Customer Reviews

Death Cry (Outlanders)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Okay, this is not the best action-adventure I've ever read - or even the best Outlanders I've ever read - but it actually has a lot going for it. For a start, suggesting that the Aborigine Dreamtime, alternative dimensions, and the cyber world are interconnected and interchangeable is a smart, provocative idea that's surprisingly plausible in context. The Russian super-weapon frozen in time is a nice way of contrasting the Cold War with the current conflict with an alien race - though the eventual detonation of the weapon, against a lesser enemy, is a slight anti-climax. The characters take a back seat to the action, and the settings are a little bland (too many underground bunkers), but there are still some fun ideas in this creditable entry in the Outlanders series.

Newcomer writers are seemingly flocking to the Outlanders series since the originator started running out of steam, as one must after writing the same thing steadily after a decade.

The latest writer is Rik Hoskin, a comic-book writer of your friendly neighborhood Spideyman. But his 1st foray into action/adventure novels is sub-standard at best. Doing the Ellis rehash is a good way to dive bomb into forgeful Book Land. And going furhter and giving a poor storyline is the bullet in the head.

Sorry Mr. Newcomer Hoskin, but decent concepts and standard rote will not do. (See Dougie, we don't just pick on you!) We call it like we see it.

We don't know where to start to tell you ALL of the things wrong with this one. So, we'll make it short and sour. (Nothing sweet about this book)

There is another dimension that is hidden away. OK, that's pretty cool. Nothing new, nothing old here.

But in this dimension is a HUGE weapon of ultimate desruction, guarded by old-school Soviets from 1928. But time has stood still here, so they don't know jack about reality. OK, another good concept.

But the problem is Hoskin can't write solid action sequences, along with any furthering of our beloved characters that have grown stagnant for about 5 years and 25 books ago. Shizuka is still not around, and she must be the best girlfriend to have, because she doesn't visit nor care where Grant is. (Yeah, right!)

And frigid Brigid and Eunuch Kane still don't do ANYTHING to further their supposed anam-chara, star-crossed crap that goes nowhere. Absolutely stagnant characerization. Same as Ellis. Nothing new here, folks.

But of course Brigid is still the smartest woman who ever lived. She knows absolutely EVERYTHING, in each and every book and circumstance, no matter how old or forgotten. (Hoo-hum.)

But she can go into this alternate dimension - and on the 1st try! - while meditating. Something she just picked up here, folks! (You see how hard we are laughing?)

And folks, it just gets better and better. The Soviet head guy is a goon, and without any solid reason, he hates hot chicks with red hair and a great bod, because he chains Brigid up and beats the crap out of her. People, this just comes out of nowhere, and rivals those B-movies that some of you might love.

This book, however, has one of the best covers that the cover artist has done in quite some time. And the next one is even better! (Thank God the cover art is good!) But Mr. cover artist! Grant is NOT bald! Nor does Brigid dress like a superhero dominatrix.

Is this the series' Death knell...?

I love the authors work. I have been reading Death Lands for over 20 years. I want to like the Outlanders series but I am just losing interest with each new release. It's a struggle to finish them now.

hmmm, despite one reviewer having an axe to grind, this was an enjoyable book and a good first attempt at the characters by a new writer. If you've read any of the previous titles in the series, give it a chance.

I have never read any other books in this series but bought it because I liked the cover and it had an intriguing premise.

Not being bogged down with all the history of what else has happned in the frnachse didn't harm my enjoyment of the book. It probably added to it!

The action sequences were cool and I liked the bigger-concept dimension-spanning set-up. There were some cool jokes too!

If you're thinking of trying out this series Id recommend this book as a good place to start.

I didn't find this book to be nearly as bad as the prior review indicated.

It always takes new authors a few books to find their own voice when they're working with already established characters.

I say give the new guys a chance to get just a bit more comfortable with the characters before you accuse them of sticking to the same old same old. They're damned if they do and damned if they don't when it comes to taking over a series from a popular writer.

Just my opinion, and I'm nobody's sock puppet.