The illustrations and story are both very good plus there is a felt duck that is attached to the top of the book. The story involves a different animal on each page in varied settings. This makes it easy to add to the story line as his interest in story time increases.

Phillip Emmons, a pseudonym for horror author Bentley Little, is the author of the serial killer novel "Death Instinct". Published early in Little's career, this one is different from the horror novels that have made Little a household name in the realm of horror fiction. While not a fan of the serial killer novel genre, I found "Death Instinct" to be very entertaining, but not difficult to determine/guess the identity of the serial killer.

The story involves a series of gruesome murders in Phoenix that has police baffled. They can't seem to find any clues and only begin to realize the truth when being tipped off by someone romantically involved with a member of the force. A young boy is actually the one who first suspects the killer. It's difficult to give many details about the book without giving away key elements of the plot and/or clues to the killer.

Needless to say, the identity of the killer shouldn't come as a surprise. It might be a bit farfetched, but the explanation behind the killer's motives is logical. If you enjoy serial killer novels and can locate this one (it's been out-of-print for many years), grab it and enjoy it.

The overall premise of this book is intriguing. A vicious serial killer (the only killings that rival these are the ones in Messiah) is stalking a small area in the city of Phoenix, and between killings we are introduced to Cathy (the novel's central character), her (so mean that its unrealistic) father, Allan (the local know-it-all cop who's hunches are always correct), Jimmy (the nice neighbor kid who's alchoholic father doesn't care about him), and the weird lady and her mentally retarded son who just moved into the haunted house across the street. As the story develops and the characters are intertwined (I bet you don't have to read any more than the list of characters in this review to realize who gets romantically linked. Half of the book is an effective who-done-it, but when we finally find out who is behind the killings, the brakes are slammed on and the reader is forced to ask his or herself "Could _____ actually do that?" The answer is probably not, but the story is still quite chilling and the prerequisite "visit to the expert on the subject" scene is very good. Its hard to write an effective review without placing spoilers all over, but I would recommend this book to anyone who loves the serial killer horror genre. It's an interesting twist on the convention.

Horror writer Bentley Little moonlights in the suspense genre under the pseudonym "Phillip Emmons." Gruesomely original with the most politically incorrect serial killer ever committed to paper. The final setpiece in a Phoenix hospital, is a nail-biter.

Be warned this book has high violence, sexual contents and very perverse, yet it all fits nicely into the context of the story and mixes in nicely with the anciant Greek mythology, I found many sections of this story to be disturbing, but isn't that what horror is all about??, this book may be to graphic for some peoples tastes so if you are week of stomach this is not the book for you, the high intense murder, sex and even bestiality all adds to the atmosphere and the sudden insanity and the disappearance of all inhabitions of the community.
The book is in two parts, the first focuses on Dion, who starts at a new school and he is some one we can all relate to and it is impossible not to like him, He develops a crush on a girl named Penelope, and as you read there relationship grows stronger but so does the unstability of the city's people.
The second part concentrates on Penelope and Dions best friend Kevin as they try to come to grips with the evil that has become of there lives and as they try to figure how to get Dion back.
I'm not going to say muck more but while reading this book you can not help but be affected by it, and the effects last long after the completion of it and a sense of loss, a must read for those who like horror with bite adn those who are not afraid of the disturbing.
This is the fist book I have read by Bentley Little but definatly not the last.

Whether intended or not, this book gives a dramatic rewrite of the Christian tale of the return of Jesus. Only in this there is to be no true Heaven for believers but only an orgiastic Hell that threatens the destruction of all concerned with it. Little's graphic descriptions of wanton violence, sex, and licentiousness are breathtaking to say the least. He does not stsint the reader in any way with this tale of mounting terror up to its curious climax. Interestingly, Little also evokes some measure of sympathy for the villain with his portrayal of latent softer emotions that maintain in him some measure of humanity even while they serve to make his viler acts more depraved and appalling. In short, Domion is a great read any true horror fan would do well to read, if not purchase.

I have only read two of Bentley Little's books, this one and "The Store", and I am totally hooked. His stories are unusual, graphic, and compulsively readable, at least the ones I've read so far. Best of all, they are truly creepy. I thoroughly recommend this book. I am starting on "The House" right now, and I hope it is as good as the others I have read. PS - If you don't like books that are "nasty", you probably shouldn't be reading horror novels. Just a thought.

I have been ahuge fan of Little's since I was first introduced to him through his book "University". I have since found that each of his other books (Dominion, The Mailman, and The Ignored) have each topped the one before it. Now we have "The Store" which is just as timely and horrific as "The Ignored". Once again Bentley rips into the cold heart of corporate America and posits that the most frightening stories are those that are appearing in todays' headlines. What will happen to our country when every industry is owned by one or two faceless mega-corporations that see nothing except the bottom line of their accounting sheets? Bentley Little paints a terrifying image of what could possibly happen.

A must read for any genre fan

The Store is a very well written book and reads very fast. I got caught up in wanting to read it every free moment I had. Bentley Little has written a book that will make you question every new "major store" that enters your area. It is so true how stores like Wal-Mart and Barnes & Nobel take over our cities. It makes you even look at what Disney World has done to Orlando. I also found it quite interested that my local Barnes & Nobel store had every book Bentley Little has written except THIS book.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.

You think Stephen King is good, just try Bentley Little. And if you're going to start somewhere, start here, with his best. It's called "The Store." I know, it's a cheap title, and it was so simple I almost didn't buy the book. But I was a Little fan, so I decided why not. Trust me, it was worth it. Jumiper, Arizona. A small desert town with locally-run businesses. You can imagine how excited the townsfolk are when a retail discount giant--simply titled "The Store"--decides to build there. Bill Davis jogs buy the site of the new store everyday. One day, however, he discovers the sign there changed. There is also a dead deer. The next day all the trees and shrubs are cleared from the land, and there are more dead animals. In just a matter of months the Store is built and open for business. It immediately becomes the town's main employer. It also becomes the main shopping place, with the latest brand-name items. The smaller businesses are either forced out of business, bought out, or mysteriously burnt to the ground. That's not all. The Store features items not commonly found in public places. Sex videos, other items that should not be available. Dangerous items are found in the children's section, at amazingly low prices affordable to all ages. The Store is even beginning to feature construction items and gas. It soon becomes the ONLY place to shop in Juniper. The personel manager is a mysterious man by the name of Mr. Lamb. He forces hirees to undergo tests like urine tests with him watching. He demands only the best. New employees must run "the Gauntlet" in order to be hired. And if someone breaks a single rule--no matter how trivial--the mysteriously disappear. But Davis's two daughters want to join. They suddenly turn against their father, who is anti-Store. But his actions may not be enough, for The Store soon controls the town counsil. And to top it off, the entire chain is run by a mysterous man named Newman King. Bentley Little will scare your socks off with this one. It is not only a superb horror novel, worthy of any and every award available, but is a great story about how a giant corporation can control an entire town. Buy The Store today. It'll be worth every penny.

I'll break it down by author:

Little **
Golden ***
Piccirilli *****
Clegg ***

Piccirilli, as usual, makes it worth the price of admission - a classic. The other stories are pretty much been-there-done-that. Doesn't Christopher Golden know that Vikings didn't have horns on their helmets? Oh well, 'Jonah Arose' makes it worth it.

Bentley Little, perhaps the best and most underrated author working in horror today, here gives us "The Circle," an amazing bit of writing with a circular conception of time and storytelling. Ostensibly the tale of what happens on a suburban cul de sac one night, it addresses the conformity of suburban life and many of Little's pet thematic concerns. Truly original.
The Clegg novella is also quite good, although Golden's and Piccirilli's contributions are not quite up to par.

This short novella is about 90 pages long. And believe you me and in can be read by just one sit down. He grabs you from the very beginning of the story.
Mark and Dash are the two main characters and these two boys travel into the darkness of life. And 'THE WORDS' are magic as to entrance you into another world or realm of life.
Classic Clegg!!

The Summoning is the first Bentley Little novel I've read, but it won't be the last....His story of an ancient evil preying on the residents of a small Arizona town is absolutely riveting read.

Little creates a smart cast of characters, including Rich Carter, editor of the local newspaper, and his Brother Robert, the local Sheriff, Sue Wing, a young Chinese girl whose Grandmother knows a thing or two about Vampires, and the Cup Hu Grignsi himself, an ancient vampiric monster who has decided to stop creeping around in the night, and make his presense known to the world. The method the creature intends to use to reveal himself to the World is pretty unique, but is bound to be troublesome to some of the more Religious readers. It made me a little uncomfortable, and I don't consider myself Religious at all. But I guess that's the mark of a good horror novel....The only thing keeping The Summoning from a perfect 5 is the ending: It seemed a little rushed, and I would have appreciated more insight into the Vampire. Overall, though, The Summoning is as creepy as hell, and one of the best books I've read in a good long while. I'm looking forward to reading more of Mr. Little's work.

Little takes the vampire lore and takes it in a whole new direction. Vampire stories are so common place, much like serial killer novels, but Little changes the myth around here.

The story revolves around Sue Wing and the discovery of a chinese vampire that has invaded her small town in Arizona, hunting people at a local "dude ranch."

Little sets the pace well and fleshes out his characters. He finishes it off with a great and spooky climax to the book. Little fans need to search for and keep this new spin on vampires close to their hearts-uh, jugular.

An enjoyable read, filled with twists and turns to frighten even the most jaded horror fan. Two thumbs up, Mr Little.

I just finished this book tonight and had to come on here to praise it. I found "The Summoning" to be a dark tale full of eerie twists and turns. Its the story of a small town who becomes the target of a particularly spooky kind of vampire that I found to be quite different from most others. This is a vampire who can change forms, who can manifest itself as your darkest fears and who has a uniquely different appearance than the aristocratic, gothic vampire of most novels. This isn't one of those romantic figures but something hellish.

I also liked the characters especially Sue Wing. She was a very smart, strong heroine. There's also pages of this that made me genuinely freaked out especially some of the forms this vampire took. The use of different cultures, the way this book unfolded to the explosive end made this one of the most chilling novels I've ever read. It was nice to see a horror book where the vampire was so unique. I've never heard of vampires being afraid of jade nor a vampire quite so ugly or so vicious as this one. I give this 5 stars for its unique and frightening story.

I like Bentley Little. I didn't really like "The Ignored" though. It starts out well and really kept my interest for the first third of the book: I have had jobs like Bob Jones describes, where you do not feel like anything you do matters and where coworkers treat you as if you do not exist. So, I could definitely relate to a job that one hates. But, as much as I liked this part of the novel, I kept waiting for the introduction of Philipe and what I thought would be the "real" start of the book. Well, Philipe arrives and the book makes a 180 degree turn into...disaster. From what could happen to silliness. I know that horror is based on extraordinary things happening to ordinary people like here, but there needs to still be some type of reality involved so you think, "hmmm, maybe this could happen." Therein lies the horror, at least to my way of thinking. This book just does not deliver. I did not care about most of the characters (although I really rooted for Bob's relationship with Jane from the outset). Parts dragged and the ending was very anticlimactic as far as I am concerned. I agree with other reviewers that the basis for Little's book "The Ignored" is a great idea, however, as stated before, it probably would have made a better short story than a full-length novel. Little's books are all about story and plot and he has great ideas. The execution of this one didn't work for me, though. I will continue with my Bentley Little reading, but "the Ignored" is at the bottom of my list, so far.

A Bentley Little novel, whether you love or hate his style, always builds on an interesting idea. 'The Ignored' is no different. Little usually assumes one of two positions in his novels: he either writes a story full of hilarious observations about organizations (retail stores, homeowner's associations, the postal service), or he creates a work of pure horror (vampires, walking zombies, haunted houses). This 1997 novel blends both of these narrative devices into an affecting tale about what happens when an everyday, average man falls through the cracks of our hectic, materialistic society.

The narrator of the story is one Bob Jones. Bob hates his life, or at least starts to after he graduates from UC Brea with a degree in American Studies. His part-time job at Sears provides barely enough income for food and shelter, although his live-in girlfriend Jane works part-time too while she finishes her degree. After answering an advertisement for a position at the generic sounding Automated Interface, Inc., Bob lands a real job and assumes his place in the working world. Right from the start things go badly for young Bob. His bosses hate him, his co-workers outright avoid him or subtly despise him, and even his office mate cannot stand his presence. Slowly, Bob notices he no longer registers at all with his fellow employees, with an emphasis on 'at all.' They literally do not see him even if he is standing right in front of their faces, or if they do see him, they forget about him immediately after they look away. This invisibility deeply troubles Bob and causes him to slowly drive away Jane, the one person who acknowledges his presence and actually cares for him. As time progresses and the drudgery of work and life weigh heavily on Bob, he realizes that he is one of 'The Ignored,' a man whose existence goes without notice in society.

But someone does notice Bob, and after Bob commits a terrible crime this man, named Philipe, initiates him into a group referred to by its members as 'Terrorists for the Common Man.' The organization consists of other ignoreds angry at a world that barely acknowledges their existence. The group pulls off petty crimes at first, such as swiping free meals at restaurants and heckling public officials. Soon, Philipe tires of banal activities and starts to plan and execute bigger crimes that pose serious dangers to society. As the very real possibility of killing innocent people looms large, Bob must decide whether to stay with Philipe or strike out for a town of ignoreds somewhere in Arizona. Bob leaves Philipe and journeys to this strange town where an even greater threat to his survival appears. The conclusion of the book takes a horrific turn for the worse while reuniting Bob with old acquaintances.

There are elements of the usual Little humor in 'The Ignored.' When Bob begins to suspect he is bland and average, he peruses his CD collection and realizes everything he likes is strictly Top Ten, run of the mill music. He watches MASH and laughs at all the jokes embellished with a laugh track. In short, Bob embraces everything average, everything the common man should find amusing or pleasing. Moreover, the town of the ignoreds turns out to be one big joke firmly aimed at the solar plexus of consumerism and mass culture. Little seems to say that all of us will end up ignored in a society that preaches bland conformity through the homogenization of mass marketing.

The horror, if you do not think being a cog in the wheels of capitalism is horrific enough, makes a strong showing towards the end of the book. Little references Arthur Machen's 'The Great God Pan' when he shows Bob slipping into an even more horrifying condition than his status as an ignored. This section of the book is quite imaginative yet a bit strange for even Bentley Little. It works, though, and is great fun to read. Ultimately, this horror/social satire hybrid works better than other Little novels, when he usually chooses one of the two themes and runs with it.

I am waiting with baited breath for Little's new novel that will arrive in bookstores later this year. Until then, 'The Ignored' gave me a good dose of Bentley Little to tide me over. As great as Little's message is in 'The Ignored' concerning the subject of consumption, be sure and check out his novel 'The Store,' which does a better job of delivering a jeremiad against the rampant materialism currently overrunning every street corner in America.

THE IGNORED is a very subversive book. Horror fiction,
in general, is a conservative genre concerned with
maintenance of the status quo. As Stephen King himself
has written, horror is about the fear of "the other,"
those who are different, those who are not like us, and
the most tried-and-true horror formula is that of
the happy family living a contented existence until
a monster/ghost/bogeyman comes into their lives,
bringing chaos. After a series of horrific encounters
they finally vanquish this intruder and order is
restored.

In THE IGNORED, Bentley Little turns this concept
on its head. The horror here is normalcy, and the evil is
conformity. Bob Jones, the novel's quintessentially
average protagonist, would like nothing more than to
be different and original, would love for chaos to
enter his boring well-ordered life. But whether because
of genetic predisposition or some other more elusive more sinister
reason, he is unable to do, say, think or feel anything
unpredictable or even remotely individualistic. He
also finds that his condition is worsening, that he is
becoming so average that he is "ignored," that he is
invisible , and this highly original picaresque novel
follows him on his voyage of self-discovery, a voyage
that takes him to some very dark and disturbing places.

Little has always been a writer concerned with the
homogeneity of modern life, with the increasing conformity
and lack of individuality in our society, and while he adopts
the graphic sex and violence of the horror genre, his
themes, ideas and masterful use of metaphor come from the
province of serious literature. Little has previously
addressed these subjects in his critically lauded
novel UNIVERSITY and, especially, in his cult classic
THE MAILMAN. Here, however, he has outdone himself.
THE IGNORED is hands down the best horror novel of 1997.

Little's second book shows of things to come. Not an overtly gory book, but he layers the suspense and fills the book with paranoia about everyday common place things.

Little weaves dark comedy into this tale about an evil mailman who has come to Willis, Arizona after their old mailman commits suicide. Strange things start to happen with the mail and I won't give it away. This book reaches out and grabs ahold of by the throat.

Little-ites will see characters fleshed out and small-town america represented well here. If you live in a small rural area, you need to buy this book.

This was the second book I read after Dominion and it made me a lifetime fan of this great writer.

I think it takes a very good writer to capture one's interest enough to suspend a certain amount of belief in what is possible and what can come off as downright foolish. Stephen King is one such writer because his story telling skill and his knowledge of people is that good. Bentley Little is also a writer who has that ability. The premise of his story, which involves the arrival of a new mailman in town who begins by giving the townspeople nothing but happy mail and then slowly but surely terrifies them with frightening mail, is a good one, and Little carries the reader along from one experience to another until all of a sudden there's mayhem and chaos and you've just got to see what happens next. There's another point about Little's writing as well. I've read horror novels that have a good starting premise, but either because the story becomes too over the top or the skill of the writer is lacking, there is an unsatisfactory ending. After all, this is a story and there's no real experience to draw from when writing on these kinds of topics. Little brought his story of the Mailman to a logical close which impressed me because I was beginning to wonder how on earth he was going to resolve all he had going on. I will definitely read other Bentley Little novels because I like the way he writes and because I've got to see what he does with some of his other ideas.

This book is one of Bentley Little's most suspenseful and terrifying novels. It is like a rollar coaster ride-- it starts out calm and serene, it gradually builds up in intensity, and then it simmers down at the end. Ok, here's how the story goes.

The local mailman committs suicide, and no one can figure out why. Then the new mailman comes to town, and he is strange looking, with pale skin and red hair. The mailman's clownish appearance does not mask his intentions for long. He starts out with delivering very good mail to the residents of this small town, but the good news quickly turns bad, and the schoolteacher, Doug Albin, quickly realizes just what the menacing mailman is up to. The mailman starts delivering goodies such as nasty letters from long lost friends, body parts, and even long lost letters from people who are dead, that make it seem as if they will come back to the town. This novel culminates with the terrified townspeople chanting," No mail, no mail!".

Don't let the seemingly calm beginning of this novel fool you, this book is a real chiller!

Bentley Little has a knack for taking the most ordinary parts of day to day life and giving them a horrific and supernatural but realistic twist. In The Association, Little tells the story of a couple, Barry and Maureen Welch, who by the supposed perfect home in a gated community, Bonita Vista, in Utah. Enter the Association.

Shortly after moving in, the couple is met with the rules and regulations of living inside this idyllic gated community. The rules border from the mundane to the absurd (a resident with two vehicle must have them parked pointing the same way) to down right horrifying (the Association does not allow children and has the right to terminate any pregnancy of a resident). Barry, a horror writer, is not even allowed to write at home because the Association does not allow residents to use their homes as a place of business.

Those who do not follow the C,C & R's, the Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions of Bonita Vista are subjected to outrageous fines, slavery and even unexplained disappearance. The novel tells of Barry and Maureen's fight against the power of the Association. Little's depictions of the strict guidelines and absurdities of the Association cause the reader to immediately side with Barry and Maureen.

This book turns out to be a true battle between good and evil but Little creates a horrific little community within the confines of ordinary life which makes the book all the more horrifying for its possible realism. When you finish, you wonder if Bonita Vista could be a real place and whether or not the Association is watching you!

So far in 2001, horror fans have been treated to some great books (Douglas Clegg's NAOMI and Simon Clark's DARKNESS DEMANDS being in the forefront). However, Bentley Little's latest offering may possibly be his greatest tale yet. Despite some similarities with his book THE STORE, THE ASSOCIATION pulls the reader into Little's brand of the macabre quickly and never lets go. Few, if any authors out there can take such a mundane thing as a homeowner's association and completely put a sinister twist to it as does Little. A quarter into the story and you'll want to jump in and help main character Barry Welch fight this bizarre group. Plenty of chills, action, strange characters, and great underlying social commentary makes this a must read for horror fans. Little lives up to and surpases all the hype printed on the covers of his books. He is simply the best. Add two pluses here for a great ending and one of the best (and funniest) opening dedications I've ever seen in a novel!

I throughly enjoyed Bentley Little's "The Association". You wouldn't think a book about a homeowner's association would be so terrifying but it is! It gets off to a scary start with the dead cat stuffed in the mailbox and just keeps on going!

The main character, Barry Welch writes horror for a living and finds himself living the worst nightmare of all. You can really identify with the primary characters as they experience the terror of the association, who if anyone tries to cross them or break the rules, come up missing or deformed.

I've read this book twice within the last nine months and will definitely read more of Little's work!

if ur into horror stories this one is one for ur list

I'm already a big fan of Bentley Little's works and with The House he doesn't disappoint. Five complete strangers from different corners of the U.S. have similar erotic, violent dreams. Supernatural occurences plague each character's hometown. The only connection, unbeknownst to them, is the houses of their childhood, which somehow is the same for each. A large house, ominouse and forboding...

This was a pretty good, original spin on the haunted house tale. Bentley Little knows how to write a fast paced, gore filled story that screams of B-movie. The house and everything else supernatural had a Lovecraftian quality and every action sequence was aptly detailed in Little's trademark, unflinching way. This book reminded me somewhat of William Hope Hodgson's "The House on the Borderland" which is also a great read. The use of dolls was a nice, creepy touch, especially when used as a murder weapon. Grisly, original death scenes kept the story moving. The only snags were in characters lacking dimension (which, in some way, is good) that may annoy readers. This is horror as it is meant to be, laughable, offensive, disturbing, under no circumstances to be taken seriously. The ending wasn't as good as I would have liked, but overall I was entertained. For serious horror fans only.

If you get offended easily and don't like sick, twisted stories, then this book's not for you. But if you can let your mind venture into another world, then be sure to read The House. Bentley Little has one heck-of-an imagination. At least, I hope it's his imagination. This book has five main characters (Norton, Daniel, Stormy, Mark & Laurie).You really have to be a power reader because each chapter is that character's story. So you have to remember what Mark was doing four chapters ago. Other than that, you really have to read this book for a good ghost story!