Hellbender

by Laurie R. King

Once people have messed with a man’s DNA, what can he do but become a private eye? And when a gorgeous thing like Elizabeth Savoy comes gliding into his office and blinks her big baby blues, what can PI Mike Heller do but say sure—even though he sees just what she is, and knows what a bad idea it could be? Not that Heller has a clue just how bad. But by the time he suspects that Lizzie’s troubles might bring the end of life as he knows it, he’s already in far too deep.

(Previously published in the short story compilation "Down These Strange Streets")

Genres: Mystery, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Fantasy, Fiction, Novella

34 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 4, 2011

About the author

Edgar-winning mystery writer Laurie R. King writes series and standalone novels. Her official forum is
THE LRK VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB here on Goodreads--please join us for book-discussing fun.

King's 2018 novel, Island of the Mad, sees Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes travel from London's Bedlam to the glitter of Venice's Lido,where Young Things and the friends of Cole Porter pass Mussolini's Blackshirts in the streets. The Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series follows a brilliant young woman who becomes the student, then partner, of the great detective. [click here for an excerpt of the first in the series, The Beekeeper's Apprentice] The Stuyvesant and Grey series (Touchstone; The Bones of Paris) takes place in Europe between the Wars. The Kate Martinelli series follows an SFPD detective's cases on a female Rembrandt, a holy fool, and more. [Click for an excerpt of A Grave Talent]

King lives in northern California, which serves as backdrop for some of her books.

Please note that Laurie checks her Goodreads inbox intermittently, so it may take some time to receive a reply. A quicker response may be possible via email to info@laurierking.com.

Reviews

[M.R. Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a bit strange to read Laurie King writing science fiction noir - almost like reading a mashup of The Dresden Files and The X-Files. I did enjoy it, though. If she kept coming out with these shorts, I'd keep buying them.

[Nancy Deen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great sci-first

Great science fiction short story and a good analogy for the way we mistreat those who are not like us!

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hellbender is an imaginative short story about a private investigator named Mike Heller who isn't entirely human. Mike is a genetically modified hybrid who passes for human but has some salamander DNA and is a member of a race called SalaMan. He is hired by the sister of a missing Salaman who wants her brother back. Turns out Mike needs to rescue the brother and a number of other SalaMan folks who have been abducted by a morally deficient scientist who is experimenting on them Nazi style.
This was a very engaging quick read that I enjoyed. I intend to investigate other books by Laurie King.

[Elizabeth Dodd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Laurie R. King's writing.
This unexpected scifi noir did not disappoint me at all.
She deftly creates an alternative world that is totally familiar, except for certain "people" who inhabit it.
A clever and engaging read.
And, wonder of wonders, turns out the government really had tried to do right!

[Leila Pitchford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laurie King enters sci fi world

While retaining the investigation and mystery of her novels, King leaves behind police work, Sherlock Holmes and theology for creatures who aren’t quite human and their lives among humans. This short story was as good as any science fiction I read starting back in the 70s.

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually read this in the previously published anthology "Down These mean Streets". I am a fan of the author and I was not disappointed. Although the story is a mysyery, it is quite a departure from her historical fiction Sherlock Holmes homage. I found the future world that she painted totally engrossing. I only wish she would create more works for this investigator.

[Jean W. Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original and well-written

Chose this because I enjoy reading Laurie R. King 's novels. How did she come up with the idea of a Salaman? The voice of the main character sounded totally plausible and the details were fascinating.

[Betty Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always love everything by this author


This was a fun journey into an interesting world, I hope that we will some day hear more about these characters.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. What a wonderful imagination!!

[Shipofools999 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of an anthology. People who were the results of dna mixing with reptiles start missing. Turns out the scientists have kidnapped them for experimentation. Noir style detective story.

[C-shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laurie King is one of my favorite authors. This is really a short story, intriguing and entertaining.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your usual LRK! nice side read, kind of fantasy sci fi detective, etc. interesting!

[Janice McMillen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpected story line but I like everything she writes.

[Tony Peck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was surprising. So short for a start - barely a chapter really! Well written as expected and quite a fun departure from King.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Least favorite story by Laurie R. King so far. She should stay with mysteries and leave science fiction to the scifi bunch.

[Louise Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice twist on the hard-boiled PI story. Well-written, as one would expect from Ms King, and gripping from the start

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hellbender by Laurie R King is a short novella that is a science fiction futuristic private eye story. Mike Heller is the main character PI that is also a Salaman. The simple way to put this is that he is a Mutant. I will let you read the story to find the immense world that King builds. For a novella, she goes into great detail that helps immerse the reader in the world. The pacing is quick a free flowing the tense scenes in the story flow fast and get your pulse pounding. However, unlike most of LRK's stories I've read the story felt finished but I wanted so much more of this lead character. Hellbender is a light speedy but ultimately satisfying read. This gets a five star ratting but only cause Goodreads requires it.

[Jgrace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hellbender – Laurie R. King
3 stars
This kindle single is a fun, short, noir detective story with a 21st century science fiction twist. PI Mike Heller is just a bit different. He’s part of a very select community of genetically altered humans. Someone is causing ‘his’ people to disappear. It’s lightweight fiction, but Laurie King still manages to insert issues of scientific ethics and ‘human’ equality along with her recurring theme of governmental abuse of power.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weirdly wonderful

Would love to see these characters inhabit a full length novel, or a series of them. The shallow back story and requisite abuse-in-the-name-of-science incident in Hellbender have just enough heft for this fraction to hint of a much larger tale, one with endless possibilities. Hopefully Ms. King will oblige.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of fun and very different from King's usual writing, but quite interesting. I love the way she manages to create a whole alternative reality within the bounds of such a short story! I wouldn't mind seeing more stories from this world.

[Katrina Koehler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it is a departure from Laurie R. King's usual cast of characters, "Hellbender" is still as well-written as all of her other books! "Hellbender" is a short story detective mystery with a sci-fi twist and I just wish it had gone on longer!

[Rick Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me. King and Sci-fi

Me. King has proven that she is versatile in writing different genre. Her Sherlock Holmes stories are my favorite but this short story is well written and entertaining.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short novella, packed with action, and based on an intriguing (if somewhat bizarre) premise.

The plot is meh--it kind of wanders into another format, the standard thriller--but it's always a pleasure to read Laurie King.

[Erin Farwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick little horrorish story that is more detective novel than anything else. Fun, quirky, and different. Worth the read.

[Sheila Beaumont · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hellbender is an enjoyable supernatural detective story, quick and fun, well worth reading.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something of a new departure for Laurie R King, but she's given an interesting twist, and a likeable main character. I hope she writes some more in this universe.

[Corrina Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful blend of detective noir & SF.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting concept, and a short story that could make an entertaining series.

[Kate Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

more more

Laurie King, you are the best! I love the Mary and Sherlock books. I hope we see more of salaman.

[Pers · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intriguing idea.