Customer Reviews

The Devil's Game

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

 

 

I have to disagree with the other reviews on this book. To be fair, the cover of the book and the back cover description is a little misleading, because the main focus doesn't really fall on the creature Samuel but on Sunderland Haverner; however, as a story in itself and the way Poul composes the tale I found that the book was well written and somewhat disturbing. We can all make our interpretations on to who or what Samuel is, but it's very possible Samuel never really existed, except in Sunderland's mind. The characters are far from being stereo-typed, unless you are stereo-typing their lives and their background. Each character had their own personalities, and as the days wore on they all started to change, and all for the worst. I give this book 4 stars, because it was well written and Poul mastered the art of different views real well. However, I think parts of it did drag on to the point of confusing or turning off the attention of the reader.

I am a big fan of Poul Anderson's, but this book was probably his worst. We never find out who Samael, the apparition, is, and wanting to know who he was was all that kept me going through this overly introspective story.

I happened across this book at my local library three years ago and decided to read it today mainly due to a lack of any other worthwhile fictional reading material. Though I will admit to finishing this novel in one read and being moderately entertained by it, it is certainly not something that will stand out as a trully profound story. The character developement can be captivating, but book falls flat with its ending and there is trully a lack of any original horror or "creepiness" elements.

For some unknown reason I kept reading, but the characters were really awful stereotypes, and the plot obvious. The two stars are because despite all, I kept reading. Good for a flight, when you need something that doesn't require thinking.