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Crash Gordon #2
Crash Gordon and the Revelations from Big Sur
An amnesiac convalescing in Big Sur encounters an oddly sinister envoy from the Freemasons’ Scottish Rite Psychophrenic Research Program…. A stoned surfer trespassing on Hearst Castle property gets hauled up into the sky by a massive flying black triangle…. A notorious starlet attending the wrap party for her first major Hollywood movie assassinates a Moscow journalist with a bottle of radioactive nasal spray.... In Crash Gordon and the Revelations from Big Sur, Derek Swannson combines these elements into a comic and subversive international thriller.
OCTOBER 1988: It’s morning in America again. Ex-CIA Director George H. W. Bush is calling the shots as Vice President. Intelligence agency black budgets are on the rise. Ronald Reagan’s trickle-down economics has been trickling upon the American populace for nearly eight years. It’s been a non-stop champagne bash for the rich, who’ve become much richer, but for the middle class and the poor the trickling has acted like acidic piss, burning gaping holes in their social safety nets. Is the increase in suffering intentional? Gordon Swannson thinks so—and he has the metaphysics to prove it. Sort of.
Fresh from a five-year resident scholar program at the Esalen Institute, Gordon (“Crash” to his friends) arrives in the sleepy seaside town of Cambria, California, to deliver a lecture titled “Galactic Loosh Farming and Reaganomics: How Much Longer Before the Fabric of Reality is Ripped to Shreds?” It’s the start of a bizarre chain of events that will launch Gordon’s career as an investigative journalist and entangle him with a cast of characters that includes: James Marrsden, a gleefully foul-mouthed radio DJ and Gordon’s untrustworthy childhood best friend; Kayleigh Fuller, a stoner witch who happens to be the niece of Buckminster Fuller; Skeeze Lester Huntley, a porn-addicted surfer whose alien abduction inspired him to become the Dope King of Central California; Rina Rowley, a lovely young actress with a shockingly ugly past; and looming largest of all, James’ morbidly obese and obscenely wealthy Uncle Lloyd, “super secret black-ops bagman for the medico-military-occult complex… and matchmaker.”
Determined to uncover the truth behind Lloyd’s lurid tales of psychic killers and a mind control program known as Project MONARCH, Gordon chases down leads from Cambria to Amsterdam’s red-light district and the Brussels headquarters of an alien-inspired sex cult calling itself The OääD Institute—getting a profound education in the machinations behind the 20th century’s greatest unexplained mysteries along the way. Seeking the final piece to the puzzle, Gordon returns to his roots in the isolated, faux-Swedish town of Kingsburg, where those mysteries began. What he finds there will send him hurtling toward a climactic showdown against a naked assassin dead set on turning the Cold War into a hot mess.
CRASH GORDON and the Revelations from Big Sur is the big, shaggy conspiracy novel that everyone has always wanted to read—without actually knowing it. There’s a reason for that. They don’t want you to know about it.
You do know there’s a They, don’t you?
OCTOBER 1988: It’s morning in America again. Ex-CIA Director George H. W. Bush is calling the shots as Vice President. Intelligence agency black budgets are on the rise. Ronald Reagan’s trickle-down economics has been trickling upon the American populace for nearly eight years. It’s been a non-stop champagne bash for the rich, who’ve become much richer, but for the middle class and the poor the trickling has acted like acidic piss, burning gaping holes in their social safety nets. Is the increase in suffering intentional? Gordon Swannson thinks so—and he has the metaphysics to prove it. Sort of.
Fresh from a five-year resident scholar program at the Esalen Institute, Gordon (“Crash” to his friends) arrives in the sleepy seaside town of Cambria, California, to deliver a lecture titled “Galactic Loosh Farming and Reaganomics: How Much Longer Before the Fabric of Reality is Ripped to Shreds?” It’s the start of a bizarre chain of events that will launch Gordon’s career as an investigative journalist and entangle him with a cast of characters that includes: James Marrsden, a gleefully foul-mouthed radio DJ and Gordon’s untrustworthy childhood best friend; Kayleigh Fuller, a stoner witch who happens to be the niece of Buckminster Fuller; Skeeze Lester Huntley, a porn-addicted surfer whose alien abduction inspired him to become the Dope King of Central California; Rina Rowley, a lovely young actress with a shockingly ugly past; and looming largest of all, James’ morbidly obese and obscenely wealthy Uncle Lloyd, “super secret black-ops bagman for the medico-military-occult complex… and matchmaker.”
Determined to uncover the truth behind Lloyd’s lurid tales of psychic killers and a mind control program known as Project MONARCH, Gordon chases down leads from Cambria to Amsterdam’s red-light district and the Brussels headquarters of an alien-inspired sex cult calling itself The OääD Institute—getting a profound education in the machinations behind the 20th century’s greatest unexplained mysteries along the way. Seeking the final piece to the puzzle, Gordon returns to his roots in the isolated, faux-Swedish town of Kingsburg, where those mysteries began. What he finds there will send him hurtling toward a climactic showdown against a naked assassin dead set on turning the Cold War into a hot mess.
CRASH GORDON and the Revelations from Big Sur is the big, shaggy conspiracy novel that everyone has always wanted to read—without actually knowing it. There’s a reason for that. They don’t want you to know about it.
You do know there’s a They, don’t you?
560 pages, Paperback
First published August 17, 2007
11 people are currently reading
412 people want to read
About the author
Derek Swannson
7 books21 followersDerek Swannson is the author of The Snowden Avalanche and the Crash Gordon trilogy. He writes his books on trains and in the Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy at the New York Public Library.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 31, 2014
Ultimate Conspiracy Theories & High Weirdness
Derek Swannson why haven't I found you sooner? This book is awesome! I absolutely love it. Funny thing, I almost didn't look at the book listing because of the cover. When I saw the VW Hippie bus, I guessed it was going to be about characters named Sunshine and Moon who took drugs and protested between bouts of sex. WAS I EVER WRONG! Thank heavens I read the description, because after that I had to get the book immediately.
Crash Gordon and the Revelations of Big Sur is an outstanding book that is destined to become a cult classic. The mixture of originality, the creative twisting of fact and fantasy to explain occurrences, the depth and breadth of the conspiracies, the tie in to actual people and historic events, as well as projecting the future moving forward make this book the Granddaddy of all conspiracy books.
Le Carre, Ludlum, Dan Brown are all total rookies where conspiracies are concerned compared to Swannson. Swannson takes an entire book getting the reader up to speed so that you know just how Byzantine, bizarre, far-reaching, and long-term these conspiracies have become. To give you an example, a normal conspiracy story would be about the shooting of JFK. In this book, the shooting of JFK is an aside during a conversation about a single character who is involved in the conspiracies. I believe it was about two sentences. Think about that. Now scale it up to full novel size.
Swannson was not shy when he recruited possible candidates for his conspiracies - he got all the usual suspects and then some. We have Eastern mysticism, kundalini, TM, psychic powers, mind control, zombie assassins, drugs, daimons, the CIA, the OSS, the Freemasons, the Illuminati, the Templars, Aleister Crowley, UFOs, aliens, God, Freud, Jung, many U.S. Presidents and a huge cast that I can't remember off the top of my head. The point of all this is that very few people are in control of global and multi-world conspiracies that are so advanced beyond the ken of normal people that are their victims, that the victims don't even know enough to ask questions, or know where to look for evidence of wrong doing. They won't be able to conceive the plots currently in motion.
As a story, if you are well read this book is like a gem. There are all kinds of inside jokes and references that are in the book that are best appreciated with a broad background of reading and history. Even without that, the book is still eminently delightful. I don't this it is physically possible to top the conspiracies in this book. This plot is so twisty it is like the double helix of DNA, where the strands wrap around each other and keep twisting. I didn't even know from page to page what will happen next, but I was always dying to find out. The ending caps off the story in a surprising but fulfilling way. It left me feeling fully satisfied and so happy that I had experienced Crash Gordon.
Bottom Line: READ THE BOOK! This is a book that comes along about once in a decade. Swannson gets it. With tongue firmly planted in cheek, he takes out his rocket launcher and blasts away at all available targets in an intelligent and witty manner. You will find much in the book that rings true, and much that you must ponder. There will also be some stuff where you will say wtf? Thank heavens that part is only the slightest minority.
High Entertainment + High Weirdness = Fabulous Novel
Crash Gordon Rocked My World
Highly Recommended! 5 stars
Derek Swannson why haven't I found you sooner? This book is awesome! I absolutely love it. Funny thing, I almost didn't look at the book listing because of the cover. When I saw the VW Hippie bus, I guessed it was going to be about characters named Sunshine and Moon who took drugs and protested between bouts of sex. WAS I EVER WRONG! Thank heavens I read the description, because after that I had to get the book immediately.
Crash Gordon and the Revelations of Big Sur is an outstanding book that is destined to become a cult classic. The mixture of originality, the creative twisting of fact and fantasy to explain occurrences, the depth and breadth of the conspiracies, the tie in to actual people and historic events, as well as projecting the future moving forward make this book the Granddaddy of all conspiracy books.
Le Carre, Ludlum, Dan Brown are all total rookies where conspiracies are concerned compared to Swannson. Swannson takes an entire book getting the reader up to speed so that you know just how Byzantine, bizarre, far-reaching, and long-term these conspiracies have become. To give you an example, a normal conspiracy story would be about the shooting of JFK. In this book, the shooting of JFK is an aside during a conversation about a single character who is involved in the conspiracies. I believe it was about two sentences. Think about that. Now scale it up to full novel size.
Swannson was not shy when he recruited possible candidates for his conspiracies - he got all the usual suspects and then some. We have Eastern mysticism, kundalini, TM, psychic powers, mind control, zombie assassins, drugs, daimons, the CIA, the OSS, the Freemasons, the Illuminati, the Templars, Aleister Crowley, UFOs, aliens, God, Freud, Jung, many U.S. Presidents and a huge cast that I can't remember off the top of my head. The point of all this is that very few people are in control of global and multi-world conspiracies that are so advanced beyond the ken of normal people that are their victims, that the victims don't even know enough to ask questions, or know where to look for evidence of wrong doing. They won't be able to conceive the plots currently in motion.
As a story, if you are well read this book is like a gem. There are all kinds of inside jokes and references that are in the book that are best appreciated with a broad background of reading and history. Even without that, the book is still eminently delightful. I don't this it is physically possible to top the conspiracies in this book. This plot is so twisty it is like the double helix of DNA, where the strands wrap around each other and keep twisting. I didn't even know from page to page what will happen next, but I was always dying to find out. The ending caps off the story in a surprising but fulfilling way. It left me feeling fully satisfied and so happy that I had experienced Crash Gordon.
Bottom Line: READ THE BOOK! This is a book that comes along about once in a decade. Swannson gets it. With tongue firmly planted in cheek, he takes out his rocket launcher and blasts away at all available targets in an intelligent and witty manner. You will find much in the book that rings true, and much that you must ponder. There will also be some stuff where you will say wtf? Thank heavens that part is only the slightest minority.
High Entertainment + High Weirdness = Fabulous Novel
Crash Gordon Rocked My World
Highly Recommended! 5 stars
August 12, 2016
I have literally never read anything quite like Derek Swannson’s “Crash Gordon and the Revelations from Big Sur.” This novel blends together elements from a dozen different genres and not only succeeds at it, but literally leaves you floored by how well it all comes together. To call Swannson’s style intelligent simply isn’t giving him the credit he deserves. I would be wasting space here to list how many genres and ideas are packed into the story, but the best thing anyone could say about Swannson’s style is that he pulls it off flawlessly. You won’t ever feel lost or overwhelmed, the characters are brilliant, vivid, and oh-so-eccentric from Crash to Lloyd to Skeeze to James Marrsden (easily one of my favorite characters in a novel ever!), and everyone in between. It’s an absolute explosion of characters, personalities, and best of all… conspiracies. I had no idea going into this that it would appeal so much to my conspiratorial nature. Set in the late-eighties (the perfect setting for this story), “Crash” lives in a world with more cover-ups than Fox Mulder would be able to handle. Swannson uses real historical locations, people, and events to wrap this incredible plot around, making it all the more believable. Nothing ever seems outside the realm of possibility.
Crash Gordon is a bit like James Bond, Columbo, and The X-Files all mixed together… if those three things weren’t such wussies. “Revelations from Big Sur” is a bracing slap to the literary face in all the right ways. It’s an unapologetic sex-filled drug-induced ride with the very best dark humor and beautifully thought out cynicism. I am such a huge fan of dark, dark humor when it’s done right, which it so rarely is, but Swannson absolutely nails it. A literary class could dissect the undertones of this book for an entire year and still not find all the nuances. By the time we come across Crash you’re already waist-deep in characters and wondering exactly where the story is going. He hooks you in and doesn’t waste any time making sure you’re not going to go anywhere until it’s all uncovered. Crash Gordon’s eventual introduction reminded me of a great Phillip Marlowe type character, narrating each step of the story. As a film buff as well as a book fanatic, I couldn’t help but cast this story as I went. The descriptive and unique world created here does not go unnoticed and before you know it you are completely immersed. Nothing goes without being an integral part of the bigger picture.
Mark my words and kid you not, this is the best conspiracy novel I have ever read. I love indie authors but rarely can I say they necessarily match the talent of such esteemed names as Tom Clancy, Dan Brown, Frederick Forsyth, or Richard Condon. This book makes “The Manchurian Candidate” look amateur. For all those readers who always say they want something new, fresh, and original… you won’t find it anywhere else but right here. I am a Swannson fan through and through from this moment on. “Crash Gordon and The Revelations from The Big Sur” defines intrigue in all the right ways. Bravo.
Crash Gordon is a bit like James Bond, Columbo, and The X-Files all mixed together… if those three things weren’t such wussies. “Revelations from Big Sur” is a bracing slap to the literary face in all the right ways. It’s an unapologetic sex-filled drug-induced ride with the very best dark humor and beautifully thought out cynicism. I am such a huge fan of dark, dark humor when it’s done right, which it so rarely is, but Swannson absolutely nails it. A literary class could dissect the undertones of this book for an entire year and still not find all the nuances. By the time we come across Crash you’re already waist-deep in characters and wondering exactly where the story is going. He hooks you in and doesn’t waste any time making sure you’re not going to go anywhere until it’s all uncovered. Crash Gordon’s eventual introduction reminded me of a great Phillip Marlowe type character, narrating each step of the story. As a film buff as well as a book fanatic, I couldn’t help but cast this story as I went. The descriptive and unique world created here does not go unnoticed and before you know it you are completely immersed. Nothing goes without being an integral part of the bigger picture.
Mark my words and kid you not, this is the best conspiracy novel I have ever read. I love indie authors but rarely can I say they necessarily match the talent of such esteemed names as Tom Clancy, Dan Brown, Frederick Forsyth, or Richard Condon. This book makes “The Manchurian Candidate” look amateur. For all those readers who always say they want something new, fresh, and original… you won’t find it anywhere else but right here. I am a Swannson fan through and through from this moment on. “Crash Gordon and The Revelations from The Big Sur” defines intrigue in all the right ways. Bravo.
March 25, 2014
I'm a big fan of conspiracy theories, not so much believing them, but in learning about them. The Knights Templar, Freemasons, Loose Change, Bigfoot, Chem Trails, number stations, anything that is mysterious, and has some kind of conspiracy theory around it, is very interesting to me. Which is why I was very interested in Crash Gordon and the Revelations from Big Sur.
Set in the late 80's during the Reagan administration, it follows the story of investigative journalist "Crash" Gordon Swannson, delving into things that many powerful people do not want delved into. The story has so many twists and turns, but the "main" crux of the story is Gordon digging into Project MONARCH, a government experiment seemingly linked to mind control. I don't know that I would want to get any deeper in the story than that if I could, since all of the unexpected twists and turns is what you come to a novel like this for.
If I had to compare it to anything, take the dozens of stories in the TV series Lost, deep seeded conspiracy theory tropes of The Da Vinci Code, the intelligent and off-the-wall writing of a Kurt Vonnegut, or Douglas Adams, and a kitchen sink, because according to the analogy, most things are everything but that. This book was engrossing from start to finish. The setup to the story hooked me into reading it, and the characterization of everyone involved in this story was surreal, but in a very authentic way, if that makes sense? Like everyone was just off-center enough, that I totally believed everyone.
For whatever reason, I read the author's most recent novel before I read anything else by him (he has 3 books total), which I normally don't do. But after reading this, I will definitely be checking out his other works.
Set in the late 80's during the Reagan administration, it follows the story of investigative journalist "Crash" Gordon Swannson, delving into things that many powerful people do not want delved into. The story has so many twists and turns, but the "main" crux of the story is Gordon digging into Project MONARCH, a government experiment seemingly linked to mind control. I don't know that I would want to get any deeper in the story than that if I could, since all of the unexpected twists and turns is what you come to a novel like this for.
If I had to compare it to anything, take the dozens of stories in the TV series Lost, deep seeded conspiracy theory tropes of The Da Vinci Code, the intelligent and off-the-wall writing of a Kurt Vonnegut, or Douglas Adams, and a kitchen sink, because according to the analogy, most things are everything but that. This book was engrossing from start to finish. The setup to the story hooked me into reading it, and the characterization of everyone involved in this story was surreal, but in a very authentic way, if that makes sense? Like everyone was just off-center enough, that I totally believed everyone.
For whatever reason, I read the author's most recent novel before I read anything else by him (he has 3 books total), which I normally don't do. But after reading this, I will definitely be checking out his other works.
March 2, 2014
I always love a conspiracy theory novel and when it's done well with unique twists and turns I become a fan—and Derek Swannson drew me in from the beginning. From the attention-grabbing cover to the illustrations that only led the story further, Crash Gordon and the Revelations from Big Sur was a novel I found difficult to put down.
The novel takes place in the late 80's, during the years when Reagan ruled office. When Crash shows up in a small California coastal town to deliver a lecture, he's able to add the title of "Investigative Journalist" to his résumé. He starts sticking his fingers in pies that a lot of people with the power to back them wished he would leave alone, including the very secretive Project MONARCH. Uncle Lloyd fuels the fires of the idea of government mind control and the possible truth of psychic killers. Without giving too much away, the story is filled with intense and revealing details, but not to the point where the reader feels overwhelmed with information.
Swannson has been able to find that fine balance between well-developed, strong characters—and the stories that accompany each one—without being swamped and inundated with unnecessary elements. Crash Gordon and the Revelations from Big Sur is full of conspiracy and suspense. Although tugging on elements from other genres, the novel definitely stands out on its own, providing an exciting read. The level of wit was pleasantly surprising and rare in this type of novel; I was left smiling and biting my nails, laughing and on the edge of my seat all at the same time. Swannson delivered a novel that quite possibly raises the bar.
The novel takes place in the late 80's, during the years when Reagan ruled office. When Crash shows up in a small California coastal town to deliver a lecture, he's able to add the title of "Investigative Journalist" to his résumé. He starts sticking his fingers in pies that a lot of people with the power to back them wished he would leave alone, including the very secretive Project MONARCH. Uncle Lloyd fuels the fires of the idea of government mind control and the possible truth of psychic killers. Without giving too much away, the story is filled with intense and revealing details, but not to the point where the reader feels overwhelmed with information.
Swannson has been able to find that fine balance between well-developed, strong characters—and the stories that accompany each one—without being swamped and inundated with unnecessary elements. Crash Gordon and the Revelations from Big Sur is full of conspiracy and suspense. Although tugging on elements from other genres, the novel definitely stands out on its own, providing an exciting read. The level of wit was pleasantly surprising and rare in this type of novel; I was left smiling and biting my nails, laughing and on the edge of my seat all at the same time. Swannson delivered a novel that quite possibly raises the bar.
May 7, 2014
What can I say, other than this is my favorite book out 169 read in the last 14 months.
I have to admit to having an almost phychic-based connection with this fun read. All the places that "Crash" goes to, I've lived there.
Esalon Inst. - Work at bridge for over a year there. Have friends working there. Heard Joan Biaz sing there.
Big Sur - Been running up and down this coast from '64 on. Many friends still there.
Cambria - Commozi"s hung out there 40-50 times. Rode Harley from Paso Robles many Saturdays.
Creston Rd. - Owned home on Creston road 20 years.
Sunset Drive-Inn - Presently live by this drive in.
So, beside being everywhere that I've been. This story was really entertaining story, all the things I like. Metaphysical, aliens, multi-dimension, clandestine based, good story. The charactors fit and made all that more intriging.
I was so overwhelmed with the local aspects of this fun read, that I wrote the aurther Derek Swannson. I asked permission to have a few tee shirts made up with the cover art on them. He was very pleased with the idea giving me permission and the actual didital cover image to have them done right. A very down to earth, nice guy. Now a commercial artise in New York. He did live in Cambria for over nine years. He said that if I wear them in Cambria, it would truly be a conversation starter....Thank again Derek.
I have to admit to having an almost phychic-based connection with this fun read. All the places that "Crash" goes to, I've lived there.
Esalon Inst. - Work at bridge for over a year there. Have friends working there. Heard Joan Biaz sing there.
Big Sur - Been running up and down this coast from '64 on. Many friends still there.
Cambria - Commozi"s hung out there 40-50 times. Rode Harley from Paso Robles many Saturdays.
Creston Rd. - Owned home on Creston road 20 years.
Sunset Drive-Inn - Presently live by this drive in.
So, beside being everywhere that I've been. This story was really entertaining story, all the things I like. Metaphysical, aliens, multi-dimension, clandestine based, good story. The charactors fit and made all that more intriging.
I was so overwhelmed with the local aspects of this fun read, that I wrote the aurther Derek Swannson. I asked permission to have a few tee shirts made up with the cover art on them. He was very pleased with the idea giving me permission and the actual didital cover image to have them done right. A very down to earth, nice guy. Now a commercial artise in New York. He did live in Cambria for over nine years. He said that if I wear them in Cambria, it would truly be a conversation starter....Thank again Derek.
March 6, 2014
Just when you think you have come across every idea imaginable in a suspense novel, think again! Swannson delivers a really extraordinary story line in this novel, “Crash Gordon” without allowing his readers to even think for one second that they know what is going to happen next. I found myself white-knuckling the edges of the book many times and felt like it was almost too intense to go on- but that is the thing, you HAVE to go on!
It was like getting an enormous, gift wrapped box with your name on it and couldn't help but to rip it open to see what was inside. Surprise after surprise with this novel and I couldn't have been more pleased with the ending. Well done Swanson, well done indeed!
It was like getting an enormous, gift wrapped box with your name on it and couldn't help but to rip it open to see what was inside. Surprise after surprise with this novel and I couldn't have been more pleased with the ending. Well done Swanson, well done indeed!
April 3, 2014
Crash Gordon and the Revelations from Big Sur by Derek Swannson is what I like to call intelligent writing, with a well-crafted and gripping conspiracy that will have you turning the pages and craving more! You won’t want to put this spell binding book down! I devoured it in nearly two sittings, would have been one if I had the time. Follow “Crash” through this conspiracy/fantasy type adventure and get caught up in a world of unexpected twists and turns, from a very talented author who makes visualizing this graphic and intense novel a breeze with his detailed writing and descriptiveness. This book provides a real mental and entertaining escape into the dark side of things and throws in a bit of everything from sex to murder making for an amazing read! I highly recommend this book!
September 4, 2014
What a fun book by Derek Swannson! He did a great job with coming up with a story that was unique, interesting and fun. I really enjoyed reading this book and found the plot to be interesting. This is not the normal genre that I would read, so I wasn't really sure if I would like this book or not. I found the characters to be realistic and humorous. This book had a little bit of everything. It was thrilling, scary, hilarious and adventurous. I really think that any reader would enjoy this book and that there is something for everyone in it. I would highly recommend it and I plan to read more from this author in the near future!!!
April 8, 2014
Derek Swannson has created some sort of conspiracy theory/bizzaro/comedy classic that transcends any genre categorization and presents itself as a fiercely original mind-blowing literary experience. If you like your novels filled with sex, secret societies, governmental brain-washing, and visitors from outer space this book has it all and more. Even with a hefty 562 page count, the story line breezes by quickly and draws you into its web through the powers of great storytelling and excellent characterization. Without a doubt, I recommend you add this to your collection as soon as possible.
April 25, 2014
Overall I enjoyed this book. It picks up steam after you get through some of the heady/philosophical dialogue. Yes, it is throughout the book, but when you read it, you'll know what I'm talking about. The story itself is fun, a bit raunchy, full of conspiracy-theory, and keeps you reading. If, like me, you haven't heard of "loosh" in advance - don't worry - you will get your fill. Did I mention multiverse? Yup, the story has that too.
May 1, 2015
This book took forever to read. A lot of the information in it really didn't go anywhere. Probably half of the book isn't necessary and could be edited out. That being said, the story was interesting.
May 4, 2014
I'd give this one 4.5 if I could. An original, well-written novel full of conspiracy theories. I will be reading Swannson's other books at some point.
June 6, 2021
Crash Gordon and the Revelations from Big Sur is the second book in the Crash Gordon series by Derek Swannson. Love the descriptions of Big Sur, and it has a plethora of weird things I enjoy. However, this one did not hold my attention as much as the first book did.
July 30, 2014
OMG did this book take forever to read. And I forced myself to see it through and finish. Wasted time.
It's not that this isn't really my kind of genre. It's really more about the fact that there are so many details and story threads that are so out there and don't readily connect to one another.
To begin, I read this on my kindle. It HAS to be formatted incorrectly because I read the first section read quickly. By Book One, I was at 40%. Then it took me two weeks to read 60%! Something is wrong with that formatting for sure.
The first few chapters read pretty easily, though they don't seem to follow each other. I was kind of left out hanging as to what was going on.
****You should know that this book contains a lot of language - cursing, sexual words, explicit scenes. If you do not like this type of thing, DO NOT read this book. You've been warned. For the record, it doesn't offend me. However, a lot of it was just unnecessary.
The middle and end chapters are super long. And super filled with details. And super boring. And then in the end, repetitive at times. At about 80% through, I could kind of see how everything was connecting, but then the end doesn't deliver. There is no conclusion or tie in for all the of the details we have been suffering through.
If I were to edit this book, I would suggest taking out all of the chapters that are in Italics. That voice is confusing and there is no story conclusion for it. Plus the time seems to shift for that voice. At first, it seemed like the voice was present day. Then later, the voice seems like it is in the late 80s with the characters. Confusing. I would take out at least 50% from most chapters. Especially the stuff about Skeech. Yes, he's interesting but the details about his life and his house, the secret room, etc, are so tedious. Eventually 5% of that ties into the climax (ha, pun) of the story. I would do more with the actress and her story. And I would give the reader what they are expecting: the actual revelations from Big Sur. There is a singular big revelation, but certainly not plural.
I am glad I finished the book and gave it a chance. I am angry that I wasted two weeks reading this. The writing isn't horrible; it's just bogged down with unnecessary story telling and descriptions. There are some quirky 80s references that were fun but maybe cliche. There are very heavy political scenes and dialogue. There are endless "history" lessons. Those were the worst for me.
Read this if you enjoy science fiction, convoluted stories, and gratuitous sex. Otherwise, take a pass.
It's not that this isn't really my kind of genre. It's really more about the fact that there are so many details and story threads that are so out there and don't readily connect to one another.
To begin, I read this on my kindle. It HAS to be formatted incorrectly because I read the first section read quickly. By Book One, I was at 40%. Then it took me two weeks to read 60%! Something is wrong with that formatting for sure.
The first few chapters read pretty easily, though they don't seem to follow each other. I was kind of left out hanging as to what was going on.
****You should know that this book contains a lot of language - cursing, sexual words, explicit scenes. If you do not like this type of thing, DO NOT read this book. You've been warned. For the record, it doesn't offend me. However, a lot of it was just unnecessary.
The middle and end chapters are super long. And super filled with details. And super boring. And then in the end, repetitive at times. At about 80% through, I could kind of see how everything was connecting, but then the end doesn't deliver. There is no conclusion or tie in for all the of the details we have been suffering through.
If I were to edit this book, I would suggest taking out all of the chapters that are in Italics. That voice is confusing and there is no story conclusion for it. Plus the time seems to shift for that voice. At first, it seemed like the voice was present day. Then later, the voice seems like it is in the late 80s with the characters. Confusing. I would take out at least 50% from most chapters. Especially the stuff about Skeech. Yes, he's interesting but the details about his life and his house, the secret room, etc, are so tedious. Eventually 5% of that ties into the climax (ha, pun) of the story. I would do more with the actress and her story. And I would give the reader what they are expecting: the actual revelations from Big Sur. There is a singular big revelation, but certainly not plural.
I am glad I finished the book and gave it a chance. I am angry that I wasted two weeks reading this. The writing isn't horrible; it's just bogged down with unnecessary story telling and descriptions. There are some quirky 80s references that were fun but maybe cliche. There are very heavy political scenes and dialogue. There are endless "history" lessons. Those were the worst for me.
Read this if you enjoy science fiction, convoluted stories, and gratuitous sex. Otherwise, take a pass.
August 5, 2016
Sometimes there’s great beauty to be found in ruination.
I don't usually do reviews on stuff like this, but every once in a while there's that one in a million story that just catches you and won't let you go. I'd never heard of mister Swannson before a friend of mine recommended his work to me after reading through the first in his Crash Gordon series. I'm not even completely sure how to actually put this into words, but let me put it this way; the man has serious writing chops.
Derek Swannson is one of those rare authors who's versatility with words and ability to paint colorful, living environments in characters' voices is amazing. Smooth, snarky and flat out hilarious at times, scenes come to life with vivid detail and carry the (at times, bizarre at first glance) plot forward, while drawing you into a world so fantastical and interesting that you can't help but wonder 'what if' and that's before you get to the plot twists.
The answers to those questions are every bit as poetic in their strangeness as they are intriguing in their own right, culminating in an unforgettable climax that fits the rest of the narrative to a T. It took me a while to really piece it all together at the end, but looking back it makes perfect sense and, really, the book is so much stronger for the way it came to a head. This all speaks to the authors' ability to weave clues in through the narrative that are only obvious when viewed in retrospect. It's a thinking reader's story, for sure.
If you've never tried the Crash Gordon series, you really should. Coming from someone who's a harsh critic of experimental fiction, I can wholeheartedly endorse Revelations from Big Sur with enthusiasm. If you've been looking for a story that will keep you up at night turning pages, this is one you need to check out.
I don't usually do reviews on stuff like this, but every once in a while there's that one in a million story that just catches you and won't let you go. I'd never heard of mister Swannson before a friend of mine recommended his work to me after reading through the first in his Crash Gordon series. I'm not even completely sure how to actually put this into words, but let me put it this way; the man has serious writing chops.
Derek Swannson is one of those rare authors who's versatility with words and ability to paint colorful, living environments in characters' voices is amazing. Smooth, snarky and flat out hilarious at times, scenes come to life with vivid detail and carry the (at times, bizarre at first glance) plot forward, while drawing you into a world so fantastical and interesting that you can't help but wonder 'what if' and that's before you get to the plot twists.
The answers to those questions are every bit as poetic in their strangeness as they are intriguing in their own right, culminating in an unforgettable climax that fits the rest of the narrative to a T. It took me a while to really piece it all together at the end, but looking back it makes perfect sense and, really, the book is so much stronger for the way it came to a head. This all speaks to the authors' ability to weave clues in through the narrative that are only obvious when viewed in retrospect. It's a thinking reader's story, for sure.
If you've never tried the Crash Gordon series, you really should. Coming from someone who's a harsh critic of experimental fiction, I can wholeheartedly endorse Revelations from Big Sur with enthusiasm. If you've been looking for a story that will keep you up at night turning pages, this is one you need to check out.
April 7, 2014
When my husband first told me about Crash Gordon And The Revelations From Big Sur by Derek Swannson I wasn’t quite sure I would like it. My husband and I have very different tastes when it comes to literature. I asked him what the book was about and he told me it had to do with conspiracies and the occult along with parapsychological themes throughout the book. He also mentioned there was sex. So my next question was is it written in third or first person because I cannot stand reading books written in first person. His answer was to just read it. So I did.
Crash Gordon and the Revelations From Big Sur is a great book. In my opinion the writing was flawless. There was just enough mystery to keep you wanting to read more. The characters and their back stories are written in such a way that you can believe they are real people. By the time I got to first chapter that was written in first person I didn’t even mind. By that time I was invested in the character Crash and I couldn’t wait to see what was coming next.
I haven’t read a lot of Kindle books that have had a lot of artwork in them, but Crash Gordon has some phenomenal images that help to move the story along. I highly recommend reading this book.
Crash Gordon and the Revelations From Big Sur is a great book. In my opinion the writing was flawless. There was just enough mystery to keep you wanting to read more. The characters and their back stories are written in such a way that you can believe they are real people. By the time I got to first chapter that was written in first person I didn’t even mind. By that time I was invested in the character Crash and I couldn’t wait to see what was coming next.
I haven’t read a lot of Kindle books that have had a lot of artwork in them, but Crash Gordon has some phenomenal images that help to move the story along. I highly recommend reading this book.
April 17, 2014
In terms of the tone and setting, I would usually prefer a lighter book, and I should have probably read the first volume before this one, but there are no compromises for this one.
It feels like an episode of The X-Files on crack mixed with Twin Peaks, and along the ride it slaps you in the face with icy cold dirty language and nude bodies several times.
Pack your bags carefully, you're in for a very long ride, and it's gonna be a bumpy one, because you're gonna get Fifty Shades of Crash when you least expect it.
Typically, it's not the kind of a book I would read to relax, but it's a great deal of fun. Ironically enough, the events unfold around the time I was born and it's been quite a while, so it's interesting to have a look at that time through such a twisted point of view.
It feels like an episode of The X-Files on crack mixed with Twin Peaks, and along the ride it slaps you in the face with icy cold dirty language and nude bodies several times.
Pack your bags carefully, you're in for a very long ride, and it's gonna be a bumpy one, because you're gonna get Fifty Shades of Crash when you least expect it.
Typically, it's not the kind of a book I would read to relax, but it's a great deal of fun. Ironically enough, the events unfold around the time I was born and it's been quite a while, so it's interesting to have a look at that time through such a twisted point of view.
April 28, 2014
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love this Crash Gordon series. This is a brilliantly written, laugh out loud book. I was pulled in from the beginning and enjoyed the twists throughout the book. Definitely a must read!
I love this Crash Gordon series. This is a brilliantly written, laugh out loud book. I was pulled in from the beginning and enjoyed the twists throughout the book. Definitely a must read!
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