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David's Reviews > Pandemonium
Pandemonium
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Random demonic possession is a problem in the slightly altered reality in which "Pandemonium" is set. Various archetypical demons (Truth, Captain Valiant, the Angel of Death*, to name a few) are showing up, hijacking the bodies of randomly chosen hosts and disrupting public order by behaving demonically. Collateral damage to the unlucky host can be anything from mild trauma to death. Nobody really understands what is causing this epidemic of demonic possession which has spawned a plethora of "demonologists" in a broad assortment of flavors. Jungian psychologists, neuropsychologists, priests, psychics, mediums, and various other charlatans all have suggestions about the best approach to exorcism, but not much success.
The issue has become urgent for Del, Pandemonium's first person narrator. At age six, Del was taken over by a demon called Hellion (kind of a scary, more dangerous, version of Dennis the Menace). Though he seemed to make a full recovery, recent events suggest that the demon never left. The story follows Del's efforts to get to the root of his problem through to its ultimate resolution.
Demonic possession is well outside my usual reading beat, but this book seemed to be attracting a lot of positive attention, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Overall verdict: I thought "Pandemonium" was a fairly decent story, but nothing exceptional.
Strengths
Daryl Gregory writes well.
Pacing was good.
Decent plot with a reasonably satisfactory resolution.
COMPLETELY VAMPIRE-FREE!!!
PALINDROMES!!!
It's short.
Weaknesses
The alternate reality that is the setting for the story is not particularly convincing.
The development is a little perfunctory - Gregory keeps a tight focus on Del's story arc and doesn't really explore his premise beyond what he needs to resolve Del's situation.
At times the exposition was a little too oblique - key plot developments were not always clear, or details were blurred.
The little in-joke references to Philip K Dick, AE van Vogt, and the like may delight SciFi aficionados, but they sailed right over my ignorant head.
COMPLETELY VAMPIRE-FREE!!!
*Think Oscar, the kitty of doom.
(http://stupac2.blogspot.com/2007/08/o...)
The issue has become urgent for Del, Pandemonium's first person narrator. At age six, Del was taken over by a demon called Hellion (kind of a scary, more dangerous, version of Dennis the Menace). Though he seemed to make a full recovery, recent events suggest that the demon never left. The story follows Del's efforts to get to the root of his problem through to its ultimate resolution.
Demonic possession is well outside my usual reading beat, but this book seemed to be attracting a lot of positive attention, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Overall verdict: I thought "Pandemonium" was a fairly decent story, but nothing exceptional.
Strengths
Daryl Gregory writes well.
Pacing was good.
Decent plot with a reasonably satisfactory resolution.
COMPLETELY VAMPIRE-FREE!!!
PALINDROMES!!!
It's short.
Weaknesses
The alternate reality that is the setting for the story is not particularly convincing.
The development is a little perfunctory - Gregory keeps a tight focus on Del's story arc and doesn't really explore his premise beyond what he needs to resolve Del's situation.
At times the exposition was a little too oblique - key plot developments were not always clear, or details were blurred.
The little in-joke references to Philip K Dick, AE van Vogt, and the like may delight SciFi aficionados, but they sailed right over my ignorant head.
COMPLETELY VAMPIRE-FREE!!!
*Think Oscar, the kitty of doom.
(http://stupac2.blogspot.com/2007/08/o...)
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Reading Progress
September 9, 2010
–
Started Reading
September 9, 2010
– Shelved
September 10, 2010
–
Finished Reading
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Jessica
(new)
Sep 11, 2010 11:39AM
thanks for the Oscar update, btw.
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Ah, so that's what it's about. Thank you.Have you come across Pohl's A Plague of Pythons ? Now there's a demonic possession novel that I've always felt deserved more recognition.
