The Curse of the Dragon Case In the world of myth and legend, the curse of the dragon case stands as a cautionary tale of greed, betrayal, and avarice. The story begins in a time long ago, where dragons roamed the land and held immeasurable power. It is said that the dragons possessed a magical case that held untold treasures and ancient knowledge. The dragon case was believed to be guarded by a fearsome dragon named Drakonis, whose scales were as hard as steel and whose breath could scorch the earth. Many sought to possess the dragon case, believing that it held the key to immortality, infinite wealth, and ultimate power. One fateful day, a group of adventurers set out on a treacherous journey to find the dragon case.
Will Errickson Portland , OR, United States I collect vintage horror paperbacks. Co-author, with Grady Hendrix, of the Bram Stoker Award-winning PAPERBACKS FROM HELL: THE TWISTED HISTORY OF '70s AND '80s HORROR FICTION (2017) from Quirk Books View my complete profile
It s quiet, allusive, historical horror here all the way, which was fine, a couple gory touches, but I definitely felt it lacked a certain je ne sais quoi , or maybe I just mean it needed more oomph in narrative, dramatic tension. Sheriff Dan Rhodes claims he can t join the Clearview Community Barbershop Chorus because he s too busy busting crime twenty-four hours a day in Crider s wryly humorous if somewhat sleepy 16th sleuthathon after 2008 039.
One fateful day, a group of adventurers set out on a treacherous journey to find the dragon case. They faced perilous obstacles, overcame monstrous creatures, and braved treacherous landscapes in their quest for ultimate power. Each member of the group had their own motivations and desires, but all were unified in their pursuit of the dragon case.
Dan rhodes occult book
Not much to catch the eye in this classy cover art for Next, After Lucifer (July 1988), but the critical blurbs seem to be impressed! One of those authors about whom I never knew anything but whose paperbacks have been plentiful in used bookstores for years, Daniel Rhodes had two more titles published in the late Eighties through Tor's prolific horror line, Adversary and Kiss of Death, from 1989 and 1990 respectively. In the United Kingdom they were put out by New English Library—adorned with much better cover art—complete with Graham Masterton singing the praises.
Looking into the author, turns out Rhodes is a pen name of thriller author Neil McMahon, who is still hard at work today. I was pleasantly surprised to find Next, After Lucifer to be written in a style not usually found in horror paperbacks, elevated and inspired by the stories of M.R. James—the novel is dedicated to the writer—but with requisite updating (drug use, illicit sex). Actually, it was published in hardcover by St. Martin's Press, which might explain the higher quality prose and all-around cultured nature of the tale within.
Anyway, there's an ancient evil in a quaint French town where American medieval studies scholar John McTell and his indifferent newlywed wife Linden are taking a sabbatical. It's Templar Knight Guilhem de Courdeval from the 14th century, burned at the stake for sorcery and various occult antics, whose spirit is trying to invade McTell, thanks to McTell stumbling across the knight's grimoire in castle ruins in the hills. Come on, dude, you're a medieval studies prof, you know waaay better than to mess with that stuff.
Rhodes is a literate and careful writer, and I was impressed by the depiction of local color, an indulgent priest, the villagers, and especially the snobby, drunken antics of Linden's sister, husband, and a Eurotrash hanger-on who crash the McTells' getaway and liven up the proceedings. It's quiet, allusive, historical horror here all the way, which was fine, a couple gory touches, but I definitely felt it lacked a certain je ne sais quoi, or maybe I just mean it needed more oomph in narrative, dramatic tension. Plus there's a sequel I didn't know about, Adversary, so that means the climax is a touch half-hearted. Worth a read, worth adding to your collection, but remember to watch out for grimoires that write themselves.
4 comments:
highwayknees said.Literally have never heard of him ,or these, and have never seen the books in a used book store.Granted the covers are hardly memorable.
I remember sites like ISFDB and Goodreads used to have Kiss of Death listed as the third in the trilogy, but I guess that was wrong since I could never find any references to those earlier books while flipping through it. Either way, great writeup, Will.
Jack Tripper said.Actually, it appears as though Kiss of Death is at last tangentially related to the previous two (featuring the same big baddie), according to Kirkus Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/daniel-rhodes/kiss-of-death/
Jay Rothermel said.I explored some Jamesian recapitulations of the novel here: http://jayrothermel.blogspot.com/2018/03/a-potboiler-for-curious-next-after.html
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)As they finally reached the lair of Drakonis, the adventurers discovered that the dragon was not the only danger they faced. The dragon case itself was cursed, its power a double-edged sword. Once opened, the curse would be unleashed, bringing annihilation and ruin to anyone who dared to possess its power. Undeterred by the warnings, the adventurers engaged in a fierce battle with Drakonis. Through cunning tactics and sheer willpower, they managed to defeat the mighty dragon and claim the dragon case as their own. Little did they know that their victory would mark the beginning of their downfall. As soon as the dragon case was opened, a sinister force swept over the land, enveloping everything in darkness. The adventurers soon realized that the curse had been released, and its effects were devastating. One by one, the members of the group were consumed by the curse, their bodies wracked with pain and their minds twisted with madness. In the end, only one survivor remained. Cursed with immortality and a shattered soul, this lone adventurer roamed the land, forever tormented by the curse of the dragon case. The once sought-after source of power had become a vile prison, trapping its possessor in a perpetual state of anguish and torment. The tale of the curse of the dragon case serves as a reminder of the perils of unchecked ambition and the dangers of seeking power for power's sake. It teaches us that true power lies not in material possessions or immortality but in the strength of our character and the choices we make. Let this cautionary tale be a warning to all who dare to seek the dragon case and the power it promises. For the price of ultimate power is a heavy burden to bear, and the curse it brings may be too great a cost to pay..
Reviews for "The Curse Unleashed: Stories of Chaos and Destruction"
1. Rachel - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to read "Cursee of the drgon casy" based on its promising title, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The plot felt disjointed and confusing, with too many characters and subplots that weren't properly developed. The writing style was also a let-down, lacking descriptive language and depth. I found it hard to connect with the story or feel invested in the fate of the characters. Overall, it was a disappointing read.
2. John - 1/5 stars - "Cursee of the drgon casy" was a complete waste of my time. The storyline was completely predictable and unoriginal. It felt like a poor attempt at copying better fantasy novels without adding any substance or originality. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it impossible for me to care about their journey. The writing was also riddled with grammatical errors and awkward sentence structures that made it difficult to follow. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
3. Samantha - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Cursee of the drgon casy" but it failed to live up to my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow, with long stretches of mundane details that did not contribute to the overall plot. The characters were also quite forgettable and lacked complexity. Additionally, the dialogue was often unnatural and awkward, making it difficult for me to stay engaged. There were a few intriguing ideas scattered throughout the book, but they were not enough to redeem the overall mediocre execution. I was left feeling underwhelmed by this novel.
4. Michael - 2/5 stars - I found "Cursee of the drgon casy" to be a frustrating read. The plot seemed promising at first, but it quickly became convoluted and hard to follow. The author introduced too many magical elements without proper explanation, leaving me confused and disconnected from the story. The writing style was also lackluster, with generic descriptions and flat character development. I felt like there was a lack of depth and originality in this book, making it a disappointing fantasy read.