Hitchcock Film Series: Psycho

The Castle Dracula Podcast continues its Alfred Hitchcock Film Series with with PSYCHO!

Description: 

Psycho is a 1960 American suspense/horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock …based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch. The film depicts the encounter between a secretary, Marion Crane (Leigh), who goes to a secluded motel after embezzling money from her employer, and the motel's disturbed owner and manager, Norman Bates (Perkins), and the aftermath of their encounter.

Don't forget that next time we schedule a call you can join in live and ask questions by going to the Castle Dracula Podcast web page of the podcast and launching the chat. Our next episode will be announced soon!

Hear the Start of our Hitchcock Retrospective:

• on itunes
• on Stitcher
• on the web 
• Or here:

Listen to our HITCHCOCK RETROSPECTIVE: The Birds!

The Castle Dracula Podcast has returned with a series on the suspense classics of Alfred Hitchcock, starting with THE BIRDS.
 


Description: 

The Birds is a 1963 suspense/horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, loosely based on the 1952 story "The Birds" by Daphne du Maurier. It depicts Bodega Bay, California which is, suddenly and for unexplained reasons, the subject of a series of widespread and violent bird attacks over the course of a few days.

Don't forget that next time we schedule a call you can join in live and ask questions by going to the Castle Dracula Podcast web page of the podcast and launching the chat. Our next episode will be announced soon!

Hear the Start of our Hitchcock Retrospective:

• on itunes
• on Stitcher
• on the web 
• Or here: 

Our First Newspaper Review Calls Triumph of Death "The Best Alex Van Helsing book so far"

Hey Gang- Today we have our first print newspaper review of Alex Van Helsing: The Triumph of Death and it ROCKS.

Book 3, Triumph of Death, opens with a dizzying, James Bond-style action piece as the plane returning Alex to school is hijacked by vampires that hack a Polidorium computer and disable the cockpit, requiring Alex to fight them in freefall without a parachute. After surviving this harrowing experience, he gets to briefly catch up with his friends Paul, Sid and Minhi (and meet new student Astrid Gretelian) before the vampire organization known as the Scholomance attacks the Swiss town of Secheron. Throwing a veil of darkness around the town, the vampires—under the command of Elle, Alex’s undead nemesis—commence to construct a bizarre tableau heralding the arrival of Claire Clairmont, resurrected queen of the dead and former lover of Lord Byron, now known as the vampire Icemaker. The Scholomance is finally driven off by the Polidorium with help from Alex and Astrid, who turns out to be a young agent of the Hexen (a world-wide organization of witches to which Alex’s mother belongs). ...

Triumph is the best of the series so far, expanding the mythos and forcing Alex to face the implications of his choices in rewarding, resonant ways. The book is still action-packed and fast-moving, but the horror and indignation Alex feels—not only toward the vampires, but also about the measures humans must take to fight them—elevate the narrative, adding depth and gravitas. All the hallmark Henderson genre nods are in place, and literate fans won’t be able to stop smiling. My only complaint? I’d love Harry Potter-length novels in this universe. The ride is over too fast! Triumph of Death will be released in hardcover on July 24.

The Best "Fahrenheit 451 Covers" from @Slate

Slate has a great slideshow on the best covers of Fahrenheit 451, the Ray Bradbury masterpiece that has sold over 10 million copies.

Check it out.

Alex Van Helsing: The Triumph of Death comes July 24th! Mark your calendars and pre-order!

The time to pre-order is now!