Customer Reviews

Crota: A Novel

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I had been seeing Owl's stuff for awhile, but held off on reading it. Then one day I just decided what the heck, pick this up and let's see. Wow, the suspense he builds is in a class all by itself. Nobody writes it like this. I really liked the lack of over-the-top violence, gore and sex. He only put thing's in this book that help to move the story along. He also let's your mind do the work on the just how gory a murder scene is. When the Crota is snacking on a victim, we only know what the sounds are, because the character hearing the sounds can't see what is happening, so nor can we. It's that type of thing that set's Owl apart. Read this book if you want a great horror tale that really moves. Highly recommended. I wish I could give it 4 1/2 stars.

At heart, this is a very pedestrian monster run amok story. The book waffles between depicting the creature as some sort of prehistoric survivor and an evil spirit. It ends up being just another aimlessly nasty beasty. The plot is predictable. For instance, you can tell who will survive by who has native american ancestry. There is some gore spattered here and there in the usual fashion. There is the predictable inclusion of a stamement on the evils of white men and the virtues of the native american. This sentiment is included in the fate of the characters (see above). This is almost a paint by numbers monster story. Even the climactic battle with the creature lacks punch because it is so predictable.

I work with a friend of Owl Goingback who introduced me to this book. I was greatly surprised by what a well written book this was for a first novel. The Indian traditions and folklore were interesting and educational at the same time. Crota was a page turner and I can't wait until I read Owls' next book. He also has two childrens books that I highly recommend.

I must admit that I purchased this book due to its receipt of the Bram Stoker Award for best first novel in the horror genre. I was in no way disappointed with my purchase. It took me all of 3 hours to read because the pace of this novel wouldn't let me read any slower! A great monster book (which, given the right director could make a fantastic monster movie) that's full of Native American folklore and monster related gore! This book was truly cinematic ( I could especially picture the scene with the cows!) and left me wanting more. If you have a love for horror novels and you haven't read this yet, well what are you waiting for? Go buy it now! Hell, buy a hardcover edition if you can!

According to the jacket copy, "Crota" won the Bram Stoker Award (for best debut horror novel). One would not expect the publisher to insert a flat-out lie on the cover, so one must conclude the novel did indeed win the award. From that, one is forced to surmise that 1996 must have been a very bad year for debut horror novels, because "Crota" is a bad novel.
Genre fiction exists, is enjoyable, and survives because the bodies of work belonging to particular genres belong because they are variations on a theme; the interest in any particular piece of genre fiction comes from the way the author deals interestingly with the boundaries that exist and define the genre. Elmore Leonard, for example, and Carl Hiassen, are interesting in the crime genre for snappy dialogue and ludicrous situations, respectively. In horror, Stephen King does it with the deadpan.
"Crota" offers absolutely no interesting variations on the themes of horror fiction. The premise is mundane (an "ancient" monster returns for revenge for the sins of our forebears), the characters absolute cut-outs (the mayor is venal; the second-in-command overly ambitious; all the lawmen brave; the subordinates flawed by venality; the lone female character paper-thin); the dialogue seems as if it was taken from comic books of the third rank; understanding of larger topics (from biology to evolution to police procedure to journalism to traffic flow patterns) shown by the author nil; and the prose clunky and repetitive.
I couldn't recommend this book to anyone save an academic needing an example of the kind of garbage published simply to satisfy genre audience demand quotas.

I was so excited after I read this book and I must admit happily surprised. I was hooked from the first page. It is the first book in a long time that I could absolutely not put down until it was finished. The action and tension was on every page so at no time did it get boring. I loved the lost city, the monster, the Indian lore and everything else about it right from the first page. Just cant express how much I enjoyed this book. I sincerely hope that Owl Goingback continues to write lots more along the same lines.

Needless to say, I don't agree with Kirkus Reviews. This book is much better than a Dean Koontz book (don't get me wrong, I like Koontz very well) in that there is a LOT of research that has gone into this book. I love the fact that the author added a lot of detail on ceremonies and beliefs of the Native Americans, plus added a good deal of folklore from the region. It adds much more depth to the book. This is a book that I sat and finished at one reading. From the beginning of the book when we are first learning what a Crota is, to the chase through the underground village, it is an excellent read. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.

Finally a new fun horror author, Owl Goingback is good! I really enjoyed Mr. Goingback's style and prose in this book. I picked this book up because the author was awarded the Bram Stroker for best first novel in 1998. Yes, it sometimes takes me awhile to get to a book, there are so many to read. But, rest assured this one is worth the time. So take the time and enjoy the read.

Owl Goingback is an excellent writer. He managed in just a few pages to have me caring for the characters in this book. Something that some authors can't do in a hundred pages. The characters are very nicely written and developed, I was a little sad when the book ended and I'll miss these characters. As for the plot, it is not an outstanding one. But in Mr. Goingback's hands it does stand out. I was tense and guessing what was going to happen the whole time I was reading "Crota". I'm looking forward to reading more from Mr. Goingback. I would say that he has a bright future ahead of him. A very fun and interesting read.

I haven't been so captivated with a story for years. The setting is flawless,and very easily followed from present day storyline and going back to the Indian Hertiage time. Owls' expertise at bringing the reader the exact detail at the right moment keeps the suspense going and going.And the surprise that you get at the end is unbelievable and welcomed, an added bonus if you will,Here is a chance to learn about some of the tribes of our American Indians and their folklore,if you believe it is folklore? GREAT book!!!!!

Well, I have to say that I was surprised, because I originally didn't intend to finish it. I gave it about 50 pages, thought it was going to be another slasher book, picked it up again, and gave it 50 more pages. Then I realized why it won the Bram Stoker award. Unfortunately, I think that there will be people who have their prejudices about an Indian author. I challenge those people to overcome them, and to take this on with an open mind. You can easily see that Owl Goingback has his beliefs, and isn't ashamed of his heritage. Something I respect.

So yeah, this will have a fair share of bloodshed, but look for something more in the process. Take in the legend of the Crota. Read about great Indians such as Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa. If you know your history worth a lick, those aren't made up Indian names. They are as real as you and me, and to people such as Owl Goingback, they mean more than just names and campfire stories.

Get ready for fun adventure! Get ready to feel something, and don't be afraid to say that you actually enjoy it! Be like Sheriff Skip Harding, and have faith. Take on the Crota, and don't miss out!! Mr. Goingback, I'll be looking for more of your work. YOU can have faith in that.