#635 in our old book database. Not rated.

F/SF

Straub is a writer that simply cannot be underestimated. His work puts him high above his peers. (King, Koontz, Saul) in my mind are all buried at the bottom of the hill by his work. The only writers in the genre that I feel can even come close are Barker, and Simmons. KOKO is a break away story. A story that defies the genre but embraces Horror, Mystery, and Suspense.
KOKO is one hefty and intelligent volume. The story of a group of Vietnam vets who have much more in common than any of them wish. Trauma from the war, alcohol, drugs, depression and the microscope that the post-Vietnam decades place on that era’s veterans is prevalent in this story. Throw in a global serial killer and you have something very unique. Straub is brilliant in his handling of the frayed ends of sanity each one of these men have. His story building is leagues above some of his peers who seem to have made of a career of being mostly formulaic in their writing. KOKO will put you to the test, it will make you wonder and re wonder exactly what it is you are hoping discover in the minds of the men at its center. And when it is all over(which it won’t be) Straub continues to tug on your senses and makes you ask yourself (Long after closing the book), how was it possible for someone weave such a story and where do I go from here. The answer is easy…. Read another Straub Book. ( )

I decided to read this when I was part way through 'The Throat', because I realised this was the first novel in the Blue Rose sequence. This is a dark brooding study of how the Vietnam war still affects the lives of four veterans from the same patrol who shared a particular experience while there. It becomes a thriller when it transpires that another member of their unit is a serial killer - they go to the Far East to try to track him down and bring him to justice (although the unlikeable ex-lieutenant is mainly interested in the book deal and TV opportunities he anticipates) but it gradually becomes clear that the murderer also intends to target them and us constantly one step ahead.

The book is well written but to a British reader doesn't have the resonance it undoubtedly has for Americans of that generation. The experiences described are harrowing and make it clear how dreadful the war and wars in general are. My main problem is that I worked out who the culprit really was ages before the characters, which had the effect of making them rather clueless. It was interested to see a portrayal of Tim Underhill as he is a key character in 'The Throat'. The main female character, Maggie, seemed rather a fantasy character than a real woman and failed to convince.

On balance, I would rate this at a solid three stars, but unlike other books in the Blue Rose sequence have no desire to re-read it in future. ( )

Koko eftir Peter Straub spennuþrungin hryllingssaga. Þar sem segir frá bandarískum fyrrverandi hermönnum úr Víetnam stríðinu sem gera sér grein fyrir að gamall liðsfélagi þeirra hefur gerst fjöldamorðingi. Þessir hermenn eru nú fyrir löngu búnir að snúa sér að öðrum störfum, eru mjög ólíkir og hafa átt ólíku gegni að fagna. Þeir ákveða engu að síður að reyna að finna þennan fyrrum félaga sinn sem virðist vera orðinn geðveikur og skilur eftir vísbendingar á vettvangi sem vísa aftur til Víetnamstríðsins.
Þetta er vel skrifuð saga þar sem Straub byggir hryllinginn og spennuna á sálfræði einstaklinganna sem enn eru í sárum eftir óhugnaðinn í Víetnam. Minningarnar ásækja þá og Straub vefur góða persónusköpun við endurminningar af fjöldamorðum sem hersveitin framdi og markaði hermennina fyrir lífstíð.
Þessi saga kom mörgum aðdáendum Straubs að óvörum þar sem hún innihélt ekkert yfirnáttúrulegt efni sem hann var þó þekktur fyrir fram til þessa en hún sló í gegn og landaði honum World Fantasy Award 1989 fyrir bestu skáldsöguna. ( )