LOST COASTER: DEAD GOOD, UNDEAD BETTER

Saturday, March 31, 2012

DEAD GOOD, UNDEAD BETTER

Craig Jones reviews THE MESMERIZER

Well, I took myself back to Stewart Kirby's Humbaba County in the company of a corpse, a killer and a hippy and, man oh man, did I have one hell of a time.

I have previously read Drifting Room and Hidden Springs by Kirby and I have to say that The Mesmerizer is a much darker story. Will Todd has been murdered but is granted the chance to avenge his killing, returning from the grave with the newly acquired power of hypnosis. As he builds his plan we are introduced to a fascinating cast of main and support characters and I think that is what I like best about Kirby's work: the ability to create believable, likable (and dislikable) people who jump off the page (or my Kindle in this case) and make the story full of life and verve.

The anti-hero, The Mesmerizer himself, is part Dark Man (the old Liam Neeson/ Bruce Campbell movie), part Phantom of the Opera and partially decomposed! That doesn't stop him from loving tho, and underneath the black comedy there is a love story and underneath the love story there is more black comedy.

I rooted for Will to be reunited with his love, Mary Annette. I laughed my head off when Will gets himself stuck upon the top of a fence and a nation of insects falls out of his mouth. I wished him luck as he haunted the town's sewers and I giggled out loud time and time again. And, hey, any story that gives Wales a positive mention scores big with me!!!

In summary, a fresh take on the zombie genre that only enhances Kirby's reputation as a storyteller.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mesmerizer-Stewart-Kirby/dp/1477577270

2 comments:

Gina GaoApril 1, 2012 at 4:48 PM
This is a really good review. Sounds like an interesting book. I'll definitely put this on my to read list.

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Terry LaBarba's Review of DRIFTING ROOM

STORYTELLING THAT'S WILDLY POETIC

The story takes place in the small town of Madrani in the redwood forest. There were strange things going on that kept me engaged, the reason partly being due to the interesting narration and the main character’s voice. It reminded me of the descriptive ramblings of Arlo Guthrie doing "Alice’s Restaurant," only with higher octane.
It’s a casual read and then again it isn’t. The eventful but not overly complex story uses descriptive word groupings that, in itself, entertains. You will want to take your time and let the verbal constructs take hold. There were “caves of problematical intricacy,” and a trek through the forest mentioned trees with “boughs outstretched like gem-laden supplicants bearing offerings before the ancient giants.” Truly poetic.
When I read this mastery of words, I had to wonder if it easily flows to the author or does he take the time to labor over the most creative way to put together a concept or description? Stewart Kirby’s literary work comes across as play, seeming natural, yet brilliant. As far as being creative, the funny but creepy little twitching doll in this book is a good example. The names of the local businesses in this town were a hoot. There was also some twisted humor when one character builds the perfect, dirty sandwich (with not so nice intentions). It had me laughing out loud as the deed progressed.
The plot moved forward without a dull moment. I’m looking forward to the next book of “uncanny tales of the redwoods in the hugely Hippie haven of Humbaba County,” as Kirby calls them. I suspect it is just as campy, witty and fun as this one.