¿Mark Simmons, who never met a wisecrack, pun, or pop culture reference he didn¿t like, explores different degrees of deadness in his latest Christopher Cjesthe novel. Poor Chris . . . if he¿s not being made unwilling ruler of the vampires, he¿s discorporated and floating through walls. Lupe the Werewolf, Suki the cat/vampire, the voluptuous Deidre, and, oh yes, Teresa¿s head . . . all are back for this lates event-packed romp through a vivid world that leaps into existence every time we open a Simmons book. ¿ Charlaine Harris
¿. . . manages to combine enough wacky hilarity to satisfy a Terry Pratchett fan, and a plethora of puns guaranteed to make a Piers Anthony buff groan. . . . Mark might even have created himself a new genre¿cybercafé.¿ ¿ Mercedes Lackey
¿. . . vampire Chris Haim has more problems than merely protecting his secret . . . a jealous werewolf can ruin your whole day. Plots and subplots and vignettes abound . . . fans of the early Terry Pratchett or Eric Flint's Joe fantasies will enjoy the humorous bits.¿ ¿ Publishers Weekly
¿[Chris Cjesthe] is back for a new and even greater (and funnier) adventure. . . . Snappy dialogue, lots of amusing details, a clever plot, and a generally witty sense of humor combine to make this one of those rare novels that combine levity and the supernatural in just the right balance.¿ ¿ Chronicle
¿Readers who desire something off beat but humorous in their fantasy/horror literature will want to read Dead on My Feet [prequel to Habeas Corpses ]. . . this book is fun.¿ ¿ Midwest Book Review
¿[ Dear on My Feet ] works because it is simply over the top . . . I love the way Mr. Simmons plays with the standard action scenes¿for instance a philosophy discussion during a car chase. . . .¿ ¿Philadelphia Weekly Press
William (Wm.) Mark Simmons was born in 1953 and spent his formative years in Independence, Missouri, the hometown of President Harry S. Truman and fantasy author Jim Butcher.
He has had a varied career as an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, musician, and entertainer.
His first novel, In the Net of Dreams, was a finalist for the Compton Crook Award and made Locus Magazine’s “Best List” in 1991. To date he has published seven novels and one novella in the United States with translations in Russia and the Czech Republic. His unique blend of humor and plots that unfold "like an origami sculpture designed by M.C. Escher" have won him the title of “master of twisted humorous fantasy and horror.”
Mark currently resides in the town of Hutchinson, Kansas, not far from the world famous Cosmosphere Space Museum. For the last 13 years of his 40-plus years as a broadcaster and a journalist, he was the Music Director for Radio Kansas and heard as the network’s morning Classical host throughout nearly half of the Sunflower State up until his retirement in 2018. His eighth novel, "A Witch in Time," was released in April of 2019. He currently serves as Game Warden for the nature preserve that is his back yard, wrangles cats, and is working on two new novels in his now copious free time.
Another masterpiece. Simmons is an expert at setting up a book that looks like it's headed in one direction (Chris has to deal with the challenges of leading New York's vampire coven), and then veers into something completely different (a psychedelic, life-after-death assault on a Nazi stronghold in the Rockies).
As usual, Simmons includes a fair bit of wish-fulfillment and power fantasy, which he immediately undercuts and subverts. Similarly, the hero is a sarcastic quipster...which everyone around him hates.
This is a genuinely clever book, filled with action, history, and theology.
The story continues to enthrall me. The villain in this one was a bit of a surprise, but not that much considering the previous stories' establishment of "The blood is the life". Especially Cséjthe's!
Third in series. Chris, a quasi vampire with some demon blood as well, is hounded by humans, vampires, zombies/ghosts and demons, who want to kill him or steal his blood. Fortunately, he has some allies who help him thwart most assassination and kidnap attempts, to their own peril. I enjoyed the whole series thus far.
Halflife series picks up with some creepy happenings involving both the gangster-like vampire society, a mad scientist with a German accent and Herbert West-like abilities, and a stint with our half-vampire hero as a ghost. A good time.
A series with lots of political commentary (the occasional phrase I agreed with). I suppose what keeps me reading is the well read protagonist and his desire to not just go along.