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Merz, Jon F. (Jon F. Merz)
When one thinks of vampire hunters, the immediate image might be a debonair gentleman in a long coat, or perhaps a fierce slayer with wooden stakes. But a ninja vampire hunter? Enter the wonderfully weird world of Jon F. Merz.
Let's start with Lawson, the titular vampire of the Lawson Vampire series. Lawson is no Edward Cullen. He's a vampire with the job description of a 'fixer'. And before you think it, no, he’s not the guy who'll repair your leaky sink. Unless by 'leaky sink', you mean 'potential vampire-related catastrophe'. From 'The Fixer' to 'The Ripper', each entry promises thrills, chills, and maybe a few spills.
But let's pause for a moment. We have to address the slightly frosty elephant in the room. Lawson may be an accomplished 'fixer', but his short stories take the (fruit)cake. 'Rudolf The Red Nosed Rogue' and 'Frosty the Hitman' are the names of actual novellas in the series. If you ever wanted to find out how Santa's reindeer get revenge, or what Frosty the Snowman does when he isn't being jolly, Merz might just have the stories for you.
Beyond Lawson's blood-sucking escapades, Merz dives into the world of ninjas. The Ninja Apprentice series is, unsurprisingly, a nod to his own experience with Bujinkan Ninjutsu. The titles alone, like 'The Lost Scrolls of Fudo Shin' and 'The Tsuba of Kotogawa', promise covert operations and perhaps a stealthy visit to a dojo or two.
Yet, don't be fooled into thinking Merz is a one-trick (or even two-trick) pony. His other series like Frank Steel, HELLstalkers, and Jake Thunder are like watching a one-man-band play - you're not quite sure where to look, but you're having a great time.
But perhaps the pièce de résistance is Merz’s stint as 'Alex Archer'. Ever wanted to see an author take on multiple personalities? 'Alex' has penned a number of entries in the Rogue Angel series, and each is as mysterious as Merz's decision to adopt a pseudonym. You can search the Nest for articles on Merz, Jon F. (Jon F. Merz) over at https://www.SFcrowsnest.info/tag/Jon-F.-Merz