Sometimes I just want a balls-to-the-wall, kick the ever-lovin'crap out of everybody and laugh your ass off while you're doing it kind of novel. No kidding! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Jim Butcher's: Harry Dresden, Cherryh's: Foreigner novels and BOTH series by Patricia Briggs. But I also loved the "March" series that J. Ringo did with David Webber… although I'm not so big on troop placement, military strategy and the application of mapping out battle sequences. Oh, and EVERYTHING by John Scalzi… but I digress. I find, as I'm getting older, that I really want to learn more about weapons training and I want to start hitting the gun range. For some reason, target shooting is starting to sound like a great way to let out my inner demons (who are clapping with glee at the very thought of it) and blow off some emotional steam. And hey, there is ALWAYS something to be said for acquiring a new skill! ; - )
But in the meantime, there is this book by Ringo & Correia: Monster Hunter Memoirs: Grunge… and it seems to be getting the job done nicely without my ever having to take a gun class or hit the range; and YES, I'm going to go after the second book as well. The first one is genuinely THAT GOOD. In fact, to my way of thinking, it's actually better than LC's MHI series in which universe it is set. Ringo is just more adept at balancing character development with action sequences and honestly, this is a read it "word-for-word" book whereas I found myself skipping entire sections of the original MHI books and never feeling like I'd lost anything that really mattered. In all honesty, I ordered this book BEFORE I read any of the MHI series and specifically because Ringo's name was on it and I have that much respect for his work. Which I am now going to have to acquire more of… IMMEDIATELY. But about THIS book in particular….
First, you should know that I live in the Seattle area where much of the action takes place AND that I was born at the end of "The Boomer Age" so while I may not agree with all of the protagonist's views on "great presidents" I am VERY comfortable in the era in which the story takes place and the attitudes on which he bases the behavior of the lead character…. and, oh yeah, my husband was in the Navy and would have been on one of the ships that ferried Chad to Beirut (read the book, I'm NOT telling). Not too mention the fact that, given my age would have been about the same as Chad's during all his adventures, I would probably have been more than happy to let him flirt me shamelessly into his bed… because truthfully, he's just that likable. Which ultimately still isn't the only reason I love this book so much.
I love this book because Chad's family was batshit crazy dysfunctional and I can relate completely. I love this book because I WISH I had been smart enough to have thought up the notion "to take any career path my parents would have been opposed to". I love that he's brilliant (and YES, it takes a hell of a lot more work to pull perfect straight C's through school than it would to get straight A's if you're genuinely intelligent). I LOVE that everything he says and does manages to convey wit, style, intelligence and wicked-crazy sarcasm. Frankly, Chad is probably too good to be true but it appears that he MAY have exaggerated SOME of what's in his memoirs although I for one am perfectly content to believe every word! I love this book because it's got heart, soul, boatloads of smashing and bashing bad guys and bad beings of all kinds and mostly I love it because although it's incredibly well-written and well thought-out. It's an easy, fun read that requires nothing more than the best action movies… sit back and enjoy the ride because it's worth every penny and you'll probably want to turn around and get right back on once you've finished! What can I say? It's a wicked smart book about killing monsters… whooda thunk it? But then, who would have thought Buffy the Vampire Slayer would have gone 9 whole seasons? Yeah, do it! Then go get your ass on a gun range and smile! WE all need to get our ya-ya's out somehow and this book has enough bone crunching, head, arms, hands and leg slashings along with multiple ways of blowing monsters into dust to satisfy us all… just don't forget to get proof of your kill! NO PROOF, NO PUFF! (and yeah, you're going to have to read it for that one too!)
J. Ringo said in the preface that this book screamed in his head: "WRITE ME WRITE ME WRITE ME"! And it shows in every passage on every page. So the most important thing to add… maybe the only thing to add is: READ IT READ IT READ IT!
And yes, I know LC did some "editing" and added some of the backstory and canon but I've read some MHI and this book is genuinely Ringo's…
IMO… and much to my relief… although, to be fair, if I had one complaint about the novel it would be that most of his teammates at the Seattle branch of MHI are not as well fleshed out as many of the other characters Chad has relationships with. Which didn't get in the way of my enjoyment but is enough of an issue to be worth mentioning.
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Top reviews from other countries
Cliente Kindle
in missione per conto di Dio!!
Reviewed in Italy on January 13, 2018
jamie leonard
A very good read - as usual with these authors
Reviewed in Canada on August 9, 2016
Have you heard?
Well, well, well. A new Monster Hunter International novel.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 6, 2016