Customer Reviews

Wolf Man: Hunter's Moon

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In these days of political correctness, is it any wonder that such a great character like the Wolf Man has been totally castrated and this new volume of Larry Talbot's adventures is a total dud? That's right, no longer are we treated to a crazed animal-man ravaging the countryside and killing against his will. Any attempt at blood-tingling transformation and gratuitous murder is shelved in favor of a kind, loving soul who only wants to bed down the beautiful woman in charge of guarding him against forces who would put him to death. Give me a break. Why the heck would anyone buy a book entitled, "Wolf Man," if they were not intent on reading about that horrible monster's foul exploits? What's even worse is that we learn by the end of the book that the whole story could have been a dream or an hallucination and was all meaningless. Like this book. Read "Kolak of the Werebeasts" if you want an honest description of werewolfism and what it would mean to the general population at large. I mean, I'll be the first to agree that violence is distasteful, but to totally castrate the werewolf to please those people that don't understand you must show violence to make a point about peace is a crime.

Of all the Universal Studio's classic horror movies, `The Wolf Man' was my favorite. Stories of transformation from mild-mannered man into beast or super-hero were staples of my comic-book reading, and illicit horror film watching childhood. I still like a good werewolf story, so when I saw that Dark Horse had begun publishing sequels to those famous Universal films, my appetite was well and truly whetted.

`Hunter's Moon', I'm sorry to report, is a little disappointing. Michael Jan Friedman is clearly a gifted writer, but after its blistering opening chapters, this story gets stuck in a rut and meanders to such an extent that I began to wonder if anything was going to happen. My nervous anticipation waiting for the werewolf to make an appearance turned into petulant displeasure as Lawrence Talbot's lycanthropic alter-ego failed to impact on the story. All too often, Talbot transforms only for his moonlit escapades to be given short shrift by the author.

The basic storyline is that Talbot is removed from his resting place, and taken to live in, for want of a better phrase, a werewolf sanctuary. The novel's conclusion is hastily cobbled together, and, given the flat and lengthy middle section of the story, leaves the reader unsatisfied. The bulk of the novel is seen from Talbot's perspective. I can't help feeling that, given the slow pace of much of the story, it might have benefitted if some of the other characters had been given a higher profile.

If it's been a while since you've watched 'The Wolf Man', it may be worth your while revisiting the movie before embarking on this novel because there are a number of references made to events in the film.

When I saw this book available I was very excited to purchase it. In fact I bought most of the new sequels of the Universal Studios Monsters, and this particular book wasn't available at the time I ordered them all, it was on back order and I had to wait about a month or so until it arrived. This being the one I wanted most of all, being a life-long fan of The Wolfman. When I finally got it, I started reading and the story started kind of slow and boring, so I put it down. (unfortunately if a book doesn't grab me from the begining I usually never finish it) Well, finding myself withh nothing to read, I picked it up again and read it all the way through even though I figured the whole story out about halfway through. I found myself hoping I would finish it just to get it over with. My biggest problem with this story is that it takes place 8 years after the original Wolfman and Lawrence Talbot is rescued from the Family tomb by a group of people sworn to protect The Wolfman. Well, this is my problem, in The Universal Monsters Universe, The Wolfman came back after the original story 4 years after his death and so was born the movie Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman after that film was House of Frankenstein, then came House of Dracula and last but not least Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein. This story interferes with these films, it's like they never existed! Which bothers a guy like me that loves all these films. It's beyond me how Universal Studios even let this book happen, like no one at the Studios even cared. I wouldn't have minded as much if the story was good or action packed, but it lacked everything good about the Wolfman. If you want to read a good book that continues where Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein ended read The Return of The Wolfman by Jeff Rovin which includes all the monsters. A much better story, unfortunately I think the Author of this book, Michael Jan Friedman, has written too many books and isn't coming up with good fresh stories anymore. Sorry, Mr. Friedman, that's just my opinion, but if you can't trust the true, die hard fans, who can you trust?

There is not much in this novel I can recommend. The continuation of the Universal Monsters version of the Wolf man starts of with an elaborate shoot out and car chase, but slows down considerably for the remainder of the book, and the Wolf Man of the title is conspicuously absent from the book. Don't get me wrong, Lawrence Talbot, the Wolf Man of the original film is the main focus but his monsterous alter ego only appears in dream sequences and flashbacks until way past the halfway point.
Talbot is rescued from a shadowy organization, the Enclave, by an order of knight whose mission is to care for anyone afflicted with the curse of the werewolf, and throughout the novel we are subjected to Talbot meeting one bland member of the order after another. The premise of the story means that the Wolf Man is held back from harming anyone because the order ensures he is kept away from people during his transformation. Where is the horror story in that? A monster everyone is safe from.
The notion of an order of knights who have devoted their lives to helping werewolves is a little daft. I wonder what this order does when there is no wolf man around to care for; and why would such a large organization be needed to care for one or two individuals afflicted with the curse, a very small scale cause indeed. Wouldn't such a benevolent organization better serve mankind by trying to end poverty or bring about world peace?
You'll find an answer to this at the end, but only if you can labor through 200 pages of Talbot wandering around a castle wondering what to do with himself.
The absence of the Wolf Man from his own book as well as the lack of any immediate threat makes for a dull read, even though some dream sequences peppered throughout the book do pick things up here and there, just not enough to warrant reading a 240 page novel. The overall feel and concept of the book are more suitable for a poorly conceived mid 1990's television series pilot, not a pulpy werewolf story from the 1940s. Its like author Michael Jan Friedman didn't konw what to do with this story and forgot to make it fun.
Hopefully Dark Horse will continue the Wolf Man series, but in a direction more in keeping with the source material and with a diffiernt writer more intune with the pulpy vibes we should have seen in this book.
I would ignore this misfire and recommend reading another entry in the same series, the highly enjoyable Shadow of Frankenstein by Stefan Petrucha, instead.

If you ever wonder what Lawrence Talbot has been up to since his battle with Frankenstein then this one is for you.This is my second one about the wolf man and so far it's just as great as the first one that I have so get you one and enjoy being sacred to death.Oh yeah beware the full moon.

Rondall Banks

The Universal Monsters series from Dark Horse marches on with The Wolf Man: Hunters Moon by Michael Jan Friedman. Known for his Star Trek novels, his considerable talents serve to expand the legend of the Wolf Man and set up further adventures ripe for the telling.

"Hunter's Moon" finds Lawrence Talbot deep in a blood thirst and out of control. Searching for order and reasons for his out of control life, he finds peace within the walls of Fair Haven. Even though he lives as a desperate minion of Satan, the Knights of the Wolf led by Cray seek to make his life `normal'. Blood thirst, disturbing visions, and secret societies based on ancient legends are only part of his bewildering situation. How can Cray and the Knights teach him to control his inner beast? Why do they risk everything to protect his doomed life? This Wolf Man is unlike any other you have read!

Michael Friedman weaves a compelling, suspenseful novel combining elements of mythology, European legends, and the classic 1941 Universal film starring Lon Chaney Jr and Claude Rains. His narrative tone takes you inside the twisted mind of Talbot frequently and you understand his inner struggle. But, you don't have to turn into a wolf to appreciate this book. Is he a Wolf Man or Human?

Michael Friedman knows...and so will you.

personally, i found the universal monsters series from dh books to be a most welcome project, with each case an example of reverence and caring for the source material. the wolf man novel is no exception. however the three books i've read so far (dracula asylum,the shadow of frankenstein) share the same technical flaw: the authors evidently have more to tell us, and one single volume apparently is not enough. this is evident from the pacing of the present novel, which is given more to introspection on larry talbot's part, and less information about his rivals, supporters, or their respective histories( and this is only to compliment the author, who has created histories that simply cry for deeper exploration!) .

this introspection, coupled with the "open-end" prequisite that may arise from the insertion of the novels between already extent stories- led me to conjecture that perhaps fuller stories will be written only when dh books will be convinced to further the series.

satanic cults, astral projection, jack-williamson-meets lon chany, could we ask for more?
yes we can: mr. freidman, two more volumes please!