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I just finished the recently published Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia and thought I would recommend it as a fairly entertaining modern fantasy/action novel. Its published by Baen books though the author hangs out at his own site. I hadn't heard of it, bought it because I needed something to read and saw it in waldenbooks. So anyways, anyone looking for for a new author and a new series, here's a recommendation for one.
I just finished the recently published Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia and thought I would recommend it as a fairly entertaining modern fantasy/action novel. Its published by Baen books though the author hangs out at his own site. I hadn't heard of it, bought it because I needed something to read and saw it in waldenbooks. So anyways, anyone looking for for a new author and a new series, here's a recommendation for one.
Having read this myself, all I has to say is: if werewolves, vampires, and cthulhu mythos-like monstrosities and the humans who kill them with assorted weaponry floasts your boat, then this is the book for you. ;)
It read like the worst kind of Mary Sue fanfic to me, I couldn't get that far into it.
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I thought the idea of a Mary Sue was that they were the best at what they did and sailed through things without difficulty.
Considering the many ways Owen gets beat up in the two books and continually shown up by people tougher than himself (Agent Franks), I'm not sure that he's really what I would call a Mary Sue.
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It read like the worst kind of Mary Sue fanfic to me, I couldn't get that far into it.
I finished it and yeah, it's a very big mary sue fic. The author description at the back of the book really shows how he's inserted himself in the story. I lent it to two friends and they both had the same adverse reaction to the novel, one even didn't want to take it for free off my hands.
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I just finished both books, and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed them. Of course, I'm a longtime Lovecraft fan, and I like the way Correia worked the Old Ones into his story. That said, I wouldn't argue that they are any kind of "literature", but they made for a fun weekend read with some genuinely laugh out loud moments. Of course, the fact that I was born and raised in Alabama (where much of the story takes place) helps in that regard.
Regarding the Mary Sue references above: I can see that. As a matter of fact, if you visit Correia's website, I'm pretty sure he almost admits as much. That said, it's no more Mary Sue than the Dresden Files (of which I am a card-carrying fan), and Butcher has not only gotten himself a string of best-sellers, but even a TV show (sadly short-lived). The second book is better than the first, IMO.
So, if you like modern urban (in this case, rural) fantasy, guns, Cthulu, and a little humor with your pulp, then this book might be one for you.
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Regarding the Mary Sue references above: I can see that. As a matter of fact, if you visit Correia's website, I'm pretty sure he almost admits as much.
I looked into what Correia had to say about this and he does address it.
He points out the following similarities:
1) both are big
2) both are gun nuts
3) both are accountants
He explains 1 and 2 by saying that he needed a character who loved guns and could go toe to toe with werewolves. He explains #3 as writing what he knows and trying to pick the most boring job he knew.
He then points out the following differences:
1) Ethnicity. Owen is from a different ethnic background.
2) Religion. Owen is less religious than Correia
3) Politics. Owen is more libertarian and has a greater problem with authority
4) Temper. Owen has a short temper and makes a lot of stupid hot-headed decisions.
Still, I'm with you that they were fun reads. Which is all I asked from them. :)
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It is nice to see Larry getting some recognition here. I knew him quite a few years back; we both served missions in Alabama at the same time. I would not go so far as to say we were friends as we never served together and I only ran into him a few times at mission functions. Still I am glad that some people enjoy his work. I have not read the book yet so I can't make any judgment on it personally.
Re: the sequel
Sure, the main hero gets to
I rather enjoyed both books. It was nice to see a writer talking about firearms with some first hand knowledge, and I felt like the plot and pacing was excellent in both.
I really disapprove of the Mary Sue argument in general whenever it is applied, but especially when it is applied to fantasy stories. The term is so ridiculously over applied to any character that is above average that it has lost any and all meaning as a descriptive or pejorative term. I'm pretty sure I've seen the protagonists of virtually every recent popular fantasy series referred to as Mary Sues, from the Dresden Files, to Mistborn, to The Wheel of Time, Twenty Palaces, so forth and so on forever more. It is old. It is really, really old. How about instead of throwing out what was once a highly nuanced insult, you actually describe your problems with a story or character, or how about you recognize that most fantasy stories are going to revolve around characters that are highly above average? This isn't so much an attack on posters here as it is an objection to the term on the whole.
Speaking more directly to Correia's work...
One could argue that Correia's protagonist shares many qualities with him and does enjoy many above average abilities. If you go into the story looking for author wish fulfillment then you can certainly find it. The main character is strong, talented, skilled, and gets the girl. I didn't find any of these things offensive, mostly because I took the story for what it was; a fun, action-packed, fast moving novel with heroes, monsters, and firearms. Maybe I was also less offended because I do enjoy protagonists that are many of those things that some critics appear to hate; competent, powerful, and victorious.
I would also say that on the whole the "Mary Sue" elements seem more front-loaded, and that the further into it you get the further the author gets away from it, mostly because he expands the plot and story beyond "the main character is very good at fighting and killing things".