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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
By far my favorite book in the Tinfoil Dossier series! The story was so engaging, and I liked seeing how Kiernan wraps things up. Even though at times in the first two books I barely understood what was happening, in this one I had no trouble. I'm happy I decided to finish this little series after reading book 1 with HOWL Society. I think this is a series I'd consider re-reading one day - there was a lot going on!
The writing started exceptionally strong with this one. Still partially boiled but in a controlled, restrained, and mature way. But as it went along I got bored, which I would have thought impossible with this author. Perhaps it was being the third I’ve read in a short amount of time and the magic wore off. Perhaps it was that the plot was less challenging to follow than Agents of Dreamland, and far less than Black Helicopters, which you’d think would be a plus. Perhaps the myriad references to other works got tiresome, though the echo of munchkins in Oz really tickled me. Perhaps it was the odd and fast “resolution” and its equally fast take-back (yes, we were warned but it was so abrupt). Perhaps it just got too much like a serial with the alien/extradimensional invasion of the week. Perhaps I just couldn’t stop picturing Keanu as the Signalman (which would be way cool), meaning it comes off as overly cinematic.
So, four stars for some of the writing and two for plot and so forth.
In any case, this author is so talented and I will likely read more next time I’m in the mood for weird.
So, four stars for some of the writing and two for plot and so forth.
In any case, this author is so talented and I will likely read more next time I’m in the mood for weird.
My friend who loves Caitlín R. Kiernan says "these are her least good books"!
But I love them, they're like a dark dark dark version of X Files and I can't get enough.
But I love them, they're like a dark dark dark version of X Files and I can't get enough.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
The third installment felt like a return to form . . .
So I really loved part one, felt a bit more "meh" about part two . . . But part 3 felt like a return to form, with the return of th Signalman, this time trying to get an agent who is somehow connected to Frank Belknap Kong's "Hounds of Tindalos" to confront a (Deep One hybrid?) cultist-type with an ancient idol who is dangerously close to being able to raise Cthulhu and drown the world . . . Really well written and beautifully done.
So I really loved part one, felt a bit more "meh" about part two . . . But part 3 felt like a return to form, with the return of th Signalman, this time trying to get an agent who is somehow connected to Frank Belknap Kong's "Hounds of Tindalos" to confront a (Deep One hybrid?) cultist-type with an ancient idol who is dangerously close to being able to raise Cthulhu and drown the world . . . Really well written and beautifully done.
By far the most accessible and linear volume of this series, and the one that screams potential like neither of the other two. Despite a few of the abrupt shifts in tone, time, and perspective, you always maintain some semblance of a grasp on the broader narrative, even if confusion in the moment accurately reflects the the world of eldritch skullduggery.
More from Albany, please?
More from Albany, please?
The Tindalos Asset is an exceptional novella. Kiernan brings together noir and cosmic horror with the trademark Tinfoil Dossier nonlinear storytelling and plumbs the deep sea for strange and evocative imagery that brings this story to life. Of the three installments in the Tinfoil Dossier, The Tindalos Asset leapt to the top spot as my favorite (I love deep sea horror and the imagery in this story was just truly fun, scary, and fantastical).
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0 / 10 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2022/05/22/the-tindalos-asset-by-caitlin-r-kiernan-review/
The Signalman reprises his role from Agents of Dreamland. He’s joined by a fresh-faced partner. Ellison Nicodemo also returns in what just may be her swan song. But I suppose the same could be said of mankind.
A series of paranormal events plagues the Earth, portent of the looming apocalypse. Squid are born to human mothers. Planes fill with water while in flight. Whales are discovered beached thousands of miles inland.
The time has come for this motley team to face the end of the world.
…I think. It’s kinda hard to tell.
—
The Tindalos Asset gets excellent ratings and reviews on Goodreads, but I think I know why. Anyone that made it through Black Helicopters and was excited to continue the series is bound to love the Book #3 more. I mean, even I loved the Tindalos Asset waaay more than the one that came before it. Though that’s not to say it’s any good. I’m the kind of person that made it through Black Helicopters and thought “well, #3 can’t possibly be any worse”—which isn’t really the best reason to continue a series, I know.
The Tindalos Asset is like Fringe meets… whatever Book #2 was about. I’d say it’s a motley start to a new series, but unfortunately it’s the final one. So, as the conclusion to a series, well, it sucks. Bonus points for the Fringe connection though. I know what happened at the end. It just didn’t make any sense why or how.
There’s a romance, kinda. But it doesn’t make any more sense than anything else in this series. I mean, weren’t there aliens at some point? What happened to them? They’re… really not in this installment. There are hints, yes—but nothing concrete; nothing even remotely approaching clear. Of the romance however: no hints. There’s some sex between the Signalman and his partner, but it’s more raw, less romantic. Does little more than peg him as human—something the other entries just left as a open question. As a romance it’s really lacking, but the only thing I felt indicative of the term. That said, this isn’t who the romance is really between (the Signalman and his partner, I mean), so I don’t know what to tell you. I really hope that this isn’t how the author thinks people flirt.
So, do I recommend this? Nope. I mean, it’s better than Black Helicopters, but that’s a really low bar. The ending was an adequate conclusion to the series, but I’ve no idea how we got to that point, and I read the damned things. But again, it’s better than what directly preceded it. There’s a (mostly) coherent plot. It actually connects to events and characters from Agents of Dreamland. There’s actually some character development, which was a complete surprise. Some of it even makes sense. But yeah, there is no lasting sense of completion or achievement. Sad to say, but the best part of this book—no, this entire series—is likely the end. When it ended.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2022/05/22/the-tindalos-asset-by-caitlin-r-kiernan-review/
The Signalman reprises his role from Agents of Dreamland. He’s joined by a fresh-faced partner. Ellison Nicodemo also returns in what just may be her swan song. But I suppose the same could be said of mankind.
A series of paranormal events plagues the Earth, portent of the looming apocalypse. Squid are born to human mothers. Planes fill with water while in flight. Whales are discovered beached thousands of miles inland.
The time has come for this motley team to face the end of the world.
…I think. It’s kinda hard to tell.
—
The Tindalos Asset gets excellent ratings and reviews on Goodreads, but I think I know why. Anyone that made it through Black Helicopters and was excited to continue the series is bound to love the Book #3 more. I mean, even I loved the Tindalos Asset waaay more than the one that came before it. Though that’s not to say it’s any good. I’m the kind of person that made it through Black Helicopters and thought “well, #3 can’t possibly be any worse”—which isn’t really the best reason to continue a series, I know.
The Tindalos Asset is like Fringe meets… whatever Book #2 was about. I’d say it’s a motley start to a new series, but unfortunately it’s the final one. So, as the conclusion to a series, well, it sucks. Bonus points for the Fringe connection though. I know what happened at the end. It just didn’t make any sense why or how.
There’s a romance, kinda. But it doesn’t make any more sense than anything else in this series. I mean, weren’t there aliens at some point? What happened to them? They’re… really not in this installment. There are hints, yes—but nothing concrete; nothing even remotely approaching clear. Of the romance however: no hints. There’s some sex between the Signalman and his partner, but it’s more raw, less romantic. Does little more than peg him as human—something the other entries just left as a open question. As a romance it’s really lacking, but the only thing I felt indicative of the term. That said, this isn’t who the romance is really between (the Signalman and his partner, I mean), so I don’t know what to tell you. I really hope that this isn’t how the author thinks people flirt.
So, do I recommend this? Nope. I mean, it’s better than Black Helicopters, but that’s a really low bar. The ending was an adequate conclusion to the series, but I’ve no idea how we got to that point, and I read the damned things. But again, it’s better than what directly preceded it. There’s a (mostly) coherent plot. It actually connects to events and characters from Agents of Dreamland. There’s actually some character development, which was a complete surprise. Some of it even makes sense. But yeah, there is no lasting sense of completion or achievement. Sad to say, but the best part of this book—no, this entire series—is likely the end. When it ended.