With the re-release pending of Island Life, here are some reviews to whet your appetite

Paul Di Filippo in Asimov's SF Magazine
_______________________________________

A lonely island in the Scottish Hebrides, sparsely tenanted, is host to an archaeological expedition intent on opening an old barrow. But the scientists are not prepared for a surviving colony of murderous monsters led by a mad Atlantean priest named Calent. As the released creatures swamp the island, slaughtering livestock and people alike, the humans find themselves first trying to understand the threat, then combat it with few resources save their courage and wits.

A female inkeeper named Anne, her grown daughter Meg, and a researcher named Duncan prove to be pivotal to meeting this threat.

Meikle has an engaging, sturdy prose style. And his familiarity with the terrain and culture of his setting contributes to a lively tale, where the inevitable bloodshed has more of an old-fashioned Richard Matheson feel to it than a Stephen King texture.


Garrett Peck for Cemetery Dance #40
___________________________________

Setting his tale on a sparsely populated island in the Outer Hebrides, Meikle works with a small, intimate group of characters. When archeology students open what appears to be an early Neolithic burial mound, they release an ancient race of creatures that have existed since long before the days of Christ.

These semi-human, semi-bestial creatures are devoted to their ancient god, the Sky Father, as well as the practice of cannibalism. Survivors of the initial onslaughta marine biologist, two lighthouse keepers, a pub owner wife and daughter and an old sheep dog must do battle with these monstrous pre-humans, who are as intelligent as they are deadly

Meikle makes the most of his setting, using its isolation to strong effect.

Many fears come into play; agoraphobia, claustrophobia, acrophobia, as well as fear for ones own life and the lives of loved ones. His solid prose commands attention right from the start and carries the reader straight through to the climax.

The Scottish setting and dialogue add a bit of exotic spice for readers tired of terror tales set in small town America.


Steve & Lesley Mazey for The Eternal Night
__________________________________________

A group of archaeology students and their professor begin a dig into a mysterious mound on a Hebridean island off Scotland's West Coast. All initially goes well, with unexpectedly friendly relations between the students and the islanders.

But as the mist begins to envelope the island livestock are found mutilated, and one of the students reaches the island lighthouse telling of horrific events in the mound during the excavation. This book starts with gentle chapters introducing the characters and bringing you into the life on the island. You get a good understanding of the people and a feeling for their environment.

The supernatural elements of the story are the introduced in a gradual way as the characters discover what is happening on their island. The gory details are handled in a very minimal fashion, more effective than thorough description could ever be.

And the reactions to the events the people exhibit seem highly appropriate, they are not supermen, these are people like you and I, and react accordingly.

This story reads like Stephen King writing a Lovecraft story, bringing King's level of descriptive prose to the supernatural creature from underground storyline. I am not a frequent reader of horror stories, but Willie Meikle's brand of horror is one I would gladly read in future.


Valarie Thorpe for Really Scary.com
___________________________________

Some writers try to take you to a far away place by dropping a boatload of location names and places and then there are writers like William Meikle. "Island Life,", takes you to a Scottish island by dropping you dead center into rock strewn lands, drippy thick fog, crunching noises underfoot and you simply have no choice but to go.

It's trite but it's true...I picked it up and I didn't put it down. Read it cover to cover and enjoyed one helluva monster story.

But that's selling it short. It's not just a monster story. Sure, it covers ancient evils, where they originated and their current day vengeance wreaking but Meikle's characters are fully developed and easy to picture as people you know, you've had a beer with, you would rather not seen crushed into bone meal by diabolical evil.

Probably one of my favorite elements are the actual creatures. We're treated to a true species, not just a pastiche. I'd actually like to see their story fleshed out even further...maybe a prequel?


Paula Heuschkel for The Modoc Record
____________________________________

My first immediate impression of Island Life was 'oh great, another monster story' and it was also completely wrong. Dead wrong, in fact.

Island Life is so much more than just another monster story. Meikle’s prose draws the reader in, weaving a tightly spun web of folklore, horror, and suspense from which there is no escape.

The isolated island setting combined with the sub-setting of the dank caves is overpowering in its feeling of claustrophobia, an intensity that builds to the novel’s climax. Island Life leaves the reader gasping for air and seriously reconsidering his next Scottish vacation.


Island Life is coming very soon in paperback, audio book and kindle editions from Ghostwriter Publications ( http://www.ghostwriterpublications.com/page11.html )

_________________

"One of the premier storytellers of our time" - FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND
William Meikle