Excellent stuff - I couldn't split the my top story - Chapter 3 "The Ghost Who Dies", Chapter 14 "Reflection of the Ghost" & Chapter 15 "A Ghost Without Yesterday". Congratulations on a job well done. Is there any plans to takes these stories & use them in comic book format?
Now that the holidays have started I'll be able to sit down and read this. Really looking forward to it!
Let me say I just got the limited signed edition the other week in the mail as a surprise gift from my girlfriend that lives in New York...I'm in North Carolina. All I can say is WOW! I can't wait to get into this book...I've been reading the old Avon novels from the 70's. I was recently able to aquire 11 out of the 15 novels. Anyway I wanted to chime in and say Kudos for all those involved with the Chonicles books...and Kudos to my girlfriend so just being so damn cool....any better half that can not only understand and put up with a Phan-Boy...but help feed the addiction....well she just Phan-tastic. Yeah I know the puns are corny.
Take care!
Jase25
I'm about halfway through the book and I am LOVING it! Seriously, all of the stories have been brilliant! I really hope Moonstone does another of these sometime in the future!
My original intention was to give a short review of each story, but as I am swamped with work and the little I have of spare time is spent on Christmas preparations, that won't happen on this side of the New Year at least.
In short, the book was a very nice product with mostly interesting stories. On a whole I would give Phantom Chronicles a strong 3 points out of 5. Close to 4 points, but I have a few major complaints:
First off, there are several stories set during WWII or thereabouts. In the book we also have several present day stories. All feature the current 21st Phantom. The WWII stories should have been more vague about which Phantom they were referring to (for example, no Diana or Guran), or explicitly featured a previous Phantom (20th or even the 19th). Yes, Lee Falk wrote stories about the 21st Phantom in WWII - when WWII was present day! When newly written stories in the same book feature the same persons in WWII and present day stories, it's confusing and inconsistent.
Also, wolves seem to be popular among Moonstone's writers, even in stories featuring past Phantoms. The 21st Phantom is the only Phantom with a wolf!
OK, you could argue that "it is possible that a previous Phantom had a wolf aswell", but I'm betting that the writers automatically assume that every Phantom has had a wolf named Devil and a horse named Hero and just throw it in without much thought.
These are things I think the editors should have picked up. The stories were for the most part well-written and entertaining but it is attention to details such as these that "makes or brakes" the Phantom experience.
There was also an abundance of "false Phantoms". I would have liked to see more variation in the general themes. Again, the editors should have put their foot down and said "Great idea, but we already have a story about an impostor Phantom. What more ideas do you have?"
I'm still hoping that this book was a success and that you should do another volume - that's even better!
My edition of this book finally arrived early this week (due to the fact that I had to get an all new credit card, it took a while!). First off, it's definetely one of the best looking Phantom publications I have in my collection. Marvelous cover, and a great layout.
I first read Mike's White Knight. Terrific story. I always seem to enjoy stories where the Phantom is seen from someone else's perspective; it really adds to the mystery and awe. Nice, surprising ending, and a plot that feels (sadly, due to the tragic events portrayed here) very realistic in most ways. The story would probably have worked well for a comic book, but it's perfect for the prose format. Well done.
Second, I read David Bishop's tale about the haunted house. Another very good story. Bishop already has the hang of writing the character after years of experience, and I really enjoyed his tale.
I am particularly looking forward to read about Julie's encounter with Jack the Ripper (fourth time a Phantom bumps into old Jack Hack, as it's happened three different times in Egmont stories!), as I recently participated in one of the well known Jack the Ripper-tours while visiting London. Chilly fun, as I hope the story will be.
My edition of this book finally arrived early this week (due to the fact that I had to get an all new credit card, it took a while!). First off, it's definetely one of the best looking Phantom publications I have in my collection. Marvelous cover, and a great layout.
I first read Mike's White Knight. Terrific story. I always seem to enjoy stories where the Phantom is seen from someone else's perspective; it really adds to the mystery and awe. Nice, surprising ending, and a plot that feels (sadly, due to the tragic events portrayed here) very realistic in most ways. The story would probably have worked well for a comic book, but it's perfect for the prose format. Well done.
I'm glad you liked the story, Walker. When writing, some stories just flow like water, others you really have to coax along. That one just poured out in a no time flat. I love it when that happens, and even more so when the reader loves the tale. 
A bit repetitive and monotonous in theme (considering that they were all in the same book!!
Yet, an easy read!