Robert R McCammon

[Char]

Sadly, I don't think they were being snarky. I think they were being honest (from their point of view).
Ahem. Their entirely stupid, non-imagination-al point of view.

[Tressa]

Good God! Shirley you can't be serious.

[Char]

I shirley am. :)

[Chris]

Seriously...someone didn't like Boy's Life? Whatta maroon...

[[deleted user]]

I'm between 75 & 80% now, and (view spoiler)[ I got to Davy Ray's death. It's as effecting as Rebel's in a different way. I couldn't help noticing the contrast. Rebel's death is told in a plainly horrific and gruesome manner. While Davy's is very quiet. The chapter of Rebel's death is the most imaginative chapter in the book. (So far anyway). And Davy's death was the most realistic. (In terms of what we know is truth). For most of us, our first traumatic experience with death is the loss of a beloved pet. I remember my first, and always will. But I think Cory's faith is his imagination - or maybe imagination is his faith. And he needed that the most when Rebel was dying. But when he lost Davy, he lost his faith (or imagination as well). (hide spoiler)]

Have I mentioned I am loving this book?! It's one of those rare books you don't read - you experience it. :)

[[deleted user]]

Btw - is the 'Franklin' Cory meets the same character from Swan's Song? This is my first McCammon but I know there's a similar character in it.

[Jeff]

I read the Wolf's Hour on a suggestion. Being a big WWII fan, it just didn't overly excite me. The initial description of the changes was excellent, but it kept being repeated. The plot for "Operation Ironfist" seemed to get lost in the story. I did enjoy the scenes surrounding the rail line and the abandoned castle they resided in. Very graphic and exciting.

[Char]

Jeff, you may then enjoy The Hunter from the Woods which tells a bit more about Michael Gallatin's time with "the pack" and a bit more about him that we did not previously know. :)

[Char]

Traci L. wrote: "Btw - is the 'Franklin' Cory meets the same character from Swan's Song? This is my first McCammon but I know there's a similar character in it."

Traci, hmmmm. I can't seem to remember. :(

[Jeff]

Charlene wrote: "Jeff, you may then enjoy The Hunter from the Woods which tells a bit more about Michael Gallatin's time with "the pack" and a bit more about him that we did not previously know. :)"

Thanks Charlene, I'll look into that one.

[Char]

I hope you enjoy it when you get to it, Jeff. :)

I'm looking forward to your next one, btw.

[Jeff]

Charlene wrote: "I hope you enjoy it when you get to it, Jeff. :)

I'm looking forward to your next one, btw."

So do I Charlene, I'll be checking out half-price books for a copy. I'm pushing for a July/Aug release of "Sabotage." If you haven't seen it, released a time travel book back in January and short horror story last month:

Have a great week. Jeff

[Char]

Wow, you have been busy!

[Jeff]

Charlene wrote: "Wow, you have been busy!"

A touch.

[Carl]

Just did a back to back of Speaks the Nightbird and The Queen of Bedlam. Of the two, I preferred Nightbird, with Queen a close second. My problem with the Queen were certain little cute winks and nods that McCammon threw in. The bit about the one character thinking of opening a coffee house with flavored creams, and Matthew thinking that was a wacky idea, or the fact that Matthew somehow came up with the title "detective" for himself. Those types of things always pull me out of a book and always make me realize I am reading a fictional story, and that there is somebody on the other side of the page pulling the strings.

I have heard that McCammon has done insane research to make these books as accurate as possible. A complaint I have heard people make is the language that McCammon chooses to use, as it is too modern. In an interview I heard with him he stated that he did not use true colonial language as it would be too difficult for the modern reader to follow. He stated that we, the readers, instead have to read this as if somebody interpreted the book for us into the modern language, and that all of the characters are actually speaking their true language. Something I always do anyways when I watch a period piece movie, or even book.

I would be interested as to what human life was REALLY like during this period, as I read another complaint stating that people just did not act like the people act in these books. The statement was "the are Puritans," and claiming that there is no way the puritans would act like the deplorable creatures that inhabit these books. IMO people have always been people, and the only difference between the Puritans and us is that we wear our sins on our sleeves, whereas the Puritans hid them in the pages of their bibles.

I will be starting the third book, Mister Slaughter, today. I do really love these books, and they further deepen my love of McCammon. I have heard that Slaughter is the strongest of the four. I will be hunting for the forth book today, and will eagerly await the recently announced fifth book. :)

[Squire]

The only McCammon I've read is Carrion Comfort. There were a couople of minor characters that I found clichéd and uniteresting, but most of the book was quite good. The denouement of the book was the most intimately satisfying I'd ever read.

Mine in on my TBR.

[Carl]

Carrion was Dan Simmons. :) However, I loved Carrion.

[Kimberly]

Carl wrote: "Carrion was Dan Simmons. :) However, I loved Carrion."

I just read Carrion Comfort a few months ago--good read.

[Char]

I am slowly reading (again) everything McCammon has written. Most recently I read Blue World and I thought it was a truly excellent collection.

I did write a brief review if anyone is interested:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Squire]

Carl wrote: "Carrion was Dan Simmons. :) However, I loved Carrion."

oops. But Mine isn't.

[Jon Recluse]

Charlene wrote: "I am slowly reading (again) everything McCammon has written. Most recently I read Blue World and I thought it was a truly excellent collection.

I did write a brief review if anyone is interested:..."

Great review, Charlene!

[Carl]

Squire wrote: "Carl wrote: "Carrion was Dan Simmons. :) However, I loved Carrion."

oops. But Mine isn't."

Nope, you're right there. :) I still need to read Mine. I think once I am done with the Corbett books I will go back and read his old ones. I have only read . . . uhhhh . . . three of them, I think. Swan Song, Stinger, and Boy's Life.

[Char]

Jon Recluse wrote: "Charlene wrote: "I am slowly reading (again) everything McCammon has written. Most recently I read Blue World and I thought it was a truly excellent collection.

I did write a brief review if anyo..."

Thank you, Jon. :)

[Char]

Carl, I would highly recommend Usher's Passing. Kimberly and I read it not too long ago and we both thought it was excellent. It wouldn't hurt to re-read Poe's story first. It's short and it will put you in the right frame of mind. :)

[[deleted user]]

I third Usher's Passing. I rate is among the five best books I've ever read.

[Kimberly]

Charlene wrote: "Carl, I would highly recommend Usher's Passing. Kimberly and I read it not too long ago and we both thought it was excellent. It wouldn't hurt to re-read Poe's story first. It's short and it will p..."

I also felt that re-reading Poe's story first, really enhanced it! McCammon is simply a genius when it comes to his novels! (Oh--not to leave out BLUE WORLD!!!)

[Joanne]

Traci L. wrote: "Joanne - that your kitty? (S)He's a doll!
Okay.. yes. I'm a crazy (not so old yet) cat lady. :)"

hey Traci ... missed this somehow ... actually my picture is of Dollie, a foster kitten I had a few years ago... she was one of the funniest kittens I've ever fostered and I hated to see her go but she is now in her forever home being spoiled rotten by her own little girl :) and I totally admit to being the 'old crazy cat lady'

[Joanne]

Charlene wrote: "Carl, I would highly recommend Usher's Passing. Kimberly and I read it not too long ago and we both thought it was excellent. It wouldn't hurt to re-read Poe's story first. It's short and it will p..."

hey CharBar- I read it too and it was absolutely amazing... one of my new favorites and I love them all

[Joanne]

Traci I'm so glad you loved Boys Life
It's always great to see someone discovering it for the first time. If there was one book I could erase from my mind and reread for the first time that would be the one.

[Char]

Joanne , I'm sorry! You know how my memory is. :)

[Char]

Joanne, well said! With our memories, you'd think that it would be easy for us to forget it! Yeah, BL is a keeper. :)

[Hunter]

The Swan Song ebook is on sale through July 22, 2013. It's currently only $3.03 for Kindle....

Hunter

[Tressa]

In my library book store there's a hardback signed copy of Swan Song for $50. Or maybe it's one of his others. Can't remember. That's too rich for my blood.

[Hunter]

If it's actually Swan Song, that's about $200 less than they usually sell for. I'm guessing it's something else, or else that's a helluva bargain.

Hunter

[Tressa]

I'm going to look when the bookstore opens. Maybe it was one of his later ones.

[Tressa]

The McCammon book is Wolf's Hour. How much would an autographed copy of this sell for?

[Hunter]

Hardback? The UK edition that looks like this?



It typically sells for $50 to $120, closer to the higher end if it's signed.

Hunter

[Todd]

Love Mccammon's writing. Always excites (and makes me a bit envious) when someone new discovers and enjoys reading him.

[Tressa]

No, this one.

[Hunter]

I'd already forgotten about the new hardcover! 8-) Well, it's out-of-print now, so $50 is a steal. The last two on eBay sold for $80 and $160.

Hunter

[Tressa]

Hmmm. Will have to think long and hard about this one. Not sure why our bookstore would price it so high regardless. Thanks for your help, Hunter!

[Todd]

Happy Birthday to Robert McCammon! (thanks for the head's up, Hunter)

Cool to know that it's also the day the bombs fell in Swan Song

[Char]

Happy Birthday, Mr. McCammon! Thanks you for the many, many hours of enjoyment you have provided me over the years. :)

[Deacon]

I gotta get in on this, too...

Happy Birthday, Mr. McCammon, and thank you!

[Char]

Hey, Deacon! It's nice to"see" you. :)

[Bob]

Indeed, Happy B-day Master McCammon.

[Kimberly]

Todd wrote: "Happy Birthday to Robert McCammon! (thanks for the head's up, Hunter)

Cool to know that it's also the day the bombs fell in Swan Song"

I love the added "trivia"! Happy Birthday Mr. McCammon!!

[TJ]

Robb wrote: "I didn't care all that much for "Mine." The opening was great, but I lost interest about halfway through."

Sorry "Mine" didn't work for you. Hope you'll try some of McCammon's other works.

[Jon Recluse]

Happy belated birthday, Mr. McCammon!

[Char]

Boy's Life is beyond compare.