Buzz Cut

Rating:
Summary: Thorn Steps Out
Review: Broody loner Thorn (Travis McGee with attitude) is inveigled into taking a cruise when best pal Sugarman takes an almost fatal jolt of electricity while heading up security for the Fiesta Cruise Lines. Thorn on a cruise is about as likely as Jay Leno entering a monastery.

"Buzz Cut" is loaded with fascinating, but highly unlikely characters. Monica, angry runaway daughter of cruise line owner, Morton Hanson, is full of angst and bitterness. Why? Because she is stunningly beautiful and has been raised in luxurious plenty. Yes, really. She is trying to make an identity for herself as a maid in a seedy motel. The monster creating all the trouble is Butler Jack, a brilliant, truly scary guy with a love of etymology (the origin of words). He doesn't just expire people; he treats them to an hour-long lecture on interesting words. He is bent on ruining the Fiesta Cruise Line and its owners. He commandeers the ship and its communication and navigational systems, terrorizing the more than 2000 passengers.

This is a fine, lively read, and I think Mr. Hall had a good time writing it. It is over the top in a wry and humorous way. The characters are interesting and sharply defined. Mr. Hall develops them beautifully, but does seem to lose interest and then neglect them. Thorn does not play a major role in the book. It is a well-done ensemble piece. The author has a fascination with unlikely technology, but it's all in good fun.

Die-hard Thorn fans might object to the lightening of the mood, and the lack of philosophizing, but they can rest easy. Thorn is barely tempted by the crass commercialism and is properly grumpy at his enforced socialization. A fast, highly enjoyable read.

Rating:
Summary: Cruise Away From Boredom
Review: I've liked most of James Hall's other books but found this one a disappointment. I realize reading any novel requires a certain suspension of disbelief but this one was just too much. For one thing, the protagonist could have easily been overtaken much earlier in the novel. I found myself thinking "come on!" as he's allowed to continue on with his scheme. I also found many of the characters poorly drawn and totally inconsistent in their actions.

Rating:
Summary: Buzz Cut
Review: I've read two other James Hall books, Mean High Tide and Hard Aground. If you can get past his often over-the-top and always moronic PC blabber, they are generally entertaining reads. That is not rue of Buzz Cut though. The plot is completely ridiculous, and the actions that the characters in this story don't take are just plain stupid. I was very disappointed.

I have one more of Hall's books to read, but if it is anything like Buzz Cut, I think I will just put it down and find another author to read.

Rating:
Summary: Very Entertaining
Review: Thorn and Sugarman have been friends since childhood. In this adventure they are faced with a truly evil character named Butler Jack. Together they must stop him from completing his to-do list of evil deeds. Battling incompetence and deception from the people in charge, and challenged by the genius of Butler Jack, they make some startling discoveries which will drastically alter their perceptions of themselves. The premise is wildly improbable but there were wonderful little pockets of sparkling prose scattered throughout which surprised me in a book of this nature. It kept me interested to the end and wanting to get to know Thorn and Sugarman better in future books