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Ghosts of War (The Ghost #2)
by
George Mann
Ghosts of War picks up the story a month after the end of Ghosts of Manhattan. New York City is being plagued by a pack of ferocious brass raptors – strange, skeleton-like creations with bat-like wings that swoop out of the sky, attacking people and carrying them away into the night. The Ghost has been tracking these bizarre machines, and is close to finding their origin:...more
Paperback, 232 pages
Published
July 26th 2011
by Pyr
(first published January 1st 2011)
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Oh my goodness, it gets worse. All five points I described in my review of Ghosts of Manhattan are turned up to 11 in the second volume of Mann's The Ghost adventures. Even with my level of OCD in having to complete books that I purchase, I had to stop a little over halfway in. I tried to keep pushing and pushing, but I was afraid that George Mann would kill my love of reading before bed.
This is clearly not a review, but a comment. My review is linked above, and holds doubly so for Ghosts of Wa...more
This is clearly not a review, but a comment. My review is linked above, and holds doubly so for Ghosts of Wa...more
It seems that the latest craze in fantasy fiction is steampunk. Half a dozen new steampunk titles seem to hit shelves every month. With so many titles in the new field, it only seemed natural for several to take on pulp sensibilities. Most steampunk has a late nineteenth and/or early twentieth century setting, which puts it in just the right place to crossover into new pulp.
While my previous steampunk review Society of Steam: The Falling Machine was a tale of Victorian heroes in a superhero-esqu...more
While my previous steampunk review Society of Steam: The Falling Machine was a tale of Victorian heroes in a superhero-esqu...more
Ghosts of War was somewhere between dieselpunk and steampunk, a nicely written adventure tale that takes place in the same (future) world of Mann's Newbury & Hobbs novels. But unlike the previous novels, this series holds some Lovecraftian elements with its Cthulu type monstrosities. Why did I only give it two stars when I've enjoyed Mann's past novels so much? The main character, the Ghost himself, reminded me far too much of Batman, sure all superhero type characters will share some charac...more
(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)
Regular readers will remember last year's Ghosts of Manhattan, from genre veteran and Doctor Who scriptwriter George Mann, and how I found it only so-so when originally reviewing it myself; and now its sequel is out, Ghosts of War, which I decided to go ahead and read as well, partly because a copy was nic...more
Regular readers will remember last year's Ghosts of Manhattan, from genre veteran and Doctor Who scriptwriter George Mann, and how I found it only so-so when originally reviewing it myself; and now its sequel is out, Ghosts of War, which I decided to go ahead and read as well, partly because a copy was nic...more
You might have an amusing time reading other reviews of this book. A lot of people hate it.
I admit it is not the best. The writing is kind of derivative and shallow and all of the characters are unapologetically stereotyped.
However, I don't think the author was setting out to write the next Great Gatbsy. No, the author was intent on writing a multi-genre mash-up and on that point, this book must be regarded as an unadulterated success.
In fact, I would argue that Ghosts of War is surely the Citiz...more
I admit it is not the best. The writing is kind of derivative and shallow and all of the characters are unapologetically stereotyped.
However, I don't think the author was setting out to write the next Great Gatbsy. No, the author was intent on writing a multi-genre mash-up and on that point, this book must be regarded as an unadulterated success.
In fact, I would argue that Ghosts of War is surely the Citiz...more
You might have an amusing time reading other reviews of this book. A lot of people hate it.
I admit it is not the best. The writing is kind of derivative and shallow and all of the characters are unapologetically stereotyped.
However, I don't think the author was setting out to write the next Great Gatbsy. No, the author was intent on writing a multi-genre mash-up and on that point, this book must be regarded as an unadulterated success.
In fact, I would argue that Ghosts of War is surely the Citiz...more
I admit it is not the best. The writing is kind of derivative and shallow and all of the characters are unapologetically stereotyped.
However, I don't think the author was setting out to write the next Great Gatbsy. No, the author was intent on writing a multi-genre mash-up and on that point, this book must be regarded as an unadulterated success.
In fact, I would argue that Ghosts of War is surely the Citiz...more
3/5
I'm in what seems like the majority here. This is a fun book that moves about at a brisk pace and is really never boring. But I guess that's where it stops. It doesn't go above and beyond in any way; from the writing (I felt like it could have been more atmospheric) to the plot... everything is good but not great.
Actually that's not true; the mash-up of things -- it's described by different people as a combination of jazz-age superhero-steampunk-occult thriller, film noir and 1920s decadence...more
I'm in what seems like the majority here. This is a fun book that moves about at a brisk pace and is really never boring. But I guess that's where it stops. It doesn't go above and beyond in any way; from the writing (I felt like it could have been more atmospheric) to the plot... everything is good but not great.
Actually that's not true; the mash-up of things -- it's described by different people as a combination of jazz-age superhero-steampunk-occult thriller, film noir and 1920s decadence...more
I have not read Mann's first novel about The Ghost, Ghosts of Manhattan, so I'll go drone, waffle, blegh. However I have just finished Ghosts of War. So here's a little review of it.
Gabriel Cross, millionaire playboy and ex-soldier, is also The Ghost, a mysterious vigilante who patrols the rooftops and skies of 1920's New York, righting wrongs and performing deeds of derringdo. So far, so Batman. But then Mann introduces the Steampunk elements that skew the story into an alternative reality wher...more
Gabriel Cross, millionaire playboy and ex-soldier, is also The Ghost, a mysterious vigilante who patrols the rooftops and skies of 1920's New York, righting wrongs and performing deeds of derringdo. So far, so Batman. But then Mann introduces the Steampunk elements that skew the story into an alternative reality wher...more
A second post-steampunk adventure set in the New York of the 1920s, again featuring the vigilante called the Ghost. As last time, this is a straightforward action story, in this case 'shady cabal have horrifying ambitions and must be stopped'. That's pretty much what happens, and it's a brisk, pacy read. There is exactly one plot, and everything that happens feeds it. It helps the novel be what it wants to be - pulp action - but it's also a little empty. There's not much mystery to the story, an...more
Surprisingly good. I only picked it up on spec as it looked a bit different. Set in 1920's New York but in a revised history with giant airships and coal fired cars, the story has the feel of a graphic novel without the pictures. A vigilante hero (the alter ego of a rich playboy), beatiful women, nasty villains, mechanical monsters and plenty of action; all present and correct. Fast paced and exciting, its only downside is that it is very predictable. Still exciting though.
I really enjoy Mann's other series George Mann but was a little disappointed by this one. The premise is a great: 1920's steampunk batman (without the bat stuff) but there's a lot of repetitive internal dialogue. I still gave it 3 stars though because I love the premise and I do enjoy Mann's writing.
Dec 31, 2011
Malcolm
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction-contemporary
Mann’s alt history steampunk novels are just the thing for a quiet day at home indulging tired brain cells and although not up there with his excellent ‘Newberry and Hobbes’ series this second title in the set-in-Manhattan series of Ghost novels is an improvement on the first, with some great set pieces and signs of an intriguing emerging mythology. Not taxing, but entertaining.
Aug 17, 2011
Kathryn
added it
Evidently the idiots didn't learn that interdimentional gates shouldn't be opened. A group of men have decided to start a new world war between the US and England. The Ghost, his ally on the police force, his new lady love and a strange companion must save the world
Another pulp-tastic adventure for George Mann's steampunked avenger. While I enjoyed The Ghost's first outing, this sequel sees stronger characterisation and more satisfying set-pieces. Plus, of course, cybernectic, arcane raptors. What's not to love?
Liked the book, but not sure if I liked Ginny or the British Spy. There didn't seem to be enough meat on those characters' bones. I feel like there's more to Ginny and hope she appears later. Can't wait to read the next Ghost book!
Very clunky in parts, and not a patch on the author's Newbury and Hobbs series, but it is saved by some of the best action sequences this side of a Reacher novel. More of these and less of the inner monologues please, Mr Mann.
This one was better than Ghosts of Manhattan. It seemed to flow a little better (maybe b/c the character development was taken care of already).
The only problem I really had was the ending seemed brief and a little rushed, though I'm not sure what I would have changed. I'm referring to the confronting of the main antagonist.
I do enjoy this series b/c it's semi-steampunky, but in a different time period. It's a nice change.
The only problem I really had was the ending seemed brief and a little rushed, though I'm not sure what I would have changed. I'm referring to the confronting of the main antagonist.
I do enjoy this series b/c it's semi-steampunky, but in a different time period. It's a nice change.
The second adventure of the Ghost. Partially breath taking.
I liked the insights of the Ghost and inspector Felix Donovan. Impressive what a writer can achieve within 214 pages!!
I liked the insights of the Ghost and inspector Felix Donovan. Impressive what a writer can achieve within 214 pages!!
A cabal of American fascists try to incite a war with England by unleashing an army of monster squids. To the rescue comes the Ghost, a crime-fighting vigilante cut from the same cloth as the Shadow and the Dark Knight. A fun pulp/steampunk/superhero adventure.
Full review here: http://superheronovels.com/2011/10/23...
Full review here: http://superheronovels.com/2011/10/23...
Steampunk by the numbers, a little too boring for me.
Enjoyed this one more than Ghosts of Manhattan. A quick, pulp read where I could almost hear cheesy superhero music playing in my head throughout the book.
I enjoyed this book as much as I did the original one can only hope there will be a third
Review to come...
What to say? This is not an elegant, sweeping masterpiece. However, it was actually pretty fun to read. And mechanical raptors flying around is kind of so ridiculous it's awesome. Post-steampunk isn't a huge genre, so that different take is a bit fun for me too. There's nothing really standout, but there's also nothing that is completely annoying. It's sort of like, cheap, dark escapism, and I think it works.
Not as good as Ghosts of Manhattan. A slower pace. Found some parts dragged out.
Another fun read.
Jan 06, 2013
Pete
added it
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I just did not enjoy this one as much as the previous. It felt repetitive, we kept getting extended 'insight' into the characters that did not add much over the previous page long discussion of what made them tick. The action was fun enough and writing fit the 'voice' of the material, but it just did not entertain as much as I had hoped.
I liked the book, and I like how it was left at the end.
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George Mann is an author and editor, primarily in genre fiction. He was born in Darlington, County Durham in 1978.
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the T...more
More about George Mann...
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the T...more
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