Tag: bibliophile

The Internet DESTROYED This Webtoon | The Book Rant Ep. 2

By. B MURACA

How far is too far when writing fiction? Should creators be cancelled for creating fictional content for entertainment? By that I mean just like when you watch a horror movie; lots of violence, heavy stuff, things that most people do not want to happen in real life, but enjoy those intense moments. 

This Book Will Make You Terrified to Become a Parent | The Book Rant Ep. 1

By. B MURACA

This is an extreme horror book, and has a lot of tough parts. It is fiction, but stuff like this happens in real life. It deals with issues of child trafficking, sexual abuse, violence, horror, gore, so be warned. Again, this is just a discussion of said book. 

Into the Wolves Den, by Jon Athans

The Book Rant is Now a PODCAST!

Check out my Youtube and spread the word of my podcast. We talk about books! Any books. Novels, series, comics, manga, webtoons, if you can read it, we’ll talk about it! I have 11 episodes so far, I’ll start posting them, but overall, check the link below to my site and the playlist of the podcast and other awesome content. I’ll be posting here regularly as well. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn_I-tySuEDCsUo3sg1jVFQ

The Book Rant Ep. 1-Into the Wolves Den (a novel)

By B MURACA

Hello book addicts! We are moving towards a podcast format for The Book Rant. It allows me to be more creative, and more ranting! You can subscribe on Youtube, episodes will be uploaded weekly, I also have other content like trailer reactions. However, this podcast will cover mangas, comics, and books. So let’s get into it!

Episode 1, INTO THE WOLVES DEN, by Jon Athans.

Six Flags Should Break Ties with DC Comic’s Joker, C. Derick Miller’s Tragedy

By B. MURACA

Hey everyone, it’s a me, B! I hope all my fellow book addicts are doing well. Horror author C. Derick Miller may be a writer, but his dream job of driving the train at Six Flags in Texas was ripped away from him because of one scene in the horror novel he wrote, Starving Zoe.

The scene in the book involved an adult character having an inappropriate fantasy about a young girl. Everyone should cringe when hearing something like that, and no one should be ok with anyone thinking like that in real life. That is the key here: REAL LIFE. This was a FICTIONAL story taking place years ago in a time period where the person who filed the complaint against Miller was not even born. The world was a darker place at that time, and certain behaviors were not as known among the public. The book is also splatter punk fiction, which means it is meant to push the boundaries of graphic situations in horror. Again, key word, FICTION. None of this is real. Just like in DC Comics there is a psychopath you may have heard of called the Joker (Mark Hamil is rolling his eyes somewhere).

The Joker is a FICTIONAL homicidal clown who has committed the most horrifying crimes, including sexual assault if you read some of his darker stories where it was implied. It is the same character that you saw in the cartoons growing up after watching Tiny Toons, but the tv writers never explored those darker themes since their audience were children. Probably why they do not advertise that side of the Joker in Six Flags, since their whole brand is family friendly. Family friendly is exactly what Miller was when he drove the train in the park, and still is a real human being now. He was not swearing, or making insensitive jokes over the intercom, and never hurt anyone for fun. He said things you would have heard in those kids cartoons, and those are things that are miles away from Miller’s other dimension of work in writing.

So Six Flags, why are you ok with advertising a psychopath like the Joker around your park, knowing very well in today’s world after a little kid sees Joker themed things in the park, could go home and google the character? They would then see all of the horrible things THAT NEVER HAPPENED he did in his FICTIONAL stories. There is a much higher chance of that happening than someone finding their train conductor’s other job as a horror writer, and even if the odds were the same, who the hell cares? FICTION is NOT REAL. Fiction is there to explore the parts of the world normal people would not go near. That is why we read fiction, and watch fiction. No one wants a giant, purple alien to wipe out half the universe, yet billions of dollars worth of people went to watch Endgame from the MCU. I never met Miller in real life, but if the man was given the Infinity Gauntlet, I imagine he might use it to grow more food and rebuild homes, and not just snap away the population. Though, lots of you were clapping for Thanos in the theaters, so don’t judge Miller. Thanos and Joker are fictional, yet are allowed to be discussed around kids. Miller is a real human being who is a father and husband (and the IRS loves him!) He did not deserve that complaint made by a customer at Six Flags, and did not deserve the termination of his employment at the park all because he wrote FICTION! Yes, I’m going to keep saying it. You made a REAL human unhappy, because of a scene that NEVER happened, between characters who are NOT REAL.

C. Derick Miller has achieved great success as a writer, having authored extreme horror novels and freelancing in other areas like video game writing. However, his dream job since he was a kid was to drive the train at the Six Flags amusement park in Texas. Being the conductor, making witty announcements to make the riders laugh and cheer, it was a job he said he would do for free. A job he did that made those who jumped on his train for a ride smile and enjoy the sun as steam flew over their heads reminding them of the simple things in life that makes one happy. His video where he pleads for his job back is a tear-jerker. Share his story, and tell Six Flags and other organizations to stop giving in to cancel culture. Cancel culture is there to get rid of real monsters like Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby, not a good Texas man whom never committed a felony.

Also check out my YouTube channel humans, for more discussion on horror and crime content https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn_I-tySuEDCsUo3sg1jVFQ

EXTREME FRIGHTS ON FRIDAY #1: J Boote’s They Are All Monsters

By B. MURACA

Hello my fellow book addicts! It’s a me, B!

This is the first of a new series of articles for The Book Rant where every Friday (or almost every Friday, you know me and my issues 😉 ) write-up on a very, very, VERY, deranged, gore-filled, disgusting, anxiety-driven book that will make you, the readers, who spend your money on such things willingly hold a garbage can on your lap as you read. That or pull a Danny from Doctor Sleep and hang your head over the toilet.

The extreme horror novel, They Are All Monsters, by J Boote, is in the reigns of Woom and Pumpkin Night which were discussed here in the past. Readers are given up-close accounts of the psychopaths who are kidnapping children in a small town, and horrifyingly, mutilating them. Two killers are taking children, and it is theorized that holy crap, these two monsters are at competition with one another to see who can cause the most mayhem. If that is not already twisting your stomach into a knot, then let it be known this book does come with an actual warning label: “This is an extreme horror book containing scenes of a graphic nature. Do not read if easily shocked.“

So remember, this could be you while reading if you are not used to extreme horror:

What makes a book “extreme” is the emphasis on the gore and traumatic events. These are not just stabs or a body being found, the scenes are described in a way to make the reader feel uncomfortable just like if you are scared in a real life situation. That is one of the goals of something like They Are All Monsters accomplishes. Online reviewers have called it “bloody sickening,” and “brutal from start to finish.” Andrew Van Wey, author of, By The Light of Dead Stars, said, that quite a few of his own readers have raved about it, so this is a book that has an audience. There is a police story involved with a traumatized detective trying to figure out how to stop two killers using his town as a murder chess board, but is worried he too may tap into his own darkness. He is also worried about the fact his daughter fits the victim profile.

Grab your copy at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRGF3FDY?th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=true

ALSO IMPORTANT: I feel the need to remind whoever reads this, that the book discussed like almost everything on this website is a fictional tale. It’s plot and characters while they may have similarities to real people and events, those are a coincidence. This story is NOT real, nor is it pushing anyone to be as such. It is sad that that needs to be said, but so be it. Again, read the book at your own risk. If you love having the poop scared out of you you’ll enjoy this gem.

Books to Read if you Loved the movie ‘Scream VI’

By B. MURACA

Hey my fellow book addicts, it’s a me, B!  This week I got to see Scream VI at the movies, and it was amazing!  The franchise went in new directions, kept us guessing on who was the killer and who would survive.  This “requel” as they called it is matched with Sydney Prescott’s original trilogy, and Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera deserve to be crowned as scream queens forever.  They are badass final girls who keep up the battle against Ghostface.  

Seeing it inspired me to do an article for people who liked that movie, and give them books that are similar, and thus encouraging you silly kids to read.  

First up is Campfire, by Shawn Sarles.  The book follows a family camping trip where at one point they sit around and tell scary stories around the campfire.  The story then broke away from the main plot, and the campfire stories were presented as mini short stories for the reader which was a genius way to keep a thrilling pace without having to just read basically a character telling a story.  What comes next is a masked killer stalking our characters and butchering them like shop cattle.  The motive for the killer when it was revealed stunned me as it changed how I saw every character in the story.  It will for you too.  

Also check out Adam Cesare’s slasher series, Clown in a Cornfield.  So far there are two books out, with a third on the way, as well as a movie adaption.  Quinn is a great final girl who takes on the psychopaths without taking any of their bull for even a second.  Her friends and her are scared during their encounters with Friendo the Clown, but they fight back and do their best to survive despite that.  Teens partying, entering early adulthood, realizing how anything can turn anyone into a monster kept the story interesting.  Quinn is definitely in the ranks of Laurie Strode and Sydney Prescott.  Love the scream series?  Love reading?  What the hoo-ha are you waiting for?  Spend your money and get these books!  

Last we have Santa Took Them, by William Malmborg.  Out of all the books on this list, this slasher is the most graphic and darkest.  For example, in the opening chapters a character is described soiling themselves after having their guts stabbed out of their body.  A whole family is murdered, with the only survivor being Michelle, who is a child.  She is locked in a mental hospital for years, and after being released to her uncle, he is murdered, and Michelle goes missing.  As a high-level snow storm descends on the town, someone in a Santa costume is going around murdering people.  One of the iconic scenes was a chase through the woods.  All while this is going on, Michelle’s only supporter is her psychiatrist who searches for her among the chaos.  But is the mentally unstable Michelle the real killer, or was all this madness caused by someone else?