Customer Reviews

Dread Brass Shadows (Garrett Files, Bk. 5)

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

 

 

When Tinny, Garrett's on again off again sweetheart is stabbed in a case of mistaken identity, Garrett goes on the rampage. Tinny survives, but if TunFaire's most accident-prone detective has his way the perpetrators are doomed. It's all about a book, and a plethora of redheads, who show up in various states of undress, and wizards, witches, and wannabees. Everyone is in this game for keeps, and with Tinnie healing; Garrett discovers that it is his own skin he should be worrying about.

In a castle a ways from the city a lord lies waiting for a death that never comes. And his wife has locked herself in her tower to make a book of dreams and wait for the time when her curse has run its course. For witches a book of dreams is a special think. Each page is a spell to turn the caster into someone else. A dwarf into a king, a housemaid into a lady, or an idiot into a wizard. Everyone wants the book and Garrett realizes that nothing good can come from a magical tool that has that much power.

So, once again Garrett is off trying to save the world, the Dead Man is trying to keep Garrett alive, Morley is playing both ends against the middle, and Winger is trying out an entirely new wardrobe. After the darkness of Old Tin Sorrows, Dread Brass Shadows is a relief. Glen Cook returns to the edgy, wisecracking style that makes this series good reading. This is a wild tour through TunFaire at its craziest, with enough action to make the book hard to put down.

This is the 5th in Cook's Garrett series ("Sweet Silver Blues," "Bitter Gold Hearts," "Cold Copper Tears," "Old Tin Sorrows," "Dread Brass Shadows," "Red Iron Nights," "Deadly Quicksilver Lies," "Petty Pewter Gods," "Faded Steel Heat," "Angry Lead Skies," and "Whispering Nickel Idols"). Unlike the previous book, this one has a lot more Dead Man in it. Unfortunately, as a counterbalance, the pacing is a bit uneven (nothing horrible, just noticeable). This book also introduces Winger. Alas, Cook's portrayal of her is inconsistent. From scene to scene, she varies from competent to incompetent at specific tasks. For instance, in one scene, she's not all that good at hand-to-hand combat. Yet, in another scene, she defeats someone whom Garrett would be afraid to tackle. Ditto for her tracking ability: at one point, she's essentially blind to what's going on around her. At another, she's picking out people Garrett misses. It's a shame, since she plays such a large part in the book (basically replacing Morley and Saucerhead). Given that, I rate the book at a Very Good 4 stars out of 5.

BTW: At the time of this review, this book is long out of print. It's tough to find anywhere. As an alternative, look around for the SFBC's "Garrett, P.I.." This book is part of that collection.

The Garret Pi series is an overlooked collection. glen Cook is a great writer who should be given a look. the sereis is a cross between LoTR, Raymond Chandler, and lawrence Block

Dread Brass Shadows is the 5th Garrett novel, and notable for a number of reasons as part of the continuing Garrett saga. With the hindsight of having read all 12 (at present) volumes, this book ends the chapter of Garrett's life as a freelancer untroubled by the bigger questions. After this, TunFaire is a different place for Garrett - and he is making a difference, not that he often sees it. This puts the excellent self-contained "Ten Little Indians" whodunit plot of Old Tin Sorrows behind Garrett, with the result we get to see a lot more of the Dead Man this time around - and Garrett perhaps starting to grow up.

As far as this story goes, it has Garrett dealing with a trio of redheads, introduces the unique Winger as a female (and somewhat crazy) version of Garrett himself, the deadly Crask and Sadler making an unexpected proposal, and in all this Garrett is trying to track down a evil sorcerous book that allows the reader to change into anyone else, and as a result has thrown TunFaire - especially the nastier bits - into chaos.

Not to mention, this is personal now, since someone tries to kill Tinnie Tate in the first few pages of the book: Tinnie may not be Garrett's girlfriend - or, anyway, not the only one - but putting a knife in her back is a fast way to get on Garrett's bad side.

Dread Brass Shadows is another fine instalment in the Garrett PI cycle. There is humor, pretty redheaded girls, uneasy alliances of conveniance, and innumerable shades of grey to consider. The characters we know and love (and those we don't love, too) are developing as people. There are no cardboard cutouts in Glen Cook's writing, and the people you think you know tend to surprise you a little at times. For any lover of genre fiction, whether fantasy, detective story, or anything else, the Garrett PI series is a must read.

Dread Brass Shadows by Glen Cook is a Garrett, P.I. novel. I'm not sure which one in the series this is, but they can be read stand alone without hurting their enjoyment. If you are a fan of Cook you'll enjoy this book. Fans of humorous fantasy noir will also enjoy it. I think it's a great read.

Glen Cook has a great series in his Garrett PI novels. Hard boiled in a SF stew.

Somehow I missed this when it originally came out. It is back in print and now available again. The characters are a little uneven particularly Winger, but still very good. The plot is a little predictable but again good.

A very good read but far from outstanding.

Dread Brass Shadows

This is the 5th in Cook's Garrett series ("Sweet Silver Blues," "Bitter Gold Hearts," "Cold Copper Tears," "Old Tin Sorrows," "Dread Brass Shadows," "Red Iron Nights," "Deadly Quicksilver Lies," "Petty Pewter Gods," "Faded Steel Heat," "Angry Lead Skies," and "Whispering Nickel Idols"). This one has a lot more Dead Man in it This book also introduces Winger.

Here's the Garrett series that I'm aware of at this time.

1. Sweet Silver Blues (1987)
2. Bitter Gold Hearts (1988)
3. Cold Copper Tears (1988)
4. Old Tin Sorrows (1989)
5. Dread Brass Shadows (1990)
6. Red Iron Nights (1991)
7. Deadly Quicksilver Lies (1994)
8. Petty Pewter Gods (1995)
9. Faded Steel Heat (1999)
10. Angry Lead Skies (2002)
11. Whispering Nickel Idols (2005)
Science Fiction Book Club omnibus editions:
1. The Garrett Files (collects Sweet Silver Blues, Bitter Gold Hearts, and Cold Copper Tears; 2003)
2. Garrett, P.I. (collects Old Tin Sorrows, Dread Brass Shadows, and Red Iron Nights; 2003)
3. Garrett Investigates (collects Deadly Quicksilver Lies, Petty Pewter Gods, and Faded Steel Heat; 2004)

4. Garrett on the Case (Angry Lead Skies,and Whispering Nickel Idols

Recommended for fans of Garrett and Glen Cook.

Gunner December, 2007