LEGION

Rating:
Summary: Successful follow-up to "The Exorcist"
Review: After I finished reading William Peter Blatty's "The Exorcist," I immediately picked up and read "Legion." I don't know if sequel is quite the right word for this book. Bill Kinderman, a detective from "The Exorcist," is the protagonist of this novel, but the plot doesn't quite pick up where the plot of the "The Exorcist" left off, not really. Nonetheless, certain plot elements in the first book are relevant to "Legion." I suspect that Blatty wrote this book as a sort of denunciation of the film "Exorcist II," hardly unheard of in the literary film (see, e.g., Robert Bloch's "Psycho II" in comparison with the film, or Larry McMurtry's "Streets of Laredo" in comparison with the telepic "Return to Lonesome Dove.") Ironically enough, "Legion" itself was turned into a film, directed by Blatty, but studio interference made it "Exorcist III."

The plot is simple (in fact, in 2004 it's almost cliched): Kinderman investigates a series of particularly gruesome torture murders occurring around Georgetown that are connected somehow to another series in San Francisco a decade before committed by the "Gemini" (obvious nod to the real "Zodiac.") The problem is, Gemini is dead. So who's doing this new series, and what does the psychiatric ward of hospital have to do with them? Through all this, Kinderman is battling with his faith, trying to reconcile his ideas of an omniscient, omnipotent, compassionate God with the horror of what goes on in the world on a daily basis.

The book is quite chilling throughout. A deeper analysis is called for, perhaps, but that would undercut some of the power of this book as it would give away far too much. Suffice it to say, Kinderman finds himself battling a creature he is coming to believe is not really quite human.

One glaring flaw of the book is Kinderman's soliloquies on the nature of good and evil as he goes forth to fight monsters. These are frequent, and more often than not interrupt the flow of the book. While I realize that Blatty's primary purpose was probably dealing with these issues, a less obtrusive way would have made for a better book.

Another problem is the denouement, which only clarifies so much, but leaves other plot lines untouched. Consequently, a subplot involving a doctor who may or may not be the killer, while at times spooky, ultimately winds up being only vaguely consequential (the film simply drops it, making for a stronger story). Also, the ending is abrupt, and feels somewhat unsatisfying (again, the film built up some of these threads, but that ending isn't wholly satisfying either).

These flaws having been acknowledged, the novel is mostly a success. When not rambling, Kinderman is a thoroughly engaging hero. His interactions with his family, colleagues, and friends (particularly Father Joseph Dyer, another survivor of "The Exorcist"), are crisp, smart, touching, and believable.

"Legion" is a must for horror fans looking to be engaged at multiple levels. While not perfect, it succeeds where it needs to, and makes a good read.

Rating:
Summary: Case #2 of Lt. Kinderman
Review: After the possession and exorcism of Regan, Lt. Kinderman finds himself in another satanic metaphysical detective case. Unfortunately, not as intriguing as the "first" Exorcist, there are some elements of the book that holds its own. The major problem of the book is that of the author, William Peter Blatty, who is too intent upon letting the reader know how much he knows about films and mataphysics. Kinderman is merely a tool in which Blatty spews his worldly wisdom and philosophy, which, in of itself is a good belief, however, this is not the space for that kind of information. Much of it is irrelevant to the story itself. If one weeds out the philosophy, the story ends up being rather short. The other problem I had with the book was the idea of it being sold as a sequel to the Exorcist. The only thing that makes this remotely a sequel is Detective Kinderman. "Series" would be more like it, as it could have spawned a number of detective stories. Nonetheless, however, it was a fun read, and the story moved along quick and less painful as the first.

Rating:
Summary: Scariest damn book I ever read!
Review: I read this when I was living in New Hampshire. It was winter time on the coast so there wasn't much to do. Had trouble sleeping without the lights on. Read the book in about 3 nights.

Weird stuff began to happen in my life after that. My bathroom became infested with flying ants or termites. Right in the dang shower. Nasty.

I moved to a small city and happened to end up in an apartment where a young model had been killed by someone. The murderer shoved a screwdriver in each ear. She was killed in the shower. Again, the bathroom thing.

I had a dream that someone snuck up on me and covered my mouth from behind and began to stab me. Once while walking my dog, the venision blinds were pulled all the way up in the bathroom. I never would have done this since the toilet was right next to the window. The time was somewhere around midnight. I noticed the shades from the street.

My neighbor in the attached house grew up with the girl. She once saw her in the mirror as she got out of the shower. Freaky, freaky stuff.

Don't think for a minute that evil and spirituality is something to brush off. I'm not a big practicing Catholic, but the experience made me question everything.

I enjoyed the book, but I don't think I could ever read it again.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book..... with high standards to live up to....
Review: I'm a freak! I read Legion before I read the Exorcist! Let me just say that Legion isn't meant to be a sequel... in my opinion. Yes... it has many same characters but many of its ideas and themes are different. And after reading "The Exorcist" I will admit that Legion does not have the horror or eloquent language of "The Exorcist" but it IS thought-provoking.. and intriguing. It's a page-turner that can not be put down! It works on many levels: a horror novel, a mystery novel, a religious novel, a novel about a family man. It's a wonderful book that shouldn't be pinholed as "The sequel to 'The Exorcist'" It's sooooooooooo much more.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book..... with high standards to live up to....
Review: I'm a freak! I read Legion before I read the Exorcist! Let me just say that Legion isn't meant to be a sequel... in my opinion. Yes... it has many same characters but many of its ideas and themes are different. And after reading "The Exorcist" I will admit that Legion does not have the horror or eloquent language of "The Exorcist" but it IS thought-provoking.. and intriguing. It's a page-turner that can not be put down! It works on many levels: a horror novel, a mystery novel, a religious novel, a novel about a family man. It's a wonderful book that shouldn't be pinholed as "The sequel to 'The Exorcist'" It's sooooooooooo much more.

Rating:
Summary: As terrifying as "The Exorcist"
Review: In this (much toned down) sequel to "The Exorcist", you follow the lone detective from the first book. It is much different than the first book, and if you are looking for a book that is like "The Exorcist" then you wont find it here.

But I am not saying that this book is not good. In fact, it is wonderful, and just as scary as the first. I found "Legion" to be much more of a psycological thriller than a flat out horror novel.

I delete a star from this great book only because there are some parts that can be boring for a chapter or two.

Rating:
Summary: Sorry, the movie is better
Review: Look, I've read the book many times and seen the movie also many times (one of my favorites). Saw the movie first, so I couldn't wait to read the book. Unfortunately, the one thing I truly cared about and most, the one link to the original Exorcist (don't think anyone cares that much for Kinderman, more now since a different actor played him), meaning Father Karras (Jason Miller), was mising!! Sure, his body is there, but it's not "him". He's not "possesed", he's not there at all!! Just some nut and his dumbo brother, and maybe the demons. Who cares about the Gemini and his brother? (Are we supossed to feel good for them when they finally go away?) And Blatty makes him symphatetic!! Abused chilhood, dumb abused brother, hateful father... Come on! Blatty almost tells us to cheer up and feel sorry for him (particularly at the end, when he can't "go on" without Kinderman believing him nor his brother now that daddy dearest is dead), a serial killer!! No wonder it wasn't a hit. Sure, Anfortas and the dead people voice-recording and the "double" was interesting, but not that much. Obviously Blatty recognized this and got it right in the movie (yes, the ending could have been better). In the movie Karras is "there", not really possesed, but more like trapped in his body (remember, he "died" while still being possesed) by the demons in order to allow the Gemini to live and go on killing, and to torture him. And the Gemini is really evil and twisted (as any other serial killer really is). We got to know and care for Karras, not Kinderman, in the Exorcist, that's why his "presence" is so important. That's why the movie is better, and the book a misfire.

Of course, I could be wrong. Anyone who thinks different, tell me why.

Rating:
Summary: Better than the original
Review: Not sure how i found my way here to an out of print book but here i am. I read this book years ago after finding it in a used book sale. I was quite young, hadn't seen or read The Exorcist but liked the cover of the eyes and candle and the blurb "call me legion for we are many." Well i read it, didn't really understand what was going on and forgot about it. I came back to it years later after reading the first book and this time it just blew me away. It has something special in a horror novel in that it is actually very thought provoking. Kinderman's conversations are wonderful. But there is also a real scary atmosphere to this book. I defy anyone to read the section on the tape recording of coma patients and not feel a chill when voices can be heard in empty rooms. This book is a classic and doesn't deserve to be out of print. Maybe when Exorcist 4 comes out it will get a new lease of life.
The film based on this book "Exorcist 3" doesn't have the depth of the book and misses out entirely the tape recordings and the life story of James Vennamun but is quite a good film. It includes that famous one view corridor scene that builds and builds into one of the great horror moments ever.

Rating:
Summary: "Legion, for we are many."
Review: This is a tough review for me to write because I'm so torn by this book. On the one hand, the dialogue between detective Kinderman and Tommy Sunlight (killer/mental patient) is among the best and most chilling I have read. Then the book will drag on for long, boring stretches.

"Legion" is both blessed and cursed. The description of the gruesome, supernatural nature of the murders is sure to send a chill up your spine. The descriptions of the catatonics is also effective. The story will then skew off on philosophical tangents that take the reader off the path of the story and soon he doesn't know why he is in a place that is seemingly unrelated to the plot.

The bottom line is this: In order to read the most brilliant parts of this book (and yes, there really are some brilliant parts here) you are also going to have to trudge through the superflous and boring passages as well. "Legion" is a good book with great parts, but perhaps with better editing, it could have been a great book, end of discussion.

A final note: In my opinion, the movie was better than the book. George C. Scott plays Kinderman and Brad Dourif plays Tommy Sunlight. Dourif's performance is especially noteworthy. The great dialogue is kept, almost verbatim, from the book. The boring parts are omitted and there are scenes that are not in the book.

Rating:
Summary: Better than its prequel.
Review: While it is best to read "The Exorcist" first, I found this book to by far surpass it. It unnerved me and disturbed me and I think my jaw even dropped once or twice. If you like to sleep with the lights on, read this book!