Werewolves discussion

I created this topic so that we can tell each other about any great werewolf read we are currently reading. We can also warn one another about a werewolf book that looked promising, but wasn't--in other words, what not to read!

I just finished an interesting one and somewhat of a twist on the werewolf's existence, how they live, work and eat. I thought it was a fast read and I enjoyed it. I listed the link below.

Everything Under the Moon written by Jeff Johnson.

Hmm, same publisher as the Millar book we read!

Interesting. Was the Scottish girl werewolf story a Millar book? I suppose I could look that up myself, eh?

Yes, that's the one.

Scott wrote: "Yes, that's the one."

Thanks

I am reading Loups-Garous by Natsuhiko Kyogoku.
I don't think it contains literal werewolves but it is more of a theme or motif.

To follow up, I finished Loups-Garous, and indeed there are no actual werewolves. I found the prose style difficult, but that does not mean someone else wouldn't like it. Now to re-watch the movie which I did really like.

I'm reading Leaders of the Pack, a collection of recent shorts that mostly connect to an author's larger novel or series. The hardcover edition boasts incredible cover art as well as fantastic illustrations for each story. Not every story is top quality, but many are of the best I've read. Authors you might know: Jeff Strand, Matt Serafini, Glenn Rolfe, Graeme Reynolds.

I was always curious about Cycle of the Werewolf by Stephen King. Has anyone read it, and if so, would you recommend it?

Somehow I have always overlooked it, I don't know why.
I remember looking through it at the library and checking out Bernie's illustrations.
I think I used to avoid what I saw as "overused" monsters like werewolves and vampires, though.

I've read it (twice) and really like it (hence my four star rating). It's a werewolf story though, not great literature. I didn't write a review for it because to say anything about the plot gives away a lot, and it's highly straightforward. There's no hidden meaning to it or anything highly original about the story or writing. It's good that it's short because to make it any longer would have made the pace too slow for what there was.

Gotcha. Maybe I’ll read at some point, but won’t rush.

One of my alltime faves is The Wolf's Hour by Robert McCammon. He's a secret agent. He's a secret agent fighting Nazis, He's a Russian secret agent fighting Nazis. Oh yeah, and he's a werewolf.

Looks interesting. That might make a good nomination for our next werewolf group read (Winter 2020/21) on a 20th century werewolf tale.

I'm Reading Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones. I've read The Only Good Indians and enjoyed it for the most part, but the hard turn right at the halfway point kind of killed my burgeoning love for it. Where I think Jones really shines is in his short stories, some of which involve werewolves. As so many of reviewers of this book will attest, the mythology and characters are top-notch, as usual with Jones, but he gets abstract with his structure sometimes and it makes the story hard to follow. Still, a unique and exciting take on the myth for any fan.

Jeff wrote: "I'm Reading Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones. I've read The Only Good Indians and enjoyed it for the most part, but the hard turn right at the halfway point kind of killed my burgeo..."
There were times when this story felt too distant and frivolous, but the ending was irrefutably poignant and powerful. Overall, it's the most inventive and heart-felt werewolf story I've ever read or seen on screen. The focus seemed a bit scattered as it did in The Only Good Indians, but underlying themes were much more consistent and meaningful. If you like SGJ, you'll like this. Grab yourself a copy of Mongrels

I'll check it out. I"m currently about to begin WolfBlood by Steve MorrisWolf Blood: The Werewolf Apocalypse Begins Will check out Mongrels after that

I'm on book 4 (of 5) of Steve Morris' Lycanthrope series. It's really good. Fast reads and interesting world building. Set in the UK so not another small town meets animal story

I’m about to read Rabid Werewolf by Sarah Noffke. It’s not the typical werewolf book that I love to read. But it is the third book of a series and l have been enjoying the series.

Northern Ireland's Iain McLachlan has a new werewolf series, Moon Dancing. I interview him on my blog if folks are interested http://wayneturmel.com/werewolves-run...Moon Dancing

Hello, Wayne. Have you started the new series yet? I just want to know if it’s like the old fashioned bloody and violent type of werewolf series. I just don’t like those in-love with a female teenager kind of stories.

Nice job, Wayne! We have only read one book so far with werewolves as the good guys. Well, some of the werewolves at least. Not surprising that the Scots and Irish would have a similar take on that. Do you want to nominate McLachlan's book as our spring group read?

Zain, I have found werewolves as romantic figure or werewolves as terror figure are not the only two choices. I share your disdain for werewolf as romance when that's central to the story, but I can tolerate some romance in a werewolf story when it's only an element. Lonely Werewolf Girl was a good example. I have the impression Iain McLachlan's work might be similar to Martin Millar's in that respect.

Zain and Don, I don't really know because I haven't read them yet. Right now, I think werewolves are having a moment like vampires did... they were suddenly romantic figures, or total monsters, or trying to become the master race, or hiding in the shadows depending on who was writing them, and the traditional restraints of sunshine, holy relics etc underwent a massive change. They were everything from YA heart throbs to horror killing machines. Right now I've read YA werewolves (BA Scott's Emily Moonlight) Scientifically designed werewolves, and my own Johnny Lycan, who is a modern, urban fantasy noir-style detective living in Chicago (which as I say in the book is an objectively good city to be in if you're a werewolf) As to nominating the read, I haven't read his work so I'd be reluctant to nominate it yet.

Dan wrote: "Nice job, Wayne! We have only read one book so far with werewolves as the good guys. Well, some of the werewolves at least. Not surprising that the Scots and Irish would have a similar take on that..."

Tell me something about Martin Miller. I don’t recognize the name.

Wayne wrote: "Zain and Don, I don't really know because I haven't read them yet. Right now, I think werewolves are having a moment like vampires did... they were suddenly romantic figures, or total monsters, or ..."

I intend to purchase the two werewolf books by Iain Mclachlan. I checked them out. They looked very interesting.

Zain, Millar's book is one we read in the group. So we have an entire topic devoted to the first novel in his series: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

It was really quite a good book. Lots of clan warfare and magic. Less heavy on werewolf lore, though enough to satisfy me. I've been meaning to go back and read more.

Anybody read anything by Benjamin Percy? He's got a couple of acclaimed werewolf books. I just started The Wilding

I was supposed to start a book by Sarah Noffke a few days ago. It’s part of a series. It’s not like the typical werewolf book that I love. But I’ve been enjoying the series, so I’m sticking with it.

Jeff wrote: "Anybody read anything by Benjamin Percy? He's got a couple of acclaimed werewolf books. I just started The Wilding"
Turns out this one only involves werewolves symbolically. There's a guy who dresses up in furs and runs around like a predator and there's an animal that attacks people, but the rest is just suggestive. Rough around the edges, but good enough that was ready to get into Red Moon right away, and the werewolves in this one (referred to as Lycans) are very tangible. Worth checking out in both cases.

I just started The Horror Stories on Robert E Howard. It's a collection of many short stories, but there are some werewolves throughout;

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

I bought the entire works of R. E. Howard some time ago from Amazon. I'm still working my way through the boxing stories. It just occurred to me though. I could do a search on "wolf," and start with those stories.

Just started Thor by Wayne Smith;

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Zain wrote: "Wayne wrote: "Zain and Don, I don't really know because I haven't read them yet. Right now, I think werewolves are having a moment like vampires did... they were suddenly romantic figures, or total..."

Volume three is being published later this year ... already working on volume four, thank you for your purchase, I am very interested to know what you thought of them

Peter wrote: "Just started Thor by Wayne Smith;

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1..."

Great decision! Underrated book, though I was baffled by the last few pages. Let me/us know what you think, and if you like it, give the movie (Bad Moon) a shot.

The Ginger Snaps scripts.
Read the 1996 draft and now on the 1998 draft.

I’ve seen some of the Ginger Snaps movies. Didn’t know there were books.

Zain

You can download the original scripts for the first movie in PDF format.

It's quite interesting to see how much the characterization and style of the movie changed between the two versions.

Although, looking on google I can only readily find the 1996 version, not sure where I got the 1998 version PDF from.

Werewolf stories can come from the unlikeliest sources. Here's a Nancy Drew one I want to read some day: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Yeah, that's on my search list.
But despite how young it is, prices are for it are way over top. :(

Dan wrote: "Werewolf stories can come from the unlikeliest sources. Here's a Nancy Drew one I want to read some day: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1..."

I'd be surprised if it turned out to be a real werewolf.

They say the book has a surprise ending.

Oh! Well then!

The Thirteenth Koyote by Kristopher Triana;

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

About to finish Wilderness, by Dennis Danvers.

Can recommend it to fans of Strieber's The Wild, it's similarly less of a straight-up werewolf story and more relationship drama/romance.

Hi,

I just finished 'The Prophecy' by Danielle Paquette-Harvey. this is a debut novel from a new writer and it is about a girl called Sarah who goes to work at a major firm that over 50% of the staff are all from the same pack of werewolves. The chapters switch from her POV to Sam (the main werewolf) who is son to the pack alpha. It is a fast read and I did like it.

Looks like a blend of romance and werewolf fiction--very popular sub-genre these days.

Yes, I agree, there does,

Moon Dancing, is what I am struggling to read. I have turned it off many times because I keep getting to periods where the information is just not about werewolves, so, just not interesting. 🙁

Unfortunately, this happens too many times, and is probably why the book is so long. 😖

I think Iain could burn half of the pages in this and you’ll still have enough pages for an interesting story. 😊

Zain

I appreciate the comment about the group read for this summer. But this topic is reserved for other werewolf books than the group reads. Zain, can you transfer your comment over to the topic that is about Moon Dancing? It's here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...