Pre-Order MAN WITH NO NAME here (Out on March 18)
(also reviewed)
Order X'S FOR EYES here - Read the Review
Readers are polytheistic creatures, carefree heathens who like to pray to the altar of as many gods as they see convenient. Genres and authors complement each other in an endless combination of alternate universes. This blog's first mission was to review hardboiled/noir fiction, but I've found that cosmic horror is an enlightening complement for a reason I can't quite define yet and perhaps no other book expresses that unlikely symbiosis better than Laird Barron's new novella Man With No Name, introducing a new recurring character named Nanashi. It is a bleak piece of gun-toting existentialism that satisfied the shit out of my heathen desires.
Nanashi is an enforcer for the Heron Clan, a Yakuza crime family. When tasked to kidnap a famous pro wrestler affiliated with a rival syndicate, it seems to be a mission like any other. Nanashi doesn't mesh very well with his fellow gang members, but he profoundly respect the warrior spirit of Muzaki, the man he is tasked to kidnap. The men immediately form a bond because Muzaki can see Nanashi for who he truly is, something Nanashi himself is not sure of. If the wrestler remains so calm in front of his impending death, it's because he has an out that nobody could suspect and he's taking Nanashi with him.
The first thing you need to know about Man With No Name is that it is gorgeously crafted. Both in style and structure. Stories about gangland kidnappings are a dime a dozen, but none are told quite like this. It notably shines through its patience, subtlety and a handful of bold decisions. See, dreams are a tired and cliché variables in horror ficiton. Only a seasoned author like Laird Barron could use it in order to enhance its setting and create a sense of the supernatural. The setting of Man With No Name is so vivid, it could almost without any characters in it and part of it is because it lives through many layers of reality.
Another fascinating aspect of Man With No Name are the characters: they're not driving the story, but rather are elements of fate. It's another bold and unlikely storytelling decision by Laird Barron that ends up working admirably well. The twins for example are cliché in their nature, but in the context of Man With No Name, they are instruments of a greater force used to bring Nanashi and Muzaki together. No detail is left unexplained, everything is connected together and happens for a reason. Man With No Name is short (about eighty-something pages) but it's almost as fulfilling as a novel because it is packed with subtle details that encourage micro-reading.
There is a bonus short story at the end of Man With No Name, titled Blood and Stardust. It was more of a traditional cosmic horror piece, which was enjoyable but merely the cherry on the sundae. Man With No Name is extremely bold, original and a great argument why noir and cosmic horror should go together more often, at least whenever they're in able hands. It's coming out on March 18th, so pre-order your copy now and get acquainted with the talented Mr. Barron if you weren't already. And pray to the altar of cosmic horror if you weren't already, because it's a pretty darn fun altar to pray to if you're into hardboiled/noir already. I give you my word as a heathen.
Another fascinating aspect of Man With No Name are the characters: they're not driving the story, but rather are elements of fate. It's another bold and unlikely storytelling decision by Laird Barron that ends up working admirably well. The twins for example are cliché in their nature, but in the context of Man With No Name, they are instruments of a greater force used to bring Nanashi and Muzaki together. No detail is left unexplained, everything is connected together and happens for a reason. Man With No Name is short (about eighty-something pages) but it's almost as fulfilling as a novel because it is packed with subtle details that encourage micro-reading.
There is a bonus short story at the end of Man With No Name, titled Blood and Stardust. It was more of a traditional cosmic horror piece, which was enjoyable but merely the cherry on the sundae. Man With No Name is extremely bold, original and a great argument why noir and cosmic horror should go together more often, at least whenever they're in able hands. It's coming out on March 18th, so pre-order your copy now and get acquainted with the talented Mr. Barron if you weren't already. And pray to the altar of cosmic horror if you weren't already, because it's a pretty darn fun altar to pray to if you're into hardboiled/noir already. I give you my word as a heathen.
