Comments on: Mister Slaughter, by Robert McCammon: A Review

By: Patrick Burnett

Patrick Burnett — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:42:21 +0000

How funny. I think Speaks the Nightbird is sublime, the absolutely perfect Matthew Corbett book. Absolutely perfect in every way. Queen of Bedlam completely changed the dynamic, the feel, the pace. It’s a good book, but I felt it meandered, taking almost 150 pages just to get to the point (Nightbird was even slower, but you got the feeling that McCammon MEANT to do that, to embrace the slower pace of the turn of the 17th century and its backwoods setting.

But Mister Slaughter is a disappointment. Sweeney Todd, really? Professor Fell, really? The very first retirement village EVAR. Really? Aren’t we getting a little precious and coincidental now? I liked Mister Slaughter but from its premise, where Hudson Greathouse acts differently than his character would allow and Matthew Corbett seems played by someone else entirely, I had trouble accepting that I was reading something set in the same world as the first two books. But then the end happened and I thought McCammon was trying too hard to set it in that world. I mean, there must be more criminals in the world than that one guy pulling strings, right? Just call him Moriarty Fu Manchu and get it over with, I guess.

By: barbara bundy

barbara bundy — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:49:33 +0000

McCammon new book…a great read. Try it you will like it.

By: TERRIBLEMINDS: Chuck Wendig, Freelance Penmonkey » Blog Archive » The Pop Culture Vulture Year In Review

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:13:34 +0000

[...] what? My blog, my rules. Two men enter, one man leaves. Or something. Anyway, I’ll let my earlier review do the talking on this one. I will say that it’s doubly exciting that McCammon is not only [...]

By: smuldoon

smuldoon — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:25:46 +0000

I forgot to mention this Chuck but that’s exactly how i dress when going to a Sox game in April and October(for that matter half the Summer as well).

By: Chuck

Chuck — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:37:16 +0000

I’ve not yet read The Terror — thanks for the reminder to do so!

Speaks the Nightbird is great — but, for people who want a slightly more rollicking mystery read, they could start off with Bedlam, I think.

Thanks for commenting!

– c.

By: smuldoon

smuldoon — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:35:42 +0000

Chuck i put Bedlam in the same category as The Terror by Dan Simmons,two wonderful books that not only take you back in time but also on an epic journey of suspence and intrigue.I’m extremely thankful Mr.M is still doing his thing.I’ll buy Mr.Slaughter as soon as it’s on the shelves.One other thing i really enjoyed Speaks The Nightbird.It’s the begining of the series so it is rather important.Thanks for the review.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:08:20 +0000

Deal!

By: Stoney

Stoney — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:27:32 +0000

Bacigalupi wrote a series of 11 short works, all speculative fiction set in a post apocalyptic world dealing with current environmental issues. Freaking great stuff. He’s been in a bunch of sf mags/anthologies and finally got his own book. One story that was spun off into “The Windup Girl” is a world where bioengineering has destroyed all variety of crops, baring the two that SoyGen patented and runs. Instead of our world being based on oil/money, it’s based on calories. Great idea, tight story to boot.

I’ll check out yours for the low low price of you hitting amazon and checking out mine. I’m unable to link on my phone, because I R Lazy and all Thumbs.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:47:01 +0000

Stoney:

I’ve no idea what a Bacigalupi is, but color me intrigued.

Which is kind of a robin’s egg blue, if you care.

Julie:

Awesome! Yes. If we can keep The McCammon fed and happy and writing more books, I’m a happy man.

– c.

By: Stoney

Stoney — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:39:19 +0000

You had me at Top 5 Serial Killers. Both books are now on my Amazon wish list now, thank you.

(Have you read “Pump Six” by Bacigalupi? 11 speculative short fiction stories both cool and creepy. I have the full length novel “The Wind-Up Girl,” based on one of the short stories, waiting to be read. Pump Six was fantastic. Tightly written, wonderful details in those future post-apocalyptic horrorshows.