Helpful Score: 5
This is the best book I've read in several years, great characters, great story and the background of how the book came to be is a story in itself. Carrion Comfort is on a par with The Stand although it is more ethereal. Dan Simmons has become my favorite recently discovered author and I continue to devour his books. This book is huge but I read it in less than a week while in Bermuda. Get this book, read it, and let it sink into your soul.
Helpful Score: 4
The second novel by World Fantasy Award-winner Simmons ( The Song of Kali ) is a 636-page epic that draws on a variety of genres--horror, science fiction, political thriller, Hollywood roman a clef. It centers around a small number of "mind vampires" who can subjugate other people to their wills, read their minds, experience through their senses. The immensely powerful vampires use others, often bloodily, and often in frivolous "games" (hunting human prey, chess games with human pieces, and so on). Opposing them are Saul Laski, a psychologist and concentration-camp survivor, who is devoted to tracking down the Nazi vampire von Borchert; Natalie Preston, whose father inadvertently and fatally crossed the path of a pawn of the ancient, dotty vampire Melanie Fuller; Sheriff Bobby Joe Gentry, dragged in while investigating the multiple murders that marked the departure of Melanie Fuller from Charleston; and a host of other normals and vampires whose lives impinge on those of the principals. While he could profitably have trimmed the novel by a third, Simmons has produced, overall, a compelling thriller.
Helpful Score: 2
Masterful horror by a great writer. This will turn around what you think of as a vampire novel.
Helpful Score: 2
I have enjoyed everything I have read by Dan Simmonds so I may be just a bit prejudiced. This story is full of action and reminded me of the sort of action movies that have the protagonist jumping out of airplanes and landing on windmills to dive into fire and survive to make the next train. For a long book it was a fast read.
Helpful Score: 1
All humans feed on violence. But only those with the Ability haved tasted the ultimate power.
Ordinary vampires possess the body. But only those who use the living can violate the soul.
They gather their strength through the years. They plot their unholy gmaes. They war among themselves. And the victor will stand alone against a world without defenses.
Ordinary vampires possess the body. But only those who use the living can violate the soul.
They gather their strength through the years. They plot their unholy gmaes. They war among themselves. And the victor will stand alone against a world without defenses.
While I love Dan Simmons, this was not one of my favorites. I found it very slow paced and more like a soap opera with vampires. It was just an o.k. book, but not one I'd want to re-read.
I looked forward to reading this book after reading Simmons' book The Song of Kali. With both books Simmons seems to make the terror from something that could be real. For me, those types of books disturb me to the point that it keeps me up late at night and has me thinking about it months later. I love it! In Song of Kali, it did just that but for Carrion Comfort, I'm afraid it fell short. I think this could've been a great story but unfortunately, it was way too long. I don't mind a thick book but I want meat and potatoes in there not just fluffy filler. I found my mind wandering quite often while reading. It just did not hold my attention throughout a good portion. There were some really good parts, some awesome characters and a cool twist on the "vampire" but the long stretches throughout kind of ruined it for me
