I’ve only read two McCammon books so far, namely SWAN SONG and THE WOLF’S HOUR. However, I’ve already reached a conclusion.

Robert McCammon doesn’t simply write novels; he crafts masterpieces. I had high expectations for SWAN SONG as many people rank it alongside (and in some cases, even above) one of my favorite novels, Stephen King’s THE STAND. After reading SWAN SONG, I truly believed the praise was well-deserved. It is indeed a towering classic within our genre.

What I didn’t anticipate was that THE WOLF’S HOUR would rival the magnificence of SWAN SONG. THE WOLF’S HOUR is an entirely different type of novel compared to SWAN SONG (and I would even argue that SWAN SONG is very distinct from THE STAND), yet it is no less impressive. In fact, I found Michael Gallatin, the protagonist of THE WOLF’S HOUR, to be more captivating than any character in SWAN SONG, which was filled with amazing characters, especially Josh, the ex-pro wrestler.

I’ll leave the synopsis of THE WOLF’S HOUR to other reviewers since it’s not a new release anyway. Instead, I’ll limit my observations to a few brief reactions. Firstly, the aforementioned Michael Gallatin is one of those larger-than-life characters who still feels firmly rooted in reality. More significantly, McCammon manages to make Michael vulnerable without making him seem weak. The result is a thrilling sense of suspense whenever Michael is in danger, which then transforms into a believable relief whenever he triumphs. We believe he can be killed, but we also believe he can overcome. The difficulty of achieving this balance cannot be emphasized enough, yet McCammon makes it all appear effortless.

Secondly, the novel contains set pieces that are just begging for a big screen adaptation. One involves the Paris Opera House, and another takes place on a specially-rigged “death train,” which is one of the coolest settings I’ve come across in a long time. These set pieces alone elevate THE WOLF’S HOUR into the realm of high adventure, and they lead to my next point. Thirdly, the story is a true epic. It encompasses horror, action, romance, adventure, humor, heartbreak, eroticism, and historical flavor. Despite knowing how WWII ended, we experience genuine terror when the Nazi plot is revealed and nerve-wracking suspense when Michael attempts to thwart Hitler’s diabolical plan.

From the above comments, it might seem like I’m criticizing SWAN SONG. But that’s not the case at all. It is an incredible work of fiction. And if I had to choose between THE WOLF’S HOUR and SWAN SONG, I would choose the latter as the superior of the two books. However, THE WOLF’S HOUR definitely deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as SWAN SONG when people discuss the best horror novels.

I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention McCammon’s writing, which is truly superb. The man has a poet’s ear and a carpenter’s precision, yet he also has the raw power to create such a robust and engaging tale. McCammon is a masterful writer who has already taught me a great deal. He’s also a captivating storyteller who keeps me thoroughly entertained.

And before you say anything, let me answer you: I know I need to read BOY’S LIFE and plan to do so by the end of the year. For now, though, I’m going to fully enjoy and savor THE WOLF’S HOUR. It was everything a great book should be.

I decided to read this book because the concept of World War II combined with werewolves seemed fascinating.

However, this book turned out to be rather ridiculous. I've been indulging in a lot of romance novels lately, so I'm no stranger to absurdity. But seriously, the opening scene features a wolf chewing off a man's hand. Later on, another wolf explodes, spewing out gross worms (that part was truly revolting). There's a hunter with a death-train, and the most unappealing "erotic" scene occurs. A significant number of people get stomped to death.

This book was described as being like James Bond taking on the Nazis, with the added twist of occasionally turning into a werewolf and pondering the nature of humanity. I believe it lives up to that description (the review by Nathaniel Katz in Strange Horizons is quite thorough and aligns with my thoughts).

Robert McCammon is known for writing entertaining stories. I really enjoyed the first two Matthew Corbett books. But as you read more of his works, you start to realize that it's kind of like Michael Bay's movies, but in written form (and perhaps a bit more entertaining). There's a lot of visceral gore and graphic sex. I think McCammon does a better job with the gore than the sex scenes. I just feel that the characters, aside from Michael, are rather thinly developed. The women are the classic beautiful and dangerous types, but I don't get a strong sense of their individuality. And I'm fairly certain that one of them was killed off to advance the plot and serve as the super hot lady to showcase the hero's prowess.

Also, the third-person narrative with an omniscient narrator (or at least a very character-hopping point of view) doesn't do much to enhance the depth of the characters (in my personal opinion, yours may differ). I just felt that the snippets of thoughts from everyone made it difficult for me to form a full connection.

In conclusion, this book was entertaining, but it was also completely wacky in parts and lacking in strong characterization. It was filled with explosions, flying limbs, torn throats, and women having supposedly steamy sex with the super hot hero. So, in essence, it was like a James Bond story.

Michael Gallatin, a master spy in World War II, is also a werewolf. He comes out of retirement for a final mission to stop the secret Nazi operation, Iron Fist. The question remains: can he succeed and still hold onto his humanity?

The Wolf's Hour presents an interesting concept - what if Captain America was a werewolf instead of a superhero? While the 1990's CapWolf storyline doesn't count as it wasn't set in World War II.

The book tells two parallel stories. One follows Michael Gallatin during World War II, and the other focuses on young Mikhail Gallatinov, a Russian boy who becomes a werewolf after his family is killed. Although both storylines have action, I was more intrigued by the Mikhail storyline. The WWII part had too little werewolf action for my liking.

McCammon's writing is competent but not award-winning. However, I still enjoy his work. The action sequences are well executed, and the werewolf bits are delightfully gory. Michael Gallatin is a great character, like a werewolf version of James Bond. But the other characters didn't really stand out for me.

Slightly later edit: I thought the book was a bit long for its content. If it had been shortened to 400-450 pages, it would have easily earned another star.

One final thought: I didn't know werewolves pee on each other!

Overall, The Wolf's Hour is a good pulpy action story with a werewolf protagonist. If that's what you're looking for, you won't be disappointed.

If we are too demanding, we will discover countless weaknesses and holes in the fabric of the novel. However, I don't think McCammon's idea was to create a work that is shackled by historical factuality. He clearly explains his concept in the preface. All the time while I was flipping through the pages excitedly, I felt like I was watching a projection of a movie from the Indiana Jones series (either "The Raiders of the Lost Ark" or "The Last Crusade"), in which the archaeologist contends with the Nazis - zero authenticity and pure entertainment at its maximum. The non-stop action also led me to think about Matthew Reilly's novels - years ago I devoured them by the kilogram :)

The episodes from Michael Gallatin's childhood in Russia seemed weakest to me. Similar farces are regularly observed when, for example, a Bulgarian author plays with an American setting - there was simply nothing, absolutely nothing Russian in the White House inhabited by the wolf-woman... But never mind - I found exactly what I was looking for - yet another interesting offering from the MAGiCA Collection.

Straight epic WWII historical adventure filled with heroism and sacrifice... or a sexed-up epic werewolf story from childhood through adulthood.

What do YOU prefer?

Fortunately, YOU don't have to make a choice! It's all here!

And guess what? This is all a huge tome with a very long and very adventuresome escapade revolving around WWII. It takes you from the resistance fighters, deep into enemy German territory, then to Russia, and back to England. It's a pretty wild ride and a ton of things happen.

If you like your stories long, exciting, sexed up, and very, very wolfy, then you really ought to read this.

This is NOT your average UF fantasy. Since it was written in the 80's, it goes a long way to strive for realism and the exploration of what it means to be a man or a wolf. It really rocks the Metallica theme and the lone-wolf idea that saves the world, too.

And to make it even more impressive, it's very immersive as a historical drama, too, from 1918 Russia to WWII.

Really, this is a force to be reckoned with.

They just don't write them like they used to. :)

British agent Michael Gallatin parachutes into occupied France in June 1944. His mission is crucial for the Allied invasion. What makes him unique is that he is a werewolf, a secret known only to three others. Resistance fighters, Gestapo agents, and civilians sense something special about him. As the story goes back in time to Russia, we see how Mikhail Gallatinov became a werewolf.

If you don't like this premise, you might not enjoy Robert McCammon's 1989 novel. But it actually has a lot to offer, including kissing, sex, werewolves, lethal women, Nazi killing, secret missions, and the Paris Underground. In 1942, a Nazi officer is attacked by a wolf in Libya, and Michael is reunited with his ex-lover in Cairo. Later, he is sought out by intelligence officers in Wales and takes on a dangerous mission.
In 1917, Mikhail is separated from his family and bitten by a wolf. He is taken in by a pack leader and taught various skills. In Nazi-occupied France, Michael teams up with a partisan named Gaby and makes his way to Paris. There, he tries to contact an agent named Adam and discovers a plot involving a chemical weapons facility.
McCammon writes women well, and his prose is colorful. The story is enthralling, and his imagination is on full display. Reading this novel is like being a twelve-year-old again, watching action-packed movies. McCammon returned to Michael Gallatin in 2012 with three novellas, but never launched a series. The Wolf's Hour is a standalone novel that leaves a lasting impression.

It is true that this quartet is engaging, but the supporting characters, especially the Mouse, really caught my attention.

The Mouse is a fascinating character. It has a unique charm and personality that sets it apart from the others. Its actions and behavior add an interesting dimension to the story.

Perhaps it is the Mouse's mischievous nature or its ability to always find a way out of difficult situations that makes it so appealing.

Whatever the reason, I can't help but be drawn to this little character and look forward to seeing what it does next.

Overall, while the quartet as a whole is enjoyable, it is the supporting characters like the Mouse that truly make the story come alive.

Hay batidos sabrosos, que ni engordan ni son nutritivos, pero quitan la sed un rato. Estos batidos parecen ser una solución perfecta para aquellos que buscan algo refrescante sin tantas calorías. Sin embargo, no todos los batidos son iguales.

Género. Narrativa Fantástica. Esta es una categoría literaria que nos permite sumergirnos en mundos imaginarios y llenos de maravillas. En ella, los autores pueden crear personajes y historias que desafían la realidad y nos llevan a lugares donde la magia y la fantasía son reales.

Lo que nos cuenta. Tres años después de una exitosa misión en el norte de África pero que acabó en tragedia, Michael Gallatin, un parco y discreto hombre lobo, vuelve a ser contactado por la inteligencia militar aliada. Esta vez, debe llevar a cabo una misión en el territorio francés ocupado por los alemanes. Su objetivo es averiguar si la Operación Overlord podría estar en riesgo debido a un plan secreto alemán. Pero esta misión no será fácil, ya que Michael tendrá que enfrentarse a muchos peligros y desafíos.

¿Quiere saber más del libro, sin spoilers? Visite: http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/... Aquí encontrará más información sobre el libro, incluyendo críticas, sinopsis y detalles del autor.

Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can help you.

Robert McCammon has gained a new admirer. Earlier this year, I delved into Swan Song, which was my very first encounter with McCammon's works. To my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though post-apocalyptic tales aren't typically my cup of tea. When I discovered The Wolf's Hour, I had a hunch that I would relish it, and indeed I did. There is something truly remarkable about McCammon's writing. Despite the fact that his books are of considerable length, he has this uncanny ability to seize your attention right from the start and hold it firmly throughout. I never once felt bored.

The concept of a werewolf taking on the Nazis is simply brilliant and loads of fun. I have a penchant for werewolves, and WWII stories have always held a certain allure for me. So, I was confident that this book would be a hit, and it did not disappoint.

However, I do have a couple of concerns regarding the book. Firstly, I'm left wondering what became of Michael's son Peter. I kept anticipating his reappearance later in the story, especially after the soldiers stormed the house where Michael and the other werewolves resided. But alas, he vanished without a trace. It would be wonderful if the author could pen Peter's story at some point in the future.

Secondly, there are a few scenes in the book that I found a bit lacking. For instance, in the opera house scene where the dead body was clinging to Michael and he struggled to free himself, I felt that it was a bit of a stretch. I understand that the author might have intended to create more tension and drama, but I couldn't help but think that Michael could have easily transformed his arm into a claw and removed the corpse. There were a couple of other scenes where I believe he could have utilized his claw (or at least done so much earlier) without any consequences, as those characters were meant to die anyway. One such scene was in the train with the hunter. Although Michael eventually did use his claw, he could have done so much sooner. The other was during the final showdown between Michael and Boots. There was really no need for the fight to drag on for so long. All he had to do was transform his hand and slice the villain to pieces. I mean, seriously! Michael, you have these amazing powers – use them whenever you can! :-D

Moreover, it seemed that at least one physical relationship was depicted solely for the sake of it. The affair with the French woman could have been explored in a more subdued manner. I'm not a prude by any means, but the amount of explicit sex in this book came as a bit of a shock, especially considering that such scenes were virtually non-existent in Swan Song. Perhaps Swan Song was an anomaly in McCammon's oeuvre... I'm not sure. Maybe such scenes are a regular part of his writing formula. LOL.

Nevertheless, despite these minor gripes, none of them were significant enough to dampen my overall enjoyment of the book. However, they were the reason why I deducted one star from my rating. I suppose the near-flawlessness of Swan Song led me to expect the same level of excellence from The Wolf's Hour.

Honestly, all I can recall about this book is that it centered around a spy who worked for the Allies during World War II. What made this spy truly unique was that he was also a werewolf, and his sole mission in life was to hunt down and kill Nazis. The concept of werewolves going up against Nazis - I mean, doesn't that just sound like an automatic recipe for success? Seriously, I can't help but wonder when this amazing story is going to be adapted into a TV show and grace the screens of Netflix or Hulu.

This book was first published way back in 1989, which is likely the year I read it. Given that my appreciation for WWII history and McCammon's remarkable writing talents has increased significantly over the years, I may very well have to pick up this book and give it another read. I'm curious to see if it will still hold the same allure and excitement for me as it did back then.

This is a very well-written story that delves into the life of a werewolf.

It begins from the moment he is bitten, follows his transformation, and shows his journey of learning to live this new life.

The author does an excellent job of描绘 the emotions and challenges that the werewolf faces.

We see his confusion and fear during the transformation, and then his struggle to come to terms with his new identity.

As he learns to live as a werewolf, he discovers new abilities and instincts that he must learn to control.

The story is filled with action and adventure, as well as moments of introspection and self-discovery.

It is a truly engaging read that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys stories about supernatural creatures and the challenges they face.