Sandman Slim: A Novel by Richard Kadrey
Review byBowden P. (Trey)
Well, that was interesting – three stars, easy.
After working on Shadow of the Torturer and Claw of the Conciliator, I needed a break and something easy. Sandman Slim came up as that break.
James “Jimmy” Stark, aka Wild Bill, aka Sandman Slim is a murderous soul (don’t call him Jimmy, he doesn’t like it and you wouldn’t either). But wouldn’t you be after 11 years in Hell as the only living human down there? When we meet him he’s only just escaped and literally jumped right into the fire. All he has is Abaddon’s dagger, the Key to the Room With 13 Doors and a Veritas coin with an attitude. And he’s dead set on avenging himself against those that sent him to Hell and murdered the only person he ever loved.
So, did I like it? Enough to give it three stars and write a review, but not enough to be singing its praises to the rafters. Its not bad, and as urban fantasy noir, its excellent. Jimmy has a good voice, with a quick wit, ready with a quip and a nasty black sense of humor. But I don’t really like him. He doesn’t even begin to move to redeemable until near the end of the book, and at several points he ponders going back to Hell.
Stark is supposed to be cool – and myself from my teens and twenties probably would have thought him intensely cool. At forty, he doesn’t look all that sympathetic. He’s all but invulnerable (personifying the phrase “That which does not kill me makes me stronger”), has the Key, a powerful magician, a fighter, an assassin and can shoot with the best of them. The problem is, he’s not exactly likable. He’s very violent, impulsive, destructive, self centered and on and on. Outside his love of Alice, he’s not all that human. Still, that rapier quick wit offers something… And he does decide there are better things than returning to pit fights in Hell.
Despite Stark’s flaws as a character, Richard Kadrey has a great ear for dialogue and came up with those quips Jimmy drops left, right and center. For the dialogue and using Vidocq as a character I’ll forgive him for Stark’s failings.
Likes: Stark’s big mouth overloading his small behind; Eugene Vidocq; Use of traditional and non-traditional Christian mythos, no Lovecraftian monstrosities here; Dialogue.
Dislikes: I’m supposed to like Stark? In addition to all his flaws I mentioned above, he’s angsty.
Verdict: «««A fun, fast read. Not the deepest thing, but fun.
Suggested for: Urban Fantasy fans, fans of Dashiell Hammett (particularly The Continental Op), Andrew Vachss‘ Burke books
Hmmm interesting, thinking I may check this book out. At least for me I know it would be a quick read since I read very fast! Thanks for the review!
I bought Sandman Slim when I first saw it and it was a fun and fast read. Now I need someone to post the second book for trade. Weird sized book eh?