Hollywood Dead: A Sandman Slim Novel

James Stark, aka the notorious Sandman Slim, is back from hell once again, but he’s living on borrowed time. The sinister organization Wormwood has resurrected him for a few days in order to save them from a splinter group bent on their destruction, and they’ve promised to make Stark’s return permanent if he does their dirty work. But even with the resources of Wormwood behind him, Stark might be out of his league. And if he fails, he’s done for good.

More melancholy and tense than any of the previous books, there’s a wonderful sense of dread and finality to Hollywood Dead. And yet the book is still riotously funny and entertaining. The Wormwood civil war is intriguing, and the ever-expanding cast of characters is as fruitful, savage, and full of surprises as ever. Plus, there is no better James Stark than eleventh hour back-against-the-wall James Stark, and Kadrey delivers the goods in spades.

The ending is unexpected in all the best ways and proves that Kadrey is capable of deep pathos and character reflection that marries brilliantly with his stunningly funny one-liners.

Hollywood Dead is the best Sandman Slim novel since the first one.