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Kill the Dead
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having read Sandman Slim I have to admit to being slightly disappointed in this second novel in the series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book because it broke through the logjam of what have become standard urban fantasy novels. This author set out to give the reader a character whose voice is humorous but also irreverent, impertinent, dark and tough, but I do feel sorry for anyone who did not read that first book because in this one Richard Kadrey shows no mercy in trying to bring a new reader up to speed about most of what happened there. All of the incidents are remarked upon and figure prominently in the action of this book, but new readers are left with their legs churning as they try to catch up on what has happened in the past. It isn't necessary for an author to take a huge amount of time to bring current and returning readers up to date with their storyline and that would have been a welcomed addition here.
James Stark is the son of an angel and a human woman. His childhood was definitely not of the Ozzie and Harriet type and the scars of his feelings concerning his parentage play a key role in the character's development. Kadrey uses this book to explore that topic and the situations with Mason, Kasabian, Lucifer, Kinski, Candy, Vidocq, Allegra, and others from the Sub Rosa. He also introduces a new character, Brigitte Bardo (probably not her real name) who is a Czech gypsy porn star whose real purpose in life is to kill zombies. Stark begins to find zombies all over the place so he and Brigitte start killing them.
The wicked, black humor is still very much in evidence in this second book and there are some major advances made in the character of James Stark. I enjoyed most of the book except I kept waiting to see what the actual plot was going to be. When it finally came I didn't find it nearly as interesting as I had hoped. Definitely still worth reading for fans of gritty noir urban fantasy so it will not be a waste of your time. I just hope you've read the first novel before you crack this one open.
James Stark is the son of an angel and a human woman. His childhood was definitely not of the Ozzie and Harriet type and the scars of his feelings concerning his parentage play a key role in the character's development. Kadrey uses this book to explore that topic and the situations with Mason, Kasabian, Lucifer, Kinski, Candy, Vidocq, Allegra, and others from the Sub Rosa. He also introduces a new character, Brigitte Bardo (probably not her real name) who is a Czech gypsy porn star whose real purpose in life is to kill zombies. Stark begins to find zombies all over the place so he and Brigitte start killing them.
The wicked, black humor is still very much in evidence in this second book and there are some major advances made in the character of James Stark. I enjoyed most of the book except I kept waiting to see what the actual plot was going to be. When it finally came I didn't find it nearly as interesting as I had hoped. Definitely still worth reading for fans of gritty noir urban fantasy so it will not be a waste of your time. I just hope you've read the first novel before you crack this one open.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Not as good as his first book featuring the same protagonist but OK as bubble gum for the brain. The writing is good and the story line unusual.
All in all, I enjoyed reading it. It's worth the money.
All in all, I enjoyed reading it. It's worth the money.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
63 reviews
31 of 38 people found the following review helpful
An engrossing read
5 Oct 2010
Format:Hardcover
I need to start the review of Kill the Dead with something as basic as, I loved this novel. Loved it.
Now. I need you to stay with me for the rest of the review. Because, as you begin to read, you may not fully believe the above statement. But trust me. I will pull it off.
The extreme basic concept of Kadrey's book continually forced comparison between Kill The Dead and Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series -- the similarities nagged. Where the main character in Kadrey's novel has Kasabian --a fully functioning head, just a head, Dresden has Bob -- a spirit that lived inside a skull. Both Bob and Kasabian are limited to the homes of the main characters, are witty and a bit annoying, but also helpful and used as a sounding board, more or less -- where they tap resources to help their main characters solve puzzles.
While Dresden uses magic to operate a private eye business out of his home, he continually encounters vampires, ghosts, witches, goblins, etc., etc. Jimmy Stark (Sandman Slim), the main guy in Kill the Dead, is a nephilim (part angel, part human), who uses magic, and works for the Vigil to help solve crimes that seem to include vampires, werewolves, goblins and zombies.
Both Dresden and Stark are similarly outlined and shaded in characters, and the story lines easily blur between authors. However, and this is where I take you back to my first sentence, I loved Kadrey's novel.
Stark, who was sent Downtown for eleven years--Downtown being Hell--is, throughout the book, searching for Mason, the evil man who sent him there. In the meantime, he has jobs to do. While working for-hire for the Vigil to keep the streets free and clear of monsters, he takes to moonlighting. His new client is none other than the Devil himself. Lucifer.
Lucifer is in town. A soul he owns is a movie producer. A motion picture is going to be shot--detailing Lucifer's existence. While on earth, Lucifer wants a body guard to protect his human form. Enter Jimmy Stark, a.k.a. Sandman Slim.
At the same time, Drifters start showing up. Drifters are a breed of zombie. One of the actresses for the Lucifer film--Brigitte, a "Czech gypsy porn star zombie killer", teams up with Stark to fight the walking dead.
Together, with the help of a host of unique characters (friends), Stark and Brigitte, must uncover who released the zombie-drifters into the general public and prevent a serious health outbreak, while protecting the Prince of Darkness, and keeping themselves alive before the complete unraveling of humanity itself!
Taut chapters. Quick, tart dialogue. Gritty noir writing. Kill the Dead is an engrossing read. It is both captivating and compelling. It has forced me to place an order for the first book in the series, Sandman Slim, because I need to know what happened before to lead Stark to where he is now!
Now. I need you to stay with me for the rest of the review. Because, as you begin to read, you may not fully believe the above statement. But trust me. I will pull it off.
The extreme basic concept of Kadrey's book continually forced comparison between Kill The Dead and Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series -- the similarities nagged. Where the main character in Kadrey's novel has Kasabian --a fully functioning head, just a head, Dresden has Bob -- a spirit that lived inside a skull. Both Bob and Kasabian are limited to the homes of the main characters, are witty and a bit annoying, but also helpful and used as a sounding board, more or less -- where they tap resources to help their main characters solve puzzles.
While Dresden uses magic to operate a private eye business out of his home, he continually encounters vampires, ghosts, witches, goblins, etc., etc. Jimmy Stark (Sandman Slim), the main guy in Kill the Dead, is a nephilim (part angel, part human), who uses magic, and works for the Vigil to help solve crimes that seem to include vampires, werewolves, goblins and zombies.
Both Dresden and Stark are similarly outlined and shaded in characters, and the story lines easily blur between authors. However, and this is where I take you back to my first sentence, I loved Kadrey's novel.
Stark, who was sent Downtown for eleven years--Downtown being Hell--is, throughout the book, searching for Mason, the evil man who sent him there. In the meantime, he has jobs to do. While working for-hire for the Vigil to keep the streets free and clear of monsters, he takes to moonlighting. His new client is none other than the Devil himself. Lucifer.
Lucifer is in town. A soul he owns is a movie producer. A motion picture is going to be shot--detailing Lucifer's existence. While on earth, Lucifer wants a body guard to protect his human form. Enter Jimmy Stark, a.k.a. Sandman Slim.
At the same time, Drifters start showing up. Drifters are a breed of zombie. One of the actresses for the Lucifer film--Brigitte, a "Czech gypsy porn star zombie killer", teams up with Stark to fight the walking dead.
Together, with the help of a host of unique characters (friends), Stark and Brigitte, must uncover who released the zombie-drifters into the general public and prevent a serious health outbreak, while protecting the Prince of Darkness, and keeping themselves alive before the complete unraveling of humanity itself!
Taut chapters. Quick, tart dialogue. Gritty noir writing. Kill the Dead is an engrossing read. It is both captivating and compelling. It has forced me to place an order for the first book in the series, Sandman Slim, because I need to know what happened before to lead Stark to where he is now!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
A book in search of a plot.
10 Mar 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having read Sandman Slim I have to admit to being slightly disappointed in this second novel in the series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book because it broke through the logjam of what have become standard urban fantasy novels. This author set out to give the reader a character whose voice is humorous but also irreverent, impertinent, dark and tough, but I do feel sorry for anyone who did not read that first book because in this one Richard Kadrey shows no mercy in trying to bring a new reader up to speed about most of what happened there. All of the incidents are remarked upon and figure prominently in the action of this book, but new readers are left with their legs churning as they try to catch up on what has happened in the past. It isn't necessary for an author to take a huge amount of time to bring current and returning readers up to date with their storyline and that would have been a welcomed addition here.
James Stark is the son of an angel and a human woman. His childhood was definitely not of the Ozzie and Harriet type and the scars of his feelings concerning his parentage play a key role in the character's development. Kadrey uses this book to explore that topic and the situations with Mason, Kasabian, Lucifer, Kinski, Candy, Vidocq, Allegra, and others from the Sub Rosa. He also introduces a new character, Brigitte Bardo (probably not her real name) who is a Czech gypsy porn star whose real purpose in life is to kill zombies. Stark begins to find zombies all over the place so he and Brigitte start killing them.
The wicked, black humor is still very much in evidence in this second book and there are some major advances made in the character of James Stark. I enjoyed most of the book except I kept waiting to see what the actual plot was going to be. When it finally came I didn't find it nearly as interesting as I had hoped. Definitely still worth reading for fans of gritty noir urban fantasy so it will not be a waste of your time. I just hope you've read the first novel before you crack this one open.
James Stark is the son of an angel and a human woman. His childhood was definitely not of the Ozzie and Harriet type and the scars of his feelings concerning his parentage play a key role in the character's development. Kadrey uses this book to explore that topic and the situations with Mason, Kasabian, Lucifer, Kinski, Candy, Vidocq, Allegra, and others from the Sub Rosa. He also introduces a new character, Brigitte Bardo (probably not her real name) who is a Czech gypsy porn star whose real purpose in life is to kill zombies. Stark begins to find zombies all over the place so he and Brigitte start killing them.
The wicked, black humor is still very much in evidence in this second book and there are some major advances made in the character of James Stark. I enjoyed most of the book except I kept waiting to see what the actual plot was going to be. When it finally came I didn't find it nearly as interesting as I had hoped. Definitely still worth reading for fans of gritty noir urban fantasy so it will not be a waste of your time. I just hope you've read the first novel before you crack this one open.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
A Fun Ride Into Supernatural Noir
29 Oct 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
"Kill The Dead" is Kadrey's sequel to the introductory "Sandman Slim". From the top let me say that if the reader has not read the first book, do so before reading this one. I had not read "Sandman Slim" so the whole experience into Kadrey's urban fantasy world was a struggle since he does not provide much in the way of backstory or reprise leaving the first time reader struggling to grasp individual character nuances, character alliances, and story background. You might say it was difficult keeping track of so many characters without a scorecard for the first time reader.
That being said, "Kill The Dead" was engaging, creative, and satisfying on many levels. Properly designated as urban fantasy, one could also label the Sandman Slim novels as supernatural noir as its antihero, James Stark (Sandman Slim), functions well as a gum shoe investigator and bodyguard in a fantasized version of Los Angeles. Stark is a nephilim, part fallen angel, part human, whose humanity is slowing dying throughout "Kill The Dead". Stark is a monster hunter who takes a job as Lucifer's-yes, that Lucifer-partime bodyguard. Lucifer, who may or may not be Stark's father, is on earth to oversee a Hollywood production of his life and there are many who would love to see his demise.
Complicating Stark's efforts is the sudden appearance of thousands of "Drifters" or zombies who are walking the streets of Los Angeles killing, eating, and infecting whoever they encounter. Who has loosed this deadly attack and for what evil purpose? How is this related to Lucifer's appearance on earth? How can Sandman Slim stop the attacks and end the carnage? Who is the mysterious young zombie killer who suddenly aligns with Slim? Who really is Stark's father? All these questions are answered as this over-the-top novel reaches a satisfying conclusion.
"Kill The Dead" is a recommended read for fans of this fantasy genre. It is at times dark and gritty, comedic, sometimes touching, and, of course, ultra violent. I came to care about certain characters as the novel evolved even though I had not read the initial Sandman Slim novel which is a tribute to Kadrey's writing. Kadrey has created a world and forces within that seem capable of a long satisfying ride in a series of sequels.
That being said, "Kill The Dead" was engaging, creative, and satisfying on many levels. Properly designated as urban fantasy, one could also label the Sandman Slim novels as supernatural noir as its antihero, James Stark (Sandman Slim), functions well as a gum shoe investigator and bodyguard in a fantasized version of Los Angeles. Stark is a nephilim, part fallen angel, part human, whose humanity is slowing dying throughout "Kill The Dead". Stark is a monster hunter who takes a job as Lucifer's-yes, that Lucifer-partime bodyguard. Lucifer, who may or may not be Stark's father, is on earth to oversee a Hollywood production of his life and there are many who would love to see his demise.
Complicating Stark's efforts is the sudden appearance of thousands of "Drifters" or zombies who are walking the streets of Los Angeles killing, eating, and infecting whoever they encounter. Who has loosed this deadly attack and for what evil purpose? How is this related to Lucifer's appearance on earth? How can Sandman Slim stop the attacks and end the carnage? Who is the mysterious young zombie killer who suddenly aligns with Slim? Who really is Stark's father? All these questions are answered as this over-the-top novel reaches a satisfying conclusion.
"Kill The Dead" is a recommended read for fans of this fantasy genre. It is at times dark and gritty, comedic, sometimes touching, and, of course, ultra violent. I came to care about certain characters as the novel evolved even though I had not read the initial Sandman Slim novel which is a tribute to Kadrey's writing. Kadrey has created a world and forces within that seem capable of a long satisfying ride in a series of sequels.
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