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Hell's Bounty
If the Western town of Falling Rock isn't dangerous enough due to drunks, fast guns and greedy miners, it gets a real dose of ugly when a soulless, dynamite-loving bounty hunter named Smith rides into town to bring back a bounty, dead or alive--preferably dead. In the process, Smith sets off an explosive chain of events that send him straight to the waiting room in Hell where he is offered a one-time chance to absolve himself.
Satan, a bartender also known as Snappy, wants Smith to hurry back to earth and put a very bad hombre out of commission. Someone Smith has already met in the town of Falling Rock. A fellow named Quill, who has, since Smith's departure, sold his soul to the Old Ones, and has been possessed by a nasty, scaly, winged demon with a cigar habit and a bad attitude. Quill wants to bring about the destruction of the world, not to mention the known universe, and hand it all over: moon, stars, black spaces, cosmic dust, as well as all of humanity, to the nasty Lovecraftian deities that wait on the other side of the veil. It's a bargain made in worse places than Hell.
Even Satan can't stand for that kind of dark business. The demon that has possessed Quill, a former co-worker of Satan, has gone way too far, and there has to be a serious correction.
And though Smith isn't so sure humanity is that big of a loss, the alternative of him cooking eternally while being skewered on a meat hook isn't particularly appealing. Smith straps on a gift from Snappy, a holstered Colt pistol loaded with endless silver ammunition, and riding a near-magical horse named Shadow, carrying an amazing deck of cards that can summon up some of the greatest gunfighters and killers the west has ever known, he rides up from hell, and back into Falling Rock, a town that can be entered, but can't be left.
It's an opportunity not only for Smith to experience action and adventure and deal with the living dead and all manner of demonic curses and terrible prophecies, it's a shot at love with a beautiful, one-eyed, redheaded-darling with a whip, a woman named Payday. But it's an even bigger shot at redemption.
Saddle up, partner. It's time to ride into an old fashioned pulp and horror adventure full of gnashing teeth, exploding dynamite, pistol fire, and a few late night kisses.
Satan, a bartender also known as Snappy, wants Smith to hurry back to earth and put a very bad hombre out of commission. Someone Smith has already met in the town of Falling Rock. A fellow named Quill, who has, since Smith's departure, sold his soul to the Old Ones, and has been possessed by a nasty, scaly, winged demon with a cigar habit and a bad attitude. Quill wants to bring about the destruction of the world, not to mention the known universe, and hand it all over: moon, stars, black spaces, cosmic dust, as well as all of humanity, to the nasty Lovecraftian deities that wait on the other side of the veil. It's a bargain made in worse places than Hell.
Even Satan can't stand for that kind of dark business. The demon that has possessed Quill, a former co-worker of Satan, has gone way too far, and there has to be a serious correction.
And though Smith isn't so sure humanity is that big of a loss, the alternative of him cooking eternally while being skewered on a meat hook isn't particularly appealing. Smith straps on a gift from Snappy, a holstered Colt pistol loaded with endless silver ammunition, and riding a near-magical horse named Shadow, carrying an amazing deck of cards that can summon up some of the greatest gunfighters and killers the west has ever known, he rides up from hell, and back into Falling Rock, a town that can be entered, but can't be left.
It's an opportunity not only for Smith to experience action and adventure and deal with the living dead and all manner of demonic curses and terrible prophecies, it's a shot at love with a beautiful, one-eyed, redheaded-darling with a whip, a woman named Payday. But it's an even bigger shot at redemption.
Saddle up, partner. It's time to ride into an old fashioned pulp and horror adventure full of gnashing teeth, exploding dynamite, pistol fire, and a few late night kisses.
244 pages, Paperback
First published February 29, 2016
13 people are currently reading
289 people want to read
About the author
Joe R. Lansdale
818 books3,891 followersChampion Mojo Storyteller Joe R. Lansdale is the author of over forty novels and numerous short stories. His work has appeared in national anthologies, magazines, and collections, as well as numerous foreign publications. He has written for comics, television, film, newspapers, and Internet sites. His work has been collected in more than two dozen short-story collections, and he has edited or co-edited over a dozen anthologies. He has received the Edgar Award, eight Bram Stoker Awards, the Horror Writers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the British Fantasy Award, the Grinzani Cavour Prize for Literature, the Herodotus Historical Fiction Award, the Inkpot Award for Contributions to Science Fiction and Fantasy, and many others. His novella Bubba Ho-Tep was adapted to film by Don Coscarelli, starring Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis. His story "Incident On and Off a Mountain Road" was adapted to film for Showtime's "Masters of Horror," and he adapted his short story "Christmas with the Dead" to film hisownself. The film adaptation of his novel Cold in July was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and the Sundance Channel has adapted his Hap & Leonard novels for television.
He is currently co-producing several films, among them The Bottoms, based on his Edgar Award-winning novel, with Bill Paxton and Brad Wyman, and The Drive-In, with Greg Nicotero. He is Writer In Residence at Stephen F. Austin State University, and is the founder of the martial arts system Shen Chuan: Martial Science and its affiliate, Shen Chuan Family System. He is a member of both the United States and International Martial Arts Halls of Fame. He lives in Nacogdoches, Texas with his wife, dog, and two cats.
He is currently co-producing several films, among them The Bottoms, based on his Edgar Award-winning novel, with Bill Paxton and Brad Wyman, and The Drive-In, with Greg Nicotero. He is Writer In Residence at Stephen F. Austin State University, and is the founder of the martial arts system Shen Chuan: Martial Science and its affiliate, Shen Chuan Family System. He is a member of both the United States and International Martial Arts Halls of Fame. He lives in Nacogdoches, Texas with his wife, dog, and two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
March 1, 2016
A bounty hunter named Smith is given a second chance at life. The only catch is that he has to stop an outlaw named Quill from bringing the Old Ones to our reality...
I got this from Netgalley.
The champion mojo storyteller, Joe Lansdale, is back, this time, with his brother John sharing the writing duties, with Hell's Bounty. Hell's Bounty is a weird western tale about redemption. Also, it's about wise-ass flesh-eating ghouls, a demonic outlaw, and the Old Ones of Lovecraftian infamy.
The characters are vintage Lansdale, complete with colorful remarks. The writing is in the trademark Lansdale front-porch or tailgate style, making it an easy yet gripping read. The deck is stacked against Smith, Payday, and the rest, and the ending is far from happily ever after, unless you consider a colossal orgy of violence happily ever after.
The Lansdale boys wove an entertaining yarn with Hell's Bounty. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
I got this from Netgalley.
The champion mojo storyteller, Joe Lansdale, is back, this time, with his brother John sharing the writing duties, with Hell's Bounty. Hell's Bounty is a weird western tale about redemption. Also, it's about wise-ass flesh-eating ghouls, a demonic outlaw, and the Old Ones of Lovecraftian infamy.
The characters are vintage Lansdale, complete with colorful remarks. The writing is in the trademark Lansdale front-porch or tailgate style, making it an easy yet gripping read. The deck is stacked against Smith, Payday, and the rest, and the ending is far from happily ever after, unless you consider a colossal orgy of violence happily ever after.
The Lansdale boys wove an entertaining yarn with Hell's Bounty. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
February 16, 2016
Cowboy zombies on stilts! Yes, you read that right.
Don't worry, there won't be any more spoilers in this review, I just had to get that out there.
Hell's Bounty, with that kick-ass cover, was a lot of fun to read. A weird western, it has all the elements one wants to see: cowboys, unearthly tentacles, Satan and Old Ones. Yep, Old Ones. Mr. Lansdale and his brother mash up everything here, but somehow it works. Mostly.
I liked the action packed last half better than the first; it took a little while for this story to find its groove, but once it did, it was GONE! Something was missing here, though, and I think it was the quality of the humor. While this book did feature some of that famous Lansdale wit, I didn't find it quite as sharp or as biting in this book as I have in most of his others.
If a weird western is what you're craving, with a dash of Lovecraft and a dollop of zombies, this is the book for you. Recommended for fans of Lansdale and his westerns!
You can pre-order your copy here:http://www.amazon.com/Hells-Bounty-Jo...
*Thanks to Net Galley and Subterranean Press for the opportunity to review this ARC!*
Don't worry, there won't be any more spoilers in this review, I just had to get that out there.
Hell's Bounty, with that kick-ass cover, was a lot of fun to read. A weird western, it has all the elements one wants to see: cowboys, unearthly tentacles, Satan and Old Ones. Yep, Old Ones. Mr. Lansdale and his brother mash up everything here, but somehow it works. Mostly.
I liked the action packed last half better than the first; it took a little while for this story to find its groove, but once it did, it was GONE! Something was missing here, though, and I think it was the quality of the humor. While this book did feature some of that famous Lansdale wit, I didn't find it quite as sharp or as biting in this book as I have in most of his others.
If a weird western is what you're craving, with a dash of Lovecraft and a dollop of zombies, this is the book for you. Recommended for fans of Lansdale and his westerns!
You can pre-order your copy here:http://www.amazon.com/Hells-Bounty-Jo...
*Thanks to Net Galley and Subterranean Press for the opportunity to review this ARC!*
February 14, 2016
My thanks to Net Galley for a copy to read in return for a review.
If you are of a mind, saddle on up and ride into the small town of Falling Rock. What you may not know is once there, you cain't never leave. Bounty hunter Smith learns this the hard way, courtesy of a stick of dynamite with a short fuse. Back at the Sundown Saloon, Smith makes a deal with the devil.
The Lansdale boys have penned a wild and weird Western for a fun romp with all manner of the undead. A devilish bartender, cretins and demons, ghoulish cowboys and dead saloon girls all play into the tale. One of the ghouls cries "Dagnabit!" Haven't heard that one since Grandpappy Amos on The Real McCoys. What a hoot!
Point to ponder . . . where do demons go to buy those "special pants"?
If you are of a mind, saddle on up and ride into the small town of Falling Rock. What you may not know is once there, you cain't never leave. Bounty hunter Smith learns this the hard way, courtesy of a stick of dynamite with a short fuse. Back at the Sundown Saloon, Smith makes a deal with the devil.
The Lansdale boys have penned a wild and weird Western for a fun romp with all manner of the undead. A devilish bartender, cretins and demons, ghoulish cowboys and dead saloon girls all play into the tale. One of the ghouls cries "Dagnabit!" Haven't heard that one since Grandpappy Amos on The Real McCoys. What a hoot!
Point to ponder . . . where do demons go to buy those "special pants"?
March 8, 2016
3.5*
All hell breaks loose in this mining town when bounty hunter Smith goes after Quill, the one who sold his soul to the Old Ones and is after the destruction of the world as we know it. Smith has come back from Hell, having been given a second chance by the One Down South, and he is fearless and audacious.
Apparently, you cannot go wrong with Joe R. Lansdale, this time in collaboration with his brother John. One of my favorite authors, like in the Hap and Leonard series, he entertains with lots of wit, violence and in this case, explosive action!
Review copy supplied by publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a rating and/or review.
All hell breaks loose in this mining town when bounty hunter Smith goes after Quill, the one who sold his soul to the Old Ones and is after the destruction of the world as we know it. Smith has come back from Hell, having been given a second chance by the One Down South, and he is fearless and audacious.
Apparently, you cannot go wrong with Joe R. Lansdale, this time in collaboration with his brother John. One of my favorite authors, like in the Hap and Leonard series, he entertains with lots of wit, violence and in this case, explosive action!
Review copy supplied by publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a rating and/or review.
January 10, 2016
Hell's Bounty is a riotous and sometimes tortuous weird west horror gambol by the brothers Joe R. Lansdale and John L. Lansdale.
We start with shadows and wingy things at the belfry, and a wooden box containing red lights burning hieroglyphic-like inscriptions.
Quill has put many a man in Boot Hill cemetery, and as it happens a solitary woman, he's our bad guy but he's not your average bad guy. He's possessed by something particularly nasty that wants to end the world as we know it.
'He hadn’t liked her singing, caterwauling was more like it. She had sounded like a cat with a stick up its ass. Even the horny miners and cowboys in the saloon applauded when she hit the floor. She was not only a terrible singer, she’d had a face that could drop a raccoon out of a tree at twenty paces.'
Our bad guy come good guy is short fused bounty hunter Smith, he rolls into Falling Rock and sets off an explosive chain of events courtesy of the stick of dynamite he carries in his belt.
What's the single most important, no hang on, vital consideration when throwing a stick of dynamite with the intention of blowing the bollocks out of something? Well, if it's got a short fuse, then throw that fucker quick. Unfortunately Smith doesn't heed that advice and his next port of call is a wheelbarrow of body bits in the bar of Hell's waiting room.
Smith's not done, in fact he's regurgitated and immediately needed back up on the ground floor by Satan himself, the bartender from hell, the dead are rising at that behest of something old and evil, and Smith is the chosen one to save the day.
I enjoyed the first part of Hell's Bounty, there was plenty of humour amidst the saloon patrons with some great characters like Payday and Double Shot as the story unfolded. The final battle sees the return of legends such as Jesse James, Wild Bill Hickok and Quantrail to assist with the horde of the dead but I lost interest as the story gradually descended into an all-out action zombie killfest storyline. Silver disintegrates these dead folks and there seemed to be shed loads of it about, more common than dirt. All told started off good fun but ended up a touch repetitive with nothing that stood out.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
We start with shadows and wingy things at the belfry, and a wooden box containing red lights burning hieroglyphic-like inscriptions.
Quill has put many a man in Boot Hill cemetery, and as it happens a solitary woman, he's our bad guy but he's not your average bad guy. He's possessed by something particularly nasty that wants to end the world as we know it.
'He hadn’t liked her singing, caterwauling was more like it. She had sounded like a cat with a stick up its ass. Even the horny miners and cowboys in the saloon applauded when she hit the floor. She was not only a terrible singer, she’d had a face that could drop a raccoon out of a tree at twenty paces.'
Our bad guy come good guy is short fused bounty hunter Smith, he rolls into Falling Rock and sets off an explosive chain of events courtesy of the stick of dynamite he carries in his belt.
What's the single most important, no hang on, vital consideration when throwing a stick of dynamite with the intention of blowing the bollocks out of something? Well, if it's got a short fuse, then throw that fucker quick. Unfortunately Smith doesn't heed that advice and his next port of call is a wheelbarrow of body bits in the bar of Hell's waiting room.
Smith's not done, in fact he's regurgitated and immediately needed back up on the ground floor by Satan himself, the bartender from hell, the dead are rising at that behest of something old and evil, and Smith is the chosen one to save the day.
I enjoyed the first part of Hell's Bounty, there was plenty of humour amidst the saloon patrons with some great characters like Payday and Double Shot as the story unfolded. The final battle sees the return of legends such as Jesse James, Wild Bill Hickok and Quantrail to assist with the horde of the dead but I lost interest as the story gradually descended into an all-out action zombie killfest storyline. Silver disintegrates these dead folks and there seemed to be shed loads of it about, more common than dirt. All told started off good fun but ended up a touch repetitive with nothing that stood out.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
February 7, 2016
The beginning is the weakest part of this book.. The dialogue was strange. The setting was the only thing that kept me reading. Well, that and the fact I always finish a book.
Hell's Bounty is one of those books that grow on you while reading. It takes time to get to that particular point.
It is completely action driven. I was exhausted after I was done with it. The moment the action starts, it doesn't stop until the last line in the book.
The characters are stereotypes which works in this case The plot can't be more straightforward - Satan sends a bounty hunter, who used to be a bad man, to deal with a rogue demon who wants to summon forces neither Satan nor God wants around. The bounty hunter, Smith, gets unexpected help along the way.
There are disgusting, sad, bitter-sweet, rage-inducing as well as humorous moments in this book. Most of it is over-the-top. I can't get the wheelbarrow full of latest arrival to Snappy's bar out of my head.
Hell's Bounty is an entertaining, fast-paced story. It helps if you are in the right mood.
ARC provided by Subterranean Press via NetGalley
Hell's Bounty is one of those books that grow on you while reading. It takes time to get to that particular point.
It is completely action driven. I was exhausted after I was done with it. The moment the action starts, it doesn't stop until the last line in the book.
The characters are stereotypes which works in this case The plot can't be more straightforward - Satan sends a bounty hunter, who used to be a bad man, to deal with a rogue demon who wants to summon forces neither Satan nor God wants around. The bounty hunter, Smith, gets unexpected help along the way.
There are disgusting, sad, bitter-sweet, rage-inducing as well as humorous moments in this book. Most of it is over-the-top. I can't get the wheelbarrow full of latest arrival to Snappy's bar out of my head.
Hell's Bounty is an entertaining, fast-paced story. It helps if you are in the right mood.
ARC provided by Subterranean Press via NetGalley
December 4, 2019
*Signed, First Edition Copy*
4 Rootin', Tootin', Shootin' Stars! Yee-Haw!!
Well, that was fun. With Joe and John Lansdale writing; you can't go wrong. I don't care how far-fetched the story. Zombies, stilts, humor and Cthulhu..... Okay, I'm game.
Frog went a-kkkkk-courtin', and he did ride, kkkkkk-crambone
Frog went a-kkkkk-courtin', and he did ride, kkkkkk-crambone
Frog went a-kkk-courtin', and he did ride.
With a sword and a pppf-ppf-pf-pp(pistol) revolver by his side. kkkkkk-
crambone
IF YOU KNOW, YA KNOW! 😂🤣😂
4 Rootin', Tootin', Shootin' Stars! Yee-Haw!!
Well, that was fun. With Joe and John Lansdale writing; you can't go wrong. I don't care how far-fetched the story. Zombies, stilts, humor and Cthulhu..... Okay, I'm game.
Frog went a-kkkkk-courtin', and he did ride, kkkkkk-crambone
Frog went a-kkkkk-courtin', and he did ride, kkkkkk-crambone
Frog went a-kkk-courtin', and he did ride.
With a sword and a pppf-ppf-pf-pp(pistol) revolver by his side. kkkkkk-
crambone
IF YOU KNOW, YA KNOW! 😂🤣😂
February 22, 2020
Predstavte si veľmi divnú kuchyňu. Zoberiete kravinu a nakrájate ju na kúsky. Hodíte ju do hrnca a zalejete somarinou. Pridáte štipku blbosti a za lyžičku kliše a miešate drevenou vareškou. Keď sa odparí logika, zápletka, dej a napätie tak dolejete plytké postavy. Môžete pridať aj otravnosť alebo nudu. Výsledok potom precedíte cez podpriemernosť a naservírujete k zlému fontu s oreganom.
Ale dočítal som to. A teraz mi chýba tých pár hodín v živote.
Ale dočítal som to. A teraz mi chýba tých pár hodín v živote.
March 3, 2016
Smith, a bounty hunter in the old west, is one mean and selfish SOB. He lets a prostitute get beaten from an inch of her life by his latest bounty while sitting downstairs in the saloon. While attempting to gun down Quill, his bounty, he blows himself up with his signature weapon - dynamite. The next thing he knows, he's in a hot place being served a drink by hell's bartender, Old Snappy. Not wanting to go into an eternity of misery and fire, he accepts a mission to come back to earth to help Snappy out. It seems that Quill's body has been taken over by a demon and old acquaintence of Snappy and earth is overrun by hordes of zombies that do his bidding. On top of that, Quill is in cahoots with Lovecraft's Old Ones and looking to help them come into this world to take it over. This doesn't go over well with Old Snappy. He likes the way things are doesn't want to see it changed. So he send Smith back to earth to kick some ass and put things back to where they belong.
Lansdale wields his typical sense of warped western humor and tongue-in-cheek delivery to bring us Hell's Bounty. The story reads like a graphic novel without the pictures and it's hard to take too seriously. For those that enjoy this out of Lansdale, you'll love Hell's Bounty. For me, it was a little too hokey and cartoony for me. I like my horror to be a little more realistic and have that suspension of disbelief. At no point did I feel that the characters could be real or taken too seriously. For that, it drops the story down a full star for me. It's too bad because Lansdale tells a hell of a story. If only I could've bought into it more.
3 1/2 silver bullets out of 5
** This ARC was delivered by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
Lansdale wields his typical sense of warped western humor and tongue-in-cheek delivery to bring us Hell's Bounty. The story reads like a graphic novel without the pictures and it's hard to take too seriously. For those that enjoy this out of Lansdale, you'll love Hell's Bounty. For me, it was a little too hokey and cartoony for me. I like my horror to be a little more realistic and have that suspension of disbelief. At no point did I feel that the characters could be real or taken too seriously. For that, it drops the story down a full star for me. It's too bad because Lansdale tells a hell of a story. If only I could've bought into it more.
3 1/2 silver bullets out of 5
** This ARC was delivered by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
December 31, 2015
DNF at 24%
I just couldn't do it. This story was in a weird, awkward twilight between traditional and bizarro. The gruff one-line dialogue from the cowboy-types seemed too calculated; the shoot-'em-ups too clunky; the blood and gore too forced.
Are all Lansdale stories like this? Maybe I'll just stick to watching Bubba Ho-Tep.
I just couldn't do it. This story was in a weird, awkward twilight between traditional and bizarro. The gruff one-line dialogue from the cowboy-types seemed too calculated; the shoot-'em-ups too clunky; the blood and gore too forced.
Are all Lansdale stories like this? Maybe I'll just stick to watching Bubba Ho-Tep.
Want to read
November 18, 2016This special edition hardcover copy is number 11 of 200 signed and numbered copies, signed by Joe R. Lansdale and John L. Lansdale with a cover painted by Ben Baldwin.
February 14, 2016
Smith, just Smith, is a bounty hunter on a mission from hell. Literally. This time his bounty is a demon who has fallen afoul of the devil himself and has taken up residence in the husk of a very bad dude and is planning on unleashing a cadre of ancient monsters intent on taking over the universe. Smith, with a little help from his friends and a few cards up his sleeve, has just one chance to save the world and maybe his soul.
Many thanks to Subterranean Press, the Lansdale brothers, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
This is exactly the sort of book that I normally would have ignored. First, it is a western. Not that I have anything against westerns per se, but if you look at my shelf "Westerns" you will note that Hell's Bounty is sitting there all by its lonesome. They just never seemed all that interesting to me. Second, I am not a huge fan of the Lovecraftian world -- I know, I know, I am traitous beast -- you should see how I feel about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. So, a western featuring Lovecraftian monsters is not what would normally be right up in front of my reading queue. However, recently I have been trying to catch up on (Joe) Lansdale's horror so when I saw this book come up on NetGalley, I just had to request it.
I am very glad I did.
Given my inexperience with the western genre, I am not sure how Hell's Bounty stacks up, but if all westerns read like this, I will certainly be reading more westerns sooner rather than later. There were horses, and gunfights galore, and whips, and things exploding, and people drinking whiskey -- it was amazing. Even more so, in my opinion, given the supernatural plot. I mean, how can anyone resist a gunfight between a horde of smack-talking zombies on stilts and a posse of famous reanimated gunslingers?
Hell's Bounty is definitely a light read and is meant to be so. There are no deep answers to the meaning of life here, or revelatory characterization, or high art, but what is here is pure fun. Even the Lovecraftian monsters, though we only get a tentacle or two, are nicely done (no drippy, salty, smelly uggy-wuggies in sight).
You can also read this on my blog Read or Die .
Many thanks to Subterranean Press, the Lansdale brothers, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
This is exactly the sort of book that I normally would have ignored. First, it is a western. Not that I have anything against westerns per se, but if you look at my shelf "Westerns" you will note that Hell's Bounty is sitting there all by its lonesome. They just never seemed all that interesting to me. Second, I am not a huge fan of the Lovecraftian world -- I know, I know, I am traitous beast -- you should see how I feel about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. So, a western featuring Lovecraftian monsters is not what would normally be right up in front of my reading queue. However, recently I have been trying to catch up on (Joe) Lansdale's horror so when I saw this book come up on NetGalley, I just had to request it.
I am very glad I did.
Given my inexperience with the western genre, I am not sure how Hell's Bounty stacks up, but if all westerns read like this, I will certainly be reading more westerns sooner rather than later. There were horses, and gunfights galore, and whips, and things exploding, and people drinking whiskey -- it was amazing. Even more so, in my opinion, given the supernatural plot. I mean, how can anyone resist a gunfight between a horde of smack-talking zombies on stilts and a posse of famous reanimated gunslingers?
Hell's Bounty is definitely a light read and is meant to be so. There are no deep answers to the meaning of life here, or revelatory characterization, or high art, but what is here is pure fun. Even the Lovecraftian monsters, though we only get a tentacle or two, are nicely done (no drippy, salty, smelly uggy-wuggies in sight).
You can also read this on my blog Read or Die .
January 7, 2016
The western town of Falling Rock is a dangerous place, full of drunks, greedy miners, and fast guns, the fastest of which is the sadistic Quill. Enter a bounty hunter named Smith, a no-nonsense gunslinger with a penchant for dynamite. When Smith tangles with Quill, he ends up blowing himself up and landing smack-dab in Hell, where the devil has a certain deal for him. See, Quill’s gotten even meaner of late when he sold his soul to a demon who wants to summon the Old Ones, a group of Lovecraftians baddies that would roughly bring about the end of the world. Even Satan can’t handle that—bad for business, you see—and Smith gets the chance to go back and take Quill down for good.
Even armed with a demonic steed, an infinite supply of silver bullets, and more dynamite (longer fuses this time), Smith finds himself a bit out of his league: Quill has turned the local environs around Falling Rock into a wasteland, with the former populace now a rabid pack of blood-drinking ghouls. Quill himself is imbued with demonic power, turning him into a lightning-fast winged monster. But Smith straps on his Colts and rides into battle; on his side are a motley crew of Falling Rock survivors—saloon gal Payday, the town drunk/doctor, and a Molotov-wielding undertaker—as well as a card deck that can summon some of the meanest legends of the old west Hell can offer.
It’s a pretty exciting setup for the Lansdale brothers to tear into, and it packs in a lot of action for fans of their previous “weird west” adventures: a chase or two, several showdowns, an epic battle or two, with plenty of flowing blood and flying bullets. Joe Lansdale is a charismatic storyteller prone to genre-jumping, who always adds elements of his East Texas world into his crime and horror novels; he has a gift for fluid storytelling rich in vernacular and off-color humor. The humor’s a bit rough, and the cast is full of gritty, unsavory characters who (thankfully) either get their comeuppance or attempt to be better people, but overall it’s got a solid theme of death and redemption. Lansdale’s nod to history—the deck that summons infamous Wild West icons like Jesse James and Bill Hickock—is a nice touch, and brings to mind some of his other pulp mashups like Zeppelins West. And despite the craziness of some of these elements, when it’s all pulled together into a novel, it works.
Hell’s Bounty is unabashedly pulp, and it revels in it, falling into a smooth groove for its bloody finale after establishing a slick, energetic dynamic between Smith and his plucky comrades. It’s pure entertainment—screwball entertainment at that, as an odd mix of dime novels, comic books, and classic SF and horror. Its appeal may be a bit too niche, though after all this is coming from an Joe Lansdale, author of many a cult classic, so I doubt it will suffer from its genre-blending and unique creativity. At the end of the day, this 192-page short novel is another great read by Lansdale, a pulp throwback to spaghetti westerns and Hammer films and Jonah Hex comics, a concoction that’s sure to entertain those familiar with Joe’s inspirations. If you’re looking for a quirky read that doesn’t take itself too seriously, a fun action romp full of ghouls and gunslingers, look no further. Lansdale’s weird west is fun as Hell, and witty to boot.
(Full review, and other horror/Lansdale reviews, on my blog.)
Even armed with a demonic steed, an infinite supply of silver bullets, and more dynamite (longer fuses this time), Smith finds himself a bit out of his league: Quill has turned the local environs around Falling Rock into a wasteland, with the former populace now a rabid pack of blood-drinking ghouls. Quill himself is imbued with demonic power, turning him into a lightning-fast winged monster. But Smith straps on his Colts and rides into battle; on his side are a motley crew of Falling Rock survivors—saloon gal Payday, the town drunk/doctor, and a Molotov-wielding undertaker—as well as a card deck that can summon some of the meanest legends of the old west Hell can offer.
It’s a pretty exciting setup for the Lansdale brothers to tear into, and it packs in a lot of action for fans of their previous “weird west” adventures: a chase or two, several showdowns, an epic battle or two, with plenty of flowing blood and flying bullets. Joe Lansdale is a charismatic storyteller prone to genre-jumping, who always adds elements of his East Texas world into his crime and horror novels; he has a gift for fluid storytelling rich in vernacular and off-color humor. The humor’s a bit rough, and the cast is full of gritty, unsavory characters who (thankfully) either get their comeuppance or attempt to be better people, but overall it’s got a solid theme of death and redemption. Lansdale’s nod to history—the deck that summons infamous Wild West icons like Jesse James and Bill Hickock—is a nice touch, and brings to mind some of his other pulp mashups like Zeppelins West. And despite the craziness of some of these elements, when it’s all pulled together into a novel, it works.
Hell’s Bounty is unabashedly pulp, and it revels in it, falling into a smooth groove for its bloody finale after establishing a slick, energetic dynamic between Smith and his plucky comrades. It’s pure entertainment—screwball entertainment at that, as an odd mix of dime novels, comic books, and classic SF and horror. Its appeal may be a bit too niche, though after all this is coming from an Joe Lansdale, author of many a cult classic, so I doubt it will suffer from its genre-blending and unique creativity. At the end of the day, this 192-page short novel is another great read by Lansdale, a pulp throwback to spaghetti westerns and Hammer films and Jonah Hex comics, a concoction that’s sure to entertain those familiar with Joe’s inspirations. If you’re looking for a quirky read that doesn’t take itself too seriously, a fun action romp full of ghouls and gunslingers, look no further. Lansdale’s weird west is fun as Hell, and witty to boot.
(Full review, and other horror/Lansdale reviews, on my blog.)
January 27, 2016
I like my westerns weird. Zombie action. Deals with devils. Silver bullets. Demon horses. Hell's Bounty has all of that and then some. This supernatural yarn by the Lansdale brothers reads like a whirlwind of bullets and brimstone. It is a delightful menage of pulp western and Weird Tales horror that is over too quickly and begs for a re-read.It is also a sugary supernatural confection for the mind with about the same lack of nutrients, but let's face it. Man cannot live on prime rib and artichokes alone.
Smith is a bounty hunter and not a very nice person to put it mildly. He is in the town of Falling Rock to apprehend a criminal dead or alive. While he gets his man, dead, a run-in with a vicious hombre named Trumbo Quill and a miscalculation over the length of a dynamite fuse sends him straight to Hell. However, Hell's bartender Snappy (guess who?) has a deal for him. Smith is to return to Falling Rock and take on Quill who has now been possessed by the demon Zelzarda and is planning to let loose The Ancient Ones on unsuspecting Earth. It appears even God and the devil are no match for Lovecraftian evils.
Smith is sent back to Earth, now a year after his death. The rest becomes the grit in the tale with Smith teaming up with the survivors of Falling Rock and a few helpers from the underworld. Quill is the now demonic heavy who is guarded by smart-ass ghouls. It is pretty much non-stop action but the Brothers Lansdale occasionally slows it down to reveal a story of personal growth and redemption. After no anti-hero is worth his weight in silver if the hero part doesn't tip the scale at least a little bit.
This short novel screams pulp and Joe R. Lansdale is probably the most pulp oriented of the contemporary writers of horror, mystery and western. He has been delving into western quite a bit lately and this one takes me back to one of his first supernatural westerns, Dead in the West. It is both a throw-back and an improvement with colorful descriptions and sharp witty dialog that moves the story like a hellbound train. Yet even with the clear redemption angle, it something feel too pulp. His latest western oriented novels, noticeably The Thicket and Paradise Sky, are some of his best work with themes to rival the dense literary canons. Lansdale is at his peak. Yet Hell's Bounty feels a little like a pit stop, a fun excursion in the pits of Western BBQ Hell. But it is a hell of a lot of fun. So that is how I recommend you read it, like a roller coaster ride before the main event. Pulp Lansdale is great. Lansdale at the peak of his career with a message among the fun and horror is greater. Even with the redemption theme, the most message you will get from Hell's Bounty is don't go to Hell and carry a lot of silver. So enjoy Hell's Bounty, but think of it as an appetizer before the vast bounties of the Landsdale universe to come. Three and a half stars.
Smith is a bounty hunter and not a very nice person to put it mildly. He is in the town of Falling Rock to apprehend a criminal dead or alive. While he gets his man, dead, a run-in with a vicious hombre named Trumbo Quill and a miscalculation over the length of a dynamite fuse sends him straight to Hell. However, Hell's bartender Snappy (guess who?) has a deal for him. Smith is to return to Falling Rock and take on Quill who has now been possessed by the demon Zelzarda and is planning to let loose The Ancient Ones on unsuspecting Earth. It appears even God and the devil are no match for Lovecraftian evils.
Smith is sent back to Earth, now a year after his death. The rest becomes the grit in the tale with Smith teaming up with the survivors of Falling Rock and a few helpers from the underworld. Quill is the now demonic heavy who is guarded by smart-ass ghouls. It is pretty much non-stop action but the Brothers Lansdale occasionally slows it down to reveal a story of personal growth and redemption. After no anti-hero is worth his weight in silver if the hero part doesn't tip the scale at least a little bit.
This short novel screams pulp and Joe R. Lansdale is probably the most pulp oriented of the contemporary writers of horror, mystery and western. He has been delving into western quite a bit lately and this one takes me back to one of his first supernatural westerns, Dead in the West. It is both a throw-back and an improvement with colorful descriptions and sharp witty dialog that moves the story like a hellbound train. Yet even with the clear redemption angle, it something feel too pulp. His latest western oriented novels, noticeably The Thicket and Paradise Sky, are some of his best work with themes to rival the dense literary canons. Lansdale is at his peak. Yet Hell's Bounty feels a little like a pit stop, a fun excursion in the pits of Western BBQ Hell. But it is a hell of a lot of fun. So that is how I recommend you read it, like a roller coaster ride before the main event. Pulp Lansdale is great. Lansdale at the peak of his career with a message among the fun and horror is greater. Even with the redemption theme, the most message you will get from Hell's Bounty is don't go to Hell and carry a lot of silver. So enjoy Hell's Bounty, but think of it as an appetizer before the vast bounties of the Landsdale universe to come. Three and a half stars.
May 7, 2019
I might read a western once a year, sometimes less. It's just not my favorite genre. But Hell's Bounty is not your typical western. This is what we used to call a "weird western tale" and yes for those in the know there is a pun there. It's as if all the people who wrote the Ghost Rider comic in the seventies got together, got really drunk, and said "Hey I have an idea!" (And if you know me well enough you know this is a compliment.) Hell's Bounty was penned by Joe Lansdale and his brother John-it is an entertaining but visceral reading experience. If a more than fair amount of bloodletting and killing, reanimated corpses, and the apocalypse are not your cup of tea, you may want to skip this one. Good stuff.
February 29, 2016
[I received a copy of this book through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.]
A crossover between western, horror and dark comedy, where a bounty hunter who blew himself up to Hell (literally) is recruited to prevent the end of the world. This mix is full of saloon pillars, hardened girls, flash-eating ghouls, not too clever zombies, and heroes (and foes) out of the Far West legends and dime novels. A bizarre and mismatched posse, and none is guaranteed to come out of this alive.
I found this novel fairly weird: entertaining to a degree, but sort of straddling a fence, as if it never knew what it really wanted to be. Horror? Comedy? It would lean alternatively towards one or the other, swinging back and forth between both genres, sometimes successfully, sometimes with results that were a bit silly. There's a Lovecraftian-like threat, and a mesmerising long night with vivid imagery of a moon cleft in two by a tower... and there's the villain that looked like a cross between a gargoyle and a bat. There's Falling Rock, with its resident bully who hits prostitues and shoots down just about anyone out of his own feelings of misery... and there are all the stereotypes, perhaps too much like stereotypes, of, well, stereotypical western stories (drunk doc, undertaker, kid playing at being a big gun...). There are scenes both gruesome and funny—like the short-lived moment when Jenny comes out of her grave—and there are others where the humour doesn't take too well. The ghouls are often dumb and presented more like comic relief... and then dismember and eat people like there's not tomorrow.
The writing itself was disjointed and weird at times. I got an ARC, so I wouldn't expect it to be flawless, yet often a sentence would jump out of the page, looking twisted and not fully grammatically correct. Though it wasn't absolutely unreadable, it was distracting enough to pull me out of the story at times. The dialogues, too, were hit or miss: some lines made me smile and snort, befitting dark humour western characters, while others just made me roll my eyes. Some parts were action-packed and a funny ride, and others ended up feeling repetitive (attack zombies, get hurt/maimed/trampled/killed/devoured, not necessarily in that order, rinse and repeat).
I'd deem this the kind of quick read definitely worth it when you don't need to focus and just want to spend a few hours with an entertaining story. Which in itself is not a bad thing, nor anything to be belittled. However, the writing and the wonky pacing don't make it much more than “enjoyable then forgettable”. 2.5 stars.
A crossover between western, horror and dark comedy, where a bounty hunter who blew himself up to Hell (literally) is recruited to prevent the end of the world. This mix is full of saloon pillars, hardened girls, flash-eating ghouls, not too clever zombies, and heroes (and foes) out of the Far West legends and dime novels. A bizarre and mismatched posse, and none is guaranteed to come out of this alive.
I found this novel fairly weird: entertaining to a degree, but sort of straddling a fence, as if it never knew what it really wanted to be. Horror? Comedy? It would lean alternatively towards one or the other, swinging back and forth between both genres, sometimes successfully, sometimes with results that were a bit silly. There's a Lovecraftian-like threat, and a mesmerising long night with vivid imagery of a moon cleft in two by a tower... and there's the villain that looked like a cross between a gargoyle and a bat. There's Falling Rock, with its resident bully who hits prostitues and shoots down just about anyone out of his own feelings of misery... and there are all the stereotypes, perhaps too much like stereotypes, of, well, stereotypical western stories (drunk doc, undertaker, kid playing at being a big gun...). There are scenes both gruesome and funny—like the short-lived moment when Jenny comes out of her grave—and there are others where the humour doesn't take too well. The ghouls are often dumb and presented more like comic relief... and then dismember and eat people like there's not tomorrow.
The writing itself was disjointed and weird at times. I got an ARC, so I wouldn't expect it to be flawless, yet often a sentence would jump out of the page, looking twisted and not fully grammatically correct. Though it wasn't absolutely unreadable, it was distracting enough to pull me out of the story at times. The dialogues, too, were hit or miss: some lines made me smile and snort, befitting dark humour western characters, while others just made me roll my eyes. Some parts were action-packed and a funny ride, and others ended up feeling repetitive (attack zombies, get hurt/maimed/trampled/killed/devoured, not necessarily in that order, rinse and repeat).
I'd deem this the kind of quick read definitely worth it when you don't need to focus and just want to spend a few hours with an entertaining story. Which in itself is not a bad thing, nor anything to be belittled. However, the writing and the wonky pacing don't make it much more than “enjoyable then forgettable”. 2.5 stars.
January 12, 2016
After a very unfortunate accident, a bounty hunter finds himself in a weird saloon, which operates as kind of the last outpost on his way to hell. However, when Satan offers him a last job on Earth, Smith can't deny - after all, the awaiting alternative would be very painful for him.
Therefore, Smith is sent back one more time in order to stop a bad guy named Quill. Already a bad-ass while human, Quill now is a demon-possessed monster ruling over town with his army of ghouls and the intention of releasing some ancient gods named the Old Ones into our world. Together with a group of survivors and a posse sent right up from hell, Smith takes on his last bounty hunt...
There were a lot of very weird but also witty scenes and characters in this book, and I loved Snappy aka Satan working as a bartender in his hellish saloon. The author expertly managed to create some powerful images in my head, and I could easily visualize each character as well as the typical western setting. The combination of western and horror worked very well together. The story contained a large portion of good old-fashioned shooting and fighting.
Towards the end, a number of new yet eerily familiar characters were brought into the story as support for Smith. But while they were an interesting bunch it seemed their only purpose was to die in one or another fancy way during the final battle, which thus was unnecessarily prolonged.
Overall a very unique and entertaining novel.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
Therefore, Smith is sent back one more time in order to stop a bad guy named Quill. Already a bad-ass while human, Quill now is a demon-possessed monster ruling over town with his army of ghouls and the intention of releasing some ancient gods named the Old Ones into our world. Together with a group of survivors and a posse sent right up from hell, Smith takes on his last bounty hunt...
There were a lot of very weird but also witty scenes and characters in this book, and I loved Snappy aka Satan working as a bartender in his hellish saloon. The author expertly managed to create some powerful images in my head, and I could easily visualize each character as well as the typical western setting. The combination of western and horror worked very well together. The story contained a large portion of good old-fashioned shooting and fighting.
Towards the end, a number of new yet eerily familiar characters were brought into the story as support for Smith. But while they were an interesting bunch it seemed their only purpose was to die in one or another fancy way during the final battle, which thus was unnecessarily prolonged.
Overall a very unique and entertaining novel.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
February 15, 2017
Další Lansdale - a tentokrát v dvojité dávce. Ne, není to dvakrát tak tlusté, ani to nejsou dva příběhy, jsou to dva Lansdaleové. Tady se dal Joe R. Lansdale dohromady se svým bráchou Johnem L. Lansdalem (rodiče neměli při vymýšlení jmen zrovna velkou fantazii) a napsali správný westernově mystický brak. Hlavní hrdina, lovec lidí jménem Smith, špatně odhadne délku doutnáku u dynamitu a následkem toho se ocitne v pekle. Tam ho ale osloví barman (protože čekárna do pekla vypadá jako westernový bar) a nabídne mu práci. Musí se vrátit na zem a zlikvidovat démona, který chce vypustit na svět Prastaré - Cthulhu a spol. Takže se pistolník vrací a vyráží do boje proti démonovi. A armádám ghúlů. A zombíkům. V týmu s jednookou pistolnicí, opileckým felčarem, nemluvným indiánem a beznohým hrobníkem... a posléze ještě s pomocí pekla v podobě Billa Hickoka, Jesseho Jamese a dalších slavných střelců.
Měl jsem z téhle knihy trochu strach, přece jen, čím víc autorů, tím horší kvalita. Ale tady mi přišlo, že to knize prospělo. Landsale tu není tak popisný, tempo děje a hlášek je vysoké a vůbec je to parádní pulp.
Měl jsem z téhle knihy trochu strach, přece jen, čím víc autorů, tím horší kvalita. Ale tady mi přišlo, že to knize prospělo. Landsale tu není tak popisný, tempo děje a hlášek je vysoké a vůbec je to parádní pulp.
February 23, 2016
I love weird Westerns, and I'm a fan of Joe Lansdale. So I was definitely looking forward to this one. And overall it's a solid book.
A man named Smith makes a grudging deal with Satan. Why would anyone do that? Because in three days, something worse than Satan is coming. I'll leave the rest for you to discover.
I did miss some of the Lansdale humor here--it's there, but there's not as much of it. But what was really disappointing is that there wasn't anything that surprised me. The book moved along exactly as you'd expect, and ended up exactly where you'd expect. But still, it's Lansdale, so the writing is solid. If you like weird Westerns, this is a fine (if pedestrian) entry in the genre.
A man named Smith makes a grudging deal with Satan. Why would anyone do that? Because in three days, something worse than Satan is coming. I'll leave the rest for you to discover.
I did miss some of the Lansdale humor here--it's there, but there's not as much of it. But what was really disappointing is that there wasn't anything that surprised me. The book moved along exactly as you'd expect, and ended up exactly where you'd expect. But still, it's Lansdale, so the writing is solid. If you like weird Westerns, this is a fine (if pedestrian) entry in the genre.
December 19, 2015
Thnx netgalley and SUBTERRANEAN PRESS for giving me a copy to read and review.
this is an odd book. Nothing much happen. I dont know wethere lansdale brothers wanted to write a westerner or vampire or horror story. quill looks like a winged vampire who creates havoc. sample this
"Quill came in through into the saloon, flexing his leather wings. He was bigger than before and had taken on a mummified look, as if he had been wet down good and dried in the sun. Had more teeth than before, more teeth every time they saw him , more teeth than a mouth should hold; they poked in all directions. The piano stopped playing, and except for a long, slow fart easing out of a ghoul’s foul digestion, the saloon was as silent as the face of the moon."
thus is a pretty average read.
this is an odd book. Nothing much happen. I dont know wethere lansdale brothers wanted to write a westerner or vampire or horror story. quill looks like a winged vampire who creates havoc. sample this
"Quill came in through into the saloon, flexing his leather wings. He was bigger than before and had taken on a mummified look, as if he had been wet down good and dried in the sun. Had more teeth than before, more teeth every time they saw him , more teeth than a mouth should hold; they poked in all directions. The piano stopped playing, and except for a long, slow fart easing out of a ghoul’s foul digestion, the saloon was as silent as the face of the moon."
thus is a pretty average read.
March 4, 2016
I'm a huge Lansdale fan, but my favorites are his weird western tales. This one definitely fits the bill. A gunslinger from Hell has to take down a demon bent on opening the gateway to the Old Ones in the wild west. Throw in a bunch of ghouls (more like zombies who still kinda act like people) and some living dead folks like Wild Bill Hickok and Jesse James, and this is the perfect mix. Plus the Brothers Lansdale give us something I'm pretty sure has never been done before: zombies on stilts. It's no DEAD IN THE WEST, but it *is* a hell of a lot of fun. Highly recommended.
April 23, 2018
In the Old West things could go bad real fast, but in the town of Falling Rock the problem is not a human danger, but a minion of hell. It is very mad at his former boss, so it plans to open gateway to bring the Old Ones(Lovecraft's baddies) through to rip Satan and God a new one.
To stop this monster Satan forces recent lost soul, a bounty hunter named Smith, to returned to Falling Rock(were his last job went south and then he did) and stop the invasion. He gets a unlimited supply of silver bullets, a mighty horse, Shadow, demonic deck of cards and his lifetime of dealing violence to foil the bad guys.
So partners sit back and enjoy massive mayhem, heroes, a horde of ghouls and the meanest posse to ride the west.
To stop this monster Satan forces recent lost soul, a bounty hunter named Smith, to returned to Falling Rock(were his last job went south and then he did) and stop the invasion. He gets a unlimited supply of silver bullets, a mighty horse, Shadow, demonic deck of cards and his lifetime of dealing violence to foil the bad guys.
So partners sit back and enjoy massive mayhem, heroes, a horde of ghouls and the meanest posse to ride the west.
November 29, 2017
A just-okay horror western by Joe R. Lansdale's brother, John. I mention that this book is by John, as it really doesn't read as well as your usual Joe Lansdale novel. My guess is Joe gave his first time novelist brother's manuscript a spit-shine and presented the book under both their names, as his name rings bells. It really was subpar as a Joe Lansdale work, so lets just call it a John Lansdale work. That said, if it was in fact John's first novel, not too bad for a first timer. And having a spectacular writer like his brother Joe to help out couldn't have hurt. Joe Lansdale has done much better similar work in the past, check out "The Magic Wagon" or "Deadman's Road". That said, this book still wasn't a waste of time. There is definitely some fun to be had, and no shortage of cowboys versus zombie mayhem. Overall: doesn't stack up as a Joe Lansdale novel, but not terrible for a first novel by John Lansdale.
March 5, 2017
If you're a big fan of old time Westerns of any kind you will NOT be disappointed in this story! It has everything: shoot outs, the quintessential "good guy/bad guy" match-up, a motley crew of characters such as the saloon girl with a heart of gold, the horrble villain, and the High Plains drifter, and you get the idea, but with a HUGE difference: throw in some Lovecraft, tough choices and a "do or die" consequence and you have this story! Quick read at less than 200 pages but well worth it!
March 18, 2021
Wal, pardner, if'n Sandman Slim ever drug hisself back in time and into the Wild West, this here's the story he might could of experienced.
Yes, it's a Western horror comedy. It's ridiculous, it's violent, it's cheap, and I really enjoyed it.
There's a plot. There are characters worth following. There's a great deal of dry humour, and plenty of action.
If you need a break from all those other books, this is definitely it.
Yes, it's a Western horror comedy. It's ridiculous, it's violent, it's cheap, and I really enjoyed it.
There's a plot. There are characters worth following. There's a great deal of dry humour, and plenty of action.
If you need a break from all those other books, this is definitely it.
December 29, 2024
Long time since i read a book that gives you this much excitement and makes you not want to stop reading.It’s a beautifully written book and it feels like you’re actually watching a movie and not reading a book.Definitely one of the best books and stories out there.It deserves more than 5 stars and it deserves a movie.
March 10, 2020
slabší 3/5*
- originální
- svérázné
- temné
- krátké :D :/
- originální
- svérázné
- temné
- krátké :D :/
March 2, 2020
„Tak Satan povolal své služebníky, spočítal je jednoho po druhém. A ti nejhorší z nich chyběli.“
Osamělý lovec odměn Smith špatně odhadl délku doutnáku u dynamitu a skončil v pekle. Tam mu samotný Satan dá druhou šanci, aby zachránil celý svět.
Spojení divokého západu, pekla a zombíků je celkem fajn kombinace. Ještě lepší by ale bylo, kdyby potenciál této kombinace uměli autoři plně využít. Děj byl předvídatelný, zápletka jednoduchá a chyb bylo v textu jak much na oběšenci. Také mi přišlo, že dost hlášek a vulgarismů bylo nucených a děj by se občas obešel i bez nich. Ale jinak jde o pohodovou četbu, kterou v pohodě stihnete za jeden večer, nemusíte u čtení moc myslet a počet postav spočítáte na prstech jedné ruky. Věc, která mě opravdu překvapila a mile potěšila, bylo číst o tom, jak Smithovi pomáhají kosit zombíky Jesse James a Wild Bill Hickok.
U této knihy platí pravidlo „jednou a dost“, ale za originalitu si zaslouží krásné 3/5.
Osamělý lovec odměn Smith špatně odhadl délku doutnáku u dynamitu a skončil v pekle. Tam mu samotný Satan dá druhou šanci, aby zachránil celý svět.
Spojení divokého západu, pekla a zombíků je celkem fajn kombinace. Ještě lepší by ale bylo, kdyby potenciál této kombinace uměli autoři plně využít. Děj byl předvídatelný, zápletka jednoduchá a chyb bylo v textu jak much na oběšenci. Také mi přišlo, že dost hlášek a vulgarismů bylo nucených a děj by se občas obešel i bez nich. Ale jinak jde o pohodovou četbu, kterou v pohodě stihnete za jeden večer, nemusíte u čtení moc myslet a počet postav spočítáte na prstech jedné ruky. Věc, která mě opravdu překvapila a mile potěšila, bylo číst o tom, jak Smithovi pomáhají kosit zombíky Jesse James a Wild Bill Hickok.
U této knihy platí pravidlo „jednou a dost“, ale za originalitu si zaslouží krásné 3/5.
January 13, 2016
Hell's Bounty is a humorous over-the-top action packed weird western pulp novel. The description of the book clearly says this, but based on some reviews that seemed not to get what this was supposed to be I feel that it needs restating. If this sounds like something that you wouldn't like, then you won't, so be warned and steer clear. For the rest of us you will have a hard time finding a more purely fun read.
I see that John Lansdale (as well as Joe) has experience writing comic books, and that is evident in Hell's Bounty. I could practically see the panels as I read along, making me think this was originally intended as a comic but was then changed to a novel. Each of the five parts felt like it would have made an individual issue.
Hell's Bounty certainly has a target audience, and for them this will be a home run. 5 stars, recommended for weird western and pulp aficionados.
I see that John Lansdale (as well as Joe) has experience writing comic books, and that is evident in Hell's Bounty. I could practically see the panels as I read along, making me think this was originally intended as a comic but was then changed to a novel. Each of the five parts felt like it would have made an individual issue.
Hell's Bounty certainly has a target audience, and for them this will be a home run. 5 stars, recommended for weird western and pulp aficionados.
July 26, 2016
This was my first taste of Lansdale, but it certainly won't be my last. I thankfully had the opportunity to meet this lovely gentleman and his wife this past weekend at Scares That Care weekend in Williamsburg Virginia where I snagged a few more titles.
This one is probably a bit hard to classify as it's a bit of Horror, Western & Bizarro all rolled into one crazy fantastic ride.
Falling Rock is your typical honky tonk kinda western town until a runaway demon takes up residence and decides to shake things up a bit by summoning the Old Ones. But, well, Snappy (Satan as a bartender in Limbo) likes how things are so he sends a rag tag group of misfits led by bounty hunter, Smith, back topside to stop the madness.
Highly recommend checking this one out!
*Digital review copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
This one is probably a bit hard to classify as it's a bit of Horror, Western & Bizarro all rolled into one crazy fantastic ride.
Falling Rock is your typical honky tonk kinda western town until a runaway demon takes up residence and decides to shake things up a bit by summoning the Old Ones. But, well, Snappy (Satan as a bartender in Limbo) likes how things are so he sends a rag tag group of misfits led by bounty hunter, Smith, back topside to stop the madness.
Highly recommend checking this one out!
*Digital review copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
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