• Home
  • Review Policy
  • Book Reviews
    • Action
    • Fantasy
    • Mystery
    • Non-Fiction
    • Paranormal
    • Romance
    • Science Fiction
    • Young Adult

Silk & Serif

A Book Blog

Review: Emergence: Dave vs. the Monsters

May 19, 2015 · Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.
Review: Emergence: Dave vs. the MonstersEmergence: Dave vs. the Monsters by John Birmingham
Published by Random House Publishing Group on April 28th 2015
Genres: Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction, General, Urban
Pages: 512
Format: eBook
Source: NetGalley
Buy on Amazon, B&N
Goodreads

For fans of Jim Butcher and Kevin Hearne comes an action-packed new urban fantasy series featuring a tough, bleakly funny, down-on-his luck oil rig worker with an unlikely destiny as a monster-slayer and savior of the planet.   “Monsters,” said Vince Martinelli. “There are monsters on the rig, Dave.”  Dave Hooper has a hangover from hell, a horrible ex-wife, and the fangs of the IRS deep in his side. The last thing he needs is an explosion at work. A real explosion. On his off-shore oil rig.   But this is no accident, and despite the news reports, Dave knows that terrorists aren’t to blame. He knows because he killed one of the things responsible.   When he wakes up in a hospital bed guarded by Navy SEALs, he realizes this is more than just a bad acid trip. Yeah, Dave’s had a few. This trip is way weirder.   Killing a seven-foot-tall, tattooed demon has transformed the overweight, balding safety manager into something else entirely. A foul-mouthed, beer-loving monster slayer, and humanity’s least worthy Champion.From the Paperback edition.

Dave is your average, middle aged, balding, hard working man. He loves hookers, his booze and his blow. Okay, maybe he isn’t average. He has his issues, but he’s not a bad guy. Really. He’s just had some down luck the last few years, but he’s going to fix it once he gets his next big paycheck. The IRS? He’ll pay them back! The child support payment? It’s coming along! Just a few more days!

Even his coworkers adore him:

Dave, as she never tired of pointing out, was an exemplar – she used the actual work, too, having read it in one of those undreadable werewolf romances she immersed herself in between flights – Dave was an exemplar extra-fucking-ordinaire of why a woman like her, a woman of independent means and good breeding hips, had to be careful. Men who weren’t to be found in the blessed state of being other women’s husbands were generally deserving of their wretched and benighted state by way of being..
“…unmarriageable assholes.”
“What?” croaked Dave, who’d drifted off into a hangover haze for just a moment.
“Completely unmarriageable assholes, Dave. Such as yourself. World is full of them, I said. All trying to get at my good breeding hips and my 401(k).”

Did I mention his coworkers were just as classy?

Our hero may not be cookie cutter, but he certainly does the job when creatures steal on to his oil rig with intent to kill. After dispatching the ring leader, waking up in a hospital where soldiers await to whisk him off on a not-vacation..Dave continues to be the “exemplar” of a man who can’t quite get his life together – even when he’s in the middle of an incredible adventure.

My favourite part of this book is how it doesn’t take itself seriously. The humor, wit and sarcasm make a story that would be sickeningly routine and dull into something fun for long time fantasy readers. Brimingham brings the action as well, developing a warrior race – the horde.

Scaroth brought FoeSunder up and flowed into a killing stance. The point of the blade glinted high above Dave’s head before rushing down with terrible speed.
Dave dropped down to his right knee with Lucille above his head, blocking the first blow, half expecting Scaroth’s blade to slice straight through the wooden handle. But the enchanted hardwood held, the blow landing with a giant clang. Holding the Hunn’s blade, he pushed up with his right hand, using the maul’s head to drive the blade off to his left. Coiled tightly, Dave’s legs launched him into Scaroth’s midsection, knocking the BattleMaster off his feet. He rolled over the snapping fangs and hot froth to land on his feet a couple of yards away.
They circled each other one step at a time, shieldwise. Helicopters, hammering overhead, focused their searchlights on the action, driving the remnants of the Horde away from the two combatants.
“I will feast on you this day,” Scaroth said, lunging toward Dave. “The little champion’s blood will make a fine aperitif before I feed on your nestlings.”
“They have aperitifs in Monsterland? Man, you guys have changed. It used to be all about the skulls full of bloodwine.”

To be fair, much of the novel feels like a movie with the action sequences, the girl and the snappy dialogue which could be really annoying if you aren’t in the mood. Dave vs the Monsters fills a niche that is very poorly furnished. Brimingham is Pratchett but less alternate reality and more United States of America.
So, if there’s something strange in your neighbourhood who are you going to call? Probably not Dave, but he will be there anyway.

This book would appeal to readers who enjoy action/adventure, paranormal, fantasy and a hero who isn’t your average hero. High risk of humour, frightening monsters and lippy dialogue. For those who need less serious in their reads.

About John Birmingham

John Birmingham grew up in Ipswich, Queensland and was educated at St Edmunds Christian Brother’s College in Ipswich and the University of Queensland in Brisbane. His only stint of full time employment was as a researcher at the Defence Department. After this he returned to Queensland to study law but he did not complete his legal studies, choosing instead to pursue a career as a writer. He currently lives in Brisbane.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Tumblr

Share this:

  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • More
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Related Posts
  • By John Birmingham
  • Same Genre
  • 4.5 Star Books
Review: Hag-Seed
Review: Bats
Review: Magic for Liars
Review: The Immortals
Review: Hell Divers
Dave vs The Monsters: Ascendance
Review: Resistance – Dave vs The Monsters #2
Review: Jackaby
Review: Cowgrrl Up: Live
Review: The Girl from Everywhere
Review: Hell Divers
Review: The Anthrax Protocol
Review: Every Hidden Thing
Review: Hell Divers
Review: The Summit
Review: Adrift
Review: Undertow – Michael Buckley

Filed Under: Action, Reviews, Science Fiction

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Welcome!

Welcome to Silk & Serif! A blog dedicated to Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance and a dash of non-fiction. Great books celebrated by an avid literary community resident. Read More…

  • 307
  • 162
January 2021
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Nov    

Currently Reading

Microbes: The Life-Changing Story of Germs Microbes: The Life-Changing Story of Germs by Phillip K. Peterson
First to Burn (Immortal Vikings, #1) First to Burn (Immortal Vikings, #1) by Anna Richland
Inkheart (Inkworld, #1) Inkheart (Inkworld, #1) by Cornelia Funke
Visit my shelf on Goodreads

Reviews by Rating

★★★★★
Review: Bones Inside and Out
Review: The Ship Beyond Time
Review: The Twilight Wife
Review: Future Shock
Review: Beyond the Red
Review: Seize The Night
Review: Scarlet

★★★★½
Review: The Doors of Eden
Review: Adrift
Review: Little Heaven
Review: Every Hidden Thing
Review: A Time of Torment
Review: The Summit
Review: Hell Divers
Review: The Hatching
Review: Dan vs. Nature
Review: With Malice
Review: The Great Hunt
Giveaway/Review: The Incredible Star Portal
Review: Crooked Little Lies
Review: Cowgrrl Up: Live
Review: Cinder
Review: Readers of The Broken Wheel Recommend
Review: In The Air Tonight
Review: Emergence: Dave vs. the Monsters
Review: Undertow – Michael Buckley

★★★★
Review: Magic for Liars
Review: Ninth House
Review: Future Threat
Review: The Drifter
Review: Last Day on Mars
Review: The Cottage on Pumpkin and Vine
Review: Tridents Forge
Review: The Immortals
Tour: His Country Bride
Review: Sutherland’s Secret
Tour/Review: The Aftermath
Review: Jackaby
Review: Resurrection Science: Conservation, De-extinction and the Precarious Future of Wild Things
Review: While You Were Gone
Review: Manwhore
Review/Tour: Unforgiven
Review: How to Clone a Mammoth

★★★½
Review: The Rush’s Edge
Review: Cataclysm
Review: Addicted to the Duke
Review: Tell The Wind and Fire
Review: The Girl from Everywhere
Review: MemoRandom
Review: Depraved Heart
Dave vs The Monsters: Ascendance
Review: MARTians
Review: Santa 356
Review: BIGLAW
Review: Immunity
Review: Shattered Blue
Review: The Thirteenth World
Review: Death on Ibiza
Review: The Bourbon Kings
Review: Smoke on The Water
Review: Never Cry Wolf
Review: Heat of the Moment
Review: The Corridor
Review: Chaos and Moonlight
Review: Great Zoo of China – Matthew Reilly

★★★
Review: The Birthday Boys
Review: Chasing Shadows
Review: Long May She Reign
Review: Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis
Review: Night Watch
Review: The Book of The Unnamed Midwife
Review: Wolves
Review: Freenet
Review: A Whisper of Desire
Review: Nirvana
Review: The Morning After Memoirs
Tour/Review: The Sweet Spot
Review: The Black Tongue
Blog Tour/Review: When The Stars Align
Review: Resistance – Dave vs The Monsters #2
Review: Lumière
Review: The Worst of Times
Review: Ever Near
Review: Wishing Cross Station
Review: TAG
Review: Moonkind
Book Blast/Review: Deal With The Devil
Review: Finches of Mars

★★½
Review: Bats
Review: Machinations
Review: The Anthrax Protocol
Review: Wishes for Christmas
Review: Girl’s Guide to The Apocalypse
Review: Peak

★★
Review: Always Happy Hour
Review: The Long, Long Life of Trees
Review: Stranger King
Review: To Catch a Lady
Re-Review: Nirvana

★½

★

½

Blogroll

Bedtime BookwormKelsey's Cluttered BookshelfThe Book Addict's Guide

Theme Design By Studio Mommy · Copyright © 2021

Copyright © 2021 · Hailey Wells Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.