This is truly a masterpiece.

I found myself completely engrossed in every single page of it.

It is without a doubt one of the very best books that I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

The author's writing style is so captivating and engaging that it kept me hooked from start to finish.

I can't wait to explore more of McCammon's works.

In fact, I fully intend to be reading a significant amount of his books in the very near future.

I'm eager to see what other amazing stories and characters he has in store for his readers.

This book has truly left a lasting impression on me and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read.

The story feels like The Stand, but with an added layer of mysticism and the backdrop of a nuclear war instead of a disease epidemic.

However, I'm not entirely sure why McCammon chose to leap forward 7 years into the future. Was it to show further degeneration of the already broken society? Or perhaps to age the lead characters? What was going through his mind? If the nuclear winter truly lasted for 7 years, I highly doubt there would be many people left. After all, there's only so much canned food and gasoline one can scavenge. People need to consider the shelf life of these items. That time jump really tested my patience. Up until then, the story was fairly believable.

On the negative side, the viewpoints presented in the story are rather polarizing and simplistic. We have the sociopath, the person with split personality disorder, the innocent daughter of a prostitute, the giant and fearsome yet gentle man, the street person with a vision of the future, and the personification of evil. That being said, within the limitations of the story, these characters are developed well enough.

Gosh, what an amazing read this has been! It is undoubtedly the highlight of the year.

This is a very massive book, consisting of over 900 pages. It took me an incredibly long time to finish because each chapter was so deeply moving.

This book brings to life the ultimate catastrophe of the 80s (it was written in the 80s, and I vividly remember our fears back then). It's a story of East vs West, where the USA is struck by nuclear warheads, and the cities are completely wiped out. Only a handful of survivors are left, fighting for their very lives.

Sister Creep and a former wrestler do everything within their power to survive. Additionally, there is a young girl nicknamed Swan. The characters are brilliant, and the plot is both nail-biting and heartwarming.

It is often compared with The Stand by Stephen King, but in my opinion, it is even better. This is an incredibly long read, but it is absolutely worthwhile. I highly recommend it. It is truly one of the must-reads from here to eternity!

Those of us of a certain generation may recall a truly terrifying and transmogrifying experience from our childhood. It was a made-for-TV movie called “The Day After”. Produced in 1983, it realistically depicted the aftermath of a global nuclear war. The desolation was palpable, the destruction was on a massive scale, and the radiation sickness that followed was truly horrifying. The sense of complete hopelessness was overwhelming.

It’s fair to say that that movie left a lasting scar on me. Growing up in the ‘80s under the Reagan Era was already challenging enough, but the constant dread of nuclear annihilation seemed to quietly loom over our heads at all times. Children of that era had (and still have) a uniquely unsettling and fatalistic worldview because of this. There was always a sense that it could all end - everything - in a flash of bright light and unbearable heat, at any second.

Horror writer Robert McCammon must have been keenly aware of this dread and fatalism, as it is infused in every word of his amazing 1987 novel “Swan Song”. This epic science fiction/fantasy/horror drama is set in the years following a global nuclear war.

Inevitably, it is comparable to Stephen King’s 1978 post-apocalyptic epic “The Stand”. “Swan Song” also involves a strong supernatural element, a battle between the forces of good and evil, and consists of roughly 1,000 pages of story. Both are huge books and highly entertaining.

I will not presume to suggest that one novel is better than the other because, although they are similar in some ways, both authors have very different styles and intents. Horror fans are most likely to be familiar with both authors, so whether one prefers “The Stand” or “Swan Song” depends on one’s literary tastes and which author one favors.

That being said, “Swan Song” differed from “The Stand” in its vivid illustration of what the world would look like after a nuclear war. It is a terrifying - and terrifyingly believable - depiction.

Imagine Cormac McCarthy devoting several hundred more pages in “The Road” to describing the complete and utter deprivation and degradation of the human race, the atrocities that man would inflict upon man when laws, governments, and moral structures collapse.

Imagine George Miller’s disturbing “Mad Max” movie series if it weren’t played for laughs.

Imagine J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Fellowship of the Ring” if Frodo and his companions were suffering from radiation sickness, Middle Earth was a poisonous wasteland, there was no guarantee that the ring was more than just a worthless trinket, and Sauron could appear at any time disguised as anyone in the party to cause havoc.

This, in a nutshell, is “Swan Song”. It is a brilliant, horrifying, and beguiling work of fiction that will have readers desperately turning the pages to find out what happens next, despite the trepidation of knowing that it may be awful.

The Cold War may be over. The Soviet Union - Reagan’s “Evil Empire” - may be gone, but the fear of global catastrophe still lingers in the hearts and minds of those who lived through that time. Today’s fears may be more complex and come from a myriad of sources, not excluding our own government and the highly unstable and volatile wild card currently sitting in the Oval Office, but they are just as visceral and real.

“Swan Song” may be dated in its context, but its underlying horror is, unfortunately, still as relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1987.

Okay, I have to say this up front;

In many ways, Swan Song is a very stupid book. It's highly derivative of Stephen King's The Stand, to which everyone compares it, and rightfully so. Robert McCammon is no Stephen King.

When I say it's derivative, I don't mean McCammon was deliberately imitating The Stand. But it's hard to imagine he was unfamiliar with King's novel. And yet, there are so many obvious similarities that he didn't bother to change even a little. In Swan Song, a nuclear war wipes out most of the human race, and then it follows a very similar path to The Stand. We see the lives of the good guys and the bad guys before the apocalypse, and then we see how they gather into their respective groups. And of course, it all leads to a final confrontation that will decide the fate of the world.

And yet, here I am giving this stupid, derivative book 5 stars. Why? Because I just loved it. It's a great post-apocalyptic epic full of memorable characters, action, adventure, magic, and love. I'm a sucker for big, thick novels about the end of the world. McCammon uses every trope in the post-apocalyptic checklist: a pretty, virginal, magical white girl with a pure heart who will remake the world? Check. Helpful colored people who assist her on her quest? Check. Cartoonishly evil, psychopathic bad guys with carved wooden, nail-studded hands, big black torture trailers, and a Joker-like madman who plays gladiatorial games with people and then practices messy taxidermy on the losers? Check. Doomsday devices, final heroic sacrifices, and True Love that appears out of nowhere? Check. A magical MacGuffin that conveniently gives the protagonists magic powers to overcome plot holes? Check.

But damn, it's a good read. You just have to read it without thinking too much. Turn off your inner critic and your sensitivity to annoying tropes, and Swan Song is great apocalyptic fun.

So, my 5-star rating shouldn't be taken as an endorsement of this as a Great Work or the Best Post-Apocalyptic Novel Ever. Sometimes I just have to rate a book based on my gut reaction, and all 956 pages of this thing were page-turners. I almost dropped it a star for the ending, which combined deux ex machinas, ticking time bomb countdowns, supposedly-dead characters rising up to deliver one last smiting, heroes running through gauntlets of narrow and improbable escapes, and tearjerker sacrifices. And there was some really bad science too. But since the book has been randomly inserting supernatural events without explanation from the beginning, I guess it's kind of pointless to complain about the science. Still, like I said, I'm a sucker for this kind of book. So if you like this kind of story, read it for the pure fun of it. But I'll understand if those who don't have as much affection for the occasional cheesy genre read don't feel compelled to read 956 pages of bad guys chasing good guys through a nuclear winter.

Reread 2020

I still stand by my earlier review and rating.

This book, to me, is much scarier than "The Stand." Both are my all-time favorites.

In 2016, I wrote an original review. It was another fantastic book I read in the 90's. My rating still stands at 5 stars. This is a quick and sloppy review as I'm on vacation, so please forgive the crudeness.

This is an awesome book, perhaps a little dated. If you liked "The Stand," you will love this. I have read this one 5 times now, and I love it every time. It's amazing how much I've forgotten over the years.

The story is a basic end-of-the-world scenario. There are several people you'll follow as they travel across the country to eventually find each other.

We have Sister Creep and Artie. Sister is a homeless and crazy bag lady in NYC after a nuclear war. She comes across the antagonist, a bejeweled ring of glass, and Artie, a Detroit businessman in NY for a conference. She decides to travel with Artie, and together they meet others while heading west.

There's also Josh and Swan. Josh is a giant Afro American man, an ex-football player and now an amateur wrestler. Swan is 9 years old and has a gift with gardening.

Lastly, we follow Ex-military James Macklin and Roland. Macklin is an ex-military and POW survivor from Vietnam. He now heads a survivalist camp called Earth House. Roland is about 10 and visiting Earth House with his mom and dad when the bombs hit.

Long story short, Macklin and Roland are the bad guys. They escape the decrepit Earth House and begin their journey recruiting others to form the Army of Excellence. These guys steal and kill to survive.

Josh and Swan are also looking to survive and discover that Swan has a talent for bringing the land back from the dead.

Sister Creep and Artie are heading towards Detroit to see if Artie's family has survived, but Sister has also been dream-walking while gazing into the mysterious glass she found and feels she has to follow what she sees, which is leading her to Swan.

The antagonist, the "man with the scarlet eye," is just plain out to destroy everything, especially the magic glass and Swan.

There's lots of great conflict, likable and unlikable characters, all of which are three-dimensional and complex. The story is wonderful and makes me feel as though I'm on the journey with all of the characters.

There is some small romance between Swan and Robin, and Josh and another woman. But it's not a romance read.

I love this author and plan to read more from him. I would definitely recommend this book.

Safety:

Hero - Robin - Virgin

Heroine - Swan - Virgin

Cheating - No

OW/OM - No

Violence - YES. VERY detailed and graphic

Abuse - Yes

Rape - Mention of it

Cursing - Yes

Torture - Yes

HEA - Yes

ILY's - Yes

Marriage/Baby - Yes for Robin and Swan

Swan Song is an outstanding novel penned by the renowned Robert R. McCammon. It was bestowed with the Bram Stoker Award, sharing the honor with SK’s Misery for the best novel of the year.

I once believed that The Stand was the greatest Survival/Post-Apocalyptic Horror Novel of all time. However, that's no longer the case. Swan Song, in my opinion, reigns supreme. King is, has been, and always will be my favorite author. But now, I truly think that The Stand is a bit overrated and rather a slugfest to finish. In contrast, Swan Song flows seamlessly and has not an ounce of fluff.

The characters are what truly make this book shine. While The Stand involves a virus outbreak, here a nuclear attack is part of the story. And the tale of survival is extremely desperate, to say the least.

I think Sister Creep (Bag Lady) is my favorite character I've ever encountered in fiction, and the wrestler Josh Hutchins (Black Frankenstein) is a character I truly adored. Of course, we all root for the main protagonist Swan aka Sue Wanda, who has the power to resurrect dead plants through contact. Does it sound like she'll be useful in the scorched earth scenario? Yes, you're right. The bad guys are great here, but they seem to have their reasons too, except for that one guy. lol.

I never wanted this story to end. In this tale of survival, faith and a higher power are brought into the equation, hoping that something bigger than hope can save us in our darkest hour. At times, the book feels like hell, with dirt, grit, smoke, and radiation, all deeply embedded in your soul. But the cast shines so brightly here, and they never disappoint.

This book is definitely in my top 5 favorite novels ever, thus far.

And with lines like, “I always figured it’s better to die on your feet, than living on your knees.” you can't help but feel that the apocalypse can't get any better than this. A flawless 5/5.

So in a month and a half, I completed Swan Song.

This epic, apocalyptic tale has become an integral part of my life. For so many days, it has lingered in the background of my mind. It will feel strange for a while not to continue on this journey, but I know it doesn't truly disappear. Now it's a part of the framework.

I've heard many people compare this book to Stephen King's The Stand. I have no idea why, except that this is a story that is both apocalyptic and horrific. There is a prolific antagonist who may or may not be the devil, but for me, that's where the similarities end.

McCammon leans a bit heavier on fantasy/magical realism here. In a way, I actually found this book to be more comparable to The Lord of the Rings. We follow several groups of travelers who endure tremendous trials to meet their end goal. Both groups of travelers are safeguarding a very special gift.

The gifts are supernaturally attempting to come together, and for over 900 pages, it is our very special treat to witness events unfold and experience Robert McCammon's unique talent for both exceptional storytelling and character building.

In particular, I found McCammon's "bad guys" extremely compelling. Especially the character Roland, whom we meet as a child (a creepy child) and get to watch him grow into a monster. I looked forward to the chapters with Roland's story.

Other favorites were our protagonists/heroes: Swan, Josh, and Sister.

---I'm not going to go into the plot or overshare here because truly, if you're a fan of horror and epic dystopian adventures, this one is a MUST and it needs to be full of individual discovery---

My own feelings: This is my third Robert McCammon novel, and I'm falling in love with his writing style. He's actually much warmer on the details than Stephen King. His forte is drawing the reader into a strangely intimate headspace where the experiences the characters go through feel familiar, nostalgic, and easy to relate to.

Swan Song is an emotional read for me. I disappeared into its pages in an unexplainable, immersive way. It was almost unreadable at work because time would pass so quickly, it felt as though I didn't even have a lunch break. So I mainly read this one at home, at night in my bed.

Readers who have a faith in something bigger than themselves, a spiritual background, will appreciate the way Robert McCammon handles that with some of his believing characters.

So I'll leave with my recommendation here: This book is amazing. I loved every page of it. The book never felt idle; each word carried intention and purpose. I was never bored or confused. I felt like I was sitting at the feet of an experienced storyteller telling me the most epic, fully fleshed out story of his career. Boy's Life is still my favorite, though, hahahah. The Listener would be second, and this book is a solid third favorite. If you haven't read this one, you must buy it and set aside ample space in your TBR to enjoy it. Savor it.

Goodreads deleted my review for this book. I just read it again maybe 2 or 3 months ago.

This is an absolute fucking classic! People often attempt to compare this book to The Stand by King. The truth is that there is simply no comparison. Both are amazing! Each is very distinct. The end of the world as we know it? Yep. Both have that.

However, there are still vast differences between them.

I've worn out 5 hardback editions of The Stand.

Swan Song? I've never worn out a single edition. Why? Because I'm usually too busy giving them away!

Nobody who looks at The Stand wants a free book! The darn thing is thick! Thank the book gods! I have also given away far too many copies of King's "The Long Walk!"

Swan Song is literally one of the best books I've ever read. It's right up there in my top 100!

Hey, get some years under your belt, and then try to narrow down your best. It's fairly difficult.

I have read The Stand by Stephen King, which was published about 15 years ago. There are certain parallels that can be drawn between that story and Swan Song.

Both novels deal with the collapse of civilization after an apocalyptic event. In The Stand, it is a virus infection, while in Swan Song, it is a nuclear war. Both are set in the North American Midwest and follow the struggles of scattered groups of survivors. Additionally, both books feature supernatural beings as avatars of the forces of Good and Evil, engaged in a battle for supremacy.

Stephen King may be the better writer in terms of character development and prose. However, I believe The Stand lost its momentum in the final third and had a confusing and unconvincing finale. This is not the case with Swan Song. Robert McCammon has a much better control of the overall plot. Although his characters may seem less subtle and rather one-dimensional, the narrative drive only sags a little in the middle of the story. By the end, the action picks up and becomes a real page-turner.

Swan Song is a much darker tale than The Stand. McCammon has managed an impressive portrayal of the destruction inflicted on the landscape and the human psyche. The battle between the forces of good and evil is perhaps a bit too Bible-flavored for my liking and is rather heavy-handed in its treatment, with a too clear separation between the two sides and few grey areas. Nevertheless, the author has confirmed his natural storytelling abilities, which impressed me in The Wolf's Hour. His action scenes have the cinematic feel of a high-octane thriller, and I think his books would translate well into the medium of film or television.

Everybody's got two faces, child - the outside face and the inside face. A face under the face, y'see. It's your true face, and if it was flipped to the outside, you'd show the world what kind of person you are.

How can one say about a horror story that is beautiful? But that's exactly what I'm going to say: it was so beautiful! McCammmon is a wizard of words. He knows how to transform the ugly into beauty, and he does it so well! The evil wearing human faces doesn't discriminate between races. It could be anyone, no matter his race or colour, and it's everywhere. Good is also everywhere. People wearing their soul on their faces was an awesome idea.

The book is almost 1000 pages, and not a word was wasted. The fluency of his writing is incredible. He simply brings words to life. You know perfectly well that it's fiction, and yet you can't but feel sucked into the story and live every horror, every struggle, every moment of despair to the max. But it was all worth it in the end.

For me it was the first horror story that read like a fairytale. I was entranced from the very first page to the last, and loved it to pieces. It is the kind of book that fills you to the brim with the entire range of emotions. One that, when you turn the last page, makes you feel richer and beyond satisfied.

It's the kind of story that restores faith in humanity. Among the horror and destruction, there is always the power of healing and beauty. One just has to have hope and believe in it.

"And when they would tell their own children the tale by candlelight in the warmth of their homes, on the streets where lamps burned under stars that still stirred the power to dream, they would always begin the tale with the same magic words:
"Once upon a time..."

Once upon a time, there was a book that caught my attention.

From the moment I started reading it, I was completely hooked.

I found myself constantly saying, "I want more. I need more."

The story was so engaging and the characters were so vivid that I couldn't get enough of it.

However, as I continued to read, I also realized that the book was perfect just the way it was.

Every word, every sentence, and every chapter seemed to be carefully crafted to create a masterpiece.

I will definitely be writing a more detailed review in a couple of days to share my thoughts and feelings about this amazing book.

Until then, I can't wait to pick it up again and continue my journey through its pages.