About the book:The name's Bond. Shaman Bond.
Actually, that's just my cover. I'm Eddie Drood. But when your job includes a license to kick supernatural arse on a regular basis, you find your laughs where you can.
For centuries, my family has been the secret guardian of humanity, all that stands between all of you and all of the really nasty things that go bump in the night. As a Drood field agent I wore the golden torc, I killed monsters, and I protected the world. I loved my job.
Right up to the point when my own family declared me rogue for no reason, and I was forced to go on the run. Now the only people who can help me prove my innocence are the people I used to consider my enemies.
I'm Shaman Bond, very secret agent. And I'm going to prove to everyone that no one does it better than me.
drey's thoughts:
Ok. I really didn't want to do this. But I can't help it. I picked you up at least (at least!!) a half-dozen times over the past 6 months. My first problem--and this is just me!--is with the character's name. Shaman Bond. I'm a HUGE Bond fan, and there's only one. Another thing that nagged at me? The multiple references to his golden armour & it's super-magical invisibility effects. For example, "utterly undetectable", pg 6. "Couldn't see or hear or smell me", pg 7. "No one sees me unless I want them to.", pg 9. And again--"No one sees us--unless we want them to.", pg 9. "My armour was still in full stealth mode, so the guns couldn't track me.", pg 13. I mean, seriously. How many times do I need to read about how you're completely undetectable, before I believe it? This is fantasy, after all.
Chapter Seven picked up the pace quite a bit. But then I got to Chapter Eight, and all that adrenaline went bye-bye... *sigh* So. I didn't finish the book. I tried. Really. I even skipped the pages that so annoyed me. And still, no dice.
If you've read The Man with the Golden Torc and have a different opinion, please do share. I'm pretty darn sure mine isn't the only opinion out there on this book. =)
Title: The Man with the Golden Torc
Author: Simon R. Green
ISBN-10: 0451462149
ISBN-13: 9780451462145
Paperback: 398 pages
Publisher: Penguin, 2008
Challenges: Ban on Spending
6 comments:
Sounds like a stinker. I won't be picking it up. Thanks for the honest review.
I love the blurb, though I have to confess there's only one Bond for me too. Still, not sure about the book. Maybe if I see it lying around somewhere I'll give it a try.
Sheila--I picked it up because of the blurb. I think the name didn't bother me quite so much when there was a chance I'd like the book. As it turns out, it's just another annoyance... =( Let me know if you do give it a whirl, I'd love to link to your review...
Oh, sounds fun! I'm not really a Bond fan (I've only seen two of the movies) but the other thing you mentioned would probably bug me a bit...
See, I'm not that big a Bond fan, and I really enjoyed the book. I agree there were times it was slow, but I give fair warning that the suit is NOT all powerful, and things do happen to the whole group he's involved in. The last few chapters are great - skip a bit and get to there, at least - the Bond thing ends completely and entirely different stuff happens. Good luck!
SueB--I know you did, hon. But sometimes things just bug you to heck & back, and it's hard to recover from it. Do you want my copy of the book?
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