I have decided to present a list of my own that will hopefully pique your interest enough to try one of these books. Turn off the TV and video game for a while and give books a chance, they are your best source for outstanding entertainment. You get to exercise the most important part of your body; your brain. You can travel to far away lands and different worlds, you get to mingle with unbelievable people, you get to be the good guy or the bad guy (whichever you prefer); you get to battle monsters, demons and the scariest people this side of Congress. But mostly you get the feeling of being part of something special between you and the author and that my friend cannot be duplicated.

But first I would like to thank Famous Monsters of Filmland for allowing me to work with them in this little section. It has been absolutely fabulous and has been a blast. I have gotten to meet so many new and interesting people that otherwise I would not have. I would like to also thank the publishers and writers for taking time out of their busy schedules to email or talk to me.  Without them this all could not be possible. I would like to extend a special thanks to Dorchester Publishing, specifically Erin Galloway for everything they have done for me. Erin has arranged the interviews with the authors (a lot more are coming after the new year) and she has kept me up to date on all that is happening in their Horror line. If there is anyone I missed I apologize, it wasn’t done intentionally.

Now for better or for worse My Top Ten Books of 2008

1. Bram Stoker’s Notes for Dracula: Facsimile Edition - Robert Eighteen-Bisang and  Elizabeth MIller - The absolute must companion piece for Bram Stoker’s epic tale. A mind boggling journey through Bram Stoker’s handwritten notes. A must book to own if you own Dracula. Read my review here.

2. Found You – Mary SanGiovanni - The absolutely stunning follow up to her first novel The Hollower. The best first chapter of a book I have read in some years. See my review here and my interview with Mary here.

3. Duma Key – Stephen King - Another horror masterpiece from the legend himself. Mr. King returns to his horror roots in grand fashion. This is one scary book.

4. Just After Sunset – Stephen King - A new short story collection from the master. You must read What They Left Behind…one of the best short stories ever written…period.

5. Your Heart Belongs to Me – Dean Koontz – Another breathtaking thriller by Mr. Koontz. You will never look at yourself in the mirror the same way again.

6. The Fly At Fifty – Diane Kachmar & David D. Goudsward - The authoritative work on this Sci-Fi classic. Read my review and author interview here. Read my interview with David Hedison here.

7. Elsewhere – Peter William Blatty – The man who brought us The Exorcist returns with a an absolutely riveting ghost story. Read my review here.

8. The Reach – Nate Kenyon – Mr. Kenyon returns with his second novel. A terrific tale of a young girl with the power to destroy the wold. Read my review here.

9. Crimson - Gord Rollo – Due to be released in March 2009 but since I read an ARC this year I had to put it in my list.  A fantastic coming of age book with a little bit of everything for every horror fan.  Read my review here. Author interview coming soon.

10. Black Cathedral – L.H. Maynard & M.P.N. Sims – If you like haunted house stories put this amazing book on your list. One of the most frightening books of the year. Review coming soon.

Honorable Mentions – Moontown by Peter Atkins;  People Are Strange by James Newman; Tower Hill by Sarah Pinborough; Covenant by John Everson; Bloodstone by Nate Kenyon

That does it for 2008. I want to wish all you monster fans a safe and Happy New Year and may 2009 be a great year for everyone. I will return in 2009 with more Terror Tales.

Thank You

Peter D. Schwotzer

The Authors
Robert Eighteen-Bisang, is most famous for his large private collection of vampire literature, which is the largest in the world and is considered an authority on Dracula and vampire literature. He runs a publishing house called Transylvania Press and has a Masters Degree in Sociology.

Elizabeth Miller is recognized the world over for her expertise on Bram Stoker’s Dracula and is a retired English professor.  She lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She has published dozens of articles and six books on Dracula: Reflections on Dracula, Dracula; The Shade and the Shadow, Dracula; Sense & Nonsense, a volume on Dracula for the Dictionary of Literary Biography and A Dracula Handbook

Michael Barsanti – Foreword

To be honest, I have to tell you first that to me Bram Stoker’s Dracula is the Holy Bible of Horror Fiction. In fact the only book that has been in print longer and sold more copies is the Bible itself. I have read Dracula too many times to remember and I own about twenty versions of it in hardcover, paperback, graphic novel etc. I didn’t think anything could compare to this timeless story until I received my review copy of Bram Stoker’s Notes for Dracula: A Facsimile Edition in the mail.

My hands were literally shaking as I read through the pages and saw the photos of Bram’s handwritten notes. With the novel right beside me I went back and forth between the two books, comparing, researching and just having a hell of a time putting myself in Bram’s shoes so to speak. It was a wondrous experience that I will never ever forget.

The Holy Grail has been found and we all have a chance to drink from it.

I find it difficult to put into words how much this book means to me. It has opened a whole new realm of appreciation for Stoker’s vampire tale, one that did not exist before and I have the coauthors to thank.

Reading this book is like traveling through time. With the wonderful annotations and insights of the coauthors you can picture yourself looking over Bram’s shoulder as he works. The painstaking work and detail put into this book is mind boggling and was surely a labor of love for Dr. Miller and Mr. Eighteen-Bisang.

The book also includes Bram’s typewritten research notes with a thorough analysis of all the materials. The coauthors rely on their vast knowledge of vampire lore and Dracula to lead you through the novels construction and the changes made to its characters and plots.

In addition to the notes and annotations, there are also separate appendices that contain the construction of the novel, “Dracula’s Guest”, the novel’s characters, an 1888 Encyclopedia Britannica entry on the term ‘vampire’ and more.

Bram Stoker’s initial notes and outlines for Dracula were auctioned at Sotheby’s in London in 1913 and ended up at the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia, where they remain. Until now you had to travel to Philadelphia to see the notes but with this book not only can you see photos of the notes you have the coauthor’s expertise to guide you.

This is no mere book about Bram Stoker’s Dracula, this is the authoritative supplement to the novel, you can’t own one without the other.  Anyone with any interest in the creation of one of the greatest novels in history must own Bram Stoker’s Notes for Dracula. It is that exceptional.

Publisher: McFarland

1-800-253-2187