Rating: 
Summary: One of the best short story collections out there
Review: It is difficult to find a better assortment of tales that are off center. The beauty of the short story is that it takes you somewhere else, somewhere new in short order. The author only has a few pages to make an impact and to tell a tale. McCammon pulls it off beautifully.
Rating:
Summary: The best in erotic suspence
Review: Its been awhile since I read this paticular novel, but the main story Blue World is so good that it should be a movie. The story is heavy erotic tension, and a good blend of suspence. A highly reccomended read.
Rating: 
Summary: A great short story collection
Review: McCammon delivers an excellent short story collection. You will get hooked on his writing style immediatly. There is plenty of gore and twists to even keep R.Laymon fans satisfied. The short story entitled : Blue World is somewhat of a spoiler in the row of brilliant horror storys of which Chico is the best.
Rating:
Summary: Master of Collective Horror
Review: McCammon is the best modern horror writer out there, his involving style and well drawn, believable characters blow the likes of King, Koontz, or Barker out of the water. He is one of very few authors alive who, so far as I know, has never written a bad book."Blue World", a collection of several short stories and one novella actually entitled "Blue World" is easily the finest horror collection since the days of Poe, and I don't think thats an exaggeration. McCammon's stories differ so greatly, dealing with so many plot, issues and characters, each one brings you into a separate and chilling world from the surreal, apocalyptic world of "Something Passed By" to the gritty, realistic, and quietly visceral 'real world' of "Blue World". The stories induce equal amounts of terror and wonder, and the highlights are (aside from the entire book) "Pin" - an absolutely bone-chilling narrative from the point of view of a psychopath who seems very real, "Doom City", "Night Crawlers", "He'll Come Knocking At Your Door", and the absolute best, "Blue World" itself. The final story is a frighteningly involving, realistic story of temptation and violence, dealing with outer demons in the form of serial killing maniacs, and the inner demons of a gentle priest slowly losing his grip on his faith. It's a brilliant psychological portrait as well as a stunning, violent serial killer story. Read this collection. It's already won several awards. Its a shame that McCammon doesn't seem to be writing anymore, because all of his books are just as incredible as these stories.
Rating:
Summary: Master of Collective Horror
Review: McCammon is the best modern horror writer out there, his involving style and well drawn, believable characters blow the likes of King, Koontz, or Barker out of the water. He is one of very few authors alive who, so far as I know, has never written a bad book. "Blue World", a collection of several short stories and one novella actually entitled "Blue World" is easily the finest horror collection since the days of Poe, and I don't think thats an exaggeration. McCammon's stories differ so greatly, dealing with so many plot, issues and characters, each one brings you into a separate and chilling world from the surreal, apocalyptic world of "Something Passed By" to the gritty, realistic, and quietly visceral 'real world' of "Blue World". The stories induce equal amounts of terror and wonder, and the highlights are (aside from the entire book) "Pin" - an absolutely bone-chilling narrative from the point of view of a psychopath who seems very real, "Doom City", "Night Crawlers", "He'll Come Knocking At Your Door", and the absolute best, "Blue World" itself. The final story is a frighteningly involving, realistic story of temptation and violence, dealing with outer demons in the form of serial killing maniacs, and the inner demons of a gentle priest slowly losing his grip on his faith. It's a brilliant psychological portrait as well as a stunning, violent serial killer story. Read this collection. It's already won several awards. Its a shame that McCammon doesn't seem to be writing anymore, because all of his books are just as incredible as these stories.
Rating:
Summary: One word... Pin.
Review: Pin... Holy cow! What was going through your head when you wrote that one, Mr. McCammon? I'd say that this book was mostly good. The best stories were Nightcrawlers and He'll Come Knocking at Your Door (Great story to tell on Halloween). Something Passed By was also very inventive especially with using noted horror author's names throughout. And then there's Pin... What can I say about Pin... You just have to read it. I'd say the weakest story in the whole lot was the title short novel Blue World. It just seemed a bit cliche to me, it reminded me of one of those so-called erotic thrillers you see on late night cable that are neither erotic nor thrilling, the characters were pretty good and the clash of personalities between the priest and the porn-star was captivating at times, I'll give it that, but there was very little suspense and no surprises whatsoever. The bad guy was just a typical bad guy, there was nothing about him that made him particularly menacing and the ending was just... an ending. It seems that McCammon focused on creating the relationship between the two main characters, the actual story was inconsequential, making for a, well, inconsequential story. But jeez... Pin...
Rating:
Summary: One word... Pin.
Review: Pin... Holy cow! What was going through your head when you wrote that one, Mr. McCammon? I'd say that this book was mostly good. The best stories were Nightcrawlers and He'll Come Knocking at Your Door (Great story to tell on Halloween). Something Passed By was also very inventive especially with using noted horror author's names throughout. And then there's Pin... What can I say about Pin... You just have to read it. I'd say the weakest story in the whole lot was the title short novel Blue World. It just seemed a bit cliche to me, it reminded me of one of those so-called erotic thrillers you see on late night cable that are neither erotic nor thrilling, the characters were pretty good and the clash of personalities between the priest and the porn-star was captivating at times, I'll give it that, but there was very little suspense and no surprises whatsoever. The bad guy was just a typical bad guy, there was nothing about him that made him particularly menacing and the ending was just... an ending. It seems that McCammon focused on creating the relationship between the two main characters, the actual story was inconsequential, making for a, well, inconsequential story. But jeez... Pin...
Rating:
Summary: McCammon at his best...
Review: Robert McCammon burst onto the horror scene like a lightning bolt and scared the [heck] out of many jaded horror fans. He was like King and Straub combined. He was a master storyteller and amazed many that read him for the first time. However, when he tried to cross over and write mainstream fiction, he was rejected. So he retired; however rumor is he has been accepted and is on the comeback trail with mainstream fiction. Gone South and Mine are perfect examples he can succeed. Blue World is short stuff at it's best. McCammon pulls no punches and is quite adept at pulling off some chills and thrills in the short form. Here are some worthy mentions of kudos. "Makeup" is about a small-time thief who breaks into a museum and steals the wrong thing. He steals a makeup bag by a B-movie horror actor. His contact refuses to pay anything for it and the hoodlum tries the makeup on, to hilarious results. "I Scream Man" is chilling and very good. "Something Passed By" is an end of the world type doomsday short that is very entertaining and thought-provoking. It is one of McCammon's best. "Blue World", the title, is about 175 pages of detailed description of a priest in distress about his obsession with a porn star. It is a very easy read; entertaining and thought-provoking about the things a priest must go through to test his faith. McCammon must have researched the adult industry becuase it is a very good accounting. This is just a great novella. And as usual, you will have fun with anything McCammon writes. Let us hope he is coming back to the fold soon.
Rating:
Summary: One of McCammon's Best
Review: Robert McCammon has (for the most part) stopped publishing his work. With the notable exception of the excellent "Speaks the Nightbird," he hasn't published new work in 10 years. I can only say that this is a pity. Re-reading "Blue World" recently, I was reminded of why. "Blue World" is a collection of 12 short stories spanning McCammon's career, and one novella. The stories are all worth reading, offering up a good variety of material, from the frightening ("Yellowjacket Summer") to the disturbing ("Pin") to the sublime (the novella, "Blue World"). What this collection brings to mind most, however, is McCammon's skill at setting a mood. He tells a great story, but very few writers can set the stage better than McCammon. While reading "Yellowjacket Summer" the reader can't help but feel the oppressive heat prevalent throughout the story, and how the characters must have felt experiencing that same heat. In "Blue World," he captures equally well the quiet of that soft twilight, just before full dark. In "Night Calls the Green Falcon" one can really feel and understand the frustration and the impotence of a young man's ambition trapped in an old man's body. By so skillfully establishing the mood in each and every one of the stories in "Blue World," McCammon makes the reader experience them as if they were there, inside the story itself. This is the magic of what great writing can do, bring the story home to the reader, and make it an experience. Like my other McCammon favorites, "Boy's Life" and "Speaks the Nightbird," "Blue World" is one of the books that I treasure, from an author who now writes far too infrequently.
Rating:
Summary: One of McCammon's Best
Review: Robert McCammon has (for the most part) stopped publishing his work. With the notable exception of the excellent "Speaks the Nightbird," he hasn't published new work in 10 years. I can only say that this is a pity. Re-reading "Blue World" recently, I was reminded of why. "Blue World" is a collection of 12 short stories spanning McCammon's career, and one novella. The stories are all worth reading, offering up a good variety of material, from the frightening ("Yellowjacket Summer") to the disturbing ("Pin") to the sublime (the novella, "Blue World"). What this collection brings to mind most, however, is McCammon's skill at setting a mood. He tells a great story, but very few writers can set the stage better than McCammon. While reading "Yellowjacket Summer" the reader can't help but feel the oppressive heat prevalent throughout the story, and how the characters must have felt experiencing that same heat. In "Blue World," he captures equally well the quiet of that soft twilight, just before full dark. In "Night Calls the Green Falcon" one can really feel and understand the frustration and the impotence of a young man's ambition trapped in an old man's body. By so skillfully establishing the mood in each and every one of the stories in "Blue World," McCammon makes the reader experience them as if they were there, inside the story itself. This is the magic of what great writing can do, bring the story home to the reader, and make it an experience. Like my other McCammon favorites, "Boy's Life" and "Speaks the Nightbird," "Blue World" is one of the books that I treasure, from an author who now writes far too infrequently.
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