Customer Reviews

Blue World

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4 star:		(6)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Robert McCammon has (for the most part) stopped publishing his work. With the notable exception of the excellent "Speaks the Nightbird," he hasn't published new work in 10 years. I can only say that this is a pity. Re-reading "Blue World" recently, I was reminded of why.

"Blue World" is a collection of 12 short stories spanning McCammon's career, and one novella. The stories are all worth reading, offering up a good variety of material, from the frightening ("Yellowjacket Summer") to the disturbing ("Pin") to the sublime (the novella, "Blue World").

What this collection brings to mind most, however, is McCammon's skill at setting a mood. He tells a great story, but very few writers can set the stage better than McCammon. While reading "Yellowjacket Summer" the reader can't help but feel the oppressive heat prevalent throughout the story, and how the characters must have felt experiencing that same heat. In "Blue World," he captures equally well the quiet of that soft twilight, just before full dark. In "Night Calls the Green Falcon" one can really feel and understand the frustration and the impotence of a young man's ambition trapped in an old man's body.

By so skillfully establishing the mood in each and every one of the stories in "Blue World," McCammon makes the reader experience them as if they were there, inside the story itself. This is the magic of what great writing can do, bring the story home to the reader, and make it an experience.

Like my other McCammon favorites, "Boy's Life" and "Speaks the Nightbird," "Blue World" is one of the books that I treasure, from an author who now writes far too infrequently.

McCammon is the best modern horror writer out there, his involving style and well drawn, believable characters blow the likes of King, Koontz, or Barker out of the water. He is one of very few authors alive who, so far as I know, has never written a bad book.

"Blue World", a collection of several short stories and one novella actually entitled "Blue World" is easily the finest horror collection since the days of Poe, and I don't think thats an exaggeration. McCammon's stories differ so greatly, dealing with so many plot, issues and characters, each one brings you into a separate and chilling world from the surreal, apocalyptic world of "Something Passed By" to the gritty, realistic, and quietly visceral 'real world' of "Blue World". The stories induce equal amounts of terror and wonder, and the highlights are (aside from the entire book) "Pin" - an absolutely bone-chilling narrative from the point of view of a psychopath who seems very real, "Doom City", "Night Crawlers", "He'll Come Knocking At Your Door", and the absolute best, "Blue World" itself. The final story is a frighteningly involving, realistic story of temptation and violence, dealing with outer demons in the form of serial killing maniacs, and the inner demons of a gentle priest slowly losing his grip on his faith. It's a brilliant psychological portrait as well as a stunning, violent serial killer story.

Read this collection. It's already won several awards. Its a shame that McCammon doesn't seem to be writing anymore, because all of his books are just as incredible as these stories.

This is Robert R. MCammon in top form, without doubt. After a long time I managed to finally get a hold of this book, and I am both happy and sorry that I did so. Because, as soon as I started reading it, I was hooked and couldn't let the book down. Mr. McCammon made me damn uneasy with the reading of "Mine" (it was the second ever book to actually made me consider stopping it for fear it was going to scare the heck out of me- the first was Stephen King's "Pet Sematary")and he repeats his success at scaring me with "Blue World". The novella is the only one I have not read as of yet, but I can say that of the stories which I read, "I Scream Man!", "Makeup" and "Doom City" especially got me turning the pages faster than I could read them. There is a "Twilight Zone" aspect to some of them, and in "Makeup" for instance I could already picture it as a "Tales of the Crypt" episode. Needless to say, I LOVE both Twilight Zone and Tales from the Crypt, and now have become an even greater fan of Mr. McCammon than I was before, thanks to this collection, scheduled to be (if not already) a classic in its genre. A note for Mr. McCammon: They can do any kind of comparison they want with your work, sir...but you are unique in your field. There is only one Robert R. McCammon out there, and he needs to come back on scene quickly. Hats off and a standing ovation to this man, author of classics such as the mind-numbing, stomach cramping "Mine" and the undescribably fantastic "Swan Song" alongside with seemingly everyone's favorite bedside companion, "Boy's Life" which could very well be re-titled as "An engrossing recollection of memoirs in the life of a 12-year old citizen of Zephyr, Alabama" This is what storytelling in the grand tradition is about, proving that there still are people who care enough to produce stories with the primary intention of entertaining, and not for the sake of a mere contractual obligation.

In this sweet set of 13 short stories, McCammon proves once again that he unrivalled in skill at:

1. establishing setting
2. creating and defining complex characters in a hurry
3. creating plots that are, if not unique, then at least original.

"Yellowjacket Summer," "Blue World" and "Yellachile's Cage" are fine examples of a short story writer at the height of his skill. Others, like "Something Passed By," "I Scream Man" and "Pin" have their weaknesses, but tackle complex plots and emotions without creating stories that feel stretched out and thin.

Robert McCammon burst onto the horror scene like a lightning bolt and scared the [heck] out of many jaded horror fans. He was like King and Straub combined. He was a master storyteller and amazed many that read him for the first time. However, when he tried to cross over and write mainstream fiction, he was rejected. So he retired; however rumor is he has been accepted and is on the comeback trail with mainstream fiction. Gone South and Mine are perfect examples he can succeed.

Blue World is short stuff at it's best. McCammon pulls no punches and is quite adept at pulling off some chills and thrills in the short form. Here are some worthy mentions of kudos.

"Makeup" is about a small-time thief who breaks into a museum and steals the wrong thing. He steals a makeup bag by a B-movie horror actor. His contact refuses to pay anything for it and the hoodlum tries the makeup on, to hilarious results.

"I Scream Man" is chilling and very good.

"Something Passed By" is an end of the world type doomsday short that is very entertaining and thought-provoking. It is one of McCammon's best.

"Blue World", the title, is about 175 pages of detailed description of a priest in distress about his obsession with a porn star. It is a very easy read; entertaining and thought-provoking about the things a priest must go through to test his faith. McCammon must have researched the adult industry becuase it is a very good accounting. This is just a great novella.

And as usual, you will have fun with anything McCammon writes. Let us hope he is coming back to the fold soon.

This collection show cases all of McCammon's skills. From the mature novella Blue World (a story about a priest facing his temptations) to Pin (No description could do this story justice - it was pure Sadomasochistic joy!!!!). If you are tired of the same old fiction, give this one a try

This is one of the best collection of short stories ever compiled. They are scary, sick, disgusting, revolting, simply the best

If you haven't read this one yet, you must. After you do, you'll try to tell people about it and find that you can't. I've lost two copies of this book that way and am about to buy my third.

To be fair, some of the stories in this book aren't that good. I'm not going to name any names--ahem, titular--but when he is good, he is very good. Worth the money.

I had previously enjoyed all of McCammon's books and I found this anthology of his to be no different. There are some great moments buried within the pages: most notably 'Yellowjacket Summer', 'Pin' and 'He'll Come Knocking at Your Door'.
Unfortunately, I was very disappointed with the main novella from which the book gets its name. In contrast to the other stories, 'Blue World' is set in the very real world of the North Beach district in San Francisco (close to where I am living now). We are asked to believe that a priest who is committed to his religion is able to fall in love with a porn star who has the intelligence and personality of an ironing board. OK, so priests don't have the best image these days but the premise of the story is quite thin and not particularly convincing. McCammon clearly did his research for this story so I'm wondering if he knows something about priests in San Francisco that we don't! Great book but 175 pages is a lot of space to waste on an average mystery/ thriller.

A great Collection of horror from a man that I am glad has just come out of retirement from a ten year hiatus. Mccammon weaves many horror stories together seamlessly in this book. Examples of the great tales in this collection are:
A man who awakens one morning to find a skeleton in bed where his wife had been the night before. A small-time thief who steals a makeup case, and learns a dead horror star's secret...A young man in prison, who finds beauty and hope on the wings of a yellow bird. ..Halloween in a very special residential area, where trick-or-treating is deadly serious...The adventures of a has-been serial hero, who dons his old costume and goes in search of a serial killer...A priest obsessed by a porno star, and his realization that both of them are being stalked by a third shadow... And more...
Read this book if you have never read Mccammon, and you will not be disappointed. He is a master of horror, and one that every reader should enjoy...

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