**Swan Song: A Captivating Tale of Complexities and Hope**

Every now and then, a book emerges that seems to dissect the intricacies of life from reality and reassemble them within its pages and text. "Swan Song" by Robert McCammon is such a work. It's a story that, in its simplicity, captures the essence of spirituality, psychology, physiology, and sociology like a prism, separating them by color, strength, and depth.

Swan Song is a tale of survival and desperation, conquest and freedom, kindness and brutality, good versus evil, and hope versus despair. The characters are rich and diverse, like tuning forks that McCammon strikes with minimal effort but exquisite precision, finding the perfect pitch in just a few words. They fit together like the tiny cogs and gears of a precision watch, marking the passage of time.


The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world that McCammon描绘得如此生动，让人仿佛身临其境。 The earth is scorched and dark, but there are still rays of hope and blossoms of sunshine. The characters, such as Josh, Swan, Sister, Rusty, Rolland, and Macklin, are all on a journey of self-discovery and survival. They face horrors and villains at every turn, but they also find strength and courage within themselves.


I haven't gone into detail about the plot or story because I don't want to spoil it for you. Surprise is a big part of the fun in this book. I will say that McCammon gives the most mind-blowing ground zero view of the apocalypse I've ever read. It's both terrifying and fascinating.


There are warnings, though. This book contains every kind of violence you can imagine. It's gritty and realistic, and there is gore. It's not for the faint of stomach or the faint of heart. However, like other great reads, there is hope that overcomes the horror and makes it all worthwhile.


I also need to add a statement about some of the background characters. The audiobook narrator was very good, but some of the ethnically black characters spoke in what I remember as ethnic accents from growing up in the south in the 1970s. These accents are now sometimes used to ridicule those of African heritage. But in this book, these characters are courageous, dignified, and more human than most others. McCammon uses them to show that humanity still lives and there are people who care about others. Don't let the dialect mislead you. These are wonderful characters who are well-cared for and respected.


In conclusion, "Swan Song" is a five-star read. It's a long story, but you'll be on the edge of your seat from cover to cover. It's a must-read for anyone who loves a good post-apocalyptic tale with complex characters and a powerful message of hope.

Re-read Audiobooks 2023

One word: masterpiece!

5 Stars (Outstanding)

Swan Song blew me away from the very first page, and became an instant masterclass in horror and post-apocalyptic book! Wow, what an incredible, well fleshed out book. It has diverse and strong characters, a solid plot that engages you from beginning to end. I picked this on a pure whim, after reading a bunch of fantasy books back to back. I knew I wanted to read one of my favorite genres, post-apocalyptic, and this came as a distant mention buried in a GR review. After looking this over more carefully, I decided to give it a try. What a surprise!

Swan Song is a masterpiece in its conception, originality, and character creation. Comparisons with The Stand are inevitable. Both are about the survivors of an apocalyptic event and both have a devil type figure walking around stirring things up. And, yeah, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I enjoyed Swan Song more than 'The Stand'!!! There I said it!

SK is perhaps one of my top 3 favorite authors, and I thought for sure Swan Song took after many attributes and concept from 'The Stand'. Yet, looking deeply at the background of Swan Song, it was actually published 4 years before 'The Stand'!! So I hate to say it, but I'm sure it had an impact on SK writing 'The Stand'.

So many things work so well in this book. Perhaps a bullet list will be more effective:
* The main protagonists 'Swan', 'Josh' and 'Sister' are once in a lifetime characters, so unique and diverse, and each with a rich story that will capture you from the start.
* Some of the most deranged and evil characters I've read in a while in 'Captain Roland' and 'Macklin'.
* A post-apocalyptic world that is both chilling and horrifying and believable at the same time.
* A crescendo of both tempo and tension, that keeps you revved up through all 919 pages! I just kept wanting to immerse myself more into that world, despite how horrifying it was.
* Themes of hope, friendship and survival at all costs are a constant reminder of the human spirit throughout the story.
* Robert R. McCammon has skyrocketed as one of my favorite authors. I'm currently reading 2 of his other novels, and they're quite amazing.
* And finally, a most amazing and immaculate audiobook interpretation that I've listened to in years!! Tom Stechschulte is a gem of a voice-over actor, and he fleshes out each character perfectly.

Swan Song represents the real premium'stuff' when it comes to post-apocalyptic horror and what can ensue in its aftermath! The novel is a masterclass in storytelling, and the characters and story plot will keep you on your toes during the whole ride.

An epic story it was, one that truly made me reminisce of other remarkable epic tales with their own sets of good versus evil characters, much like those found in the renowned Lord of the Rings and the captivating Dark Tower series.

The Black Frankenstein, as he was once called during his wrestling days, known as Josh, and the Bag lady, known as Sister Creep, are two truly memorable characters. They are not only courageous but also filled with an abundance of heart. Their presence really elevated the story to new heights. And, of course, there's Swan, a young girl who serves as a main character throughout the entire narrative. She can rightfully be placed in the hall of fame of young, gifted, and courageous girls, similar to Matilda and the girl from Firestarter by Stephen King (I've seen the movie but haven't read the book yet).

The story kicks off with a literal bang. Two nations engage in a fierce war, crossing a point of no return. This leads to mass destruction, annihilating most of the country and plunging it into an apocalyptic state.

In the post-apocalyptic setting, a band of pilgrims, survivors of the destruction, are put to the ultimate tests of their lives. They embark on a journey, and several groups cross paths, their destinies becoming intertwined. Swan, a girl who sees the kindness and beauty within all the ugliness, truly gives hope to the dispirited souls and destroyed hearts, offering them a vision of a better and more prosperous future. Will the world once again blossom, with plant life spurting out its richness and filling the stomachs of the starved?

There is still a dark and evil force lurking. Evil set the wheels in motion and won't stop until every soul is wiped from the earth and the land is completely destroyed. This evil takes on many forms.

Good and evil cross paths numerous times in this story. War and death remain ever-present even after the great destruction, as groups fight for control and power over land and food. There will be more bloodshed. But will there ever be peace?

Finally, I completed this novel. I had been holding off on reading it for a special time for quite a while. It is lengthy, but every page is well worth it. I even listened to it simultaneously via audiobook, so that's twice I've covered the story.

An even greater reason was my interview with the humble writer, Robert McCammon.

Visit my webpage to read the interview during March 2012 >>>> http://more2read.com/review/interview-with-robert-r-mccammon/