Review by Regina Mitchell

EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS by Brian A. Hopkins Publisher: Earthling Publications List Price: $30

Earthling Publications is a newer small press, but one that sticks out from the crowd for its high production values and quality work. The book itself is gorgeous with a glossy dust jacket (with beautiful artwork by John Picacio) and a tightly bound cover. Notably absent are the typos and printing errors that seem to plague many of the smaller presses.

EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS is the story of Richard Bennington, an American archaeologist who lived in Mexico with his wife and daughter. During the last earthquake his daughter was killed, and his marriage fell apart. However, Bennington doesn't give up. Determined to have his family reunited, he calls upon ancient rites, the Aztec New Fire Ceremony, to call up old gods and hopefully resurrect his daughter and, in turn, his marriage.

The first half of the book sets the stage with Bennington recounting his relationship with his wife and the role Fate has played in their lives. It is obvious that Hopkins did his research for this book, but at times that research seems to overpower the story. Bennington's relationship with his wife was one of the most gripping parts of the story. I would love to have seen more on that relationship and a little less of Bennington's lectures on Aztec history. I also had to wonder about some of the stereotypical statements that were made on the Mexican culture; I expect that someone who lived in Mexico for eleven years and chose to raise his child there would have seen through at least some of the generalizations that are made throughout this book.

All in all, EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS is a short but gripping read. The story is compelling as the reader pieces together the pieces of Bennington's life, and it really takes off at the halfway point, when Bennington begins trying to put his family back together. It truly is a book that makes you want to know what happens next and Hopkins' style will appeal to fans of literate horror fiction.

I give it 3 bookwyrms

This review copyright 2003 E.C.McMullen Jr.

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