Just started Bethany's SIN on my work commutes today. I am not too far into it, but so far I don't think I'll have any trouble reading the whole story. Finished Finders Keepers Friday night. Really like how SK linked it with Mercedes.
Robert Rick McCammon
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It made me think about the correlation between Holly's OCD and the obsession with Jimmy Gold (hope I got the name right...I am so bad with details sometimes) and how they are different.
I finished Stinger and enjoyed it a lot. One thing that bugs me more and more about horror novels, even though I understand why it's necessary, is the inevitable confrontation of the good and bad guys. What I call "the trip to Dracula's castle." I don't single out McCammon since this happens in most of King's books and horror stories/movies as well but it's fairly predictable stuff. Get toward the end and the good and bad guys must square off for the showdown! I'm not sure there is an alternative since there has to be resolution but the repetitiveness is wearing on me. It's probably no win since if there was not a clear cut ending readers would complain it was left ambiguous, but you can see it coming a mile away.
I'm on to "Usher's Passing" which sounds interesting. My favorite Poe-related novel is "Pym" by Mat Johnson. That is a great book if you haven't read it. Very funny.
Swan Song is the second best apocalyptic book ever written!
I bought a first edition hardcover of Boy's Life in very good condition that needs a good home. If anyone needs it, let me know!
Usher's Passing was pretty good. The ending felt a bit rushed, but an entertaining read. I wonder why none of McCammon's novels have been made into movies? He should sue the person responsible for the E-book covers as they appear to be something a child would do. Now it's onto "The Border" and let's win there as RFK would say before exiting through the kitchen.
I recently finished Stinger.
Man that was a good book!
Not as good as Swan Song (for me) but still very enjoyable!
Man that was a good book!
Not as good as Swan Song (for me) but still very enjoyable!
I just finished The Border and that's basically Stinger meets Swan Song. Not one of McCammon's best efforts but very entertaining if you like his stuff.
I had it on preorder, but cancelled at the last minute (which I kind of regret now) I will see if I can get a copy though!
I just couldn't connect with The Border. There was something missing for me in that book. I agree- it's not one of Rick's best. Stinger was better IMHO.
I agree with you about the e-book covers. They all look the same!
I just finished his book Mystery Walk. That may be my favorite of his thus far.
They claimed they were going for a themed look, but they come off as just lazy and amateurish. I think part of the problem is that they Open Road released 8 or 9 of the books simultaneously, and these covers were quickly done. That said, I have been surprised at the people who put so much stock in the covers of ebooks. I've seen comments from people who have read the books, but say they refused to buy the ebooks because the covers were bad. I can see that with a collectible book, but an ebook?!? Seems silly to me. I do agree that there's nothing about the covers to entice new readers.
It remains one of my favorites. It was my second McCammon book, and it showed me that They Thirst was no fluke. I think it's one of his most underrated books now.
Hunter
Many people do judge the book - or at least which ones they might read - by the covers. With so many self-published books and wannabe authors out there in the ebook world, I see why these covers are a concern. They look like something a five-year old might finger paint in Kindergarten. Not something that represents the work of an established author like McCammon. Why not just use the original covers?
I assume they couldn't license them or didn't want to or whatever.... I'm not really sure how that works. At a minimum, the previous publisher would have to grant permission, but it could also involve more payments to the artists, etc, depending on contracts....
Hunter
Today the mailman delivered Subterranean Press' my signed/numbered limited edition of Blue World. It has three 'new' stories in it, which I'll start tonight! This is one of the BEST collections of horror ever published! I'm so glad that there's finally a limited of this book, it deserved to be published this way.
All three new stories are excellent, but "Children of the Bedtime Machine" is, IMO, one of the finest short stories Rick has written. I'm glad more people are going to get a chance to read it through this edition. (It was originally published in Shadow Show: All-New Stories in Celebration of Ray Bradbury.)
Hunter
You are so right, Hunter! I had forgotten that I had downloaded the story 'White' onto my Kindle and had read it before, but having it in book form made the story even better this time around. But, 'Children Of The Bedtime Machine' is a corker and the most perfect way to end this collection!