The Kill Society

Sandman Slim #9

by Richard Kadrey

Sandman Slim has been to Heaven and Hell and many places in between, but now he finds himself in an unknown land: the far, far edge of the Tenebrae, the desolate home of the lost dead. Making his way inland with nothing but his unerring instinct for trouble to guide him, he collides with a caravan of the damned on a mysterious crusade, led by the ruthless Magistrate. Alone and with no clue how to get back home, he throws in with this brutal bunch made up of human souls, Hellion deserters, rogue angels—and Father Traven.

Slim didn’t land in Tenebrae by chance. His little stunt of trying to open Heaven has set off a tsunami across the universe. Now, the afterlife is falling apart because of the ensuing warfare. And when Heaven finds out Slim is close by, the angels put a fat bounty on his head.

It’s one thing to ride with a ferocious criminal pack across the treacherous plains—it’s another to do it when everyone in the land of the dead is itching to keep you there permanently. But Slim’s not too worried. He’s been fighting cosmic forces bent on destroying Heaven, Hell, Earth, and him for years. A pack of vicious bounty hunters, vengeful angels, and dangerous enemies with friendly smiles isn’t going to stop him fixing the chaos he’s caused . . . one way or another.

Also contains the first appearance in print of Sandman Slim short "The Devil in the Dollhouse" which was originally published as an ebook.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Horror, Fiction, Audiobook, Supernatural, Science Fiction Fantasy

416 pages, Hardcover

First published June 6, 2017

About the author

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

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the last 3 weeks or so, I've listened to all 9 of the SandMan Slim Audiobooks (and the single novella that fits between books 3 and 4.)

I really don't know what I could say about these books that would be a stronger recommendation than that.

I think I'll talk more about the books later, but I might do it on my blog instead of here. I never know the best way is to discuss a whole series on Goodreads...

But yeah. If you're looking for some good, pulpy, action filled urban fantasy with non-standard plotting and good mythic underpinning, I don't think you can do better than this.

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

Actual rating: 8 stars.

Yeah yeah yeah, I know you’re sick and tired of reading my crappy fascinating non-thingies reviews for this series, and that you’ve just about had it with my teenager on speed-like hysterical fangirling subdued enthusiasm for all lickable things Jimmy Stark. But that’s only because you’re jealous, because Jimmy is MY boyfriend and not yours. In my defense: 1/It’s not my fault if Richard Kadrey is moderately talented and never fails to awaken the groupie in me, 2/Maybe if more of you Clueless Decapods were reading this series instead of whatever crap it is you are reading, I wouldn’t feel as if it was my holy mission to rescue you from Despicable Book Land (DBL™) by convincing you to read my boyfriend’s slightly scrumptious adventures and 3/I’m innocent.

Anyway, you should worry your little selves not here, for this series has become one big fat spoiler in itself, which means I can tell you very little about the present installment. Ergo, the crap shall significantly be cut here maybe . This is your cue to be glad and rejoice and stuff, by the way. Come on, don’t be shy, I know you feel like a celebration is in order. Go on, do your thing, I’ll wait until your finish to continue with my complex analysis of this book.



Nice outfits you have there. And your little dance is, um, interesting, to say the least. Might want to work on those smooth moves, though.

So, why is this instalment extra special crunchy and yummilicious, and one of the bloody shrimping very best in the series so far? Because:

✔ Sandman Slim meets Mad Max meets Hell. Need I say more? Didn’t think so.

✔ Luscious plot + gritty action + delicious violence + crazy-ass situations = yummy in my tummy.

✔ Both the dialogues and my boyfriend’s internal monologue are a deadly combination of witty, cynical, sharp, snarky, raw, hahahaha, LOL, LOLZ, LMAO, and ROFL. Well my kind of ROFL, anyway.

“He looks like the most puzzled holy man since Jesus saw Judas order fajitas at the Last Supper.”

“I’ve taken a couple of heads myself. I know what you mean about spines.” “Thank you. Most people just don’t understand the amount of work involved.”

“She looks like she just saw a ghost, a unicorn, and Hello Kitty having a three-way in a clown car and they didn’t invite her.”



✔ Bloodthirsty, homicidal, grumpy, occasionally batshit crazy bunch of lost souls, lead by a somewhat murderous, zealot of a megalomaniac messiah wannabe.

✔ Psychotic halo polishers, beetle popcorn (don’t ask), Rotweiler flowers that bark like Pomeranians with an attitude (I told you not to ask, didn’t I?) and chummy PTA moms who know how to get beautifully creative with gardening tools.

✔ Super fun, plenty exotic and gloriously relaxing underground river cruises.



Okay, so the, um, cruise manager, happens to be a cantankerous ass with grouchy, vindictive tendencies, but this is a free trip after all, and beggars can’t be barnacles and stuff. Besides, the guy’s unintentionally hilarious, which is kind of a rarity Downtown these days.

✔ Twists and surprises and revelations, oh my! Holy shocking shockers, Shrimpman! It looks like we’re all set for a few more scrumpalicious books in this series!

And that ⤴ right there are just some of the many bloody shrimping reasons why this instalment extra special crunchy and yummilicious, and one of the bloody shrimping very best in the series so far. Granted, it would have been better if the book hadn’t ended with a Cliffhanger of Doom Oblivion and Complete Annihilation of all Life on this Planet (CoDOaCAoaLotP™). Because it means I now have to wait three bloody fishing months of the stinking shrimp for the next instalment to be released. Woe is me and stuff.



Being an onion sucks even more than being a barnacle, if you ask me.

➽ And the moral of this Nine Books in this series and I’m Still as in Lurve With My Jimmy Stark as I Was the Day We First Met Either This is a Vicious Trap or Mr Kadrey is Pretty Good at this Writing Thing Crappy Non Review (NBitSaISaiLWMJSaIWtDWFMETiaVToMKiPGatWTCNR™)
is: to the utter befuddlement of crustaceans everywhere, this instalment was one of the 2017 Goodreads Choice Award Nominees for Horror . Right. Makes perfect sense. Then again, if Bird Box counts as Horror, then I guess pretty much everything else does, Noddy stories included.

· Book 1: Sandman Slim ★★★★★
· Book 2: Kill the Dead ★★★★★
· Book 3: Aloha from Hell ★★★★
· Book 3.5: Devil in the Dollhouse ★★★★★
· Book 4: Devil Said Bang ★★★★
· Book 5: Kill City Blues ★★★★
· Book 6: The Getaway God ★★★★★
· Book 7: Killing Pretty ★★★★
· Book 8: The Perdition Score ★★★★★
· Book 10: Hollywood Dead ★★★★★
· Book 11: Ballistic Kiss ★★★★
· Book 12: King Bullet ★★★★★



[Pre-review nonsense]

“ So far, this is about as much fun as a barbed-wire G-string .”

That’s my boyfriend’s life for you! All glamorous holidays in Hell and super sexy yet comfortable underwear! And then people wonder why I’m so in 💕lurve💕 with him! People really are clueless as fish, if you ask me.



➽ Full Hey Mr Kadrey I’m Officially All Caught Up with the Series and Have to Wait for New Instalments Like the Puny Barnacled Bunch So You Can Stop with the Cliffhanger-Style Endings Now Thank Thee Kindly And Stuff Crappy Non Review (HMKIOACUwtSaHtWfNILtPBBSYCSwtCSENTTKaSCNR™) to come.

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

We've got some big changes... again. I'm afraid to actually come right out and say it for fear of spoilers, but let's just say a hellish caravan full of refugees and crusaders are in the cards.

This shouldn't be much of a surprise if we look at the book's cover.

What is rather surprising is how much over-plot progression goes on here. The BIG story is BIG. And Stark has had better days. In fact, he's pretty damn powerless at this point. You know, other than some hellion hoodoo and some usual fighting skills. But he's as surprised as I am.

Think post-apocalyptic hellscape in an actual, you know, HELL, friendless, and getting dragged along for the ride.

The fun part is in figuring what the hell is actually going on. The war in heaven is escalating, after all.

Very fun stuff here. Bloody fun. I'm on a roll and enjoying it all.

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Kill Society (Sandman Slim #9) by Richard Kadrey is a book I won with the Goodreads Giveaway, hippie!!! I have been reading Sandman Slim novels since they came out. This is before I started reviewing, sorry. I have been too broke to buy #8 and this one. Now I just need to see if I can get #8. These books need to be read in order.
This time, Sandman is in Hell, really dead this time. He has been there so many times but for a variety of reasons. Yep, he is that kinda guy! Fighting in the arenas, substitute Satan, yes, he is that bad ass!!! Visiting... why you ask? Don't ask, it isn't good for your health. He has stolen things from there, maybe people too, hard to remember all the times he has been there. He always finds a way out. But this time, he might really, really be dead. In this book, he stayed in parts of Hell the whole book! That is like a record or something! Of course he was the baddest ass down there except Death, who of course he talked with. Who else could do that?
This book is full of full throttle action, battles, magic, angel vs angel kick butt fights, all kinds of explosions, you know, Sandman Slim kind of books! Never a dull moment book. If there is a page, something bad is happening. LOVE IT!!! Thanks for the book!!

[Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede · Rating 3 out of 5]

Urban Fantasy is a favorite genre of mine and the Sandman Slim series felt like just the series for me. Now, this is book nine and perhaps it's not wise to start a series with a book so far along, but I have never been wise when it comes to books and I often read books out of order. And, for the most part, does it work. THE KILL SOCIETY is one of those series that did work. However, I will admit that it perhaps would have been easier to understand what was going on and especially know who is who, and their history if one reads the books from the beginning. But, I discovered, as I often do that all the mentioning from past events only makes me more curious to read the previous books.

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!

[The Girl with the Sagittarius Tattoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stark starts the book back in Hell, and winds up in trouble and indebted again at the end. Guy can't catch a break.

At the end of The Perdition Score, our well-travelled antihero died the true death and wakes up in the Tenebrae, the desert section of Limbo. Lucky for him a motley caravan happened to be going by (I absolutely pictured Mad Max.) Slim catches a ride under the pseudonym Mr. Pitts and discovers he's hooked up with a cult led by the Magistrate. He's not just a madman leading a crusade to nowhere; the Magistrate is keeping secrets of his own. Can Stark figure out what he's really after before the Magistrate gets all his followers killed?

I loved that Father Traven happened to be among the souls in the caravan - his was an early death in the series that I mourned. As a Catholic expert in the deadest of dead languages as well as a Sin Eater, he was one of the most interesting characters. Another nice add was the appearance of Alice, Stark's first love. It's easy to see the chemistry they must've had when they were an item.

I'm closing in on the series end now! Next up is #10, Hollywood Dead.

[Amy Braun · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the first line of this book, I remembered why I love this series so much. The dialogue is whip sharp, darkly funny, and impossibly clever. I loved it, and missed the grittiness of this urban fantasy story. There were some welcome similarities to MAD MAX, but the rest of the story was all SANDMAN SLIM awesomeness. Stark was back in all his snarky, back-talking glory, new and old characters returning for a fantastic story with lots of action and mystery. The ending was great and opened up the chance for even more books in the series. I always have such a great time reading these books. No matter how dark the humour, it always makes me smile, and I can't recommend this series enough to fans of gritty urban fantasy. You'll love it!

[Jonathan Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars

Read it straight through.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

I've really enjoyed this series, but I think this one has been the best by far. In this volume, Stark is outside of his "comfort zone", stuck in the Tenebrae, a sort of purgatory with all sorts of interesting, and dangerous, lost souls. He has no one to rely here, his friends all think he's dead, and he's forced to rely on his wits to get him through this trial.

Lots of surprises and twists that impact on the on-going plot lines that have stretched over the entire series. Can't wait for the next one!

[Skip · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, I was a little disappointed with this one. Sandman Slim/James Stark took some licks from the Wormwood folks, and finds himself adrift in Tenebrae again when he crosses path with a Messiah, and his goons. Happily, he is reunited with a few long lost friends, but the whole book has a kind of Mad Max feel to it. He falls in with the Messiah and his rabble on their quest for a magic sword that will power their weapon, and help bring down Heaven. Of course, more than one group of angels show up, with differing agenda, and Sandman Slim has to follow his own moral compass. Strange, but not completely surprise ending, setting up for Book #10.

[Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Sandman Slim series is one of the few urban fantasy series that I continue to follow. Kadrey continues to amuse me with his mashup of: hardboiled noir, horror and fantasy narrative. I picked this up shortly after finishing The Perdition Score (Sandman Slim, #8) (my review). This story is a diversion from the current major plot; which is: Sandman Slim vs. the Wormwood organization while the War-in-Heaven Wages. This one is OK, but it leaves you with a cliffhanger. (Never good by me.)

This book ends in cliffhanger. The next book in the series Hollywood Dead is available. In addition, this book will be unintelligible, if you’ve not been following the series. Long-term plot lines make-up the bones of this story and the author does not provide a lot of backstory.

Writing is good and on a par with the rest of the series. Kadrey does a fair job of aping a mid-career Raymond Chandler throughout, particularly with his pithy metaphors. You can also recognize the strong ’60s counterculture influence of Charles Bukowski in the stories. The action scenes are well handled. Although, I always find the dialog to be better than the descriptive prose. In particular, Stark’s inner narrative, off-color aphorisms, and disdainful badinage are endearing to me.

The series always has a minimum amount of sex, a moderate amount of substance abuse and a lot of violence. A criticism I have of the series is that it mimics MA-14 television. This particular story contains some lascivious language, but no naughty bits. Substance abuse amounts to bog-standard, excessive alcohol usage. Violence is not particularly graphic. In includes: physical, edged-weapons and firearms related. It appears to me that more folks get set on fire in this story than in previous stories. Body count was moderate for a Sandman Slim story.

There is only miniscule character development. This story recycles a large amount of previously introduced characters. The series continues with its single POV. James "Sandman Slim" Stark is the protagonist. Stark spends a lot of pages lamenting his situation and wanting to get back to his demon GF Candy /Chihiro. Many old standby characters appear: Father Traven, Alice, Cherry, and Samael. These are all dead or supernatural characters from previous stories. The living L.A. characters don't play a large part in the story. There are a number of new characters introduced, but they’re temporary. The antagonist is a mysterious figure called The Magistrate. However, if you’ve read the series its easy to see his origins. He’s the arch-angel Raziel. Archangels are a key plot element in this War-in-Heaven story..

My fave elements of the series are the: LA geography lesson, music and film references. Edut-tainment helps make the books work for me. In the past, I've come away from the books with an album and film 'shopping list'. This book contains a very small amount of that. Most of the book takes place in the Tenebrae (a wasteland region of Hell), so there is no L.A. geography lesson. There are a few music references. I was unimpressed with them all. Although, Kardrey’s made-up metal band called Skull Valley Sheep Kill does make an appearance. (I want the band T-shirt Stark wears.) Video references are a supernatural provision for describing classic films with alternate actors and directors—movies that never were. That doesn’t help me. In general, there were fewer music and film references in this book than in the past.

Plot vaguely reminded me of a rework of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) . The immortal Stark is killed in L.A. and ends-up back in Hell. He joins a ravaging horde of humans and hellions honcho’ d by the Magistrate in an uneasy alliance in a race to find a heavenly artifact in the Tenebrae. Stark spends a lot of time concealing his identity with the help of friends already scooped-up by the horde. (Wasn’t that convenient?)

The Kill Society is better than The Perdition Score , but not as good as Killing Pretty (my review) was. Killing Pretty’s the first book of the series's second story arc. This was a one book story, progressing the War-in-Heaven plot line. Fortunately, it doesn’t create any new ones. There is a cheezy epilogue which reconnects to the long-term Wormwood plot and L.A. Kadrey painlessly catapults Stark back to L.A. without complication—Boo! . Fans of the series will need to read this book to get on with the series. Unfortunately, I thought the story included too much exposition. Stark spends too much time whinging about getting back to LA.—despite him being Nephilim. In summary, The Kill Society is a readable addition to the series. It has all the expected elements of a "Sandman Slim" story and sets-up the reader to buy/read the next book in the series. I continue to think this at nine (9) books, this series is too long-of-tooth. I think really it’s about time he ends this one.

I’ll likely be reading the next book in the series: Hollywood Dead. I continue to recommend to readers interested in a somewhat similar horror/fantasy story, but shorter series: John Dies at the End.

[Kaustubh Dudhane · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The problem with glory is that it seldom trickles down to the slobs doing the actual fighting."

I have returned to Sandman Slim series after three years. Last time I had finished till first eight books. When I have started this series, I was struggling a lot with my professional career. However, at the end of book seven, I was literally star of the year and continued the momentum. Perhaps, it was Stark's never-say-die attitude which brought the change in my working.

This is again a no-non-sense action book with loads and loads of insults. Sandman Slim (Stark, our MC) continues to be repulsive charming. However, the writing and the usage of metaphors steal the show.

"Her wild hair hangs down like dead weeds and she’s wearing a dress that looks like she took it off a Disney princess, tossed it in a grain thresher, and got an ape to sew it back together."

and more...

I light up and take a puff.

Alice waves the smoke away.
“Oh God. It’s like you’re smoking a pig’s ass, and the pig isn’t well.”

All the time, Stark was like -



The world building continues to be simple and smooth. However, it was more kind of a Mad Max scenario.



I was expecting more action and insults. However, I feel that this might be the beginning of another chapter in the life afterlife of Stark.

Nevertheless, it was a fun experience!

"Thanks, but sometimes I think my sins are the only thing holding me together."

[Joe Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe we are already up to book 9 in this series! We pick up immediately after that surprise ending in The Perdition Score. We all do know how that ended right? Stark has a whole new set of challenges now, but he also gets some help from old friends. Add in the usual amounts of sarcastic humor and random acts of violence gives us one wild ride to another twist at the end I didn't see coming. This is a series that never fails to deliver for me. Now I just have to try and be patient as I wait on the next entry. 

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being dead has thrown me off my game.
—p.38

It's odd, I know, to find books like those in Richard Kadrey's Sandman Slim series—filled with mayhem, torture and sheer bloody-mindedness—so damned comforting, but... after eight previous novels about the half-man, half-angel who first clawed his way up from Hell through a Hollywood graveyard in Sandman Slim back in 2009, that's exactly what picking up The Kill Society felt like.

And it has been several years since I last checked in on James Stark's progress, after all; I read this one's predecessor, The Perdition Score, back in August 2016, before... well, before a lot of things.

Turns out Kadrey hasn't lost his touch in the meantime. Opening with this deadpan epigram, for example, was an excellent choice:

I got a paper cut writing my suicide note.
It's a start.
—Steven Wright

Oh, yeah, I should probably warn you—long-running series, so spoilers ho! And the usual boilerplate advice also applies: you should start farther back (maybe with, y'know, Volume 1); this ninth entry is fairly self-contained, but it's by no means a standalone.

*

Okay... are all the kids out of the room? Good.

*

The Kill Society begins in familiar territory. After getting killed (in a rather embarrassing way, too, which I'm sure he'd appreciate us not getting into right now) at the end of The Perdition Score, James Stark wakes up right back in Hell—or at least in one of Hell's less-pleasant suburbs. He's on a barren hillside with nothing but a pack of cigarettes—and no lighter. And he might even be stuck in Hell for good this time, since his physical body in L.A. is dead, dead, dead.

Before long, Stark meets cute (well, cute for him) with the Havoc, a ragged gang of motorized Hellions run by a man on a mission who calls himself the Magistrate. Stark falls in with them—at least he can get a light for his smokes—as they trek across the Tenebrae towards... well, part of the fun in The Kill Society is finding out the Havoc's destination.

Suffice it to say that the Magistrate is a very... goal-oriented individual.

Besides, what else is Stark going to do while he's dead?

"I'm from California. Pretty much everything is on fire these days."
—p.89

After eight whole books, the Magistrate finally points out that "nephilim" is actually the plural form—that James Stark is not "a nephilim," as he's always said, but rather (technically) a "niphal."

Predictably, Stark shrugs off this important information.

However—while it may seem contradictory to talk about Stark's better nature, he is still half-angel, after all, and that side is given some time to shine in The Kill Society. Some might even be willing to call it character development.

*

A nice little bonus—a side quest, if you will—rounds out The Kill Society (which ends, as did its predecessor, on something of a cliffhanger); the last 50 pages or so of this book are actually a different story altogether, a novella (although billed as "A Sandman Slim Novel" it's really too short for one) originally published only as an ebook, called The Devil in the Dollhouse, that flashes back to some history even Stark doesn't remember.

*

I really enjoyed this dip back into the (cess)pool that is Sandman Slim's... existences, and I'd like to think that for those of you who've been playing the home version of this game all along, it'll be another worthwhile installment too.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another visit with my favorite hero. But don't tell him I said that. This was exactly what I needed to get me out of my reading rut. At first I thought, well here we go again....and yes, we did go there again, but frankly I love all the inner dialogue, the snarky comments, the sarcasm. I laugh with you James, I really do. I missed some of the usual suspects, but they weren't gone completely. Most certainly the story continues. Most certainly I am behind, book 10 is out. Time to head down to the bookstore and add that one to my read pile. I am sure it will be another rollicking adventure. Don't tell James that I called it rollicking and don't tell that I am using his first name. I feel entitled. He would get that.

[Contrarius · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are just SO much fun to read. I was a little disappointed in the last one, but I'm having a great time again with this one. Just makes me grin deep down in my evil little heart. ;-)

==========

Update after finishing — for me, this book is a welcome return to form for the series. Not as over-the-top crazy as some of the previous installments, which allows this one to be more coherent and focussed on the characters. This hit my crazy-smartass-psycho-nephilim sweet spot just fine. And Macleod Andrews was born to narrate this series — nobody else could bring the characters and action to life the way he does. Just perfect.

[Kdawg91 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I make no bones about being an unabashed fan of this series, it in my opinion is urban fantasy done as it should be, in its best possible form.

The Kill Society starts in a bit of jam after the WTF ending of the last book. But Stark as usual meets all problems as he usually does, with a smart remark and a knife or two to the neck. The action does not fail to impress as usual and it seems that the action pieces in the stories are getting bigger and bigger, maybe to go all out in the next installment.

My only problem with this book is that the storytelling in my opinion seems to be losing a bit of steam, whether or not that is on purpose or not, I don't know...however..its still a ton of fun and kicks major ass.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars


The Kill Society by Richard Kadrey is yet another annual guilty pleasure of mine. It is as always a really great summer read. The Getaway God could have concluded the series but thankfully for us Richard Kadrey is not finished with James and neither are we. This is the now the 9th book of the series and even being dead and downtown we are not done with the adventures of Sandman Slim. I really could read 88 more stories about James Starks and his Scooby gang.go

The Kill Society is a smaller scoped story that takes place in Hell. James finds himself in the middle of yet another war with much bigger things at stake. Kadrey gives us his usual combination of dirty and grimy action twisted with witty and smart ass dialogue. I absolutely love this stuff.



This book and series read to me as near perfection as I am a true fan boy. I would give all the books full marks just for my enjoyment and have decided that as long as Kadrey keeps writing them, I will do just that. He has me as a fan for life and I really hope that we have many more adventures to come for Sandman Slim. Long live Sandman Slim.




"“We’re in Hell. I just got knifed by a charcoal briquette and molested by a witch. Talk to me some more about fair.” “At least let me be your lookout,” says Traven."


This is one of my very favorite series!

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sandman Slim books are arguably some of the most entertaining books I read, which is a real paradox considering the premise: James Stark is condemned to Hell while still alive. He survives and eventually claws his way back to the mortal world for revenge. Holy crap. And that is just the first book in the series. After the...dilemma Stark found himself in at the end of The Perdition Score I was not sure how the series could continue but author Richard Kadrey has great fun pulling it off. You must read this series in order, Constant Reader, or the cosmology of Kadrey's versions of Heaven and Hell will make your head explode. Good stuff.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be warned that this is another cliffie...

[Maxine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Kill Society by author Richard Kadrey is the ninth in the Sandman Slim series and takes up where the last book, The Perdition Score, left off. James Stark aka Sandman Slim is now dead and in Hell but Hell just ain’t what it used to be. He has not only landed in the Tenebrae, a part of Hell he remembers not so fondly from when he was Lucifer for a while, he finds himself confronted by a caravan of the dead with a charismatic leader called the Magistrate on a mission to get a mysterious object to a mysterious destination for a mysterious purpose and all while wreaking as much death (yes, the dead can die) and destruction as possible on the way. As Stark describes the Magistrate, “I know a killer when I see one and he’s a cold Charlie Starkweather mother…….* To protect his identity, since the names Sandman Slim and James Stark are both very well-known in Hell, he adopts the alias ZaSu Pitts.**

Like all the past books, The Kill Society is full of non-stop action, otherworldly crazies, and Stark’s signature brand of sarcastic wit –sort of Mad Max meets Don Rickles. Along with a lot of new characters, both good and evil (although, like in past books, it’s sometimes hard to tell them apart), there are a lot appearances by some old favourites like Father Traven, once eater of sins and now member of the caravan, Cherry Moon still crazy after all these books, Stark’s old girlfriend, Alice, who has taken on a more powerful identity, and, of course, his old pal and verbal sparring partner, Death.

I am a huge fan of the Sandman Slim series – it may not be the most literate fantasy series, the most intelligent, or the most consistent in quality but, hands down, it is the most fun. The Kill Society could be read as a stand-alone but, given the numerous references to past events and characters, you should really read the entire series. Besides, if you like your fantasy with humour and very unusual characters, this is a series you definitely want to read right from the beginning.

*Trigger warning here: there’s a lot of profanity, violence and all-round mayhem in this book.

**Footnote: many of the references and jokes are pretty old which only makes them more descriptive or funny for those of, shall we say, a Certain Age but may require some googling on the part of a younger audience

Thanks to Edelweiss and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love the snarky dialogue in these books, and the devil-may-care attitude about good old fashioned ass-whuppings. However, this book was not set in L.A. like most of the others in this series. That odd road trip through the desolate dessert of limbo wasn't quite as fun to read about, but of course the book ends on quite a cliff hanger and I can't wait to read the next in the series. Call me a Sandman Slim Fool!

[Kev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandman slim is the best urban fantasy series out there, and I'll fight anyone who disagrees in the arena! This is another excellent installment.
Bring on book 10and soon!
The audio book is superbly narrated by MacLeod Andrews as always.

[Sonia Almeida Dias (Peixinho de Prata) · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, if you came all the way to this book, you must know how the previous one ended, right? If you don't, turn around and go read it first. Start with whichever book you left of, as this series really benefits from being read in sequence.

So, disclaimer made, I was glad this book picked up where the previous one left us, as it was one hell of a cliffhanger. Better still, the story does a complete 180 and follows a different path, taking us through Tenebrae with the Havoc and their leader, the Magistrate.

Despite feeling like we were inside Mad Max, the story was good, and the return of some old friends made it interesting. The war between angels continues raging, and Wormwood is enough there to keep it consistent. Stark continues to destroy clothes at a ferocious speed and Samael/Death/Ex-Lucifer continues to be the most handsome, well dressed angel in existence, even tough he faces serious competition in this book. As I said before, you (almost) want to meet him.

What really didn't work for me was the Buffy twist, and I was a big fan of that show as well. But enough said, as I do not wish to ruin anything to anyone. I am glad that this so bluntly screams sequel, as I have grown very fond of James Stark and friends.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dead Stark joins a horde following a demonic Fitzcarraldo in Hell on a quest he doesn't want but is compelled to follow through with, and along the way he meets up with souls he once knew and uncovers some uncomfortable truths about himself. Kadrey is going to face a lot of questions when he ascends to whatever we meet after our time here; surely some angel has been tasked with reading his books and has been taking notes. Anyway, if you love Sandman Slim, and I do, you probably won't consider this Kadrey's best effort or compelling story, but it is still darned good. Sadly it looks like it is the penultimate volume, which depresses me. Even the thought of not having these tales in the future makes it a dimmer place. Though I'm sure Kadrey will present us with other stories.

[Karissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 9th book in the Sandman Slim series and was a well done continuation of this series. I enjoyed this book, as with all the Sandman Slim books, it has a unique voice, gritty tone, and wry wit.

Sandman Slim is finally dead...and for real this time. He finds himself in the far reaches of Tenebrae, uncertain of which of his nephilim abilities he retains. While he’s trying to come to terms with this he finds himself set upon by a caravan of other residents of Tenebrae led by a creepy dude named The Magistrate.

This book was a bit of a transition book. Sandman Slim is trying to get back on his feet and figure out what/who he is now that he’s dead. He also ends up unraveling yet more of the plot of the war between angels.

While many of our favorite characters are missing (aside from Father Traven) we do meet some pretty awesome new characters. The book ends at a huge cliffhanger and I am curious to see where the story goes in the next book.

Overall I really enjoyed this book in the Sandman Slim series and look forward to reading future books in the series. I would recommend to those who enjoy anti-heroes and gritty urban fantasy.

[AJS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of the best in the series - I just find the landscape he is going through here too stark for amusement. Earlier pieces were better, and hopefully the next one reclaims the intrigue from the earlier part of the series.

It's enjoyable popcorn fodder but not much more than that at this point.

[Felix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another serving of brain candy! Snappy dialogue & action galore for Slim. Kadrey writes as if his hair is on fire spouting forth non - stop visions of brilliance .... ( I received this through a goodreads giveaway.)

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandman Slim has some great adventures in hell with some interesting characters. Fantastic as usual. Looks like some of his old enemies are offering him a deal to get out of Hell, but it might also keep him there forever.

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm convinced that all of the people that gave this 5 stars and gush about how good it was, how there was so much action and how it's the best in the series, read a different book than I did.

Let me sum up the book: 30% traveling through a barren wasteland, 65% talking, 4% action/fighting. What about the last 1%? I dunno, I must have dozed off plodding through this.