The Kill Riff

Schow, David J.

ISBN 10: 0312930658 / ISBN 13: 9780312930653

Published by Tor Books, New York NY, 1988

About this Item

Advance copy: "special limited edition for World Fantasy Convention members". Probably printed in an edition of about 1800 copies, as the World Fantasy Convention is limited to 1500 members. Schow's first novel. A good horror novel with a rock music setting. Cover and adjacent pages browning, interior browning slightly.

Seller Inventory # 201252

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Kill Riff
• Publisher: Tor Books, New York NY
• Publication Date: 1988
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0312930658
• ISBN 13: 9780312930653
• Binding: Trade Paperback
• Edition: First Edition
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
• Book Type: Advanced Reading Copy (ARC)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Science Fiction & Fantasy
  • ARC/Proof

About this title

Synopsis

Lucas seeks revenge for the death of his daughter, trampled to death during a heavy-metal rock concert, stalking one-by-one the members of the rock group who had performed, and only Gabriel Stannard, former lead singer, can stop him

Reviews

Having written a number of short stories in the horror field, Schow has now produced his first novel, an unfocused and overlong but not totally unsuccessful thriller about madness and revenge, with no supernatural element. The narrative concerns Lucas Ellington, whose daughter was trampled to death at a rock concert. Ellington has committed himself to exterminating the members of Whip Hand, the rock group whose performance incited the audience to stampede. At first a sympathetic character, Ellington becomes gradually less soand less believable as we come to see him as an insane but cunning wild animal. The other characters are mostly cyphers, except for Gabriel Stannard, Whip Hand's lead singer, an insecure pretty boy who masquerades as an urban guerrilla, complete with large arsenal and killer friends. Both the pace and style are uneven, and the plot is fairly predictable, but there are one or two surprises that, gratifyingly, work well. Schow demonstrates that he has the raw material to produce a really good thriller, although this one isn't it.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Readers of this first novel will understand why Schow wins awards for his horror stories. Lucas Ellington seeks to avenge his daughter's death at a rock concert by destroying band members one by one. The last one left alive is forced to live up to a macho image by stalking his stalker in return. Lucas is a sympathetic character at first, but increasingly his craziness is revealed. This novel deals with the dark side of rock music and media exploitation but, in a larger sense, it explores what revenge does to the avenger. Graphic sex, violence, and vulgarity may turn some readers off, but this is otherwise strongly recommended for horror collections. Marylaine Block, St. Ambrose Univ. Lib., Davenport, Ia.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.