Last Days

Product Information

Although Evenson’s books are published by smaller presses, like Victoria Blake’s Underland Press, Earthling Publications, Coffeehouse Press or FC2, an imprint of the University of Alabama Press, his writing isn’t any more ‘niche’ than any other novel of the genre. note: Figuring out what amputation(ish) painting would be appropriate here was an interesting, in not rewarding, exercise. Paul, the leader, wants Kline to go finish the job he thought was done, ie killing the unholy holy man. Turns out, that was the easiest, and most normal incident that he goes through following that moment.

Of course, that’s before the shit hits the fan but I’d be running like hell at the mere mention of these people, not trying to be casual and get along with them. Will he uncover the truth in time to save himself, take on the mantle of prophet, or destroy all he sees with a rain of biblical violence? He refuses in part because of the cloak and dagger nature of the summons, and in part because he has no need of money.

In accordance with the brotherhood’s strict but unusual application of logic, Kline is widely admired in the brotherhood for cauterizing his wound himself. Peter Straub has penned a 11 page introduction, in which he discusses the novel at lenght, but also reveals major plot points and events, along with the conclusion. a mutilation cult, that believes knowledge and enlightenment comes with the more parts one severs from their body. I blasted through this book in a two days, starting deep into the night and finishing just minutes ago. Seen as a savior because he apparently cannot be killed, Kline must free himself from the threatening pull of both groups.

Evenson offers a distinctive spin on the private investigator genre, finding moments of horror and humor along the way. Kline skate the edge of sanity throughout most of the tale and goes through a large succession of meat grinders. Kline is a private eye who never loses his cool, and the dialogue he engages in is straight of the hardboiled fiction of the past. One the one hand, Evenson’s plot is forceful and as we see Kline stumbling through the maze of irrational madness, we start to share his desperation. They're similar and different; Together they form a giant rabbit hole, which will suck any reader who will simply read them, word after word, from left to right.

Brian Evenson was raised as a Mormon; he was told by the Mormon Church that he would have to stop writing if he wanted to continue being a Mormon.

It’s one of those books that starts out with a premise that’s pretty out there and progressively delivers on its weirdness. Unfortunately, the latter half, while still entertaining, wasn’t quite up to snuff with his initial creation—it was all a little too over the top, for my taste. The lips seem to have been gnawed mostly away, perhaps by the teeth that now loomed through their gap. Sure, the thriller elements are most definitely present, and the novel is inspired by the classic noir detective fiction (the blurb mentions the author's fascination with Dashiel Hammett's Red Harvest). This association consists of men renouncing their own individuality by collectively taking the identity of Paul (the Christian one from the Bible) and plot the ruin of the former society with the help of Klein, in whom they see a sort of destroyer prophet.It isn't a very casually readable book, it is not a conventional book at all, although the ever present dark humor (and it's very dark), the induced revulsion (just think of a strip show within a mutilation cult and guess what the dancer takes off) and the very absurd road the plot goes made it a read worthwhile for me. Attempting to find his way through a maze of lies, threats, and misinformation, Kline discovers that his survival depends on an act of sheer will. Kline then turned on a nearby oven, cauterized his hand himself, turned around and, calmly, shot his attacker in the eye.