Customer Reviews

Children of the End

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
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Without going into the plot - the synopsis takes care of that - I remember reading Mark Clement's Horror hardcovers in the early 1990s. They were all enteratining and very good reads. I will definitely pick up all his e-books to re-read; Lorelei, Land of Nod and 6:02 (paperback original that I never had the opportunity to read). Hint hint on that last title.

I was disappointed in the quality, compared to the advertisement - will probably not use this particular service again. I've used other services which always exceeded my expectations - this one didn't. The contents of the book are exceptional though.

I'll be the first to admit I don't normally read this genre...but I do read some King, and now I read Clements.

This is so much fun, especially once the real monsters are unleashed.

(warning: minor spoilers)
Terrifying and giggle-rific on the same page: monsters who have learned both English and religion from television. Just after chowing down on a victim, one grins and sings, "Ah wan mah Em Tee Vee!....halleighloooooyaaah" And a personal favorite, spoken in the presence of their dumbfounded mad scientist creator and several prisoners: "Yo, in the beginning was the Worrrd, and the Worrrd was God, and today's Worrrd is worrrrrth a thousand bonus points. We have some grrrrreat prrrrrrrizes forrrrr our winnerrrrrs."

And then the bloody baby shows up and the severed ear and...let's just say some pretty damn bad stuff happens.

But funny!

Anyone who can pull off intentional camp AND genuine terror (which he does at the end -- with a nice low building buzz of it throughout) is worth reading. Period.

Ignore the Reed Review; this is definitely worth a revival!

(Bonus: for San Diego readers, this is a really fun path down memory lane for some of Balboa Park's ugliest moments)

Clements dredges up every tired old cliché from every old monster B-movie ever made in this "thriller" about a new race created to solve all the Earth's problems. Their creator, a mad semi-fanatical religious scientist, believes that his race of superbeings, the Loners, will eradicate all of the world's problems. His creations, however, have ideas of their own. Ideas they're not supposed to have. They begin acting independently.... THINKING. These traits are supposed to have been engineered out of them. Oh well, we all make mistakes, right?

While the central characters are somewhat likeable and sympathetic, at times you just want to slap them into some semblance of common sense. I think perhaps the author was going for some nifty science fiction, but ended up falling flat with a boring horror story. The monsters are predictably indestructible and extremely strong, quick, and agile. The hero and heroine predictably fall for each other, all the while trying not to, of course, and have their romantic interlude while lying bloody and wounded like all good monster flicks. And just as predictably, there is a nutbar sociopath who undermines the noble efforts of the good doctor all the while working for him and ostensibly doing his bidding.

Clements evidently wanted to trot out his knowledge of mythological figures, and maybe if he had included a bit more on the origin of the myths he used, the story would have been improved. As it is, I'd save the price of admission and just go watch a good horror movie instead of picking up this lukewarm disappointment.

Gripping, rending, and custom made for James Cameron to fashion into a terrifying major motion picture.

Sure it may be slow at the begining, but fight through the first few chapters of the book and you will be in for the ride of your life. I highly recomend that you read this book. If you like King novels this will beat them all hands down.

He completely unseats King! I can't believe it is out of print!!!! This is a tragedy!!! Borrow it from the library NOW!

Clements is one of the most innovative and original writers of his genre. CHildren of the End, may start slowly but once you get a few chapters into it... Look out! A non-stop roller coaster ride of thrills and chills awaits. I loved everything about this book. The prose, dialog, pacing was first class. THe characters unique and inventive. The monsters on the other hand (without giving too much away) will make you never look at television or religion the same way again. Clements has a lot of ambition by combining horror, suspense, and science fiction and he gets away with it to create one of the best books I've read in the past decade