I believe I'm right in saying that Song of Kali was Dan Simmons' first novel, and it's an engrossing enough first effort.

The book is classified as horror, and, as readers have come to expect from Dan Simmons, it belongs to the more literate side of that genre. That being said, while there are strong suggestions of supernatural threat and a constant fear of violence and criminality, I'm not entirely certain it qualifies as a horror novel. Instead, it's the squalor and overpopulated deprivation endured by the residents of Calcutta at that time that represents the truest horror in this novel.

My knowledge of Kali is at best limited, although I have found the need to research various deities. I'm not sure Dan Simmons portrays her in the fairest light.

There is one extremely shocking event that takes place in the book, and it is truly horrific. It came as a real and unexpected blow to the gut. So, kudos to Mr. Simmons for that. However, although the author's splendid prose描绘出 some wonderfully bleak scenes and presents many grim situations, I also felt that most of the characters were rather two-dimensional. I didn't form a connection with a single one of them, which is why I gave it a middling three stars.

It's a decent enough read, but it's nowhere near the caliber of Dan Simmons' later works.

I think I would have derived a great deal more enjoyment from this book had my previous Dan Simmons work not been Drood. There are numerous interesting elements in this particular volume. The suggestions of the strange supernatural lurking just beneath the veneer of ordinary life, the presence of a disfigured character whose reality is ambiguous, and the literary, almost too-clever-to-be-true protagonist. However, it must be noted that all of these elements are also present in Drood, but in a far more refined and polished manner.

Moreover, this book didn't really seem to possess a deeper point beyond the rather basic concept that light will always prevail over darkness.

I would only recommend this book to those individuals who have an intense and unwavering desire to read every single word that Simmons has ever penned. Otherwise, there are far better works by him available that offer more depth, complexity, and overall literary value.

For a long time, due to emergencies in my hometown, I couldn't read a book.

I just finished reading this book during the night shift in the hospital, and... what a heart-wrenching book it is.

It is a powerful and pitch-black dramatic book. The Luscak family experiences one of the common but bitter experiences in Kolkata. One might think that the "Song of Kali" is in the foreground, but I don't think so. It contains a perfect criticism incidentally. Dialogues, descriptions, and unforgettable emotion transmission.

Now I am interested in all the books of Dan Simmons!

This is one of Simmons' finest horror novels.

It is a deeply dark and gritty tale of ancient evil, set in the vibrant and mysterious city of Calcutta.

The novel is a masterful blend of beautifully written, highly polished, and quite literary prose, which is seamlessly intertwined with horrific tropes and elements inspired by pulp fiction.

The result is a tense and terrifying suspenseful page-turner that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Although it may be somewhat off the beaten path, it is the perfect choice for a spooky read during the Halloween season.

With its vivid descriptions, engaging characters, and hair-raising plot, this novel is sure to satisfy even the most discerning horror fans.