Review copyright 1997 by Lucy Snyder.
Devil's TowerDevil's Tower is a sprawling, entertaining novel that blurs the boundaries between fantasy, Western and horror. Set in an alternate Wild West ruled by hexes and conjurations, it tells the tale of Jake Bird, a reluctant hero who begins as a lowly stable hand and ends up as the only man who can stand up to the magic of General Custer, a powerful madman who threatens the entire country.
This novel has a lot going for it, and it may be just what you're looking for on a lazy Sunday when you want to lose yourself in a rousing adventure for a few hours. The opening chapter grabs you and doesn't let go (you can read it for yourself at http://www.inlink.com/~range/), and the rest of the novel is fast-paced and vividly written.
So, who probably won't like this book? Well, after all, this is a fantasy adventure novel, and a Western to boot. If you're looking for more than a variation of the standard boy-comes-of-age-and-defeats-Evil plot, this probably isn't your cup of tea. Ditto if you're looking for deep, complex characters, or if you don't like graphic violence (the carnage toward the end of the novel is worthy of any Clive Barker opus). But if you like Fred Saberhagen and you're a Louis L'Amour or Larry McMurtry fan, you'll find Devil's Tower hard to beat.
Devil's Tower stayed with me after I read it, and I'm looking forward to seeing Mr. Sumner's next novel.
Lucy's Highly Subjective Rating System:
5 Stars -- Oh my God, you have to read this now!!! A definite classic!
4 Stars -- A damn fine book; maybe not a bonafide classic, but worth
having in hardback (if available).
3 Stars -- A good read; buy the paperback if you've got the cash, or bum it off a friend.
2 Stars -- Eh. It's okay, if you're a big fan of this author, but it's
definitely got flaws.
1 Stars -- This needed a good editor, and it bloody well didn't get one.
Back to the
Planet's surface.