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Robert McCammon - Most Underrated Author Ever?!?

3.4K views 17 replies 16 participants last post by  Neekeebee  
#1 ·
I've been in love with Robert McCammon's writing since high school. To this day my favorite novel of all time is his wondrous Boy's Life, and since I've read with much enjoyment Gone South, They Thirst, Stinger, and his historical Speaks the Nightbird books. I just today started his first contemporary novel in 20 years - The Five - and found myself drawn in on the first page. I don't know what it is about this man's writing, but I just can't get enough. But when I talk about him to friends and even some writers, I get a blank look, like they've never even heard of him. Have any of you read his books? What do you all think of Robert McCammon?
 
#4 ·
He may well be the most underrated -- years and years ago I ran across the following put-down: "What do you call Stephen King's last novel? Robert McCammon's next one." I think both King and McCammon would be quick to say that's not the case at all.

The only McCammon I've read is Mine, which is scary as h*ll and moves like a bullet; seemed to me more than a tad implausible in the amount of damage the heroine could take and still keep going, but it was a real page-turner. I've heard terrific things about Goin' South and Boy's Life and the new one, The Five, and will have to add him to the Amazing Colossal TBR Pile.

Everyone on this thread probably knows this, but just in case -- Open Road released a lot of McCammon's backlist as ebooks a few months back.
 
#6 ·
I've been a fan for 20+ years now. I will say that his books can be hit or miss for me, though. When I love them, I love them (Swan Song, Boy's Life, Stinger, They Thirst), but when they don't click, I don't finish them (Bethany's Sin, Baal, and more recently, The Five). His Matthew Corbett books are phenomenal -- liked 'em so much we named one of our cats Corbett. :)
 
#13 ·
I wouldn't say most underrated ever, but he's better than you think. I've read a couple of his, They Thirst and Baal, but I got sidetracked by other books and never really got back to him. Same thing with Dean Koontz, he puts out so many books I can't keep up anymore.
 
#15 ·
I'm a big McCammon fan. I loved STINGER, GONE SOUTH, BLUE WORLD and MINE. Also really enjoyed his later historical mysteries SPEAKS THE NIGHTBIRD and others. And BOYS LIFE is one of my favorite coming-of-age novels.

Definitely a writer worth exploring.