Slan Hunter (2007)

This is a sequel to 'Slan' written in the 1940's. It was started in the 1990's by the original author. It was then discovered that the author suffered from Alzheimers and had managed to hide it. This became apparent at a meeting to review his finished sequel. The sequel was not finished as announced. Kevin J. Anderson was hired to finish the book. This could have been a great book, but the author(s) apparently stuck with the logic of the 1940's. The book reads like many sci-fi books of this period, including "spinning computer tapes" and "cathode tubes". There are many logical implausibilities in the story. ( )

Sixty-seven years is a long time to wait for a sequel. But "Slan" demanded it, as A. E. Van Vogt knew, so he started to write "Slan Hunter." But then Van Vogt passed away. Kevin J. Anderson took up the cudgel, with the blessings of Van Vogt's wife.

The resulting collaboration, I feel, is a more satisfying book than the 1940 effort. I've reviewed that one on LibraryThing, so I won't repeat my speculations on its theme, which is continued in the sequel. "Slan Hunter" is less of a comic book soaked in juvenile wish-fulfillment, and more of a well-plotted and mature adventure. It ties up a lot of loose ends and provides the back story necessary to give weight to the earlier tale.

Plus, it ends with a shocking last sentence, which, as "Slan's" did, opens up a whole raft of new possibilities. Will there be a Part Three? I've identified with the characters and the situation enough so that I'll gladly put name on a waiting list for it. ( )

Secret police clueless about what is really going on.

When the head of the human secret police discovers that the President is actually a slan, arresting him and Jommy Cross gives the tendrilless slan group freedom to act unopposed. When the somewhat incompetent spook is told the real story they have tot ry and work together without getting blown up. Luckily the other two and friends have some plans in place.

"Mutants are cropping up everywhere—it's a veritable plague!"

The tendrilless have control of Earth, and Jommy and company turn to his shotgun packing granny for help, hoping to find some allies.

Slans to the rescue.

It isn't good for the older generation in this book, as the hunt for Jommy and the tendrilless realisation that further true slans are being born, no matter what they do. A surprise waits in space for everybody concerned.

http://superprose.blogspot.com/2007/08/slan-2-slan-hunter.html ( )

I'll approach this one with some interest. The choice of Kevin J. Anderson for the sequel to SLAN seems less inspired than the choice of John C. Wright for the sequel to THE WORLD OF NULL-A.