Nik Houser

“You’ve got to read this!” is the most common phrase in any conversation of which I am a part. Frequently recommended to me are books of which I’m unaware or titles that wouldn’t usually interest me. I tend to read a lot in the SF, mystery, horror and contemporary lit genres, so it always surprises and occasionally delights me when someone tells me I have to read, say, a regency romance. I’ve made it a mission to read some of these recommended books.

Nik Houser suggested two books, the first of which he wrote. Nik’s published a number of short stories, one of which appears in The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror 2007. Red Rover is a short novel and a preview is currently available on Nik’s website: www.nikhouser.com.

It’s an anthropomorphic mystery story involving a dog and cat, Goldie and Medusa investigating the disappearance of an infant from his backyard.

Nick takes a simple story and expands it by creating a philosophy and mythology which maintain order amongst the beasts of the neighborhood. It has the qualities of some of Neil Gaiman’s stories, in particular, “A Dream of Cats”. A very enjoyable story. - Scott… (meer)