Carrion [Paperback]

Gary Brandner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2000

McAllister Fain is a likeable charlatan. A fraud. He makes his living telling phony fortunes. Then he discovers an awesome power. He can revive the dead. He is an overnight celebrity. People on all levels beseech him to return their departed loved ones. But there is a terrible catch. The soulless things he resurrects are nothing more than meat: carrion. As their bodies decay these creatures have only one purpose: Find and destroy the man who brought them back.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Backinprint.com (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595143873
• ISBN-13: 978-0595143870
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,314,898 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Carrion an OK zombie romp., November 28, 2005

By 

The Reader Reviews (http://www.thereaderreviews.com) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carrion (Mass Market Paperback)

"Carrion" gives an interesting take on zombies: McAllister Fain has the power to bring the recently deceased back to life. The story basically follows two paths: Fain's rise to fame and fortune because of his newfound power, and the resurrected's slow descent into decay, madness, and lust for retribution.

The book was a quick, easy read that was well written. My main issue with the book is that nearly the entire novel feels like it is "building up" for something spectacular....which never arrives. The ending feels rushed and, without giving too much away, is a complete cop-out.

Not the greatest, not the worst, overall just average.

For more reviews visit our site at http://www.thereaderreviews.com

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME! THIS SHOULD BE A MOVIE!, December 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Carrion (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is from the same person who wrote The Howling which I didn't feel was made into a good movie. Carrion would be a classic for sure.

The main character in the story has been given the key to unlock his natural born potential to bring the dead back to life. Once he does, he becomes famous and starts living the good life only to have everything change DRASTICALLY. I won't give the story away BUT he does learn the very hard way that his so-called "gift" is actually a curse.

I highly recommend that you check this book out in the library or utilize an out of print book search. I have reread this book many times and could not put it down.

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid, engrossing horror novel from the author of The Howling. (A good companion for Brandner's later novel "Rot".), January 12, 2006

By 

David "Laymon Fan" (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carrion (Mass Market Paperback)

Gary Brandner's 1986 novel "Carrion" is a good companion for his 1999 book "Rot."

Readers who liked either book will probably enjoy the other.

"Rot" was about a guy who gets a gypsy to resurrect his dead date.

The book follows the young man and his decaying companion.

The premise of "Carrion" is a bit similar, but this book follows the re-animator.

It's a little like what "Rot" might have been if "Rot" had followed the *gypsy* around as he worked his magic.

In "Carrion," the main character isn't a gypsy though. He's a small-time Tarot-card reader that refers to himself (in a tongue-in-cheek) way as a 'Master of the Occult.'

He accidentally works a 'miracle' after getting hired to resurrect a wealthy old man's dead wife.

Rating: **** 1/2 stars

Also recommended: "Rot" and basically all of Gary Brandner's other horror novels. (I liked all that I read so far. I still haven't read "Doomstalker.")

Also recommended: "Resurrection Dreams" by Richard Laymon and "Pet Sematary" by Stephen King.