Charles Grant is the best writer you never heard of. Black Oak #2, although it is a bit perplexing at times, has its moments. Grant uses his classic Oxrun Station charm to give the novel some muscel. Dark-winged women stalk from the sky in exhilirating suspense. Only question I have is where did the entities come from?

If Charles Grant dies soon I'm going to kill him! Words cannot explain just how addictive this series of books is going to become for me. Its like watching the X-files back when its was going from good to great. There is a lot more than meets the eye in the mystery of this small town, someone (or THING? ) is playing with Ethan Proctor, does it have to do with the murder in Atlantic City? Or the disappearance of that girl so many years ago? One thing is for certain, we are going to have to wait a little while longer to find out. So when is the next one, I cannot wait!

With Black Oak, award-winning author Charles Grant is clearly creating something that works better as a series than a bunch of individual novels. While not a serialized novel like King's Green Mile, readers will get more out of The Hush of Dark Wings if they've read the previous volume (and presumably still more when the next installment comes out). It should come as no surprise that the reader is coming in on an ongoing story; the book is clearly labeled #2 on the cover and spine, and "Episode Two" inside. Having said that, while The Hush of Dark Wings does pick up on elements from Genesis, and parts of this book appear to carry over into the next installment, the main story does begin and end in this volume. Additionally, the story opens with a "Previously in Black Oak" recap of the important events from Genesis (a lesson more series should learn), and ends with a "Next, in Black Oak" teaser, letting us know that the author knows he didn't explain everything, and that's by choice, not sloppiness.

While The Hush of Dark Wings has the same overall tone as the first book, the plot is considerably less complex. At one point, the characters even realize how little time has passed over the course of the story. The book serves primarily as an introduction for (presumably) new regular Vivian Chambers. We also learn more about how the mysterious Ethan Proctor works and how he thinks, if not much more about his background. The paranormal mystery is weird and creepy, with some particularly vivid and graphic scenes. Graphic, that is, in the Charles Grant sense, where he gives the reader just enough information that you imagine something truly gruesome, without being spoon-fed all the gory details.

It's easy to make comparisons to X-Files, and I'm sure this series, like Chet Williamson's Searchers trilogy, owes its existence to that TV series' popularity. What makes Black Oak distinct is its varied cast of characters. Grant manages to create vivid personalities who come to life in front of the reader. I find myself looking forward to the next installment, not only to find out what happens next, but also to spend more time with these people and learn more about them. The Black Oak books may be quick reads, but they're a lot of fun, and may be one of the best TV series in print.

An invaluable resource.

Covers every film from Sinners in the Sun to Walk Don't Run.

Lots of nice pics.

Ya había leido otros libros de la serie Expedientes Secretos X, pero, creo que este es el mejor. Este libro tiene una trama bien construida, y ha sido escrito con un ritmo ágil que permite disfrutarlo comódamente, a la vez que invita a continuar leyéndolo. Su descripción de los sitios en donde transcurre el libro está bien documentada, y sobre todo nos hace sentir, lo mismo en un hotel de lujo que en plena selva tropical. La sicología de los personajes principales, Mulder y Scully de ninguna forma resulta contradictoria con el canon de la serie de T.V. Aunque el autor cae en algunos clichés que los extranjeros tienen sobre nuestro país, considero que este es un libro interesante y lo recomendaría a una persona que quiere un rato entretenido sin complicaciones.

This volume is the introduction to one of the finest Horror cities ever created. Though in later volumes the class of writers isn't as good as this one. There is a Lucius Laffing mystery by Joseph Payne Brennan, a fantastically melancholy "Something in a Song" by Galad Elfonson (spelled wrong). There are also stories by Robert McCammon, Robert Vardeman, Reginald Bretnor (or is it Ronald, been awhile since I read it) as well as others. If you can find a copy, buy it, readit and pass it on to others.

It has been almost a year and a half since Natalie Windsor's husband was brutally murdered while answering a prowler call at a deserted house (then who placed that call reporting the prowler?) and her life is just about returned to normal. Then another dead body is found, mutilated just has her late husband's body had been.

Charles L. Grant is an acknowledged master of character based, gothic atmosphere drenched 'quiet horror' (the kind that relies on misdirection, mystery, and mood). But The Hour of the Oxrun Dead, despite having a listed copyright of 1987 on the information page of the Tor paperback edition I have, is one of the earliest Oxrun novels from the late seventies (I clearly remember seeing a copy of the book sometime around 1979 or 80). One that was obviously written well before Grant had a really firm grip on his gothic mood based style of writing. Nonetheless Grant's fans will find any visit to the haunted town of Oxrun well work making, and this one certainly is. Recommended.

Nothing original here, Grant simply retells the plot of all those creaky old Mummy movies from the thirties, forties, and fifites. But if it isn't broke then why fix it? Only fans of the Hammer and Universal horror movie classics need apply, those expecting a 90's type retelling will be furiously disappointed.

What appears to be a giant bird is attacking the residents of a small town. Fans of Grant will see echoes of this classic thriller in his books The Pet and Black Oak #2: The Hush of Dark Wings, but he did it here first and quite well. Great ending.

A pretty good book. Not as good as his book "The Tea Party", but nonetheless, a good book. I highly recommend it to those who love horror, suspense, and an ending you never plan for.

Hey, if you remember the episode where the prisoner is caught in a tornado and then is able to wreck revenge on those he felt wronged him by scouring their bodies with the tornado, you probably don't need to read the book. There are too many similarities in plot to ignore. To be fair, Grant wrote the book long before the episode aired but the X-file clearly overlaps. There are a couple of very good Mulder and Scully descriptions that are right on target though. However in the end, the "monster" in this book is a bit too similar to the one seen on the show.

As is the case with most prolific writers, segments of Charles Grant's second (and to date final) X-File novel Whirlwind seems to share a great deal of sequences/ideas from other novels he has written, most notably his very first novel The Curse, one of his Oxrun Station books entitled The Bloodwind, and his unique Carrie riff The Pet. Despite those weaknesses the book had enough eerie moments to keep me flipping pages as fast as I could to Grant novel's trademarked ambiguous ending. Series fans will no doubt want to check it out, but Goblins was a lot more fun.

I found this book more enjoyable then Mr. Grants first book, Goblins. This one was much more even and understandable. His portrayal of Mulder and Scully was a little more on the money in this novel. His books still aren't as well done as Kevin J. Anderson's, but they are still pretty enjoyable.

Sheesh, not what I've come to expect from an X-Files book. The characters were badly portrayed. (what is it with everyone calling Scully by her first name?). Also I thought there was too much of that one guy hitting on Scully, and Mulder checking girls out. I mean, really. The profanity was kinda bad, but no worse than you hear at my school. The plot line was interesting (human chameleons) but it wasn't really taken anywhere, and the ending didn't explain much. Read WHIRLWIND, it's much better.

I was surprised about the previous comments about profanity. I don't recall it bothering me that much. I thought there were some uneven aspects to the pace and plot but overall, it was enjoyable, though certainly not the best x files book. If you're not a fan, then this book will bore you, but even if you are an avid watcher, you might be disappointed in the depictions of Mulder and Scully. However, this is an OK read if you're stuck at an airport or have a long plane flight ahead of you...

Charles Grant combines all the elements that made the show so great during its creative peak years - lots of spooky atmosphere, conspiracies everywhere, and Mulder and Scully in a respectful partnership (ie NO "relationship"). This premiere novel in the tie-in series (like those gazillion or so Star Trek and Star Wars books clogging the sci-fi section) is filled with promise for the future volumes. A great weekend read. Recommended.