Dan Simmons really simplifies things! And he simplifies them to a great extent! But who really cares about that? Well, it's definitely not me! Kikk assss!

It seems that Simmons has chosen a path of extreme simplicity in his work. Maybe he thinks this will make his ideas more accessible to a wider audience. However, for some of us, this dumbing down can be a bit of a turn-off. We like our literature to be complex and thought-provoking. We want to be challenged and made to think deeply about the themes and ideas presented. But perhaps Simmons has his own reasons for doing what he does. Maybe he is targeting a different type of reader, one who doesn't want to be burdened with too much complexity. In any case, it's his choice, and we can't fault him for that. After all, everyone has their own way of doing things.

This was yet another outstanding novel penned by the incredibly diverse Dan Simmons. It appears that regardless of the genre of fiction he delves into, he manages to excel. This hardboiled crime novel was an absolute delight to read. I devoured it over the weekend.

Unlike many of the author's other novels, it isn't a behemoth in size. However, for this particular type of novel, I personally believe that its length was just right. As is customary in a Dan Simmons novel, the characters and the locations were vividly portrayed, and the writing, as always, was of the highest caliber.

There are two additional books that center around the main protagonist of this novel, Joe Kurtz. The other two novels are titled Hard Freeze and Hard As Nails. Kurtz is a fascinating character, and I'm looking forward to uncovering more of his back story by reading the next two books at some point. To be honest, though, the back story that we do receive in this novel is more than satisfactory and meshes perfectly with the nature and purpose of the story. It's a thrilling rollercoaster ride of a tale, filled with twists and turns that come hurtling along at breakneck speed throughout. A highly recommended read indeed.

Fun, but not life-changing hardboiled noir.

Kurtz has just been released from prison after serving an 11-year sentence. His crime? Throwing a scumbag out of a window. But as soon as he's out, he's right back to his old ways, taking up private investigations once again. He pays a visit to a local mafia Don and lands a job on the payroll, tasked with looking into the disappearance of their accountant.

And then, all hell breaks loose.

Everyone seems to want Joe Kurtz dead. They keep coming at him, but Kurtz is both lucky and resourceful. He manages to single-handedly wage a war against mobsters, gang thugs, crooked cops, redneck hitmen, and other psychos. And he does it all with a wink and a smile.

This was a really enjoyable noir book. It has more action than the noir novels of the 1940s, and it's also more violent and sexy. But it's a modern take on noir, and Simmons does a great job with it. He keeps the pace at a breakneck speed, never slowing down for even a moment.

The dialogue, however, is a bit uneven in parts. Sometimes it's as hard as nails and perfect, while other times it falls a bit flat. But overall, it's serviceable enough.

If you're in the mood for some hardboiled noir with a relatively low page count and a high body count, this book is definitely worth checking out.

This entire book is a cliché, yet it manages to be highly entertaining from start to finish.

The protagonist, who objectively may not be a true hero but quickly garners the reader's sympathy, is not just tough; he's been through the proverbial fire, much like being grilled on the forge Sauron used to make the One Ring.

Surprisingly, there hasn't been a film adaptation, considering the book has the perfect tone and plot for a crime-revenge-thriller-action movie. In a way, it's like a modern-day take on Dashiell Hammett's works.

Simmons seems to be a jack-of-all-trades. To my knowledge, he has written in the genres of SF, supernatural, crime, and historical fiction. I've read his contributions to the first three genres, and the only commonalities I can find are that they are all well worth my time and they all contain references to important books, often in a portentous voice-over manner.

It has been suggested that the protagonist of Hardcase is named Kurtz simply so that Simmons could use a literary in-joke, and I'm inclined to believe it. There are also two addicted and down-and-out former college professors who engage in arguments by quoting writers in various languages such as Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, and even English! Kurtz himself has read extensively, which is reminiscent of Marlowe's chess games.

There are two other Kurtz novels, and I would eagerly read them.

A veces me pregunto porqué dan según qué premios a según que relatos o novelas. ¿Qué criterios se utilizan para elegir a los ganadores? Quizás sea por la originalidad de la trama, la profundidad de los personajes o la calidad del lenguaje. Pero, ¿no es posible que haya obras que no reciben el reconocimiento que merecen simplemente porque no cumplen con los estándares convencionales? Este es el caso de muchas historias que se quedan en el olvido, a pesar de tener una fuerza y una belleza inigualables. Tal vez sea necesario revisar los criterios de los premios y dar una oportunidad a aquellas obras que desafían la normalidad y nos ofrecen una perspectiva diferente del mundo.

I may come back and revisit this.

Hyperion is my favorite set of books I've ever read in my life. Probably the only set that I've read more than twice. One of the few I kept when I could only keep a few physical books.

The only reason I went with this one was because it was the only Dan Simmons book currently available on my library's digital shelves for audiobook rental.

I'm not even past the first chapter. I'm a rape survivor and the way he just keeps repeating the word rape over and over and over and over is extremely disturbing and triggering. I'm so God damn motherfucking tired of male writers using violence against women as a plot point. And I'm worried that this entire book is going to be like that. The way people become heroes as a result of a woman being violently assaulted. I'm fucking sick of it. So this gets one star because it starts off with both characters and awful dialogue just repeating the word rape. I'm afraid to even get to the scene where perhaps this rape or another rape occurs and yet another male author describes it as if it's some kind of sexual act.

I looked through the reviews to see if I could get an idea but all of the reviews are done by men (male appearing names) who often don't have the same visceral response to rape scenes, largely because it so often is portrayed as sexual in nature in books and movies. So that's not giving me an indicator as to whether or not this author is another one that gets off on rape scenes or if this is just a moment.

I really hope that authors can be more sensitive and thoughtful when handling such serious and traumatic topics. It's not something to be used lightly or for shock value. Women deserve better than to have their experiences of violence and trauma exploited in literature.

Maybe I'll give this book another chance at some point, but for now, I'm just too shaken up by the beginning. I need to take some time to process my feelings and decide if I'm ready to continue reading.

In Hardcase, Dan Simmons simplifies his typically wordy style to the most fundamental elements, crafting a concise and engaging crime thriller.

Evidently an homage to Richard Stark’s Parker novels, this work is not a mere imitation, as Kurtz is a distinct character from Parker (even though both are ruthless killers).

Regrettably, the book is rife with clichés and fails to reach the level of greatness achieved by the Parker series.

Nevertheless, the writing is of sufficient quality to maintain the book's momentum, and it was an enjoyable read for what it was.

I will definitely read the next installment in the series.

Hey there book lovers!

It is your old pal, Ninetoes, coming to you from Ninetoes Loves Books Headquarters.

Today, I have for you my review of Dan Simmons’ Hardcase.

I have coffee in my system, and my thinking cap on, so let’s get to it!

I love it when an author breaks free from being pigeonholed into a particular genre. They are known for one thing and then, in the blink of an eye, they are jumping into something else.

When I first encountered Dan Simmons’ writing, it was in science fiction. Since then, he has moved on to speculative historical fiction, horror, and hard-boiled detective fiction. Such is the case with his book Hardcase. It is the first book of his Kurtz trilogy.

Once, Joe Kurtz wanted revenge, but he found out the price for it was eleven years in Attica State Prison. When he got out, he had no job, no future, and no luck. He set himself up as a private investigator, and his first job was a doozy. He is hired by the head of the Farino Family to find a missing accountant. The job pays fifty thousand upon completion, including expenses. The problem is someone does not want the accountant found, and Kurtz has a huge target on his back. Everyone and his brother is gunning for Kurtz, and in between dodging bullets and would-be-hit men, Kurtz will get the job done. The question is will he live long enough to collect the fifty thousand…

A lot is going on in this book, almost too much. At points, I found myself swimming in a lake of confusion. I found myself thinking, “Less is definitely more.” There are so many characters heaped into this one that I felt like I needed a scorecard just to keep up.

But the story is also built on a sense of dread and impending doom for the main character. Just when his luck takes one step forward, it is smacked three steps back. This is a hard-boiled detective story that is as hard as a Buffalo winter, and Kurtz is the perfect antihero for the book.

The writing is reminiscent of Mickey Spillane and Raymond Chandler. The book moves fast and by and large, is entertaining. The characters are well-rounded, and despite himself, I found myself cheering for Kurtz. I wanted to see him succeed in the end. Between crooked cops, a contract on his life, and not knowing who to trust, he has a lot heaped onto his shoulders. Given that, he is not Superman and that point is driven home time and again. There is an event that happens at the end of the book that was not really necessary, but it just drove home what a hard case Kurtz is.

I give this book 4 bookmarks out of 5!

Overall, Hardcase is a thrilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The complex plot and well-developed characters make it a standout in the hard-boiled detective genre. While it may have a few flaws, such as the overly crowded cast of characters, the strengths of the book far outweigh the weaknesses. If you’re a fan of noir fiction or just looking for a good mystery, I highly recommend giving Hardcase a try. You won’t be disappointed!

Awesome! It's not exactly a Dan Simmons masterpiece that I truly miss reading. However, it is still a great Simmons book nonetheless.

Joe Kurtz is very similar to Jack Reacher. He is an ex-P.I. rather than an ex-M.P. They both share the same bold attitude and excellent fighting skills, as well as a strong drive for survival.

The violence and suspense in this book make it a fast and satisfying read. I'm really glad that there are still two more books in this series for me to explore. It gives me something to look forward to and I'm excited to see how the story continues and what new adventures Joe Kurtz will embark on. I have a feeling that the next two books will be just as thrilling and engaging as this one.

There are three novels in this ultra-hardboiled series, which could be classified as thriller, detective, or tough guy genre. However, the genre is in a state of flux, and currently, there isn't a term for it that I particularly like. The hero of the series is Joe Kurtz, and he is the hardest fictional case I've encountered who still manages to come across as three-dimensional and interesting in various ways. The third installment in the series, titled "Hard as Nails," has just been released. I haven't had the chance to read it yet, but I will do so soon.

Genres exist because there are certain conventions associated with them. Romance novels, regardless of how they are marketed, are love stories with a hopeful ending. How shocking! Hope and happiness? How very naive and feminine. Tsk tsk. Traditional mysteries, in the end, will reveal to you who the culprit is; there is supposed to be an Answer. In hardboiled fiction, the main character(s), no matter how tough, must have limits to what they will do. Lucas Davenport in Sandford's Prey series walks right up to that line, as do Patrick and Angie in Dennis Lehane's series. But while Patrick and Lucas are engaging, Joe Kurtz is mostly just scary.

Most of these hardboiled series follow the pattern established by Robert Parker in his Spenser novels. There's Spenser, the detective who stays just on the right side of the line, and his good friend, Hawk, who is much more dangerous and unpredictable and is content to operate on the other side of that same line, doing the things that Spenser won't. In Robert Crais's novels, there's Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, and in Dennis Lehane's works, there's Patrick and Angie on the bright side and Bubba Rugowski on the dark side. Joe Kurtz is like a combination of Bubba and Patrick, and it seems that Bubba is winning the internal struggle.

Based on this treaty, I am absolutely not disappointed. Dan Simmons is truly a reliable value.

From the very first word to the last, I was captivated and I didn't want to let go of this masterpiece. I really like the characters, especially Kurtz and Arlene. They are complex and there are real stakes behind this mission.

The first chapter really gives us a slap in the face and we think "Ah okay, we're starting with an action-packed beginning" but I absolutely LOVED it

Simons is one of my five favorite fantastic authors. If Dick and Strugatsky are gods in my personal pantheon, then Simons is the first reserve, on a par with Glukhovsky. I find "Hyperion", "Horror" and "The Man from the Kitchen" to be must-reads before you die.

However, Kurtz somehow didn't get to him. Or rather - he did get to him, but in such a way that, as if Simons needed to write freely, to rest between two great books. I know that "The Heretic" seemed to me farcical, sketchy, unnecessary. I definitely won't read the other books in the series, but the temptation to the thin booklet won't be disappointed with the style and execution. Since the content is shallow and hackneyed, it's because the 3 mentioned books raised my expectations for every Simons incredibly high.