Severance Package

SEVERANCE PACKAGE has been sitting in my library pile for quite some time. I was in the final two weeks of my second renewal. Mostly I was trying to get through my Stoker reading before starting anything new. I read this book and the afore mentioned TREASON in about four days. I probably would have done them in two if I didn't have class for three of those. These books are page turners and move very quickly.

I first heard of Duane Swierczynski in John Scalzi's Whatever when THE BLONDE came out. That book took me a couple of tries to get started, but once I was in, the story dragged me along for the ride. I knew SEVERANCE PACKAGE would be more of the same.

This book mashes up the survival contest (BATTLE ROYALE, CONTEST), the spy novel (SIX DAYS OF THE CONDOR), The shadow organization (THE PARALLAX EFFECT) and the heroic everyman (again CONTEST, AT THE CITY'S EDGE) and shuffles them into a new combination that runs amok. The reader never knows who is telling the truth or how things will turn out. (Except for the end, but again the author is playing with the convention and it works.)

SEVERANCE PACKAGE is a ripping good yarn that grabs you by the collar and drags you around the roller coaster until it slams on the brakes before it crashes through the wall. The strength of the writing makes me want to search out Swierczynski's comics work to see how it compares. We'll see what the library has.

Treason

As soon as I finished JOHNNY GRUESOME, I immediately picked up the new Star Trek: New Frontiers novel, TREASON. As many have said before New Frontiers is the best Trek not on the big screen. It lives in the Next Generation universe, but has moved well beyond it into its own niche. I would even speculate that it is the longest running title not based on the various series. In any case, all of Peter David's Trek novels are fun reads and this one proved no exception. I was a little apprehensive to read this at first because of PAD's predilection for cliffhangers in this series, but luckily that was not completely the case. Yes, he does leave many plot threads dangling, but there is a solid ending.

For those unfamiliar with New Frontiers, the story is set in Thallonian space - a nominal ally of the Federation, but not part of it. It begins with the fall of the empire and follows the adventures of the USS EXCALIBUR. The captain is Mackenzie Calhoun or (M'k'n'zy of Calhoun in his native tounge) and the rest of the cast comes from TNG, DS9, and various novels. All of the characters are allowed to evolve, and in some cases, die. But despite this, PAD does try to give enough exposition to allow new readers to catch on. The books reflect PAD's wit and fast plotting. And almost all are excellent reads. (I didn't care for the god novels, but that's just me.)

Treason carries on the story with Robin Lefler expecting the birth of her child with the late Si Cwan and with the continued attempts by Dr. Soleta to cure her son Xy of his rapid aging. Much sturm und drang follows these characters and from there the fun ensues. TREASON is a worthy entry into the New Frontiers canon and worth a read for any Trek fan.

Johnny Gruesome

The final book in this year's Stoker nominees is JOHNNY GRUESOME. This is a more traditional horror story and an obvious tribute to 80s teen slasher films and the horror revenge story. You could almost say that it plays like an extended TALES FROM THE CRYPT story. Johnny Grissom is the rebellious, troubled teen; Eric is his best friend; and Karen is his girl. Johnny is bullied but knows how to fight back and Eric and Karen support him all the way. So when Johnny dies and comes back, only they know the answer why.

The deaths are (not to pun) gruesome and the plot moves along smartly. But this is still not a great novel. The priest subplot seems tacked on and is then dropped. The attack on the undertaker is strange and unnecessary. At times, it seems that the author is simply going for the gross out. Lamberson has the makings of a great writer, but he needs a good editor to help him pull it all together. I'll be looking for his next book. I think with a little polish, this could be a great novel, but right now it is simply good. And while it is better than THE REACH and COFFIN COUNTY, it is nowhere near the sophistication of DUMA KEY and I truly hope that book wins the award.

Coffin County

And in last place for this year's Stoker awards is COFFIN COUNTY. Simply put, I did not like this book. Some of the concepts are interesting - a haunted town history and travelogue, Judas as the agent to stave off Armageddon - but the book shifts between these elements without really explaining where it is going and ends up in my least favorite place - serial killers with warrants from God. This book just didn't work for me and I'll leave it at that.