Book Talk: Evil Genius

It's week three of our in house weekly book talks. Make sure you join us every Tuesday at 4:00 at Watha T. to hear about the latest crazy thing we're reading. This weeks topic was the "Evil Genius." Here's what I picked.

Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman

Doctor Impossible is the classic definition of the evil genius. Here's just a taste of his cliche, but unique brand of villainy "When life gives you lemons you squeeze them, hard. Make invisible ink. Make an acid poison. Fling it in their eyes." Just great stuff here, super heroes vs. super villain. And the fight scenes are awesome.

MW by Osamu Tezuka

From a book with comic-book-like villainy, to a comic with novelesque villainy. MW is the story of Michio Yuki, he seems like the perfect guy, a handsome actor with everything going for him. But his beautiful exterior is the perfect disguise for the twisted soul underneath. Only Father Garai know Michio's secret and Michio pushes Garai to confront his own twisted soul. But Michio's plans are bigger and more deadly than Garai could have ever imagined.

Loop by Koji Suzuki

This is the sequel to Ring, the novel that inspired an entire series of films in both Japan and America. But the sequel to the novel goes to an entirely different place than the films, a much weirder and scarier place than any of the films could have gone in my opinion. Sadako, the girl from the well has escaped thanks to the unwitting help of a journalist has been unleashed upon the world. And her plans are so much more horrific than you can ever imagine.

Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

Fans of the Dexter series on Showtime will love the books. This is the second in the Dexter series and unlike the show, the novels take us on a joyride of horror and terror that is completely out of control. Someone is mutilating people from Sargeant Dokes's past, and Dokes's sins are coming back to haunt him with a vengeance. Perhaps one of the sickest things I've ever read. The evil genius at the heart of this one is not Dexter, but someone far more sick than you will ever find.

Swallowing Darkness by Laurell K. Hamilton

In the most recent installment of the Meredith Gentry series, Meredith finds herself mother-to-be, and expecting twins as well. But the plots to destroy her life and her bid for the throne of the Unseelie Court of the Fae are no less than they ever were. And first among them is Cel, her cousin, son of Queen Andais, the reigning monarch of the Unseelie. Cel may be mad, but he is born of the Sidhe and he has had centuries to hone his wits and wickedness. Can he take the throne from Meredith?

The Widows of Eastwick by John Updike

Alex, Jane and Sukie find themselves older, much older, and feeling the pull of time. None of them can quite make out what to do with their lives so they decide to return to the scene of their previous maleficia, Eastwick. But someone in Eastwick has not forgotten the slight that the witches did to their family.