I recognize that this a first novel (it's the first novel I've ever read by Masterton actually). I recognize that there are minor slip ups about American culture by a British writer (just little turns of phrase that don't ring true - can't even think of one now they were so few - the constant usage of 'Red Indians' for one), and some major generalizations about Native American culture. I recognize that (SPOILER) it's a bit ridiculous and maybe a little racist that the white spirit of a police computer system can trump the most powerful, evillest Native American god there is (END SPOILER),but dangit if this doesn't read like something Masterton really enjoyed writing. And dangit if I didn't enjoy reading the thing too for all it's faults. I giggled a bit at some of the more eye rolling moments (the aforementioned, and how, as other readers have pointed out, police detectives and doctors tended to shrug and go along with all the extreme weirdness despite their affirmed rationality). But believe me, when Misquamacus throws down, there are some very interesting, entertaining moments in this book. The 'birth' (or 'rebirth') scene is particularly gross and well done. I'll hunt down the rest of the series eventually. I'm a Misquamacus fan from wayy back.
Extremely cheesy, dated, ridiculous, over the top and enjoyable debut novel by prolific Scotsman Masterton. I enjoyed the first half more than the second. The enthusiasm Masterton embues his characters with is infectious and makes for a fun read in the first half. The never ending battle that comprises the second half of the novel is set strictly at a quarter past Velveeta on the cheese scale and I felt my enthusiasm waning, although I was still chuckling at the ridiculousness of the goings on. The climax is so gloriously dated and cheesy. I enjoyed it while shaking my head, I'll put it that way. I wouldn't be surprised if this novel influenced Dan Akroyd when he wrote the original script for "Ghostbusters". There's alot of similarities, actually between this novel and "Ghostbusters", what with crazy ancient spirits raising hell in modern day New York, wry protagonists and authority figures who don't know what to do about it. I will definitely be reading more Masterton, but I will definitely have to be in a certain mood to read him.
What do You think about The Manitou (2000)?
I don't understand the 3.5 average rating for this book. I thought it was terrible. I enjoyed the characterization but found the plot so preposterous that I barely finished it. It started out promising but just went off the rails about 2/3 the way through it. And although I realize it's dated, and am not an advocate of updating any book to modernize, the constant references to "Red Indians" was a bit much. I will read more Graham Masterton -- I will not, however, read any more books in the Manitou series.
—Tammy
What to say? This book was a bit of a disappointment. It started out fairly good, but then went completely ridiculous. I can understand that the movie is prob far more comical than intended. The characters were dry and I didn't care about them. The book went into detail about Indian legend and what this manitou could do, what it could summon, how to defeat it, etc. Just boring. I realize that this is a first novel, so I'm willing to try this author again. I do not recommend starting with this bo
—Addy
A ver, la novela desde un punto de vista literario es mala, esto es así, pero como relato de terror fantástico es un delirio por el que es difícil no sentir simpatía, con sus hechiceros sioux resucitados, el manitú de la tecnología y reputados cirujanos que se entregan felices a la versión de un charlatán que se gana la vida con el tarot. Por otro lado, Manitú tuvo una adaptación fílmica tan loca y delirante como la novela que aquí se estrenó como "Regreso desde la quinta dimensión" y escribí sobre ella aquí http://absencito.blogspot.com.es/2005...
—Daniel Ausente
