Monster Hunter International

Larry Correia
ISBN-13: 978-1439132852
Rating: Buy, Hardcover, New

It's been awhile since I reviewed a book on the blog, I've been reading quite a bit but mostly books that I've read before. In fact Mrs. Bugbear's been reading David Edding's Belgariad, and with Mr. Eddings recent passing I delved through the Belgariad, Mallorean, Elenium and The Tamuli. I still can't read the Dreamers, total crap. But this review is about Monster Hunter International.

Larry Correia's Monster Hunter International is a first effort from a new Baen author. I first purchased it as part of the August Webscription, but I liked enough that I'm going to buy the dead tree version so I have a copy around for when the Little Miss Bugbears start reading vampire porn. Larry's book actually was self-published in electronic format first and if I have the story correct someone who knew one of the movers and shakers at Baen Books liked it so much he pushed it across the right desk.

Owen Zastava Pitt was an accountant that pushed his boss out a fourteenth story window and from there his life was changed forever. Monster Hunter International sent a recruiter around and the story develops from there. It is unabashed gun porn as far as I can tell but balanced enough that most people won't be put off. It's decent urban fantasy and as Larry Correia said, "The only time a vampire should glisten is when it's on fire." The book is bloody, violent and the main character seems to regularly get the fecally smeared end of the birch billet.

I liked this book, considering that I bought the August Webscription for Hank Reinhardt's Book of Swords and Monster Hunter International was part of the package. I feel that I got real value for my money. In fact in buying the paperback I still feel like I underpaid for the book, I'm using a gift certificate so maybe that endorsement isn't what seems. Nonetheless, Monster Hunter International is a solid enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to some more books from Mr. Correia.

Now if the littlest Miss Bugbear would let my wife and me get some sleep I might be able to get some more reading in.

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