There’s nothing really new to say about the 35th book of Pendleton’s “Executioner” series…or at least anything that I haven’t said in one of 3.5 stars
There’s nothing really new to say about the 35th book of Pendleton’s “Executioner” series…or at least anything that I haven’t said in one of my reviews of the previous 34.
The story is pretty much the same, even if the location and the characters are different. Bolan still continues to whittle down the mafia to its last remaining kingpins, still manages to survive against impossible odds, and still manages to have yet another score to settle against La costa nostra.
I guess this book does deviate from the typical formula a bit as it focuses more on a military conspiracy (funded and bankrolled by the mafia) so the repetitious background wheeling and dealing is, thankfully, almost non existent.
Still, this series remains tried and true, even if it, at this point, as we near the finish line, it feels tired....more
Mack Bolan is back, and this time, instead of taking out the Mafia, he has carte Blanche from the presMy last read of 2022 and man was it a good one.
Mack Bolan is back, and this time, instead of taking out the Mafia, he has carte Blanche from the president to take out terrorists all over the world. It’s a ridiculous concept, no doubt, yet it is so much fun and probably the most exciting Exeuctioner novel since the very first in this series.
Everything about The New War is quintessential 80s dad lit: high tech weapons, explosions, blood and guts, and terrorists galore, complete with hot women and helicopters. Is it cliche? Of course, but it’s entertaining as hell and a huge step up from the previous 38 books of Bolan’s never ending war against the mob.
I think a big reason this works is a change in both publisher (Golden Eagle instead of Pinnacle) and a new author. Pendleton’s name is attached to this book but it was written by Saul Wernick, a late 70’s horror author, who, quite surprisingly, does an amazing job kicking off this new era of Mack Bolan. ...more
After the last terrible volume of Darth Vader, I think I can be justified in once again losing faith in Star Wars comics (and the entire franchise in After the last terrible volume of Darth Vader, I think I can be justified in once again losing faith in Star Wars comics (and the entire franchise in general if we are being totally honest).
Thankfully I can say that as far as canon goes, Han Solo & Chewbacca isn’t half bad.
Nothing really important happens, and it’s doing the same annoying thing of trying to make the eponymous film and Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge fit into an IP that doesn’t need either, but when you take into account just how up and down the new Star Wars comics have been (especially this new phase), a mildly innocuous series with Han and Chewie is kind of refreshing....more
I’ll say that while this book is a typical Patricia Wallace Zebra (iykyk), it’s still better than the garbage that is The Children’s Ward and the evenI’ll say that while this book is a typical Patricia Wallace Zebra (iykyk), it’s still better than the garbage that is The Children’s Ward and the even more terrible The Taint.
Unlike those atrociously awful novels, there is actually a story in Lullabye and it’s far more entertaining. Wallace’s ability to tell a (mostly) coherent story had definitely improved by 1990 by the time this one came out.
And yet, as always, this is the infamous Patricia Wallace we are talking about here. Somehow she always manages to take a compelling idea and turn into a garbled mess by the conclusion of the story. Despite its few good things, it still ranks somewhere in the 2 star category.
The main idea is interesting but the way Wallace had it all play out feels razor thin and lacking in any kind of explanation that makes sense. As is the case in all her books, things just happen and somehow get explained in some cheesy 3 sentence conclusion…which is always lackluster.
And, also par the course for her books, the characters are all cliched at best and dumb as a box of rocks at best. I’m not going to give away anything here but one character’s death was beyond stupid due to their absolutely unrealistic choices. Yeah, the way they died was kind of cool and clever but even then, no sane person with even an ounce of IQ would be dumb enough to act in such a way…and yet all the characters in this book continue to do asinine things.
In conclusion, as with all Wallace Zebras, Lullabye is a great collector’s item if you want all the books from Paperbacks from Hell, but you’re not gonna get anything redeeming out of actually reading it. ...more
Just when I thought Star Wars graphic novels had finally gotten through their annoying era and righted some of their wrongs, this comes along and shitJust when I thought Star Wars graphic novels had finally gotten through their annoying era and righted some of their wrongs, this comes along and shits all over everything Soule and even Pak himself had established previously.
Even though this entire storyline is lame at best (trying so hard to have some kind of vague relation to the failed subplot of the Solo film) and just lazy at worst, some parts of this work (Vader working with bounty hunters was something he did in “Empire Strikes Back”), but the rest is just flat out stupid. Using a bounty hunter for comic relief in the midst of what is supposed to be a brutal crackdown on members of Crimson Reign makes this feel juvenile and childish. So too do the characters and their lame ass dialogue.
Between a Trandoshan that speaks with gen-Z vernacular, a rolling assassin droid named Gee that looks like a beachball, and Ochi’s never ending one liners, this storyline is a thin, skeleton shell of its former self. ...more
Nobody can say Hutson’s writing is remarkable but damn, if it isn’t a ton of over the top, gory, schlocky, cheesy, dumb fun.
Though it goes d4.5 stars
Nobody can say Hutson’s writing is remarkable but damn, if it isn’t a ton of over the top, gory, schlocky, cheesy, dumb fun.
Though it goes down a slightly different route than most, Erebus really doesn’t do anything to make the vampire genre new or original, however Hutson, in his typically glorious, trashy style, makes his baddies scary and a hell of a lot of fun.
Coupled with excessive amounts of bloodshed, action, and requisite explicit sex, Erebus feels more like a Richard Laymon story (without the obligatory kiddie porn and statutory rape). All told, this novel manages to be one of the surprise hits (for me at least) of 2022 and proves you don’t need to write the next great horror novel to be successful…just make it entertaining and balls out ridiculous. ...more
Well we are officially at the mediocre era of Cussler’s illustrious career…or, at least the point where he wasn’t even doing any of his own writing…
ThWell we are officially at the mediocre era of Cussler’s illustrious career…or, at least the point where he wasn’t even doing any of his own writing…
There is nothing outright terrible about Arctic Drift (it’s better than Black Wind) yet, there is nothing that stands out or makes this seem new and exciting.
Everything that happens in this book has happened before in previous Dirk Pitt books. From boats being stuck in the ice (Treasure) to megalomaniacal megalomaniacs (Flood Tide) to environmental disasters (Shock Wave) fans have experienced better iterations already.
Obviously this is still a very readable, competent book in a very readable and competent series, but at this point, the best of Cussler is far behind by this point....more
It’s clear Judd Winnick gets Batman and the things that drive him, as well as the multiple storylines that intertwine and come together.
Batman facingIt’s clear Judd Winnick gets Batman and the things that drive him, as well as the multiple storylines that intertwine and come together.
Batman facing off against an old ally who is now an enemy makes for one of the best Batman storylines I’ve ever read. The 14 issues that complete this story are amazingly well written, perfectly paced, and wonderfully illustrated.
This one stacks up amongst the very best, giving Knightfall, Cataclysm, and The Long Halloween some very serious competition as truly essential Batman reading. ...more
I must hate myself and feel the need for self flagellation because even though I hate this series and continue to be shocked at just how shitty Star WI must hate myself and feel the need for self flagellation because even though I hate this series and continue to be shocked at just how shitty Star Wars could be, I still keep reading the “Jedi Prince” expecting different results.
I guess I must be the poster child for insanity.
Regardless, Queen of the Empire is the perfect example of just how awful Star Wars was in the early 90’s. Yes, this series was geared toward a younger audience, but still, that’s no excuse for the sheer garbage it is.
The story is absolute crap, with dumbed down versions of Luke, Han, Leia, and everyone else. They do asinine things, go on pointless missions, and face some of the stupidest antagonists masquerading as “evil” Imperials. And of course, since this is an early 90’s young reader novel, it just HAS to have some thinly veiled PSA about environmentalism that has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the ridiculously moronic plot.
Seriously, even for hardcore Star Wars lit fans, this, and the rest of the Jedi Prince series are complete wastes of time. And yet, since I’m a glutton for making myself miserable, I’ll still end up reading the next one. ...more
Ok so this isn’t a 5 star read by any means but a late 80’s Zebra’s that scores 4 stars is practically a 5 star book in my mind.
Citro’s writing is farOk so this isn’t a 5 star read by any means but a late 80’s Zebra’s that scores 4 stars is practically a 5 star book in my mind.
Citro’s writing is far above the majority of Zebra’s usual craptastic authors (*cough* Patricia Wallace *cough*). His style actually manages to keep the reader interested with a perfect blend of spooky legends and some really good moments of suspense…along one of more creative and brutal murders I’ve encountered in a long time.
I’m not usually a fan of “folk” horror, but Citro makes it work here in a way that feels legit (as much as horror can). His characters feel real meaning they’re a bit more nuanced than typical cookie-cutter horror book characters. And the ending of this one is so damn bleak…which makes for one of the best endings in a horror novel I’ve ever read…Zebra or otherwise.
Shadow Child doesn’t have a single freaking clown, making it one of the most misleading Zebra covers amongst an already heavy history of misleading covers, but in all honesty, who cares? It’s still a damn good book from a company known far more for quantity than quality....more
And with that, Mack Bolan’s original war against the mafia comes to an end.
After 38 books, he’s done taking on the mob and is ready to face new threaAnd with that, Mack Bolan’s original war against the mafia comes to an end.
After 38 books, he’s done taking on the mob and is ready to face new threats of terrorism in an officially sanctioned battle to keep the US safe.
While Satan’s Sabbath does finally wrap up everything and conclude Bolan’s first war, I feel things became too rushed at the end and I was left wanting a more satisfying closure to it all.
Oh well. There like 420 others to read now. ...more
You would think something as innocuous and simple as a snowman would be the least terrifying thing imaginable…but then again we aren’t Brian G. Berry You would think something as innocuous and simple as a snowman would be the least terrifying thing imaginable…but then again we aren’t Brian G. Berry who’s twisted mind is capable of crafting something so dark, gory, and creepy in Abominable Snowman.
I’ve been a fan of Berry for awhile so the fact that he was able to pull off something this crazy isn’t a surprise. Just like his previous entries in the horror genre, Snowman excels in the descriptive phrasing of bloodshed and truly great visuals of rampaging snowmen. And, like Tim Curran, Berry really sets himself apart from many less talented independent horror authors out there.
As this one dealt with quite a few murders of kids, it wasn’t my favorite of his books (still waiting for another bleak creature feature like the phenomenal Night Weaver), I can’t deny it was still a a lot of fun.
If you want something that truly ups the ante with holiday themed horror, and works as an entirely worthy successor to any Curran book, then look no further. Berry is a great author and I continue to expect amazing things from him....more
Generally speaking, I tend to not be a fan of The Executioner books when Bolan’s escapades of violence are replaced with the soap opera wheelings and Generally speaking, I tend to not be a fan of The Executioner books when Bolan’s escapades of violence are replaced with the soap opera wheelings and dealings of the mafia.
However, much like it did in Panic in Philly, Bolan’s infiltration of the mob and his uncanny ability to sow massive discontent amongst its members worked amazingly got well in Friday’s Feast.
The drama he manages to cause and the subsequent inner charter civil war that tears apart “the family” from the inside out made for some of the most fun and satisfying reading of this series in a awhile.
With one final book left in the original run, Pendleton is closing the story by wrapping up loose ends and, hopefully, working towards an ending that makes all 38 of these books worth...more
I wholeheartedly believe that the unstoppable force of Cussler’s greatness began to wane with Trojan Odyssey. Adding Dirk Pitt’s kids (one of which haI wholeheartedly believe that the unstoppable force of Cussler’s greatness began to wane with Trojan Odyssey. Adding Dirk Pitt’s kids (one of which has the exact same name and mannerisms and attributes) and slowly fading senior Pitt out of the picture in favor of his offspring made for some confusing and mildly annoying moments in that one. And everything from that book is compounded and made worse in Black Wind.
The story is repetitive and feels like a more modern retelling of Dragon just with slightly different antagonists and settings. The characters of Pitt jr. and Summer feel shoehorned in and made to appeal to younger readers rather than stick with older and more mature readers (though I myself am probably on the younger spectrum of Cussler’s audience). And at 639 pages. Black Wind feels excessively padded and far too long. Nothing even remotely interesting happens until like page 200.
This book’s one saving grace is that the last 150 pages are some of the best written action scenes in this series. The climax is tense, non stop, and reaches some of the most compelling and interwoven moments that give even the Oregon series a run for their money.
Still though, I miss that 10 year span where everything Cussler touched was one banger after another. ...more
It seems every year around this time (December), I end up reading what could potentially be the absolute worst novel of the year and while 2022 has soIt seems every year around this time (December), I end up reading what could potentially be the absolute worst novel of the year and while 2022 has some pretty strong candidates vying for this (dis)honorable award, Demon’s Eye is pretty damn close to running away with the prize.
Usually I can try to find something positive in even the worst books, but not so with Demon’s Eye. This book is so bad and so stupid that I can’t believe even the infamous Zebra line published it…even with their stalwart author Stephen Gresham. Clearly it was a very cheap manuscript that they could turn around and sell, because it flat out sucked.
The characters are all terribly conceived and I’ve seen better constructed dialogue in a beginning creative writing class. The plot makes absolutely zero sense with basically no explanation. The eventual conclusion (which takes about 983 years to get to) falls apart with even the barest amount of critical thinking, and even a bleak ending that could have been great had this book had any semblance of redeeming quality, can’t save what amounts to one of the worst novels I’ve had the (mid)fortune to read this year…or any other. ...more
I’d never go as far as to say the first 2 books in this trilogy were “good”, but I did enjoy them for what they were…a moderately enjoyable foray intoI’d never go as far as to say the first 2 books in this trilogy were “good”, but I did enjoy them for what they were…a moderately enjoyable foray into a more grounded and militaristic look at the world of Star Wars after the fall of the Empire and into the fledgling New Republic.
Tyrant’s Test, however was an absolute slog to get through, boring as hell and full of fat too many side plots and nuances of inane political banter/hard sci-fi elements. Many of the interesting ideas and possible climaxes that McDowell introduced in the first 2 books are either complelty nonexistent here, or at wrapped up in such lame and uninteresting ways.
Of course Lando and LoBot return to save the day in a ship that ended up being totally pointless to the overall story arc. Of course Luke shows up just in time with some of the most annoying examples of Deus ex machina I’ve ever read. Chewbacca’s rescue of Han was a highlight but it was, sadly, way too short to make up for the wasted pages of description and dialogue that it took to get to this point. And of course the Yevetha, the main baddies of this entire trilogy, are, lamely, brought down more from within than with a legit knock out fight with the New Republic army.
It’s a bummer because this whole set of 3 books had potential to do something different with this franchise. Instead, it became a massive, irritating bore that forced me to skim/speed read the last 50 or so pages because I was just over it. ...more
Well I’ll be on the naughty list for sure this year after reading Sonnet’s latest novella. Santasploitation is dirty, gross, and the kind of 3.5 stars
Well I’ll be on the naughty list for sure this year after reading Sonnet’s latest novella. Santasploitation is dirty, gross, and the kind of Christmas gift you’d get in your stocking next to a lump of coal and a switch. In other words, this is NOT a tale full of Christmas joy.
And yet, despite its dark and mean spirited tone, in typical fashion, Sonnet somehow makes a very NSFW holiday novella incredibly readable and hard to put down. Hell, I actually felt sorry for poor old Saint Nick after finishing this.
Honestly though, at this point I shouldn’t be surprised since she’s managed to keep me buying her stuff for the past 2 years, even though she tends to write in the sub genre of horror that I’m not usually a big fan of. And even then Santasploitation toes the line with dark humor and bizarro than straight up extreme horror.
So if you want a different take on the holidays and aren’t easily offended, give this quick little novella a read, but don’t expect sugarplum fairies and helpful elves on the shelf. ...more
he Executioner series has never been realistic (one man single handedly and constantly besting the most well organized crime syndicate in the world wihe Executioner series has never been realistic (one man single handedly and constantly besting the most well organized crime syndicate in the world with the eventual blessing and basically a blank check to continue from the President? Not exactly the most believable), however they’ve always at the very least readable and mostly entertaining.
While that trend continues with Thermal Thursdayit’s easily one of the most out there of the original 38 and therefore one of the harder to suspend my disbelief on. Readers are now expected to believe the mafia is somehow capable of connecting massive underground highways that span the length of the entire western hemisphere to transport their illicit goods back and forth right under the nose of the FBI.
Yeah, Pendleton went the James Bond route with this one…but I guess when there’s only 2 books left until Bolan’s tactics go in a totally different direction, he had nothing to lose in writing it. ...more
If I didn’t know Judith Sonnet wrote Earth vs. the Nudist Camp Freaks and you told me she did, I’d say you were pulling my leg because this n4.5 stars
If I didn’t know Judith Sonnet wrote Earth vs. the Nudist Camp Freaks and you told me she did, I’d say you were pulling my leg because this novella is nothing like anything she’s written before.
Unlike her extreme, gore drenched, entrails dripping, blood soaked horror stories, Nudist Camp Freaks is a love letter to campy and ridiculously cheesy B-grade films of the 50s and 60s, complete with schlocky aliens, a goofy plot, and an overall light hearted tone that works as a competent homage to the heyday of cheap cinema.
Personally, I loved this novella; It’s fun, silly, and never takes itself seriously. Basically this novella is the complete opposite of the medium Sonnet usually writes in and is all the better for it.
As with moat novellas this good, my one complaint is that, unfortunately, this wasn’t long enough....more
There is literary nothing else to say except that The Listener is, aside from a very bland and boring cover, an absolutely perfect novel without a sin There is literary nothing else to say except that The Listener is, aside from a very bland and boring cover, an absolutely perfect novel without a single freaking thing wrong with it.
Of course when you’re dealing with a book written by Robert McCammon, the true master of the craft of fiction and quite possibly the best author of the last 30 years, it really shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Listener may be the most “King-esque” style novel from McCammon I’ve ever read (well, if you include “Swan Song” there’s that too) but unlike King, McCammon makes not a single mistake of falling into the pitfalls of stereotype and tropes of a novel set in the racist Louisiana of the mid 1930’s. Of course it’s all here on full display, and McCammon could have easily gone the easy, lazy route with cliched characters and settings, however, true to form, he takes these things and makes something totally original, heartfelt, emotional and oh so damn good.
I could write about this novel for ages but there is no point and no question in my mind…McCammon is a god given talent and I’m not ashamed to admit I’m a Stan for McCammon....more
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