* A 300-page diatribe against Calcutta, which city evidently offended Simmons at some point.

* His hero, Bobby Luczak, is a coward who behaves stupidly and illogically; he's an effete literary type who one would think would treat his mathematician wife with some respect, but who repeatedly hides things from her and deserts her without reason. He claims to have a terrible temper, yet he's impotent in a crisis.

* He has a child, a 7-month-old daughter, whose very existence serves only one unpleasant purpose. His wife's only purpose seems to be to show how stupid he is by contrast.

* One character, the college kid who gets the plot rolling, tells Bobby a story about the worshippers of the evil goddess Kali. The story starts on Page 62 and ends on Page 111. Bobby doesn't applaud at the end of it, despite the fact that it's a bravura performance, complete with backstory, chapters, and narrative arc. Perhaps he withholds his approbation because he knows the story could have been drastically shortened, and even demonstrates this when he later condenses the boy's 3-hour monologue to 10 minutes in relating it to his wife.

* Very little actually happens in this story, though it is filled from end to end with repeated descriptions of the rampant squalor of Calcutta. Bobby decides this is because the people are evil. Makes it easier, I suppose, for him to feel nothing for them. He dreams of it disappearing in nuclear fire. For him, it's a pleasant dream.

* Simmons seems less interested here in plot than Lovecraftian dread. Lovecraft, however, didn't write 300-page novels. I think there's a reason for that.

I bought Song of Kali after hearing people say that it was one of the scariest books they've ever read. I didn't find this book "scary" in the traditional sense, but it definitely had its creepy parts. The story revolves around a man and his family taking a business trip to Calcutta and the supernatural troubles that find him there. The aspect of the story that I found most horrifying was the portrayal of the darkest side of humanity. I can handle horror stories where the monster came from under the bed or from beyond the grave, but when the monster is someone sitting next to you on the bus, that causes a deeper fear. I really enjoyed the book, it stared slow but I couldn't put it down towards the end. All in all, the book didn't leave me scared of the dark but it certainly ensured that I will NEVER travel to or near Calcutta.

Fucking Simmons. Always hit and miss for me.

I have to admit, I found it difficult at first to write this review due to the controversial nature of this book and the conflicted feelings I had after finishing it. I have heard before that the author has made bigoted remarks in the past, but I frankly don't know much about it and I generally try to separate art from artist. With that being said, I'm afraid the concerns or criticisms regarding this book being xenophobic are true and I do not say that just because he mentions the caste system or poverty or whatsoever in it.

I will mention what I liked first. Racism/xenophobia/stereotypes aside, it's a well-written, disturbing, visceral psychological horror novel. You can feel palpable dread throughout the whole story to the point that it felt very suffocating. You can feel the protagonist's despair during crucial times and my heart pretty much sank during a key moment near the end. There were some excellent horror sequences that kept me on edge and also wondering if everything was real or not. The message about finding hope was fitting and I am glad the story ended on an optimistic note regardless of how dark it was overall. It's more of an atmospheric/psychological horror however and not your typical ghost story with jumpscares so keep that in mind if you want to check it out.

Now the things I didn't like or the reasons for me to consider it xenophobic, besides the obvious degrading descriptions about 'brown people'. First of all, I found the whole thing taking place in India and the use of Kali as an evil power unnecessary. Unnecessary in the sense that you could just change the location to some countryside, replace Kali with some cult hiding around doing creepy things, and it would still be an excellent horror novel. The author maintains a disturbing atmosphere very well as I mentioned earlier, except it was done by reinforcement of stereotypes and the perversion of a Hindu goddess, the execution of the latter which I found rather distasteful, even as an atheist. I didn't like that there was no resolution regarding the cultists and their plans but I can look over it since it wasn't the point, which brings me to the main criticism I have. For a story that ends with message of finding hope and ignoring Song of Kali, to focus on other songs,to do good things, there's simply no hope for people of Calcutta at all. From the beginning to end, Calcutta was just bashed as a city of evil with no redemption whatsoever. So the protagonist wants to think about hope but at the same time, nuke the city? Of course, I understand he might feel that way after what happened there but you see, there was never any attempt from the author to humanize literally anything in the city from the beginning. Yes, I know that the character's view doesn't necessarily fit the author, but the whole book just felt like a tirade about how the city and people in it sucks throughout the whole read. It felt like he went way beyond what was necessary, especially if it was just to set the atmosphere. Funnily enough, regardless of my rant so far, I wasn't really offended by anything in particular, but that doesn't mean it was okay so I felt the need to mention this. It's a shame honestly since he seems like a wonderful writer otherwise. If you are not a Hindu and got a thick skin, with a penchant for good psychological horror, you might like this.

I had heard of Dan Simmons but this was my first foray into his actual work. I can't believe I hadn't read this already. Exotic locales - check. Creepy cults - check. Ritual sacrifice - check. Ancient supernatural entities - check. And that reveal in the airport at the end disturbed my imagination for days. It also made me want to watch Temple of Doom over and over again, which is definitely not a bad thing.

Helluva debut from Dan the Man Simmons. Talk about a bleak ending. Ay Caramba!

Creo que, en realidad, hay agujeros negros. Agujeros negros en el espíritu humano. Y lugares reales en los que, a causa de la densidad o la miseria, o la pura perversidad humana, el tejido de las cosas llega a desgarrarse y ese núcleo negro que hay en nosotros engulle al resto.

¡Qué decepción! Se me hizo muy aburrido y pesado. Simmons abusó del relleno y alargó temas insustanciales de la historia para aumentar el número de páginas. El libro tiene sus momentos buenos, pero estos no son nada comparado con los malos. Una lectura que olvidaré con facilidad.

In Jones & Newman's "Horror: 100 Best Books," Edward Bryant, writing of his choice for inclusion in that overview volume, Dan Simmons' "Song of Kali," mentions that Simmons had spent precisely 2 1/2 days in Calcutta before writing his first book, in which that city plays so central and memorable a role. Despite Simmons' short stay, Bryant reveals that the author filled "voluminous notebooks" with impressions and sketches of the city, and any reader who enters the grim but remarkably detailed horror novel that is "Song of Kali" will be amazed that its author spent such a short time there. The city is superbly well depicted in this book, and indeed is its most fully fleshed-out "character": a vile, overcrowded, steaming cesspool of a city that breathes iniquity, mystery and corruption. It is a stunning backdrop for a grisly tale of terror that deservingly won 1985's World Fantasy Award, as well as a spot in Jones & Newman's volume.

In the novel, we are introduced to Robert Luczak, an American poet who travels to Calcutta, with his Indian wife and 6-month-old daughter, to do a magazine article on M. Das, an Indian poet who was believed long dead but who has now seemingly, uh, resurfaced and wants his new epic poem to see publication. Luczak and his family undergo a particularly horrendous time during their 10 days in the city, in a story that conflates Kali, the living goddess of death, her maniacal followers, reincarnation, kidnapping, leprosy, rats, morgue scenes, oodles of decomposing bodies, stabbings, drugs, smuggling, festering slums and other assorted nastiness. Simmons treats the reader to two especially horrific sequences: the first, a Kali initiation ceremony, as described by an Indian student; the second, Luczak's remarkable experiences in the Kali temple and his subsequent escape. Those readers with a squeamish temperament should be forewarned; as Bryant has written elsewhere, "Where Stephen King flinches, Simmons doesn't." First-time novelist Simmons shows remarkable control throughout, carefully keeping the suspense high, the shocks strategically placed, the detail convincing and the Luczak family likable and well drawn. Despite the downbeat proceedings, the author even manages to work in a hopeful ending of sorts; a plea for sanity and reason in a world seemingly more and more dominated by violence and death...the song of Kali. Today, Simmons is something of a big deal, a Hugo winner (for his 1990 "Hyperion") and one of the brightest lights in the fields of fantasy, horror and sci-fi. How remarkable it is to see such a sure hand, the master's touch, in his very first outing. This really is some kind of bravura work.

That said, I must add that Simmons' grasp is not 100% full in this, his first novel. A close reading will reveal, for example, some confusion as regards dates. When the story opens, it is June 1977, and Luczak mentions that his daughter is 7 months old; but several pages later, he says that she had been born on January 22, 1977. Wouldn't that make her 5 months old in mid-June? In another scene, in Calcutta in July, one of the characters mentions that Vladimir Nabokov had just passed away (Nabokov died on July 2 of that year). A few Calcutta days later, and another character mentions that New York City had just experienced an historic blackout. But that blackout didn't occur until July 13! Something funny there! There are a few other inconsistencies that a careful reading will reveal, such as Luczak telling us that his Exeter, New Hampshire home contains nine original oil paintings; some 300 pages later, that number is said to be eight. But these are mere quibbles, really, that only the pettiest of nitpickers (yeah, that's me!) would notice. The fact is, "Song of Kali" is a terrific horror novel that really does deliver the goods. It leaves many outstanding questions unanswered, which may indeed frustrate some, but for this reader, that only added to its air of evil and mystery. I wouldn't go within 500 miles of Calcutta now if you paid me...a sure sign of the power and effectiveness of Simmons' first book!

I feel slightly detached from this book and I'm guessing this is not the type of reaction which the author had hoped for. I am happy to have stepped into one of Simmons fantasy-horror novels since I have only read his Hyperion series, which I should probably read again as my memory on that series is at times fuzzy. I loved the first half of Song of Kali but once the story picked up, a little over half through, I felt less connected and consequently less interested. After wondering for the better part of a day why I felt like this, I decided that maybe there was not as much charatcer inner monlogue as I tend to prefer, that there was an overabundance of observation and relaying of the scene rather than a natural unfolding of events.

Not to say that this was a bad read. Simmons descriptions of Calcutta were believable and startling and all too easy to picture considering their nature. It's almost as though Simmons wrote about the city so well that the rest of the story paled in comparision. So maybe I am being unfair, judging one part of the book against the other and penalizing Simmons when not warranted.

The characters were unique. The setting was chilling and intimidating. There were many scenes which I am up for picking apart but will not do so in a review without spoilers so I'll save that for group discussion. But I will be looking into more of Simmons horror novels.

And as a warning, there were some deeply disturbing scenes, particularly towards the end. Just remember, this is a horror novel, with the horror of more than one incarnation or origin repesented.

Den Simons je jedan od najpismenijih, nacitanijih i najsmelijih pisaca ikada. Ova knjiga je cist primer svega toga. Oseca se nedosatak iskustva, oseca se doza brzopletosti, nezrelosti, prosto se vidi da je na pocetku karijere, ali ga nista od toga ne sprecava da ovom knjigom preporuci sebe svima onima koji voli kvalitetno stivo. I da krupnim koracima krene ka vecnosti koju je za sebe kupio serijalima Hiperion i Ilion.

Well, this is embarrassing. I finished the book this morning and am feeling clueless. I’m not sure I ‘got’ it.
Husband: Well, did you like it or not?
Me: I really liked it.
Husband: Why did you like it?
Me: I’m not sure.
Husband: What was it about?
Me: Ummm, evil. And India. Crime…I think. Cultural differences. But also likenesses. It’s a horror story but, well, not really.
Husband (with a tone): Well, I certainly can’t wait to read it.

Funny thing is, I recommend this…highly.

„Песента на Кали“ е доста мрачен и страховит роман! Дан Симънс пресъздава мистичната индийска атмосфера и специфичният тамошен начин на живот на фона на интересна хорър история.

Главният герой Робърт Лучак е изпратен в Калкута да събере информация за тайнствен индийски поет, който се смята за загинал от няколко години. Въпреки предупрежденията на свой приятел да не отива там, той тръгва за Индия, дори взима със себе си съпругата си, която да му помага в превода, както и тяхната дъщеря. В Калкута става свидетел на бедността и мръсотията на града, но също така попада на зловещ култ към богинята Кали, което поставя него и семейството му в голяма опасност...