Mind vampires

I’ve had this book in my library for years now. Finally decided to pull the trigger. This is akin to the great Stephen King novels. Long form suspense/ thriller/ horror. Definitely worth a listen/ read.

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Dan Simmons Weaves a Complex Splendour

**Review for Dan Simmons' Audio Book "Carrion Comfort"**

From the very first moments of Dan Simmons' "Carrion Comfort," listeners are invited into a realm of narrative brilliance. The plot is intricately woven, a tapestry of suspense and intrigue that hooks you from the outset. It's not merely the storyline that captivates, but the richly drawn characters that inhabit this world, each with their own depth and complexity that make them utterly compelling.

One cannot help but be drawn into the meticulous detail with which Simmons crafts his universe. Every nuance, every description is a testament to his masterful lexic. This isn't just storytelling; it's an art form.

However, what elevates this audiobook to a truly unparalleled experience is the audio performance. It's nothing short of mesmerizing. The narration and character portrayals are among the best ever produced, ensnaring the listener in a web of auditory excellence. You don't just hear the story; you live it.

And just when you think you've grasped the narrative's direction, the last third of the book sweeps in, a whirlwind of surprise and delight. The mounting stakes, the intricate setups that come to fruition, are a masterclass in storytelling. Simmons expertly intertwines every thread, leaving the audience both satisfied and yearning for more.

In short, "Carrion Comfort" is not just a book; it's an experience. For those who dive into this auditory journey, be prepared to be wholly engrossed, for it's a tale that resonates long after the final words have been spoken. A definite 10/10.

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Excellent, simply excellent!

The story does not follow the standard trope of ancient supernatural horror - it's much better!
Exciting and easy to follow. I didn't lose interest, even for a moment, despite it being a lengthy novel.
The performances from the narrators was surprising! Superb and appropriate for the book.

Highly recommended!

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Intense, Epic and well written

This book was fantastic! I loved everything about it.. the history, the characters, the imagination. It felt real by the end, as if I was privy to a dark secret about our society.

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Please do a Carrion Comfort 2

There’s a fabulous avenue to a more current event saga.
You still hold the my fave book record. Now please make C.C. My second fave by employing a 2023 sequel to this 1989 book.

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excellent book

well put together ...well read...characters came alive...kept me wanting to turn it on and get to listening...what's next from your mind

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SOOO good!!!

What a great read!!!!! Awesome horror novel. I absolutely loved it. Definitely recommend reading! It's a horror novel, so remember it's not going to be a bright and sunny themed read. I think all the negative reviews this book got was because those readers 'forgot' the genre of this book. Definitely not a waste of a credit and I already want to reread it again. My first introduction to Dan Simmons and I'm looking forward to reading his other stuff! Also, the narration was superb! I

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Riveting Story, Lots of Triggering Content

Overall a great book. Dan Simmons is quickly rising the ranks of my favourite authors.

Pros:
- Immediately engrossing story that keeps your attention to the end. This is one where you’ll want to walk around the block to finish a chapter.
- Full of tension and action. This would need a huge budget to be a movie: car chases, gun fights, enough explosions to intrigue Michael Bay
- Interesting and well developed characters
- Best narration I’ve heard yet for an audiobook

Cons:
- Every woman is described by her breasts and nipples. Dear god when will male writers learn.
- Similarly black characters are described by their blackness. It makes sense in some contexts but not every single scene, especially if we’ve already been introduced to the character
- TW for multiple gratuitous rape scenes that I couldn’t even get through, had to fast forward
- TW for unabashed racism, coming from the villains at least, but it again got to the point that it felt gratuitous

A note: I expected this to be a horror novel but I would not put it in that category. More a classic good vs evil, action/adventure with a supernatural twist. The violence is very explicit and it touches on some horrifying themes (the holocaust, sexual assault, slavery), so maybe that’s why some consider it horror. This book is not going for spooky atmosphere or scares.

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2 people found this helpful

A marvelous revisit to a classic story.

I ordered Carrion Comfort out of curiosity since I am a long-time Dan Simmons fan and it has been close to three decades since I read the book. The experience was captivating as Mr. Simmons took me back to that intriguing story and his imaginative, and often disturbing, take on vampires who replace their addiction to blood with a lust for control over psyches. The characters - good and evil - are richly cast; the premise thought-provoking; the action amazing; and I could almost smell, taste, touch the exquisitely textured descriptions of locations, from the mundane to the exotic. The pleasure of listening to this amazing story was enhanced by the two narrators, Mel Foster and Laurel Merlington. who brilliantly brought the characters and their predicaments to life. I highly recommend this book to Audible customers and advise them that even though this is a long story set in the late 80's, neither length nor date will deter them from thoroughly enjoying Carrion Comfort. #Audible1.

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8 people found this helpful

Yes, It's Long. Spend the Credit.

Stephen King undoubtedly used this 1989 novel as inspiration for his cabal of psychic vampire villains in 'Doctor Sleep'. Other authors have similarly built on an intriguing premise.. Dan Simmons was extraordinarily imaginative in creating the horrifyingly evil characters of 'Carrion Comfort'. The only real "vampiric" qualities of his psychic antagonists, however (who use "The Ability" to make puppets out of people), is that they can use the energy from violence, murder, death, and despair to slow their own aging to a crawl. These awful specimens unapologetically use the powers for personal gain and happily wallow in death and misery - to the point of nonchalantly playing with human life as though it were a "Game". Simmons's villains are not "vampires" per se, but merely "gifted" deplorable beings who use paranormal powers to commit evil. Regardless, he paints an ugly picture.
To that captivating World matrix, he adds quality writing: the plot is clever, action-driven, and well-paced (sinuous with a refreshing willingness to kill off major characters); the denizens of the novel are interesting (even protagonists are flawed and demonstrate blurred lines of morality); dialogue is true-to-life (although a little sophomoric at times); and the descriptions of murder & rape are uncomfortably vivid (albeit satisfying to a horror fan like me).

Besides occasionally silly action-scenes, the main drawback to the book is typical of Dan Simmons: it's slightly over-written. He likely could have delivered the same quality of work in this 39½ hour book in 25 hours.
Simmons contrives a plot that's overinvolved (adding a few too many twists & turns) and adds intensely descriptive scenes that are well-written but superfluous (they do nothing to advance the plot or add to characterization). The man would benefit from an aggressive editor.

The reading from Mel Foster and Laurel Merlington undoubtedly render this audiobook superior to the text version. Both exhibit remarkable tone, timbre, cadence, and pacing - and Merlington's Melanie Fuller is accented perfectly. She delivers a legitimately chilling portrayal of a psychotically evil character. Foster and Merlington make this a worthy listen - the producers at Brilliance Audio cast this project admirably.

This book isn't perfect (unnecessarily long, for example.. although not uncomfortably so) - but it's an enjoyable read. This Bram Stoker Award-winner is worthy of 7.5 stars out of 10. Whether you're a Simmons fan, a consumer of SciFi Thrillers, or a Horror story afficianado - this audiobook is worth your Credit.

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2 people found this helpful