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abbyholton's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
hamccollom's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first book from Robert McCammon that I read. This isn't generally my genre, but I found his writing style easy to follow. He paints a wonderful picture of imagery through his narration. I found myself often thinking about the characters in this book and what they were going through.
Swan song is a post apocalyptic story after a nuclear fallout. There is still evil, but there is good. Much good. This story follows a young girl and her ability to bring about the good in those around her.
Swan song is a post apocalyptic story after a nuclear fallout. There is still evil, but there is good. Much good. This story follows a young girl and her ability to bring about the good in those around her.
a_leo_reading's review against another edition
5.0
Book reading dates:
October 16, 2021 - October 29, 2021
"...take it one step at a time. One step and then the next gets you where you’re going."
-Robert McCammon, "Swan Song".
Swan Song by Robert McCammon is a terrifying, epic, and entertaining take on the nuclear apocalypse genre. Exploring the world before, during, and after the nuclear warfare. Swan Song is a strange mic of Fallout and Mad Max with a dash of fantasy, Swan Song delivers a terrifying and exhilarating experience.
At the face of a overwhelming nuclear threat, the USA rashly retaliates by sending their own bombs which begins World War III, causing the world to perish. The limited Survivors are picked up by a otherworldly being to whose one goal is to recreate the world in their image. Their enemy is a young child named Swan who was born with the ability to bring plants to life, Sister Creep who discovers a transformative glass figure, and Jason who has been charged to protect Swan at all costs.
Swan Song is the classic tale of good vs evil. The novel is compared to The Stand, and as someone who read The Stand within the same year as Swan Song, Swan Song is the better novel.
Swan Song is heavily character driven and the said characters are fantastic. From the most evil to the kind of heart, each character gave me so many feelings.
Robert McCammon's characters are vivid and realistic, his faint magic system feels natural, and the effects of nuclear Fallout I'd terrifying.
If you love horror, science fiction mixed with fantasy, and post apocalyptic world then this novel is perfect for you.
October 16, 2021 - October 29, 2021
"...take it one step at a time. One step and then the next gets you where you’re going."
-Robert McCammon, "Swan Song".
Swan Song by Robert McCammon is a terrifying, epic, and entertaining take on the nuclear apocalypse genre. Exploring the world before, during, and after the nuclear warfare. Swan Song is a strange mic of Fallout and Mad Max with a dash of fantasy, Swan Song delivers a terrifying and exhilarating experience.
At the face of a overwhelming nuclear threat, the USA rashly retaliates by sending their own bombs which begins World War III, causing the world to perish. The limited Survivors are picked up by a otherworldly being to whose one goal is to recreate the world in their image. Their enemy is a young child named Swan who was born with the ability to bring plants to life, Sister Creep who discovers a transformative glass figure, and Jason who has been charged to protect Swan at all costs.
Swan Song is the classic tale of good vs evil. The novel is compared to The Stand, and as someone who read The Stand within the same year as Swan Song, Swan Song is the better novel.
Swan Song is heavily character driven and the said characters are fantastic. From the most evil to the kind of heart, each character gave me so many feelings.
Robert McCammon's characters are vivid and realistic, his faint magic system feels natural, and the effects of nuclear Fallout I'd terrifying.
If you love horror, science fiction mixed with fantasy, and post apocalyptic world then this novel is perfect for you.
carrotts's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
carsen's review
No compelling at the start. Nothing that dinguishes from the normal.
badseedgirl's review
4.0
“Mutually Assured Destruction”,” Duck and Cover”, “Starwars Weapon Systems”, “The Day After”, “Amazing Grace and Chuck”, “Threads”, “The Iron Curtain”, “The Red Menace”. If you, like me, grew up with these terms floating around your childhood than the premise of Swan Song by Robert McCammon will resonate with you. I wish I had read Swan Song when it came out in 1987, because in reading it today the premise itself seems dated. The novel starts with the start, and end of a nuclear war between the then super powers of the United Sates and then U.S.S.R. Both countries release their entire nuclear arsenal in one grad display. After the smoke clears, agents of “good” and “evil” are drawn together under the banner of a young girl named Swan, with the power to make plants grow, and an evil daemon/man called “Friend” who is able to change faces. There are battles and a drawing together of all the main characters for good and evil where evil is defeated by goodness and sacrifice.
Now let us discuss the elephant in the room, it is almost impossible to discuss this novel without at least mentioning Stephen King’s The Stand. And for valid reasons. Both are about the destruction of most of the population of the world. They both include a drawing and gathering of the remaining survivors, especially the key players. Evil is personified in both novels by a nameless, faceless man who appears to both the good and the evil in visions. To overcome evil in the end, good people are required to sacrifice themselves. And in the end the reader, if not the characters know that evil is not gone; only beat back for the moment. So all that being said, why would someone want to read Swan Song, if they have already read The Stand?
Two words, Character development. Because the characters in Swan Song awake to a world completely destroyed, their struggles for survival are both touching and heartbreaking. It made me feel a connection to the characters that I frankly never felt in The Stand. When Swan makes the apple tree, the only apple tree left in the farmers orchard, start to blossom in the middle of the nuclear winter, I felt that farmers hope in my own heart. I rejoiced with the people of Mary’s Rest when they found the fresh well, and could almost taste to pure clean water that brought with it memories of happier, better times.
So I guess in the end I would say that as a novel, The Stand may “stand” the test of time better, but for character development, characters that I actually cared about, I would say, Swan Song by Robert McCammon wins hands down.
4 of 5 stars
Now let us discuss the elephant in the room, it is almost impossible to discuss this novel without at least mentioning Stephen King’s The Stand. And for valid reasons. Both are about the destruction of most of the population of the world. They both include a drawing and gathering of the remaining survivors, especially the key players. Evil is personified in both novels by a nameless, faceless man who appears to both the good and the evil in visions. To overcome evil in the end, good people are required to sacrifice themselves. And in the end the reader, if not the characters know that evil is not gone; only beat back for the moment. So all that being said, why would someone want to read Swan Song, if they have already read The Stand?
Two words, Character development. Because the characters in Swan Song awake to a world completely destroyed, their struggles for survival are both touching and heartbreaking. It made me feel a connection to the characters that I frankly never felt in The Stand. When Swan makes the apple tree, the only apple tree left in the farmers orchard, start to blossom in the middle of the nuclear winter, I felt that farmers hope in my own heart. I rejoiced with the people of Mary’s Rest when they found the fresh well, and could almost taste to pure clean water that brought with it memories of happier, better times.
So I guess in the end I would say that as a novel, The Stand may “stand” the test of time better, but for character development, characters that I actually cared about, I would say, Swan Song by Robert McCammon wins hands down.
4 of 5 stars
walien2002's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sfrench67's review against another edition
3.0
Audiobook
3.5 Stars
It's long and I found myself going to other books to break it up. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, if you can enjoy a book as dark as this. Great characters, well written and narrated.
3.5 Stars
It's long and I found myself going to other books to break it up. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, if you can enjoy a book as dark as this. Great characters, well written and narrated.