Sandman Slim Review

Jimmy "Wild Bill" Stark fought his way out of Hell and now he's back to wreak vengeance on the men and women who put him there.  That's the nutshell synopsis of Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey, a wild thrill-ride of supernatural mayhem that takes the tropes of urban supernatural fantasy and turns them on their heads.  After being banished to hell by the men and women of his coven, James Stark fights for eleven years in the arena of Hell against supernatural creatures, manipulated by demonic generals and even Lucifer himself.  But when the opportunity presents itself, Stark seizes it and makes good his escape from Hell.

Priority number one, find and kill the men and women that sentenced him to Hell.  First, though, he has to find them, and this comprises the bulk of the novel.  Interspersed throughout are hints of a larger supernatural world, filled with werewolves, vampires, zombies, and a branch of Homeland Security collaborating with angels.  It's quick, irreverent and a lot of fun. 

This isn't a particularly unique addition to the urban fantasy subgenre.  Nothing about the content stands out as unusual except for the voice of the protagonist.  Told in the first person present tense, this novel manages to evoke a noir sensibility within the confines of urban fantasy.  That alone makes it worth reading.  The voice comes across as gritty, weary and terribly angry, yet maintains the pace and wit of a good graphic novel.  Snappy one-liners abound, and we follow the protagonist through his anger, grief and confusion. 

Despite these drawbacks, they are minor and Kadrey presents the beginnings of a rich and evocative world full of supernatural wonders.  The hints of greater goings-on and the beginning of deeply emotional connections abound and I expect the subsequent books in the series to exploit all the hints that's he's laid.  It's fun, and definitely worth reading.  I definitely recommend it.