Customer Reviews

Return of The Wolf Man

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The title and cover may sound cheesy, but this is an incredibly exciting book! There's action, horror, serious violence, classic revivals of all the Universal Monsters, and plenty of tongue-in-cheek references for those "In the Know".

Plus we get answers to questions like...

What happened to all the monsters after the end of Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein?

Who would win in a fight between Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster?

Who would win in a fight between The Wolf-Man and Dracula?

How exactly do all of these monsters from the 1930's end up in the present?

This book is a classic monster lovers dream. Trust me, if you grew up watching Creature Feature on Saturday afternoon, then this is the book for you. I have nothing but respect for how Mr. Rovin handles all of the monsters true to their origin and even weaves in all of the numerous films that they appeared in...he does not take the cowards way out and say, "That never happened." This is remarkable considering the references to Frankenstein vs. The Wolf-Man, House of Dracula, and even...The Deadly Mantis. AWESOME!

I started out only reading Return of the Wolf Man because I enjoyed Rovin's VESPERS and FATALIS. But in the end, this book outshines both of those fine works and will earn a nice spot on my bookshelf where I can recommend it to others.

Well done Mr. Rovin!

So turn out the lights and ...READ AND ENJOY!

This is the best horror novel I've ever read. It picks up were the old movie's left off fifty years ago.Rovin captures the spirit of each monster perfectly. The obsessed Larry Talbot who if unable to destroy the Frankenstein monster and Dracula, wishes only to die. The evil charm of Dracula and the mindless fury of the Frankenstein monster. It also explains how, Larry Talbot who was cured in House of Dracula is once again the Wolfman.Dracula's battles with the Wolfman are well done.The only thing wrong is were still waiting for the sequel?

The REALLY BAD thing about Rovin's novel is that he has Larry Talbot claim he has eaten nothing but human flesh since 1941. Even allowing for his prolonged periods of 'death' between movies, this seems silly. Between full moons, Talbot is just a guy! And no lightweight, either.

That's my only, piddling beef. Rovin's book is almost as much fun as the Anno Dracula novels and stories of Kim Newman. Like them it is brim-full of in-jokes and cross-references from our favourite genre.

Ever wondered what became of blustery Mr McDougall after Talbot bit him? Whether the Florida of A&C MEET... was the same Florida stalked years later by another monster icon? What really happened to vampire newborn Sandra Mornay after the Frankenstein Monster threw her out the window? What became of Chick and Wilbur? And what happened to Lawrence Talbot's second chance at normal life but we all knew Dr Edelmann's theory was bunk, didn't we)? Rovin answers all that, and more. Pity about poor Professor Stevens though....

Tremendous fun! A pity Jeff could not continue with later volumes in this 'series'....

Jeff Rovin makes the wishes of monster fans come true with this novel. Picking up at the climax of ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN, we are finally told what "really" happened to Lawrence Talbot/the Wolf Man, Count Dracula, and the Frankenstein Monster following that film's conclusion.

Fifty years later in 1998, the Wolf Man and the Monster are discovered alive in the ruins of the basement at Mornay Castle. Dr. Caroline Cooke, the new owner, agrees to not only help Talbot find a cure for his lycanthropy, but to finally destroy the Monster once and for all.

Everything soon falls apart when Dracula learns of all this, and sets in motion a diabolical plan that will turn the Monster into his indestructable slave and give the Wolf Man a taste of "true death."

Rovin's characterizations of the three monsters fit so perfectly that it's difficult to imagine this novel as anything other than the Universal film that SHOULD have been made, but wasn't.

Lawrence Talbot is just as tragic and heroic as Lon Chaney, Jr. portrayed him, battling his own inner demons all while trying to use his power to thwart the greater evil of Dracula, while the Count himself possesses all the charm and nobility that Bela Lugosi brought to the role. The Frankenstein Monster is given less to do than his two co-stars, but he still plays an active part in the story. By no means does Rovin leave him on an operating table; he is mobile!

The book is loaded with in-jokes that will appeal to the die-hard fans of the Universal films, and some of these references even fall far outside the realm of the Dracula/Frankenstein/Wolf Man sagas.

My one gripe is that Rovin's dates for the events seen on the screen seem a bit off, especially considering the amount of time the monsters supposedly remained dormant between films. Other than that, Return of the Wolf Man is an excellent read, filled with action, suspense, and the perfect amount of horror. A welcome new addition to a classic series!

This was Ropins' best work. A return to the wonderful 1940's Universal horror movies. Mr. Rovin takes the ideas in those films and puts fresh twists to them, all the while honoring the films themselves. The only complaint I can find is that the author so obviously sets up for a sequel that has yet to come.

An added bonus is that Mr. Rovin plants throwaway hints to Universal movies not directly tied into the Dracula, Frankenstein, Wolfman films. It's a great read and a fine little trivia game. I anxiously await another installment!

The Universal horror classic movie that fans have been dying for is, at long last ... a book! Fifty years after ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN, werewolf Lawrence Talbot, the Frankenstein Monster, and Count Dracula are all revived in Rovin's fast-paced, gore-drenched chiller. The level of graphic violence in the story was never depicted in the classic Universal Pictures horror films, and at times seems out of place. Also, having the Monster actually 8-feet tall is a tad ludicrous, but does make for some interesting shennanigans! Rovin captures Lawrence Talbot perfectly, and creates some interesting characters for the book's contemporary sequences. His handling of Dracula doesn't quite ring true, though. The book's ending sets up the inherent sequel, but where is it?

I have always been a huge Universal classic horror fan. ...Picking up where we last saw the Wolf Man, Dracula, and the Frankenstein Monster, Rovin continues the legendary saga and carries it into present day Florida. The Wolf Man and the Monster are revived by accident when the heir to Mornay Castle attempts to discover what is in the sealed off basement. Dracula, who has been in hiding for 50 years, learns of this, and is determined to give the Monster a pliable brain he can control, as well as eliminate his nemesis :the Wolf Man. The result is an amazing adventure filled with thrills and chills. Rovin's writing is superb, and his characterizations of his monster characters are exactly what monster fans will expect. The most intriguing scenes are between Dracula and Talbot/the Wolf Man. The book is also wrought with inside jokes, and some character names are taken from the movies. There is also an amusing parody of Lugosi's immortal Dracula line," I never drink - wine." Talbot says " I never eat - chicken." I have read this book three times already, and it never gets tiring. If you love the classic monster films of Universal or are simply interested, buy this book. Trust me, you won't regret it!

Anyone who's seen Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein knows it trampled a bit on tradition by letting Dracula's reflection show in a mirror and allowing vampire and werewolf to die by drowning. If Universal hadn't been so cheap not to continue the series with both of the groups that took them out of receiver's shift, the Universal Monsters and A&C, Wolfie, Drac and Frankie would have picked right back up in 1949. But alas, they all ended as soon as WWII did. But thanks to longtime Universal Monsters afficianado Jeff Rovin, the story picks up in La Mirada, Florida in June of 1998.

The story begins with a prologue where the Wolf Man's human counterpart Lawrence Talbot, meets back up with Joan Raymond, the insurance investigator from the previous film. Together, they defeat Dracula and the Monster again, and it picks up fifty years later with Miss Raymond's passing and revelations that she was a horror novelist prior to her death. Her great-niece Dr. Caroline Cooke, accidentally uncovers Larry and the others and befriends Talbot. Unlike all the other scientists in the pictures, she tries to help him against his rivals and promises once and for all she will rid him of his curse and help him enjoy the rest of his natural life. It's also kind of humorous the passages Rovin puts about Chick Young and Wilbur Grey (A&C's characters) coming back and telling stories of monsters and Talbot's amazement learning about answering machines, microwave ovens, cell-phones, mini-skirts and boom boxes that play rap music.

The author, Jeff Rovin, like my twenty-year old self, is a true Universal Monsters fan, and I felt like I was watching an old Universal with Karloff, Lugosi and Chaney the whole time I read this. Now, how about a movie Universal?

For all of you "40 and 50-somethings" who enjoyed the Universal Movies Monster "Series", this book will be a treat! Jeff Rovin has succeeded in reproducing all the camp, scariness, and fun that the 1950's and 60's movies about Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolf Man contained.

I first stumbled on to Rovin by reading his excellent story of bats taking over the city of New York in "Vespers" (highly recommended). Checking through the list of his books, I found "Return of the Wolf Man". After reading a number of the reviews listed here with Amazon, I decided to give the book a try. I was not disappointed. Rovin has captured all the pathos and anguish that Larry Talbot carries with him as the Wolf Man. Just like in the movies the reader can't help but feel the conflicting emotions of sympathy and shock over Talbot's deeds as the Wolf Man.

Depictions of Count Dracula and Frankenstein's monster are true to legend and these monsters play active roles in this novel. And, as with the Universal Pictures movies about these characters, this book doesn't really end, but rather fades away to where a sequel can later pick up the action.

Even if you weren't a fan of those old monster films, Rovin's story is strong enough to stand alone on it's own merits. It has generous amounts of chills, surprises, and gore. Characterization is somewhat weak, but Rovin makes up for this shortcoming with terrific story-telling and vivid word pictures.

"Return of the Wolf Man" is a solid page-turner and one book that horror fans won't be disappointed with !

I mean, it COULD be a good movie, but I think a follow up to a 1948 movie may have limited appeal. The monsters in the book, however, still have a strong appeal, so maybe it would work. He starts at the end of the Abbott and Costello spoof, which is a difficult place to start from, and he brings it back to all out horror without ignoring the characters Wilbur and Chick. That's impressive. This is well worth buying. He ties it in with some Universal Movies that never were part of the Wolfman series, and makes it work with few inconsistencies. Rovin has an enthusiastic style that seems slightly immature, but that only means his best work is ahead of him, and "Return of the Wolfman" is as good of a novel as any out there in the last several years anyway. Find a way to get a copy.