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B-Movie Novels #1
Sharkantula
Shark. Tarantula. Sharkantula.
When a genetically modified tarantula finds itself loose in the Great White shark exhibit at Shark World, the feisty arachnid sinks its fangs into the main attraction. Without warning, the Great White mutates into Sharkantula and the opening day show turns deadly. The mutated shark/tarantula hybrid is hungry and ready to feast upon the flesh of those that don't run away fast enough to escape her webbing. Desperate to stop the carnage, a group of Shark World employees join forces with the tarantula's keeper in an effort to stop the devastation before Sharkantula can escape the confines of the aquatic theme park and spread her terror across the United States.
When a genetically modified tarantula finds itself loose in the Great White shark exhibit at Shark World, the feisty arachnid sinks its fangs into the main attraction. Without warning, the Great White mutates into Sharkantula and the opening day show turns deadly. The mutated shark/tarantula hybrid is hungry and ready to feast upon the flesh of those that don't run away fast enough to escape her webbing. Desperate to stop the carnage, a group of Shark World employees join forces with the tarantula's keeper in an effort to stop the devastation before Sharkantula can escape the confines of the aquatic theme park and spread her terror across the United States.
- GenresHorror
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 22, 2016
3 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Essel Pratt
150 books30 followersEssel Pratt is a master of horror and fantasy, conjuring tales that haunt souls and inspire imagination. As a student of psychology and teller of tales, Essel writes to share the complex nature of his imaginings with the world. His ever-expanding catalog of short stories spans multiple anthologies and collections, ranging from whimsical fantasy to bizarre horror, including everything in between. Dedicated fans have praised his creations, labeling his talents as prolific in substance.
Hailing from Mishawaka, Indiana, his passion for writing began in the early years as his imagination taunted from within, begging for a release. Dabbling in art at first, he found that the stories that pleaded to be told could not be imprisoned by ink and paint alone. His most notable and prevalent accomplishments include Final Reverie, Sharkantula, and the multiple short stories that have garnered a following of their own, such as the adventures of Detective Mansfield.
Inspired by C.S. Lewis, Clive Barker, Stephen King, Harper Lee, William Golding, and many more, Essel doesn't restrain his writings to straight horror. His first Novel, Final Reverie is more Fantasy/Adventure, but does include elements of Horror. His first zombie book, The ABC's of Zombie Friendship, attacks the zombie genre from an alternate perspective. Future books, that are in progress and yet to be imagined, will explore the blurred boundaries of horror within its competing genres, mixing the elements into a literary stew.
You can follow Essel at the following:
www.facebook.com/esselprattwriting
Esselpratt.blogspot.com
@EsselPratt
Hailing from Mishawaka, Indiana, his passion for writing began in the early years as his imagination taunted from within, begging for a release. Dabbling in art at first, he found that the stories that pleaded to be told could not be imprisoned by ink and paint alone. His most notable and prevalent accomplishments include Final Reverie, Sharkantula, and the multiple short stories that have garnered a following of their own, such as the adventures of Detective Mansfield.
Inspired by C.S. Lewis, Clive Barker, Stephen King, Harper Lee, William Golding, and many more, Essel doesn't restrain his writings to straight horror. His first Novel, Final Reverie is more Fantasy/Adventure, but does include elements of Horror. His first zombie book, The ABC's of Zombie Friendship, attacks the zombie genre from an alternate perspective. Future books, that are in progress and yet to be imagined, will explore the blurred boundaries of horror within its competing genres, mixing the elements into a literary stew.
You can follow Essel at the following:
www.facebook.com/esselprattwriting
Esselpratt.blogspot.com
@EsselPratt
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 17, 2020
Is it still SHARK WEEEEK? Yes. Yes, it is. I just forgot that yesterday was also a day, and so I failed with my plan of one review a day. Oops. But then again, since Shark Week didn’t actually make an appearance here in Germany anyway, I’ll just make my own rules now. Which means Shark Week will continue. At least until I’ve finished the books that I‘ve already started.
Today, of course, is Sharkantula Day. Duh.
A laboratory, some crazy scientist doing experiments on spiders, one of them gets away, someone gets bitten, and …
Well, not quite. Because in this case the spider hitches a ride to the local aquarium and nibbles on a great white shark.
Shark. Tarantula. Sharkantula.
Imagine you are sitting in front of the TV, and from the corner of your eye you see something moving along the wall. And it’s a big one. EEEK!!! Except, it’s also a GREAT WHITE SHARK!
And those last couple of sentences were much more exciting than pretty much everything that’s happening in this book. Maybe it’s just too ridiculous. Or maybe it wasn’t done very well. But there wasn’t a single moment that got me excited. There were however two or three moments that made me cringe.
I mean, I’ve read a book with sharks in space last year. So my taste is not in question, right? Right?
Anyone?
Today, of course, is Sharkantula Day. Duh.
A laboratory, some crazy scientist doing experiments on spiders, one of them gets away, someone gets bitten, and …
Well, not quite. Because in this case the spider hitches a ride to the local aquarium and nibbles on a great white shark.
Shark. Tarantula. Sharkantula.
Imagine you are sitting in front of the TV, and from the corner of your eye you see something moving along the wall. And it’s a big one. EEEK!!! Except, it’s also a GREAT WHITE SHARK!
And those last couple of sentences were much more exciting than pretty much everything that’s happening in this book. Maybe it’s just too ridiculous. Or maybe it wasn’t done very well. But there wasn’t a single moment that got me excited. There were however two or three moments that made me cringe.
I mean, I’ve read a book with sharks in space last year. So my taste is not in question, right? Right?
Anyone?
August 20, 2020
Shark. Tarantula. Sharkantula.
Is your spidey sense tingling yet?
The beginning was not bad. I had hopes of a fun read. However, the writing was not good enough for me to turn a blind eye to it in favour of my trashy read.
The way the gay couple was written was annoying and offensive. Over the top, too much of a cliché. Really bad innuendos. Very infantile and not funny.
It took too long for the sharkantula action to get going. I was ready to toss the book by the time the first shark with spider legs showed up.
The animals were too anthropomorphized for my taste.
The shark is shooting spider silk from its tail. How? From its butt? D-oh. This is too silly and lacking any redeeming features. Thank goodness that I spent no money on this. DNF at 48%.
Is your spidey sense tingling yet?
The beginning was not bad. I had hopes of a fun read. However, the writing was not good enough for me to turn a blind eye to it in favour of my trashy read.
The way the gay couple was written was annoying and offensive. Over the top, too much of a cliché. Really bad innuendos. Very infantile and not funny.
It took too long for the sharkantula action to get going. I was ready to toss the book by the time the first shark with spider legs showed up.
The animals were too anthropomorphized for my taste.
The shark is shooting spider silk from its tail. How? From its butt? D-oh. This is too silly and lacking any redeeming features. Thank goodness that I spent no money on this. DNF at 48%.
April 25, 2024
Y'all know those cheesy Sci fi channel movies that are pretty terrible, but you still find yourself sitting there in a trance watching it anyway?? This is the book equivalent... move over, sharknado. Sharkantula is here. Riddiculous premise, but I can't help but love it.
This book is pure madness and a lot of fun. If you go in, hoping for a serious story, then you will be disappointed. That being said, it's fantastic for what it is. If you are a reader who also loves B-Movies, give it a look!
This book is pure madness and a lot of fun. If you go in, hoping for a serious story, then you will be disappointed. That being said, it's fantastic for what it is. If you are a reader who also loves B-Movies, give it a look!
May 25, 2017
An enjoyable and thrilling mixture of sci-fi, horror, and literary fiction; Sharkantula chomps down on the competition and delivers delicious shivers in the waters of your imagination. Part campy B-rated movie, part thriller, and part terror inducing plot lines; the author takes you on a wild journey from start to finish, leaving you guessing with the clever twists and turns all the way to the end. I kept thinking I should be watching this unfold on the sci-fi channel. :)
Exceptionally well written, I was in awe of how clearly the story developed, leading up to the final climax which did not disappoint. Varying points of view deepen the story line and help fuel this fun, thrilling novel. The characters were believable and vulnerable which I found refreshing in a book that targets and expertly delivers a horror/sci-fi story worthy of its genre. If you are a fan of any of these elements, this story is for you. Mr. Pratt has a talent for taking you on a journey and delivering you - albeit a little ruffled, shocked, and in awe - at the final destination. Highly recommended. 5 Stars.
*Note: Some crude language and innuendo (which I thought added to the story and further developed the personalities of the characters)
Exceptionally well written, I was in awe of how clearly the story developed, leading up to the final climax which did not disappoint. Varying points of view deepen the story line and help fuel this fun, thrilling novel. The characters were believable and vulnerable which I found refreshing in a book that targets and expertly delivers a horror/sci-fi story worthy of its genre. If you are a fan of any of these elements, this story is for you. Mr. Pratt has a talent for taking you on a journey and delivering you - albeit a little ruffled, shocked, and in awe - at the final destination. Highly recommended. 5 Stars.
*Note: Some crude language and innuendo (which I thought added to the story and further developed the personalities of the characters)
October 17, 2017
What a riot!! This was actually quite good. Sorry if I sound shocked, but I was a bit!! I was expecting a bucket load of cheese, and while I got it, it was actually an entertaining book too.
I'm not going to go too deep into the plot because, well, it's pretty self explanatory! Shark gets bit by a modified tarantula and now becomes Sharkantula. Believable, no, fun, YES!! If your in the mood for a fun and easy read, well look no further. Think sci fi movie!
Love me some creature feature books and I thoroughly enjoyed this. Give it a chance, it may just surprise you!!
Jason Fella was clear and concise, easy to listen to and read it well. I had no problem with his narration.
I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
I'm not going to go too deep into the plot because, well, it's pretty self explanatory! Shark gets bit by a modified tarantula and now becomes Sharkantula. Believable, no, fun, YES!! If your in the mood for a fun and easy read, well look no further. Think sci fi movie!
Love me some creature feature books and I thoroughly enjoyed this. Give it a chance, it may just surprise you!!
Jason Fella was clear and concise, easy to listen to and read it well. I had no problem with his narration.
I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
July 1, 2017
I am a huge and I mean huge fan of creature features. I love them all, from the awesome big budget blockbusters to the low budget cgi offerings, and everything in-between. I have a particular fondness of the cheesy ones that amuse and disgust.
That said, I started this book with trepidation, not sure how the movie vibe I adore could be captured in the written word. I’m still not sure how it was done, but Essel Pratt did it! And how, my goddess did he nail it. From the first chapter the story takes off, not bogged down with backstory or info dumps, it just gets going and then there is mayhem to follow. It didn’t let up until the most unexpected conclusion. I mean really, the pacing was superb.
Between the awesome beginning and the fantastic ending was a mixture of character driven sequences and action scenes that were in places quite horrific. All of this tempered with absurdity made the whole thing beautiful for this creature feature fan.
That said, I started this book with trepidation, not sure how the movie vibe I adore could be captured in the written word. I’m still not sure how it was done, but Essel Pratt did it! And how, my goddess did he nail it. From the first chapter the story takes off, not bogged down with backstory or info dumps, it just gets going and then there is mayhem to follow. It didn’t let up until the most unexpected conclusion. I mean really, the pacing was superb.
Between the awesome beginning and the fantastic ending was a mixture of character driven sequences and action scenes that were in places quite horrific. All of this tempered with absurdity made the whole thing beautiful for this creature feature fan.
April 2, 2021
I love hokie monsters! Wish it was a little longer and more in-depth. All in all a really solid fun read.
December 31, 2017
Hahahaha! This was such a fun creature feature! This was just sheer silly enjoyment. First, we start off in Dr. Fisher’s lab which is full of genetically modified spiders. Alas, there’s plenty of people that want to shut down his work. He barely escapes but there’s an unknown stow away in his clothes – Lucille the purple tarantula.
Next, we get to know Patton who works at Shark World, an aquatic amusement park. She doesn’t want to have anything to do with her dad right now. She’s become attached to her work with the Great White Denai and her co-workers.
Right from the start, we know there this is going but I still enjoyed the ride. Once Sharkantula arises, the blood starts flowing. There’s body parts everywhere and the audience is not amused! I know it’s juvenile, but yes, I did laugh at the Great White joke.
Patton and her coworkers (Harvey, Si, and Stephanie) band together to try to evade and later on defeat Sharkantula. Cassieanne, Dr. Fisher’s assistant, shows up later. With her spider knowledge and Patton’s understanding of shark behavior, they just might have a chance! As the body count rose, I began to wonder if anyone would make it out alive. I will admit, I did root for Sharkantula when she was taking out annoying audience members.
All together, this was so much fun! It’s not any great piece of literature and doesn’t have much depth. It’s like a B-movie. You love it because it’s ridiculous and you can laugh at it a bit. Plus, there’s Sharkantula. Who doesn’t love that combination of shark and tarantula? 5/5 stars just because it entertained me greatly.
I received a free copy of this book.
The Narration: Jason Fella did a really good job with this narration. Each character was distinct and his female voices were believable. I loved all the panicked, desperate shouts and pleas in this story. Fella really put himself into this performance. 5/5 stars.
Next, we get to know Patton who works at Shark World, an aquatic amusement park. She doesn’t want to have anything to do with her dad right now. She’s become attached to her work with the Great White Denai and her co-workers.
Right from the start, we know there this is going but I still enjoyed the ride. Once Sharkantula arises, the blood starts flowing. There’s body parts everywhere and the audience is not amused! I know it’s juvenile, but yes, I did laugh at the Great White joke.
Patton and her coworkers (Harvey, Si, and Stephanie) band together to try to evade and later on defeat Sharkantula. Cassieanne, Dr. Fisher’s assistant, shows up later. With her spider knowledge and Patton’s understanding of shark behavior, they just might have a chance! As the body count rose, I began to wonder if anyone would make it out alive. I will admit, I did root for Sharkantula when she was taking out annoying audience members.
All together, this was so much fun! It’s not any great piece of literature and doesn’t have much depth. It’s like a B-movie. You love it because it’s ridiculous and you can laugh at it a bit. Plus, there’s Sharkantula. Who doesn’t love that combination of shark and tarantula? 5/5 stars just because it entertained me greatly.
I received a free copy of this book.
The Narration: Jason Fella did a really good job with this narration. Each character was distinct and his female voices were believable. I loved all the panicked, desperate shouts and pleas in this story. Fella really put himself into this performance. 5/5 stars.
Read
July 30, 2020Full review: https://supermonsternovels.com/2020/0...
January 19, 2021
Fun read! If you are a fan of creature features this is the book for you! It has everything, a weird but awesome monster, not so smart/annoying characters, gore, and action!
April 10, 2024
I've never read anything like this before but I fricking loved it.
Sharkantula, A Shark and Tarantula hybrid that came together due to an escaped spider from Dr Fisher's obscene lab. The spider bit Danae the Great White Shark that was in her swimming enclosure before the Shark World exhibit.
Some crazy things happen at opening day at Shark World, will the crew members Peyton, Sy, Stephanie and Harvey make it out okay? Or will they be caught in Sharkantula's Webs?
Can Dr Fisher help? Can anyone help?
Absolutely loved this one, it's nicely paced and sucks you in! Brilliant!
Sharkantula, A Shark and Tarantula hybrid that came together due to an escaped spider from Dr Fisher's obscene lab. The spider bit Danae the Great White Shark that was in her swimming enclosure before the Shark World exhibit.
Some crazy things happen at opening day at Shark World, will the crew members Peyton, Sy, Stephanie and Harvey make it out okay? Or will they be caught in Sharkantula's Webs?
Can Dr Fisher help? Can anyone help?
Absolutely loved this one, it's nicely paced and sucks you in! Brilliant!
January 22, 2024
Rating: 3.5
This is a B-Movie cheese fest of a novel and it never pretends to be anything else! It is a fun time all around and if you are looking for a book about a great white shark/tarantula hybrid look no further. I did feel like there was a bit too much time spent on character development when we could have spent more time on the action, but once the action starts it is a fun ride.
I recommend this if you are looking for a quick, fun creature feature.
This is a B-Movie cheese fest of a novel and it never pretends to be anything else! It is a fun time all around and if you are looking for a book about a great white shark/tarantula hybrid look no further. I did feel like there was a bit too much time spent on character development when we could have spent more time on the action, but once the action starts it is a fun ride.
I recommend this if you are looking for a quick, fun creature feature.
February 12, 2024
Sharkantula by Essel Pratt is an adventure about well.. A shark tarantula! Thats right! Could you imaging a spider shark coming at you?
• 5 Stars: honestly, I loved every minute of this book. I thought it and the characters were well written and was true to a B movie. The characters had enough of a back story, it was easy for me to feel for the characters.
Trigger warnings:
Spiders
Child death
I would recommend
• 5 Stars: honestly, I loved every minute of this book. I thought it and the characters were well written and was true to a B movie. The characters had enough of a back story, it was easy for me to feel for the characters.
Trigger warnings:
Spiders
Child death
I would recommend
May 30, 2017
In a similar vein as Sharknado, Sharnatula combines a great white and a tarantula as it chomps down on members of the public. A great B movie vibe with a good cast of characters. If you love horror and the Syfy channel then this is the book for you.
July 13, 2021
I went into this book knowing it was going to be bad, then it turned into being so bad it’s good. I felt like I just read a Syfy movie and I loved it. A fun and ridiculous read that I got through in one sitting.
April 13, 2023
this book is as fun as the title! a spider bites a shark, and bam you get a sharknatula. it very much does give off an 80s horror flick vibes. also, even a couple names are hilarious. such as D and Snyder which are always in each scene together! I caught that!
April 1, 2020
B movie novel, big monster..how can you go wrong? By adding in vulgar gay jokes and lesbian scenes.. Not my cup of tea and ruined the book for me. Disappointing.
March 23, 2024
B movie style, suspend disbelief, roll your eyes but also don't think too much. Entertaining yes, easy read yes. If you want a bit of light silly fun this ticks the box.
July 30, 2019
Read the rest of the review at http://www.ismellsheep.com/2019/07/bo...
Before you think it is safe to read a book at the beach this summer, watch Shark Week, or binge all your Sharknado movies on DVD, read Sharkantula. It might just make you careful about taking a dip in the seawater off that beach or checking to see if any siders are hanging around your house before turning on the TV.
Before you think it is safe to read a book at the beach this summer, watch Shark Week, or binge all your Sharknado movies on DVD, read Sharkantula. It might just make you careful about taking a dip in the seawater off that beach or checking to see if any siders are hanging around your house before turning on the TV.
October 18, 2019
This is exactly as advertised
If you enjoy a good B horror film try the audiobook version
Well narrated and tons of fun highly recommended
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
If you enjoy a good B horror film try the audiobook version
Well narrated and tons of fun highly recommended
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews