Action/Adventure Aficionados discussion

This Month's October, and that means scary things, things that go bump in the night and things that growl and take pieces of you home for dinner.

First up is Wolf's Hour by Robert R. McCammon. This is a wonderful read, and in keeping with the current them of Halloween, Monsters, Ghouls and Ghosts and other such things.


This thread is open for discussion. I'll be your moderator, please, no smoking in the lavrartory keep your seatbelts around you and buckled any time your in your seats and pay attention to the pilot in the case of turbulance....

It's a full moon (well, just for me, could you imagine a full moon?) ... a little fog lingering on close to the ground, a hint of chill in the breeze and the howl of a lonely wolf in the distance...

Please share your thoughts.

I started this today. Good so far!

He's definately got a very unique (or was at the time) vision of werewolves. Very ... David Bowie-- Howling, but, better.

I've got my name on the Kindle library waiting list for this one...hope it comes in soon!

Good luck. I enjoyed this book. He has a unique idea of werewolves, but, since this is older, there are some of his ideas reflected in the Monster Hunter International series.

I wonder who it inspired every now and then.

Hoping to start this week.

I'm hoping to start it after I finish MHI, plus it needs to arrive in the mail.

I have too many books going right now. I'll have to hold off for a bit on this one.

I'll try to knock it out before the month is up.

There's plenty of time. It's a good read. I hope you can get to it in time to join our discussion. If not, it's a good read, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I hope everyone who's reading this is enjoying it. I've got a review on it (read it a few weeks ago).

Anything standing out to those reading it yet?

I haven't gotten very far yet. I like the whole WWII aspect. I'm a sucker for this period.

I think you'll really like the flashback segments. I think those are great. Nikolai and the pack.

I am about 20% in and I love it so far. I've only read one flashback scene so far and I did like it. This is most certainly not for the squeamish. The WWII aspect is one of my favorite things about the book so far.

I've finally been able to give this book sometime and mental attention. ; )

Not that far yet, so far...

Worth continuing.

I think the time with the pack gets better and better. I liked the WWII setting... I'm interested if you feel the same way about it after you've read.

Keep me posted.

This is a fun book, but McCammon is a Horror writer. It's got some freaky parts coming.

I just started this and it starts out with a bang.

I think I'm going to enjoy this as much as the other's I read by McCammon.

I, Curmudgeon wrote: "I think the time with the pack gets better and better. I liked the WWII setting... I'm interested if you feel the same way about it after you've read.

Keep me posted.

This is a fun book, but McC..."

I'll keep you posted.

Kevin wrote: "I just started this and it starts out with a bang.

I think I'm going to enjoy this as much as the other's I read by McCammon."

Yes, McCammon is great and, this works out. I still think the werewovles remind me of those from "the Howling" (cult movies from the 70s). That's a good thing, but they are "different."

It's a lot of things, and, if your an Alpha dog (or wolf) there's a man's story here.

I thought his best character in the book was "Mouse." If you remember how old the book is, characters like Mouse are plenty, but most come after this. Mouse is the kind of character he put in "Swan Song' to remind everybody what it means to be "Human."

First and foremost, I'm biased.

I read They Thirst, Wolf's Hour, Swan Song, and Blue World all when I was 15. To this day I tend to read one of those four (I know, I know, Blue World is a compilation of stories - it's still freakin' awesome) once a year.

Wolf's Hour was the first one for me, and it was simply amazing back then. Still is to me.

The setting, the characters, the interaction and the flashbacks - what he went through in Russia, all the way to becoming a British spy.

Seein' the main dude's journey is just freakin' awesome, and that's just leading UP to the WW2 theater~!

And then you got the fights. So well done, it ain't even funny.

Yeah. I read it. You should too.

~Thomas Duder

Has anyone ever suggested the Patricia Briggs werewolf/shape-shifting coyote books? I liked her werewolves better than any I have ever read. There is something very human about them.

Thomas wrote: "First and foremost, I'm biased.

I read They Thirst, Wolf's Hour, Swan Song, and Blue World all when I was 15. To this day I tend to read one of those four (I know, I know, Blue World is a compila..."

It's my second book by McCammon. To me it has a split personality, I like one better than the other (but liked both for sure). The Flashbacks to running with the Pack were what sold me on it, then a couple of things later on.

Patti wrote: "Has anyone ever suggested the Patricia Briggs werewolf/shape-shifting coyote books? I liked her werewolves better than any I have ever read. There is something very human about them."

Mamaaw Mudgeon, I haven't read them, but I believe others in this group have. I wonder how they compare. McCammon's Werewolves don't have so much of a "Supernatural" aspect to them, their almost science fiction, like a hidden species.

I am now finished with Wolf's Hour and I give it a resounding 5 stars! The flashback sequences were one of my favorite parts of the book, and the pure shock value (i.e. the sex scene between Aleksa and Mikhail). I will be checking out Swan Song for sure, maybe this time next year.

I, Curmudgeon wrote: "Patti wrote: "Has anyone ever suggested the Patricia Briggs werewolf/shape-shifting coyote books? I liked her werewolves better than any I have ever read. There is something very human about them..."

Briggs' earlier book are medieval fantasy. All good. Plenty of action.l The werewolf books are contemporary. They are my favorite for shape changers.

Chris wrote: "I am now finished with Wolf's Hour and I give it a resounding 5 stars! The flashback sequences were one of my favorite parts of the book, and the pure shock value (i.e. the sex scene between Aleks..."

Yea, I forgot about that Mikail Alexa thing. I kind of liked the concept of them tracking down the (view spoiler)["Rogue Wolf" (hide spoiler)]

I am about 90 or so pages in. I really like this book, although it's more gory than I prefer. I like the aspects of Michael's tortured past (tied into Russian history), his work as a spy in the Allied war effort, and the werewolf stuff is cool too. This is shaping up to be a very good read.

Patti wrote: "Has anyone ever suggested the Patricia Briggs werewolf/shape-shifting coyote books? I liked her werewolves better than any I have ever read. There is something very human about them."

Love these books!!!

Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "I am about 90 or so pages in. I really like this book, although it's more gory than I prefer. I like the aspects of Michael's tortured past (tied into Russian history), his work as a spy in the All..."

Once you eventually finish it (because it is quite girthy), you won't be disappointed.

I am loving it already, Chris.

It's intense. I have a thing for WWII, so that part is really getting my attention.

I'm liking this one also. I have just started to really dig in. I love WWII history, so this one is right up my alley.

McCammon is also a writer I admire.

I finished this late last night. I gave it five stars because I found it enthralling and involving. I wrote a long review, but I won't bore you all here by reiterating.

McCammon's Nazis are nasty (as they were in real life)! I didn't mind at all when Gallatin hurt them bad!

Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "I finished this late last night. I gave it five stars because I found it enthralling and involving. I wrote a long review, but I won't bore you all here by reiterating.

McCammon's Nazis are nasty..."

I think your review is very good, Lady D. So, here's the link...

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I like it very much.

Oh Thanks, Hugh. Loved your review as well!

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I am still reading Wolf's Hour. I haven't had a lot of time for reading this month, life's been a little crazy. I'll finish probably sometime in November, then I'll be back and join the discussion.

Eileen, I know what you mean about life being crazy.

Lady D., I keep saying to myself, where has October gone?

Oh, same here! November is going to be intense!

This book is so good. It has my emotions on such a roller coaster ride. I just keep thinking what else could happen to Mikhail?

Yeah, he's had a tough life... there's a short story (series i think) staring Mikhail that he released last year.

And I still love the wolf-theory.

I think the wolf part of the story is what I find most interesting. If the book was completely about the war I'm not sure if I would have liked it so much.

I agree, it was okay as a spy novel, but the wolf-factor made it interesting... that and he doesn't like falcons but... it did try to rip his face off.

I only have about 20 percent left to go to finish. (view spoiler)[I'm at the part where Chesna and Mikhail are preparing to fly Skarpa. The train ride was a great scene, couldn't wait to see how you would escape. (hide spoiler)]

Glad you're enjoying it, Eileen.

I know I'm a little late and we are already 3 days into November.

I finished Wolf's Hour!

So I read both your reviews Lady D and Hugh...great reviews!!

I have a couple of thoughts about your review Hugh. I thought this was a better place to respond.


You said, "McCammon also failed his female characters." I didn't feel that way and I thought Chesna was one tough broad. I do see how you might feel that way. I didn't think it all weakened Chesna strength as a person for wanting some "companionship" with Michael.

In the story it also bothered me when, (view spoiler)[Gallatin returns after getting shot and Chesna and the pilot have been just sitting around there cells waiting for Michael. I did like the part of the story when Gallatin was more wolf than man. I think it tied back into when Wikota'(?) lessons about being part man and wolf. He never wanted Alexander to lose his humanity (hide spoiler)]

Eileen wrote: "I know I'm a little late and we are already 3 days into November.

I finished Wolf's Hour!

So I read both your reviews Lady D and Hugh...great reviews!!

I have a couple of thoughts about your re..."

Wow, a discussion! Thank you Eileen.

First, I see your point and I understand what your getting at, expecially about McCammon not wanting Alexander to lose his humanity. In fact he bracketted the book with a similar episode in the begining in Cairo and this episode at the end. I like that kind of writing.

My issue is more with Chesna and the others staying locked up for a week, without really getting to visit them in the story while Alex was on his "back to nature" tour.

This is one of the ways that I think Chesna had been failed. I would have liked to read,even a failed attempt at escape during this period. Surely the Nazi's who had told her all of the terrible things that they wanted to do to her would not have left her in the middle of nowhere for so long practically unattended.

Chesna is written as a very resourceful, active, smart spy-agent, who is not only beautiful but has some serious combat skills and is not afraid to kill somebody. Yet, she has to wait for Alex to come break her out. (I do realize that Alex was in a similar position in a detainment camp for a bit, but, I point out that he was not "inactive" during that time.)

I also think that the sweet little French Resistance Fighter got shorted in the same way. Here she is, blowing up Germans in Paris...enter Alex and she can't do anything without him.

It wouldn't have hurt the plot if, after the mission was over, she got killed in the service of France against the Nazis. And, a noble end that would be as other characters got that opportunity (if you can call it that.)


And, back to Chesna, this may be my creative mind spoiling the punch (since, it were as good as McCammon's we would be discussing my book).

Here was a chance to have Chesna escape the confines of her cell, killing Nazis and leading the small bunch with her to freedom, coming face to face with the alex in full wolf form and... do a creative alternate ending for the traditional Wolf story

You know, where the heroine and werewolf (all wolfed up) meet in the end of nearly every werewolf move and we see the humanity bleed out of the wolf's eyes he attacks and they kill him.)

Why not Chesna, after saving herself, coming face to face and seeing Alex but this time love, humanity whatever wins and he comes out of it. Even though he was coming to her rescue as a wolf.

Just me taking a spin on things.

I also think the way I understood and enjoyed "Swan Song" affected this. McGamman had some wonderfully strong women whos stayed strong from start to finish in that book and stayed relavent.

I just think chesna could have a more active role.

but, that said... I still loved the book!

You're welcome, Hugh. Yes, we have a discussion!

My issue is more with Chesna and the others staying locked up for a week, without really getting to visit them in the story while Alex was on his "back to nature" tour.

I sooo agree. Chesna was so afraid of being tortured she was willing to take the "pill". Yet nothing happens to her while in prison. That whole scene fell a little short and Chesna (and the reader) deserved to see some of her touhgness.


Now Gaby, I think Gaby was more of a child thrown into something that she wasn't prepared for and when she meet Michael she needed someone to lean on that was strong and who could maybe make her life didn't.

I think that was a run-on sentence...oh well. : )

Did you want Gaby or Chesna (her name annoyed me) to be killed? It wouldn't have hurt the plot if Gaby got killed. For me it would have if Chesna died.

Why not Chesna, after saving herself, coming face to face and seeing Alex but this time love, humanity whatever wins and he comes out of it. Even though he was coming to her rescue as a wolf.

Now there's a good twist to the story....I LIKE!

I really liked both Swan Song and Wolf's Hour. Now I'm going to move up "A Boys Life" on my tbr list.

Eileen wrote: "You're welcome, Hugh. Yes, we have a discussion!

My issue is more with Chesna and the others staying locked up for a week, without really getting to visit them in the story while Alex was on his "..."

I think "want" is the opperative word...it's not about want, it's about what makes the story stronger, and, in this case, the female characters. Of course "I" didn't "Want" Gaby killed... I just think, that, even for a young girl caught up in the resistance effort, that, it would have been better for the character, since she joined the resistance ready to make that sacrafice and, others made that sacrafice (men) yet, she was denied, and, it would have allowed for a flash back to cairo if she had been killed. Then even as a youngster, "HER" sacrafice would have had more meaning than her getting saved by Alex did.

(I'll see your run-on sentence and raise you one!)

I didn't want Chesna killed. I just wanted her more active in that period of the story, and even in the search for Alex earlier.

I've heard "A Boy's Life" is really good. It's on my short list TBR.

I would have liked Chesna to have a closer simalarity to Kerri Russel in "Code Red #.1" She got to play the Damsel in distress (cause she's hot) but she also took an active part in escape, missions, leading a team, the whole shooting match. And for that matter, Jon Smith played the Damsel in distress a couple of times with Kerri coming to the rescue. and she's a far more minor character in her book than Chesna is in this one.

I think fundamentally, it was Michael's story. The way McCammon writes the books is with him always at the focus. I don't think any of the other characters, even the women in his life, were meant to be spotlighted above or beyond him. This didn't translate as sexism or slighting women to me, no more than in Jane Eyre that she is the focus of the story, even though Rochester and St. John are important men in her life. Does that make sense?

Oh, and thanks for the comments on my review, Eileen!