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M**N
Gotta love Mellick
A group of military men are sent to the arctic to hunt down remaining draft dodgers in a war that is no longer being fought. On their search, they come across an ice city inhabited by mannequins. Harmless right? Maybe not. They soon find themselves in a life-threatening situation. Oh...and let's not forget about the sex cyborg that can transform into whatever desire the soldiers want.I like this book. But, I have a few issues with it. First and foremost, this is the first book I have read by Mellick (I have read many) that felt rushed, and therefore, incomplete. The subject lent itself to what should have been a meaty storyline. I just felt like he cut it short. All of Mellick's work is short in nature, but some are longer than others...this should have been longer. I wish he would have delved into the story deeper. Because it felt rushed, there was some writing flaws (not grammatical)...ie. repeating things that were discussed in the book previously as if he forgot that he already addressed the subject.Regardless of these things, I could never dislike a Mellick book. I like the book, I just wanted more. He is way too creative and intriguing of a writer. I would love to get in his brain and find out where he comes up with the wicked stories that seem to flow out of his mind. I could never count the amount of times that I have recommended his work to just about everyone I know. Just read his books...any of them.
D**
War of the Absurd
This has always been one of my favorite Carlton Mellick III books. This, along with Cannibals of Candyland, is actually what got me into Bizarro so many years ago. This book is a Bizarro military story. But it is not the clichéd military we see in other military sci-fi/fantasy type books. It is interesting and fun and full of great characters, which the author compares more to GI Joe's as played with by a nine year old. No confusing, heavily recycled military jargon here.Everyone has been drafted into the war. But the war is over. A small group of soldiers is sent to an arctic city to locate a group of "draft dodgers" believed to be hiding in the area. The soldiers find a city of ice, but no people. None of them have ever even seen a draft dodger. They're not even sure they actually exist. But they must follow orders and destroy the "draft dodgers."What they actually find in the city is far stranger than any of them would have expected.This is a short novella that can easily be devoured in a few hours. I loved it. I recommend reading it multiple times, because why not? Highly recommended for people tired of the same old military story over and over, and also a good book to start with for readers new to Bizarro. I'd love to see this made into a movie.
W**R
Another Gem From Mellick
Mellick tackles a rather large concept here about society's need for war. While I personally think conflict is necessary in many cases, this book takes an extremely satiric view that was a joy to read. Author Mellick always keeps the reader on their toes and just when you think you know what he's up to, he pulls the rug out with yet another surprise.Some annoying typos aside, there are some fascinating concepts in this book, especially the details involving the war sluts and the reasons the military has chosen to implement them into the service. The Sawball game was also quite inventive. The colorful characters, dialogue, and the special abilities of the various ammunition round out the high points of this book which I would rank in the middle of Carlton Mellick's body of work. Feels a bit short, but still very recommended.
J**L
Arctic Sci-Fi Bizarro....
Oh, where oh where do I begin?First, yes, this is a 105 page novella. Another review called it a "pamphlet" but he is very wrong. Regardless, quality should be above quantity anyway.Okay. Next, the actual story takes place sometime in the future and is a fast paced story of military paranoia. It's on a small scale (think John Carpenter's THE THING) and as the story goes on, things get very very creepy.I'd say that this is more sci-fi with a slight bizarro edge to it. I can totally see this being made into a movie. The ominous overtones make the reader very nervous about what's going to happen next. Still, despite this feeling of danger, verything just flows perfectly and the imagery (again, one of Mellick's strengths) makes it a worthwhile read.In my opinion, it also seems to be a commentary on the dehumanization of one's enemies.. or at least that's what I got out of it. It comments on war, society, religion, as well as sex. Very thought-provoking but also very enjoyable.For the ladies, there is also a bit of a love story, too.So, for those wanting to dip into bizarro but don't want anything TOO weird just yet.. then WAR SLUT is a great choice.
D**N
Full Metal Thing
I really think the title of my review says it all.Start with The Thing. Add a cup and a half of Full Metal Jacket (with a pinch of 1984). Blend well, and out comes WAR SLUT!Part sci-fi, part adventure, part satire, all bizarro, War Slut is the story of soldiers who are stationed in the Arctic hunting down draft dodgers. When one of their own goes missing, the camp slut robot (only from the mind of Mellick), they take off after it, and what follows is another fall down the rabbit hole.A look at the endlessly warring nature of the military industrial complex, the logical conclusion of such a society, and the effect it has on the people who actually have to fight these battles with a dash of humour, sex, violence and surrealism, CM3 has a real masterpiece here.While I am constantly amazed by his ability to write book after book with such disparate characters plots and wide-ranging surrealism. Yet, time after time, his prose is eminently readable and thoroughly enjoyable. I don't know how he does it, but I am sure glad he does.
I**K
Highly recommended
I was first recommended this author's work when Amazon's clever recommendation software learned that I'd bought or owned work by Maxx Barry, Chuck Palahniuk and Bret Easton Ellis. As the cheapest of his works on offer, I decided to buy it, and I haven't been disappointed.More like a long short story in book form than a lengthy novel, War Slut is perfect reading for the Fight Club generation, questioning the wisdom of war leaders and examining the human need to sleep with someone - or sometimes, something. Following a tiny company of soldiers who were drafted into the military along with most of Earth's population, War Slut is a fantastical tale that blends sci-fi and horror into a new form of twisted fiction.Absolutely awesome.
M**E
Weird but fun!
Great story the whole world is in the army fighting a war from birth and they have genetically created robots for sex! I can't say more you need to read it!!
K**N
Excellent
This is another excellent novella from Mellick that can be read in 1 sitting. When everyone has been drafted who is there left to fight. Join a small group of soldiers who have been posted to look for the last of the draft dodgers when things start to go very wrong. If you have never read a bizarro book before i highly recommend Mellick to get you hooked.
C**N
Bizarro bélico apocalíptico
El Padre del Bizarro no tiene malos libros. Este está quizá un poco por debajo de sus obras maestras, pero más allá de la historia -con armas sensacionales, humanos modificados para tomar cualquier forma con fines sexuales, raras religiones africanas y un inusual juego llamada sawball- Mellick ofrece la duda de si nuestra monotonía y alienación no serían fruto de un falso libre albedrío colectivo... O al menos eso parece ocurrirle al protagonista de esta novela cuando su batallón, extraviado en el Ártico, desaparece y su constante cuestionar sobre si la guerra en la que todo el mundo está es falsa. El final es bastante llamativo y preocupante. Sensacional.
A**D
La guerra è finita?
Secondo ebook che leggo di Carlton Mellick III e grande delusione.Dopo "La Casa sulle Sabbie Mobili" che mi era piaciuto molto (tanto da farmi approfittare di un'offerta lampo e comprare una decina di altre sue opere) ho trovato qui un racconto di media lunghezza che sembra iniziare con intenti parodistici/paradossali (la chiamata di leva per fare la guerra ai renitenti alla leva), ma subito si perde, inizia a girare a vuoto con idee buttate giù come se fossero venute in mente all'autore sul momento, con cose dette e poi dimenticate (come la narcolessia del protagonista che compare a metà racconto, viene usata un paio di volte come stacco dei capitoli e poi non è più citata).Il brusco finale non si lascia dietro nulla di memorabile.The war is over?It's the second ebook of Carlton Mellick III that I've read and it was a big disappointment.I liked very much "Quicksand House"; so much that, on a one-day special sale, I bought ten more of his works.In this one I found a medium length story that begin with parodistic/paradoxal intents (the draft to make a war against draft dodgers), but soon gets lost, with ideas thrown down as they came to mind at that moment, with things said and then forgotten (as the narcolepsy of the main personage that wasn't mentioned till the middle of the story, was used a pair of times as cliffanger of chapters, and then disappear).The abrupt ending leave nothing of meaningful behind.
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