Customer Reviews

The Manitou

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is Masterton's first, and still one of his best. Masterton has an absolute gift for selling the preposterous, and making it entirely believable. He does so through dialogue and characterization, and I've never seen anyone do it better.

Karen Tandy visits her old boyfriend Harry Erskine, occult mavin and low-budget tarot reader to wealthy old ladies, because of a unique problem she's developed - a tumor on her neck, which to all intents and purposes appears to be a fetus. The doctors seem unable to remove it, and Harry starts experiencing paranormal disturbances after Karen comes to him for help. He, and a few initially skeptical doctors, reluctantly come to the conclusion that Karen Tandy is harboring the fetus of a powerful centuries-old medicine man about to be reborn - whose birth would first claim the life of Karen, and after, the entire white race, with his vengeful sorcery. What's modern science to do, against such a supernatural adversary? Why, fight fire with fire, of course - get another medicine man.

It's absolutely amazing that this piece works, but it's really great. Masterton never cracks a smile (until the very end), playing the situation up for real and sucking you into it so you believe it. The characters are fabulous, especially Karen, Harry - who appeared in the semi-sequel, The Djinn - and John Singing Rock, the rival medicine man to the rescue.

Masterton's stories almost always end on a lighter note, with the deliberate inclusion of a solution that is almost a joke, but the technique works because he's cluing his audience in to the fact that he realizes how silly it all is - he just wanted to show you he could make you believe it - and the concluding laughter he provokes is welcome and sympathetic, not denigrating the finely written novel at all.

The all-star movie made from this book in the late-'70s is worth a look. It's a faithful adaptation, though it doesn't work quite as well as the book due to some severe special effects deficits and a crummy musical score.

Graham Masterton's first horror novel introduced not only a pretty memorable monster (and hysterically funny film adaptation), but also the template plot off all of Masterton's tales to follow.

"A series of increasingly paranormal events leads a character (here one Harry Eskrine) to discover that an elder god (here one evil Medicine Man) is about to return and take over/destroy the world. As time runs out a team of sorts (here a well meaning doctor and a contemporary Medicine Man) is formed to try and stop the beast's return, but they are late getting to the pass and our hero (Harry) must do personal battle with the hellish entity to save the world."

It's a formula that works beautifully, no matter which elder god monster Masterton decides to pull from the shadows of fictional legend. That Masterton has a sense of humor about all this hogwash is a bonus, making The Manitou (and others) both scary AND funny. Highly recommended.

I got to know about Graham Masterton through his 3rd Manitou series,"The Burial",and like most of his fans,always wonder why he is not more well-known.In my opinion,he is indeed the grandmaster of horror , always able to shock you at every turn , and making you laugh at the other . Extremely graphic in his descriptions of gore and bloodsheds and exhibit humour in the face of adversity.
The Manitou marks the beginning of the series,and introduced Harry Erskine to the world.It may not be as gripping as "The Burial",and shorter too,but it gave you the worthy introduction it should,and you will never rest until you collect and finish the whole series.Personally,I think he is so much better than Stephen King.

I discovered Stephen King at an early age, so once I had devoured all he had to offer by age 15, Masterton was the obvious next in line. To this day (I am now 30) the thought of this book and the images it conjures up can still send a chill up my spine! This was probably the first book that scared me silly... I remember not being able to sleep for nights afterward thinking of that abominable little creature stalking me! It was, and still is, one very well done story and for me, still ranks up there on the scare-o-meter! A word of caution, DO NOT read this book alone at night! Seriously!

THE MANITOU is a true horror classic that still stands up despite multiple readings and over 25 years of time thanks to Masterton's sense of mood and his wonderful wit. Although the novel is filled with chilling and gory scenes, it's our hero Harry Erskine's terrific charm that keeps us speeding along through the story. Watching as a resurrected medicine man is about to born from the neck of a comatose woman, Harry handles the situation with black humor and an unstoppable drive to see the woman saved. Masterton's original ending (as it was presented in the first edition) is much different and much weaker, included here as a bonus. I hear tell that there's a fourth Manitou novel on the way...following two other sequels REVENGE OF THE MANITOU and BURIAL. I, for one, can't wait!

As his first book this was pretty good. The fact that something is growing in you is downright sickening, but Masterton always finds a way to make it worth your time to read it. The movie is strange but the book is better. I recommened this book to all horror fans. Be careful, it is a little disturbing at times.

Not being a paranormal fan, my father gave me the book when I was 12. I started reading it with a wish it would end soon. Suddenly, it turned out to be the book I've read in less time and has captivated me the most.

What would you do, if you were to give life to an Indian from 600 years ago? But most, how would you fight with a warlock that has reincarnated to destroy the white race. Only a spirit as powerful will be alble to destroy it.

This here's a very fun horror classic. Written in the mid 70s and a wee bit Lovecraftian, it's chock full of un-PC-ness as endless bourbon drinking, smoking cigerettes in the hospital, women mostly judged on their looks, Red Skin Indians, and Negros. Tho, none of the un-PC-ness is in any way mean spirited, it's just from a different time. The prose is clear, clean and direct. The supernatural story is action packed, effective and fun. Recommended.

Good book, totally easy read. I read it in about 2 hours. If you are looking for a book that is entertaining and fast, then this is it. Not super scary, but was creepy (In a good way)and very engaging. I wish it were longer so that I didn't feel like I was just reading a magazine. I was surprised at how thin this book is (only 174 pages). If you are looking to spend your money and expect a book that will carry you for a few weeks, then this book isn't for you, but it is a great book for those who don't have a lot of time to read, or find that reading a book that takes weeks is unappealing. Over all I would recommend it.

I read this book over 20 years ago. It is one of the most frightening books I have ever read. Graham Masterton's writing puts you there, at the scene when the Manitou is born. I read the book in one night and could not put it down.

Unfortunately the movie with Tony Curtis could not compare to the book. If the movie would have had big budget money behind it like many of Stephen King's movies, I think the movie could surpass many of the thrillers of today.