Customer Reviews

Goetia (Hellgate London, Book 2) (Bk. 2)

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

 

 

I have read both the Hellgate: London Exodus and this book and am amazed at this series. It is refreshingly new with many surprises and opens up a whole new concept in this genre. I am not sure if this dark fantasy, sci-fi or what but this is far better than anything that many a significant author has produced in the last 5 years. It has all the things we really want in Sci-fi, mayhem, an actual plot and some actually intelligent conservation with out to much tedium. I would rank this series up there easily with the Warlord of Barsoom series or to if there is anything slightly similiar I guess the Trollslayer series for an enjoyable book to read. I really suggest this book for all.

Mel Odom's 2nd volume in the Hellgate London trilogy is yet another hardcore sci-fi/fantasy action/adventure that breathes a breath of fresh air in both genres.

Although my wife and I aren't gamers, we know all about them. And we knew certain games such as this and Turok could make for exciting book series. (Turok has yet been made in novel form. Let us hope.) But this latest Odom story does not have that '2nd book syndrome' that seems to plague many such trilogies.

Like Mel did years ago for the franchises of Deathlands and Outlanders, he creates vivid scenery and mulit-faceted characters of both Good and Evil. Where both series of the above mentioned have quagmired in either rich storylines and/or deep characterizations, in Hellgate London Odom utilizes the strengths of those post-holocaust series and enriches this series with those undertones. No formulaic writing here!

The magic of Mel Odom's writing is his ability to grab hold of the reader from the get-go, and never let them go. Something the new novel - Aliens: Criminal Enterprise - did not do for us. We set it aside for this one.

Suffice it to say, for those who loved the 1st book of Hellgate, they will also be more than satisfied with this 2nd volume. Mel Odom does it again. Grabs you by the throat early on, and leaves you wanting more by the ending. We are really looking forward to the last novel - Covenant.

In general, I don't like books written on the base of a game (board or computer). They usually fall very short of the mark.
However in this case the opposite is true. While the computer game of the same name is forgettable the book set up an intriguing base - somewhat similar to the old TORG game.
Hellgate starts off with an "alien" invasion of London. The aliens are that only because they are not human. Instead of space the invasion comes from a different dimension, and the aliens are demons.
This certainly resembles the old TORG game.
The demons are not only killing off the human population, but they are demon-forming the city to their own tastes. This recalls the Gerrold Chthorr series (which seems to have stopped midway).
The Templar, Cabal and special forces - all fighting against the demons - are also fighting amongst themselves, adding to the confusion. I greatly prefer this much more realistic scenario then the usual ones where the Earth "pulls together" to fight the common menace. If history has anything to say it's that humanity will always find someway to fight itself.
All in all it provides for a very rich setting, and I wish Odom was not alone in adding colour and story lines. He does pretty well, and the story is worth a read for it's own sake, but it would have greatly benefitted from support by other writers and other styles.
Given that the computer game is not doing so well, one can only hope the Hellgate world would receive a boost either from a solid line of novels by various writers or by some Hollywood studio picking up the concept for a movie. Either would guarantee the continuation of a very good story base.

Demons still have control of London, but Simon Cross and the rest of the Templar Knights are fighting back. When an old professor tells Simon of an old book called "Goetia" that could have the power to turn the tide of the war against the demons, Simon and his team find more than they bargained for. The Templars aren't the only ones after the book. Demonic forces have their eye on it as well.

Goetia picks up a while after the first installment, with even more suspense and heart-pounding action. Like all post-invasion stories, the story is dark and violent. A foe from the last book, Warren, is still being used by a demon, but also begins to discover more power within himself. And he begins to form an alliance with a surprising character. The demons are truly evil, with their own agendas. And the downtrodden humans have to look out for their own best interests, some making questionable compromises. Simon Cross and his group set themselves apart from the rest of the Templars and try to see hope for humanity.

While Goetia has a short-term ending, a mystery still surrounds the book, to be concluded in the last of the trilogy, coming soon. I'm looking forward to more answers and resolutions to the mild cliffhangers. In a thrilling battle of good versus evil, Hellgate: London is an exciting and fast-paced saga that both science fiction and fantasy fans should love.

Demons surging out of the London Hellgate have been joined by more demons in more cities across the world, the military has been virtually destroyed, and humans scratch out miserable existances, always hunted by demons. Simon Cross, a former Templar, broke with that organization when they refused to help civilians, huddling beneath London in their underground fortresses. Gradually he's built a Templar splinter group--a group that doesn't mind taking the fight to the demons, no matter how helpless that battle may seem. Now, though, he learns that an ancient book, Goetia, may hold the secret to controlling the demons. Goetia, a work created by King Solomon himself just might be the weapon humans need to survive.

Although the military has been destroyed, the British government hasn't given up the battle. One problem, though, is that they don't know whether they can trust the Templars. Agent Leah Creasey believes that Cross just might have the ability to lead the battle against the demons, but her organization doesn't trust anyone. Still, only by working together can they have any chance to find the secrets of Goetia.

Warren Schimmer didn't have much of a life before Hellgate. Now, though, things are much worse. A rogue demon has enlisted Warren, given him a demon arm to focus his magical power, and now uses him to do dirty work, or work that he can't do himself without violating demonic code. Unfortunately for Warren, the demon's next commands are to attack and destroy some of the most powerful demons in London. Unfortunately for the demon, Warren already has access to a mysterious book that seems willing to give him incredible powers--at a cost that Warren can't begin to understand.

In the second book in the HELLGATE: LONDON series, author Mel Odom delivers a fast-paced thriller. Odom wisely balances the story between super-powered Simon Cross, whose weakness is betrayal, intelligent Leah, and sneaky Warren. Warren is far from friendly with Simon and Leah--Simon cost him the arm his demon replaced, but the three find themselves working at convergent purposes as Warren attempts to stay alive and deliver his master's bidding while Simon and Leah search for the lost book of Goetia. Because Warren is so damaged, so filled with shades of gray, he actually comes across as a far more fascinating and sympathetic character than do the others.

Odom provides plenty of action, mixing technology and magic in intriguing ways. Fortunately, each action sequencefurthers the story in addition to letting us see our characters work out their own distinctive ways to deal with the superhuman strength of the demons. Fortunately, the demons' intelligence isn't on a match with their power.

After reading the first Hellgate: London book and being pleasantly surprised, I continued on with this one, and believe me, it does not disappoint.

The writing style is there, the characters are believable, real, authentic, and you can understand them - even the antagonists. The "grit" in the novel and the fact that none of the characters are superhuman, and that they can, in fact, fail, provides an excellent backdrop to the Hellgate: London universe.

The struggle to rid London - and the world - of the demons released from the Hellgate continues in this second novel, in which ex-Templar Simon Cross continues with the struggle of finding citizens lost in the remains of London and growing an army of fighters to battle the Darkness.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Cabalist Warren Schimmer has become the underling of the powerful demon Merihim, who wishes to take his place in the higher demon hierarchy. To do this, Warren must, with direction from the demon and a "bound" voice, knock their opposition from their thrones so his master can rise in the ranks.

But a new weapon to battle the demons has been discovered - the Lesser Key of Solomon, or 'Goetia', a book containing the true names - a tool controlling the demons' vulnerability - of the higher demons stalking the streets of the city. Will Simon and his rogue group of warriors be able to find Goetia and save the world from the demons oozing from the Hellgate?

Odom has a great way to packing this good-versus-evil plot with enough suspense and mystery to allow it to stand out among similar stories. His clever wording throws powerful punches into tame situations and helps to clarify the happenings of a high-energy situation. This series, ending with the late August release of Covenant, is one not to miss.

- T.C. Robson

Lets see, its a cool book with a great ending that sets up what I hope to be yet another stellar addition to this trilogy. But lets get back to this book before we get into the next.

This book starts out quite some time after the last one ended, simon has built up his own templar complex and is still sheltering any survivors and taking in anybody who needs him. Warren is still pissy about his hand and still helping out the demon who is bound to him in hopes that it will let him live another day. And Leah is still doing her own thing with what ever group employs her.

The main story in this book revolves around differnt artifacts that are believed to have information on stoping the demons and freeing london. Warren and Simon both seem to be going after them plus warren gets stuck fighting some deamons for his boss man against his will. Everything is written in the same style as the first with the action comeing first and being the main apeal. There is some definate character development, but not a whole lot. The one who really comes along the most is Warren, he makes a new friend that helps him learn how to control his own power and helps set him up for the ineveitable confrontation between him and his demon overlord in the 3rd book. Should be neat....this review is dragging on and its rather poorly written...Read the book if you liked the first, its more of the same. Just remember these are before the game...so its not like the good guys win or anything. Oh well

I'll be succinct: it's a trilogy written based on a video game that hasn't been enormously succesful. That said, the books are actually better than the game. If you are into Science Fiction, this trilogy has some elements of that, but it's by no means even close to Hard SF. This is much more Fantasy than SF. Again, that said, these books are good. They are fairly quick reads. The strongest points are the characters and the action. Odom knows how to build a strong cast, including protaganist, anti-hero, and antagonist. If you like SF/Fantasy you'll like this. If you are partial to SF (and lean away from Fantasy) you won't like this as much.

Four years ago, demons en masse entered London through a Hellgate portal. Set in 2024, this second book in the trilogy opens 4 years after the cataclysmic event of the first book, 4 years after a battle in which the Templars sacrificed themselves in a battle to thwart or at least delay the demons. In GOETIA, Simon Cross, a rogue Templar, is put to the test while Warren Schimmer, bound by a demon, tries to survive. Having once dismissed the Templars' story of demons, Simon now takes up the spirit of his late father's mission even as other surviving Templars and the Cabalists attempt to thwart him at every turn. Templars want to destroy the demons whereas the Cabalists want to study demons and harness their power. Warren's relationship with the demon Merihim becomes more complex as he tries to disentangle himself from the Faustian bargain that bound him to the demon in mind and body. Will his new ally be able to break Warren free from his bondage and to what end? As the battle enters into the fourth year, greed and other much more nefarious objectives permeate previously natural political alliances and rivalries. As Simon and Warren fight to preserve themselves, the once clear but now less tangible line between friend and foe might endanger not only them but any hope for a human inhabited world. Can Simon, a man of honor fighting for good, save the world and humanity? Will Warren free himself of the demon's hold? Can anyone survive the opening of another portal, Goetia?

GOETIA is a book that will appeal to both players and non role playing book-lovers alike. Mel Odom paints an awesome picture of a landscape that changes as the demons transform it in a Burn. In futuristic London, now inhabited by demons, the worst case disaster scenario plays out. Basic survival needs disappear. Power no longer preserves what very little food remained. Community resources and support no longer exist. The last remnant of people in London, now scavengers, turn against one another in a struggle for daily survival when the mere need for sustenance exposes a person to the horrible death, by human or demon. The death count is unmeasurable. Set against this backdrop, ancient organizations battle for supremacy against each other and the demons.

In the second book, Mel Odom takes the characters so finely developed in the first book and allows the reader an even richer insight into their motivations and conflicts. Armed with cutting edge technology and ancient arcane wisdom, Simon Cross must look within himself like never before. In a doomed world, the choices he makes reveal a sense of honor and integrity that goes far beyond the call of duty in this fight of ultimate good and evil. Warren also looks more deeply into himself to harness the strength needed to break free. His growing powers within and an unusual guide in his personal battle create depth and suspense right up until the final earth-shattering revelation!

In GOETIA, Mel Odom increases the level of intrigue several notches as political alliances entangle characters, creating deeper and deeper levels of danger. The battles and the battle strategies intrigue while new twists in alliances create a breathtakingly eerie vision of a futuristic world teetering on destruction as demons and humans enter the ultimate fight between good and evil. GOETIA mixes unforgettable imagery of zombies, demons and Goetia itself with fast, riveting action. Mel Odom enriches this story with Biblical references, medieval history, H.P. Lovecraft and even a look into Aleister Crowley, a historical figure, famed (and infamous as well) for his studies of demonology. Mel Odom creates an awesome work of science fiction as he infuses futuristic with ancient and modern history in this classic archetypal battle of good versus evil, a battle that Mel Odom paints with his own unique insights and originality that both resonates and thrills. GOETIA will appeal to readers wanting a powerful imaginative kind of read that looks at things like honor and hope in the very worst of times. The ending will have readers chafing at the bit to read the third book!