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kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Third in the Blood Lite series of humorous and/or creepy horror short stories.
Be sure to read the authors' bios at the end. There's one in particular that's an absolute riot!
Series:
"I was a Teenage Bigfoot" (Dresden Files, 7.25)
"V Plates" (Women of the Otherworld, 12.5???)
The Stories
Jim Butcher's "I was a Teenage Bigfoot" finds Harry Dresden checking on a friend's son in boarding school who is supposedly suffering from mono…hah! Still, Harry does find a friend.
This story is the first of a trilogy of short Bigfoot stories by Butcher.
Joel A. Sutherland's "Blood-Red Greens" reflects a passion for the greens. The golf greens that is. It really is too funny the lengths to which two men will go to enjoy their game of golf.
Kelley Armstrong's "V Plates" is another funny one although I think Armstrong was channeling Keri Arthur on the first half of this one. Seems Noah doesn't cotton to bein' teased about his virgin status and Reese and Nick are gonna help that poor boy out. Just, well, it just wasn't supposed to go quite like this.
Christopher Golden's "Put On a Happy Face" is all about clowns, so, for those of you with a fear of clowns…you probably want to read this. The first of the sad ones…and remember, be careful what you wish for.
E. S. Magill's "Devil's Contract" is too funny! A nice rip on software Terms and Conditions. Accept or decline at your peril.
Eric James Stone's "Nine-Tenths of the Law" is a, sort of, nod to lawyers. It's a zombie-ruled world in which they went for the lawyers, the politicians, and judges. Makes it so much easier to get laws passed and judgments made. And Mr. Petrides sneaks in that possession is…Nine-Tenths of the Law…*snicker*!
Jeff Strand's "Scrumptious Bone Bread" is a creepy rip-off of Jack and the Beanstalk with a sociopathic nut case curious about bone bread and stupid enough to ask a friend to help. Well, it's just too depressing working with someone who doesn't think ahead…
Mark Onspaugh's "Let That Be a Lesson to You" is a truly nasty tale involving Amazon.com, demonology, and animal and human sacrifice. Although, since it's hurting a demon…
Mike Baron's "Mint in Box" pokes at all those collectors who buy toys and never remove them from their box. Yup, you got it! **Mint** **Still in its original box** It's both creepy and well done about a man collecting dolls, sorry…action figures…from obscure horror flicks.
J. G. Faherty's "Great Zombie Invasion of 1979" is way too funny as Faherty makes fun of dim, drunk rednecks who are gun-happy.
Stephen Dorato's "Dating After the Apocalypse" keeps you wondering as you read through the story. Then there's the ever-so creepy end….urghhhh!
Jeff Ryan's "Typecast" forces us to listen as Linda bitches through her morning about how she sees people. She can't help but see someone to — loudly — cast them as a character. Oh, man, she has no clue about manners, decency… Ya just about cheer at the end.
Mike Resnick and Lezli Robyn's "Making the Cut" is a supernatural barber shop with a wide range of supernatural clientele including poor, unhappy, worried Lamont. He feels he's letting down his 'rassling fans, but Mavis inadvertently has the answer.
Will Ludwigsen's "Acknowledgements" sends up the acknowledgements many authors write in their books, although his thanks are to all those who helped with his supernatural investigation. Nicely done and quite funny.
Heather Graham's "Mannequin" was truly creepy with a twist. Two young couples intend to spend the night at the Cantrell House. Renowned for the fate of its original owners and their murders, it's a little bit's Chucky with those mannequins all over the place. Ick…
Daniel Pyle's "Short Term" is rather gruesomely funny as this old fart, Henderson, manages to break into someone's house. Again and again and again and…
Nina Kiriki Hoffman's "Distressed Travelers" certainly puts a twist on a supernatural sucker. "Tim" loves airports for all the emotions they generate, such a harvest. Sigh… It is rather luscious how Hoffman assigns such a variety of flavors to all those feelings. Fortunately, "Tim" is a humanitarian, somewhere, inside that, whatever and "he" does humanity a favor.
L.A. Banks' "Bayou Brawl" is a brawl all right and a pretty funny story involving shifters, vampires, fae, humans, and demons up against aliens. And they're in a hurry to take care of this mess before the military gets involved! God only knows what the fae would do if the army attacked! Banks twists on vampires, werewolves, full moons, and threesomes with a touch of Marie Laveau. The end is an absolute crack-up. Talk about cooperation.
This is Banks' last story before she died. She will be missed.
John Alfred Taylor's "Steeple People" is too funny for words! A clever little business scheme with a concern for its accountant to verify its false set of books. From steeples to "roadkill" and a hijacked sprinkler system…
David Sakmyster's "For Sale" is one for all of you who has gone house hunting or sells houses. Mmm-hmmmm, a real steal…if you survive!
Norman Prentiss' "Man Who Could Not Be Bothered to Die" is just gross! Although, I do know the feeling…I'll probably just keep waiting for the latest Butcher, Armstrong, Kenyon, Mead, Singh, Harrison, Harris, Tremayne, Todd, Green, Hamilton, Phoenix and on and on and… Yup, like Tony, I'll never die…bwa-ha-ha!
Don D'Ammassa's "Last Demon" is a too funny story about Ogerak the Off-putting. A demon who escaped Hell intending to rule the world only to get there. To Earth that is. Poor baby. It'll give ya a whole new appreciation for life as we…well, suffer it.
Adrian Ludens' "A Misadventure to Call Your Own" is mostly funny, part irritating. It's one of those stories in which's you decide (from a possibility of three choices that crop up every few paragraphs) which direction the story will follow. It seems our protagonist made a bad decision last night and now he's paying for it this morning. Let's see where that body ends up.
Chris Abbey's "Smoke and Mirrorballs" is a dorky combination of Dancing with the Stars and famous characters from history and/or the classics.
D.L. Snell's "Brians!!" is so dorky that it's funny! For all the mama's boys and those of you who hate Stephanie Myers, come read this zombie fest!
Ken Lillie-Paetz's "Still Life" is two pages long and gets right to the point…unlike his artist!
Sherrilyn Kenyon's "A Day in the Life" finds Elliott Lawson hysterically happy to hysterically terrified in one short day. Let this be a lesson to book reviewers, editors, and publishers…oh, my!
Lisa Morton's "Old MacDonald Had an Animal Farm" is a quirky combination of Animal Farm, Dr. Doolittle, and I am Legend…I ain't sayin' another word…
I have to confess I think Meowsy's name is too cute…don't tell my kittens I said that!
Brad C. Hodson's "Two for Transylvania" pokes fun at the Dracula classic and the scam artists. Too bad ol' Drac didn't read Bram Stoker before starting this little scheme.
Lucien Soulban's "Four Horsemen Reunion Tour: An Apocumentary" will appeal to anyone who follows rock 'n roll documentaries.
The Cover and Title
The cover is white with a close-up of a vampire's very white chin and her black lips and nails. Licking a bloody lollipop certainly adds a certain je ne sais quoi, LOL.
Blood Lite III is the third in this ongoing series of anthologies while the subtitle (it's really the title), well, let's just say it definitely leaves an Aftertaste…
Be sure to read the authors' bios at the end. There's one in particular that's an absolute riot!
Series:
"I was a Teenage Bigfoot" (Dresden Files, 7.25)
"V Plates" (Women of the Otherworld, 12.5???)
The Stories
Jim Butcher's "I was a Teenage Bigfoot" finds Harry Dresden checking on a friend's son in boarding school who is supposedly suffering from mono…hah! Still, Harry does find a friend.
This story is the first of a trilogy of short Bigfoot stories by Butcher.
Joel A. Sutherland's "Blood-Red Greens" reflects a passion for the greens. The golf greens that is. It really is too funny the lengths to which two men will go to enjoy their game of golf.
Kelley Armstrong's "V Plates" is another funny one although I think Armstrong was channeling Keri Arthur on the first half of this one. Seems Noah doesn't cotton to bein' teased about his virgin status and Reese and Nick are gonna help that poor boy out. Just, well, it just wasn't supposed to go quite like this.
Christopher Golden's "Put On a Happy Face" is all about clowns, so, for those of you with a fear of clowns…you probably want to read this. The first of the sad ones…and remember, be careful what you wish for.
E. S. Magill's "Devil's Contract" is too funny! A nice rip on software Terms and Conditions. Accept or decline at your peril.
Eric James Stone's "Nine-Tenths of the Law" is a, sort of, nod to lawyers. It's a zombie-ruled world in which they went for the lawyers, the politicians, and judges. Makes it so much easier to get laws passed and judgments made. And Mr. Petrides sneaks in that possession is…Nine-Tenths of the Law…*snicker*!
Jeff Strand's "Scrumptious Bone Bread" is a creepy rip-off of Jack and the Beanstalk with a sociopathic nut case curious about bone bread and stupid enough to ask a friend to help. Well, it's just too depressing working with someone who doesn't think ahead…
Mark Onspaugh's "Let That Be a Lesson to You" is a truly nasty tale involving Amazon.com, demonology, and animal and human sacrifice. Although, since it's hurting a demon…
Mike Baron's "Mint in Box" pokes at all those collectors who buy toys and never remove them from their box. Yup, you got it! **Mint** **Still in its original box** It's both creepy and well done about a man collecting dolls, sorry…action figures…from obscure horror flicks.
J. G. Faherty's "Great Zombie Invasion of 1979" is way too funny as Faherty makes fun of dim, drunk rednecks who are gun-happy.
Stephen Dorato's "Dating After the Apocalypse" keeps you wondering as you read through the story. Then there's the ever-so creepy end….urghhhh!
Jeff Ryan's "Typecast" forces us to listen as Linda bitches through her morning about how she sees people. She can't help but see someone to — loudly — cast them as a character. Oh, man, she has no clue about manners, decency… Ya just about cheer at the end.
Mike Resnick and Lezli Robyn's "Making the Cut" is a supernatural barber shop with a wide range of supernatural clientele including poor, unhappy, worried Lamont. He feels he's letting down his 'rassling fans, but Mavis inadvertently has the answer.
Will Ludwigsen's "Acknowledgements" sends up the acknowledgements many authors write in their books, although his thanks are to all those who helped with his supernatural investigation. Nicely done and quite funny.
Heather Graham's "Mannequin" was truly creepy with a twist. Two young couples intend to spend the night at the Cantrell House. Renowned for the fate of its original owners and their murders, it's a little bit's Chucky with those mannequins all over the place. Ick…
Daniel Pyle's "Short Term" is rather gruesomely funny as this old fart, Henderson, manages to break into someone's house. Again and again and again and…
Nina Kiriki Hoffman's "Distressed Travelers" certainly puts a twist on a supernatural sucker. "Tim" loves airports for all the emotions they generate, such a harvest. Sigh… It is rather luscious how Hoffman assigns such a variety of flavors to all those feelings. Fortunately, "Tim" is a humanitarian, somewhere, inside that, whatever and "he" does humanity a favor.
L.A. Banks' "Bayou Brawl" is a brawl all right and a pretty funny story involving shifters, vampires, fae, humans, and demons up against aliens. And they're in a hurry to take care of this mess before the military gets involved! God only knows what the fae would do if the army attacked! Banks twists on vampires, werewolves, full moons, and threesomes with a touch of Marie Laveau. The end is an absolute crack-up. Talk about cooperation.
This is Banks' last story before she died. She will be missed.
John Alfred Taylor's "Steeple People" is too funny for words! A clever little business scheme with a concern for its accountant to verify its false set of books. From steeples to "roadkill" and a hijacked sprinkler system…
David Sakmyster's "For Sale" is one for all of you who has gone house hunting or sells houses. Mmm-hmmmm, a real steal…if you survive!
Norman Prentiss' "Man Who Could Not Be Bothered to Die" is just gross! Although, I do know the feeling…I'll probably just keep waiting for the latest Butcher, Armstrong, Kenyon, Mead, Singh, Harrison, Harris, Tremayne, Todd, Green, Hamilton, Phoenix and on and on and… Yup, like Tony, I'll never die…bwa-ha-ha!
Don D'Ammassa's "Last Demon" is a too funny story about Ogerak the Off-putting. A demon who escaped Hell intending to rule the world only to get there. To Earth that is. Poor baby. It'll give ya a whole new appreciation for life as we…well, suffer it.
Adrian Ludens' "A Misadventure to Call Your Own" is mostly funny, part irritating. It's one of those stories in which's you decide (from a possibility of three choices that crop up every few paragraphs) which direction the story will follow. It seems our protagonist made a bad decision last night and now he's paying for it this morning. Let's see where that body ends up.
Chris Abbey's "Smoke and Mirrorballs" is a dorky combination of Dancing with the Stars and famous characters from history and/or the classics.
D.L. Snell's "Brians!!" is so dorky that it's funny! For all the mama's boys and those of you who hate Stephanie Myers, come read this zombie fest!
Ken Lillie-Paetz's "Still Life" is two pages long and gets right to the point…unlike his artist!
Sherrilyn Kenyon's "A Day in the Life" finds Elliott Lawson hysterically happy to hysterically terrified in one short day. Let this be a lesson to book reviewers, editors, and publishers…oh, my!
Lisa Morton's "Old MacDonald Had an Animal Farm" is a quirky combination of Animal Farm, Dr. Doolittle, and I am Legend…I ain't sayin' another word…
I have to confess I think Meowsy's name is too cute…don't tell my kittens I said that!
Brad C. Hodson's "Two for Transylvania" pokes fun at the Dracula classic and the scam artists. Too bad ol' Drac didn't read Bram Stoker before starting this little scheme.
Lucien Soulban's "Four Horsemen Reunion Tour: An Apocumentary" will appeal to anyone who follows rock 'n roll documentaries.
The Cover and Title
The cover is white with a close-up of a vampire's very white chin and her black lips and nails. Licking a bloody lollipop certainly adds a certain je ne sais quoi, LOL.
Blood Lite III is the third in this ongoing series of anthologies while the subtitle (it's really the title), well, let's just say it definitely leaves an Aftertaste…
mgouker's review against another edition
4.0
Read this just for the short story. Will get back to it someday.
nattyg's review against another edition
4.0
As always, the stories contained within range between impressive to mild. I enjoy the anthology and finding new authors to branch out to. Of course Jim Butcher was my fave - I love Dresden.
literary__escapism's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not one for short stories. Usually I buy anthologies to read one or two stories in them. Usually its one of my favorite authors with their favorite series (in this case Jim Butcher and his Dresden files series) and I will put the rest of the stories away for a rainy day.
When Jim Butcher joked on April Fools Day about a bigfoot series, I got excited even though I knew it was a April Fools Day joke. Luckily for his avid readers it is going to be a short story series, with the first being released in Blood Lite III: Aftertaste.
I Was a Teenager Big Foot sees our favorite wizard Harry helping out the Forest People (ie. Big Foot) in helping one of their offspring with some black magic. This was a fun first story, and for those that have never read any Dresden Files books it is a good place to start as any. It doesn't rely on reading any of the other books, and is a fun, quick story. There is supernatural action and lots of Harry's humor that we all love. The scene where Harry tries (rather unsuccessfully) to pick up a nurse is my favorite!
While I haven't read the other stories in this anthology, I will put them away for a rainy day as its full of authors that I hope one day to try.
I highly recommend Blood Lite III for fans of urban fantasy, definitely a must read.
When Jim Butcher joked on April Fools Day about a bigfoot series, I got excited even though I knew it was a April Fools Day joke. Luckily for his avid readers it is going to be a short story series, with the first being released in Blood Lite III: Aftertaste.
I Was a Teenager Big Foot sees our favorite wizard Harry helping out the Forest People (ie. Big Foot) in helping one of their offspring with some black magic. This was a fun first story, and for those that have never read any Dresden Files books it is a good place to start as any. It doesn't rely on reading any of the other books, and is a fun, quick story. There is supernatural action and lots of Harry's humor that we all love. The scene where Harry tries (rather unsuccessfully) to pick up a nurse is my favorite!
While I haven't read the other stories in this anthology, I will put them away for a rainy day as its full of authors that I hope one day to try.
I highly recommend Blood Lite III for fans of urban fantasy, definitely a must read.
pamwinkler's review against another edition
4.0
I Was a Teenage Bigfoot by Jim Butcher was good; I always like Jim Butcher's stuff.
Blood-Red Greens by Joel A. Sutherland was ok.
V Plates by Kelley Armstrong was pretty interesting.
Put On a Happy Face by Christopher Golden was good and definitely more horror than humor.
Devil's Contract by E.S. Magill was amusing.
Nine-Tenths of the Law by Eric James Stone was amusing, I liked it a lot.
Scrumptious Bone Bread by Jeff Strand was bizarre and good.
Let That Be a Lesson to You by Mark Onspaugh was nice; as was Mint in Box by Mike Baron.
The Great Zombie Invasion of 1979 by J.G. Faherty was disturbing.
Dating after the Apocalypse by Stephen Dorato was amazing; very nice.
Typecast by Jeff Ryan was amusing.
Making the Cut by Like Resnick and Lezli Robyn was amusing; just like the last one.
Acknowledgements by Will Ludwigsen was pretty funny.
Mannequin by Heather Graham didn't really appeal to me much.
Short Term by Daniel Pyle was disturbing and definitely more horror than humor. Good though.
Distressed Travelers by Nina Kiriki Hoffman was great. I really loved it; to the degree that when I was going through the stories, I ended up reading it again.
Bayou Brawl by L. A. Banks I mostly skipped.
The Steeple People by John Alfred Taylor was pretty amusing.
For Sale by David Sakmyster was good and amusing.
The Man Who Could Not Be Bothered to Die by Norman Prentiss had a great title, but I didn't like it much.
The Last Demon by Don D'Ammassa, A Misadventure to Call Your Own by Adrian Ludens and
Smoke and Mirrorballs by Chris Abbey were all ok.
Brians!!! by D.L. Snell was interesting? It was kind of predictable in points, but I really didn't expect the ending.
Still Life by Ken Lillie-Paetz was interesting.
A Day in the Life by Sherrilyn Kenyon wasn't my type of thing.
Old MacDonald Had an Animal Farm by Lisa Morton was a little more horror than humor. I didn't really like it much.
Two for Transylvania by Brad C. Hodson was a lot of fun, I liked it.
The Four Horsemen Reunion Tour: An Apocumentary by Lucien Soulban seemed like it would have been a lot better if I'd ever seen Spinal Tap. It was ok.
Overall, pretty good.
Blood-Red Greens by Joel A. Sutherland was ok.
V Plates by Kelley Armstrong was pretty interesting.
Put On a Happy Face by Christopher Golden was good and definitely more horror than humor.
Devil's Contract by E.S. Magill was amusing.
Nine-Tenths of the Law by Eric James Stone was amusing, I liked it a lot.
Scrumptious Bone Bread by Jeff Strand was bizarre and good.
Let That Be a Lesson to You by Mark Onspaugh was nice; as was Mint in Box by Mike Baron.
The Great Zombie Invasion of 1979 by J.G. Faherty was disturbing.
Dating after the Apocalypse by Stephen Dorato was amazing; very nice.
Typecast by Jeff Ryan was amusing.
Making the Cut by Like Resnick and Lezli Robyn was amusing; just like the last one.
Acknowledgements by Will Ludwigsen was pretty funny.
Mannequin by Heather Graham didn't really appeal to me much.
Short Term by Daniel Pyle was disturbing and definitely more horror than humor. Good though.
Distressed Travelers by Nina Kiriki Hoffman was great. I really loved it; to the degree that when I was going through the stories, I ended up reading it again.
Bayou Brawl by L. A. Banks I mostly skipped.
The Steeple People by John Alfred Taylor was pretty amusing.
For Sale by David Sakmyster was good and amusing.
The Man Who Could Not Be Bothered to Die by Norman Prentiss had a great title, but I didn't like it much.
The Last Demon by Don D'Ammassa, A Misadventure to Call Your Own by Adrian Ludens and
Smoke and Mirrorballs by Chris Abbey were all ok.
Brians!!! by D.L. Snell was interesting? It was kind of predictable in points, but I really didn't expect the ending.
Still Life by Ken Lillie-Paetz was interesting.
A Day in the Life by Sherrilyn Kenyon wasn't my type of thing.
Old MacDonald Had an Animal Farm by Lisa Morton was a little more horror than humor. I didn't really like it much.
Two for Transylvania by Brad C. Hodson was a lot of fun, I liked it.
The Four Horsemen Reunion Tour: An Apocumentary by Lucien Soulban seemed like it would have been a lot better if I'd ever seen Spinal Tap. It was ok.
Overall, pretty good.
markmtz's review against another edition
4.0
I hope that admitting I bought this book just to read Jim Butcher's latest Harry Dresden short story doesn't make me a bad person. Besides, it's a Bigfoot story. I'll check out the other authors too.
craftingrama's review against another edition
4.0
much better then the first two at least this one only had a few bad ones