Everything alive wants revenge, even if it’s simply for the affliction of existence

YeeHaw!!! The (mis)adventures of James Stark (aka Sandman Slim) just keep getting better and better. Granted I am only 2 in but dang-a-lang I am having a blast. Thank you, Emmalita (is there a way to imbed usernames? I dunno. Still on a fun-as-hell book high and can’t figure it out).

Some months after James saved the world (twice) he’s just futzing around LA, working for hire with the Golden Vigil and Lucifer. His relationship with Kasabian has reached cruising speed and some of their exchanges are my favorite parts of this world. They crack me up with their old-married-couple-from-hell act. But you now what’s cool? They are actually forging a bond of sorts, because, come on, who else undertands what they are going through? Still, he’s not feeling that great about things. He still connects with Vidocque and Allegra but Candy and Kinski are strangely absent. Getting used to life topside is harder than he thought.

Then Lucifer comes to town to work on his biopic ( I know!!) and enlists Stark as his bodyguard. What ensues involves zombies (though here they are more elegantly called Revenants, Zeds, Drifters), and by extension Der Todes Geboren, “Death Born”. I love how Kadrey keeps so many balls in the air, not just trotting out an impressive amount of lore and mythology, but he’s got the quick wit and twists and turns of the very best noir. Keeps me on the edge of my seat, whooping and yelling at each new plot twist. While LA burns and the undead begin to take over, Stark has got to not only save the world (again) but perhaps his true being as well. What  terrific thrill ride. I am annoyed I don’t already have a copy of the next in the series (Aloha from Hell) to dive right in to.