Rating: Summary: Kudos to you, Jeff Rovin! Now how about a movie version? Review: Anyone who's seen Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein knows it trampled a bit on tradition by letting Dracula's reflection show in a mirror and allowing vampire and werewolf to die by drowning. If Universal hadn't been so cheap not to continue the series with both of the groups that took them out of receiver's shift, the Universal Monsters and A&C, Wolfie, Drac and Frankie would have picked right back up in 1949. But alas, they all ended as soon as WWII did. But thanks to longtime Universal Monsters afficianado Jeff Rovin, the story picks up in La Mirada, Florida in June of 1998.The story begins with a prologue where the Wolf Man's human counterpart Lawrence Talbot, meets back up with Joan Raymond, the insurance investigator from the previous film. Together, they defeat Dracula and the Monster again, and it picks up fifty years later with Miss Raymond's passing and revelations that she was a horror novelist prior to her death. Her great-niece Dr. Caroline Cooke, accidentally uncovers Larry and the others and befriends Talbot. Unlike all the other scientists in the pictures, she tries to help him against his rivals and promises once and for all she will rid him of his curse and help him enjoy the rest of his natural life. It's also kind of humorous the passages Rovin puts about Chick Young and Wilbur Grey (A&C's characters) coming back and telling stories of monsters and Talbot's amazement learning about answering machines, microwave ovens, cell-phones, mini-skirts and boom boxes that play rap music. The author, Jeff Rovin, like my twenty-year old self, is a true Universal Monsters fan, and I felt like I was watching an old Universal with Karloff, Lugosi and Chaney the whole time I read this. Now, how about a movie Universal?
Rating: Summary: The Classics Have Returned! Review: Beginning where the film, Abbot and Costello left off, Larry Talbot is ressurected along with the Frankenstein Monster! Dracula, now dwelling on a plantation with zombies means to give the Monster its full energy back. Of course, no one believes Larry when he tells them his story. Lots of rising action leads to a great finale! Rovin plays his characters just as they were in the old films. Infact, I even thought I was watching a movie myself! This is a treasure for any fan of the old days and fans-to-be! Very highly recommended!
Rating: Summary: Lon Chaney Jr. and Bela Lugosi Live Again! Review: Being an alumnus of the Monsterboom generation, I had to read this book. Rovin breathes life into three of our all-time favorite fiends: Wolfman, Dracula and the Frankenstein Monster. I could actually see Lon Chaney Jr. speaking his lines as Lawrence Talbot, and Bela Lugosi beckoning as the vampiric Count Dracula. Not only does Rovin bring our buddies back to life with an original flare, he preserves and even explains some of their idiosyncrasies we'd been left to wonder about since the 40's. Being an old-school monsterphile I'm usually skeptical about any modernization of classic monsters, but this was so well done I felt like I was watching a well-done sequel to all those great classics! The book left me begging for more; more monster revivals! He teasingly hints at future sequels by mentioning the Gill-Man, The Mummy, and the Invisible Man. He even includes references to Them, Werewolf of London and the Bride of Frankenstein. It's all part of a delicious blend of nostalgia and renewal stitched together meticulously with great characters and original plots. He somehow manages to pull of this monster-ressurrection without being corny, campy, or predictable. Rovin is true to the classics, I could tell he's a real fan, yet skillfully restores them into a contemporary setting. The only anachronism here are monster-fans who are purist, and content to leave their heroes in black and white forever.
Rating: Summary: Fun homage Review: Corny, but I liked it a lot. Also like Harry Shannon's wonderful 2003 novel "Night of the Werewolf," 'Return of the WOlf Man' is a fun homage to the genre packed with inside jokes (Shannon's terrifying romp uses the names of horror authors as characters, Jeff Rovin features the people in and around the great Universal monster films as characters). Worth tracking down.
Rating: Summary: Fun homage Review: Corny, but I liked it a lot. Also like Harry Shannon's wonderful 2003 novel "Night of the Werewolf," 'Return of the WOlf Man' is a fun homage to the genre packed with inside jokes (Shannon's terrifying romp uses the names of horror authors as characters, Jeff Rovin features the people in and around the great Universal monster films as characters). Worth tracking down.
Rating: Summary: This is what I've been waiting for Review: Finally it's here I never thought it could happen but after all these years someone has finally continued the story of the greatest movie monster ever known to man. I feel that the author put a lot of creative thought into bringing Larry Talbot back to life, I couldn't have thought of a better scenario than bringing him into present day not to mention some other monster legends. I knew this book was going to be exellent from the very first paragraph, I had a very hard time putting it down, I read it in two days. If anyone is as big a fan of the Universal monsters as I am this is one book you must read, it is a perfect October read.
Rating: Summary: Take a trip back down "Creature Feature Memory Lane" Review: For all of you "40 and 50-somethings" who enjoyed the Universal Movies Monster "Series", this book will be a treat! Jeff Rovin has succeeded in reproducing all the camp, scariness, and fun that the 1950's and 60's movies about Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolf Man contained. I first stumbled on to Rovin by reading his excellent story of bats taking over the city of New York in "Vespers" (highly recommended). Checking through the list of his books, I found "Return of the Wolf Man". After reading a number of the reviews listed here with Amazon, I decided to give the book a try. I was not disappointed. Rovin has captured all the pathos and anguish that Larry Talbot carries with him as the Wolf Man. Just like in the movies the reader can't help but feel the conflicting emotions of sympathy and shock over Talbot's deeds as the Wolf Man. Depictions of Count Dracula and Frankenstein's monster are true to legend and these monsters play active roles in this novel. And, as with the Universal Pictures movies about these characters, this book doesn't really end, but rather fades away to where a sequel can later pick up the action. Even if you weren't a fan of those old monster films, Rovin's story is strong enough to stand alone on it's own merits. It has generous amounts of chills, surprises, and gore. Characterization is somewhat weak, but Rovin makes up for this shortcoming with terrific story-telling and vivid word pictures. "Return of the Wolf Man" is a solid page-turner and one book that horror fans won't be disappointed with !
Rating: Summary: Take a trip back down "Creature Feature Memory Lane" Review: For all of you "40 and 50-somethings" who enjoyed the Universal Movies Monster "Series", this book will be a treat! Jeff Rovin has succeeded in reproducing all the camp, scariness, and fun that the 1950's and 60's movies about Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolf Man contained. I first stumbled on to Rovin by reading his excellent story of bats taking over the city of New York in "Vespers" (highly recommended). Checking through the list of his books, I found "Return of the Wolf Man". After reading a number of the reviews listed here with Amazon, I decided to give the book a try. I was not disappointed. Rovin has captured all the pathos and anguish that Larry Talbot carries with him as the Wolf Man. Just like in the movies the reader can't help but feel the conflicting emotions of sympathy and shock over Talbot's deeds as the Wolf Man. Depictions of Count Dracula and Frankenstein's monster are true to legend and these monsters play active roles in this novel. And, as with the Universal Pictures movies about these characters, this book doesn't really end, but rather fades away to where a sequel can later pick up the action. Even if you weren't a fan of those old monster films, Rovin's story is strong enough to stand alone on it's own merits. It has generous amounts of chills, surprises, and gore. Characterization is somewhat weak, but Rovin makes up for this shortcoming with terrific story-telling and vivid word pictures. "Return of the Wolf Man" is a solid page-turner and one book that horror fans won't be disappointed with !
Rating: Summary: Take a trip back down "Creature Feature Memory Lane" Review: For all of you "40 and 50-somethings" who enjoyed the Universal Movies Monster "Series", this book will be a treat! Jeff Rovin has succeeded in reproducing all the camp, scariness, and fun that the 1950's and 60's movies about Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolf Man contained. I first stumbled on to Rovin by reading his excellent story of bats taking over the city of New York in "Vespers" (highly recommended). Checking through the list of his books, I found "Return of the Wolf Man". After reading a number of the reviews listed here with Amazon, I decided to give the book a try. I was not disappointed. Rovin has captured all the pathos and anguish that Larry Talbot carries with him as the Wolf Man. Just like in the movies the reader can't help but feel the conflicting emotions of sympathy and shock over Talbot's deeds as the Wolf Man. Depictions of Count Dracula and Frankenstein's monster are true to legend and these monsters play active roles in this novel. And, as with the Universal Pictures movies about these characters, this book doesn't really end, but rather fades away to where a sequel can later pick up the action. Even if you weren't a fan of those old monster films, Rovin's story is strong enough to stand alone on it's own merits. It has generous amounts of chills, surprises, and gore. Characterization is somewhat weak, but Rovin makes up for this shortcoming with terrific story-telling and vivid word pictures. "Return of the Wolf Man" is a solid page-turner and one book that horror fans won't be disappointed with !
Rating: Summary: A breath of graveyard air just when we needed it Review: Growing up with the classic Universal monsters on late night TV I grew to love them as part of a large, if very strange, family. I always wondered how their adventures would have been continued had they kept the films rolling. This novel captures the flavor and, more importantly, the spirit of those classic films. I, for one, am anxiously awaiting the next installment hinted at in the epilogue. Jeff...Get Writing!
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