I was initially hesitant to embark on reading an 800-page horror novel. However, I'm truly glad that I made the commitment. This novel was exceptionally well-written and had numerous great horror moments that sent shivers down my spine.

My only complaint, though, was the very long and drawn-out action scenes. There were sections where I found myself skimming because I was being bombarded with details about every left, every right, and even the number of steps the characters were taking in whatever direction. Perhaps it could have been 700 pages without including so much minute detail about directions.

Despite this one drawback, I'm still giving this novel 4 stars. The story was incredibly compelling, with unexpected twists constantly emerging. At times, they were so involved that it was a bit challenging to keep up. Saul, in particular, was one of the greatest characters I've ever had the pleasure of getting to know. The chess scenes were an absolute stroke of genius, adding an extra layer of depth and intrigue to the story.

Overall, it was a great read that I would highly recommend to horror enthusiasts, despite its minor flaw.

Seventeen days were spent to complete this massive brick of a novel. Was it truly worth it? Well, hell yes!!

At this moment, I don't have a whole lot more to express that I haven't already written during my progress-updates. However, I can firmly state that this was an outstanding fast-paced suspense thriller.

I absolutely love being transported to various places all around the world. We've witnessed Poland, Germany, Israel, and numerous locations in the US. In fact, just last weekend, there was a particular day when I visited the Grumblethorpe house in historic Germantown, PA, which is located north and west of Philadelphia. And it was incredibly close to how Simmons described it.

Without a doubt, this is easily a 5-star read. It kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish, and I can't wait to recommend it to others. The vivid descriptions of the different settings added an extra layer of authenticity to the story, making it a truly immersive experience.

Dan Simmons' writing style is indeed readable and engaging. The overall story seems to hold great potential, and it's understandable why so many individuals are drawn to this book.

However, unfortunately, I find myself not among those enthusiasts. I reached a point where I had to give up, around 30% into the book. I managed to get that far only by resorting to skimming through the excessive and exhaustive flashbacks that delved into the backstories of characters who seemed irrelevant to the main plot, as well as the long and drawn-out digressions.

Some of the digressions, like Saul's multiple flashbacks, were perhaps somewhat appropriate. But when we got to Maria Chen's backstory, which presented a completely unrealistic portrayal of heroin addiction and seemed to have no clear connection to the storyline, I simply longed to return to the actual narrative.

And let's not forget the seemingly endless pages of a guard speaking in German, Marie translating to English, Harod responding in English, and Marie translating it back to German. It's no wonder this book spans over 800 pages.

Despite all this, I might have continued reading (while skimming the irrelevant parts) if it weren't for certain issues. For instance, Natalie comes to the conclusion that they're like vampires, yet she has no possible way of knowing about their similarities to vampires other than their ability to control people. She was never exposed to the knowledge that "using" people extends their life span and vitality. Additionally, the inconsistency in the description of Marie Chen's pistol, which is a .45 automatic in one chapter and then turns into a Browning 9mm two chapters later, is quite astonishing. It's clear that either the author or the editors failed to keep track of such details.

Clearly, many people do enjoy this novel. I believe that if it were more internally consistent, it could have been a truly fantastic 300 or 400-page novel. But for me, this one simply doesn't hit the mark.

Why do I keep reading Dan Simmons? I couldn’t tell you.

His books are monster big, and I haven’t even managed to finish some of them. The premise always sounds exciting, but then there’s no delivery.

This novel was long and horrible. It was a real struggle to get through.

I think this might be my last time delving into his work.

I keep hoping that he’ll write something that lives up to the promise of his ideas, but so far, I’ve been disappointed.

Maybe I’ll give him one more chance, but I’m not holding my breath.

It’s a shame, really, because when he’s good, he’s really good. But when he’s bad, he’s really bad.

I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what he comes up with next.

4.0 Stars

I must be completely honest here. Initially, I had a preconceived notion that I would most likely despise an 800-page novel centered around psychic vampires. The very premise of it just sounded absolutely dreadful to me. I couldn't fathom how such a concept could hold my interest for that many pages.


However, to my great surprise, this book turned out to be an absolute gem. From the very first page, I was immediately hooked and completely immersed in the long and captivating story. It managed to lean into some familiar tropes, which might have been a turn-off in some cases, but at the same time, it also delved deep into exploring adult themes. There was just something about the way all the pieces of this story came together that really worked for me. It had a unique charm and a captivating narrative that kept me engaged from start to finish. I'm so glad I gave this book a chance despite my initial doubts.

I absolutely loved it from the very start. Truly, I got deeply into Dan Simmons after reading "The Terror".

His writing style is so captivating and engaging that it draws you in and keeps you hooked until the very end.

And after reading this particular work, you will never look at a chessboard in the same way again.

The way he weaves the story around the chessboard and the characters is simply brilliant.

It makes you think about the game in a whole new light and adds a whole new layer of depth and meaning to it.

Dan Simmons has a real talent for creating vivid and memorable worlds and characters that stay with you long after you've finished reading.

I can't wait to read more of his work and see what other amazing stories he has to tell.

If you're a fan of great literature and are looking for something new and exciting to read, I highly recommend giving Dan Simmons a try.

You won't be disappointed.

Stephen King, the renowned master of horror, has often shared his literary preferences with the world.

Among the countless horror novels that have graced the shelves, he has singled out one in particular as being among his favorites.

This novel, which remains unnamed in this brief mention, has managed to capture his imagination and send shivers down his spine.

It likely possesses the elements that King himself is so adept at incorporating into his own works: complex characters, a sense of impending doom, and a masterful use of atmosphere to create a truly terrifying experience.

While we may not know the specific title of this beloved horror novel, it is clear that it holds a special place in Stephen King's heart and has left a lasting impression on him.

Perhaps it is a classic that has stood the test of time, or a lesser-known gem that he has discovered and cherished.

Either way, it serves as a testament to the power of horror literature to captivate and terrify readers, even those as accomplished as Stephen King himself.

The book is indeed well-written, featuring some highly convincing passages that vividly describe the telepathic abilities of a special breed of vampires. However, for the most part, it drags on interminably. It's simply too damn long!

I can usually handle long books. After all, "IT" by Stephen King is of a similar length, and yet that one flew by with ease. But this particular book has an inordinate amount of filler that makes it a real effort to get through. As the story progresses, it becomes increasingly corny,充斥着大量俗气的对话。

The bad guys, on the other hand, are rather interesting. They have such an ambivalent attitude towards murders that I persevered in reading just to relish their eventual downfall.

I would also like to point out that I never found this book scary in the slightest. I was anticipating a proper horror novel, but that's not what I got. I have no idea why Stephen King deems it one of the best horror novels of the 20th century.

For horror fans, I would recommend looking elsewhere. However, for action/suspense fans who are seeking a supernatural element, it might be worth checking out.

I have a penchant for long books, and Carrion Comfort is no exception. It clocks in at a hefty 886 pages, yet it's not even the longest one I've delved into. The minuscule typeface might have contributed to reducing the page count, though. I'm truly curious to know the exact word count of this tome.

I'm sharing all this not to criticize the book (as evidenced by my 5-star rating) but rather to explain the seemingly interminable time it took me to finish it.

I was on the verge of deducting a star because there are some extraneous elements that could have been trimmed without sacrificing the mind-blowing essence of the story. However, I relished every single word, so I felt it would be unjust to do so.

This was my maiden voyage into the world of Dan Simmons, and I had no preconceived notions. I did heed my friends' advice to disregard the cover blurb comparing it to King's The Stand. I'm glad I did, as the two are worlds apart, yet both are epic in scale and executed to perfection.

I can't recall who first recommended this book to me, but a huge thank you to that person.

The moment I opened the book, I was completely immersed in the story. The horror here isn't in-your-face; instead, it takes a backseat to an abundance of action and suspense, which exceeded my expectations. You encounter monsters, but they're nothing like you'd anticipate, at least that's my perception.

The antagonists, of which there are too many to enumerate, are among the most sadistic, vile, and racist bunch I've ever come across. I can't help but draw a comparison to the True Knot from Doctor Sleep, albeit the latter is severely watered down and nowhere near as creepy. Perhaps it's because I read King's latest while perusing this one. I'm not certain, but there are definite similarities.

I could go on and on, but I wrapped this up at 3 am and I must call it quits.

I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that Saul was my favorite character. He was so expertly crafted that I never once questioned his authenticity. Rob Gentry and Natalie Preston were equally outstanding.

As I mentioned earlier, the bad guys are truly EVIL, and we even get a first-person account from one of them, while the remainder is told in the third person. That was a fascinating touch, and Melanie's scenes almost steal the show.

This one earns a well-deserved 5 stars from me.

I will most definitely be reading more of Simmons' works in the future.

I listened and followed along on Kindle for this book.

Dan Simmons truly has an amazing imagination. In fact, this book could very well be real, which is the horror of it. Carrion Comfort spans over 40 - 50 years, firmly set in the late 1970s and the early 1980s.

It follows a Polish Jew during the Holocaust, Saul Laski, and many years after the war. It also has Elie Wiesenthal as a source regarding The Holocaust and The hunt for Nazis in the later years.

The characters are extremely interesting, and some are so cruel that they make your teeth grind. There are graphic and grisly sections. There is kidnapping, rape, and toxic masculinity. There is also cruelty to animals and children. However, none of it is gratuitous; it is all necessary to tell the story of Nazi Germany and their treatment of the Jews.

I read several novels simultaneously, but I actually focused on this one. The narrators, both male and female, were excellent. For me, it's a total five stars. I highly recommend it as it contains a great deal of historical content. I won't mention the supernatural influences because I don't want to spoil it for others.

Overall, Carrion Comfort is a captivating and thought-provoking read that combines history, horror, and human nature in a unique and powerful way.

The Characters were great. They were vividly portrayed and had their own unique personalities and traits.

The action was brilliant. It was intense, exciting, and kept the reader on the edge of their seat.

The story itself was good. The concept of “mind vampires” who “feed” by taking over other people’s minds and forcing them to violence was brilliant and original.

So why then was I constantly glancing at the percentage bar at the bottom of the kindle? Because it felt too long. Why? Was it the page count? I like long books. After a little pondering all I can go on is how I felt. This book felt “the same” most of the way through.

The action near the beginning where we have an intense and extended running battle was excellent. The lead up was fantastic with lots of misdirection, and the fight itself was breathtaking. I’m hooked. The subsequent “hunt” to kill these animals is exciting – but it just keeps going, and going, and going. There’s plenty of action on the way but I didn’t feel any of the action advanced significantly towards any sort of resolution. The problem I feel is in the structure of the story itself. For a book this size I think it should have been broken up better into more definable sub stories with mini resolutions to reward the reader as we move towards the end. Simmons does it well with his later books. Hyperion, for example, is broken into 6 separate story arcs that one can say “I liked the priest’s story” or I liked “the soldier’s story.” And later in his first Endymion book the story is structured (perhaps too much) into the different worlds between the farcasters. In Carrion Comfort, however, I felt the rewards are too far and few between. The end was good, but by then I found myself just wanting it to be over. It was still a good ending.

The book was broken up a bit by Mellanie Fuller’s story, which is the only arc told in the first person. I found her to be the most interesting character and her associated side story of control, paranoia, self obsession and insanity more satisfying than the main story involving the Holocaust survivor hunting down his Nazi, mind controlling nemesis. At least I felt her story advanced quite well and did go some way to mixing things up, and some of the most intense moments happen where the two arcs intersect.

To sum up, Simmons can put together some of the most intense action sequences you’ll read anywhere. But I felt this, being one of his early books, was not structured appropriately for the length. It had great potential, but the execution could have been better.

3 stars

I’m truly kind of torn in two when it comes to this book. On one hand, I was seriously disappointed by it. I had heard so many times how incredibly scary this book is, but when I actually read it, I didn’t even find myself remotely scared. Sure, some parts were rather brutal and the actions of many characters were truly despicable. However, I just didn’t experience any fear while reading this. There was nothing about this book that made me want to sleep with the lights on at night, and that’s precisely what I love about reading horror – the adrenaline that the fright brings.

On the other hand, the story was interesting. I really enjoyed how everything was so intertwined. Simmons really managed to spin a tangled web, and it kept me intrigued enough to see it through to the end. I must say that I did think the ending was great. It gave me tingles, and I just wish the whole book would have felt that way. It’s a bit of a shame that the overall experience didn’t live up to my expectations in terms of the horror factor, but I still found some aspects of the book to be quite enjoyable.