Friday, May 20, 2011

Review: Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey


Sandman Slim is the first book in the Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey and an EOS Fiction.

Book Blurb:

When he was 19, James Stark was considered to be one of the greatest natural magicians, a reputation that got him demon-snatched and sent downtown - to Hell - where he survived as a gladiator, a sideshow freak entertaining Satan's fallen angels. That was 11 years ago. Now, the hitman who goes only by Stark has escaped and is back in L.A. Armed with a fortune-telling coin, a black bone knife, and an infernal key, Stark is determined to destroy the magic circle - led by the conniving and powerful Mason Faim - that stole his life.

Though nearly everything has changed, one constant remains: his friend Vidocq, a 200-year-old Frenchman who has been keeping vigil for the young magician's return. But when Stark's first stop saddles him with an abusive talking head that belongs to the first of the circle, a sleazy video store owner named Kasabian, Stark discovers that the road to absolution and revenge is much longer than he counted on, and both Heaven and Hell have their own ideas for his future. . .

My thoughts:

From a very early age, James Stark could perform magic.  Not the magic of Vegas - but real magic - and it came easy to him.  Often feeling misunderstood, James was overwhelmed when he fell in love with Alice - and finding out that she returned that love was more than he’d ever dreamed possible.

James also found like minded people - magicians - and they formed a circle, and worked on growing their magic.  But again, the magic came easy to James.  And people were jealous, people James trusted.  Then the night came when they betrayed him.

For the next eleven years James lived Downtown - where he was forced in the ring to fight whoever - or whatever, was thrown his way.  And fight he did.  Win he did.  And James earned a reputation.

Now he has escaped Downtown and he is back in LA - back with a vengeance and an agenda.  

Cause payback is hell.

Sandman Slim is a bit on the snarky side - especially when it comes to religion.  Some may find it offensive.

I give Sandman Slim 4 out of 5 stars and I am looking forward to the next installment.

3 comments:

Blodeuedd said...

Sounds cool, and I like that head, lol. Still poor guy :(

Brittany said...

I haven't heard of this one until now but it sounds good! Nice review and happy reading :)

- Brittany

Anonymous said...

I liked the idea behind this story, but it was a little too hard-boiled for me. i think Kadrey's writing style just rubs me the wrong way.