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Robert R McCammon
Emily wrote: "I love Swan Song and Boy's Life. Great reads!!"My two favorites also!!!
Thanks for the heads up, Bill. THE FIVE looks really interesting!
I heard about it while listening to the Pod of Horror. Mark Justice said it was his best book, next to Boy's Life.
Swan Song....ahhhh.....I read this in a frenzy while I was in high school. (yes it was a new release) It will forever be one of my favorite novels. Absolutly amazing!
Bill wrote: "News from McCammon's website...he's been writing like a madman :)http://www.robertmccammon.com/"
I think I just peed a little.
At one stage I was so worried that McCammon had stopped writing altogether. Thankfully, I was wrong.
Regards
Caleb
I'm beyond excited about McCammon's return to contemporary with The Five!
I just finished Swan Song and I enjoyed it. I did compare it to The Stand but I think it stands up ok to it as opposed to some other apocalyptic fiction.
Just finished Mystery Walk by McCammon and didn't really care for it. I liked the first half but after that I stopped liking the story and got kind of confsed.
Yeah - Mystery Walk for me was OK, but it didn't grab me that much.
I thinks its about time to read Boys Life again soon. Man I love that book.
Swan Song was one of those books I couldn't put down. I was into it the whole way. They Thirst has been on my nightstand (part of a small stack) for a couple years and still haven't managed to start it. Even took it to work the other day, but still no go. Too many books nudge it aside. I understand it's a great pulpy ride.
Having only previously read Mine and Boys Life, I just finished The Five, which I enjoyed. It's somewhat long, and some might say it drags in places but I would recommend it to fans in general. And it's a great topic to write around- a group of young musicians touring on the "gun and knife" circuit.
I realize nobody's been here for half of a year, but, I'm just about finished with Swan Song and I'm blown away. This book is awesome! I rate as one of the best books I've read in a long time, and possibly one of the best books I've read. Powerful characters, I wound up liking the bad guys as much as the good guys. The apocalypse discription left me gawking and mind blown. Fabulous work.
By the way, I heard there is a new series coming out by McGammon that focuses on The Main Character from Wolf's Hour. That's on my list for later this week, or early next week.
I need some time to find my mind again after Swan Song.
Friggin awesome, right Curmudgeon? : )It's not a new series, Curmudgeon, it's a new collection of stories about Gallatin. It's out now.
Here it is:The Hunter from the Woods.
Now, he also has a series going about Matthew Corbett and that is called The Providence Rider. This series is VERY good, IMO. Its release date is in May, I think.
Have you read Boy's Life yet?
Not yet. THis is the first McGammon I've read. I've got Wolf's Hour on deck and I'll be looking for another one. I was caught cheering in some parts of Swan Song, and got misty at others. McGammon has done a wonderful job with Swan Song. It's more than just horror or post apocalypse. So many themes run through it like veins of precious metals in the walls of a Gold Mine.
The description of the bombs falling got my heart going, I'll tell you that!
And yes, it's friggin AWESOME!
Curmudgeon, : )If you think Swan Song was great, wait until you read Boy's Life.
It's going on my TBN list (to buy now) so I can put it on my TBR.
Why the hell have I never read Swan Song? It's sitting on my shelf!
Oh, Tressa, you MUST read it! : )Curmudgeon, I just know you will love it!
I'll write a review as soon as I'm done (it is 960 pages in paperback form). It's just a wonderful read. It really fits my likes, lots of imagery, lots of themes running through it. Hell, I think nearly every one of the Grimm Fairy Tails that turned out a Disney Princess is in there, but their all twisted in some way. Not to mention the good vs. evil conflict. I love the characters, as miserable as they are. Lots of depression, but here and there, hope springs up, though it's fleeting.
I know I don't have the same tastes as everybody, so, no promises, but, boy, I sure do like it and I'll recommend it to anyone. If they aren't squeamish. Lots of violence, and mean wicked things in this book. I don't think I'll be reading it to my daughter anytime soon, but I'll give her a copy when she's in High School.
I also read Speaks the Nighbird and loved it, but only got 1/3 of the way through Queen of Bedlam. Not because it's not a compelling story, but I just wasn't in the right mindset to read it and it does take concentration because it's not a piece of fluff story.
Maybe you could skip Queen of Bedlam and move on to Mister Slaughter? He researches the books so well, so it's fun to learn about how things worked back in the day. Also he has introduced the sinister nemesis Dr. Fell who is making an appearance in the new book this May. You're right though, there is a lot of detail in the books-not a lot of fluff.
Swan Song though, along with Boy's Life are, to me, McCammon's masterpieces. They will stay in my head forever.
Wolf's Hour comes highly recommended also by someone who's opinion I trust when it comes to books. It's not your average werewolf story. (That's my next McGammon read, though I have a one or two non-McGammon books to get through first). Swan Song may be one of the earliest versions of post apocalypse dystopia in the modern age. I see a lot of stuff in there that reminds me of things seen in movies or read in books that were written after Swan Song was published.
I read Boy's Life when it first came out back in 1992 and loved it. It's so many stories rolled into one: a horror story; a murder mystery; a family drama; a bildungsroman (boy, haven't had the cause to use this word since my college German classes!).HA read Wolf's Hour as a group read a few years back. It is definitely not your typical werewolf story. It's kind of like a James Bond story, only hairier. It was a little too manly for me to enjoy as much as the others. But it has great style.
I'm okay with Manly...not so much hairy, but that's cause I'm going bald... I'll understand shedding.I finished Swan Song. It was a wonderful read. I loved the characters. I was worried about how it would end, but it worked for me.
THere were strong characters in most ethnic groups (other than Hispanic) and both genders. A little racially charged language at the end, but, it was there mostly to help the bad guys stay looking bad.
I'm very glad you liked it, Curmudgeon!
Is McGammon from the South?
Yes, as far as I know he is from Alabama.I think Tressa, the moderator here, is also.
Yes, McCammon was born in Birmingham, AL and lives in my current city, Vestavia (very near B'ham).This is an older article but very interesting about how he got fed up with the publishing industry. Boy, I'm sure glad he wrote and published Nightbird.
http://www.robertmccammon.com/intervi...
I know that Tressa is... I think that explains the language that came up in the last few chapters. I grew up in the south, Louisiana mostly, and there's something about the way certain racial epitath's are used that you can tell if the environment is old south, or somewhere else. I think the langange came out in the end of this book to link the KKK (and like organizations) to the Nazi's and the man with the scarlet eye (view spoiler) It was artfully done, but the first few times I heard it (audio book) I snapped my head around and glared at my Kindle Fire. Not so much a poor choice as, it sounded like very authentic hate speech. (and, part of why I liked the book so much.)
I'm glad he wrote Swan Song. It's a tough read, in places, but, it's a good tough. I really like stories of courage and strength to maintain dignity under difficult situations.
I may bump up Swan Song on my reading list. I'm in the middle of the Hunger Games series right now, and do want to read the current group read before the month is over.
Tressa wrote: "I may bump up Swan Song on my reading list. I'm in the middle of the Hunger Games series right now, and do want to read the current group read before the month is over."Tressa - Definitely move Swan Song up the TBR ladder. It's still one of my favorites and ranks with The Stand
Much as I like the Stand, I enjoyed Swan Song a little bit more. The Stand had some slow parts for me, where Swan Song chugged right along. Also loved Stinger and They Bite. They Bite is hard to find though.
Kurt wrote: "Much as I like the Stand, I enjoyed Swan Song a little bit more. The Stand had some slow parts for me, where Swan Song chugged right along. Also loved Stinger and They Bite. They Bite is hard to fi..."I meant They Thirst!
I'm turning into my mother, messing up names...
I was about to say I've never heard of They Bite.
Tressa wrote: "I was about to say I've never heard of They Bite."Long day, short memory. I'm going to have shot of whiskey and go to bed.
I hosted an interview with the great writer Robert McCammon in March 2012Featuring 2 goodreads members questions also including the moderator of this group!
Awesome things he spoke about check it out >>>>
http://more2read.com/review/interview...
That was an awesome interview and some great questions. Thanks for posting it!
I've been a McCammon fan for as long as I can remember. I still have my original paperbacks of Baal, Bethany's Sin, and all the others. If I had to pick I'd say that Swan Song, Boy's Life, Wolf's Hour and Gone South are my favorites. I recently reread Wolf's Hour for probably the 4th time and also read the Michael Gallatin stories The Hunter from the Woodswhich I recommend to anyone whose read Wolf's Hour. It answers all those questions about where he came from and how he became a werewolf/master spy.
great interview Lou - thanks for posting it
Joanne wrote: "great interview Lou - thanks for posting it"No problem and thanks swan song was great and the five recently. All time great boys life needs a re-read.
Maybe we should start a Robert McCammon group with one of his books a month starting with Boys life. Hey Stephen king fans have one!
Yes, that was a good interview, Lou. This is the second time I've read it (interview) the first time, I had just started Swan Song and, as I do with the really good stuff, I wanted to learn more about the author and what goes through his head when he writes.Thanks for posting that agian. It was a good read coming and going.
I was curious, sometimes when a writer takes a hiadas, his writing isn't the same as it was before. This can be good, or it can be bad. Has anyone read his most current books and his older ones? Is there a difference in style and content?
Curmudgeon wrote: "I was curious, sometimes when a writer takes a hiadas, his writing isn't the same as it was before. This can be good, or it can be bad. Has anyone read his most current books and his older ones? ..."He's got better and deeper in reaserch and thought.
Wow, deeper in thought than Swan Song? okay, I need to read more.
Horror Aficionados
Books mentioned in this topic
The River of Souls (other topics)Blue World (other topics)
Gone South (other topics)
They Thirst (other topics)
Swan Song (other topics)
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haha. I'll get back to you in a couple days, Caleb."
No rush Glen. I'm arrogant enough to think at least one or two things I mentioned might deserve some contemplation.
Anyway - I still owe you several pages of notes which I've been too lazy to compile thus far. :|