Graham Masterton: The Devils of D-Day

[vaughan]

Sphere - Reprinted 1981 - 180 Pages

Well, this book has had cover designs much better than the one shown above - but that's the one I have, so I went with it.

You can see the other (better) covers here:

dontbetonit.tripod.com/devils_of_dday.html

Anyway, on to the book!

I had fun with this one, I must admit. Although I'll stop short of calling it a "classic".

Unlike my previous Masterton read (Prey) the story in this one is parred down, and to the point. During the Second World War the Americans had used thirteen demons, housed in 13 black tanks, to help win a key battle. After the battle was won the demons were collected up.... all except one that was left behind.....

When reading these novels there are plenty of times when suspending your disbelief is required, although in this one I found I had to do it more than most. Which is the basic flaw in the work. I found it started off with grand designs, and some mighty freaky occurrences, but the longer it went on, the more things dwindled. There is a grand climax, but even that felt somewhat rushed.

The book works better in the opening half, among the snow covered fields in France, where mystery gives way to fear. By the time soldiers are giving up state secrets simply because they're asked, it felt as though Masterton simply wanted to find the fastest way to move the plot along.

Oh well, maybe I'm nitpicking, because in the end it was quite a fun read. I'd say this was a 6 or 7 out of 10. Not bad. It's just that the path from A to z was a tad spartan at times.....

Decent.

[doomovertheworld]

I finished this one yesterday. I would count myself as a fan of Graham Masterton particularly his early occult thrillers. Reading the synopsis it sounds like an awesome read (one of my favorite James Herbert novel is The Spear (1978).

However, like Vaughan says, it starts good, but goes gradually down hill. The ending, while fun, is definitely smacks of dues ex machine. Six out of ten is probably a fair assessment. Next time I am in the mood for Graham Masterton I am much more likely to go for either Charnel House or The Manitou

[dem bones]

Graham Masterton is still one of my blind spots. Have liked what little I've read (Flesh & Blood, Black Angel, Wells Of Hell and several shorts) but, like Dean R. Koontz, his novels look fairly meaty and his output is so prodigious as to scare me off. What's a good one to start on?

[ohthehorror]

Yes, I'll second that question. I've only ever read The Manitou, a long, long time ago but don't remember a thing about it. He's someone I see in the charity shops from time to time, unlike Richard Laymon who never seems to appear in any I end up in.

[doomovertheworld]

Personally, I would start with his earlier stuff i.e. The Manitou or The Sphinx. These tend to be fairly short (normally sub 200 pages) and wonderfully pulpy. They do however require you to suspend your disbelief and are somewhat dated. By the mid 80s he changed style to longer books and those I have tried, Feast and Night Warriors, I have liked less. I would try either The Manitou or alternatively Charnel House. Given the choice I would much prefer to read Graham Masteron to Dean Koontz.

Will Errickson of the brilliant blog Too Much Horror Fiction extols the wonders of The Manitou far better than I could possibly here.

[andydecker]

I used to be a big fan of Masterton. But I always thought that his novels begin very strong and have weak endings. In the 90s I stopped buying him. I didn't care for the juveniles or for his series. I like his early novels most, but can't stand The Manitou. So I never bothered with the sequels. I like Devil's of D-Day, The Pariah (until it badly falls apart imho), Black Angel, Familiy Portrait and Mirror. Mirror with its Hollywood theme – the hero is a writer churning out scripts for the A-Team – is a nice one. Back then I (again) didn't like the last third, but I guess I would like it better today.

I was tempted by some of his more recent books like Forest Ghosts or Ghost Music. Others I have zero interest in. He publishes up to 3 novels a year, which is a bit much.

[dem bones]

Thank you for the recommendations.

Just had a browse through the great unreads and turned up copies of Family Portrait, Prey, Tengu, Spirit, Burial, The Hymn and Night Plague, mostly later works by the look of it. Can honestly say I don't remember picking any of them up, but, on Andy's recommendation, have set aside Family Portrait for a future read, and added Charnel House, Mirror, Mirror - sounds my thing - and Manitou to wants list.

Three novels a year? Bloody Hell, hope I don't like him too much.