Okay, I made it! Finished SWAN SONG tonight.

If reading anything negative about this book would make your head explode, then stop reading now. You've been warned. Just my opinion, and I'm entitled to it.

Overall, I would say this book was only about a 3 and a half star read for me. I can definitely see why so many people love it. I imagine it would have been a hell of a lot better for me personally had I read this back in the late eighties as a teenager when the cold war was at its peak and nuclear winter was a widely accepted theory.

Still, I did find a lot to enjoy in the book. The first couple hundred pages were my favorite, really like a time capsule back into the RED DAWN and DAY AFTER TOMORROW era. Though a higher level of suspension of disbelief was required than I expected from the book, I went with it and had a lot of fun. It was definitely more "BOOK OF ELI" than "THE ROAD" if I were to make apocalyptic movie comparisons.

It began to lose me, however, around the point when the travelers arrived in Mary's Rest. The cast of characters expanded too rapidly for me to genuinely care about anyone, and the pace slowed to a crawl for the last third of the book. The random mix of reality and completely unexplained supernatural events subconsciously grated at me the entire way.

And the events in WV towards the climax of the book? *sigh* I think that whole sequence could have been chopped and the book would have been the better for it. The entire ending went out with more of a whimper than I had hoped.

McCammon can certainly craft a mighty phrase, though he does use eloquence sparingly (which is a good thing), and I ultimately preferred this version of THE STAND to Stephen King's, but both could have benefited by much tighter plotting IMO.

Enjoyed reading with everyone, but glad to say I've experienced the mighty SWAN SONG and lived to tell the tale! It's probably not the book that is lacking in any way, most likely just my personal preference for reading material that is economical in its use of words, tightly coiled tales with little to no wasted space.

In conclusion, while SWAN SONG had its moments of brilliance and entertainment, it also had some flaws that prevented it from being a five-star read for me. The pacing issues and the overabundance of characters towards the end detracted from the overall experience. However, I still appreciate McCammon's writing style and his ability to create a vivid post-apocalyptic world. It's a book that I'm glad I read, but it may not be for everyone.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I almost feel a bit bad for giving it three stars instead of two. However, there were a few aspects that bothered me enough that I had to mention them.

There has been a nuclear holocaust, which seems to be a recurring theme in my recent readings. We get to witness the aftermath through the eyes of what ultimately become two main groups: the good guys and the bad guys.

Nearly every review I've come across compares this book to "The Stand" by Stephen King, and there's a valid reason for that. In "The Stand," it's a disease that leads to the end of civilization as we know it, but that's really the main difference. Many fans of this book claim that the similarities end there because in this story, the world is completely decimated. There is very little life, no sun, and scarce freshwater, among other things. However, McCammon doesn't dwell on these details much. When the sun finally comes out at the end, I initially wondered why it was such a big deal until I remembered that it had been pretty dark throughout the story.

One of the issues I had with this book is just how extremely bad the bad guys are. They are like bat shit crazy, wackadoodle nut jobs. The bad guys are almost always bad, but in this case, they were almost ridiculously so. In the end, when given the opportunity to leave, only three men out of thousands choose to leave the evil camp and join the good side. We're talking about universally bad people here, not just those who follow a leader for food, security, and a sense of belonging to a tribe. They are just plain evil.

Very early on in the story, two "magical" elements are introduced as plot anchors. But by the time the story concludes, one of them disappears with little fanfare, and the other has done very little except look pretty and give a few dreams. There is a hint of more power in this particular talisman, but McCammon doesn't explore it further. I almost felt as if he was setting the stage for a sequel or a follow-up novel.

After complaining for the past few paragraphs, I feel the need to say that I actually did enjoy the novel. It had its clumsy moments and was quite far-fetched at times, but it was still compelling. I generally have no problem suspending my disbelief, but when the characters developed growths on their faces, I could see where the story was headed because of the broad strokes he used to描绘 the two opposing sides. When it finally happened, it felt almost cheesy, but again, it was still an engaging read.

I think this book is a bit like Hamburger Helper. Is it gourmet or refined? Definitely not, but it fills you up, and you eat it guiltily despite knowing how bad it is. It eventually satisfies, and sometimes that's all we need. Satisfaction.

**Original Article**: This is a simple article. It just needs to be rewritten and expanded.

**Expanded Article**: This is a rather simple article.

It doesn't possess a great deal of complexity or depth.

However, it does have the potential to be transformed into something more substantial through the process of rewriting and expansion.

By adding more details, examples, and perhaps some additional perspectives, the article can be enhanced and made more engaging for the reader.

This could involve elaborating on the main points, providing more context, or even including some relevant statistics or research findings.

With a bit of effort and creativity, the simple article can be turned into a more comprehensive and interesting piece of writing.

Here's the bottom line: Swan Song is truly one of my all-time favorite books. It has an impact on me that is just as profound as it was the very first time I delved into its pages.

Swan Song is an extremely dark and scary read, yet it is also one of the most exquisitely beautiful and hopeful books I have ever come across.

Weighing in at a hefty 956 pages, it is a massive story in every conceivable sense. There are characters that you will loathe and dread, while there are also those with whom you will fall deeply in love and continue to care about long after you have turned the final page. Throughout the pages of Swan Song, there is a seamless blend of magic, evil, goodness, hope, ruin, and beauty.

If you are a passionate fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, then Swan Song is an absolute must-read. I wholeheartedly give it my highest recommendation.

This was truly fantastic!

I listened to this book as part of a buddy read. To be honest, I never would have chosen this book on my own. I'm not really a big fan of the apocalyptic genre. However, I'm extremely glad that I joined them in reading this book!

Most of the book is incredibly intense. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, constantly wondering what will happen next. The story is filled with action, drama, and unexpected twists and turns.

I listened to this book again in 2017, and I loved it just as much this time as I did the first time. It's one of those books that you can read or listen to multiple times and still find something new and exciting each time.

If you're looking for a thrilling and engaging read, I highly recommend giving this book a try, even if you're not usually into the apocalyptic scene. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy it!

This is an eminently readable book that doesn't belabor its hefty page count. However, unfortunately, it doesn't quite justify it either. It's hard not to compare this to The Stand, especially since that book excels in areas where this one falls flat for me.

First, the good. The writing is clean and readable, carrying the story well. It keeps things moving and interesting, never boring me. The few places where it distinguishes itself from King's precedent are in the nature of the apocalyptic events and how they affect the characters. The ravaged wasteland adds a desolated feeling and a continued menace, which I appreciated. The time jump between books one and two also added gravitas and weight to the story.

But, to be honest, most everything else was just "meh" for me. The main characters felt unoriginal and underwritten, with nothing engaging or surprising about them. The story itself was too long, especially book one. Not much happened in those extra pages, and the characters didn't have much interesting growth. The story felt expected at almost every point, and the magical realism didn't feel earned. The closing chapters were a disappointment, with miraculous behavior that felt overly optimistic and lazy.

This kind of story asks important questions about being an average person in extraordinary circumstances. But we don't really see that struggle in these characters. Their decisions are essentially made for them, and any doubt lasts only a moment. When characters do have a change of heart, it's unearned and miraculous. There's no moral wrestling in these characters, and the circumstances are too heavy-handed.

Basically, everything felt too easy and neat. The characters weren't complicated or wracked with moral dilemma. The resolutions were magical and unearned. The final ending and optimism felt both expected and unsatisfying. I liked the magical elements conceptually, but their employment lacked rationale. I see why people enjoy these characters, but their potential was squandered. The pacing was strange, and the two major opposing forces weren't really aware of each other for most of the novel. If this was a 600-page novel, I might have had a better time with it. Still, the writing was descriptive and interesting, and I was happy to keep turning pages.

So, maybe read it? But if you're willing to spend 1,000 pages here, maybe just add 300 more and read The Stand. Its characters have more complicated internal journeys, and the narrative is more satisfying. But that's just my opinion. This isn't a bad book. It's longer than it needs to be, and it doesn't present the problems of good and evil in a complicated way, but it's still an epic story with a terrifying vision. The world-building feels convincing and prescient.

Apocalyptic fun!!! This was an extremely damned entertaining experience. It was truly a really long book, yet it sure didn't feel that way at all. The story never dragged even for a moment. From the very beginning, it had me completely hooked and engaged. The plot was filled with excitement, twists, and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. The characters were well-developed and relatable, making it easy to invest in their fates. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a thrilling and engaging read. Whether you're a fan of the apocalyptic genre or just looking for a great story, this one is sure to deliver. It's a must-read that you won't want to put down!

This might just be the most favorite book I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

It actually took me a full two days to finally gather up the courage to read the last 50 pages. The reason being that I had become so incredibly emotionally invested in the characters and the story.

They had become like real people to me, and I simply didn't want my journey with them to come to an end.

This book is absolutely beautiful and spectacular in every sense of the word.

It has touched my heart and soul in ways that I never thought possible.

From the very first page, I was hooked and couldn't put it down.

If I could rate it, I would give it a solid 6 stars out of 5.

It truly is a masterpiece that I will cherish for a long time to come.

In March of 2020, as the pandemic loomed large, I reached for Stephen King’s “The Stand”. Little did I know that this would set off a literary journey that would lead me to read all of his books. By the time I was done, I found myself at a loss, not knowing where to turn next (this was, of course, before I joined Goodreads in March of 2021). I took to the online world for suggestions, and someone mentioned that if I loved “The Stand”, I would surely enjoy “Swan Song” by Robert McCammon.

I had never before heard of Robert McCammon, but I decided to give the book a chance. After reading about 200 pages, I was overwhelmed with gratitude towards the fan who had recommended it to me. Since then, I have delved into most of his horror stories, and for the most part, they have been outstanding. (He later ventured into historical fiction, which isn't quite my cup of tea). But let's get back to this particular book... the best one.

The worst-case scenario has occurred, and Earth has been plunged into a nuclear holocaust. Much like in “The Stand”, a group of people strive to stay alive and find a way back to a semblance of normalcy. Different groups are formed, each with their own intentions, and the battle to save humanity commences. Loyalties are forged, promises are broken, and people engage in war.

The characters in this book are written with such spectacular detail that it's evident a great deal of effort went into making them truly unforgettable. Swan herself is one of the most remarkable characters I've ever come across in literature. The plot is engaging, the ending is perfect... overall, this is an epic book that I believe more people should discover. Despite its nearly 1000-page length, it felt like a quick read because it was simply impossible to put down. I was actually sad when it came to an end (even though the ending was absolute perfection!).

Stephen King remains my favorite author, and his books are more consistently excellent. However, “Swan Song” gives King a real run for his money. I cannot recommend this book highly enough if you have a penchant for post-apocalyptic horror with a healthy dose of love. This book has truly made me a die-hard McCammon fan, and I'm incredibly glad that I stumbled upon it!

I truly wanted to like this book. I have a penchant for novels that explore the post-apocalyptic world. Despite what I regarded as its numerous shortcomings and what seemed to me an amateurish approach, I persevered until the end. There was an overabundance of everything: violence, torture, death, cruelty, starvation, disease, cancer, nuclear devastation, nuclear winter, nuclear pollution, and nuclear effects. People were killing each other, themselves, and most other living things. Racism and ethnic cleansing were also present. Magic and fantasy, both dark and good, were intertwined. It was a classic case of Good vs Evil. The devil, a main character, was a mean, cruel, yet not overly cunning shapeshifter. Fortunately for the good guys, he was also a not-too-bright idiot; otherwise, no one would have survived. And, of course, there was a Madonna-like figure to represent good and save the world. That is, if she could endure all of the above and then defeat the devil by simply being her sweet, smart, innocent, and meaningful self after the cancer crusts fell off her beautiful face. Sigh. Has this author ever heard of the concept 'less is more'? Maybe I'm just jaded from reading outstanding books like The Road, The Stand, Oryx & Crake, The Handmaid's Tale, and even The Dog Stars and The Hunger Games. This book receives 4 plus stars from most readers. Just not for me, I guess.

However, I can understand why some readers might enjoy it. The vivid descriptions of the post-apocalyptic world can be quite captivating, and the complex characters add depth to the story. Maybe I was just expecting something different.

In conclusion, while this book didn't quite meet my expectations, it may still have its merits for other readers. It's important to remember that everyone has different tastes when it comes to literature.

I find myself at a loss for words. I vividly recall having a great time reading THE STAND. Perhaps, upon a second reading, it would still maintain its charm and hold up well. However, this particular work, just like everything that McCammon pens, possesses that unique and special touch of magic.

McCammon's writing has this ability to draw the reader in and transport them to another world. His stories are filled with rich characters, engaging plots, and a sense of mystery and wonder.

When I pick up a McCammon book, I know I'm in for a treat. The way he weaves his tales, the attention to detail, and the emotional depth he brings to his work all contribute to making it truly captivating.

This particular piece is no exception. It has that certain something that makes it stand out from the rest. It's a book that I'll surely be thinking about long after I've turned the last page.

My goodness! Right from the start, since everyone likes to compare this with The Stand, I must say that, for me, this was an absolute gem that was 10 times better.

While McCammon might seem to have some shortcomings when it comes to character development compared to King, he more than compensates for it with his masterful pacing, evocative setting, and immersive atmosphere.

This hefty tome was never a chore to read through. Now, does that mean it was without flaws? Of course not. But I simply didn't let those issues bother me enough to impact my overall reading experience.

Yes, there were times when a significant suspension of disbelief was required, and the dialogue of the teen romance was truly cringe-worthy.

I could also have done without some of the early chapters focusing on Macklin and Roland. However, I adored all the other characters so much that it didn't matter.

I'm truly glad that I finally got around to reading this one. It was an unforgettable journey that kept me hooked from beginning to end.