I'd heard a great deal about Bentley Little's ability to craft creepy, mysterious narratives. So I thought I'd start with this one. I was disappointed, but I'd give him a second chance.

The story is about a guy who discovers he can get what he wants when he uses his letter-writing talents to coerce people. Freebies from companies, political results, and, when he realizes he has power over people, firings, humiliations, etc.. It's a blessing and a curse. He gains and he loses. After hitting rock bottom, around half-way through the novel, the main plot kicks in: he's hired by a mysterious company to write letters all day. But their rules and stipulations become increasingly oppressive.

The first half of the novel, which is really just some magic realist teen drama, is the part I probably enjoyed the most. The main character is an interesting, complex enough person; how he reacts is often surprising. The 50 or so pages where he is feeling out 'the company' is what most readers will probably enjoy most. It is quite creepy.

Unfortunately, the rest of the novel feels contrived. Heavy-handed allegory and events whose purpose seems to be only hurtling this bad boy to a conclusion. All of the good mystery and characterization is sacrificed at the altar of some Juvenile Fantasy climax. The blurb on the back of this paperback says Little is Stephen King's equal. If all you've read of King is The Regulators, sure...

I loved the writing style as usual. I found the truth about the other Letter Writers a bit cheesy and the weakness of the monster quite underwhelming and funny. I would have put 5 stars if the ending was happy.

Loved this book! Although, I don't think that the main character got his "just desserts." Then again, maybe he did..............

Started and put down on same day. Poor start. I've got better things to read than this.

Unique and engrossing. I highly recommend this book.

"Dispatch" by Bentley Little is a novel that left me with a mixture of intrigue and unease. Little's talent for crafting a suspenseful and enigmatic narrative is evident throughout the book, and while I had some reservations about certain elements, it ultimately kept me engaged and questioning until the very end.

The premise of the story is undeniably unique, as it revolves around a mysterious and highly secretive courier service that delivers unusual and unsettling packages. Little's ability to build tension and uncertainty is commendable, and the sense of foreboding that permeates the narrative is what kept me turning the pages.

One of the strengths of "Dispatch" is the way it explores the darker side of human nature and society. The book delves into themes of obsession, compulsion, and the insidious nature of conformity, which adds layers of complexity to the plot. Little's critique of contemporary society, with its obsession with material possessions and conformity, is thought-provoking.

However, there were moments when the narrative took surreal and bizarre turns, which may not appeal to all readers. The level of strangeness and absurdity in the story can sometimes become overwhelming and make it challenging to suspend disbelief.

Additionally, while the book raises many questions and introduces intriguing concepts, it doesn't always provide satisfying answers or resolutions. This may leave some readers wanting more closure and clarity in the plot.

In conclusion, "Dispatch" is a compelling and unsettling novel that delves into the mysterious and bizarre. Bentley Little's ability to create an atmosphere of dread and curiosity is undeniable. However, the surreal and often bewildering nature of the story may not be to everyone's taste. Despite some reservations, I found it to be an intriguing and thought-provoking read that will linger in my thoughts for some time.

One of my favorite horror novelists, his stuff is either brilliant in it's social commentary and pure gore, or gratuitous drivel to keep his publishers happy and pay his bills. This story has some interesting ideas on the power of writers and the impact of the written word on society. It isn't as good as "The Store" but certainly didn't stink as much as "The Resort."

this was a really good book. slow starting but it had lots of creepy things going on.

If I hadn't read it myself, I would have a hard time believing you can write a horror book about writing letters, but that's exactly what this author did. Although I didn't love the book, it made me keep reading to the very end to find out what was going to happen.

I read this book after reading the policy and even though I liked them both, it was this one I enjoyed the most. It was an interesting story about the power of letters. Bentley takes on the idea that the main character has the ability to influence people and events through letters, as usual in his story evil influences are always close by and this book has some deliciously crazy moments. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it any horror fan.

Interesting premise; I can affect my world by writing letters. Reminds me of a Twilight Zone episode, the one where Burgess Meredith is Satan with a printing press. Coolness! I agree the ending didn't quite deliver, but twas okay.

I found this book to be very fast paced and easy to get into. This is probably the fastest I've read one of Little's books (except maybe Dominion which is one of my favs)and it only took me about 3-4 days to read it b/c I wanted to know what was going to happen. Like most of Little's books he takes something as everyday as writing letters and turns it into the plot of a sinister, weird tale. Jason is a Letter Writer (yes with capitals) who with the power of his letters get free food, entertainment, better jobs, school scholarships and even causes a few deaths along the way. When Jason is offered a job that opens his eyes to the fact that he is not the only Letter Writer, the story gets even more bizarre. Like many of the books I've read of Little, his build up is sometimes better than the conclusion, but overall it's still one of his more interesting books. Probably one of his weirdest novels, and goes well with The Mailman, which both make letters and mail frightening!