Post by BloodyMonkeyZ on Jul 4, 2013 8:19:38 GMT -6
Sandman Slim returns for a second outing in the book "Kill The Dead." Richard Kadrey builds upon the world and cast from the initial offering in the series. This time around though, Stark (Sandman Slim) has a whole slew of new issues to deal with. The first thing I have to comment on here though is his name. He has an intriguing nickname in Sandman Slim, yet he is pretty resolute in not being called by that name. I find myself wondering why call the series Sandman Slim and then not utilize the name.
But on to the story. Stark begins with a wild foot chase hot on the heels of a vampire that he has been hired to dispose of. Which he does, of course. As the story progresses from here we have some things to try and keep track of. There are mystical/supernatural families called the Sub Rosa. They are the movers and shakers behind the scenes of the world. The true powerful elite, they make Bill Gates and Oprah seem as important as the guy taking your tickets at the movie theater. These families are an important and confusing aspect to the story. We also get to see a little of Aelita and the Vigil (major players in the first book) as well as Lucifer himself. Seems while Lucifer is on the Earthly plane he wants a bodyguard, so he hires Stark. Why is Lucifer on Earth? To make a movie. Ummm. . . ok. I guess. Seems like a strange plot device there. But what is more bothersome about the Lucifer angle is that he needs a bodyguard. Basically in this world Lucifer is pretty much a candy ass.
Moving on with the story. It takes a while to get to the focal dilemma of the book, but it revolves around zombies. Zombies are trickling out into the city and the buzz is that some powerful person behind the scenes is using them for their own ends. Whatever could that be? How does someone use a zombie plague for their own benefit. Now we get to some interesting stuff. There are three types of zombies in this world. And it isn't really a plague per se. Zeds are the stereotypical Romero style zombies. Lacunas are a slightly more adept group. Finally there are Savants. With the Lacunas I was confused. When we are first informed of them it is more or less said that they are just a bit better than the Zeds. They can be guided a bit. Given direction. You, Lacuna Tommy, go to Best Buy and eat the cashier on lane one. He would then go do that. Savants are a world above that. They are thinking reasoning creatures who happen to be dead and like to eat flesh. There are always 27 of them in the world, so if one dies another is born. Presumably a Lacuna is metaphysically promoted to Savant. The Savants can pass for human. They may need to cover their death wounds to do so. I really liked this concept of a social hierarchy within the zombie species. But somewhere the wires got crossed in the story. There are two incidents where Lacunas are speaking and acting of their own accord. More like a Savant as I understood the classes. And when Stark finally encounters a Savant, Johnny Thunders, the character really shines. But is not very utilized. Perhaps the most interesting new character in the story and he would barely rate a supporting cast role.
OK. Now I have whined and bitched for the last 250 words. But I enjoyed the book. There were flaws and issues I had with it. Things I wish had been done differently. But I like the writing style of Richard Kadrey. I like the overall cast and the way they interact. I liked many aspects of the story. I really look forward to the next chapter in the life of Sandman Slim. There were some developments in this book that I really want to see how they pan out. I give the book 3.5 stars. Really want to give it more, but that seems to fit with my opinions on it.
But on to the story. Stark begins with a wild foot chase hot on the heels of a vampire that he has been hired to dispose of. Which he does, of course. As the story progresses from here we have some things to try and keep track of. There are mystical/supernatural families called the Sub Rosa. They are the movers and shakers behind the scenes of the world. The true powerful elite, they make Bill Gates and Oprah seem as important as the guy taking your tickets at the movie theater. These families are an important and confusing aspect to the story. We also get to see a little of Aelita and the Vigil (major players in the first book) as well as Lucifer himself. Seems while Lucifer is on the Earthly plane he wants a bodyguard, so he hires Stark. Why is Lucifer on Earth? To make a movie. Ummm. . . ok. I guess. Seems like a strange plot device there. But what is more bothersome about the Lucifer angle is that he needs a bodyguard. Basically in this world Lucifer is pretty much a candy ass.
Moving on with the story. It takes a while to get to the focal dilemma of the book, but it revolves around zombies. Zombies are trickling out into the city and the buzz is that some powerful person behind the scenes is using them for their own ends. Whatever could that be? How does someone use a zombie plague for their own benefit. Now we get to some interesting stuff. There are three types of zombies in this world. And it isn't really a plague per se. Zeds are the stereotypical Romero style zombies. Lacunas are a slightly more adept group. Finally there are Savants. With the Lacunas I was confused. When we are first informed of them it is more or less said that they are just a bit better than the Zeds. They can be guided a bit. Given direction. You, Lacuna Tommy, go to Best Buy and eat the cashier on lane one. He would then go do that. Savants are a world above that. They are thinking reasoning creatures who happen to be dead and like to eat flesh. There are always 27 of them in the world, so if one dies another is born. Presumably a Lacuna is metaphysically promoted to Savant. The Savants can pass for human. They may need to cover their death wounds to do so. I really liked this concept of a social hierarchy within the zombie species. But somewhere the wires got crossed in the story. There are two incidents where Lacunas are speaking and acting of their own accord. More like a Savant as I understood the classes. And when Stark finally encounters a Savant, Johnny Thunders, the character really shines. But is not very utilized. Perhaps the most interesting new character in the story and he would barely rate a supporting cast role.
OK. Now I have whined and bitched for the last 250 words. But I enjoyed the book. There were flaws and issues I had with it. Things I wish had been done differently. But I like the writing style of Richard Kadrey. I like the overall cast and the way they interact. I liked many aspects of the story. I really look forward to the next chapter in the life of Sandman Slim. There were some developments in this book that I really want to see how they pan out. I give the book 3.5 stars. Really want to give it more, but that seems to fit with my opinions on it.
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