The story itself provides an effective introduction into the less pleseant parts of LA life as seen through the revenge-tinted eyes of the protagonist. While most would just give up after being sent to hell, Stark spends the next 11 years as a hitman. The author does a great job of bringing him to life and also making him eminently likeable. Stark is the perfect antihero, a man of power and determination but also one with some powerful enemies. It's dry and irreverent and when combined with the quality of the writing creates a disarming and engaging novel. As you might expect it's a dark and twisted story, unexpected though is the wonderfully rich and disarming humour.

Having the protagonist start the story by escaping the depths of hell helps to set the story apart from other urban fantasies. Now he's after revenge against those who sent him to the fiery realms but quickly realises that revenge can take a lot more time and effort that you'd realise. He's one of the only people on the planet who has been to Hell and back without actually dying and has picked up quite a few tricks while down there. Sandman Slim - real name James Stark - has just spent the lat eleven years in Hell only to arrive in modern day Los Angeles. I only discovered him myself by seeing other authors discussing how wonderful his work is. We can only serve the continental US, Alaska, and Hawaii.I'd like to start this review by saying that Richard Kadrey doesn't get the visibility he deserves, not by a long shot. But in Devil Said Bang, he finally assumes the role he was destined for: as the new Lucifer, ruler of the Underworld.Ĭombining outrageously edgy humor with a dark and truly twisted vision, Richard Kadrey has once again delivered a masterful amalgam of action novel, urban fantasy, and in-your-face horror that will delight a wide range of readers from Christopher Moore and Warren Ellis fans to the devoted adherents of Jim Butcher, Charlaine Harris, Kim Harrison, and Simon Green.

In his previous three adventures Sandman Slim, Kill the Dead, and Aloha from Hell Stark has fled Hell for California, taken on angels, demons, outlaw bikers, zombies, covert government operatives, and all manner of monsters, while saving humankind from total annihilation on numerous occasions.

Richard Kadrey s Sandman Slim aka James Stark is, quite simply, one of the most outrageous uber-anti-heroes ever to kick serious butt on this or any other world or dimension.

Sandman slim series books