Murderland 2: Life During Wartime

[scouse mac]

You've done it again, Mr. Cook! A great sequel to H8.

Really enjoyed this book, the dynamic between 'not-quite-as-mad' Jeremy and Cassandra really drives the plot. Some intriguing additional characters and developing storyline makes me impatient for part 3. Get to it, Doc!

[_____V_____]

Can't wait to read this!

[neverending]

Was just given my copy today. Can't wait to read it!

[newb]

Was just given my copy today. Can't wait to read it!

hand-delivered by the author himself.....how cool is that.;)

[neverending]

Doc is crazy creative- he told me he wrote SIX books this year!

When I was younger I thought I was going to be a writer... but six books in a year...

That's like the old pulp writers who got paid per word.

[PD Allen]

I tried to read the first one. The story and the concept were good, but there were so many errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation I couldn't finish it.

[neverending]

Some of that's intentional, but there are some gaffs. Doc admits that. For me the writing was so compelling, it kept me going- and I'm one of those spelling/grammar Nazis.

Of course not every work of fiction is for everyone, but Doc's work is the best I've read in some time.

I got a few minutes today and started reading Merderland 2, and IMO so far it's BETTER than the first part. I'M really impressed.

[Doc Faustus]

Well, thank you! I feel it's definitely better and has fewer editorial issues.

[neverending]

Finished reading Murderland 2 a few days ago, and I'm ready for part 3! I think it's a very fresh, challenging and entertaining take on where our society is at and where it's going.

Like part 1 it had its good points for me, and its bad points as well. The good parts, of course, far outweigh the bad points.

What impressed me the most about part 1 was the stylistic approach. Almost a futurespeak at times, it was quite clever and drew me into Jeremy's world. My major criticism was that it was a little light on plot.

Part 2 is far more plot & action oriented. We don't see into Jeremy's mind as often. So my main critcism is reversed. The plot is intriguing and carries you along as it should, but I miss those stylistic touches that impressed me from part 1. I find my favorite parts being when I can see into Jeremy's mind- such as the dream sequences, which are blazingly original and engrossing. Some of the plotting is underwritten, IMO, and moves along TOO fast. I find myself saying- but wait, what happened when...?

And Garrett- please, please PLEASE give your manuscripts to somebody to proofread, before they go to the printer, because it appears your publisher can't do it. It makes the book look rushed. There isn't a page that doesn't have a spelling, punctuation or usage error on it somewhere- simple things like using bare when you mean bear.

There are a few other things that bothered me- like the Reap "commandments." Reap is tragedy. that's NOT A COMMANDMENT. A commandment is a call to action. An order. Thou shalt honor thy mother and father. That's a commandment. Of course, I guess it could be said that those parts are written in the voice of a particular character, whose twisted viewpoint calls them commandents when they're not... but it still bothered me.

Bottom line is- this is a very good book. Extremely entertaining and profound, but with a few flaws. Worth every penny, and if you haven't gotten your copy, you really should.

[Doc Faustus]

I read through it and barely saw anything on the error front, and the edits I was sent barely had any punctuation things. Apparently, the editor wasn't as good as I thought he was, though not nearly so bad as the first one. I figured some people might miss The Voice's input but I thought this time around, I'd make it more action oriented and more ambiguous. The 3rd book, Godless has more insane ranting in it because of the addition of another warped perspective. The title should give you a hint as to who that perspective belongs to.

[neverending]

I didn't miss The Voice... and I don't mean to sound overly harsh- it's a damn good read. I'm just obligated to offer my honest feedback on both positive and negative points...

BTW- I think I passed by somebody you may know the other day. I was walking down a street and passed a group of people and one of them was talking to the others. As I passed them I heard him say something like "see, in Bizarro terms..." or something like that. He was kind of a stocky guy with a shaved head or very short haircut and a bushy beard that went from one ear to the next- kind of a scraggley yet curly affair...

[Doc Faustus]

No, thank you. I'm just surprised that there were STILL errors in this one. If it weren't for the bushy beard, I'd say it was probably Carlton Mellick, who has some epic sideburns. But, I don't know, he might be growing a beard for next year's Beardzarrocon challenge. My beard, Aubrey Beardsley's growing in pretty well, but I'm sure there will be some stiff competion. Especially if my girlfriend decides I've gone too far and the beard has to go. Which is not altogether unlikely.

[neverending]

I only got a glimpse of him, so maybe it was only sideburns!

[Doc Faustus]

That's likely. You'll probably see them around a lot. Cameron Pierce spent almost all of last weekend hanging out at Voodoo Donuts working on his next novella.