"Monster Hunter International" - Larry Correia

[p.falk]

Alittle change of pace from what I typically read.

My son goes to a Catholic grade/middle school. I do like the school, but the reading selections are almost exclusively from some marginalized group: it can never be a book about an important war that was fought by the US - but has to focus on the efforts of some little-known Indian tribe or the efforts of young Mexican gals. Or the book is about a girl overcoming a society that, in the author's fevered imagination, constantly says "no, girl, no".

So my 12 year old son comes home with little to no desire to read through some of these. I tell him, "sometimes we read for enjoyment, sometimes because we have to."

But I sympathize with him.

I had heard of Larry Correia years back when some drama was going down with the Hugo awards. His Monster Hunter book series has a both a decent amount of reviews as well as decent reviews.

The first in the series of 8 books, Monster Hunter International, is over 700 pages and my son finished it in a week.

He wanted the next in the series and I thought that I probably should know this book a bit more before I sign off on all 8.


It's not a bad read. There are some mature-boy topics (the lead character's attraction to a female monster hunter), but it's not done in any scandalous or lusty way. His affections towards her are expressed in ways as noble as anything I have read dealing with similar topics. No ogling, no lewd comments. Not being a lapdog either. But a good role model for healthy intrigue towards the opposite sex.

When it comes to battling monsters - there is much self-sacrifice for one's brother and sister in arms. And though these monster hunters have seen things that most wouldn't want to, they are not cynical. There might be one in the batch, but most do this job for a higher purpose.

Lots of obscure gun talk. Guns and techniques with guns that require a regular internet search for reference points.... gets a bit laborious.

The protagonist at times borders on the aura of the untouchable/unhurtable Steven Segal (which I loathe) ... but many times gets brought back down to earth in very humbling ways. Thankfully this happens, because early on it felt like he was going to be some completely unconquerable fellow which would have had me tossing the book aside.

[peregrinator]

I read the first one and thought it was fun. Not sure I'd read it again

[p.falk]

I read the first one and thought it was fun. Not sure I'd read it again

You and me both.

Enjoyable. But a one and done. I'm glad you made this comment, it's prompting another thread idea.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

The Hugos are garbage anymore.

[Highlander]

If only. Maybe three steps below garbage.

We have a strong SFF community locally. A significant annual Con. Authors. Big club. Book groups. Movies. I used to participate, but stopped when the structured community went full woke. LGBT plus whatever additional characters have been added. Progressive politics. Mask wearing encouraged at all activities. When our Con was trumpeted at the first all female (artists, speakers, panels, GOH) Con celebrating whatever only women can celebrate, I quit going. Fantasy, of a certain nature, dominated the community and SF was eased to the side. I quit attending the SFF book group when a triumvirate of harpies turned it from an easygoing, enjoyable monthly discussion to a hostile contest about the usual woke issues. Naturally, the Hugos became a litmus test ... one had to be on the right side of literature.

I just read on my own now and watch SF on the tube.

[Riverboat]

"[T]he reading selections are almost exclusively from some marginalized group: it can never be a book about an important war that was fought by the US - but has to focus on the efforts of some little-known Indian tribe or the efforts of young Mexican gals. . .

When it comes to battling monsters - there is much self-sacrifice for one's brother and sister in arms.

I understand entirely what you're talking about.

My grandchildren can thank me later for reading books with some heft. For now, it's simple things like Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Eventually, they'll grow up and I'll read some more "dangerous" books like Hans Christian Anderson and the Brothers Grimm. At home, they're surrounded by the dreary crap that has to inculcate positive messages and - worse - indoctrinate them. So help me, one of the books lying around is Jacob's New Dress. It makes me sick at heart to see this in the collection.

I'm reminded of something CS Lewis wrote that suits this context:

Since it is so likely that [children] will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.

[p.falk]

Thank you for that quote, Riverboat.

I'm going to use that one going forward.