Dispatch (Signet Novel) (Paperback)

by Bentley Little (Author) "There was a witch in my hometown..." (more)
Key Phrases: pal folder, Miss Nakamoto, Orange County, Jason Hanford (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
If there's a better horror novelist than Bentley Little working today then I don't know who it is. -- Los Angeles Times

Review
If there's a better horror novelist than Bentley Little working today then I don't know who it is. (Los Angeles Times)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Signet (October 4, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451216776
• ISBN-13: 978-0451216779
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #120,985 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of his most gripping thrillers yet!, September 27, 2005

By	DanD - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Jason Hanford is a letter writer. Make that Letter Writer. He writes letters--and his letters get results. If he writes a complaint letter to a theme park, he gets free passes. If he writes an editorial scathing the president's economical plans, he gets a responding letter from the president himself.

There is no doubt that Jason Hanford was born to write...and someone out there knows this. Jason begins to receive mysterious letters, detailing dreams he has had, horrible nightmares that seem all-too-real. When Jason's life begins to spiral downwards, when his marriage ends in divorce and seperation from his wife and child, when he loses his job and is danger of losing his home...Jason gets a job offer. From someone who wants him to do nothing but that thing he feels most compelled to do: write letters. It is a job that will change Jason's life...and may very well COST him his life.

"Dispatch" is yet another rivetting, satirical, shocking novel by the always-enjoyable Bentley Little. The ending is a bit predictable for Little's die-hard fans, but that's okay--we really don't care that much, because it's the ride UP TO the ending that we're most interested in. And what a thrill it is! "Dispatch" will keep you turning the pages until the very end...where you may even feel compelled to go back and read it all over again. With the lights on, of course. And you might not want to open your mail.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Sorry, Bentley, December 18, 2005

By	S. Sommerville (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Half way through this one, I was so impressed I began touting this as his best work yet. Literally, the very next chapter changed my whole outlook on this piece.

The first person narrative of a man recalling his difficult family life and awkward moments with candidness was engrossing. Little, not known for character development, really had me buying into this guy who could accomplish anything through writing letters to people in high places, spark nationwide feuds through editorials, and even be someone else.

The story progressed nicely, as the main character gets lured deeper into this masquarade, but ultimately falls flat. It felt as though Little had a great thing going, but didn't know where to head with it. The second half of this book is just so implausable, so full of holes, and so ridiculous, that I had no desire to finish it.

Ok, I am a Bentley Little fan, I consider him to be one of the finest short story writers, and occasionaly writer of a great novel (The Association, The Ignored). Part of what makes him unique is the satirical element, outrageousness, oddball elements. However, in this one, the weirdness ended up ruining a potential masterpiece.

For some reason in his short stories he can take an absolutely ridiculous premise (like THE WASHINGTONIANS-- a cult of George Washington followers who cannibalize any who stumble upon them) and make it work by applying shrewd originality for entertainment value, and just enough know-how to make it somewhat plausible. His novels, on the other hand, are hit-or-miss, and this one had the potential to be a major hit, but instead is one you will in all liklihood walk away from let down.

Just my 2 cents.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Writing and Plot Idea but Big Let down at the End , January 13, 2006

By	Argus (Elk Grove, Ca.) - See all my reviews

Ya, Know, It's an ok book. But the ending really let me down. The First 2/3rds were great. Im probably going to read one of his more popular pieces to see if that does it for me. After reading this book, you will get the sense that the publisher walked in - read the unfinished manuscript - stopped at page 235 and then told Bentley - "Dude. Put a monster in it." So Bentley forced a monster into a perfectly good emotional first-person thriller. I expected it to end in a realistically tragic way - instead I felt like writing a complaint letter to the author. Absolutely Fabulous plot premises but the end missed the boat. Also felt like it was two books forced into one. Can't really Recommend this one strongly. The Skill of the Writer is what prevents me from giving it only 2 stars.