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Hang Wire
Ted Hall is worried. He’s been sleepwalking, and his somnambulant travels appear to coincide with murders by the notorious Hang Wire Killer.
Meanwhile, the circus has come to town, but the Celtic dancers are taking their pagan act a little too seriously, the manager of the Olde Worlde Funfair has started talking to his vintage machines, and the new acrobat’s frequent absences are causing tension among the performers.
Out in the city there are other new arrivals – immortals searching for an ancient power – a primal evil which, if unopposed, could destroy the world!
Meanwhile, the circus has come to town, but the Celtic dancers are taking their pagan act a little too seriously, the manager of the Olde Worlde Funfair has started talking to his vintage machines, and the new acrobat’s frequent absences are causing tension among the performers.
Out in the city there are other new arrivals – immortals searching for an ancient power – a primal evil which, if unopposed, could destroy the world!
209 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
About the author
Adam Christopher
53 books745 followersAdam Christopher is the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith and Master of Evil, Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town. He has also written official tie-in novels for the hit CBS television show Elementary and the award-winning Dishonored video game franchise.
Co-creator of the twenty-first-century incarnation of Archie Comics superhero The Shield, Adam has also written for the universes of Doctor Who and World of Warcraft, and is a contributor to the internationally bestselling Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View anniversary anthology series and the all-ages Star Wars Adventures comic.
Adam’s original novels include Made to Kill and The Burning Dark, among many others, and his debut novel Empire State was both a SciFi Now and Financial Times book of the year.
Co-creator of the twenty-first-century incarnation of Archie Comics superhero The Shield, Adam has also written for the universes of Doctor Who and World of Warcraft, and is a contributor to the internationally bestselling Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View anniversary anthology series and the all-ages Star Wars Adventures comic.
Adam’s original novels include Made to Kill and The Burning Dark, among many others, and his debut novel Empire State was both a SciFi Now and Financial Times book of the year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
April 13, 2019
Hang Wire is an urban fantasy novel with a half dozen characters, some immortal, some every-day people, who come together to face a threat of a magnitude that humanity has never known.
In between flash backs to the villain setting up his ghastly scheme, readers get to follow the trail of a killer in San Francisco who garrotes his victims with thick cable and then hangs them by their necks in a grisly display.
"When the second surge threw him up to the surface, and the third pulled him down, he knew something was wrong. When he surfaced again he could hear it, a moaning, like a deep wind howling through a canyon a million miles away." pg 10
It's actually a rather complex plot between the flashbacks and the modern day with nearly constant back and forth skips in time, almost like waves in an ocean.
"You are the master of every situation." pg 45
Which leads to my main complaint about this book. Similar to other urban fantasies I've had the privilege of reading in the past, it felt like the plot either needed to be simplified or fully fleshed out. By zipping over so much in so few pages, I felt like we only got part of the story.
"Of course it had happened before. Several times. San Francisco, like an unfortunate number of other cities across the United States, knew what it was like to have a serial killer in their midst." pg 47
I guess the lesson I took from Hang Wire is that less is more when it comes to storytelling. And Hawaiian gods of death are incredibly cool.
Recommended for readers who don't mind multiple flashbacks in their urban fantasy.
In between flash backs to the villain setting up his ghastly scheme, readers get to follow the trail of a killer in San Francisco who garrotes his victims with thick cable and then hangs them by their necks in a grisly display.
"When the second surge threw him up to the surface, and the third pulled him down, he knew something was wrong. When he surfaced again he could hear it, a moaning, like a deep wind howling through a canyon a million miles away." pg 10
It's actually a rather complex plot between the flashbacks and the modern day with nearly constant back and forth skips in time, almost like waves in an ocean.
"You are the master of every situation." pg 45
Which leads to my main complaint about this book. Similar to other urban fantasies I've had the privilege of reading in the past, it felt like the plot either needed to be simplified or fully fleshed out. By zipping over so much in so few pages, I felt like we only got part of the story.
"Of course it had happened before. Several times. San Francisco, like an unfortunate number of other cities across the United States, knew what it was like to have a serial killer in their midst." pg 47
I guess the lesson I took from Hang Wire is that less is more when it comes to storytelling. And Hawaiian gods of death are incredibly cool.
Recommended for readers who don't mind multiple flashbacks in their urban fantasy.
March 1, 2014
A killer is on the loose and Ted Hall's nighttime sleepwalking escapades are lining up directly with the Hang Wire Killer's murders. That's not information you volunteer until you know a little more.
The circus is also in town and not without their oddities.
Christopher sinks his hooks into you from the start as he slowly reveals what is going on. I had the distinct feeling of Stephen King novel throughout the majority of the book and I'm guessing that was intentional because I know how heavily the author is influenced by the King.
After a great beginning, however, I was pretty let down by the major reveals in the novel. I won't go into too much detail, but I'm not a huge fan of this particular type of supernatural and it seemed like it wasn't quite set up well enough to pull it off. That could be my inherent bias, though...I'm not sure anyone could pull it off to my satisfaction.
I also wasn't too impressed with the characters. I didn't really like any of them and I definitely wasn't rooting for anyone so I had a hard time even caring what happened.
I still liked the book, especially the first half or so, but I can't say I'd outright recommend it.
3 out of 5 Stars (recommended with reservations)
The circus is also in town and not without their oddities.
Christopher sinks his hooks into you from the start as he slowly reveals what is going on. I had the distinct feeling of Stephen King novel throughout the majority of the book and I'm guessing that was intentional because I know how heavily the author is influenced by the King.
After a great beginning, however, I was pretty let down by the major reveals in the novel. I won't go into too much detail, but I'm not a huge fan of this particular type of supernatural and it seemed like it wasn't quite set up well enough to pull it off. That could be my inherent bias, though...I'm not sure anyone could pull it off to my satisfaction.
I also wasn't too impressed with the characters. I didn't really like any of them and I definitely wasn't rooting for anyone so I had a hard time even caring what happened.
I still liked the book, especially the first half or so, but I can't say I'd outright recommend it.
3 out of 5 Stars (recommended with reservations)
December 10, 2013
I've wanted to read this since I was given the summary to have a go at coming up with a blurb, back when I visited Angry Robot for a day (especially with seeing the cover art, which to me seems perfect in its relative simplicity). So I gleefully pounced on the email offering ARCs, crossed my fingers, and waited. When I got back from Belgium, I had a whole package of books from Angry Robot, including Hang Wire, which I cracked open as soon as I could.
I have Adam Christopher's other books with Angry Robot, except The Age Atomic, but I hadn't got round to them yet. So this was my first book by Adam Christopher, which works fine, as it's a standalone. It's urban fantasy, with a touch of the thriller and a bit of fake Celtic magic, and real gods of various stripes, and real people affected by them. It took me a while to get together what was happening, partially because I never pay attention to dates at the beginning of chapters even when authors are so helpful as to give them, and partially because I have a cold. (That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.)
It's an absorbing read, even if you aren't quite hanging on and catching all the hints and implications, and it might take you some places you aren't expecting. The pacing is really good: there was never a point where I could put it down and not wonder what was coming up next. The writing works well for me: I could picture things clearly, but it wasn't fussy, either. There were some bits I still haven't quite sorted out in my mind, but the plot carried me along fairly smoothly; I'd have to reread it to tell you if that was just me being dense (having a cold) or not.
Definitely an enjoyable one, and worth picking up when it comes out -- and I'm veeerryyy interested in hurrying up and getting to read Adam Christopher's other work.
I have Adam Christopher's other books with Angry Robot, except The Age Atomic, but I hadn't got round to them yet. So this was my first book by Adam Christopher, which works fine, as it's a standalone. It's urban fantasy, with a touch of the thriller and a bit of fake Celtic magic, and real gods of various stripes, and real people affected by them. It took me a while to get together what was happening, partially because I never pay attention to dates at the beginning of chapters even when authors are so helpful as to give them, and partially because I have a cold. (That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.)
It's an absorbing read, even if you aren't quite hanging on and catching all the hints and implications, and it might take you some places you aren't expecting. The pacing is really good: there was never a point where I could put it down and not wonder what was coming up next. The writing works well for me: I could picture things clearly, but it wasn't fussy, either. There were some bits I still haven't quite sorted out in my mind, but the plot carried me along fairly smoothly; I'd have to reread it to tell you if that was just me being dense (having a cold) or not.
Definitely an enjoyable one, and worth picking up when it comes out -- and I'm veeerryyy interested in hurrying up and getting to read Adam Christopher's other work.
April 29, 2014
4 Stars
I have been a sloppy reader as of late and need to refocus. I am a huge fan of Adam Christopher and this book shows off his talents as a writer. The story and the plot are secondary to the fantastic structure of this book. Christopher has created a supernatural thriller that spans more than 100 years and we the readers are taken back and forth across the generations.
Carnies, serial killers, and sleeping gods...enough said.
This book bleeds into genres of horror, fantasy, mystery and even some science fiction.
This is a fast read despite the learning curve of cast and time shifting.
The ending is very good
It is a fun read.
I have been a sloppy reader as of late and need to refocus. I am a huge fan of Adam Christopher and this book shows off his talents as a writer. The story and the plot are secondary to the fantastic structure of this book. Christopher has created a supernatural thriller that spans more than 100 years and we the readers are taken back and forth across the generations.
Carnies, serial killers, and sleeping gods...enough said.
This book bleeds into genres of horror, fantasy, mystery and even some science fiction.
This is a fast read despite the learning curve of cast and time shifting.
The ending is very good
It is a fun read.
December 1, 2013
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...
Having wanted to read a book by this author for a while, I initially debated either tackling 7 Wonders or the Empire State series, but then I found out about his upcoming title Hang Wire. After reading the description, I decided right then and there that I wanted it to be my first Adam Christopher novel.
Immortal gods, pagan rites, a serial killer on the loose...is there anything this book doesn't have? And what's this, a circus too? If anything, it was this last one that sold me. Hang Wire looked to me like an unconventional urban fantasy that is also a fusion of paranormal, horror and mystery. There's even some mythology thrown in to stir things up even more, in what is arguably already a quirky mix.
In present day San Francisco, a blogger named Ted goes out to dinner with his group of journalist friends to celebrate his birthday, only to have a fortune cookie blow up in his face. Physically unharmed, Ted nonetheless starts experiencing odd things ever since the incident. Recently, the city has also been held in fear by a killer known as Hang Wire, who brutally strangles his victims before stringing them up in public places.
Meanwhile, the circus is in town with a new high wire act plus a Celtic dance group whose performances have been garnering lots of praise. But tension is mounting behind the scenes, especially with rumors that the carnival is cursed, and the frequent fights breaking out between the creepy circus manager and the workers are putting everyone on edge. There's an ancient evil lurking, and as it turns out, everything has to do with a handful of gods who walk among us. And one of them is a scruffy but devastatingly handsome beach bum named Bob, who gives free ballroom dancing lessons at the aqua park by the sea...
Right, I don't think I need to go further to let you know just how bizarre this book is. But then, I liked it. I didn't think I would at first, simply because of the sheer amount of information the story throws at you right off the bat. As you can see from my brief summary, there's a lot happening in this book, and while trying to figure out what's going on, things can feel a tad overwhelming. Not to mention, the numerous time jumps near the beginning can add to the sense of disjointedness.
I was loaded up with so many questions at first. Most of them involve the circus manager Joel. Who is he and why are we seeing him in all these places across the country, and at these very different times? He's obviously hunting something, but what is this strange power allowing him to know exactly where to be? Where is it coming from? A lot of these questions were answered to my satisfaction at the end, but there were still many points that I felt could have been expanded. I bring this up because for a book with so many threads and topics, the world building is surprisingly on the light side. I enjoyed what I saw, but also felt like there should have been more.
However, I am amazed at Adam Christopher's creativity and the vision for this novel. I especially loved the mysticism and the darkness. Take the Hang Wire killer, for example. This was one of many developments in the overarching story line, but admittedly it was also the horror and mystery of it that eventually grabbed my attention and drew me in. And in fantasy, you usually see circuses depicted as magical places filled with whimsy and wonder, but here the circus is a cursed, creepy place suffused with pure evil where the carnival attractions themselves hunger for blood. I found it all deeply enticing.
So then, my first Adam Christopher novel turned out to be quite the offbeat experience, but I wasn't disappointed. All in all, this was a highly original read packed with all kinds of strange and fantastical elements, and that's how I like it. There may be a lot to take in at first, but everything comes together eventually, once the story gets going and builds momentum.
Having wanted to read a book by this author for a while, I initially debated either tackling 7 Wonders or the Empire State series, but then I found out about his upcoming title Hang Wire. After reading the description, I decided right then and there that I wanted it to be my first Adam Christopher novel.
Immortal gods, pagan rites, a serial killer on the loose...is there anything this book doesn't have? And what's this, a circus too? If anything, it was this last one that sold me. Hang Wire looked to me like an unconventional urban fantasy that is also a fusion of paranormal, horror and mystery. There's even some mythology thrown in to stir things up even more, in what is arguably already a quirky mix.
In present day San Francisco, a blogger named Ted goes out to dinner with his group of journalist friends to celebrate his birthday, only to have a fortune cookie blow up in his face. Physically unharmed, Ted nonetheless starts experiencing odd things ever since the incident. Recently, the city has also been held in fear by a killer known as Hang Wire, who brutally strangles his victims before stringing them up in public places.
Meanwhile, the circus is in town with a new high wire act plus a Celtic dance group whose performances have been garnering lots of praise. But tension is mounting behind the scenes, especially with rumors that the carnival is cursed, and the frequent fights breaking out between the creepy circus manager and the workers are putting everyone on edge. There's an ancient evil lurking, and as it turns out, everything has to do with a handful of gods who walk among us. And one of them is a scruffy but devastatingly handsome beach bum named Bob, who gives free ballroom dancing lessons at the aqua park by the sea...
Right, I don't think I need to go further to let you know just how bizarre this book is. But then, I liked it. I didn't think I would at first, simply because of the sheer amount of information the story throws at you right off the bat. As you can see from my brief summary, there's a lot happening in this book, and while trying to figure out what's going on, things can feel a tad overwhelming. Not to mention, the numerous time jumps near the beginning can add to the sense of disjointedness.
I was loaded up with so many questions at first. Most of them involve the circus manager Joel. Who is he and why are we seeing him in all these places across the country, and at these very different times? He's obviously hunting something, but what is this strange power allowing him to know exactly where to be? Where is it coming from? A lot of these questions were answered to my satisfaction at the end, but there were still many points that I felt could have been expanded. I bring this up because for a book with so many threads and topics, the world building is surprisingly on the light side. I enjoyed what I saw, but also felt like there should have been more.
However, I am amazed at Adam Christopher's creativity and the vision for this novel. I especially loved the mysticism and the darkness. Take the Hang Wire killer, for example. This was one of many developments in the overarching story line, but admittedly it was also the horror and mystery of it that eventually grabbed my attention and drew me in. And in fantasy, you usually see circuses depicted as magical places filled with whimsy and wonder, but here the circus is a cursed, creepy place suffused with pure evil where the carnival attractions themselves hunger for blood. I found it all deeply enticing.
So then, my first Adam Christopher novel turned out to be quite the offbeat experience, but I wasn't disappointed. All in all, this was a highly original read packed with all kinds of strange and fantastical elements, and that's how I like it. There may be a lot to take in at first, but everything comes together eventually, once the story gets going and builds momentum.
March 31, 2014
The first third of this book read like a textbook example of how to get the hooks into your reader. Every scene, from the very first, slides a new hook under the skin and you've just gotta keep reading to find out 'what's really going on.' Unfortunately, for me, once I found out what was really going on, I was less than thrilled about it.
But I want to be clear about this. You see, at about the halfway mark, I found out that supernatural entities that I personally don't enjoy reading about are major players, and I was pretty let down. You might like stories involving this particular type of supernatural entity, many people do. If so, you might really go for what Mr. Christopher has delivered here.
But my supernatural entity bias isn't really the only problem I had with this book. There were two more major things that detracted from my overall enjoyment:
1) The magic rules in this world weren't clearly defined, and it came off as characters could just 'magic' themselves out of tough situations.
2) All of the characters but one seemed to have zero agency Intentional? Sure. Just look at the cover. But, still. And the one character who did have control over his own fate adopted a surfer dude persona that I didn't find cute, ironic, or funny.
I wanted to like this book more than I did (and to be clear, I didn't hate it by any stretch). It does contain a lot of things that I do like in a story: a circus/carnival, entertaining villains, interesting imagery, cool set pieces, and, best of all, solid writing.
After reading Hang Wire, I think Adam Christopher is more than capable of producing a book that I'll really enjoy. Unfortunately, this was probably just not the right entry point into his writing--for me.
But I want to be clear about this. You see, at about the halfway mark, I found out that supernatural entities that I personally don't enjoy reading about are major players, and I was pretty let down. You might like stories involving this particular type of supernatural entity, many people do. If so, you might really go for what Mr. Christopher has delivered here.
But my supernatural entity bias isn't really the only problem I had with this book. There were two more major things that detracted from my overall enjoyment:
1) The magic rules in this world weren't clearly defined, and it came off as characters could just 'magic' themselves out of tough situations.
2) All of the characters but one seemed to have zero agency Intentional? Sure. Just look at the cover. But, still. And the one character who did have control over his own fate adopted a surfer dude persona that I didn't find cute, ironic, or funny.
I wanted to like this book more than I did (and to be clear, I didn't hate it by any stretch). It does contain a lot of things that I do like in a story: a circus/carnival, entertaining villains, interesting imagery, cool set pieces, and, best of all, solid writing.
After reading Hang Wire, I think Adam Christopher is more than capable of producing a book that I'll really enjoy. Unfortunately, this was probably just not the right entry point into his writing--for me.
November 27, 2013
When I first started reading Hang Wire, I was amused by the quirky characters. I mean, who gets excited when they celebrate a prime number birthday? Pretty geeky, huh? I was intrigued by the rest of the cast of characters as well. Just who was Joel? Why did he play with that gold coin? And what about Bob? Why were they all talking in surfer dude speech? And what was the Big Bad?
So a promising beginning led the way to a disappointing end. It's not that the story itself was disappointing, it's just that it felt disjointed. There was a lot of skipping around from the present to the past without any rhyme or reason. Some of the flashbacks added to the story, other flashbacks added to my confusion.
I then found myself reading passages over and over, just to make sure that I didn't miss anything. I'm guessing that this wasn't my type of book. Others may enjoy it more.
Thank you to Angry Robot for a review copy of this book.
So a promising beginning led the way to a disappointing end. It's not that the story itself was disappointing, it's just that it felt disjointed. There was a lot of skipping around from the present to the past without any rhyme or reason. Some of the flashbacks added to the story, other flashbacks added to my confusion.
I then found myself reading passages over and over, just to make sure that I didn't miss anything. I'm guessing that this wasn't my type of book. Others may enjoy it more.
Thank you to Angry Robot for a review copy of this book.
November 27, 2013
http://www.mybookishways.com/2014/01/...
Hang Wire opens in San Francisco, in April of 1906 when the city is apparently gripped by a massive earthquake, but Robert knows better. As he hauls the victims out of the wreckage, using his unusual strength to pull them out from under tons of rubble, he knows that something else is stirring, and he also must resist the darkness that is awakening in himself as a response to all of the pain and suffering that surrounds him. It’s then that we catch up with Joel in 1889, who was given a very, very special coin by his father, and who will soon become a slave to a great and terrible power.
Onward and upward then to the San Francisco of today, and into the life of Ted Hall. Our introduction to Ted starts out with quite a bang (literally), when his birthday celebration with friends and coworkers at a Chinese restaurant ends with an explosion, and a message in a fortune cookie (actually, a lot of them), that he’ll continue to see in the days ahead: YOU ARE THE MASTER OF EVERY SITUATION. Much to Ted’s horror, he’s been sleepwalking and doesn’t remember a thing from his jaunts. He’s also even found what he thinks is blood in his apartment, and even worse, he seems drawn to the murder scenes of the Hang Wire Killer, who has been terrorizing the city.
Meanwhile, at Sharon Meadow, a carnival is in full swing, Joel’s carnival, and something beneath the city is awakening.
So, we have a killer roaming around San Francisco who kills in a very unique way, a seemingly ordinary guy named Ted who’s sleepwalking and seems to be up to, well, something. Then we have Joel and his traveling circus. Joel is a creepy, creepy guy, and it’s not lost on the circus performers. He also seems to acquire rather odd items, objects that seem otherworldly. The narrative jumps between Ted, Joel in the present, and also Joel’s backstory (making of a villain, ahem…), and also we get some background on Robert. You know, the guy I mentioned earlier, the one that was lifting really heavy rubble off of folks after something rocked the earth in 1906? He’s still around now too, but he goes by Bob,gives dancing lessons on the beach, and is somewhat of a local, rather eccentric legend. You have no idea how eccentric. Hang Wire is just pure fun. Yes, there are some dark doings here (something huge is awakening underground and gods are running around wearing human facades, and of course, murder), however, Adam Christopher manages to pull off the right amount of creepy (and some great action scenes) without ever getting too dark. Fans of quirky urban fantasy will devour this one. Loved it!
Hang Wire opens in San Francisco, in April of 1906 when the city is apparently gripped by a massive earthquake, but Robert knows better. As he hauls the victims out of the wreckage, using his unusual strength to pull them out from under tons of rubble, he knows that something else is stirring, and he also must resist the darkness that is awakening in himself as a response to all of the pain and suffering that surrounds him. It’s then that we catch up with Joel in 1889, who was given a very, very special coin by his father, and who will soon become a slave to a great and terrible power.
Onward and upward then to the San Francisco of today, and into the life of Ted Hall. Our introduction to Ted starts out with quite a bang (literally), when his birthday celebration with friends and coworkers at a Chinese restaurant ends with an explosion, and a message in a fortune cookie (actually, a lot of them), that he’ll continue to see in the days ahead: YOU ARE THE MASTER OF EVERY SITUATION. Much to Ted’s horror, he’s been sleepwalking and doesn’t remember a thing from his jaunts. He’s also even found what he thinks is blood in his apartment, and even worse, he seems drawn to the murder scenes of the Hang Wire Killer, who has been terrorizing the city.
Meanwhile, at Sharon Meadow, a carnival is in full swing, Joel’s carnival, and something beneath the city is awakening.
So, we have a killer roaming around San Francisco who kills in a very unique way, a seemingly ordinary guy named Ted who’s sleepwalking and seems to be up to, well, something. Then we have Joel and his traveling circus. Joel is a creepy, creepy guy, and it’s not lost on the circus performers. He also seems to acquire rather odd items, objects that seem otherworldly. The narrative jumps between Ted, Joel in the present, and also Joel’s backstory (making of a villain, ahem…), and also we get some background on Robert. You know, the guy I mentioned earlier, the one that was lifting really heavy rubble off of folks after something rocked the earth in 1906? He’s still around now too, but he goes by Bob,gives dancing lessons on the beach, and is somewhat of a local, rather eccentric legend. You have no idea how eccentric. Hang Wire is just pure fun. Yes, there are some dark doings here (something huge is awakening underground and gods are running around wearing human facades, and of course, murder), however, Adam Christopher manages to pull off the right amount of creepy (and some great action scenes) without ever getting too dark. Fans of quirky urban fantasy will devour this one. Loved it!
December 8, 2013
There’s a comic book and horror-like quality to HANG WIRE that seems to take all that is good from the sub genres and mold it into a deliciously well crafted tale that gives life to the death that stalks the inhabitants of this semi fictitious San Francisco landscape – the place-setting for HANG WIRE.
Local blog reporter, Ted is felled by an exploding fortune cookie whilst celebrating his birthday. Suffering head injuries, he can’t account for time or the strange events that seem to follow him. His partner, Alison, worried for his safety regularly checks in but apart from those interactions, we see little of Ted post accident. And the mystery begins...
There’s a killer lurking the streets, stalking his victims, desperately searching for that next outlet to feed his bloodlust; something to satisfy the craving, if only for a little while. The Hang Wire killer murders in macabre fashion, using wire as a means of hanging his victims (the tools of the trade a dead giveaway by virtue of the moniker) which not only strangles but nearly decapitates those unfortunate enough to meet his deadly embrace. Highwire, part of a circus act and hero of sorts has caught wind of this killer and wants to stop the menace – sounds like a scripted superhero/villain tale, yet author Adam Christopher ensures there’s so much going on that the reader can’t easily adjust to a single theme - enter the Gods in mortal disguise.
For many years Gods and other elements have walked amongst the mortal, taking human form and entire bloodlines as their own. Some thirst for blood, others the more tranquil life – some have converged on San Francisco as history looks to repeat itself. The fire under the city threatens to burst and rain down hell upon the unsuspecting citizens – enter golems, horror, and a... circus? Yep, a travelling circus.
There’s only so much praise you can heap on a book, and I’m going to lay it on thick here. HANGWIRE is a damn cool book. It’s the perfect example of deep and well thought-out characterisation, diversification, multi dimensional plotting, and clever (and at times poetic) writing. Each chapter could easily read as a self contained short story yet it’s the intrinsically well linked and overlapping plot that binds these gems into a greater beast that dares the reader to tame it – be warned, you can’t... and you’ll love Adam Christopher for it.
This review also appears on my blog: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
Local blog reporter, Ted is felled by an exploding fortune cookie whilst celebrating his birthday. Suffering head injuries, he can’t account for time or the strange events that seem to follow him. His partner, Alison, worried for his safety regularly checks in but apart from those interactions, we see little of Ted post accident. And the mystery begins...
There’s a killer lurking the streets, stalking his victims, desperately searching for that next outlet to feed his bloodlust; something to satisfy the craving, if only for a little while. The Hang Wire killer murders in macabre fashion, using wire as a means of hanging his victims (the tools of the trade a dead giveaway by virtue of the moniker) which not only strangles but nearly decapitates those unfortunate enough to meet his deadly embrace. Highwire, part of a circus act and hero of sorts has caught wind of this killer and wants to stop the menace – sounds like a scripted superhero/villain tale, yet author Adam Christopher ensures there’s so much going on that the reader can’t easily adjust to a single theme - enter the Gods in mortal disguise.
For many years Gods and other elements have walked amongst the mortal, taking human form and entire bloodlines as their own. Some thirst for blood, others the more tranquil life – some have converged on San Francisco as history looks to repeat itself. The fire under the city threatens to burst and rain down hell upon the unsuspecting citizens – enter golems, horror, and a... circus? Yep, a travelling circus.
There’s only so much praise you can heap on a book, and I’m going to lay it on thick here. HANGWIRE is a damn cool book. It’s the perfect example of deep and well thought-out characterisation, diversification, multi dimensional plotting, and clever (and at times poetic) writing. Each chapter could easily read as a self contained short story yet it’s the intrinsically well linked and overlapping plot that binds these gems into a greater beast that dares the reader to tame it – be warned, you can’t... and you’ll love Adam Christopher for it.
This review also appears on my blog: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
January 7, 2014
I'd never read anything by Adam Christopher before but io9 got me with their catchy title: "Science Fiction and Fantasy Books You Can't Afford to Miss in January." (Source: http://io9.com/science-fiction-and-fa...) Hang Wire was described as "noir urban fantasy in which a San Francisco blogger celebrates his birthday in Chinatown — only to have a mysterious explosion at the restaurant, followed by cryptic fortune cookies turning up at his apartment. But that's not all — Ted Hall's sleepwalking seems to coincide with murders by the notorious Hang Wire killer. And there are also sinister circuses, superpowered people, flame cults, and tons more."
Sounds awesome, right? Wrong.
The prose was dry as toast. I had a really difficult time making it through the first chapter and throughout the book there were pages and pages that seem to be setting something up, but didn't. The reading was like wading through mud.
When I finally started investing in a character (the investment felt like work), it switched to another character that I was equally uninterested in. Then I would push myself forward, trying to convince myself to finish the next chapter, and I would feel let down at the end of the chapter, again. The fantastic elements that were in the io9 review were technically there, but they weren't "fantastic". There was no magic. Even the "cryptic fortune cookies" were dull. The elements were there but the execution wasn't.
I didn't like this book because it was a laborious read. Unfortunately, I wanted to love it and didn't. I was really excited to get my copy and then let down when it didn't live up to my expectations. If I were the editor, I would have started the book with Jack Newhaven in present day San Francisco. Jack starts bringing color and life to the story and that is where I started becoming interested. Introducing the novel with him would also set the stage for the "historical" elements and the various cast of characters. He could've communicated to the readers what to expect. He's the first character I felt I could connect with, although I didn't.
I agree with other reviewers that there's too much going on, although that's only a complaint here because it's not crafted together well enough so the reader knows why it all matters and none of the content seems to come alive and compel me into it's world.
On a positive note, the cover art and synopsis are great.
I received an ARC from Angry Robot Books in exchange for an honest review.
Sounds awesome, right? Wrong.
The prose was dry as toast. I had a really difficult time making it through the first chapter and throughout the book there were pages and pages that seem to be setting something up, but didn't. The reading was like wading through mud.
When I finally started investing in a character (the investment felt like work), it switched to another character that I was equally uninterested in. Then I would push myself forward, trying to convince myself to finish the next chapter, and I would feel let down at the end of the chapter, again. The fantastic elements that were in the io9 review were technically there, but they weren't "fantastic". There was no magic. Even the "cryptic fortune cookies" were dull. The elements were there but the execution wasn't.
I didn't like this book because it was a laborious read. Unfortunately, I wanted to love it and didn't. I was really excited to get my copy and then let down when it didn't live up to my expectations. If I were the editor, I would have started the book with Jack Newhaven in present day San Francisco. Jack starts bringing color and life to the story and that is where I started becoming interested. Introducing the novel with him would also set the stage for the "historical" elements and the various cast of characters. He could've communicated to the readers what to expect. He's the first character I felt I could connect with, although I didn't.
I agree with other reviewers that there's too much going on, although that's only a complaint here because it's not crafted together well enough so the reader knows why it all matters and none of the content seems to come alive and compel me into it's world.
On a positive note, the cover art and synopsis are great.
I received an ARC from Angry Robot Books in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2013
Bay area blogger Ted Hall is out celebrating his birthday when an unexpected event sends his world spiraling out of control. His sleeping schedule isn't what it used to be and despite spending hours in bed, he’s no less rested when he awakes. Meanwhile, there’s a circus in town and the extracurricular activities of the performers are putting people on edge. There’s an ancient evil sleeping below the city streets and its arrival threatens us all, that is unless a few local Gods can put a stop to it.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was a huge fan of Adam Christopher’s The Empire State and its follow up, The Age Atomic. So much so that The Age Atomic made my year end list in 2013! Clearly, Angry Robot books was also a fan as they've decided to publish his follow up, Hang Wire. The plot within Hang Wire is just as original as his previous work and like before, he loads it up on characters and ideas. Maybe it’s what Christopher was going for but for the first third of this novel, I was so lost. That being said, when things start coming together, they do so masterfully.
While I didn't love it as much as his two-part noir tale, it’s a fun novel with a hell of an interesting cast. The character of Joel in particular, creeped the hell out of me. His interludes inside the main narrative takes him through the 1900s as a force to be reckoned with. His dialogue is both unique and memorable. The other supporting players flesh out the novel’s world in trying to be as diverse as possible. Benny, a chipper new employee in Ted’s office has some great moments as well as Bob, a mysterious beach dweller that spends his days teaching dance lessons in the sand. Both have important roles that grow as the novel progresses.
Hang Wire is a ultra-strange urban fantasy novel hell bent on keeping the reader in the dark until the very moment author Adam Christopher is good and ready to put the puzzle pieces together.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was a huge fan of Adam Christopher’s The Empire State and its follow up, The Age Atomic. So much so that The Age Atomic made my year end list in 2013! Clearly, Angry Robot books was also a fan as they've decided to publish his follow up, Hang Wire. The plot within Hang Wire is just as original as his previous work and like before, he loads it up on characters and ideas. Maybe it’s what Christopher was going for but for the first third of this novel, I was so lost. That being said, when things start coming together, they do so masterfully.
While I didn't love it as much as his two-part noir tale, it’s a fun novel with a hell of an interesting cast. The character of Joel in particular, creeped the hell out of me. His interludes inside the main narrative takes him through the 1900s as a force to be reckoned with. His dialogue is both unique and memorable. The other supporting players flesh out the novel’s world in trying to be as diverse as possible. Benny, a chipper new employee in Ted’s office has some great moments as well as Bob, a mysterious beach dweller that spends his days teaching dance lessons in the sand. Both have important roles that grow as the novel progresses.
Hang Wire is a ultra-strange urban fantasy novel hell bent on keeping the reader in the dark until the very moment author Adam Christopher is good and ready to put the puzzle pieces together.
December 19, 2013
I hadn't read Adam Christopher before, and was excited to give this a try. Unfortunately I think there were two major flaws in the book: way too many things going on, and not establishing the rules of the world. In this book, we had demonic circus rides, sleepwalkers, exploding fortune cookies, people with extraordinary powers, serial killers, crazy flame cults, just to name a few. As you imagine, these pieces come together, but I don't think in a satisfying way. I felt like I spent a large amount of the book trying to wrap my head around what was going on and teasing apart the motivations and mysteries of the characters rather than actually enjoying the book. Even finishing the novel, I still have no idea what the big bad of the book actually was other than big and bad, and there were a lot of threads I felt really didn't amount to anything. We spent a lot of time searching for pieces of demonic circus rides that was resolved way too quickly to warrant that many pages.
I think a lot of things were left mysterious for far too long, which resulted in a failure to create any sort of structure or rules for the book. As a result, I felt a lot of the resolution of the book was, I need this power to solve this problem, oh look, he has this power. Which to me is equal to saying, by the way, he has a magical rainbow unicorn that poops solutions to your problems.
The characters are strong and interesting, the book is well-written, and many of the individual pieces were cool ideas, the book as a whole just didn't come together in a satisfying way for me.
I received this book for free from the publisher, and am bummed I didn't like it more.
I think a lot of things were left mysterious for far too long, which resulted in a failure to create any sort of structure or rules for the book. As a result, I felt a lot of the resolution of the book was, I need this power to solve this problem, oh look, he has this power. Which to me is equal to saying, by the way, he has a magical rainbow unicorn that poops solutions to your problems.
The characters are strong and interesting, the book is well-written, and many of the individual pieces were cool ideas, the book as a whole just didn't come together in a satisfying way for me.
I received this book for free from the publisher, and am bummed I didn't like it more.
January 17, 2014
An urban fantasy with old-world gods living in present day San Francisco where "The Thing Below" is starting to awaken, just as it did in 1906 and in 1989, with devastating consequences. The god of the ocean, Kanaloa, is now living on the shores of San Francisco Bay. He calls himself Bob, lives in a hut by the beach and teaches ballroom dancing to tourists who come to the beach. He can feel that there is something coming and has to find a way to stop it. Meanwhile, a serial killer is terrorizing citizens, a strange circus comes to town, and a group of bloggers gets sucked into the chaos of what is to come...
Fun, original, and definitely entertaining!
Fun, original, and definitely entertaining!
December 4, 2013
The Review: http://thefoundingfields.com/2014/01/....
“An excellent read, Adam Christopher once again reminds us why he is your go-to writer for awesome urban fantasy as he crafts an unputdownable tale that makes Angry Robot’s 100th Novel an excellent read!” ~Bane of Kings, The Founding Fields
"Ted Hall is worried. He’s been sleepwalking, and his somnambulant travels appear to coincide with murders by the notorious Hang Wire Killer.
Meanwhile, the circus has come to town, but the Celtic dancers are taking their pagan act a little too seriously, the manager of the Olde Worlde Funfair has started talking to his vintage machines, and the new acrobat’s frequent absences are causing tension among the performers.
Out in the city there are other new arrivals – immortals searching for an ancient power – a primal evil which, if unopposed, could destroy the world!"
Hang Wire by Adam Christopher is the first book that I’ve reviewed from Angry Robot this year even though Pantomime and The Almost Girl are technically AR novels due to the fact that Strange Chemistry is an imprint. Hang Wire is also the first adult novel that I’ve reviewed this year and like the previous two books, thanks to NetGalley, I finished them both in 2013. This time though we’re not going for fantasy or science fiction like the previous two books that I’ve mentioned. Hang Wire is Urban Fantasy, but if you’ve come here expecting badass wise-cracking magical Private Detectives or a girl torn in a love triangle with two ‘updated’ versions of different supernatural creatures then you’ve come to the wrong place. Hang Wire is a refreshingly unique take on the genre that is a lot of fun to read – and I couldn’t put it down.
The first novel that I read from Christopher was Empire State and I haven’t looked back since, with each new novel from the author being very awesome. The Age Atomic and Seven Wonders have been fun, enjoyable and unputdownable – and Hang Wire is more of the same – if you’ve read a Adam Christopher book in the past then you’ll know what to expect from this novel so fans of his work should be pleased by what they find in here. However, at the same time – the book itself manages to feel fresh and new, as though this is Christopher’s first work and not his fourth book that I’ve read from him. It’s just damn great.
Opening with an exploding fortune cookie at the birthday of a blogger named Ted, the book sees San Francisco on the verge of destruction in an event that isn’t entirely new to the city. However, things have changed since the last attempts to utterly annihilate the city (which have included the Earthquake in 1906), as now it has to deal with a mysterious serial killer known as “The Hang Wire Killer”, multiple Gods from a long forgotten mythology and to top it all off, a Circus, containing Celtic Dancers whose paganistic acts are taken a little too seriously. As a result there’s a lot of stuff that comes packed into this book that fans of Christopher’s previous novels will feel familiar with – with the book starting off with a bang to draw you in and a strong narrative voice that keeps you right to the very end.
For someone who appears to be the main character in the blurb, you’d expect a lot of attention focused on Ted Hall, but the narrative is split between multiple viewpoints in a third person perspective, with Ted not getting enough pagetime as one would like. This also means that there’s less chance for characters to develop and If I had to pinpoint one flaw with this novel that I had it would be that its characters aren’t really engaging enough and none of them really left an impact on me as a reader. However, the multiple viewpoint structure of the narrative was probably the best way to tell the story, as the rest of the cast include a Blonde Surfer named Bob who’s been teaching ballroom dancing near the beach for decades. Joel is another character that’s worth mentioning and is arguably the weakest character of the book as his chapters started to feel too repetitive for my liking. But nonetheless, these flaws didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the book and I found Hang Wire to be a delightfully entertaining read.
If you like comics and are a fan of the horror genre then you’ll dig Hang Wire. It’s clever, and far from your standard Urban Fantasy novel with some good plotting and a strong pace that once it has you invested in the novel you won’t be able to put it down. It’s yet another good Angry Robot novel that almost had me missing my bus stop when I was reading it - because I just couldn’t put it down. The book works well as a standalone so whether you’ve read all of Adam Christopher’s novels or are hearing the good praise about him and want to check his work out for yourself, then Hang Wire is the perfect place to start, and this book comes recommended if you’re looking to get 2014 off to a good start when it comes to reading. It’s also worth pointing out that Hang Wire is Angry Robot’s 100th Book, and it’s been a great journey to get to this number as they’re one of my go-to publishers for awesome reads, and I’m hoping for many more equally awesome novels from them in the future.
VERDICT: 4/5
“An excellent read, Adam Christopher once again reminds us why he is your go-to writer for awesome urban fantasy as he crafts an unputdownable tale that makes Angry Robot’s 100th Novel an excellent read!” ~Bane of Kings, The Founding Fields
"Ted Hall is worried. He’s been sleepwalking, and his somnambulant travels appear to coincide with murders by the notorious Hang Wire Killer.
Meanwhile, the circus has come to town, but the Celtic dancers are taking their pagan act a little too seriously, the manager of the Olde Worlde Funfair has started talking to his vintage machines, and the new acrobat’s frequent absences are causing tension among the performers.
Out in the city there are other new arrivals – immortals searching for an ancient power – a primal evil which, if unopposed, could destroy the world!"
Hang Wire by Adam Christopher is the first book that I’ve reviewed from Angry Robot this year even though Pantomime and The Almost Girl are technically AR novels due to the fact that Strange Chemistry is an imprint. Hang Wire is also the first adult novel that I’ve reviewed this year and like the previous two books, thanks to NetGalley, I finished them both in 2013. This time though we’re not going for fantasy or science fiction like the previous two books that I’ve mentioned. Hang Wire is Urban Fantasy, but if you’ve come here expecting badass wise-cracking magical Private Detectives or a girl torn in a love triangle with two ‘updated’ versions of different supernatural creatures then you’ve come to the wrong place. Hang Wire is a refreshingly unique take on the genre that is a lot of fun to read – and I couldn’t put it down.
The first novel that I read from Christopher was Empire State and I haven’t looked back since, with each new novel from the author being very awesome. The Age Atomic and Seven Wonders have been fun, enjoyable and unputdownable – and Hang Wire is more of the same – if you’ve read a Adam Christopher book in the past then you’ll know what to expect from this novel so fans of his work should be pleased by what they find in here. However, at the same time – the book itself manages to feel fresh and new, as though this is Christopher’s first work and not his fourth book that I’ve read from him. It’s just damn great.
Opening with an exploding fortune cookie at the birthday of a blogger named Ted, the book sees San Francisco on the verge of destruction in an event that isn’t entirely new to the city. However, things have changed since the last attempts to utterly annihilate the city (which have included the Earthquake in 1906), as now it has to deal with a mysterious serial killer known as “The Hang Wire Killer”, multiple Gods from a long forgotten mythology and to top it all off, a Circus, containing Celtic Dancers whose paganistic acts are taken a little too seriously. As a result there’s a lot of stuff that comes packed into this book that fans of Christopher’s previous novels will feel familiar with – with the book starting off with a bang to draw you in and a strong narrative voice that keeps you right to the very end.
For someone who appears to be the main character in the blurb, you’d expect a lot of attention focused on Ted Hall, but the narrative is split between multiple viewpoints in a third person perspective, with Ted not getting enough pagetime as one would like. This also means that there’s less chance for characters to develop and If I had to pinpoint one flaw with this novel that I had it would be that its characters aren’t really engaging enough and none of them really left an impact on me as a reader. However, the multiple viewpoint structure of the narrative was probably the best way to tell the story, as the rest of the cast include a Blonde Surfer named Bob who’s been teaching ballroom dancing near the beach for decades. Joel is another character that’s worth mentioning and is arguably the weakest character of the book as his chapters started to feel too repetitive for my liking. But nonetheless, these flaws didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the book and I found Hang Wire to be a delightfully entertaining read.
If you like comics and are a fan of the horror genre then you’ll dig Hang Wire. It’s clever, and far from your standard Urban Fantasy novel with some good plotting and a strong pace that once it has you invested in the novel you won’t be able to put it down. It’s yet another good Angry Robot novel that almost had me missing my bus stop when I was reading it - because I just couldn’t put it down. The book works well as a standalone so whether you’ve read all of Adam Christopher’s novels or are hearing the good praise about him and want to check his work out for yourself, then Hang Wire is the perfect place to start, and this book comes recommended if you’re looking to get 2014 off to a good start when it comes to reading. It’s also worth pointing out that Hang Wire is Angry Robot’s 100th Book, and it’s been a great journey to get to this number as they’re one of my go-to publishers for awesome reads, and I’m hoping for many more equally awesome novels from them in the future.
VERDICT: 4/5
March 15, 2023
No. This didn’t work for me. The whole book through I was thinking and trying to remember what I read on the previous page but everything is just foggy. One guy is called Ted, and one Bob. That’s basically what I remember. Still I wanted to know what happened in the ending scene. Two stars bc the writing itself is not bad
June 8, 2015
Hang Wire is an enjoyable addition to author Adam Christopher’s growing suite of modern urban fantasy novels.
A serial killer (the “Hang Wire Killer”) stalks San Francisco. Mysterious masked hero Highwire chases the Hang Wire Killer when not performing at a traveling circus that’s set up shop near Golden Gate Bridge. The circus boasts a lot of peculiar elements, including a Celtic dance troop that’s getting too in touch with its pagan roots and a creepy, classic carnival run by the macabre Joel. Several immortals are running around San Francisco, on the trail of a powerful and destructive force buried in the city. And another threat from outer space promises just as much danger.
At the center of this storm of events is Ted Kane, a nice guy who works for a community blog in San Francisco. An exploding fortune cookie at his birthday dinner leaves Ted hearing voices and blacking out. His sleep walking seems to coincide with the times of the murders and a run down Ted struggles to figure out what’s happening to him. Also drawn into the mix are: Alison, Ted’s concerned girlfriend and co-worker; Benny, a young Asian-American woman who’s another co-worker and good friend of Ted’s, with a big secret of her own; and Bob, who is much more than the beach burnout he seems to be.
Ted and his friends get pulled deeper into the riot of events unfolding around them that threaten to destroy the city and possibly the world. The various plot strands crash together a climactic showdown at the sinister carnival. Secrets are revealed, lives are changed and losses are suffered.
There’s a lot going on in Hang Wire. Christopher manages to keep track of the multiple plot strands fairly well and they all tie together eventually, if not always neatly, at least logically. Christopher constructs an interesting mythology for the story, using frequent flashbacks that touch on major San Francisco earthquakes, the Oklahoma land grab, the Depression-era Dust Bowl, the Jersey Devil, the 1977 New York blackout and various other historical events as touchstones. The wide-ranging nature of the narrative can be a lot for a reader to track, but Christopher mostly keeps the action on point. He has an inviting style that reads smoothly (though occasional typos are something his editors really should have fixed before publication).
Ted emerges as a likeable lead. The secret surrounding the character won’t be difficult for most readers to spot, but Christopher does a decent job unfolding it. Alison manages to transcend the mere “girlfriend in jeopardy” role to invest readers in her fate. Bob is probably Hang Wire’s most successful character. Christopher develops him in fascinating ways and gives him some very compelling issues with which to struggle. While Benny is a mostly likeable presence, she sometimes gets swamped by her signifiers. And for as much page time as Joel receives, he never quite emerges as a distinctive personality. The other circus characters likewise tend to blend into their colorful background.
Christopher builds a lot of excitement and action into the climax. Bob and Ted both get strong moments in the spotlight and some moments of real jeopardy. The finale isn’t entirely neat; Joel’s fate especially seems rather tossed off after so much build-up. But Christopher manages to devise an ending that is mostly satisfying.
If you’ve read Christopher’s previous novels, you’ll enjoy Hang Wire. For readers open to contemporary urban fantasy with a nice dash of humor and some decent action, the book is worth a shot.
A version of this review originally appeared on www.thunderalleybcp.com
A serial killer (the “Hang Wire Killer”) stalks San Francisco. Mysterious masked hero Highwire chases the Hang Wire Killer when not performing at a traveling circus that’s set up shop near Golden Gate Bridge. The circus boasts a lot of peculiar elements, including a Celtic dance troop that’s getting too in touch with its pagan roots and a creepy, classic carnival run by the macabre Joel. Several immortals are running around San Francisco, on the trail of a powerful and destructive force buried in the city. And another threat from outer space promises just as much danger.
At the center of this storm of events is Ted Kane, a nice guy who works for a community blog in San Francisco. An exploding fortune cookie at his birthday dinner leaves Ted hearing voices and blacking out. His sleep walking seems to coincide with the times of the murders and a run down Ted struggles to figure out what’s happening to him. Also drawn into the mix are: Alison, Ted’s concerned girlfriend and co-worker; Benny, a young Asian-American woman who’s another co-worker and good friend of Ted’s, with a big secret of her own; and Bob, who is much more than the beach burnout he seems to be.
Ted and his friends get pulled deeper into the riot of events unfolding around them that threaten to destroy the city and possibly the world. The various plot strands crash together a climactic showdown at the sinister carnival. Secrets are revealed, lives are changed and losses are suffered.
There’s a lot going on in Hang Wire. Christopher manages to keep track of the multiple plot strands fairly well and they all tie together eventually, if not always neatly, at least logically. Christopher constructs an interesting mythology for the story, using frequent flashbacks that touch on major San Francisco earthquakes, the Oklahoma land grab, the Depression-era Dust Bowl, the Jersey Devil, the 1977 New York blackout and various other historical events as touchstones. The wide-ranging nature of the narrative can be a lot for a reader to track, but Christopher mostly keeps the action on point. He has an inviting style that reads smoothly (though occasional typos are something his editors really should have fixed before publication).
Ted emerges as a likeable lead. The secret surrounding the character won’t be difficult for most readers to spot, but Christopher does a decent job unfolding it. Alison manages to transcend the mere “girlfriend in jeopardy” role to invest readers in her fate. Bob is probably Hang Wire’s most successful character. Christopher develops him in fascinating ways and gives him some very compelling issues with which to struggle. While Benny is a mostly likeable presence, she sometimes gets swamped by her signifiers. And for as much page time as Joel receives, he never quite emerges as a distinctive personality. The other circus characters likewise tend to blend into their colorful background.
Christopher builds a lot of excitement and action into the climax. Bob and Ted both get strong moments in the spotlight and some moments of real jeopardy. The finale isn’t entirely neat; Joel’s fate especially seems rather tossed off after so much build-up. But Christopher manages to devise an ending that is mostly satisfying.
If you’ve read Christopher’s previous novels, you’ll enjoy Hang Wire. For readers open to contemporary urban fantasy with a nice dash of humor and some decent action, the book is worth a shot.
A version of this review originally appeared on www.thunderalleybcp.com
February 23, 2014
In between errands I opened my copy of HANG WIRE, thinking I could get a taste of it and then read more that night. I spent the rest of the day cursing myself. This is one of those books where I wanted a pause button so I could shut off the rest of the world while I read.
This is an urban fantasy that starts in San Francisco after the infamous 1906 earthquake then goes forwards and backwards in time, collecting and changing characters, until we get to the action-packed conclusion set in modern time. While it is largely set in San Francisco, this isn't your typical first person POV, powerful character, police procedural with paranormal elements UF. There is a serial killer, but it is not the whole story, not by a longshot.
It's also one that I don't want to describe too much, because I got so much enjoyment from just immersing myself in this world.
There is a deep ancient devourer sleeping underground, and a malevolent force that crashed to earth via meteorite, gods on earth (trying to make their own life or stay somehow connected to this world), and regular people caught in this whole mess. There is also a creepy circus (yes, I am aware of the innate creepiness of all circuses, but this one has the Lord of the Dance from hell, so extra creepy).
There are quite a few characters, and some have some pretty drastic changes happen to them. This was a bit of a problem for me since I had to prematurely put the book down. When I started it again I had to backtrack to verify that a couple of characters were who I thought they were. Not a big issue, and if I had been able to read uninterrupted it wouldn't have been a problem. However, once you are a quarter in, the players are pretty well set and I didn't have to backtrack.
The pace was quick and I found myself waiting on the edge of my seat for what happens next. Gods from different pantheons do play a role here, but there are real, terrible consequences to the gods using their powers on earth, so I didn't feel like it was an easy deus ex machina resolution.
Not everything is answered, but I was OK with that. I actually prefer it that way, to be honest.
I will be reading more from Christopher.
[received a review copy]
This is an urban fantasy that starts in San Francisco after the infamous 1906 earthquake then goes forwards and backwards in time, collecting and changing characters, until we get to the action-packed conclusion set in modern time. While it is largely set in San Francisco, this isn't your typical first person POV, powerful character, police procedural with paranormal elements UF. There is a serial killer, but it is not the whole story, not by a longshot.
It's also one that I don't want to describe too much, because I got so much enjoyment from just immersing myself in this world.
There is a deep ancient devourer sleeping underground, and a malevolent force that crashed to earth via meteorite, gods on earth (trying to make their own life or stay somehow connected to this world), and regular people caught in this whole mess. There is also a creepy circus (yes, I am aware of the innate creepiness of all circuses, but this one has the Lord of the Dance from hell, so extra creepy).
There are quite a few characters, and some have some pretty drastic changes happen to them. This was a bit of a problem for me since I had to prematurely put the book down. When I started it again I had to backtrack to verify that a couple of characters were who I thought they were. Not a big issue, and if I had been able to read uninterrupted it wouldn't have been a problem. However, once you are a quarter in, the players are pretty well set and I didn't have to backtrack.
The pace was quick and I found myself waiting on the edge of my seat for what happens next. Gods from different pantheons do play a role here, but there are real, terrible consequences to the gods using their powers on earth, so I didn't feel like it was an easy deus ex machina resolution.
Not everything is answered, but I was OK with that. I actually prefer it that way, to be honest.
I will be reading more from Christopher.
[received a review copy]
November 23, 2013
I never shook the feeling that I was reading a still-nacent draft of this novel. For better or worse - does it mean that there's more to be mined from this story? Or does it just mean that this one didn't quite ever get there, wherever where is meant to be? Christopher is a smart writer and excited by what he's coming up with (you can feel the excitement in the writing) but that excitement never left the page, never transferred to me as a reader. Also, I should note: no one in America calls them prawns.
Anyway. I'm not turned off of wanting to read Christopher's other work and I'm not particularly against this book in any way - I just never really got into it either.
Review at RB: http://ragingbiblioholism.com/2013/12...
and at TNBBC: http://thenextbestbookblog.blogspot.c...
Anyway. I'm not turned off of wanting to read Christopher's other work and I'm not particularly against this book in any way - I just never really got into it either.
Review at RB: http://ragingbiblioholism.com/2013/12...
and at TNBBC: http://thenextbestbookblog.blogspot.c...
January 16, 2014
I enjoyed the hell out of this, and wanna hear something weird? I have Empire State and The Age Atomic and never read them (I am something of a book hoarder)
Seriously, great book, interesting characters, wild ideas by the bucketload, crisp dialogue, only issue I had and it gets a star docked for it, all the wild ass ideas don't really tie together in the endgame in a way that satisfies me.
Go buy it, you will dig it, (now excuse me, I got to read his other books) Sorry for the short review, I am supposed to be working shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Seriously, great book, interesting characters, wild ideas by the bucketload, crisp dialogue, only issue I had and it gets a star docked for it, all the wild ass ideas don't really tie together in the endgame in a way that satisfies me.
Go buy it, you will dig it, (now excuse me, I got to read his other books) Sorry for the short review, I am supposed to be working shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
June 14, 2024
Take 2 cups Bradbury's "Something Wicked This Way Comes," and mix in a healthy dose of Geiman's "American Gods." (Pratchett's "Small Gods" may be substituted.) Beat in Some King's "Tommyknockers" and then a heap of Lovecraft until the mixture seethes with subterranean abominations. Using profane and immoral literary devices blend this all together. Be sure and put the mass into cheese cloth to drain out and potential cohesive story line and good character development. Viola!!! Hang Wire.
Looking for a "Mister Yuck" sticker for this bad boy just to warn other potential readers not to poison their leisure time. Fair warning: After wiping my prints from the surface I will exorcise this from my house and sneak out in the early hours of the morning to place this in some neighbor mini book exchange station. It could be in your neighborhood.
Looking for a "Mister Yuck" sticker for this bad boy just to warn other potential readers not to poison their leisure time. Fair warning: After wiping my prints from the surface I will exorcise this from my house and sneak out in the early hours of the morning to place this in some neighbor mini book exchange station. It could be in your neighborhood.
April 28, 2021
Glad I stuck with it
Having read others by him, I had faith it would come together as a fun story in the end. Which it did. Kind of reminded me of Christopher Moore in some of the humor in parts. Solid 3.5.
Having read others by him, I had faith it would come together as a fun story in the end. Which it did. Kind of reminded me of Christopher Moore in some of the humor in parts. Solid 3.5.
August 31, 2020
Gave up at 15%. This was phenomenally disjointed and boring.
January 4, 2014
The Goodreads blurb on the book:
This book starts out in such awesome fashion, I was hooked and couldn't wait to throw myself in to this urban fantasy.
It was evident, early, that there was a lot going on, and that the characters needed to be followed with care. I typically don't mind a book that jumps around in time...some of the story taking place in the present, some of it in various periods in the past, so when I saw that this book was going to be of that genre that skipped around in time and place, I knew I'd be in for a wild ride.
And I was. And wild rides can be a lot of fun. But they can also be wild rides that leave your head numb instead of full of excitement and energy.
This book was a wild ride that left me numb.
There is an awful lot going on, and I read with painstaking care at first, to make sure I was following it. But nothing ever felt like it was actually releasing new information to me. Instead of a tease with something that would have me anxious to find out more, it simply kept plodding along, telling new parts of the story, but never felt like it was getting anywhere.
The jumping around to the past got old, fast. Instead of learning something vital to the story, it began to feel like an interlude simply to take our mind away from the action ... as if we might be getting exhausted and needing a break.
But the biggest problem, I think, was the lack of buy-in to any of the characters. I wasn't really sure who I was supposed to be following or caring about. The fact that almost every character had more than one identity and might be referred to by their mortal name or by their deity name, added to the (my) confusion. As I started to feel some sort of 'attachment' to a character, we'd either not see them for awhile, or they would continue on to doing something that would separate me from having any sort of empathy or care toward them.
The deeper I got in to this book, the more I felt that the weight of the story was suffocating the progress of the story. I think this is why author Adam Christopher took the time jaunts, but it hindered rather than helped.
The story-telling itself was dry and at one level. A lack of energy (except for the early bits with the opening chapter and the early circus portions) really sucked the wind out of this.
I really, really wanted to like this. An engaging beginning, a publisher that has done so many awesome books lately, and a story that seemed right up my alley, but instead, I struggled to get through it.
Looking for a good book? This one fails to break through the clutter it heaps upon itself.
This review originally published in the blog Looking For a Good Book.
Ted Hall is worried. He’s been sleepwalking, and his somnambulant travels appear to coincide with murders by the notorious Hang Wire Killer.
Meanwhile, the circus has come to town, but the Celtic dancers are taking their pagan act a little too seriously, the manager of the Olde Worlde Funfair has started talking to his vintage machines, and the new acrobat’s frequent absences are causing tension among the performers.
Out in the city there are other new arrivals – immortals searching for an ancient power – a primal evil which, if unopposed, could destroy the world!
This book starts out in such awesome fashion, I was hooked and couldn't wait to throw myself in to this urban fantasy.
It was evident, early, that there was a lot going on, and that the characters needed to be followed with care. I typically don't mind a book that jumps around in time...some of the story taking place in the present, some of it in various periods in the past, so when I saw that this book was going to be of that genre that skipped around in time and place, I knew I'd be in for a wild ride.
And I was. And wild rides can be a lot of fun. But they can also be wild rides that leave your head numb instead of full of excitement and energy.
This book was a wild ride that left me numb.
There is an awful lot going on, and I read with painstaking care at first, to make sure I was following it. But nothing ever felt like it was actually releasing new information to me. Instead of a tease with something that would have me anxious to find out more, it simply kept plodding along, telling new parts of the story, but never felt like it was getting anywhere.
The jumping around to the past got old, fast. Instead of learning something vital to the story, it began to feel like an interlude simply to take our mind away from the action ... as if we might be getting exhausted and needing a break.
But the biggest problem, I think, was the lack of buy-in to any of the characters. I wasn't really sure who I was supposed to be following or caring about. The fact that almost every character had more than one identity and might be referred to by their mortal name or by their deity name, added to the (my) confusion. As I started to feel some sort of 'attachment' to a character, we'd either not see them for awhile, or they would continue on to doing something that would separate me from having any sort of empathy or care toward them.
The deeper I got in to this book, the more I felt that the weight of the story was suffocating the progress of the story. I think this is why author Adam Christopher took the time jaunts, but it hindered rather than helped.
The story-telling itself was dry and at one level. A lack of energy (except for the early bits with the opening chapter and the early circus portions) really sucked the wind out of this.
I really, really wanted to like this. An engaging beginning, a publisher that has done so many awesome books lately, and a story that seemed right up my alley, but instead, I struggled to get through it.
Looking for a good book? This one fails to break through the clutter it heaps upon itself.
This review originally published in the blog Looking For a Good Book.
December 23, 2013
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
If Tim Powers wrote THE NIGHT CIRCUS, the resulting novel would probably look a lot like Adam Christopher’s HANG WIRE. A number of seemingly random ideas – including an exploding fortune cookie, a serial killer, and a semi-retired Hawaiian god – form together to create a mystery, tangled in history, surrounded by evil. Some emotional depth is sacrificed for the density of the plot, but each of the characters is fully-formed and multi-layered, and make for an engrossing read.
It’s not easy to balance a story with so many characters whose histories stretch back centuries, but as is fitting a book featuring an acrobat, Christopher does it with grace; though I’m not sure the switch to present tense during Highwire the acrobat’s scenes accomplishes its purpose, since it created a discordant note for me up until the reveal at the end. What I really enjoyed was the differences in all the characters influenced by the supernatural. No two are the same, even those who work as allies. There are a few gods, all in different forms, an alien presence, and something that seems alien, but was actually here before us.
Christopher also uses the backdrop of San Francisco well, and integrates the 1906 earthquake, not as a way of emphasizing a character’s great age, but as foreshadowing for events to come. I love it when writers work around established historical events and suggest that something paranormal may have been the root cause of it.
One of the unique elements that I came to enjoy as it unfolded was the story within the story, a character’s backstory that’s strewn throughout the novel which reveals the blood-soaked past of the carnival at the center of HANG WIRE. The narrative isn’t straight-forward – Christopher doesn’t lay it all out at the beginning, and it takes a few chapters to get a grip on all the moving parts, but ultimately I liked having to work for my entertainment.
If Tim Powers wrote THE NIGHT CIRCUS, the resulting novel would probably look a lot like Adam Christopher’s HANG WIRE. A number of seemingly random ideas – including an exploding fortune cookie, a serial killer, and a semi-retired Hawaiian god – form together to create a mystery, tangled in history, surrounded by evil. Some emotional depth is sacrificed for the density of the plot, but each of the characters is fully-formed and multi-layered, and make for an engrossing read.
It’s not easy to balance a story with so many characters whose histories stretch back centuries, but as is fitting a book featuring an acrobat, Christopher does it with grace; though I’m not sure the switch to present tense during Highwire the acrobat’s scenes accomplishes its purpose, since it created a discordant note for me up until the reveal at the end. What I really enjoyed was the differences in all the characters influenced by the supernatural. No two are the same, even those who work as allies. There are a few gods, all in different forms, an alien presence, and something that seems alien, but was actually here before us.
Christopher also uses the backdrop of San Francisco well, and integrates the 1906 earthquake, not as a way of emphasizing a character’s great age, but as foreshadowing for events to come. I love it when writers work around established historical events and suggest that something paranormal may have been the root cause of it.
One of the unique elements that I came to enjoy as it unfolded was the story within the story, a character’s backstory that’s strewn throughout the novel which reveals the blood-soaked past of the carnival at the center of HANG WIRE. The narrative isn’t straight-forward – Christopher doesn’t lay it all out at the beginning, and it takes a few chapters to get a grip on all the moving parts, but ultimately I liked having to work for my entertainment.
September 29, 2014
Well, that was disappointing. A story that has circus elements, ancient gods and San Francisco as location should make it and interesting read, right? Nope. There was way too much happening, with too many different types of "magical" things happening, which were only connected close to the end. The characters could be great if we had spent enough time with them to actually understand why they act the way they do, and their relationships (Ted, Alison and Benny were sort of main characters, but I still know very little about them), plus Benny's Dudes were driving me insane. I got to the end not caring whether the main characters survived or not, and was even wishing some of them would die so I wouldn't have to read about them anymore.
It could have been a great book, but the author sacrificed characters' development in favour of big explosive action, which made it a very difficult book to finish.
It could have been a great book, but the author sacrificed characters' development in favour of big explosive action, which made it a very difficult book to finish.
April 10, 2014
I had several issues with this book. Lets start with the editing that allowed several glaring errors to get into the book. Second of all the story itself just seemed a bit silly. When I read the blurb about the book it seemed to catch my interest. Kind of like a murder mystery wrapped in a dark circus that comes to town. Well that is sort of the line the book follows. After reading the book I read the blurb again. I still am missing a connection somewhere. This book could have just been one of those bad fit for the reader situations and perhaps others will enjoy it more than I did. Good luck.
June 11, 2014
Hang Wire is entertaining and the first half of the book is nicely creepy and suspenseful, but in the end I felt that Christopher just had way too much going on. Two big baddies, gods walking the earth, a haunted carnival, a mysterious serial killer, this book has everything and the kitchen sink. All of these elements come at the expense of any world building so all the big confrontations feel anti-climactic because as a reader I had no understanding of the limits of the powers the combatants had.
January 28, 2014
Promising setup, but fails in execution.
http://fedpeaches.blogspot.com/2014/0...
http://fedpeaches.blogspot.com/2014/0...
April 27, 2014
This reads like a cross between The Night Circus and American Gods but not as good. I was able to finish it but the writing was pretty mediocre and the mythos and characters were underdeveloped.
September 20, 2020
This could have been a good story but was sooooo badly done. Just totally insipid.
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