The Attraction

The Attraction attracted me through the first half, but then fell off in a hurry. The Necromancer, however, attracted me from page one and left me wanting more. I could not have written a better story myself. The Necromancer is a definite 10 on my all-time short list of tens.

Both The Attraction and The Necromancer were originally released as limited edition novellas. They're expensive for readers who are not collectors or die-hard Clegg fans. This edition is great because both are amazing stories and together make a great book for those new to Clegg or fans. Clegg has a knack for creating compelling characters, sinister stories, and intriguing histories. Douglas Clegg is a master of the genre and perhaps one of the most reliable authors in the business. With this Leisure release, the reader has an opportunity to get their hands on the stories at a less expensive price. Although I highly recommend the beautiful limited editions, this mass market paperback is much easier for the general reader and this book will give two excellent stories the exposure they deserve. My personal favorite is the Necromancer because I love Harrow. I have gone on at great lengths about Harrow as more than a house. The world Clegg has created is staggering. Kudos to Clegg.

Five college friends decide to take a road trip cross country to California for spring break. They want to get away from their little private college in the Virginia mountains and see the country. They start noticing road signs in Arizona that say "Come see the Attraction! The unspeakable unknowable Mystery!" They end up having a breakdown in the Arizona Desert and a trucker gives them a lift to a local gas station. It is called the Breakdown Palace and it is the very place where the "Mystery" is kept. They decide to go have a look and see what it is all about. Located in the back of the store in a glass case with a sign above it saying "Do not feed" is a small, mummified corpse with long, sharp fingernails. It is called a Flesh-Scraper. The ancient Aztecs used it to scrap the flesh off the bones of sacrifices. One of the friends thinking it is all a stupid hoax decides to steal it, but when they have another breakdown in the desert they soon realize that Flesh-Scraper is a lot more than just a road side attraction hoax. They have awaken an Ancient Evil with one thing on its mind. "Human Flesh" I had never read any of Clegg's work before so I wasn't sure what to expect when I started. I am kicking myself now for not giving his stories a chance sooner. I couldn't put this book down. It grabbed me on the first page and wouldn't let go. I ended up reading most of the night away. I had a stiff neck and only got a few hours sleep, but it was worth it. The Attraction has a original plot and very believable characters. The story moves at a incredible rate and never lags. The only complaint I have is that it was a little short. I thought it could have been at least a lot longer than 175 pages, but that aside The Attraction is worth every cent. There is also a Novella called The Nercomancer in this book. It is a prequel to the Harrow House novels and it is mainly drawn from the diaries of a young Justin Gravesend. Fans of the Harrow House books will love this story. I have got to read the Harrow House trilogy now. To sum up The Attraction is one of the best stories I've read this year. I got a whole lot more than I expected, and I am now a Clegg fan.

A group of young folks has some car trouble while traveling across the country. They are not particularly good friends but the bonds get tested on the trip. At one point their car breaks down almost in the middle of nowhere. This puts them in position to view a roadside attraction of a strange little beastie said to be from South America. Although it appears to be mummified a sign warns not to feed it. When the creature is accidentally fed it becomes animated and begins to fulfil its purpose of taking the skin off the living. It is fast, brutal, and intelligent. Is there any way to stop it? The dwindling cast must find an answer and find it quickly. Things move quickly all the way to an acceptable and believable ending. A very good read. Also in this volume is a short novella of Clegg's Harrow stories called The Necromancer. This tale tells the story of the very beginning of Mr. Gravesend and how he first becomes familiar with the occult and its mysteries. As part of a larger story it is quite good. As a stand alone tale it is a little dry and slow at the beginning. But if you have read any of the Harrow novels, you will surely want to read this one.

Delirium Books has achieved a justifiable reputation as a publisher of superbly crafted science fiction/horror fantasy titles for the true connoisseur of book that conjures nightmares to life! The latest title offered to horror fantasy enthusiasts is Douglas Clegg's The Attraction. A desiccated corpse from the Aztec era is displayed in a glass case for anyone to see. When it is deemed to be a counterfeit, just the remains of a small child with some glued on fake fingernails, Griff says to his friend Ziggy by way of a practical joke, "Let's feed it!". That's when the the horror awoke and the Flesh-Scraper is loose! Douglas Clegg blends a unique and macabre imagination with a genuine gift for developing his characters and presenting the reader with a vivid story that will separate the timid from their sleep and the bold from their complacency whenever they next visit a sideshow or museum mummy display!