Monster

Monster
A. Lee Martinez
Orbit Books

This book has been passed around by my gaming group. It finally was my turn to read it. When I asked about it, they simply told me to read it.

It looks cheap. The blurbs also don't read as anything spectacular. The first chapter also does not reflect any quality. Still, I saw in the faces of those around me to read it. I thus read it.

Well, it is a fun story. It is not spectacular, but the author holds the level of his narrative. The style of writing is what I call, 'internet muse,' but the author does not have the quality of his tale diminish as his fascination with the writing experience fades. There are some changes of point of view, but I did not find them annoying (although I did notice). The story does have holes, but the manner of narrative does not make the holes important.

If you want a fun book, I would reccomend it. It is quirky with a number of strange characters and situations. The tale does hold a consistency all the way to the end.

If you want me to tell you about the book, well, I am not going to bother. If you are so paranoid of new stuff that you need an outline of events, this book is not for you. If you really do not enjoy fantasy, leave this book alone. The book is weird, but in a fun way. The book does present some strange stuff, but never becomes philosophical. I found it to simply be an entertaining way to have spent some time, and I believe that you would find it to be that as well.

I trust your opinion Terish, but it seems like you are still on the wall about whether or not you really like the book.

So you would only recommend it to readers who enjoy weird fantasy novels?

Kellycakes wrote:

I trust your opinion Terish, but it seems like you are still on the wall about whether or not you really like the book.

So you would only recommend it to readers who enjoy weird fantasy novels?

Well, yes. I have been burnt by those that expect any 'recommended' text to follow the mass-produced formula(s). I thus simply toss out that a book is good, and allow those that hear me to step up and say that they are willing/desiring/needing something different.

Those that are conditioned to expect a certain type of presentation will be set back. This book is not in a 'professional' style. It however does have good characters, a good story, and moves along at a good pace while maintaining an internal consistency. While I and those I have as friends read a lot of crap, we do try to give credit to the rare good things that we find. Monster is one of them.

TerishD wrote:

While I and those I have as friends read a lot of crap, we do try to give credit to the rare good things that we find. Monster is one of them.

That sounds like you liked it. Abet it not mainstream, but then again Hydra does not read mainstream that much either, so someone that shares your taste in writing would enjoy this work.