three books would benefit from a one more edit, the writing brings out little details in a prosaic way. For example, the description of Kyle’s figurative divorce of spirit and body in the episode of “Home,” or the depiction of the lingering evil in the last episode. Interesting characters, engaging settings, and a lot of entertainment is packed into each novel.

Does Raventree Season Three live up to its predecessors in terms of a solid horror novel? Yes. Does it bring the trilogy to a satisfactory ending? Again, yes. J.E. Purrazzi’s one-of-a-kind organization of horror novellas not only works, but sets Raventree apart from other ghost stories on the market.

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H163HC2

Review of Season 1: Review of The Raventree Society Season One

Review of Season 2: Review of The Raventree Society Season Two

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A Writer Without A Tribe

It’s true. I have no tribe.

A writer’s tribe (as I understand it because I don’t have one) is a close-knit group who reviews each other’s work and provides useful feedback. Tribespeople are people you trust with that work that is most sacred to you…your story.

It would be wonderful to be part of a tribe, but alas I haven’t found mine. Instead, I travel across this lonely country made up of a white sheet with blue lines attempting to put two coherent words together on my own.

But all is not lost! Not at all, in fact. I have something different from a tribe. I have a network. And I have to tell you, I really appreciate my network because they’re there for me when I need them the most.

The advantages of a tribe are obvious, and I think the world of them. If you can find a tribe who really supports you, stick with them. But there are advantages to a network too. For one, the people in my network don’t have to get along, or even like each other. As long as I respect them and am interested in their work, and if they do me a good deed in return, they become part of my network. And knowing their strengths and preferences, I can call on them for a variety of projects.

Some people in my network I can ask a favor for just about anything. They’re my inner network—people I trust as a tribe member. We usually share mutual interests. They warn me when I’m skating too close to a trope, or when I use a phrase that’s out of vogue. These wonderful people are my superstars and writer friends. I appreciate every single one of them and would drop everything and read something they wrote immediately.

Some people are in my outer network. We’ve exchanged works and have a positive and professional relationship. This network I appreciate too and enjoy talking to them. My outer network is composed of good, uplifting people.

Let me be clear. I don’t have to share their views on the world. In fact, I often look for people who are different from me. In this divisive environment we’ve created, I try to look for people who don’t think like I do but who have interests that we share. I want to connect with them and not surround myself with a bunch of people like me.

I’m especially grateful for my network today as I publish this blog on October 7, 2021. My story “Words to Live By” is being published by Havok at https://gohavok.com. If it’s October 7, please go read my little thriller. If it’s beyond that date, you’ll have to be a member to read it. But my network really helped me out with this piece of flash fiction. Here’s how.

Havok publishes themes every month to write about. October 2021 was the Jester and Orphan theme. As I reflected on a story for this theme, my talented and published writer friend Amanda Pavlov came to mind and inspired me. Amanda is a standup comic and my mind went instantly to her profession when I thought “jester.” I reached out to Amanda and interviewed her about standup comedy and learned quite a bit. That background really fueled a desire to write “Words to Live By.” When I was done, Amanda did me a second favor by reviewing the story. Her comments made the piece 100% better. I’m convinced, without my network, this story wouldn’t have been published.

(And, despite the fact that both are standup comics and have “v”s in their names, my character Yvonne isn’t based on Amanda Pavlov.)

My advice if you’re a writer is to establish your network. How? “Give before you ask” is one way. Sometimes, never ask. “What? Are you crazy?” you say. “What if the person never reciprocates?” Then, they’re not part of your network. You want the people who offer back because they’re probably the match you’re looking for. However, even if they aren’t part of your network, the experience will enrich you in unexpected ways, I promise. Based on their answers, some people become part of my network, some people I just follow because I love their stories, and some people I part ways with.

Yes, use all the avenues at your disposal including writing groups and events on social media. Those are excellent ways to meet people and establish either a tribe or a network. However, I favor finding someone who writes books that I want to read, I read them, and then reach out to the author and offer a review. Sometimes that author becomes a part of my network, sometimes not. In either case, I end up reading a good book and practicing the art of writing through the review. I also have new material for my blog. For me, it’s never a negative experience.

It’s true that I’ve lost a few in my network along the way. It happens. But overall, I’m very proud to know and exchange ideas with such creative people in this industry. Much like we all had to learn to interact remotely in the pandemic, my network is a bit of a remote experience compared to the coziness of a tribe. But it’s my network and I’m proud to be connected to everyone in it.

Note: Amanda Pavlov is a soon-to-be published author (Mind Like a Diamond) agented author. If you like horror fiction, make sure to pre-order or order her books.

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Thriller Short Stories

My thriller story, “Words to Live By,” is published today, Oct. 7, 2021. It’s free here only on that day: https://gohavok.com. Below is a list of thrillers, a few hidden gems, to read round the year and then especially at Halloween.

Rappaccini’s Daughter

Thrillers to read any time of the year

Nathaniel Hawthorne. Who doesn’t know The House of Seven Gables? And if you’re like me, you had to read The Scarlet Letter for school. But Hawthorne wrote a little tale of horror many don’t know about named “Rappaccini’s Daughter.” While not overtly scary, this little gem introduces Beatrice—a deadly woman.

Richard Matheson. Of course, there’s the one the Twilight Zone made famous “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.” And there’s “Button, Button.” But deeper in Matheson’s work is the chiller “Prey.”

Ray Bradbury. “The Small Assassin,” “The Veldt,” and “The Jar” are excellent stories and if you haven’t read them. Go out right now and read them! But the best of Bradburyphiles will tell you to not overlook “The Crowd,” “Skeleton,” or “The Man Upstairs.”

Stephen King. The list of his famous short stories is nearly endless because so many movies have been made about them. I’m not wild about “Children of the Corn” (story or movie) or the movie “The Mist” (love the novella). I did enjoy “1408.” But if you’re looking for something that people haven’t talked about endlessly, read “I Am the Doorway,” “The Monkey,” or “Boogeyman.”

And the classic, “In A Dim Room” (Lord Dunsany) A simple story of a tiger chasing a man until the unthinkable happens. Surprised M. Night Shylamalan hasn’t made a movie about this yet.

Thrillers to read near October

The Emissary (Ray Bradbury): A boy and his dog tale that starts sugar-sweet until the eerie ending.
Sorry, Right Number (Richard Matheson): The tension builds when a crank caller continues to call an elderly lady. (A lesser-known but equally creepy Twilight Zone.)

Pumpkin Head (Al Sorrantonio): When the shy girl starts a macabre tale at school, her teacher cuts her off. Too bad the students force her to continue at a Halloween party.

Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper (Robert Bloch): Though set in November, this tale of catching up with Jack the Ripper has all the elements of a campfire tale.

Ghost Hunt (H. R. Wakefield): Told to you as if a radio play, the listener-reader is encouraged to follow along as a “supposedly” haunted house grows more and more sinister.

The Circle (Lewis Shriner): A group of friends gather on Halloween to read their horror tales, but one goes too far.

The Middle Toe of the Right Foot (Ambrose Bierce): The number of times this story’s twist has been done is uncountable but never like this. With its startling beginning to its last few sentences, one of Bierce’s finest.

And we’ll start with who we ended with.

The October Game (Ray Bradbury): Find out how an innocent game turns on its head in the blink of an eye.

Mundigant from Skeleton
Everything Else

Revisiting the Dark Carnival

What is a holy grail to a reader? A lost book by the bibliophile’s favorite author, of course.

Original Version of Dark Carnival

When I was young, I remember my sister holding a book called The October Country by Ray Bradbury. She showed me a pencil drawing from the short story, “The Scythe,” and described it to me. I was more than fascinated—I was enthralled. I had to read this story, and then I had to see if the other stories were as good as that one.

Though I was young and Bradbury’s touch was light, I really didn’t understand many of the short tales of The October Country. But it didn’t matter. I loved his writing. From there, I found The Halloween Tree, more suited to my age then. Later, of course, came Something Wicked This Way Comes, Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, Dandelion Wine, and all things Bradbury. I didn’t read Bradbury…I inhaled him.

The October Country

I read it all.

Or so I thought.

I can’t remember when I found out about Dark Carnival. This rare book—his first—was out of print. I thought it a precursor of Something Wicked until I realized it was a collection of short stories. I read somewhere on the internet (so it must be true) that The October Country was essentially a reprint of Dark Carnival. I considered buying it, but with a price tag in the thousands, I didn’t think about it again for many years. Later, a publisher did a limited run of Dark Carnival, but I missed out.

And then I realized that Dark Carnival’s list of stories didn’t match The October Country. In fact, of the twenty-seven stories presented, only fifteen made it into the later book. What!? How dare so many stories that could be rare treasures not be included! I was insulted, affronted even. How could I get my hands on these stories?

Dark Carnival is not an easy book to find, let me tell you. I spent years trying to find a decent copy. I stumbled over one of the stories in an anthology. Many other Bradbury fans would love a copy of that rare novel and would pay dearly for it.

Reprint of Dark Carnival

Bradbury must have been amused. I think he took his early writing and revised it to his later, more eloquent style. I read a copy of a passage of the short story named “The Crowd” as presented in Dark Carnival versus The October Country, and indeed, The October Country is the superior version. But there are some that want to see the original, the raw materials without it being baked and formed into what it later became. Some of us have to eat the cookie dough.

I also wondered if the early stories were ideas he incorporated into other stories or novels. Did his story “The Maiden” become the character of the Dust Witch in Something Wicked This Way Comes, perhaps? I can’t say as I haven’t read it yet.

So what am I to do? I searched high and low and think I have copies of most of the stories, even the harder to get ones. While not collected in one book, I’m going to build a roadmap and read them, 1 or 2 per day, in October 2021. By the end, will I have read the elusive Dark Carnival and captured the holy grail? Probably not in the strictest sense. But in another way, like Bradbury characters, I will have created my own Dark Carnival in a society that refuses to share. As I read it, I plan to reflect on something I hope Bradbury taught me in many of his stories. They may burn books, but they can’t suppress the hope of readers. I start my version of Dark Carnival with that benighted hope…

Everything Else

Review of Don’t Dance with Death

Warning: If you haven’t read Don’t Date the Haunted or Don’t Marry the Cursed, please be aware that there are spoilers in this review.

Cover Don’t Dance with Death

C. Rae D’Arc’s third novel in her Haunted Romance series comes full circle. In the land of Novel established in the first book, the characters all live in “countries” denoted by literary genre. This is a playful idea that never wanes in ingenuity. The first novel in the series, Don’t Date the Haunted, tells the story of young Pansy Finster who escapes from her land of Horror in the first few chapters. She heads to Contemporary Romance to go to school. Charming and frightening, the first offering sets a high bar for the next two. Yet, the second one, set in Fantasy, meets that challenge and gives us dual points-of-view. So, how does book three fare?

After a prologue, Don’t Dance with Death starts in Fantasy with Pansy and Theo—her husband—living the high life. They’ve had a few years under their belt since Cursed, so the couple now have a son, a young boy learning the ropes of royalty. But all is not hearts and roses. Pansy worries about Theo’s distant nature and wonders if something’s wrong.

But they can’t start to resolve their marital problems as a kidnapping and a race out of Fantasy to Horror become the royal couple’s primary objective. The novel swiftly takes the reader to the land of Horror where the majority of this novel takes place.

Pansy and Theo must join with an unlikely ally and journey to Pansy’s home world. Everything is reversed from the first book in high callback fashion. In Date, Pansy often made a fool of herself living by Horror’s rules in Contemporary Romance. Now Pansy’s the sage; she’s the one who has the knowledge to keep them alive. As it turns out, the rules in Horror make it hard for Fantasy-born Theo to be the hero he is in his homeland.

Though her characters struggle to follow Horror’s maxims, the author doesn’t have the same problem as she follows the rules for a successful trilogy. It’s set up perfectly in the first two books for an exciting, climatic final book. This reviewer has a preference for trilogies in which each book can be read as a standalone, which this trilogy also achieves. Although more fun to start with book one, the third book can be appreciated on its own.

The setting of book three introduces us to only one area of Horror. Though a fascinating setting, a larger-scale chase across the landscape of Horror to learn of all its twisted towns would have added even more flavor. That said, the people, customs, and descriptions of Horror are fascinating. And little do the Fantasy heroes know that the “good people” can be just as dangerous as the bad.

Believable arcs exist for the main characters. Villains are appropriately snarly. And the creative touches I’ve come to expect in this series all exist in the third offering. It’s fast-paced, romantic, horrifying, and even a little gory at times. Despite this, Don’t Dance with Death has one scene at the end that is positively inspiring. Never would I have thought when starting the first book we would end up in such a place, but the narrative leads the reader there without compromising the integrity of the series.

Entertaining in all the best ways, Don’t Dance with Death is a silver bullet of a novel to read late at night. This book is a danse macabre that will have you begging for more.

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09HJCHSHK

Review of Don’t Date the Haunted

Review of Don’t Marry the Cursed

The Haunted Romance Trilogy

Everything Else

Loving Friendships – Why include them into your Novel?

Have we lost the art of writing friendships in our modern literature? In English, “love” is such an overloaded term that when we write “X loves Y,” we tend to think romantically. But this isn’t always true. Whatever happened to an enduring and abiding friendship?

Take this true / false quiz and tell me if the love explained here is “deep friendship?”

  • Ripley saves Newt from aliens in Aliens.
  • Westley says “As you wish” to Buttercup in The Princess Bride.
  • Black Widow kisses Captain America in a crowded mall to avoid capture in The Winter Soldier.
  • George Bailey returns home into the arms of Mary in It’s a Wonderful Life.
  • B.J. Hunnicutt spells out “Goodbye” to Hawkeye in M*A*S*H.

Of the above, only two represent deep friendship, or philia. Let’s have a Greek lesson because those Greeks not only threw big, fat weddings, but also knew how to define love.

Philia is deep friendship—the type of friendship that is self-sacrificing. A great example in literature of this is the story of Damon and Pythias. This is the type of friendship I wonder if, in modern literature, we’re not exploring as much.

Eros is passionate, often physical, love. Many recognize this type of love and often associate it with smut. It shouldn’t be, but that is a blog for another time. Think Anna Karenina

Storge is the love families have for each other. Often most associated with a parent for a child, it’s also brotherly or sororal love. In literature, this is the Potters’ parents’ love for Harry.

Ludas is often called a “crush.” It’s the “I’m so in love with X, I can’t think straight” love. In classic literature, I would claim this is David Copperfield for Agnes.

Agape love is an unconditional love for another, or the love of humankind. Often unachievable for any length of time (just ask a parent who has been awakened at 3 AM by a baby’s cry), this should be a goal for us all, religious or not. Many religions claim God has agape love for humankind.

Pragma is love among couples which is long-lasting. It’s sad that in our society we think couples have fallen out of love because eros is no longer present. Normally, the couple has transitioned to this type of love, and it’s just as valid as eros. Returning to my earlier example, I would claim this is David Copperfield’s love for Dora.

(And if you haven’t read David Copperfield, you really should as it has nearly all examples of love in it.)

Now that definitions are out of the way, let’s return to the examples above. I would argue Ripley’s love for Newt is storge. She is a protector, and her showdown with the queen plays off this theme.

The Westley and Buttercup interaction is either ludas or eros. Hopeless romantics would claim it’s pragma, but (in my opinion) they really haven’t known each other long enough to have achieved that level of love.

Ironically, the kiss between Black Widow (Natasha) and Captain America (Steve), as it plays out in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is philia. Surrounded by enemies, Natasha kisses Steve to sneak by, saving his life. After a cute quip, there’s nothing much more to the interaction until later in the movie. After the two are singled out to be killed, Natasha asks him, “Do you trust me?” and Steve responds, “I do now.” 

George and Mary Bailey’s reunion is definitely pragma. Sure, at the start, it’s ludas at the scene around the bush. But at the end of the movie, after everything this couple has gone through, Mary Bailey’s look at George when he returns home displays a wife’s loving concern. That’s pragma.

B.J.. and Hawkeye (and Trapper John before him) were definitely friends and loved each other as philia friends do. The fact that B.J. can’t say goodbye to Hawkeye until that chopper lifts off is a Damon and Pythias moment.

When we write, we should be conscious of the type of love between our characters. If we write so-and-so loves someone-else “like a brother” then this is storge love, not philia. Also, when we describe couples as “best friends,” while that’s true, it’s not an example of philia. Often this is used to exemplify that love has transitioned from eros to philia. Hopefully it hasn’t. A spouse is more than just a best friend.

Examining social media and in my discussions with people, I see a growing need for books with philia relationships. There’s a deep longing to be around people who understand you, who love you for who you are, and stick by you in good times and bad. People are attracted to this type of relationships and connect with it when reaading novels.

When done right, deep friendships make up the wonderful moments you, as a writer, are looking for. So be wary of how you write these relationships and make sure the two parties are friends and nothing else. If you achieve this, you will write some stunning scenes. I’ll leave you with a few I’ve read (or watched) over the years.

The aforementioned Hawkeye Pierce and B.J. Hunnicut final scene in M*A*S*H.

Sarah Cooper’s (Glenn Close) for Meg Jones (Mary Kay Place) when she wants a baby in The Big Chill.

Harry & Hermoine and Harry & Ron in the Harry Potter series. The Harry & Ron relationship, especially after Harry realizes that Ron can be “a bit of a git at times” is especially insightful and where Ron risks his life to save his enemies strictly because Harry tells him to.

The friendships in the Wizard of Oz.

Following is a list of books I’ve reviewed with examples of philia that work. While there are many books with friendships and romance, I’ve chosen those books where philia is the central element rather than eros/ludas.

The Legend of the Storm Sneezer Review

The Legend of the Rainbow Eater

Beggar Magic

Review of Super : The Arca Series (book one)

Review of Blaze: The Blaze Trilogy (book one)

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Review of Vision

Vision Cover

Vision by Hope Bolinger is the third novel in her trilogy starting with Blaze and continuing with Den. Both books had similar stories of a young-adult group of friends trying to stay true to their beliefs and ideals. Vision wraps up the trilogy.

Reviewing a trilogy with an ongoing main narrative is difficult without reading all three. While any of the books could be read without the other two, the most satisfying experience is to finish the trilogy and evaluate the set. As such, I’ll review Vision on its own and then provide some thoughts on how the three work together.

Without spoiling Den, Danny Belte, our main character, is assumed to be suicidal and lands in a psychiatric ward. Danny isn’t suicidal, but still ends up with a number of teenagers—mostly his age—who are living with mental illnesses. Danny quickly figures out the ward is run in an atypical manner. Think One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Over time, privileges and rights are slowly taken away from the patients. It culminates in a scheme to discredit anything Danny says or remembers, and what he remembers may just be the thing that will allow him to go free.

Ms. Bolinger has twice before built a hostile environment for her Christian main characters to survive and (in fact) thrive. This trilogy aims to mirror the book of Daniel, and at the same time, is aware of the Bible. While the novel contains some action sequences, Vision is more of a contemporary thriller between the powerless and the establishment. Some reveals happen near the end, but the joy of making it through the book is watching Danny confront the challenges others place in his way.

Does it work? In Vision, an environment of gross neglect stretches the boundary of believability, but the book takes pains to point this out. Furthermore, taken as an allegory, it succeeds on all levels. Certainly, the book knows its Lemony Snicket, as Danny’s ward is truly a Hostile Hospital. And just when you think this is a touchy-feely, lighthearted Christian novel, the author goes dark. I’ll remember this book the next time I play billiards.

Given the premise of the book, the reader unfortunately doesn’t spend much time with friends from books one and two, especially one whose name starts with “H.” But we meet an entirely new set of companions who fill the gap left by Dan’s friends. And a few minor characters from the last book reappear here as well. I also enjoyed the novel’s different take on a hero, one who saves others not by being a superhero, but by doing the right thing. This, in my opinion, makes Danny unique.

The trilogy is now complete and I found it interesting that the epilogue has three parts. To me, each part matches a certain book with the last epilogue matching Vision. It’s a gutsy move to change the setting in the last book when you have a good thing going, but it works here (as it did for J. K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series). Overall, all three novels make for a good thriller, each with something unique on its mind. While I’m not a fan of cliffhangers at the end of novels, now that all three are published, it’s less of an issue. The reader can start on the next one right away.

Vision is a well-plotted and distinct novel in the contemporary genre. It shines a light on abuse, how we view ourselves, and how important faith is in our journey through life. Vision is a conclusion worthy of the other two novels and a fascinating book on its own. 

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1645262936

Links to the other two reviews: Review of Blaze and Review of Den

Everything Else

Review of Party

Party is the sixth in the Arca series by Karen Diem in which a number of coma patients emerged from their condition with superhero powers way back in book one. Arca refers to Zita Garcia, a shapeshifting, teleporting, capoeira-fighting superhero. She’s joined by Muse (real name: Wyn) and Wingspan (Andy) as a trio of vigilante heroes who manage to find—and resolve—trouble in each novel in the series. In addition to their heroic antics, subplots of their personal lives and associated characters continue on in each novel.

The party of Party refers to a rising, independent political party in the United States. This party’s agenda is to imprison or eliminate metahumans, the name given to superheroes in this series. Naturally, this puts them at odds with Arca from the first scene.

Through a series of novels and short stories, the Arca World has introduced interesting new characters and fascinating and memorable plots. Diem always starts with an action scene and this one doesn’t disappoint. She ties in one of her short stories into this novel—a welcome surprise—to set up the events that unfold. Reading all novels and short stories in chronological order has rewarded this reader with a richer experience.

Prior novels have taken its main characters to some fantastic locations. Party turns this on its head and is more grounded than most offerings in this series. On the scale of fantasy to reality, the prior three novels were more speculative than most. This one leans more toward a contemporary tale with superheroes. The last novel, in particular, dismissed most of the subplots and secondary characters for a world-expanding journey elsewhere. Party brings us back into the fold, reintroducing many of the supporting cast and re-establishing many narrative threads.

If you like your superhero novels to be chock-full of action, you won’t be disappointed. Sometimes extending across chapters, scenes of pulse-pounding excitement make up most of the novel. Much like the other books, this one creates scenes in the reader’s head much like a graphic novel.

Along with the action, we get witty banter between Zita, Wyn, and Andy. But all is not peaceful among the three, especially in relation to their romantic interests. Wyn has to endure running into her old girlfriend, and Zita is secretly dating a mysterious vigilante. Andy is seeing someone who Zita strongly dislikes. Why Zita has zero tolerance for Andy’s girlfriend is revealed midway through the narrative—a highlight of the book.

Many people judge superhero novels by their villains. Usually, the Arca series focuses on the heroes and their struggles. The nemesis in this novel isn’t much different. In fact, the “mastermind” is upstaged by one of his so-called lackeys who is the real threat here. I appreciated the sub-villain’s motivation as well. Is there a bit of truth to her ravings?

One of the strengths of Diem’s writing is her humor and it’s present here in full force. Many passages had me laughing. A couple of references to past stories (in particular, squirrels and a certain ice brush) were nice callbacks. Zita’s desire for food when she thinks of pudding or her brandishing a spoodle (and associated comment) were other highlights. If you like the Marvel snark, you’ll get it here in spades.

And props for unusual superhuman powers. Yes, certain characters have strength and flight and the old standbys of teleportation and healing also exist. But an ability connected to pies and the surprising (and very funny) power that emerges in Danz Mizer are all a great departure from the usual. The creativity with which Diem has crafted her characters is evidenced in every chapter.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. Fun, fast-moving, relevant, and with an ending that moves forward the narrative in a large way, Party is truly one party you don’t want to miss.

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098DR4V76

Summary of Arca World Short Stories: The Arca Short Stories

Other reviews in this series:

Book 1: Review of Super

Book 2: Review of Human

Book 3: Review of Power

Book 4: Review of Monster

Book 5: Review of Toga