Horror Aficionados discussion
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Robert R McCammon
I agree with Lou. The newer books (The Matthew Corbett series) are very well researched and it shows. (It was still interesting to read about what he researches, though!). I thought The Fivewas just plain awesome and was quite different from anything else he has written-except for the characters, which were exceptional as always.
The older books (prior to the hiatus) were all sooo good, but mostly in the horror genre.
I loved them all!
Lou, thanks for sharing the interview with Robert McCammon. He's one of my favorites and I'm really glad that he's becoming prolific again.
Me, too, TJ. I had no idea he had been so conflicted about his writing.
I finished Swan Song and, for those interested, here's the review.http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11...
I have wolf's hour on deck, but I'll probably read it after Deep Fathom (Rollins). I still have echoes of swan song in my head. (Cue Billy Joel and Piano Man..."and it's sad and it's sweet and I knew it complete when I wore a younger man's clothes. ya-dada-diddy-dah...)
Curmudgeon wrote: "I finished Swan Song and, for those interested, here's the review.http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11..."
Great review! Very deep and well expressed. (It's "McCammon" though, not McGammon.)
heh.... just a little... tiny...um.. brb...Fire up the Edit Monster!
okay, how do you like it now?
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..."Kurt, I couldn't agree with you more on comparing The Stand and Swan Song. I loved, loved, loved Swan Song and just loved The Stand.
Curmudgeon wrote: "okay, how do you like it now?"My red pencil rests. It's an even better review now. Way to go!
Thank you. Bad eyes and dyslexia (readinng disorder) and a less than normal brain make for creative spelling gaffs.
I had a chance to meet Robert McCammon at the WHC in Utah. He's one of my all time favorite writers and a pretty nice guy as well.Carl
I just started Wolf's Hour. It started well (IMHO). I can see what you (Tressa) meant about it having that... Bond-ish... scent about it. Michael is sort of an "Alpha Male" if you'll pardon the expression.
Robert McCammon's first novel Baal (Kindle eBook) is on sale at Amazon for $2.99. Good time to snag this as most of ebooks are $9.99.The Five is also $2.99, good time to get that before the price goes back up.
I just LOVED The Five, even though it was a bit different from anything else McCammon has written, IMO. I admit that I shed a tear at the end. : )
Curmudgeon wrote: "I just started Wolf's Hour. It started well (IMHO). I can see what you (Tressa) meant about it having that... Bond-ish... scent about it. Michael is sort of an "Alpha Male" if you'll pardon the..."I thought it would be more werewolfy and less Bondish. Still many others enjoyed it.
The Hunter from the Woods was released in ebook recently and while I haven't read it yet, it sounds intriguing. Always liked what he did with the character of Michael Gallatin...unique take on werewolves.
@chris --- I have read The Hunter from the Woods and really liked it. Wolf's Hour has always been one of my favorites and I was thrilled to see more stories about Michael Gallatin. The Hunter fills in all the gaps on his life, starting with how he became a werewolf to how he became a master spy and so on ....
I do still plan on reading that one, Joanne!
The Five was so freakin good, I just loved it.I hope you do too. : )
I should be reading Baal soon as I was able to pick it up on sale.
Caleb wrote: "Actually reading Usher's Passing at the moment.Love me some McCammon."
I just started it this morning.
I have Swan Songsitting on my shelf for a re-read. I read it when I was young and remember just loving it. I also just ordered a copy of Minefor 3.98 from Amazon and I found The Five for a mere 2.99 on the kindle. Yay. I have let McCammon go for several years and I am ready to pick him back up again.
I loved Speaks the Nightbird, but only got 1/3 of the way through Queen of Bedlam. I couldn't concentrate and kept getting characters confused. Maybe I was going through something back then I don't remember. That's a great serious, though.
I have thoroughly enjoyed all of McCammon's 80s and 90s novels ending with Gone South (1992, I believe). Haven't read anything in the Matthew Corbett series, yet, although I have Speaks The Nightbird I & II in paperback (Pocket). I have heard good things about this series, so I look forward to someday getting into it (wish it was horror instead of historical, though)I have The Five in ebook and look forward to reading that in the GR McCammon group this month. Also enjoyed one of the novellas "The Room at the Bottom of the Stairs" (five stars) from The Hunter from the Woods.
Stacey wrote: "Caleb wrote: "Actually reading Usher's Passing at the moment.Love me some McCammon."
I just started it this morning."
Cool - I'm about half-way through at the moment.
I've been taking a very slow McCammon chronological tour as I own all of this books up to Mister Slaughter.
A couple of his earliest books didn't exactly float my boat, but Usher's Passing has been great so far.
I have to get back into the Matthew Corbett novels, but Speaks the Nightbird was excellent! I have all the Pocket Books editions of his original novels, but have yet to read Baal (duh)...and The Five...
I love Robert McCammon. Swan Song is one of my favorite books. Remember really enjoying They Thirst. Boy's Life, eh. And I really did not like Speaks the Nightbird and the second one (snore), though a lot of people seem to really like them. Okay, so maybe it's more hit or miss with R.M. But I've realized he's written many more books and I'm actually really looking forward to reading them all! I'm thinking when he does more horror-y books, I'm into them, but when he starts straying, not so much. Possibly.
Wolf's Hour - I stole a copy from my brother and really was getting into it (this was a long time ago) and then I left it on a bus. Karma.
Presently reading "The Five". It's a good read and easy to get into. I'm about 25% through it and still haven't figured out how it will end.
TJ, are you reading with the McCammon group?
Charlene wrote: "TJ, are you reading with the McCammon group?"Sorry for the late reply on this, Charlene. Yes, I planned to read with the group.
No problem. I might see you over there. : )
Hiya, folks.Mind if I chime in?
I'm delighted to find me some McCammon lovers here. I'm in agreement with so many of you that Swan Song is a better book than The Stand, although they're both good. The new stuff is good and I enjoy reading it, but I, too, wish we could get some horror.
My # 1 McCammon book--and it well may be my # 1 horror book--is Boy's Life. Just a plain wonderful read.
I'm inclined to agree. While I do love The Stand, when I read Swan Song, I freaking LIVED it. It was such an immersive experience.I've yet to dip into his new stuff, but I'm sure I will someday, and I've read most of his older work that I can get my hands on.
I actually just picked up copies of Bethany's Sin and The Night Boat at a local used bookstore, so I'm looking forward to checking them out.
And of course, Boy's Life was fantastic as well.
I'm a big fan of McCammon. Thus far, I've read Swan Song, Boy's Life, Bethany's Sin, Baal, Blue World, and half of Mine.Favorites: Swan Song and Blue World, by far!
On the notion of Swan Song copying King (first page and elsewhere, I'm sure): Not really possible. King did not invent the post-apocalyptic story, nor did he perfect it. Besides, King may have interesting plots, but his writing is far below McCammons (which often reads like poetry-- wonderful way with words).
Owned and not yet read: Mystery Walk and Night Boat
I saw someone mention on the first page that they met him. I wish I had a chance to meet McCammon! That would be awesome! :D The only famous person I have ever met is Stephen King, coincidentally. I grew up in a small town in Maine, and he came to talk to our writer's club at school. :P
Kylie, I met him at my library at an author program. He was very nice and allowed our PR person to snap several pictures of us together. He was nice to everyone who stood in line to meet him.
Tressa, one would think that most authors would be nice in public and to their fans. I know that isn't the case, but it makes little sense to me to be anything but kind to people who buy your work.Would be interesting to meet him. I've never really met anyone I was a fan of.
One would think...Personally I like to keep my illusions about artists/writers, etc., and stay far, far away from them. If they disappoint me, I won't be able to enjoy them anymore.
Tressa wrote: "One would think...Personally I like to keep my illusions about artists/writers, etc., and stay far, far away from them. If they disappoint me, I won't be able to enjoy them anymore."
Though he's not an author, I have a prime example: Ritchie Blackmore.
Ron, you met him and he disappointed? Or he said something stupid that offended you and you're not going to support him anymore? I wish writers would keep their political rants to themselves. I'm really not inclined to spread the word about their books or buy something from them if they hatefully stereotype me as a voter.
Tressa wrote: "Ron, you met him and he disappointed? Or he said something stupid that offended you and you're not going to support him anymore? I wish writers would keep their political rants to themselves. I'm r..."Hmmm...I just didn't find him to be a very pleasant individual. I met Steve Morse many years before he joined Deep Purple, however, at a 'clinic' he gave at an H & H Music where I helped set up. He was an incredibly nice guy.
Most of them are nice people and treat their fans well, but you're always taking a chance.
Tressa wrote: "Most of them are nice people and treat their fans well, but you're always taking a chance."For some reason, even though he wasn't the most famous person I'd met, the first time I met John Sykes (Thin Lizzy, Tigers of Pan Tang, Whitesnake, etc.) was by far the most embarrassing. I completely, utterly turned into some kind of demented pro wrestling fan-type. I met him again a few years later and he walked up to where my friend and Sykes' tech were talking (they knew each other pretty well) and asked me "so what are you guys gonna do?" I said, "No idea, it's up to them." Marco Mendoza walks up right then and Sykes looks at him, then back at me and says 'So let's go to a nudie bar."
Great story. It's hard not to get nervous around someone you admire.
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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Thank you very much it makes the interview worth it!