Bride of the Slime Monster

Cineverse Cycle #2

by Craig Shaw Gardner

Roger Gordon, ace movie buff, must locate Captain Crusader, the legendary movie hero and the only person capable of stopping the hundreds of celluloid evildoers who are on the loose throughout dozens of movie worlds

Genres: Fantasy, Humor, Fiction, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

216 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published April 1, 1990

About the author

Craig Shaw Gardner was born in Rochester, New York and lived there until 1967, when he moved to Boston, MA to attend Boston University. He graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Broadcasting and Film. He has continued to reside in Boston since that time.

He published his first story in 1977 while he held a number of jobs: shipper/receiver for a men's suit manufacturer, working in hospital public relations, running a stat camera, and also managed of a couple of bookstores: The Million Year Picnic and Science Fantasy Bookstore.

As of 1987 he became a full time writer, and since then he has published more than 30 novels and more than 50 short stories.

He also published under these pseudonyms:

Peter Garrison

Reviews

[Aaron Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolute joy to read, very much like a pratchett novel, has some very funny bits about beach movies that remind me of cliff Richard and elvis movies, can't wait to read/finish the trilogy, I'd recommend any b-movie lover to grab this book

[Brandon Williford · Rating 2 out of 5]

I originally read the Cineverse Cycle trilogy when they came out. The first two were read when I was in a remote station, and the third when I was in Scotland. FYI: My paperbacks of them have two different styles of cover art because of two countries. And I hadn't read then again until last year when I reread "Slaves of the Volcano God."

At the time I found them interesting and funny. In doing this reread of them, I found that what I consider interesting and funny is not quite the same as when I was 21/22. I had a lot of issues with the first book and some of those followed into this one.

I'm not a fan of repetition (unless it's the kind of repetitive joke that manages to become funny again after it's done more than three times) and both of the novels suffer from it. I *know* what the haps is going on with the plot, I don't need to be reminded every other page. For me it becomes tedious to read and I end up kind of glossing over, looking for the next bit of new information/narrative description.

"Bride" is somewhat better at this than in "Slaves." The Cineverse is an interesting concept, and "Bride" brought a better sense of what it's like, though I could've done less with the Beach Party parts. *That* got tedious. I don't think that's a genre of film that can really crossover to written text. There are definitely more creative parts than in "Slaves."

I will grant that the ending of "Bride" really leaves for an interesting development to go into "Revenge of the Fluffy Bunnies," although I'm a bit wary of the Fluffy Bunnies, because I didn't enjoy that sequence much: it honestly felt forced into the story.

[Nick Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

All of the same problems as the previous book, except moreso. Roger remains separated from his friends, but doesn't gain any more agency and stuff just keeps happening. Delores - having spent the prior book as a damsel-in-distress - turns out to have had hero training, but on her separate path acts just as clueless as Roger. The remaining sidekicks from the prior book are present, but lose focus and just spout their unique eccentric dialogue without actually doing anything anymore. New sidekicks pop up, but they just add to the cacophony of catchphrases. Finally, toward the very end of this second book, Roger figures out that he can use the rules of the Cineverse to his advantage, which he should've done at the beginning of the first book. Captain Crusader's mysterious disappearance resolves in the final pages and it doesn't make much sense, one would think there would've been an actual explanation of certain aspects of his status in a book that's as drawn out as this was. The end also contains the only thing resembling plot progression, as the book to that point had been spinning its wheels, but the status quo at the end of Bride of the Slime Monster isn't even that far off from the beginning of the prior book.

The two out of three books in this trilogy thus far have underserved the premise. I anticipate the same from the last volume. Maybe it'll surprise me.

It won't.

[Printable Tire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I own literally thousands of books, yet I purposefully decided to read one of the dumbest ones. I'm not blaming the book for that. I guess I just wanted to read something stupid, something easy, something cozy, something that would make me think about my own writing "well, it's at least somewhat better than this."

Sometimes this book is even funny. Sure, I laughed out loud a bunch of times. But it's written in the most annoying, telling-vs.-showing, hitting-you-over-the-head style I've ever seen. I mean, the exact way you're told NOT to write a book. There's not one line of dialogue without some stupid, needless adverb added to it, like

"I like you," he said adoringly.
"I hate you," she said vehemently.

Stuff like that. On every page!

And somehow, maybe because of all the adverbs and describing, it feels like nothings every going on. Like everyone's in a frozen state being commented on. I dunno how to explain it, but it sure ain't dramatic.

Plus, there's just way too many characters just sitting around doing nothing. Doc, Zambana or whatever he's called, even the Wonder Dog, they could all go and nothing would be lost.

But I'm not going to waste any more time nitpicking some dumb book from a million years ago. By this, the second book in this dumb series, you know what you're getting into.

[Stephen Ring · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is summer and every once and awhile one needs the truly silly, comedic work of literature(?) by a parody expert like Craig Shaw Gardner to lighten the more serious literary works like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

I read the first of this trilogy some time ago, and have decided to finish the adventures of Roger and his ladylove Delores. You will have to check other reviews with spoilers to find out more about this series, beginning with Slaves of the Volcano God and ending with Revenge of the Fluffy Bunnies.

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think in any kind of writing, but especially in comedy, it's difficult to bring something new to the table every time. We can't all be Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett. Gardner has my empathy on this count, but that doesn't distract from the fact that this is essentially a reheated version of Slaves of the Volcano God. It is, perhaps, the fate of so many trilogies that the first should be a fun, essentially stand-alone story, while the second and third retell that story but expanded and split between the two, but it would be nice if I were a little less aware of it while it's happening.

[Merije · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost 20 years ago a friend brought me this as a souvenir from London. It has moved between several homes with me because I liked the title, and I still do. It's just so.. intense.
The book itself was about as good as you'd expect. I must admit, I was hoping for some nice dramatic, super serious sf. That would have gotten 3 stars. But alas, it's trying to be a parody of basically every movie ever made, and it's just very... meh.

[Yvensong · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this better than the first book, so a solid 3.

The main character annoys me a bit, but that is the nature of pulp fiction, very little substance, types of characters. They're meant to be a little cheesy. I was glad to see more time spent on the female protagonist. We finally have an idea of who she is and why she is here - and it turns out she's not some helpless babe who needs to be constantly rescued (well, almost).

For those wondering why I'm reading these -- I was looking for something light, quick, with humor and something that requires no searching for deep insights. This series fit the bill.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roger's decoder ring breaks, and he's stranded in one of the cineverse worlds . . . I read this trilogy in an omnibus from a book club, and so I can't remember what happens in which one. Is this the one where he ends up in a depressing Scandinavian drama? If so, it was my favorite. But all three books were hysterically funny, it seemed like each new predicament was better than the last!

[Andy]

1ST UK PUBLICATION. COVER BY JOSH KIRBY.

[Mark Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The silliness continues.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very funny SiFi book. Gardner make you laugh ever few pages. Recommended

[Vader · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish

[Nicole Bushey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible I picked based on cover as per challenge wouldn't recommend to anyone