REVIEW: Sha’Daa: Tales of the Apocalypse, edited by Mike Hanson

November 2nd, 2009 by admin | Posted in Susurrus News |

The following is a review by Atomjack’s new reviewer, Frank Dutkiewicz.  All apologies to Edward McKeown who sent me this to review ages ago.  Better late than never.  (Unless we’re actually talking about the Apocalypse.)

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I love reading anthologies. I tend to gravitate to them, but finding one that will peak your interest enough to take a chance on it can be a difficult process. So when one of my favorite authors, Mike Resnick, wrote the foreword to this one, it was enough for me to dive in.

Sha’Daa: Tales of the Apocalypse is the brainchild of Michael Hanson. With the help of ten other authors, he brought his idea to life.

The Sha’Daa is a forty-eight hour window in which the barriers between our world and the Hell dimensions become thin. The event happens once in ten thousand years. Old myths and superstitious have made a few wary of the hidden portal openings spread over our world. One mysterious man, Johnny the Salesman, is the only one aware of the oncoming doom. Eleven authors have written stories on a few of the collapsing portals and of the lone man selling salvation to an unsuspecting human race.

“The Dive” by Edward McKeown

Kevin Hanlon is the District Supervisor in charge of a group of misfit workers sent into the New York subway to investigate a strange opening. Hanlon learns that demons are about to invade our world. All they need is a bit of human blood, and their souls, and the gates of hell will be opened. Hanlon must convince his rainbow-coalition band of misfits that they must save the day.

If Hollywood is searching for their next action-packed cheesy-horror film, they need to look no further than “The Dive.” The story opens with Hanlon introducing the entire cast of characters (all nine of them) each equipped with a colorful nicknames that aren’t befitting anyone politically correct. It doesn’t take long for Hanlon’s team to realize that he isn’t crazy and they are the only thing that stands between an army of alligator and aped-faced demons on an unsuspecting New York City. What happens next would fit any Predator/Alien sequel. The author even throws in a clichéd line or two for our comedic benefit. (“Can’t we all just get along?”)

If you are familiar with this standard plot you could probably figure out what will happen. The only mystery is guessing who will bite the bullet before it ends. The Salesman character is done well. He reminded me of Kazoo (alien from the Flintstones) just not as corny or silly.

Despite my complaints, “The Dive” is an entertaining read. I must say as an opening story to an anthology like this, the story does fit. The action is nicely written and the pace is quick.

“Tunguska Outpact” by Deborah Koren

Kate is a twenty-something dragged into the Siberian wilderness with her boyfriend, Saul. Saul is heading a University expedition to investigate the 1908 Tunguska event. Kate becomes furious with Saul when he completes a trade she refused with the Salesman; a watch for her stuffed-bear. Kate’s bubbling anger for her boyfriend, and the rest of the world, is just what is needed to bring about the Sha’Daa.

“Tunguska Outpact” is a hell of a story. Ms. Koren took a simple tale of a girl with issues and made it something more. There are only few a characters in this piece but the story is really about Kate anyway. The supporting casts are excellent foils to her character. Solidly done from her point of view, you get a vivid idea on what she thinks of others with a few well-placed words, a rare gift she uses efficiently. The crux of the story is about her conflict is with her soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend, Saul. She sums up her relationship with him early on. Referring that his presents…weren’t gifts at all, but little collar-and-leash sets.

Within the story are short flashbacks when she first received her bear. Generally, a bad idea but Ms. Koren uses them appropriately and exploits them to move the story along. You get a solid idea on why she became the girl she is in the story.

The climatic scene almost comes off as anti-climatic to me. It looked as if it would turn into something outlandish but Ms. Koren wisely reeled it in before that point. The ending fell a little flat but the end couldn’t have possibly made this story grander anyway.

“Tunguska Outpact” is probably not going to win any awards but the storyteller I am suspecting will someday. I found her style and story-telling ability outstanding. I will be looking forward to more of Deborah Koren’s works in the future.

“Lava Lovers by” Wilson “Pete” Marsh

Doctor’s Toby and Sarah Nightwalkers are geologist’s enjoying a working vacation in the Mediterranean Sea. They hire an old salt of a sailor named Agenor, to take them to the Santorini Caldera, site of a series of volcanic eruptions dating all the way back to 1600 BC. The two young doctors have a shared passion for old myths and legends, which is the reason they sought Agenor services.

Against Agenor’s better judgment, the geologist convince him to let them camp out on Akroteri, site of the ancient city that was buried in the 1600 BC eruption. On the slab they camp on, the young couple discover identical hand print’s (left hand human, right a three-fingered claw) as one they saw in the Petroglyphs of New Mexico. The prints remind Toby of an old silly myth his grandfather used to tell. Under his brides prodding, they recite the words that bring about Sha’Daa.

“Lava Lovers” starts out as nothing more than a married couple have a semi-interesting conversation. It isn’t until Agenor comes on the scene when the story starts to get entertaining. At one point, a good page is set aside for a geological lecture. Interesting if you’re watching the Discovery Channel. Not so much if you’re reading an anthology about the coming apocalypse.

About halfway through the story takes off into high gear. The action is solid and the tension first-class. Mr. Marsh does an excellent job of bringing his characters to life. They are likeable and funny. The humor is slight but his timing is perfect. The Salesman makes a brief cameo appearance. Marsh seems to have an excellent grasp of his character. For such a short roll he has a major impact in the plot.

“Lava Lovers” is a bit slow off the starting line but recovers and finishes strong. I liked this story a lot.

“The Way of the Warrior” by Arthur Sanchez

Shinzo is a monk in the Temple of Eternal Light, and like the rest of the monks, seeks to be a warrior. As a monk, most of his battles are against grime and his weapon is a mop. In his spare time, Shinzo is the warrior he seeks to be in the world of video games.

The monks are the first defense against the demons that seek to destroy Earth. They train for the day of the challenge. Two grand champions, one demon, the other a member of the monastery, battle for the fate of Earth. The time is unknown, but is decided when all the blossoms on the cherry trees in the garden fall.

The rest of the monks are away with only the Grand Master to watch the Cherry trees and Shinzo left to polish the floors. The Salesman appears with a mop and cleaner that magically cleans the floor for him, for a price to good to pass up. The cleaner works wonders, a little too well when an unsuspecting Master slips on the floor. Leaving Shinzo’s alone as the blossoms start to fall.

“The Way of the Warrior” is a jewel of a story. It is quite simply, hilarious. The demon champion left me in stitches. This Salesman is probably the craftiest in the anthology. Shinzo is the least likeliest champion that fate could provide. He uses his wits, and love of the video game, to combat an impossibly formidable opponent.

As someone that attempts to make others laugh, my hat goes off to Mr. Sanchez. Bravo.

“Breaking Even” by Jamie Schmidt

Kenneth is a gambler with a psychic gift that gives him an edge. Banned from most of the casinos in the universe, he returns to Las Vegas to see if he can weasel his way back into some action. The glitzy Nevada City is filled with demons who are quite aware of Kenneth’s gift. He is escorted to the airport where he runs into the Salesman. Johnny offers Kenneth a stake in the biggest game ever.

Imagine Maverick with aliens and demons. Throw in a daughter Kenneth never knew he had and you got the basic story line of Breaking Even. The story has plenty of one-liners, almost all of them corny. Such as this one when a demon eats a Chihuahua … “I love Mexican.”

I found Kenneth unlikable, the villain predictable, and the cast of characters unremarkable. I think the story would have been better served without the sitcom-level humor. I did find the ending delightfully poetic. Nevertheless, “Breaking Even” came off as unexceptional.

“Dixie Chrononauts” by D. R. MacMaster

Harvey Cormac is a US Marine, home from Iraq and spending time in a Confederate civil war re-enactment company headed to Gettysburg. While traveling on a back-road/shortcut in a bus with the company, which is followed by a professor eager to stop madman from starting the Sha’Daa, and a Homeland Security agent transporting a van load of weapons (alone) for the Maryland State Police, they are transported back in time days before the battle. Harvey Wraith, (the villain) has gone back into time as well. The deaths of the battlefield and a suspicious virgin pregnancy are the two pieces needed to bring about the Sha’Daa and the stranded time travelers are the only ones that can stop him.

The story started off fast then slowed to a crawl and dragged from that point on. The first ten pages or so are used to introduce the seven main characters and set up the unlikely scenario that places them all together on a lonely dirt road. The next ten after that are for the characters to get their bearings to figure out what the readers all ready know. The remainder of the story becomes a desperate battle between conveniently well-armed heroes and giant snakes, spiders, and other creepy crawlers.

“Dixie Chrononauts” reads like a knock-off idea on the Lost phenomenon. The heroes come off as stereotypical and the villain is just plain silly, all Harvey Wraith needed was a curled handlebar mustache to complete the picture. The story is littered with characters and the shifting perspectives made it difficult to follow.

The last line to “Dixie Chrononauts” sums up the piece perfectly for me.

“It’s a long story.”

“The Great Nyuk-Nyuk” by Adrienne Ray

Brian Mulcahey is a smart-alec sixth-grade student of St. Bernadette’s Middle School. His tormenting of Sister Farzenweiner and the rest of the staff has brought the attention of the Vatican. They are convinced he is the savior that will make the King of Atrocities laugh, thus saving the world.

The premise to this one is silly. Fortunately, it’s supposed to be. The story is more about a Jesuit priest having doubts about his faith than about a jokester being put on the biggest spot ever. I found Brian likeable but unremarkable. Truthfully, I knew cleverer smart-alec’s growing up.

“The Great Nyuk-Nyuk” is funny but is not in the league of the earlier comedic piece, The Way of the Warrior. I didn’t find it as clever or as smooth. It was nevertheless a fun story.

“Talking Heads” by Nancy Jackson

Professor ‘Ronny’ Johns recruits a group of hand picked students to Easter Island to investigate a rash of strange occurrences. Ronny worries that her grandfather’s old stories of the coming Sha’Daa are true. With the help of a gifted blind student, she hopes to uncover the mystery of the Monoliths.

Talking Heads follows an all too familiar blueprint. Set a group of people at the right place in the last possible moment to foil a carefully laid 10,000 year-old evil plan. Professor Ronny drags what she hopes will be the saviors of the world to Easter Island, but withholds the information so no one will get panicked. Her students fit the blueprint perfectly. Two hunky competing boys after the same girl, a blind girl that has a gifted psychic-like vision, throw in a student that doesn’t believe anything, one that believes all is lost, and one more that wants to cut and run, and you have your world saving bunch.

I did like the impending doom implications. Plants swallowing the islanders to turn them into zombies while the gods to wreck havoc, one island at a time, does sound cool. The Salesman plays a prominent role, however I found him to be stiff compared to others. To loosen things up, Ms. Jackson does try her hand a funny line or two.

“…I handpicked each of you because you were smart and talented. Martin, I think I invited you for comic relief.”

Despite my narrow interpretation, “Talking Heads” isn’t a bad story. The plot is sound but slow developing. Not close to my favorite but still worthy of the anthology.

“The Seventh Continent” by Lee Ann Kuruganti

The scientist, researches, and workers living at McMurdo Base in Antarctica are celebrating their Mid-winter greetings celebration. A nearby volcano erupts releasing green-bubble monsters sent by the Sha’Daa dark lords. The bubbles are deadly and can’t be stopped. Or can they?

The first eight pages of “The Seventh Continent” is nothing but innate conversations by twenty-something Real World wannabes. I began to wonder if all the western governments decided to populate Antarctica with nothing but skateboarders and rappers (plan does have merit). Once you got through the chatter the story got better. But just as the Real World can be (show, not life) the characters come off as selfish. I couldn’t find one thing to like about any of them. What I did like were the monsters. For green bubbles they were pretty slick. No two humans died the same way inside their transparent skins. Even for the Antarctic they were cool.

So I did find something to root for in Ms Kuruganti’s story. Unfortunately, it was for the wrong side.

“Prana” by Michael Hanson

Prana is the second most powerful being in creation. The coming Sha’ Daa brings it to a small world filled with insignificant creatures called humans. Prana feeds off the energy of the invading demons. To maximize his absorbing potential, Prana divides into 1000 sub-Prana. The plan is to reassemble after the end of the Sha’ Daa, more powerful than before. But the longer the sub-Prana’s remain apart, the more they resist the call to return as one. And one, Prana-777, has taken a keen interest in humans.

Prana is more of a loose bunch of small stories within a larger one. Once divided, many of the smaller parts begin to develop their own sense of identity. The longer apart, the more advanced their individuality becomes. There is a thin moral here, being part of something greater than yourself is not always great. This story comes off much like how his interludes do, excellent tales in small doses, but as one connect piece, “Prana” felt disjointed. Part of the reason why is because the ending fizzled and I wanted something more.

“The Salesman” by Rob Adams

Johnny has masqueraded as a human for ten millennia. His sentence for interfering in the Sha’Daa has come full circle. The new Sha’Daa approaches and he is doing all he can so the brave, unsuspecting people of Earth will have a chance. The golden-tooth salesman then comes across a new player to the game. Prana is here to make sure Johnny doesn’t interfere with the Sha’Daa, something that Johnny has been destined to do.

Rob Adams was given the task to tie all the separate stories together. He does that and provides a background for dear old Johnny. We learn who and what Johnny is and why he has lived on Earth for so long. A good portion of the tale shows what happened before he became the Salesman.

“The Salesman” is a nice bow for a smartly wrapped present. Mr. Adams did very well taking a single character based of several different authors ideas of what he was. Johnny wasn’t quite the crafty, sharp-witted door-to-door salesman Arthur Sanchez created, or the wise angel-like being in “The Dive,” but he was a very rich character that I found fitting to anchor such a rich anthology. Mr. Hanson chose well picking his anchorman for his project.

Prologue, interludes, and epilogue by Michael Hanson

These are the little intermissions set between each chapter. Two things made them different from the rest of the stories. A) They’re short and B) They don’t involve Johnny the Salesman.

The prologue and epilogue are the snug fitting bookends that they should be. The interludes are complete standouts, and not the bridges between chapters I thought they were at first. The longest is nine-pages. Most fall into a one to two page length. I found the majority of them to be sharp and a few of them outstanding. Some of the less-than-a-thousand word stories had richer plots than a couple of the ten thousand word plus chapters.

I particularly liked “Jump,” “Invasion Force,” and “The Friendly Skies.” My favorite was “Brave Man.” I found most of the interludes delightful.

It can’t be easy to grasp someone else’s idea, with a narrowly defined character, and write a story based that fits what the creator envisioned. Mr. Hanson’s brain-child was no ordinary guideline to follow. What he asked for was the equivalent of J. R. R. Tolken approaching a group of writers help him create Lord of the Rings to his specifications and satisfaction. The concept of the Sha’Daa and Johnny the Salesman are exciting ones. Finding eleven writers to help fill up a novel based on Mr. Hanson’s idea couldn’t have been easy.

As a reader of many anthologies, I have yet to find one where I liked every story when they are written by so many different authors. Sha’Daa does not break that streak. More than a few of the plots felt forced to me. The quality of writing is not consistent through the entire novel. Almost all were satisfactory, though. I did find more than few to be outstanding.

“Tunguska Outpact” and “Lava Lovers” were exceptional. Couple those with Michael Hanson’s many interludes and the fitting final act, “The Salesman,” and you have a great book. I found their stories to be well worth the price of admission. However, I liked Arthur Sanchez’s “The Way of the Warrior” so much I would recommend the Sha’Daa based on his story alone.

So, if like reading about the end of the world, the Sha’Daa: Tales of the Apocalypse is the book for you. I recommend you buy yourself a copy here. You won’t be disappointed.

Enjoy,

Frank Dutkiewicz
Atomjack Magazine