While it is set in Hell, the overarching mood that Michael Kadrey brings out in his book is not one of hope but neither is it of hopelessness. It is about something much more uplifting and enriching : kicking some serious demon ass ! Kadrey’s James Stark does not have the time nor inclination for a lot of introspection or deeply rooted observations into the pointless rat race of human existence. His objectives are fairly simple : find out someone, anyone and everyone who piss him off and wipe ou...

Since I'm basically reading these Sandman Slim books in grand marathon-style, I can't help but tear through them like they're pure crack cocaine. I can't help but compare it to a methed-up version of a true-neutral Harry Dresden mixed with a Cass from Supernatural who had had a love-child with Dean... and turn him into a murderous psychopath that thinks he's one of the good ones. In other words, I'm chortling up a storm.Just to think... we left off on the LA apocalypse in the previous novel only...

*Warning: May contain spoilers!*This one was by far the best in the series. Unlike the other two books, there was not a single moment where I questioned my picking up the book.So here we go again with James Stark and a new chapter of his story. There isn't much 'stage' time for his sort-of sidekicks Kasabian, Vidocq and Candy, though. They are present predominantly till mid-novel and then they are only mentioned here and there, while the plot mainly focuses on Stark, who, by the way, gets sent t...

Sandman Slim is the man Mike Hammer wishes he could be. Slim is so hard-boiled he's practically stone at this point, and the baddest shut-your-mouth since Shaft graced the screen. "Aloha From Hell" is the book you go to when you want a non-stop ride of snappy dialogue, gruesome characters, and L.A. the way we always knew it was deep down. Fresh from saving the Earth from High Plains Drifters (that's zombies to you uninitiated folks - and if you ARE uninitiated, go pick up the first book in this

This is another one that worked even better as an audiobook than in print. Although, I seem to be a little alone in really liking this instalment in the series anyway.

I really love this series. If you are looking for a great UF; look no further than Sandman Slim...I love the characters. I love Kas, Lucifer, Mustang Sally, Jack the Ripper, and especially Candy. I like that the story is angsty and full of action. Plus, all kinds of great quotes! "I'd bet the Pope's red shoes," is my favorite of this book. This installment has Sandman Slim going back to Hell to try and stop a war that will destroy both Heaven and Hell.... After all the dust is settled, Aelita is...

Love the beginning, caught me up in the action very quickly. His past is coming back to haunt him in a big way... this is one UF series that really requires starting from the beginning. I liked the characterization quite a bit. By the end of the book, I felt Kadrey had almost captured (view spoiler)[what the leader of Hell might really be like. I was impressed. I got it. (hide spoiler)]

*** 4.44 *** "..."Well, welcome to the Grindhouse Rodeo, Father, where it’s monster triple features all the time. The popcorn’s stale and the drinks are watered down, but we’re open all night and deities have to sit in the balcony with the winos and rubber-raincoat types.” ..." If you feel like reading something that is like listening to AC/DC and Metallica rolled in one but in book form; if you are tired of everything around you and don't want to tolerate anything in bright colors and pinks p...

To read this at my website with pictures and in the dueling review format versus another book about hell navigate here: http://www.adventuresinpoortaste.com/...Aloha from Hell is the third book in the Sandman Slim series, but above all accounts it can be read stand alone. There are many references to the previous books, but important details are explained so you won’t be lost. The book follows Sandman Slim, a man built with a bad attitude stuck between heaven and hell,who acts as a sort of detec...

"Karma is just loaded dice on a crooked table. Celestial pricks with wings and halos make the rules and the house always win. Always." As I graduate from book two to book three of Sandman Slim, the author keeps on amazing and delighting me with awesome metaphors and out of the world insults. One of the funniest ones, I could understand was about his bodyless buddy named Kasabian (who is just a head because he was chopped off from the below the neck with a knife from Hell and kept alive with t

This third instalment of the Sandman Slim series was a fairly weak one. Perhaps I've just burnt out on the series after reading the first three instalments back to back? It had some of the elements that made the first couple of books OK reads but we are already hitting the stage where James seems to have become too overpowered as a character. His constant whining is also driving me crazy! On the surface the plot sounded OK for this one. Lucifer is bored of Hell so has ditched it in favour of som...

After the hellish events of Kill the Dead, it’s understandable that Stark — also known as Sandman Slim — just wants to take it easy.The Devil’s back in Heaven, his inner Angel’s behaving (mostly), and things are finally coming around with Candy the bloodthirsty monster (on the wagon, we hope). He’s not having to bust his ass as much anymore. It’s been so long since he killed someone he can’t even remember when it was, or why. Heck, even his dead girlfriend’s ghost is telling him to quit mooning

This series is actually really fun-I was worried I would find it too violent, and while it is violent, it doesn't really seem gratuitous under the circumstances, more action-packed. And Sandman has certainly learned the hard way that showing mercy to demons just never ever works...In this addition, Stark finally gets his chance to go after Mason--but what will be the cost? Will it change the whole balance of heaven and hell? Will Stark lose everything he has fought for? and will it really even h...

4.5 Stars“When you're born in a burning house, you think the whole world is on fire. But it's not."This has been one of the most enjoyable series to read for me, and I really was looking forward to reading this one. I love the small horror subgenre of Christian horror. Kadrey does a fabulous job at trying to bring as much real Christian religion into these fiction horror novels. James Stark, also known as Sandman Slim is the ultimate antihero. He is after all, Lucifers private body guard. If yo...

I started reading Aloha From Hell on February 15th of this year. Here it is, September 20th, and I've just now finished it. What began as a read on my Kindle changed to the hardcover edition in July when I found it at the library. I made it to about page 100 before I had to take the book back so someone else could tear their fucking hair out. Finally, I downloaded the audio book, because MacLeod Andrews can make Cannibal Corpse lyrics sound like Catholic hymns. And whataya know? I actually finis...

This was an improvement on the 2nd novel. I havent begun to like Stark as much as the diehard fans yet. The action is cool but the plotting is too simple. The first 3rd has a cool noir vibe to it, but then quickly becomes too bogged down into a simplistic plot with an old foe which ends relatively easily. This series has some dedicated fans so I'll give the next book a go.

In fairness it took me a while to get into this one, but I suspect that had more to do with what was going on in my life than it did the book. Once the story got going, however, it really grabbed me. Kadrey's wry, gritty humor is really hanging out there in this one, as is his deeply macabre imagination. Things changed for our anti-hero quite a lot by the end of this book and I'm looking forward to, eventually, seeing what Kadrey does with the changes.

Can I not get readable urban fantasy where the protagonist isn't an eye-rolling jackass? I'm dead serious here, I'll take recommendations.I've made this comparison in previous reviews, but it's still on my mind how often I compare this series to the Dresden books. Both series contain fast paced stories that use a lot of my favorite fictional elements and have fairly quality plotting. Both also make me wish they existed in a third person structure, because I don't want to be in either character's...

Actual rating: 4.45 stars. Such a ridiculously low rating. Shame on me and stuff.So. Embarrassing Confession Time (ECT™): there was a point when I reading my boyfriend's latest adventures this book when I actually considered going for a 3.5-star rating. I know, dear boyfriend #4572 Cary, I know. I should probably go hide in an undersea cave or something. To atone for this most ignominious behavior and stuff. Yeah, I have to admit this wasn't one of my mostest gloriousest moments. In my defense,

Bung, bung, bung, bung, bungBung, bung, bung, bung, bungBung, bung, bung, bung, bungBung, bung, bung, bung, bungBung, bung, bung, bung, bungMr. Sandman, bring me a dream(Bung, bung, bung, bung)Make him the cutest that I've ever seen(Bung, bung, bung, bung)Give him two lips like roses and clover(Bung, bung, bung, bung)Then tell him that his lonesome nights are overSandman, I'm so aloneDon't have nobody to call my ownPlease turn on your magic beamMr. Sandman, bring me a dreamBung, bung, bung, bung...