Mantis [Paperback]

K.W. Jeter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1987

Michael is a dangerous man who gets his kicks looking for women who might share his taste for violence. He beats them and occasionally strangles them. Then he meets Rae. He thinks he understands her but her needs are far darker than his. By the author of "Death Arms" and "Infernal Devices".

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Tor Books; First Edition edition (October 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812520092
• ISBN-13: 978-0812520095
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,719,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Good" book but definitely NOT for everyone..., February 27, 2010

By 

rickzz "rickzz" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mantis (Pan horror) (Paperback)

Mantis (1987) is a horror novel which was written in Jeter's most productive period. Like "Dark Seeker" from the same year, the subject matter is very dark and gruesome; however, Mantis is far more intense and disturbing...

Michael Turner, the narrator, is a (once) highly succesful graphics artist who now lives in a slum studio apartment in the bad part of town which he calls the "Wedge". The narrator has created an alter-ego for himself ("Michael") who roams the streets at night, looking for women who are "asking for it" (i.e., want to be beaten and raped). Early on, he relates that all men are bitter at women for not consenting to sex (on demand) and because many women prefer "bad boys" over "nice guys"; and SOME of these women even want to be raped/murdered. Michael believe he can recognize such women by "scent" alone and that he has almost superhuman senses. Michael is able to limit himself initially (i.e. he only commits one murder) until he meets Rae, a women who's on the "same frequency" as himself and dares him to commit even more murders in an ever escalating game.

Eventully, we realize that Turner is completely insane and delusional. He constantly boasts about his male prowness and his "sharp" senses. However, he's NOT a reliable narrator- he can't remember conversations and events and he can't even remember his own name! Turner expresses guilt for having severely beaten his ex-wife but that turns out to be another false memory (a fantasy). The ending reveals that Rae is actually a split personality of himself. So one has to wonder how "willing" his victims truly are or if the murders even happened at all.

Michael constantly repeats how he is only giving his victims what they "asked for". I guess the moral of the book is that people have delusions (like egomania, racism or misogny) in the first place in order to justify themselves...

Incidentally, the character of Bennet is based on Philip K. Dick, who was a friend of the author. This kind of split narration was also used by PKD and Barry Malzberg, whom the book is dedicated to, another great SF writer.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intense, riveting Malzbergian horror, September 1, 2002

By 

Tracy Deaton (Port Orchard, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mantis (Paperback)

Involving, intense, riveting horror/slasher novel reminiscent in its narrator's tone & in some aspects of plot construction 2 some of Barry N. Malzberg's better works -- the book is dedicated 2 Malzberg. The narrator is unreliable (tho it takes awhile 2 realize this), but the story is almost instantly involving, hypnotic, & the tension & bizaareness constantly escalates. The Nding is a bit disappointing -- the narrator disintegrates & Jeter pulls back his focus 2 a "God's-eye" view. But it's worth the trip. I Njoyed the writing style if not the subject matter & events. I'll B looking 4 more horror novels by Jeter....

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Strange and Bizarre, but Horror?, June 13, 2005

By 

Joshua Koppel (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mantis (Paperback)

An advertising genius down on his personal life (divorced) is living in a slum and seems to be connected to two different people that he can sense. On is a man named Michael. The other is a woman whose name he does not know. He prowls the streets following Michael and trying to locate the woman. Eventually we learn more about the man and about Michael. Finally, they both, and the reader, meet the woman. The remainder of the book deals with the relationship of the three and how they interact.

This is a strange book and definitely not for everyone. Michael is a predator and "tunes in" to women looking for a very rough encounter. The nameless woman seems to be like Michael. There is plenty of obsession and no small amount of madness making this a tale of tragedy but, other than the cover, there is little to describe it as horror. By the end of the book I was glad it was short. Some readers will be disappointed in the ending while others will drop out before then. Beware.