Joseph Nassise
Author of The Heretic
About the Author
Series
Works by Joseph Nassise
Urban Allies: Ten Brand-New Collaborative Stories (2016) — Editor; Contributor — 75 copies, 6 reviews
Dust & Shadow 3 copies
Down Among The Bosnian Dead 2 copies
Money Well Earned 1 copy
Dawn Patrol 1 copy
Associated Works
Voyager: A Science Fiction and Fantasy eBook Sampler From Harper Voyager US (2014) — Contributor — 7 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1968-04
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Fordham University
- Occupations
- writer
- Organizations
- Horror Writers Association
Novelists Inc. - Agent
- Robert Diforio (D4EO Literary Agency)
- Short biography
- Joe Nassise is an American writer and the author of several novels, including the internationally bestselling Templar Chronicles trilogy (HERETIC, A SCREAM OF ANGELS, A TEAR IN THE SKY) , as well as a fiction collection (SPECTRES AND DARKNESS) and assorted short stories found in such works as MASQUES V, CHTHULIAN SINGULARITY, and LOST ON THE DARKSIDE.He is a former president of the Horror Writers Association, the world’s largest organization of professional horror writers, a two time Bram Stoker Award and International Horror Guild Award nominee, and a life and creativity coach.
Born and raised in Boston, he currently lives in Arizona.Novels
The Lost Tomb. Toronto: Gold Eagle/Worldwide Library, 2009(forthcoming)
Yin & Yang. Toronto: Gold Eagle/Worldwide Library, 2009 (forthcoming)
The Book of Coming Sorrows.Munich: Droemer-Knaur, 2010 (forthcoming)
Witches’ Hammer. Munich: Droemer-Knaur, 2009 (forthcoming)
Eyes to See. Munich: Droemer-Knaur, 2009 (forthcoming)
Die Schatten. Munich: Droemer-Knaur, 2008
Der Engel. Munich: Droemer-Knaur, 2007
Der Ketzer. Munich: Droemer-Knaur, 2007
Heretic. New York: Pocket Books, 2005.
Riverwatch. Rome: Gargoyle Books, 2005. Bram Stoker Award and International Horror Guild Award nominee
Riverwatch. New York: Pocket Books Books, 2003. Bram Stoker Award and International Horror Guild Award nominee
Novellas and Collections
More Than Life Itself. United Kingdom: Telos Publishing, 2006.
Spectres and Darkness. Los Angeles: Medium Rare Books, 2002Short Fiction
"Becoming Michael" forthcoming in Monster Noir
“Siren Call,” forthcoming in The Cthulhu Singularity.
“Becoming Michael,” forthcoming in Holy Horrors
“Money Well Earned,’ 2007 Legends of the Mountain State
“Saintkiller,” Masques V. Gauntlet Press, 2006.
“Roadside Memorials,” Lost on the Darkside. Roc, 2005
“Dawn Patrol,” Book of FInal Flesh. Eden Studios, 2004Comics/Graphic Novels
Candice Crowe - 6 issue mini-series, Arcana Comics, Canada, 2008
“EPIC” - special format graphic novel, Hatfield Innovative Studios, 2008
HERETIC - 6 issue mini-series, Markosia Comics, UK, 2007
Role-Playing Game Supplements
The Sentinel’s Bible - players sourcebook for The Seventh Seal role-playing game, Creative Illusions, 2003
Non-Fiction
Contributor to On Writing Horror: A Handbook from the Horror Writers Association. New York: Writer’s Digest Books, 2006
Cemetery Dance issue #39 and #50 - Nationality
- USA
- Places of residence
- Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Arizona, USA
Members
Reviews
A large collection of stories, although I understand some of them are already available to readers. I felt like the strongest stories stepped out of their protagonist's world and into the antagonist's, although a few just felt like extensions of the series which I often didn't enjoy (this may be because I don't read most of these authors, however my favorite was by my #1 author and she did an excellent job building her character without bringing in her series regulars, one of my least show more favorite was from a series I love, but it felt like it was really about the protagonist and I was unimpressed.)
A few stories were dnf for me. Reel Life by Steven Savile was too much. A battered woman, a stolen baby, a truly repugnant character who didn't show evidence of dying within a page - I'm here for a light look at adversaries, not to follow around a disgusting man whose first little character monologue mentions rape. I don't fucking think so.
Unexpected Choices, a Horngate Witches story, just bored me. I think this is one of the stories where if you know the series/world building you may be all in, but personally this one did a good job of confirming my feeling that antagonist's stand alone stories are best left outside of the main story line.
Make it Snappy, a Jane Yellowrock story ended up a skip, but I've never liked the dialogue or word use in the series, so I wasn't too surprised when the story plot broke under the painful attempt at pithy patter.
Chase the Fire, a Lawson Vampire story, just stretched endlessly and I moved on out of boredom.
For the good!
Hounded, from the Cainsville series, was a good look at a truly bad guy. Not a series I read, but till easy to follow.
Nigsu Ga Tesgu, from the Ustari Cycle is a standout favorite. Excellent world building, timing, characters. Fun all the way around.
Sixty-six Seconds, the Harmony Black series, does an excellent job of setting up the world, maintaining pace through a variety of bad guys, and keeping up the fun until the last page.
The Difference Because Deceit and Delusion, a prequel to Black Magic Outlaw, was a fun, fast-paced read that introduced a host of interesting character types.
Balance, an InCryptid story, was really fun. I do read this series and the look at one particular Cryptid, the cuckoo, was great. I really enjoyed the shaping of the species in the work. Seanan always manages fascinating characters and beasties, well worth reading.
Everywhere, A Pitchfork County story, was pitch perfect on pace, characterization, and world. The end was predictable based on the good story set up, but you weren't there for that. You were there to watch the inevitable fall out. Excellent, a series I might pick up despite a reveal of some of my least favorite tropes. show less
A few stories were dnf for me. Reel Life by Steven Savile was too much. A battered woman, a stolen baby, a truly repugnant character who didn't show evidence of dying within a page - I'm here for a light look at adversaries, not to follow around a disgusting man whose first little character monologue mentions rape. I don't fucking think so.
Unexpected Choices, a Horngate Witches story, just bored me. I think this is one of the stories where if you know the series/world building you may be all in, but personally this one did a good job of confirming my feeling that antagonist's stand alone stories are best left outside of the main story line.
Make it Snappy, a Jane Yellowrock story ended up a skip, but I've never liked the dialogue or word use in the series, so I wasn't too surprised when the story plot broke under the painful attempt at pithy patter.
Chase the Fire, a Lawson Vampire story, just stretched endlessly and I moved on out of boredom.
For the good!
Hounded, from the Cainsville series, was a good look at a truly bad guy. Not a series I read, but till easy to follow.
Nigsu Ga Tesgu, from the Ustari Cycle is a standout favorite. Excellent world building, timing, characters. Fun all the way around.
Sixty-six Seconds, the Harmony Black series, does an excellent job of setting up the world, maintaining pace through a variety of bad guys, and keeping up the fun until the last page.
The Difference Because Deceit and Delusion, a prequel to Black Magic Outlaw, was a fun, fast-paced read that introduced a host of interesting character types.
Balance, an InCryptid story, was really fun. I do read this series and the look at one particular Cryptid, the cuckoo, was great. I really enjoyed the shaping of the species in the work. Seanan always manages fascinating characters and beasties, well worth reading.
Everywhere, A Pitchfork County story, was pitch perfect on pace, characterization, and world. The end was predictable based on the good story set up, but you weren't there for that. You were there to watch the inevitable fall out. Excellent, a series I might pick up despite a reveal of some of my least favorite tropes. show less
Sam Dalton lost his wife and is now on the verge of losing his daughter to an incurable illness of unknown origin (although maybe we can figure out the source considering what happens in the book). Add to that he has apparently lost his faith in God and is willing to switch teams if it will mean that his daughter will be spared, even if it means killing innocent people in the process. A big price for a bigger payoff, right?
Why don't people ever remember that the Devil never plays fair?
A show more very short but powerful depiction of a man who has lost it all learning that it is still possible to make a bad situation much worse. show less
Why don't people ever remember that the Devil never plays fair?
A show more very short but powerful depiction of a man who has lost it all learning that it is still possible to make a bad situation much worse. show less
Steampunk, alternate history WWI, fighting the Kaiser’s zombies, oh, don’t forget the Bloody Dead Baron...what’s not to like? The answer is not much in the first volume of Joseph Nassise’s The Great Undead War.
By the Blood of Heroes is the first volume and it kicks the series off to a great start. The war in the trenches has ground to a stalemate after the Germans invented the zombie gas which reanimates the fallen soldiers and turns them into barely controllable shock troops. show more Scientists on both sides continue to work on inventions and experiments designed to give their side a decisive edge to win the war. An American ace gets shot down behind enemy lines. This pilot holds a little known secret which could prove devastating to the Allies if discovered, so a rescue mission deep behind enemy lines must be undertaken. Working to stop the effort is the infamous Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron.
This is a very inventive and very entertaining book. Interesting characters on both sides along with dirigibles, steampunk inventions, and mad scientists all in a richly populated and detailed world. The action moves along briskly from start to finish with plenty of surprises along the way. Looking back, there are a surprising number of set pieces. From the trenches, to the battle in the air, to POW camps, to experimental research facilities, to airships and trains. The amount of detail and action crammed into this book is impressive. The only thing that felt a little rushed was the backstory between the downed pilot and the leader of the team sent to rescue him. Hopefully this can be expanded a bit more in future novels.
There is a certain amount of suspension of disbelief required and maybe a thing or two that don’t bear close examination, but all-in-all this is a very well thought-out and fun adventure. There were a number of things that could have been glossed over in the hope that the reader would just accept them, but the author went to the trouble of providing a plausible explanation for most of them. That attention to detail added to my appreciation of the story. I am looking forward to the continuation of this series. Highly recommended.
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book. show less
By the Blood of Heroes is the first volume and it kicks the series off to a great start. The war in the trenches has ground to a stalemate after the Germans invented the zombie gas which reanimates the fallen soldiers and turns them into barely controllable shock troops. show more Scientists on both sides continue to work on inventions and experiments designed to give their side a decisive edge to win the war. An American ace gets shot down behind enemy lines. This pilot holds a little known secret which could prove devastating to the Allies if discovered, so a rescue mission deep behind enemy lines must be undertaken. Working to stop the effort is the infamous Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron.
This is a very inventive and very entertaining book. Interesting characters on both sides along with dirigibles, steampunk inventions, and mad scientists all in a richly populated and detailed world. The action moves along briskly from start to finish with plenty of surprises along the way. Looking back, there are a surprising number of set pieces. From the trenches, to the battle in the air, to POW camps, to experimental research facilities, to airships and trains. The amount of detail and action crammed into this book is impressive. The only thing that felt a little rushed was the backstory between the downed pilot and the leader of the team sent to rescue him. Hopefully this can be expanded a bit more in future novels.
There is a certain amount of suspension of disbelief required and maybe a thing or two that don’t bear close examination, but all-in-all this is a very well thought-out and fun adventure. There were a number of things that could have been glossed over in the hope that the reader would just accept them, but the author went to the trouble of providing a plausible explanation for most of them. That attention to detail added to my appreciation of the story. I am looking forward to the continuation of this series. Highly recommended.
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book. show less
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
I thought BY THE BLOOD OF HEROES was going to be a simple ‘killing the undead horde of zombies with very large guns’ tale but it ended up being a much larger war story with very serious implications not only for the heroes but for the world if the wrong side won. The zombies, or shamblers as they are called, are used as weapons of war by the Germans against the Allied forces during WWI. Learning about the advancements in the corpse gas show more technology was very creepy as it went beyond just raising the dead. The experiments (done on both the dead and living) with the corpse gas elevated the horror to a frightening new level that was all too reminiscent of the Holocaust experiments carried out by the Nazis.
One thing that I didn’t like about this book was the overly technical aspects thrown into the action scenes. While it was interesting to have a dogfight (aka: fighter jet fight) scene, I had a hard time grasping what was happening as I am not familiar with planes and military terminology.
Frustration over the technical jargon aside, the story connected well between the three character narrations as Burke goes on his mission to save Major Jack Freeman. Richthofen’s narration was especially enjoyable as I liked being let in on the antagonist’s thoughts and ideas just to see if I could understand his motives at all or if he is just plain crazy. Richthofen’s motives were definitely on the crazy side but understanding his brand of crazy helped to truly immerse me in the story from all sides. Of the three narrations, I was the least interested in Freeman’s because his story was basically static as a POW with absolutely no means of escape until Burke’s team came. I did like learning more about shamblers along with Freeman but was impatient to get to Burke’s action or Richthofen’s plotting bad guy narrations.
Overall, I enjoyed seeing an alternate history in regards to WWI with not only shambler-making-technology but steampunk elements including mechanical prosthetic arms, dirigibles, and Tesla inspired weapons and technology. BY THE BLOOD OF HEROES mixes a creepy zombie apocalypse scenario with a dash of steampunk to make an action packed story full of heroism from a bygone era.
Sexual Content:
N/A show less
I thought BY THE BLOOD OF HEROES was going to be a simple ‘killing the undead horde of zombies with very large guns’ tale but it ended up being a much larger war story with very serious implications not only for the heroes but for the world if the wrong side won. The zombies, or shamblers as they are called, are used as weapons of war by the Germans against the Allied forces during WWI. Learning about the advancements in the corpse gas show more technology was very creepy as it went beyond just raising the dead. The experiments (done on both the dead and living) with the corpse gas elevated the horror to a frightening new level that was all too reminiscent of the Holocaust experiments carried out by the Nazis.
One thing that I didn’t like about this book was the overly technical aspects thrown into the action scenes. While it was interesting to have a dogfight (aka: fighter jet fight) scene, I had a hard time grasping what was happening as I am not familiar with planes and military terminology.
Frustration over the technical jargon aside, the story connected well between the three character narrations as Burke goes on his mission to save Major Jack Freeman. Richthofen’s narration was especially enjoyable as I liked being let in on the antagonist’s thoughts and ideas just to see if I could understand his motives at all or if he is just plain crazy. Richthofen’s motives were definitely on the crazy side but understanding his brand of crazy helped to truly immerse me in the story from all sides. Of the three narrations, I was the least interested in Freeman’s because his story was basically static as a POW with absolutely no means of escape until Burke’s team came. I did like learning more about shamblers along with Freeman but was impatient to get to Burke’s action or Richthofen’s plotting bad guy narrations.
Overall, I enjoyed seeing an alternate history in regards to WWI with not only shambler-making-technology but steampunk elements including mechanical prosthetic arms, dirigibles, and Tesla inspired weapons and technology. BY THE BLOOD OF HEROES mixes a creepy zombie apocalypse scenario with a dash of steampunk to make an action packed story full of heroism from a bygone era.
Sexual Content:
N/A show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 42
- Also by
- 6
- Members
- 1,249
- Popularity
- #20,539
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 62
- ISBNs
- 92
- Languages
- 3
