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Mongo #4
The Beasts of Valhalla
Asked to investigate the bizarre death of his own nephew, Mongo soon discovers an insane, evil genius who is performing bizarre experiments with DNA
327 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
24 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
George C. Chesbro
53 books62 followersGeorge C. Chesbro was an American author of detective fiction. His most notable works feature Dr. Robert "Mongo the Magnificent" Fredrickson, a private detective with dwarfism. He also wrote the novelization of The Golden Child, a movie of the same name starring Eddie Murphy.
Chesbro was born in Washington, D.C. He worked as a special education teacher at Pearl River and later at rockland Psychiatric Center, where he worked with trouble teens. Chebro was married and had one daughter and two step-daughters.
Chesbro was born in Washington, D.C. He worked as a special education teacher at Pearl River and later at rockland Psychiatric Center, where he worked with trouble teens. Chebro was married and had one daughter and two step-daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 3, 2010
"Thermonuclear war may destroy human life--indeed, all life--over the planet, but not necessarily so. In fact, the solutions to the equations indicate that the outside parameters for our existence may be as much as three or four hundred years. But no more. The means by which we destroy ourselves cannot be predicted mathematically--and are, in any case, irrelevant. It is of no value to look around for the catastrophe that will come; in an evolutionary sense, we are the catastrophe, a unique species of self-aware, intelligent creatures that are, as an entire species, quite insane. We are, as the Triage Parabola makes quite Clear, simply an evolutionary dead end. Nature, as is well-known from even the most casual observation, is unforgiving and implacable in erasing her mistakes. On an evolutionary scale, we rose with lightning speed; we shall disappear with lightning speed. In four hundred years, or maybe only four hundred months or days or hours or seconds, there will not be a single human being left on the face of the earth. In four thousand years--a snap of the fingers in evolutionary time--there will probably not even be a trace left of our existence."
Ironically, this passage is from Chesbro's rather unusual detective novel. The hero is a dwarf of unusual intelligence, with a doctorate in criminology and experience as a flying trapeze artist in the circus. He and his brother, a New York City policeman, investigate the death of their nephew and discover a worldwide environmental plot. It is impossible to say more without giving away the story. A good, fast, fun read. By the way, this is a classic example of a cover having absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the contents, unfortunately?
Ironically, this passage is from Chesbro's rather unusual detective novel. The hero is a dwarf of unusual intelligence, with a doctorate in criminology and experience as a flying trapeze artist in the circus. He and his brother, a New York City policeman, investigate the death of their nephew and discover a worldwide environmental plot. It is impossible to say more without giving away the story. A good, fast, fun read. By the way, this is a classic example of a cover having absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the contents, unfortunately?
August 23, 2009
I read this when it first came out, then promptly forgot author and title. For decades it has haunted me, half-formed vestigal images of a dwarf detective, gorilla communicating through chest-slung speak-and-spell, and the fantastic final chapter featuring all humanities woes set to a triumphant 17hr screening of Wagner's Ring Cycle. It was actually through Goodreads that I finally tracked down the title which had left such indelible yet hazy impression, and I was filled with nostalgia when Amazon was able to ship me a worn paperback copy.
On re-read, I can't say that this is exactly a work of high fiction, yet you have to give Chesbro credit for creating a memorable protagonist in Mongo: ex-circus dwarf, current criminology professor, he spins his karate black-belt into action by hiring out as a P.I. specializing in the occult. Um, yeah :-)
The whole thing would be utterly ludicrous, except for two things: one, the over-the-top film noir first-person narrative, which reads like Garrison Keillor's "Guy Noir" on crack. Second, Mongo himself, who I finally recognized as -- wait for it -- George R.R. Martin's Tyrion cast in a parallel, yet equally cold and uncaring universe.
That's right, if you're a fan of Martin's infamous Imp, the Bastard of Lannister, give Mongo a try and see if he can't tide you over until the next SOAIF chapter (due, we all know, whenever Martin damn well feels like it :-) Besides, Gollum the freaked-out gorilla totally owns Crichton's lamoid Amy de la Congo.
On re-read, I can't say that this is exactly a work of high fiction, yet you have to give Chesbro credit for creating a memorable protagonist in Mongo: ex-circus dwarf, current criminology professor, he spins his karate black-belt into action by hiring out as a P.I. specializing in the occult. Um, yeah :-)
The whole thing would be utterly ludicrous, except for two things: one, the over-the-top film noir first-person narrative, which reads like Garrison Keillor's "Guy Noir" on crack. Second, Mongo himself, who I finally recognized as -- wait for it -- George R.R. Martin's Tyrion cast in a parallel, yet equally cold and uncaring universe.
That's right, if you're a fan of Martin's infamous Imp, the Bastard of Lannister, give Mongo a try and see if he can't tide you over until the next SOAIF chapter (due, we all know, whenever Martin damn well feels like it :-) Besides, Gollum the freaked-out gorilla totally owns Crichton's lamoid Amy de la Congo.
August 2, 2012
I can see the flaws in this a lot more clearly than when I read it as a teenager (including some bad biology - ick!), but I still ate it up with a spoon.
September 12, 2018
This is probably my favorite book of the year so far! The book is quirky, ridiculous and insane but in a good way. When your main character is a dwarf, and you have talking gorillas fighting an evil corporation, I call that fun.
April 22, 2018
It always fun reading the Mongo mysteries.
May 20, 2025
As much as I love the Mongo series, this was almost too over the top for me. A serum is injected into Mongo and Garth, this serum turns back evolution. A mad scientist is going push mankind back so it can go through evolution again and get it right.
September 30, 2018
Imaginative and inventive. A crazy mystery story unlike any you've read.
August 17, 2019
One of my favourite books of all time. Mongo is one of the unlikeliest of heroes on the surface but this is one long thrill ride!
October 30, 2020
Read in 1988. The 4th novel in the Mongo series. I don't know think I read any more in the series.
January 3, 2021
When crazy scientists turn religious fanatics, life can get VERY scary. This is one plot that I hope never, ever to encounter in real life!
April 30, 2008
The fourth, and best yet of the Mongo mysteries, though I must say, I am a little disappointed in the resolution. It felt a bit like the old Star Trek TV show, (and the newer ones as well), wherein the danger to the crew is real and palpable, until the writer seems to take pity on his creations, and simply wipes away the danger with a few strokes of his keyboard. Also, as usual, the level of coincidental happenings make it difficult to suspend disbelief. (Sure I'll believe in cyborg talking gorillas, but I draw the line at the hero stumbling into just the right warehouse to find the best knife ever forged, and needing exactly that knife to affect his escape.)
June 29, 2015
The villain's somewhat disappointing revelation at the end, the wonky science, and too many convenient coincides aside, this was one the most entertaining books I've ever read. I haven't read the other books in the series, but now I think I might, though it's good enough to stand on its own. It nearly defies description, but I guess...a murder mystery/comedy/sci-fi/fantasy/buddy-cop story? Good enough.
March 30, 2010
I still like this almost as much as I did when it first came out, but I wish Chesbro had bothered to reread (or, possibly, actually read) LOTR--and checked out Richard Wagner's life dates--before he wrote it. Chesbro's writing is imaginative, engrossing, compelling; but his fact-checking was seriously deficient.
December 29, 2012
A good story, but not much mystery. Far more of an adventure thriller with some Michael Crichton science and some Lord of the rings thrown in. I liked the main character a lit, and will probably read at least one more book with him.
This was not the first in the series but they gave enough background to be understandable.
This was not the first in the series but they gave enough background to be understandable.
January 11, 2013
Great book. Very engaging. A very different main character. Amazing foreshadowing of the directions things were to go but the book does read as dated since the cutting edge technology of the time is very outdated now.
April 1, 2009
I question why I read this awful book.
February 11, 2011
One of my all time favorites from my younger years.
July 20, 2013
First ever book that I've read. Don't remember when it was.
May 28, 2014
Took longer to get into and through than the first few Mongo stories, but the last 150 pages run you down like a freight train.
November 8, 2015
Perhaps the most fanciful of the Mongo Mysteries. A pure joy!
March 21, 2016
Fan of Game of Thrones? Read this. Love books that take you places that you never expected? Read this.
February 20, 2016
you need to completely suspend your disbelief for this one, but it was a fun ride
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July 28, 2011Un de mes préférés.
April 14, 2016
Fantastic! I can't wait to read the rest of the Mongo books!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews