Devil in the Dollhouse

Sandman Slim #3.5

by Richard Kadrey

James Stark, a.k.a. Sandman Slim, has a new job, but being the new Lucifer in town gives fresh meaning to the word "Hell." Especially when he hears of hideous massacres near a haunted fortress out on Hell's frontier.

As far as Stark's concerned, the more dead Hellions, the better, but he still has to prove that no one screws with Sandman Slim. And facing creatures so terrible even Hell does not want them is no cakewalk, even for Lucifer.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Horror, Fiction, Paranormal, Short Stories, Supernatural

100 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 31, 2012

About the author

Richard Kadrey is a writer and freelance musician living in Pittsburgh, best known for his Sandman Slim novels. His work has been nominated for the Locus and BSFA awards. Kadrey's newest books are The Secrets of Insects, released in August 2023; The Dead Take the A Train (with Cassandra Khaw), released in September 2023; The Pale House Devil, released in September 2023.

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've recently been re-reading the Sandman slim books, and because I'm doing them as audiobooks this time, I discovered this story that I'd previously missed.

Writing a novella that comes between books is a tricky thing. (I'm speaking as a reader here, who understands things from the perspective of a writer.) You want the events to be important, but you can't make them so relevant to the central plot that people who don't read them are lost.

This story walked that line very nicely. It was pleasantly self-contained. Good action and characterization, and interesting lore that adds to the world. But at the same time, it's cut away from the main story in a non-disruptive way.

So... yeah. If you're a fan of the series, this is very much worth your time.

[Jeffrey Keeten · Rating 4 out of 5]

”There are just as many assholes in Heaven as there are in Hell. The only difference is the ones in Hell aren’t slick enough to hide it. Therefore Hell is a kingdom of assholes, and thus the Devil is the king of the assholes.”

It is not unusual for James Stark, A.K.A. Sandman Slim, to find himself holding the flaming, shit filled bag left on the doorstep of his life, but when Lucifer absconds from hell and leaves him in charge of his hellion creatures, that has got to be the worst left holding the bag ever in the history of left holding the bag events.

He’s a mortal, of sorts, and frankly the demons, well, don’t exactly see him as Lucifer material. It isn’t like he wants the job, but then what else is he going to do while he is stuck in hell?

Needless to say, Sandman is feeling a bit temperamental. ”Maybe I can even learn something from this guy if I don’t get bored and make his guts into a new fan belt for the truck.” Fortunately, as long as Sandman doesn’t run out of Malediction, special hell made brand, cigarettes, he may not become the vengeful, splatter heads together, rip limbs from bodies, slice and dice monster that we’ve all come to love, admire, and fear.

All he really wants to do is get back to Earth so he can doink, boink, slurp, and slather himself all over his best girl, Candy. That doesn’t look like that is going to happen any time soon.

The first task for Sandman Slim as Lucifer is to clean up a mess left by his predecessor. A city of traitors exists on the other side of a nasty swirling soup of disgusting carnage. ”My biggest fear is tripping on a hidden root. I don’t want to go facedown in this muck. There isn’t enough penicillin in the world to save me from the badass microbes living in this chocolate oatmeal outhouse.” Not that hell is a particularly clean and hospitable place by design, after all it is a place where naughty souls go to be eternally punished. Sanitizing stations just do not go with the decor. This level of hell even makes the demons blanche with fear.

Like always, there is no plan. Plan A is always the same for Plans B-Z; Sandman Slim wades in and figures out everything by the seat of his ripped pants.

This is really just a teaser, though a fully formed story, before the fourth book, Devil Said Bang . I find the story entertaining and found myself snorting and remembering why I enjoyed spending time with Richard Kadrey’s insidious creation. The monster I can’t help rooting for.

If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally rated this story 4.5 stars. Shame on nefarious little me and stuff.

Bloody shrimping hell, I'm so glad I ditched Taste of Marrow of the Emotional Saps to read this. Best Decision Ever (BDE™).

Why?

✔ Because this world. Dark + gritty + violent + full of evil bastards = just beautiful.
✔ Because this writing. Because those dialogues. Straight to the gut + hilarious + sarcastic + irreverent = simply marvelous.
✔ Because this plot. Fast paced + tons of gory action + wondrous twists + Hell (aka the Kingdom of assholes) setting = utterly stupendous.
✔ Because enchanting cast of secondary characters. Scumbags + treacherous bastards + delightfully reluctant chattel associates = absolutely glorious.
✔ Because MY boyfriend Jimmy Stark. Dat voice + magnificently screwed up + blade-wielding badass + no little morals + total disrespect for everything and everyone + new malevolent responsibilities = yummy in my tummy. If the guy keeps this up, he's going to outrank all the other slaves guests in the high security wing of my High Security Harem. So watch the fish out, Daniel Faust & friends, for Sandman Slim is out to get you!



» And the moral of this You Can Measure an Author's Talent by the Quality of His/Her Short Stories Crappy Non Review (YCMaATbtQoH/HSSCNR™) is: you can measure an author's talent by the quality of his/her short stories. You are quite welcome.

P.S. This series? It's a teensy little bit orgasmic shrimptastic. Just so you know.



I have the sexiest underwear ever, I know.

· Book 1: Sandman Slim ★★★★★
· Book 2: Kill the Dead ★★★★★
· Book 3: Aloha from Hell ★★★★
· Book 4: Devil Said Bang ★★★★
· Book 5: Kill City Blues ★★★★
· Book 6: The Getaway God ★★★★★
· Book 7: Killing Pretty ★★★★
· Book 8: The Perdition Score ★★★★★
· Book 9: The Kill Society ★★★★★
· Book 10: Hollywood Dead ★★★★★
· Book 11: Ballistic Kiss ★★★★
· Book 12: King Bullet ★★★★★



[Pre-review nonsense]

Actual rating: 4.5 stars. Yeah, this one sucked really bad.

Jimmy Stark, I lurves thee more than a pig lurves not being bacon.





» Full Shudder in Fear, Members of my High Security Harem, for Sandman Slim is Out to Get You and Stuff Crappy Non Review (SiFMomHSHfSSiOtGYaSCNR™) to come.

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a pretty smart devil-in-the-basement story featuring an actual Devil facing a Devil in a basement story.

Yeah, I'm laughing at that twist... all the way down to hell.

:)

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it. Short, but ever so sweet. The Sandman Slim series is urban fantasy with a hard, bloody edge and a tough as nails anti-hero who's as sharp tongued, sarcastic and vulgar as they come. Reading these, I'm always reminded of the film Constantine, which was based on the popular Hellblazer series of graphic novels.

[Tobin Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short, fun ride. We're still in Hell, which is okay, I guess, but it's still not my favourite fictional locale. Kadrey's stronger when he steps away from his LA-is-Hell-Hell-is-LA settings and, like this story does, goes off and creates something new.

It's an interesting little side trip, but really doesn't impact the main storyline at all.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars


Devil in the Dollhouse is a novella that takes place between books three and book four in the Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey. I love this series and cannot get enough of Sandman Slim. I am not sure how I missed this fun little ride down a road in hell.


This novel tells a short adventure about James Stark also known as Sandman Slim, and now known as Lucifer or Satan, or The Devil, or The Lord of Lies, or….I think you get the point. This novella covers one of James first missions since becoming Lucifer. All the things in Hell are cool……..


The writing is top notch:


“The scene reminds me of LA when a load of High Plains Drifters— that’s zombies to you— were running extremely amok. Bullets didn’t slow them either and even if they did, how do you know which one to shoot when there are six or seven on top of you ripping you to pieces? That’s how these brainless bone sacks win. They wear you down until it doesn’t matter how many of them you kill. All it takes is for a few to swarm you and you’re gone. Short of flamethrowers, nukes, or a bunch of trained Drifter killers, the best strategy is nature’s simplest: run like you’re a zebra at a waterhole and a pride of lions just showed up with ketchup and silverware. But where do we retreat to? No one is going to follow me into the rain ring and there’s no forest to hide in anymore.”


I am a huge fan of Richard Kadreys, and I cannot wait for more from Sandman Slim!!!

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Kaustubh Dudhane · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There are just as many assholes in Heaven as there are in Hell. The only difference is the ones in Hell aren't slick enough to hide it."

This short story is just like a shot of Aqua Regia. (Those of you who had read at least one book in this series would know.) It burns and gives you a mammoth kick. Moreover, the author cares a lot about explaining the Hell. Take a look at this -

"Night and day are kind of abstract concepts out here in the hinterlands. Hell exists in a kind of perpetual bruised twilight, but in Pandemonium and other towns there's an agreed-upon cycle for morning, noon, and night. Out this far the only difference between 12 A.M. and 12 P.M. is a slight color change in the sky."

I don't want to spoil it for the readers much by writing more about the story. For all Sandman Slim fans, this is a must read!

[Seth · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far, the Sandman Slim books have been non-stop, rollicking fun. Our (anti)hero, Stark, just wants to be left alone and he'll kill anything that gets in the way of that, which keeps him picking up strays to care for and responsibilities to maintain at a disturbing rate. As of this short story, listed as volume "3.5" in the books, he's taken over the title of Lucifer and trying to keep hell from boiling over into rebellions that could affect the mortal world. After all, the mortal world is where he keeps his stuff. And his favorite bar. And the vampire-thing he's kind of dating. And the video rental store he stole.

You see how it is. A short story about him proving he's as tough as they say would come in handy right about now.

But it's barely a three-out-of-five, sadly, for two reasons.

First, setup isn't strong. It isn't clear if the story is intended to be only for readers familiar with book 3, but there are too many throwaway characters and too many lines explaining what someone who's read along so far already knows and somone jumping in at this story probably won't understand anyway.

The action is fine (and actually understated, for the series), and we get some great bits from Stark about why he's immune to the various psychological harrassment that does in the Hellions around him, but the mythology behind it, and the motivation for him to be involved at all, aren't handled as well as we know Kadrey can do in a longer form. It feels like the various mythology sections of book 3 pared down to a few dozen lines, which just doesn't work well.

But it's the second flaw that really hurts the story: It just doesn't matter. I mean, it really doesn't matter. At the end of the story, it might as well not have happened. We get some fun along the way, but it has one of those auctorial cop-outs that make a story basically a writing exercise. Story, but no plot.

It is possible, of course, that Kadrey intends to reference this story somewhere later, and it's possible that the cop-out is an important plot element. I hope so. It would be great. But even then, there would be ways to write the story (or maybe times to release the story) that wouldn't leave the reader feeling as cheated.

If you read the series, and if you're continuing after book 3, go ahead and spend the $0.99 to get this and enjoy it. But try to have the next book handy for when you realize it wasn't what you wanted.

[Karissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this story free for Kindle. This is a story that takes place between books 3 and 4 of the Sandman Slim series. It was an interesting addition to the series and full of the all that bad-assness that is Sandman Slim.

Sandman Slim is trying to adjust to life as Lucifer and searching for a way back home. Then he is informed by his minions that he has to travel through the circles of Hell to confront a particularly naughty Hellion.

This was a very short read (took maybe half an hour to read) but it was entertaining. It’s full of the all the dark humor and fast-paced action that we’ve all grown to love from this series.

It’s gory, gritty, and absolutely twisted and disgusting at times...but at the same time oh so very engaging and wonderful.

It fills in a bit of the story about what Sandman Slim did while he was in Hell. It’s not necessary to read (I actually read book 4, Devil Said Bang before this book) to know what’s going on in the series. But it’s free and it’s a fun diversion.

Overall a fun read. It’s fast-paced, action-packed, and full of the all the dark gritty humor that is Sandman Slim. Ultra-violent, at times a bit stomach turning....but tons of fun all the same. If you are a fan of the series give it a read, you’ll enjoy it. I wouldn’t recommend reading if you haven’t read the series, unless you just want to get a feel for Kadrey’s writing style.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but not really one you need to read for the series and I don't think its one that will make you want to read more about Sandman Slim.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read any of these novels in any order and as an afterthought maybe I should go back and start over and do so. This short gives us some insight into Sandman slim and his time as the devil. I’m close to finishing the series and the last few novels have not been as strong as where this story fits in. This is when the series was at its best and enjoyable and Sandman Slim had not lost all his cool toys.

[Adrian Montanez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Want to prove your Lucifer? You just have to destroy a Dollhouse.

It's a fun little adventure that shows a bit of how Hell is doing now that Stark is in charge. All with a surprising twist at the end.

3 stars out of 5.

[Brainycat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brainycat's 5 "B"s:
blood: 5
boobs: 0
bombs: 3
bondage: 0
blasphemy: 5
Bechdel Test: FAIL
Deggan's Rule: FAIL
Gay Bechdel Test: FAIL

Please note: I don't review to provide synopses, I review to share a purely visceral reaction to books and perhaps answer some of the questions I ask when I'm contemplating investing time and money into a book.

This is a short story tucked into the Sandman Slim series. I read it out of order (I'd already finished Kill City Blues) but that didn't change my enjoyment of the story. As a huge fan of Sandman Slim, my only problem with this book is that it was too short. It had everything we like about this guy - violence, wry self deprecating humor, a wicked (pun intended) sense of sarcasm and tidy little story line that wraps itself up at the end.

The story takes shortly after Sandman takes over hell and revolves around him taking a couple of legions of hellspawn out to the far reaches to take care of some business left over by the last Lucifer. Naturally, chaos, violence, horror, death and destruction ensue.

I'm not sure this would be a good way for people who haven't read the earlier books to dip into the series. It might be a little difficult to follow along; Mr. Kadrey expects the reader to have a firm grasp of the mythology he's created and the history of his major characters. On the other hand, as a quick little horro/action-adventure/romp it's a fun little diversion and for readers don't mind being a little behind on the backstory and motivations, this would be good introduction to the style and tone of the Sandman Slim series.

[Natalia Rox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not know why I am so enthralled by Sandman Slim, but I am. This novella gives a great sneak peek into Hell and to get a feel for the games that are being played down there. Stark is still the same no nonsense- straight to the point MF I have grown to love. He is surrounded by hellions that are just as flawed and spineless as the humans and on a journey to get some answers. The way Kadrey ends the story syncs perfectly for the 4th book, because a novella should not be essential to the storyline, but rather, a bonus for faithful readers. I won't spoil anything this time so please enjoy. (Amazon Kindle Edition .99)

[Suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great little short that I enjoyed a lot.

It's the first time I've listened to a Sandman Slim book as I've read the previous novels before 5. I think the narrator captured the characters quite well and helped bring the story alive.

[alan l jarbeau · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy everything i have ever read by richard kadrey. The only. Disappointment being its length.

I enjoy everything I have ever read by Richard kadrey. The only disappointment being its length.

Otherwise excellent as usual.

[Bart · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** 3 stars ***

[Taylor Rickett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun romp into more region of Hell under the newly minted Lucifer, Stark. And oh what fun when you’re chasing myths, or becoming part of one.

[Farhad · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Your balls are indeed wise"

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devil in the Dollhouse is a short story from the Sandman Slim series written by Richard Kadrey, which is a short story that deals with James Stark's first few interactions in Hell as the new Lucifer. He is trying to play all factions against the middle so that no one remembers that he is not a fallen angel like the rest of them, but a nephilim. It takes place shortly after Aloha from Hell in the Sandman Slim series and it is best read after the third book.

Devil in the Dollhouse has James Stark, as the new Lucifer of Hell, dealing with a particularly difficult situation. He is convinced that something needs to be done about what is essentially Hell’s out-house – an area that is supposed to hold demons and souls so bad they give other demons a second pause. James Stark is out of his element, while he is great at fighting, politics or out thinking his opponents is not his forte.

There are three rings of challenges to get through, each hard than the last but they were not physical challenges so much as mental/emotional ones. Turns out these challenges were not so much keeping demons out as to keep demons in – rather one demon – one who claims to be the original Lucifer, the one who was the original cast out of Heaven.

Devil in the Dollhouse is written rather well. It is rather interesting to read James Stark out of his element as politician. However, it would not be a Sandman Slim story if there were not a fight or two, which this short story has done well.

All in all, Devil in the Dollhouse is a well written short story about James Stark on his new position of Lucifer of Hell – the first non-fallen angel to hold the title. It is also a worthy and wonderful addition to the Sandman Slim universe – enriching it just a tad more.

[Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm currently running through giving each book the same generic review (which I've pasted below).
This novella gets its own review, however, because it is memorable. It is a very interesting story of Sandman Slim's first days as the ruler of Hell. I didn't really like how it ended, in part because it felt like the author was writing a convenient ending so he wouldn't have to account for this story in the future, and that convenient ending required his main character to be a bit stupid and weak. Regardless, this was an enjoyable read.

Generic review:

For right now I'm going to do a single review and repeat it for all the Sandman Slim books because I'm going through them all one right after another and I don't want to have to stop in between to give specifics. Besides, all the books pretty much have the same good and bad points. The bad point is that the main character isn't very smart- he's troubled ball of emotion. The good is that the books are so well written that you are sucked into the main character's state of mind and his failure to stop and think isn't noticeable. Another good thing about this series is that each book tells a complete story- the villains actually get taken out only to be replaced by other bad guys that need seeing to in the next book.

So bottom line: gritty, well-written, not perfect but better than 95% of the dreck that is out there.

[Иван Величков · Rating 4 out of 5]

Това вече е завръщане на симпатичният антигерой Джими Старк. Малка новела – задъхана и мръсна. Единствената забележка е, че няма начин да се разглежда отделно от поредицата.

Къдри задълбава здраво в собственото си гностично митообразуване и с натрупването на книгите се отделя все повече от общоприетите норми. Ако махнем претенциите за литературна стойност, мога смело да заявя, че продължава от там където е спрял Милтън.

Джими Старк вече е шеф на пъклото, но никой няма намерение да го остави на мира. За да се циментира като новия Луцифер, ще му се наложи да довърши една мъчна и досадна задача. Повел на смърт рота смърдящи демони, Джими се натъква на заложени още от Падането капани и открива поредната покрита истина. Естествено никой няма да го остави да прави каквото си иска, което почва да се превръща в житейска история за нашето момче.

[Geoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audible version of this short story, and I will say I was unimpressed for the price. I paid $7, which was too much for a 90 minute audio book finished in one day. I would not recommend it, unless you can find a Kindle edition for $3 or so. Now, I will say it was an enjoyable little story. It starts up right after the third book ends and is pretty much action packed. Lucifer (now Sandman Slim) gets ambushed, and retreats to the house that was his destination. But, there's a surprise inside. Without giving anything away, I did not care for what was added to the cannon with this story, as I felt it wasn't needed (who knows, though, maybe it comes into play in a later book). But, I did like the action, and dark humor in this story that makes Sandman Slim books fun. So, I was glad to have read it.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't touched Richard Kadrey's books in so long so I for sure appreciated this short throwback into the series.
This is my first time reading Sandman Slim in English, not Czech, and it feels kinda different, ai would say. Irony doesn't just always translates perfectly and that completely okay. Nevertheless, I'm glad that I'm finally able to read this in English because before I didn't trust my language skills enough.
As for the short story (can I call it that?) itself, it took me a while to remember what happened in the previous books. I remembered the characters pretty well but if you told me to describe how exactly did they defeated Kissi I'd probably just say "who?"
But from what I can remember, Mr Kadrey likes to throw in little facts from previous book so the reader could be like "Oh! Right, that happened" so I hope it'll be all right.

[Ryan Krist · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be completely honest, I didn't realize that this was essentially a short story until I was a few pages in and noticed that there were only 40-something pages left. And it's not that it's bad; it's still got Stark's trademark hard-boiled pithy dialogue and narration, but the story itself is paced so fast, it doesn't paint the picture for the reader as well as the rest of the entries in this series; I love this world and I want to stay in it for more than a quickie! But everything about this feels so rushed, and the resolution reveals something seemingly major, while simultaneously leaving you wondering if this plot development is ever going to factor into the overarching series arc. I don't know -- I didn't *dis*like it, I just found myself equally wanting Kadrey to slow it down, as much as *I* wanted to burn through it to get to the next actual novel in the series ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good novella. Stark has just begun to get settled in as the new Lucifer, but there are a couple of problems. As much as he wants back home to Earth and Candie, he doesn't know how to get back without leaving Hell with no Lucifer.

And, his consolidation of power is far from perfect. He's in charge, but demons are a contrary bunch. He finds out he has to go kill some monsters and demons that the prior Lucifer had banished to the outskirts of Hell to convince the population that the new Lucifer is no pushover.

In someway Stark is easier to handle in small doses than the longer novels. Some of the meandering is also gone. Otherwise it is the same violent, and profane Stark as the previous.

Oh, apparently the twist at the sets up the next novel.

[James Gonzalez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't planning on reading this novella, but it came with The Kill Society, so I decided to give it a shot. Plus, it's super short, so why not?

Unfortunately, this novella doesn't really do much. It takes place during the time Stark was still Lucifer and fills in a blank spot that was mentioned in The Kill Society. While I appreciate knowing what happened during that time, it could have easily just been a short 4-5 page flashback in The Kill Society instead of a 50-page novella.

I know this came out years before book 9, and maybe I wouldn't be so hard on it if I read it right after reading book 3. But at this stage of the series, it just feels like a story that was interesting wrapped inside a book we didn't necessarily need.

[Soo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just when you think you've seen all the twists and turns, there's one more. That's the core of this short story set in the depths of Hell. In several ways, the myth of Henoch Breach is more appealing than the truth and what ends up happening.

I found the ending rather unsatisfying. It totally fits the theme but it's not what I wanted. Probably because I'd like Stark to win more than he actually does. If you've read the first three books in the series, you know he hasn't actually won anything except a few big pointers.

I hope what happened here will make a pivotal difference in the series ahead. That crazy inclusion will make me more happy about the fact that I read this story.