Aloha from Hell: A Sandman Slim Novel

This is just plain and true good writing, come down to LA and see if I'm wrong. Honest writing and true in your face action. A true testament to the fun and horrors of the City of Angeles. Hell is just LA with better head shots

The Sandman Slim series is along the same lines as the Dresden Files. It's urban fantasy that takes place in LA and in Hell. They're enjoyable reads, and Sandman Slim is an interesting paranormal character. If you enjoy paranormal urban fantasy, and like gritty sarcastic lead characters, you'll enjoy the series.

I really like this series. I describe it as a meaner, gritter Dresden Files. Three books in, and it seems to be setting itself up to be an excellent and long lived series. The characters are complex, the "monsters" are often sympathetic, and the true monsters are usually humans. Great series!

I just recently discovered the Sandman Slim series and it's been a great find. I love the anti-hero novel and this fits the bill. Imagine Hell Boy but cuter. If you like a little murder,magic, mayhem and moral ambiguity, this series is for you!

I just recently discovered the Sandman Slim series and it's been a great find. I love the anti-hero novel and this fits the bill. Imagine Hell Boy but cuter. If you like a little murder,magic, mayhem and moral ambiguity, this series is for you!

O brother Kaminsky (single star reviewer,) that I had only read your review prior to laying hands- clean chaste hands they were- to this smoldering tome, this blood-smeared abomination which lives and breathes with a single unholy determination: to convert all readers into Lucifer's zealots.

And convert it did. A week ago I would have surely given this book 1 star. Believe me, I try. As my finger hovers over the single star impure thoughts enter my mind, sinful visions that make me tremble, and the mouse flies away like a greased ouija board so that when finally the click happens it can only be 5 stars.

Since finishing this astonishing (ly evil) series (all 3 books in as many wasted days) I have cut back working out at the gym twice a week, I now choose creamy italian over simple oil and vinegar, I haven't called my mother in a month, I went to bed without brushing my teeth last night, and I even wore the same socks two days in a row. Worst of all, yesterday on the holy sabbath, as my good neighbors were honoring the lord by mounting newly washed SUV's and proceeding to places of worship, I found myself astride the lawn tractor mowing swaths of lawn like an obnoxious reaper wondering if 9 on a Sunday was to early to crack open a microbrew. I didn't even know there was any other brew than a Bud before reading this heresy.

Please, I implore you, heed the warning of brother Kaminsky, shun bookstores, bury the Kindle under the chicken in the freezer, but DO NOT READ THESE AWESOME BOOKS, i mean TERRIBBLE, awesome terrible awesome terrible nooooooooooooooooo...

I read and enjoyed the first two novels in this series, finding them a fun violent ride that mixed pathos and humor in way that kept the pages turning. This third installment, "Aloha from Hell," starts off in a promising fashion, but quickly loses its charm as the author tries to wrap all the dangling plot-lines up in the second half. Honestly, the last couple chapters, it just seemed like the air went out of the whole enterprise. As if he got tired of his own characters. The ending itself, which I won't spoil, seemed completely nonsensical. I can almost see what he was going for, but the author didn't provide enough setup throughout the entire trilogy to make it have any emotional punch. I'm sure some will disagree with me, but this was a misstep, especially if it wraps up the story.

The war continues, and Stark is just figuring out what the real war is. Brought in to help out with an exorcism gone wrong, Stark comes face to face with his nemesis, Mason. Not literally, because Mason is in Hell where Stark put him, but it's hard to keep a warlock down. Especially one as powerful as Mason. He's started a war in Hell. Sent Lucifer running for heaven.

Problem is: It's not Hell he wants to take down. Mason is out to crash the gates of Heaven.

I like the character, Sandman Slim. This book was a bit of a let down. It started strong with a continued and deepening exploration of the Lore of Hell and Creation, but then devolved into a journey to get his true love from the clutches of Mason in Hell. Why would Mason bother? It doesn't make sense. The book tries to posit it as the continued rivalry between Stark and Mason, but it doesn't really track. Hell is weird and I got lost a couple of times in flashbacks that drew out and became confusing. I like where it ended though, and look forward to diving in to the fourth book.

Keep reading the Sandman Slim books because I love the mythos and world they are set in. They aren't just an urban fantasy with vampires stomping around romancing tweens. Sandman Slim is a nephealim (half man/half angel) and really pretty angry for being locked up in Hell for 11 years. While his overwhelming anger make him a bit one dimensional, 'Aloha' starts to add a bit of depth to the character with his 'angel' showing more compassion and caring. His supporting cast isn't too bad either. Though the are relatively one dimensional themselves, they all exhibit a character trait to help balance out the Sandman.

The best part of the story however, is the lore. The overarching themes for the Sandman series involve Heaven, Hell, angels, demons and all kinds of celestial weapons and doo-dads. This particular edition even spends a substantial amount of time outside the realm of earth and bounces around in other planes. It is great.

Here is why it is so hard to wholeheartedly recommend these books. It is a series. This is book three. If you take a substantial amount of time between books, good luck. Do not expect anything from the author to help refresh your memory when reintroducing characters, weapons, or even mythological ideas. For example, a character is brought in midway through the book as someone who will effect Sandman's fate. There is no introduction to her importance, reminder of the organization she works for, or what her role is aside from a name. By the end of the novel, you can ALMOST patch her role together through things that are said by and about her. This happens with several things over and over again. It gets to the point where you start to think if you are skimming and missing important things.

If you can read a book without 100% comprehension and missing information, go for it. Otherwise, approach with caution.

Stark is an anti-hero in all the best possible ways. He’s capable of caring about or looking after others in his own odd way, but when people call him a monster, they aren’t exaggerating. Everyone seems to have plans for him, but his own actions tend to be extreme enough to throw most people off. If he needs to go back to Hell to accomplish his goals, then by God he’ll find a way in.

I love Kadrey’s characters. They’re irreverent. They’re insane. They have ambitious plans that threaten to re-write the universe. They have a ton of personality. They’re larger than life, and yet at the same time grounded just enough in reality to give them that lived-in feel. They make plans both large and small, and betray anyone they feel like betraying.

Some of the events and machinations toward the end lost me a bit. I had some difficulty following how one thing led to another in some cases. That said, the plot was still fascinating, and I love watching Stark go big while retaining his rough-hewn style. It took me a while to stumble onto this series, but now that I have, I look forward to continuing it. I don’t want to give any major plot points away, but I will say that I’m terribly impatient to see how Kadrey handles the situation Stark finds himself in now!

- Stark, meeting the parents of a missing possessed boy, always making that good impression: "Mom takes one look at my scarred face and I can practically see the words home invasion with multiple fatalities spinning around her brain like the dragon in a Chinese New Year's parade."

Comes a time now and then when I get tired of the local Applebee's and I get the itch to creep over to the trashiest dive in L.A. to get my ruckus on. In those times I wish I had a guy like James Stark - a.k.a. "Sandman Slim" - as my wingman. Stark is a surly badass who picks fights with demons and engages in biting banter with Lucifer himself. Sandman Slim is nephilim, meaning he's half-human, half-angel, and all the freaky stuff that goes with that. He's a killing machine, and there's nothing like being a killing machine to lend one a terribly bleak outlook on life. Everyone tends to walk on eggshells around him. The demonic Kissi fear him. Los Angeles' Sub Rosa community mistrust him. The angels view him as an abomination. But Stark, he doesn't give a what. He's the monster who kills monsters. If bad attitude were an Olympic event, Stark would net gold.

ALOHA FROM HELL is author Richard Kadrey's third Sandman Slim novel and propagates the series' rep as a deliciously dark and nasty-arse urban fantasy read. I love how Kadrey writes. His words are subversive and addictive and hammered together in such a way that they simultaneously delight and disgust the reader. Reading Kadrey feels a bit like smoking a used cigarette you'd just picked up off the gutter. But you like it.

In Sandman Slim's own words: "Everyone of us, human and monster alike, lives with an angelic boot on our throats. But we don't see it so we forget about it and limp along doing the stupid little things that make up our stupid little lives. We're just bugs on God's windshield." How could you not want to have a beer with that guy?

ALOHA FROM HELL upends the status quo. God is on holiday and Lucifer is forgiven and back in Heaven. Stark's arch-enemy Mason Fraim - him what murdered his first love and consigned him to Hell for eleven years - is running things down in the infernal fire pits and about to launch a plot to annihilate both Heaven and Hell. James Stark, one of my favorite brooding anti-heroes, reluctantly finds himself back in the role of savior of everything. If you think he's in a foul disposition now, witness his mood truly sour when he's compelled to leave Los Angeles and return to Hell to do damage and foil Mason and rescue Alice, his tormented long-lost love.

Richard Kadrey is the master of the mindlessly gratuitous and incredibly violent action sequence. He also has a way of turning a phrase so vividly that your imagination is caught. He effortlessly introduces throw-away observations and fantasy and horror conceits that other genre authors would gladly present as the main themes of their narratives. When Stark arrives in Hell, Kadrey's descriptions are so immediate and vibrant they plant you in the thick of things, navigating the blasted streets of perdition with Sandman Slim, dodging fiery sinkholes, evading rampaging Hellions and mechanical hellhounds, and all the while trying to keep a hard eye on the serial killer what's acting as your guide. At the end Kadrey resolves several major plotlines that had been dangling since the first book, but leaves the door open for a return visit. ALOHA FROM HELL makes for an electrifying and immensely quotable thrill ride. At the heart of it all is James Stark, a man who at his core rages against everything. But he makes me laugh, and he's a fun guy at the bar.

The Sandman Slim collection (so far):

- Sandman Slim: A Novel
- Kill the Dead: A Sandman Slim Novel
- ALOHA FROM HELL
- Devil in the Dollhouse: A Sandman Slim Story (A Sandman Slim novella, available on Kindle)
- Devil Said Bang: A Sandman Slim Novel
- Kill City Blues: A Sandman Slim Novel

When I'm reading a Richard Kadrey novel I'm in another world. A world where anything is posible.

For the uninitiated, Sandman Slim is a Nephilim. In his own words, "I'm part angel, half, if you want to get picky about it. It's great. A halo and five bucks will get you a cup of coffee in L.A. Maybe."

Aloha from Hell, is more of the same non-stop action with a world of characters you're not likely to find anywhere else. This is the third book in Kadry's Sandman Slim series and if you've read Sandman Slim and Kill the Dead you have a pretty good idea of what to expect.

The usual suspects are back in Aloha from Hell. Including Kasabian, described by Slim thusly, 'Like me, he's a monster; only he wasn't born that way. I made him one when I cut off his head with the black bone knife I brought back from Hell. The blade didn't let him die. Now he's a chain-smoking, beer-stealing pain in my ass. To get specific, Kasabian is a head without a body. And he won't shut up about it."

In Aloha from Hell, we find Sandman Slim trying to rescue his dead girlfrind, Alice, who was stolen from Heaven and taken to Hell by his arch enemy, Mason Faim. To do so, he'll have to sneak back into Hell and survive an epic battle involving Angels, Hellions, Kissi and numerous other supernatuaral beings.

Of course being able to suspend your disbelieve is a requirement to enjoy these books, but once you do, this is a wonderful way to escape the everyday. All of Richard Kadrey's works are available, both in print and for the the Kindle, at the store.com.

The previous works in the series, Sandman Slim and Kill the Dead are not required reading, but are definitely recommended for maximum enjoyment. There is more on the way, too. The short Devil in the Dollhouse and the novel Devil Said Bang are already available and a new Sandman Slim novel is on the way later this year. Richard Kadrey is also the author of the wildly imaginative "Butcher Bird: A Novel Of The Dominion" from 2007. One of all time favorite reads.

Aloha from Hell: A Sandman Slim Novel

What can I say, I love Sandman Slim. Describing his stories is a whole different thing. Irreverent, sacreligious, outrageous, violent with lots of blood and gore, sexy, supernatural, humorous, and that's just for a beginning.

Sandman Slim is a nephilm...half angel and half human. His friends are not your normal friends. His roommate, Kasabian, is a living head. (SS cut off the head but its back to life and using a skateboard as a body with magic...or hoodoo as it's called...allowing the wheels to be used as limbs (sort of). It steals his cigarettes and drinks his beer and beats him at pool. His current girlfriend is a Jade, a monster that turns your insides to liquid so she can drink them, but she's on the wagon and controlling those urges for the most part with a potion. He travels through the room of 13 doors to which only he has the key by moving through shadows and can go pretty much anywhere in the Universe this way.

He spent 11 years in Hell as a living human and now he is returning there to try to find and rescue his old dead girlfriend and to save the universe. God has left Heaven and is missing. Lucifer has left Hell and gone to Heaven. The Kissi (angels God made but threw in the reject pile and who are now chaos loving demons) are back. Mason, Sandman's nemesis, is in Hell and gathering Lucifer's Generals and their armies to take over Heaven and destroy both Heaven and Hell. Hell is going to Hell so to speak under Mason's leadership with chaos and mayhem running rampant. There was actually some degree of order when it was under Lucifer's control). Oh, and most of this occurs in Los Angeles, even when it is taking place in Hell.

This book, as well as the other Sandman Slim novels, is constant twists and turns and magic and mayhem. The writing is different and fast paced with something new in almost every sentence. I truly cannot do justice to these stories.

That said, there would be many people offended by this type writing...VERY offended. It definitely isn't something you would find in a Christian bookstore and, if that is your preferred genre, I would recommend you stay far away from these books. However, if you can put your tongue in cheek and accept it for what it is, I think you will find this a very entertaining series of books.

I got an advanced reading copy of this book through the the store Vine Program. This is the third book in the Sandman Slim series by Kadrey. I have absolutely adored all of the Sandman Slim books; they have a grittiness to them that you don't find in many other books and are incredibly creative and interesting...not to mention absolutely hilarious at times.

Stark (Sandman Slim) is enjoying the peace that has come after he annihilated all of the zombies in the entire world (I know, Stark never does thing small does he?). Well of course things never remain calm for long. Stark is called to look in to a demonic possession of a boy. Crazy thing is that the demon that's possessed this boy seems to know Stark. Could this be a simple demon posession? Of course not, all roads lead to Hell and this little twist is no exception to the rule.

I absolutely love these books. I love Stark's witty, sarcastic, and absolutely hilarious comments. Yes, you need a dark sense of humor to laugh at this book...but if you have that there is so much to laugh at. It is all written in such a clever, sarcastic, and just absolutely wonderful way. As with previous books there is swearing, sex, violence, violence, and did I say violence? in spades...those with weak stomachs you may want to read elsewhere.

Stark is everything anyone could want in a half-angelic anti-hero. His angelic side is constantly trying to rope him into saving the innocent; which Stark can be talked into if it lines up with taking care of his own personal vendettas. Candy (the Jade) is in this story a lot more too, which is great. I missed her is the second book and she is exactly who Stark needs. Who better to back him up than a woman who can liquefy the men/demons who piss her off and eat them for dinner?

This whole book reads like something between a gritty Noire movie and a gory horror film. Everything everyone says is a bit over the top and you never know what you are going to run into next. At points the story reminds me of The Nightside series by Simon Green; you never know what deity, what devil, or what reality you are going to find yourself in next. The story always keeps you guessing and keeps you on your toes and is just absolutely wonderful.

So, yeah, I pretty much loved everything about this book. There were some parts when Stark is down in Hell that dragged a bit and we have a lot of Hellion Generals' names thrown at us which are a bit hard to keep track of. That being said, this is probably the weakest of the Sandman Slim books. Given how much I absolutely love these book though even the weakest book in this series is spades above most other books out there.

Overall I just loved it and gobbled it up and can't wait for more. This book isn't for everyone; it is full of violence, swearing, and Stark is offensive (yet oddly noble) in numerous ways. If you like your urban fantasy gritty, down-and-drity, full of craziness, with mind-blowing action, and surprising twists then this is the book for you. Don't start with this book though, go back and read the first two books first; Sandman Slim and Kill the Dead: A Sandman Slim Novel are just as awesome. If you are a Nightside fan, a Dresden Files fan, or a Spellbent fan check this series out!

I love the Sandman Slim books, I purely do. Richard Kadrey knows how to tell a story; his prose is as smooth as a 35 year old single malt, full of violence, cheerful vulgarity and extreme smart-assery. "Aloha from Hell" is no exception. It's a rough, funny novel with an awesome body count just like the first two.

In this third book of the series which picks up fairly soon after the end of the second book, Stark figures that killing all the zombies on earth should earn him a little bit of a rest. The universe begs to differ. There are a lot of loose ends -- Mason, Alice, Alita, the Kissi, the Golden Vigil -- all of whom have some kind of agenda which runs roughshod over Stark's serenity. In spite of himself, Stark agrees to look into a demonic possession which turns out to be far more than it seems, and convinces him that he has to go back to Hell to finish Mason once and for all.

The problem with any series is that its author always has to walk a fine line between more-of-the-same and WHOA-where-did-that-come-from? In that respect I think Kadrey has done pretty well, though some of the unfinished business in this book did show signs of strain. That Stark still can't seem to let go of Alice is probably perfectly reasonable in terms of how human beings deal with loss within a relatively short time frame. But over the course of three books,the audience can find it fatiguing. Ditto Stark's vendetta against Mason. Nevertheless, these plot lines had to be wrapped up so that the series can end or the characters can move on. And in this case it seems pretty clear that Kadrey intends the latter. He leaves Stark in a highly unusual position, to say the least, and one that needs to be resolved.

As usual, the secondary characters shine. Vidoq and Muninn are back as are Candy and Allegra. And Kasabian is back, thank goodness. He's well on his way to becoming my favorite character. There's also an excommunicated priest who is relatively interesting. I hope Kadrey does more with him in later books. And then there's the usual cast of monsters and Hellions who are the redshirts of the series, and a cameo by an infamous criminal which is amusing and disturbing by turns.

In all, I think this may be the weakest of the three novels, but it's far from being a disappointment. On the contrary, I'm really anxious to find out what's going to happen next. That's the mark of a good story as far as I'm concerned.

To save the universe, Stark travels to Hell to stop the war between it and Heaven. With both God and Lucifer gone, someone has to step up to stop the madness. Except Stark might have put himself in a place where he can't get out of.

Another great book in the gritty urban fantasy series, Sandman Slim. Love seeing Stark's journey into Hell and the various parts of it. It's horrifying and surreal and I couldn't stop reading. Funny and twisted with great world building and characterization.

Of the three books in this series, this is my least favorite only because the character Stark is not growing, but continuing his rant from book one and two. Overall, the end of the book had the most movement, the getting back to Hell and beating up the bad guys in search of Mason, Stark's nemesis. In the beginning, Stark gets talked into looking for a teen who has gone missing and, according to his parents, is possessed. Stark eventually goes back to where he started, Hell. Here, Lucifer's armys are siding with Mason to attack heavan. From here, the descriptions seemed abstract to the point I had to read paragraphs twice. The story took off when Stark gets thrown into Tartarus to bring back the only general in Lucifer's army who didn't want to side with Mason, hoping he will side with Stark. From there, it's action filled. I wasn't crazy about his explanation of God being more than one being and found it strange that Lucifer was now known as Samuel and in heaven permanently. In this book, I thought the Kissi and their involvement was wasted. I trust there will be another book in this series because Stark didn't want this to be a permanent thing, he discovered that what he had with Candy might be bigger than he imagined and Amy, horrified by his new "arm" returned to Heaven with the former Lucifer and Aloha from Hell didn't have that "conclusion" feel to it. If another book is added to this series, one can hope Stark grows up just a bit and that he helps Kasabian finally get a body (the description of a head on a skateboard just don't seem feasible (especially when he's playing pool)).

Aloha From Hell is Richard Kadrey's (@Richard_Kadrey) latest book in the Sandman Slim series (the first two being Sandman Slim and Kill the Dead). Kadrey's mix of urban fantasy, hard boiled crime, and supernatural elements make for a fun read, but it's Stark (or Sandman Slim, as he is known to the monsters of this world and the underworld), that really shines. How could a smart-ass, ass-kicking, "monster who kills monsters" not be fun to read about?

Attention: SPOILERS ahead. If they bother you, skip this paragraph. In the earlier novels, Stark's magical rival, Mason, killed Stark's girlfriend Alice and dragged Stark down to Hell. Stark, already a magical badass, discovered even greater powers when he fought and killed in Hell for years before escaping to L.A. to seek revenge on Mason. Sandman Slim was that revenge story, and it was probably the best of the series. In Kill the Dead, the cast of characters expanded, and Stark saved L.A. from hordes of zombies while also serving as Lucifer's bodyguard (who visits L.A. to supervise a film based on his life). FYI, Kill the Dead is a little disorganized and not quite the page-turner that Sandman Slim was (it's probably the weakest of the series, but still worth reading). The series leaves off with Lucifer abandoning Hell and returning to Heaven. Mason, now trapped in Hell, takes advantage of the power vacuum, gathering the hellion forces in an attempt to destroy both Heaven and Hell. /SPOILERS

Aloha finds Stark settling into a relatively comfortable and normal existence, if that's what you'd call stealing magical relics with an immortal friend. Whatever he's become though, Stark is no longer the killer he once was. When Stark is asked to look into a botched exorcism performed by a defrocked priest, he begins to see signs of his old nemesis Mason. Stark must return to Hell to fight Mason, save the universe, and rescue his long-lost love Alice. Along the way, there are angels, demons, God, older gods, monsters, and serial killers. Par for the course in the Sandman Slim books.

Like the other books in the series, Aloha is gritty, violent, and snarky. In other words, it's exactly the book you want to read during the holiday season. Ultimately, Aloha is probably the second best of the trilogy. At this point, readers can see where the story is headed from a fairly early point (which isn't to say it's completely predictable, just that I found myself sometimes thinking "get on with it, already"), and there is a bit of a deus ex machina solution at the end that I found a bit unsatisfying. However, don't let that stop you from reading the series. I think you'll definitely enjoy the ride. Kadrey is a clever writer who ably mixes mystery, magic, and myth. And Stark is an engaging character, at times funny, loving, and terrifying. I have definitely enjoyed watching him grow over the course of the three books.

(review originally posted here: [...])

There is just something about James Stark, AKA 'Sandman Slim', AKA `The Monster Who Kills Monsters' and Nephilim (the offspring of an angel and a human), that I love to root for. He strikes fear in the heart of hellions and fallen angels as he has quite skillfully and creatively slayed multitudes of them in Hell's gladiator arena and as a hitman in Hell. And before he does this, Sandman Slim will irreverently and humorously mouth off to the most holy, or unholy, angel, demon or deity. He is the hardest-drinking, chain-smokingest, potty-mouthed, dirtiest-fighting good guy ever. He's sort of like a magical, punk-rock version of The Stranger from High Plains Drifter.

The third installment of an awesome ride, Aloha from Hell doesn't disappoint. The plot, very briefly, involves James' nemesis, Mason, who has replaced Lucifer in Hell, as Lucifer has returned to Heaven, and who is attempting to invade Heaven with hoards of hellions headed up by fallen-angel generals. Loaded with constant action, epic battles, mystery, surprises, questions from past books answered, a little love with a man-eater (literally), and plenty of trademark Kadrey witty banter. Especially between James and his roommate Kasabian, the multi-legged talking head (literally) he affectionately calls Alfredo Garcia. And set in L.A., I was immersed in the distinct mixture of beautiful people and degenerates alike, walking down sun-drenched, often-seedy boulevards and back alleys.

The supernatural elements, as far as I can tell, are a creative version of biblical mythology. I find the relationships between all the biblical characters and humans fascinating. There's Lucifer, Azazel and other fallen angels but also the good guys, God and his angels in heaven. However, the lines between good and bad are often crossed.

This series is an urban paranormal fantasy gem. It's crusty, gory and unbelievably violent, but also really full of heart, depth and riveting to read.

On the cover, at least of my copy, there's a quote from the San Francisco Chronicle that reads: "Think 'Get Shorty' meets 'Hellraiser.'" That's not a bad way to describe Sandman Slim, this combination of punk meets hardboiled detective meets avenging angel meets Everyman, except that both Get Shorty and Hellraiser were mediocre movies, and this is a sweet book. Maybe it should be more like, "What 'Get Shorty' and 'Hellraiser' wanted to be."

This is the third book in the series, and it was welcome. The first one, Sandman Slim, had some clunky moments, though it was a heck of a ride; the second one, Kill the Dead, was a good place to visit but it was off the main track. Now we get back to the real story: James Stark, the nephilim from Hell, trying to set right what went wrong, to avenge his betrayal and the murder of the woman he loved, and either save the universe in the process, or finally wipe it out. In this book, Stark finally goes to Hell, and beyond; Kadrey does a heck of a job creating his version of Hell to match the character and the series, and the segment of the book that deals with it (basically the second half) was very hard to put down. It dragged a little before it got there, but this was intentional, and the writing doesn't fail at all; the storyline demands some slow buildup. And the ending had some fantastic surprises and twists, and was completely satisfying.

I'll admit the punk aspect didn't speak to me very much; I'm not an angry-enough-to-destroy-the-world type, so Stark's more nihilistic moments weren't my cup of tea. But I think it's just something that shows how human the character is, and how consistent the author is with his character: it was much like having a friend with one distasteful side or a really bad habit; I just wanted to turn away and shake my head for a moment, but I certainly wasn't going to go home.

I can't wait to see where the story goes now.

Richard Kadrey is guilty of attempted murder. He is trying to give me a heart attack. Me and all the other readers of the Sandman Slim books. He just won't let up on the adrenaline he infuses in this Urban Fantasy series and Aloha From Hell is the worst and most exciting culprit yet.

Aloha From Hell sees Stark aka Sandman Slim trying to more than live up to the hype as he dives back into Hell on a quest to confront all the baddies he left behind and sent there. If you thought Stark showed his blood-thirst in the first two books you haven't seen anything yet as he flashes to the beast he was when first sent to Hell and everyday was a fight for survival.

Given the big reveal found near the end of Kill the Dead I was expecting Aloha to show a different side of Stark. A side I wasn't necessarily looking forward to, but Stark still keeps his attitude going despite his lighter half arguing along the way. Stark is still the most capable monster out there.

Aloha is much closer in tone to the first in the series than Kill the Dead as it showed Stark getting a bit too buddy-buddy with a lot of people. That isn't him. He's a loner. Aloha gets him back on track and brings it all to a strong finish despite throwing in a completely unneeded tag-along partner for too many chapters that could have been done without. There are still a loose threads left open for more in this series, but we get closure on a lot of Stark's past leaving him open to face his future. Kadrey's version of God also takes the stage and He is nothing like you've seen before.

Dark. Disturbing. Funny as hell. Three things that don't usually come in the same package, but Aloha From Hell delivers it all. Kadrey will be writing at least a couple more Sandman Slim books as he signed a new contract. Bring it on.

Aloha from Hell continues the tradition started in Sandman Slim. It is a hell of a lot of fun, a violent thrill ride through the streets of a supernaturally-inclined Los Angeles and crumbling Hell. The humor feels as though it has been cranked up a bit, shifting from the somewhat subtle undercurrent found in Sandman Slim to a pervading integration that seeps into dialogue and events. I tend to view such things in a negative light--when positive aspects of a book are amped up to eleven in the following volumes, often it is not done well and drags down the quality. However, Kadrey managed to pull it off and the increase in humor does not detract from the seriousness of the book nor is there so much humor that it becomes a frustrating distraction.

The characterization is about what you would expect from your average first person perspective. Stark remains inclined to violence and as much a monster as the people and things he fights, but the angel in his head has helped, somewhat, to keep his arsehole tendencies in check. There is also the matter of his fading apathy--he cares about the people around him, the bar he frequents, and even the world he could end at any moment if so inclined. The Stark at the end of the novel has grown, is different from the Stark we meet at the beginning, and though I would love to continue further it ventures deeply into the realm of spoilers. Familiar faces and new characters show up for a short while, but rarely stick around long enough to leave an impression.

Aloha from Hell is a great read, a sequel that manages to keep itself from falling flat on its face. It is an entertaining read with a bit of depth for those who care to look and a hell of a lot of fun to boot. If you haven't yet read this series, I suggest that you get on it. Hunt down a copy of Sandman Slim and enjoy.

Let me just slip through this shadow here into the hall of thirteen doors and then into your house to let you know that while the state of modern lone hero detective fiction is generally going to hell in a hand basket, Sandman Slim still knows how to take you there and make you feel the heat (not that Hell has any shortage of Generals) as he brings his battle with Mason to a conclusion that is fullfilling as any revenge we might imagine without losing our heads(Alfredo Garcia would know what I mean). I bet God got the galley proofs before I did!! He'd HAVE to find out how this baby was going to turn out (just to see if he gets to keep the old homestead). Richard Kadrey's creation probably won't topple the Universe as we know it, but Stark'll damn sure shake up the sub-rosa AND the status quo! I know all of this is gibberish to those of you who are not died-in-the-wool fans of this series but then you've got some catching up to do anyway...if you want to be in on the Showdown Downtown...all to save the fair dead damsel...Alice...and Hell hath NO fury like Stark when it comes to Alice!!!!!! Far be it from me to kissi and tell, however, you'll just have to buy your own portion of the author's potion and find out what happens before Homeland Security shuts us all down. Cue the Drifters 'cause I'm seizing this magic moment to saunter back into the shadows before Stark finds out there's more than one key and all Hell breaks loose again!

Lucifer the Fallen Angel has left Hell for Heaven. His abdication fails to eliminate sin as the monotheistic churches claimed it would, but instead leaves behind an even more dangerous power struggle to sit on his former throne.

Avenging Nephilim James "Sandman Slim" Stark recently killed Mason Faim the magician who exiled him to Hell where he became Lucifer's bodyguard for over a decade. Mason finds he owes his "friend" for sending him to Hell were he plans his new gig to deploy the faithful on an invasion of Heaven. Kissi the demon encourages Mason to take the war to the enemy as his evil essence has plans to take over regardless of who survives the end of days combat.

Stark ponders why God remains on vacation instead of acting to prevent the war that could end the universe. He understands the Lord's free will doctrine, so expecting no divine intervention; he decides to enter Hell on a Heavenly cause; besides which he prays he can bring his murdered girlfriend back with him if he escapes to los Angeles.

The third Sandman Slim urban fantasy (see Sandman Slim and Kill the Dead) is a delightful dark humorous noir starring an antihero who will persuade readers that Los Angeles is as hellish of a place as Hell is. The support cast on all sides of the conflict is developed to enhance an exhilarating violently over the top of the Tower of Babel plot. Fans will enjoy Richard Kadrey's latest contrary satirical spin with his fabulous twisting End of Days.

Harriet Klausner

Sometimes a monster has to do what a monster has to do...

He's saved LA twice from the apocalypse and the citys still toxic - the air, the donuts, the beer and the cigarettes, but that suits James Stark aka Sandman Slim; it reminds him of Downtown. Homeland security has been relocated and the Golden vigil vanished, leaving Slim scratching around for the next rent cheque. He's offered a case by an old acquaintance, a missing person resulting from an exorcism gone wrong; seems routine, but with Sandman Slim, nothing is simple. Before the blood has dried on the carpet, he's on his way back into hell, to save a soul that doesn't belong there, prevent a war and stop an insane angel who has joined forces with his nemesis, Mason, planning to assassinate God.

This is the third of the Sandman Slim books and after a slightly sluggish start, finds its feet when Stark meets Mustang Sally, in a free-flow passage reminiscent of Kerouac, and the book finally finds it feet. Stark enters a convergence where hell is represented as LA again, but a post nuclear Gerald Scarfe city of wandering demon hordes out of control and tearing up the place. This is a great book, but not as great as the two previous outings and my only gripe - surely he can come up with other names for his disembodied room-mate Kasabian as `Alfredo Garcia'. That said, Kadrey's skill is in the momentum he builds to some very impressive set pieces. I'll give it 5 stars (but only just!)

Robert Craven author Get Lenin and Zinnman

Jack Stark is bored. Killing, killing and more killing. It gets tedious after a while. But then he learns that his former lover, Alice, has been kidnapped from Heaven and is being held prisoner in Hell. So, what are you going to do? Go to Hell! So off Jack goes, dismembering Hellions all the way. Oh, and he also has to stop his nemisis, Mason, from waging ware on Heaven. All in a day's work for Sandman Slim.

Kadrey's version of Hell is probably the most fantastic imagery of the damned since Hieronymus Bosch put put down his paintbrush. It's truly a landscape of madness and despair.

While I enjoyed this book, I didn't like it quite as much as the previous two Sandman Slim novels. Like many "road trip" stories, it suffers from too much time on the road. Too much of the book was spent wandering from place to place for my taste. But if you like dark, bizarre fantasy with plenty of mayhem and destruction, it's still a great read.

I really wanted to like this book. The author has obviously put much effort into turning out effortlessly well-crafted prose that keeps one thinking in images rather than words; he guides us through a story and world that is unique as well as fascinating; and last, and certainly not least, he imbues the entire book with quirky dark humor that's as deft as it is funny. So what didn't I like? It's a personal thing. Although all the characters were unique and well-drawn, I was simply unable to care about any of them. And, for me, that's paramount--I need to be sympathetic to at least one character to have an enjoyable reading experience. So while I admire the craft and vision of the author, this book didn't work for me. It may very well work for you.

Aloha From Hell was one heck of a ride. I enjoyed it more than the previous book and can't wait to see where Stark goes from here.

I loved Stark and Candy together; that girl is just awesome. I'm glad to see Stark letting go of Alice a little more and letting himself move on with his life.

I thought the possession storyline was interesting, but of course it all boiled down to Mason. Stark just cannot get away from that guy. The ending battle was really well done and I liked that we got a peek of God and what he's been up to. The part with Mustang Sally was really interesting as well. Richard Kadrey excels at creating unique, but slightly disturbing characters. I can't wait to see where the next book finds Stark. That was a crazy ending!

Spare and elegant Sandman is back and he's taking on God, Hell, and everything in between. Though the plot was a little busy this is a solid entry in the Sandman Slim series.

If reader's enjoy their anti-heroes dark and their fiction amoral and very, very bloody then you'll find what you are looking for here.

Social Justice Warriors are advised to avoid this series...the rest, with a bloody-minded streak, will luv this series.

Highly Recommended for Noir, Hardboiled, Crime, Fantasy, Horror fans.

Rating 4 out of 5 stars.

Aloha from Heel is Richard Kadrey's third book in the Sandman Slim series of books after Sandman Slim and Kill the Dead: A Sandman Slim Novel. The novel continues the noir/supernatural adventures of the "monster who kills monsters"- Sandman Slim.

Being the third book in the series, the question inevitably arises- "Do I need to have read the first two books?" The answer from someone who had not done so before reading Aloha from Hell is no- Kadrey does a very good job of exposition of setting forth the major events which happened in the first two books. Unfortunately, he does such a good job of doing so that there is little reason to read the first two books after reading Aloha from Hell, as every major development is revealed and expanded upon in this book. My suggestion is if you are new to the series, buy the first book Sandman Slim instead. Given how much I enjoyed this book I think you will be happy for doing so.

Ok, you still here? Hopefully that means you have already read and enjoyed the first two books. If so- this book will be right up your alley. It contains major plot advancements, and AVOID SPOILERS AT ALL COSTS in other reviews and summaries, as there are some massive payoffs from the first two novels. "Return of the Jedi" level payoffs (only no annoying Ewoks). So hit order now if you liked the first two books. I will wait for you.

You're back- good. The spoiler free thoughts for this book follow: the plot and characters are top notch. The shear amount of developments would have taken other series authors 2-3 books to cover. Sometime down the line, I predict a cliche loving book reviewer will call this a "supernatural thrill ride", despite this being an annoyingly trite cliche its actually true for this book. The writing is workman like, and the noir-ish angle sometimes is a bit overplayed. But, in the end, none of that really effected my enjoyment of the book. Assuming a 4th book in the series is released, I will be pre-ordering it.

The third book in the Sandman Slim series doesn't disappoint. My favorite character in this journey is Stark with a side of Alice. The book has plenty of twists and turns and some of my questions were answered. Kadrey's definition of God is outside of the box and I love it. It makes a weird sort of sense once you think about it. It's a kickass confection of action with a little twist of the crazy liquor of love. Kadrey is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. His unique characters pull me full tilt on the carnival ride through Hell and beyond.
I'm looking forward to the next Sandman Slim installment.
This journey gets 5 stars for making me think outside of the box and keeping me turning the pages.

If you haven't read the first two books in the series you are going to be lost. If you don't mind lots of actions, twisted humor and a high body count I recommend you immediately read Sandman Slim and Kill the Dead.

Finished yet?

Ok, everything enjoyable about the previous two books is still present in this one and if you actually love lots of action, twisted humor and high body count you are going to love this one. If you don't stay far, far away.

The reader is going to on a journey with the main character back to hell to confront his past and learn about his future.

This is the third in the Sandman Slim Series and they only get better with each novel. This time out Sandman Slim must return to the place he once escaped, Hell. A lot has changed in his absence. Lucifer has gone back to heaven and now goes by the name of Samuel. There is now a power vaccuum in Hell and a familiar enemy is trying to take over. He must try and stop the man he took revenge on and tricked into being put there. Mason, a fellow magician and Sandman's nemesis is up to a whole lot of no good. He has teamed with a psychotic angel in a plan to kill God and take over Heaven and Hell. Mason has taken over hell and is amassing all of the hellion armies to make his assault on heaven. Sandman in the meantime has made a tentative truce with a group of demonic creatures called the Kissi, who thrive on pure chaos. This time out Sandman can't rely on his earthly friends and has to descend into hell alone. Along the way he does find help in strange places, including an infamous serial killer and a famous deity. All in all this is another great novel from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who is a fan of horror or comedy.

This is the third in the series. Read the other two first. I liked them all, but this one seemed a little forced at the end. I'm not sure why. Just was wrapped up sorta neat.

For those not familiar with series sandman slim is the only man to ever go to hell, and comeback. And in this book hes going to find the person responsible, and end it one way or the other. Sandman has a smart mouth, and likes trouble. Hes dating a vampire like creature, and his dad is never around.

The author has constructed an awesome, gritty world. Dont hesitate to pick this book up if youre a fan of Dresdon, Spenser, or the twenty palaces series.

After reading the first two books in this series I was eagerly anticipating the release of this one when those wonderful folks at the store decided to offer me a pre-release copy. Snatched that up straight away. And finished it in one day. Now I'm chomping at the bit for another one. Kadrey's a freaking amazing author, think Jim Butcher with tats and a darker, twisted sense of humor. Yeah baby...

Our hero Stark, aka Sandman Slim, was an "innocent" dragged to hell, tortured, and forced to fight in the arena who managed to escape (to L.A. of all places) looking for vengeance. Unfortunately he wasn't able to kill Mason, the guy who sent him there. But he did manage to avert a zombie apocalypse. And send Mason to hell, which unfortunately is exactly where he wanted to be. That's books one and two. Now, it's been a while since Sandman's killed anyone important, the bad guys aren't as scared of him as they should be, Lucifer's on "vacation," there's a rebellion brewing in hell, the demonic Kissi are still skulking around, and, well, the universe is about to be ripped apart as heaven and hell go to war... Just another day at the office, right? Well sorta.

It is a challenge to read this offering without first breezing through the other two since the story is more-or-less on continuous thread, but then again those books are awesome so it's no hardship. The story is fairly original, but as with the rest of the series, what really shines is the the characterization and dialogue. They are far and away some of the best I've ever read, and I stopped counted at 3,000 books. Really. Kadrey's that good. The alchemist Vidocq is back along with Candy the Jade, and Stark's "roommate" Kasabian (his head anyway), along with some other fun, minor players like bartender Carlos, Josef the Kissi, and Marshal Julia. Big or small, everyone's universally well done, fascinating, and (for most anyway), warped.

It's sorta obvious by how fast I breezed through this one, but it's a real page turner. Don't start reading when you've got something more important to do. It won't get done. But do buy this book. You won't regret it. It's extraordinarily well done!

Lawrence Kane
Author of Blinded by the Night, among other titles

Satan has gone back home to heaven and the bad guys have taken over Hell and our hero has to go back there and rescue his dead girlfriend. Are you lost yet? When I summarize it that way I sure am. But that is the basic story.

Let's get real for a minute, and call this what it is - Pulp Fiction. While a fun read, I would not look for deeper meaning than the entertainment of reading, and let's face it every once in a while you do need to pick up something like this for pure enjoyment.

On the critical side, much of the story seems contrived in the sense that the author really hasn't taken the time to construct a world ahead of time, he just sort of writes it as he goes and hopes that the holes aren't so big that they detract from the readers' fun. Overall, I would say that he was reasonably successful, and that I had a good time reading this book. P-)

I enjoyed Sandman Slim.
Liked Kill the Dead.
On the strength of those two novels I purchased this third book; Aloha From Hell.
Was disappointed. Story, such as it is, is slow. Narrative too wordy. Lots of needless page filler.
Wanders all over the place, goes nowhere fast.
Got bored and started just flipping through pages, then just gave up and went straight to the last chapter.
By that time I was past caring what happened to James Stark, he's become introspectively annoying.
Won't be buying or reading anymore in this series.

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series. I know this is vague, but it felt like something was missing from this installment. Stark was his usual violent, darkly humorous self and all the supporting cast were present. The book started very slowly - in fact, it took me about 2 weeks to get through the first half. That being said, I enjoyed the second half much more - I found the action & story much more interesting & the book better paced. Once Stark went back to hell, I couldn't put it down. If you've read the first two, this is a must read, but I don't think it's nearly as good as the others.

On a side note, my husband read Aloha having never read the first two books, and he had no trouble following along & thought it was great.

The Sandman Slim novels are getting far more intense, and much more entertaining. Those of you that have read the previous two novels know how Kadrey is able to twist all of the lore, events and mythological beings alike, in such a way that it becomes accessible to the reader through the eyes of Sandman Slim. This book is no exception. It offers what nearly all readers have been waiting for; a tour of Hell itself.

The violence has become more intense and the comedy is funnier. Kadrey has mastered his art.

I don't read any series, but when I do its the Sandman Slim series. I love the fast pace nature of the books with a sense of humor thrown in..."sick"/weird humor that I soo love.

The main charactor doesn't take himself serious, which I think is why I like him. The other characters add to the plot that makes Sandman even more enjoyable to read.

Again, this is a series to read!!

This one dragged on for me a bit too much. I was so over the Stark/Mason/Alice triangle, glad it has finally come to an end. Although, the book concluded with an interesting twist, I'll take a break and maybe revisit this series later.

This is the best kind of urban fantasy - a twisted protagonist, abundant references to pop culture, gunfire dialogue loaded with snark, and abundant gunfire with basic and exotic weapons. For those of us who enjoy the worlds of Neil Gaiman, Jim Butcher, Kim Harrison, et al, these are wonderful books. Those with more dogmatic religious sensibilities may wish to beware - no one looks good in these stories.

This is the third in what seems to be a trilogy, the story of Sandman Slim, magician, angel, fighter against pretty much everyone... Crackling wit, misanthropic cynicism, a hard shell over a hard interior, Sandman Slim is the toughest nastiest guy ever. In the word ever we can include Lucifer, an evil angel, a lot of hellions, and pretty much every nasty magic user and thug in dystopian Los Angeles.

The three books build. They build into a war between heaven, hell, and a variety of bit players and evil hangers-on. Along the way, we get the hero's wry comments, love life, and rambling throw everything at the wall lifestyle. This gives occasion for the author to make trenchant observations about religion, belief, Los Angeles, and modernity.

And this is all great fun.

There is a bit of hubris here, that causes occasional discomfort as the author veers back and forth into "serious" conversations about God and the nature of good and evil. This is moderated by occasional explosions and knife fights, which is good, because the more serious a book like this gets, the less fun it is. I mean, heck, this is serious stuff if you let it be... and these books tend not to let it be,which is good.

Rough, nasty, hard edged, funny, and a good read. Aloha!

Sandman Slim 03 - Aloha From Hell
Richard Kadrey
Uncorrected Proof
438 pages
Trade Paperback
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: October 18, 2011
ISBN-13: 978-0061714320
Genre: Urban Pandemonium Fantasy

James Starks (A.K.A. Sandman Slim) demon killer and nephilim* has been to Hell and back... literally. When his fame as a teenage warlock attracted the notice of demons years ago, they snatched him up and sent him off to the underworld, where he spent the next eleven years as a combatant in the Arena fighting demons as entertainment for Satan's spawn. Since escaping Hell (a long story revealed in the first two books) and returning to L.A. he's been busy killing demons, staking vampires, and preventing a zombie invasion but things of late have been a bit slow and Stark's is a little off his game.

So what exactly does a half-angel do on his day off? Apparently he attempts to locate and rescue the survivor of a failed exorcism. But the demon possessing this victim knows Sandman Slim intimately and now Starks must descend into Hell to rescue his dead soul mate. But in the land of Nod nothing is at it seems. He must travel through a barren desert then traverse Malchut of Atzilut, Gan Eden, Tartarus, Eleusis, and the suicidal streets of a burning Los Angeles before he can face down the minions of Hell. But first, he's going to have to take an unexpected side trip back into the Arena as the epic battle between Heaven and Hell threatens to rage out of control.

As reported previously all the books in this series are very quick reads (for those who like their death, destruction, mayhem, and demon-killing cranked up to level 11!) This series is a good starting point for anyone interested in blood and guts urban fantasy.

Disclaimer: Review copy provided free as part of the the store.com Vine Program.

4 stars out of 5

The Alternative
Southeast Wisconsin

My favorite quote: "After you've been shot, stabbed, slashed, burned, and almost zombified and survived it all, death gets kind of abstract."

Sandman Slim Series by Richard Kadrey
1. Sandman Slim (2009)
2. Kill the Dead (2010)
3. Aloha from Hell (2011)

This is the return of the Jedi of the series, with Jar Jar instead of Jabba.

By the five thousandth time he was going off about how cool he was and better than everyone while being a whiny moron, I just felt done with the character. When his new sex buddy says "don't be a whiny bitch" you want to cheer and hope this marks the turn around, but nope, nothing but boring introspection that felt lifted from Charlie Sheens meltdown rather than anything creative, which is a shame, I loved the first two and the start of this one, but Stark is too stupid and selfish to be any sort of interesting character. When he nearly dies my hopes get crushed as I realize the book still has pages and his name is on it and therefore, he's not really dead.

A great series - at the beginning I didn't like it at all, but after having read half of the first book it started becoming interesting and then I just could not stop reading until the last book of the series.

The first two books were absolutely addicting. Aloha from hell isn't far from addicting either. Stark or (sandman slim)has to be the most interesting character I have ever read... he loves but hates to care, kills monsters, has judgement can compassion even for monsters like Jack the ripper. This book you finally meet his love Alice and kadrey doesn't disappoint with her character either. She's smart, a hard ass, and generally cares still for the monster sandman slim is.

A lot of people say the beginning doesn't tie into the end. I believe the beginning was to establish the change in sandman slim and his final need for resolve with his enemies.

I have recommended this book to everyone I think will get a good read and enjoy all the mayhem that follows the great character sandman slim has been to me. I truly hope for another book. I AM ABSCESSED OVER THESE BOOKS.

KADREY IS MY HERO! for coming up with these books.

Aloha may be the best of the 3 Sandman titles. Fast-moving, violent and irreverent, it tells a new story while introducing significant developments to the series' cast of characters.

The book falls into 2 parts. I liked the first half which feels like a detective novel in which Slim and the usual suspects investigate the demonic possession of a boy to find its source. This section of the book works because of the interactions between the main character (who is trying to get used to having an angel inside his psyche), new girlfriend Candy (the Jade), Vidocq, Kasabian and a defrocked priest-turned-exorcist. Slim also pays a few visits to the antiquarian Muninn, a fascinating character in the first part of the book who plays a surprisingly important role in the latter half as well. The other strength of this part of Aloha is the juxtaposition of supernatural characters with people in the normal world. The visits of the exorcist team to the boys parents, for example, put the strangeness of Slim and friends into sharp relief.

The second part of the book recounts Slims return to hell to rescue old girlfriend Alice. It contains a few hundred pages of obligatory violence and mayhem but does go a long way towards addressing many of the issues brought up in in the series to date. Since Slim has left his supporting cast behind in LA, there is less snappy dialogue in the latter portion of the book. In hell, there is very little "normalcy" against which to measure the main character. Finally, Kadrey's physical description of hell is a bit pedestrian as it resembles little more than a post apocalyptic Los Angeles.

Aloha includes more metaphysical discourse than the previous volumes and could offend some religious sensibilities in its depiction of various deities. Slim's bleak outlook is also on full view in this book as he provides his definition of life as "learning how to live with the intolerable." He expects little help from outside sources: "Everyone of us, human and monster alike, lives with an angelic boot on our throats. But we don't see it so we forget about it and limp along doing the stupid little things that make up our stupid little lives...We're just bugs on God's windshield." On second thought, bleak would be an upgrade in Slim's approach to life.

If you don't mind the theology or the occasional over the top violence, Aloha from Hell is an entertaining page-turner. I thought the first half was 4 star quality but was less impressed by the carnage in the latter part of the book. Overall, though, this third entry in the Sandman Slim series effectively blends action and humor with solid characterization and somehow succeeds in maintaining its frenetic pace for all of its 440 pages.

I love the Sandman Slim books. Like several other reviewers, I picked up the first one on a whim and now as soon as I see a new one I get it. It has all the fantasy elements I love with some grit, murder, monsters, and demons. Stark (Sandman Slim) spends some significant time in Hell in this book, and the descriptions are just fascinating. Highly recommended!

This book picks right up where the others left off. I can usually figure put the plot but this one kept me guessing. I stumbled upon this genre of writers and was immediately enraptured in the graphic, harsh, compelling characters of this series. This is not your typical teenager vampire, demon, zombie book, and that is why I like it.

Sandman Slim. Really, the name is still ridiculous after 3 books. But the first two really is attractive in a way. The dialogues between Stark and Kasabian are hilarious, the actions great, and the pacing is well enough. But as one of the reviewers Andrew said, Aloha from Hell is a drag. The first 3 quarters of the book was spent on rambling and the main character doing practically everything except what is most important, and in the last quarter, when he finally jumped into the action, it was so short it was kinda pathetic. Stark's nemesis, Mason loomed so large in the first two books, but here he was disposed of so easily it was a joke. I skipped through quite a few pages as I really can't take the constant senseless thoughts of Stark who can't seem to make up his mind about his next steps( maybe a mirror of the author when he's writing this book?).
Anyhow, to sum it up, it is a disappointing end to a good book. In fact, I think the last book practically ruin everything the author painstakingly built before.

I wasn't a huge fan of Sandman Slim but I figured I'd give Aloha From Hell a chance and rack up my early distaste to hype-overload. Can't say I found Aloha From Hell much better. I understand why people like it - it's a light read with lots of snark and action. It's just not my cup of tea.

I read and enjoyed the first novel in the series ("Sandman Slim"). I actually didn't catch the second book in the series, so I can't comment. The third installment, "Aloha From Hell" definitely is not as good as the series opener, and I was very disappointed.

The book breaks into two distinct parts. The plot of the first half isn't bad, although it is very similar to "Sandman Slim," which I suppose is good if you're looking for a rehash of the first book, and disappointing if you were hoping to explore new territory. The second half of the book definitely gets into new territory, but the plot is incredibly meandering, and somewhat nonsensical and internally inconsistent. There are also some major plotlines for the series that are tied up (in my opinion) very anticlimactically.

Also, I find that I'm getting tired of the main character, who just seems to feel like he's too cool for just about everything. I generally like the kind of mix of violent action and dark humor that these books delve into, but something is off in the mix here and I think part of it is the main character.

James Stark is back, still beating himself up over the death of his girlfriend Alice and his inability to save her. This is the third Sandman Slim novel for me and I'm always surprised to find that I actually like Stark. He isn't exactly the type of character I'm normally drawn to, but author Richard Kadrey injects so many chuckle opportunities with the things Stark says that I have liked keeping up with him. I do think that I've reached my limit though. Because of the way this novel ends I'm not sure if the series will continue but if it does it will do so without me. Even with all the demon exorcisms, magic, and visits back Downtown to Pandemonium I found it so reminiscent of the first two books that I think I've reached saturation point.

In this book Kadrey does take pity on new readers and fills in much more background of what happened previously in the James Stark, half angel/half human, saga. Stark's avowed enemy Mason plays a huge role with his plans for the forces of Heaven and Hell. Candy is back as a feature in Stark's life and I think she is probably still waiting for Stark to arrive back at the hotel room. When all the dust settles Stark is changed, both physically and emotionally and I think I can safely leave him here while I move on.

Even better than the first one. Great character development, the story is well-paced and the plot is engaging and keeps you reading. A great blend of humor, adventure and fantasy-type horror. I enjoyed it.

These books are a fun trip from the everyday grind of life. This book was a quick read mainly because I failed to find the usual lull which means it's time to get some shut eye. Kasabian is becoming one of my favorite sidekicks! How can you not enjoy a chain smoking, beer chugging, wise cracking head on a skate board!?

I have procrastinated reviewing this book for months because I just didn't care much for it. I enjoyed the author's earlier Sandman Slim books, but this one just seemed to slip off the road for me.

I am assuming the reader here has read the other two books. It seemed to me that the trajectory was promising and that our hero would end up with some vindication, a little revenge, and maybe good would triumph.

Well, let's just say, because I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone, that our hero ends up at home in the last place you would expect. I don't think he is a good guy anymore!

Having said all that, the author clearly can write fun fantasy in a coherent fashion. If that's enough for you, go for it.

This is yet another winner from Richard Kadrey in the Sandman Slim series. It's fun, violent urban fantasy. A warning though, you *must* read the books in order! That's good because they're all equally enjoyable.

I'm a jaded reader. I hate recycled plots, stale characters, and predictable plot devices. So when our hero Sandman Slim runs roughshod over Hell to do the right thing in the wrong way, you can hear me cheering from space. I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes a stiff shot of humor, surprise and adrenaline in their literature cocktail.

Sandman Slim is so full of colorful comments about LA and life and he makes these remarks in the middle of impossibly violent and painful situations. Talk about cool! And he's a great fighter and very resourceful in impossible situations. And no matter how violent and profane, he never fails to show his softer side and his profound sense of irony and justice.

I would probably give it four stars. I picked this up because I thought the title was awesome. I didn't realize it was the third book in a series, so, although I loved the writing and thought much of it was hysterical, I was perpetually confused about who everyone was and what the back story was. I am going to go back and read the first two books, and then re-read this one because I do think they're enjoyable. It was violent, but SO funny and so clever I just can't help myself.

I was assigned to read this book by my church group that monitors Evil in the media, and I can confirm that this is indeed a dangerously evil book. This sort of abomination should not be available to the public. You may think it's "just a story" but believe me, it is actually a sort of prayer or ceremony to summon dark and perverse forces. I am honored that my church would trust that I have the moral fortitude, faith and purity to handle this tome of misfortune. After reading this book my family said that I had a strange and haunted look in my eyes. I think they might have been seeing the hellfire of this book reflected, but I sat and prayed a lot until it went away just in case it was a dark entity trying to invade my body. It was incredibly difficult for me to read this book because I had to stop and pray often in order to fight the demon spirits that emerge from the printed words. It was a long, hard, trying journey that forced me to submit more fully to Our Lord out of fear that the demonic contents of this book might possess my imperfect but God fearing body. Just opening the book you can feel the slithering smooth cold touch of luciferian tendrils attaching to your hands so that you can't put this book down. As you read the words you are actually reading a summoning ceremony that will draw up something nasty that will full your body with it's unholy filth. The characters are just masks for real truly existing demons that will invade your heart, mind, soul, and they will bring out anything in your heart that is unclean. THIS IS NOT A FANTASY STORY!!!! Evil is very very real and this author is very very good at evoking these gorgeous glamorous minions of satan into the minds and hearts of us innocents.

Please I beg you, do not buy this book in any form and do not allow it to be printed again!! The book itself is a portal to a dark but alluring realm that results in certain death for your pure immortal soul. I hesitate to say anything remotely positive about this book, but I must commend the author's knowledge of firearms. As a gun enthusiast myself I could related to the details of the weapons, but I only wish I had silver bullets in my weapons to fight the monsters that emerge from this book. I wonder if the kindle version also has the demons emerging from the printed word. I suspect that satan is behind the kindle anyway, so I personally suspect that the same filthy and dark corrupting energy comes through the electronic media. I must warn you that in real life the author is a freak. He does readings often and the man smells like some sort of unholy cat piss and has a terrifying scar that must be a mark of the devil or perhaps a pole dancing related injury. I suspect that if you get too close and catch his gaze it will burn the mark of the adversary in a hidden place on your body. He must sit very near satan's throne in hell. IF for some Godforsaken reason you must read this book keep the following prayer near you and say it before you begin reading, after you close the book and at the end of each chapter.

"Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -
by the Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen."
And then go to church and be baptized if you are not already!

I'm enjoying this series very much! I describe it as being like the Dresden Files, only darker and grittier. I like my fiction very dark, and this fills that desire while still injecting a lot of twisted humor and not leaving me depressed. Can't wait to see how many he'll write!

I really wanted to like this book. The author has obviously put much effort into turning out effortlessly well-crafted prose that keeps one thinking in images rather than words; he guides us through a story and world that is unique as well as fascinating; and last, and certainly not least, he imbues the entire book with quirky dark humor that's as deft as it is funny. So what didn't I like? It's a personal thing. Although all the characters were unique and well-drawn, I was simply unable to care about any of them. And, for me, that's paramount--I need to be sympathetic to at least one character to have an enjoyable reading experience. So while I admire the craft and vision of the author, this book didn't work for me. It may very well work for you.