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Summary: Spectacular post nuclear apocalypse novel
Review: I am a fan of the post-apocalypse-survival-band type novels, and this is one of the best written ones out there. McCammons characters are fully fleshed out and complete, his vision of the desolated terrain and the behavior patterns of those who survive are terrifyingly realistic. There is Sister Creep, a bag lady with a tragic past who escapes immediate death by sleeping deep under the subway tunnels of NYC. Young Swan Prescott, only nine years old, on the run from another 'uncle' in her mother's life, who has an uncanny knack for growing plants. She survives the initial blasts in a dirt cellar out back of a run down country store called Paw Paws. Roland Croninger survives because he and his parents are vacationing in the one and only survivalist vacation facility called Earth House, which turns out to be not all it was cracked up to be. Colonel James (Jimbo) Macklin, in charge of Earth House, a man with a demon in his head called The Shadow Soldier who he listens to more than his conscience. Josh Hutchins, a giant of a man on his way to a wrestling match in Garden City when he meets Swan in Paw Paws cellar. And The Man Who Liked Movies, who has many other names. Others join them as they search for a place where they can build a life, some beautifully good and others diabolically evil. Strange things happen along the way as they encounter other bands of survivors and ultimately fight the evil that wants to take over and kill Swan. There is a glass crown filled with jewels which gives off a shining light when held in the right hands, there is a mysterious growth that covers the faces of some but not of others, and always there is the menace of The Man Who Liked Movies. The action is non-stop, and when the good collides with the bad they all find themselves in a horrifying deja-vu situation. One of McCammons strongest points as one of my favorite writers is his characterizations. He has the ability to bring the people fully to life and stir your emotions to either love or hate them. I believe that Swan Song is his crowning achievement, a definite must for those who enjoy the End Of The World stories. This one is worth full price; pick it up and ENJOY!
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Summary: Swan Song Review
Review: This book has been unequaled in my experience of having read the classics with much hunger and pleasure in my earlier years. McCammon has penned a book with popular appeal while impacting with classic brilliance. The book has the underlying meaning one can find in books such as Lord Of The Flies, the wonderful character development of Steinbeck, with the fast paced read and popular appeal of King. This very physically "heavy" novel had me turning the pages slowly at the end so as not to say farewell to the characters and world I had disappeared into the past week. I have tried to explain to my son, whom unfortunately does not have the love of reading I do, that "a good book is like a movie in your head". This one goes beyond mere imagination and places you not just in your head, but in the pages. I won't go into what the book is about as that has been done well in other reviews. I will say however, you won't be disappointed in committing the time to this large book. The beginning and the end wrap up this book giving the reader that wonderful feeling of resolution and closure not often accomplished with larger novels.
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Summary: Stands the test of time
Review: I first read Swan Song when it was released back in the 80s. I remember loving it then, but I never realized how much of this epic I had forgotten until I recently re-read it. Amazing! McCammon creates a believable nuclear holocaust and provides just the right visuals with his descriptions of the barren, destroyed, or mutated landscapes and animals, of people gone crazy or blood-hungry, and of once just regular, unnoticeable people who evolve into heroes and monsters.
This is not a quick read (my paperback is 956 pages long), but I was amazed to find that I couldn't put it down; I kept reading, and once I got to the end, I really wanted more story. McCammon really hits a homerun with this book because I love the story, the writing, the characters, and the classic theme of good vs. evil. The book really stands the test of time because the issues are as relevant today as they were nearly 20 years ago.
Comparisons with Stephen King's The Stand are inevitable. There are similar themes and characters in each book. Yet this one stands on its own--I think an earlier review credited Swan Song with giving King his idea for The Stand, but unless I'm totally wrong, King's book was released nearly a decade before Swan Song. Yes, the books are somewhat similar, but each one tells a unique, dynamic story, and Swan Song is nothing short of phenomenal. I only wish that McCammon would relent and put out a sequel because I'd love to find out what happens to Swan, Robin, Josh, Aaron, Glory and the legacy of Sister, and I definitely want more of The Man of Many Faces! Great characters, exceptional writing--what more could you want?
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Summary: Not Another Comparison haha!
Review: This was the first McCammon book I've read years agom and it got me hooked. The story starts out with a nuclear attack on the U.S. What a way to hook readers. In post apolocolyptic America servral bands of survivors struggle to rebuild if not the country at least their own lives amd reconstruct some kind of community. At the heart of the GOOD group is a little girl ( who the readers are, as long as they have a heart, very much rooting for and enjoying watching her grow in the novel.) The forces of evil hunt her because she has power to restore life to the damaged dead earth which supplies the tension and suspense of this incredibly touching, novel.
McCammon writes his story beuatifully, with almost lyrical prose a he describes post-apocolyptic America and I bet most readers are with me about genuinely caring what happens to the characters. However my one critique (other than length which is non-issue because it really doesn't seem that long.) is the (not another comparison haha) fact that the themes and plot almost too closely mirror the Stand which I believe is not only King's best novel but the best novel in the genre. So I had to give this excellent dark fantasy/horror tale 4 instead of 5 stars due to that. However slight lack of originality doesn't diminish one's overall enjoyment of this excellent book.
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Summary: Beats "The Stand" by a mile
Review: I am going to finish this one tonight. I can see where Stephen King got some of his ideas. This book grips and scares the crud out of you! It sure makes a person think! Post Apocolyptic thriller that starts out making you love the good guys and hate the bad guys right from te start. What it lacks, and I do appreciate the abscense of it, is Stephen King's sick mindset. I'd take this over the Stand any day.
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Summary: The best book I've ever read!!!
Review: I was in between the 11th and 12th grades when a friend of mine was reading this book (aloud actually) to another friend of hers. She told me about it and it really got me excited. It was a few months later though when I bought a copy of it at a book store locally and I started the journey of the book. I say that because it took me there. After only the first few pages I was hooked. Never before had a novel captured my attention and held on like this one. I literally couldn't put it down. I read it on the school bus, at lunch, and even during class sometimes! I found the characters intriguing, even the evil ones. That was about 10 years ago and I've read a lot since then, but Swan Song remains my favorite. I re-read it a few years later and I plan to read it again as soon as I get a copy (lost mine). It also led me to read more of Robert McCammon's books one of which is Mine (an excellent read!) and now I am going to read all of his books.
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Summary: Should've been made into a movie!!!
Review: Why this McCammon epic was skipped over by producers is beyond me. I'll agree that this book bears similarities with King's The Stand, but I found Swan Song's imagery more vivid and stirring (esp. the scenes of New York following the nuclear explosions). Since purchasing this book over a decade ago, I've read it nearly once a year! I don't think this material will ever go out of style with the amount of conflict in our world. The character development in this novel is first-rate. The battle between good and evil, though prevalent in literature, rivals that of Lucas' Star Wars.
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Summary: McCammon's Magnum Opus
Review: McCammon has a body of classic horror fiction works. This one most people compare to Stephen King's "The Stand." They are similar in two respects: 1) They're both very big books; 2) They both are about the end of the world, or what happens after a major cataclysm changes the world as we know it. Personally, I couldn't stand "The Stand." But McCammon's book is a page-turner. Despite the various plot threads and the complexity at which he weaves them together, I found it nearly impossible to stop reading. The main characters are all compelling and emotionally involving; the pace is cinematically scripted (a lot of action, suspense and movement); growing climactic tension keeps building making you want to see how it ends. This was the fastest 1000 page read I've ever had, and really was quite a ride. If you're new to reading McCammon's work, or have found his earlier novels exciting, you MUST read this book!
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Summary: McCammon is the Master!
Review: McCammon writes books that are 10 times more satisfying than anything Stephen King has written. It's annoying to me that King is considered the "Master of Horror" and McCammon has quit writing due to frustrations with the publishing industry. Swan Song is one of McCammon's best. I've read it twice now and it never fails to satisfy. Is it perfect? No. Is it involving? You betcha! McCammon's take on the "end-of-the-world" is a winner. The character's are satisfyingly strange, quirky yet lovable. Perhaps the biggest down side to this novel is that it seems a bit dated. It has an 80's sensibility to it, so much so that you could actually visualize it being an 80's movie directed by John Carpenter (in his heyday, of course) Warts and all, this is a fun book to read. Do yourself a favor and read McCammon's all time best book, "Boy's Life." The man hits his stride with that one. It's his masterpiece.
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Summary: An Impressive Epic
Review: Swan Song is an amazing piece of fiction, one that somehow manages to stay engrossing throughout each of its 900+ pages. McCammon expertly draws us into a world mixed with hope and despair. It's a story that embraces the power of togetherness and provides a dark look at man's violent nature. The first hundred pages are tense, but sadly dated. With the breakup of the Soviet Union, the setup of nuclear war between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. seems outdated. Plus, this was written before the age of the Internet and cell phones. Ironically, the loss of these technological luxuries would almost make McCammon's post-apocalypse world seem even bleaker. But once the explosions end, the destroyed land that is walked upon could be a frightening reality regardless of the date. The book is an epic look at the struggle between the good and the evil among all of us. There are three major storylines that will eventually interconnect, and each one is filled with realistic, fully developed characters. We can sympathize with their feelings, even if we occasionally question their behavior or even resent them for what they do. Every character has flaws and weaknesses. Even the most evil characters have feelings and emotions deep within. And the good characters aren't all perfect and pure. There is a genuine sense of tension and terror that surrounds them all. And that makes the supernatural aspects of the book all the more effective. There are truly emotional moments throughout the book. There are scenes that are simply beautiful and touching. And there are scenes that are devastating in their brutality. It is a book that will captivate you and make you feel the joys and horrors of the characters. What is equally impressive is the ending. What I would hate most would be to invest so much of my time in a book this size only to come to an unfulfilling conclusion. The final chapters of Swan Song provide a fitting end to the story and hit their mark perfectly without getting sappy, over-sentimental, or over-the-top. This is a remarkable book, and a must read for any fan of the genre. I highly recommend spending the time and immersing yourself into McCammon's stark and eye-opening world.
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