Man with No Name

The Nanashi Series, Book 1

By: Laird Barron

Narrated by: Feodor Chin

A violent tale of horror from award-winning author Laird Barron, the heir apparent to H. P. Lovecraft's throne.

Nanashi was born into a life of violence. Delivered from the mean streets by the Heron Clan, he mastered the way of the gun and knife and swiftly ascended through yakuza ranks to become a dreaded enforcer. His latest task? He and an entourage of expert killers are commanded to kidnap Muzaki, a retired world-renowned wrestler under protection of the rival Dragon Syndicate. It should be business as bloody usual for Nanashi and his ruthless brothers-in-arms except for the detail that Muzaki possesses a terrifying secret. A secret that will spawn a no-holds-barred gang war and send Nanashi on a personal odyssey into immortal darkness.

©2016 Laird Barron (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Difficult to stay focused

I can't say if it was the story or the narrator, but I had to continuously rewind and replay because I just want listening to it. I've never had such a hard time finishing a two hour book!

a acid induced day dream

Just as the title says this book was a massive comfussing acid trip of words and interesting imagination. Still not sure what happened at the end lol

I like this

I had no expectations coming into this. I did not hope for any particular outcome. But I know Barron can write a good story. And this is such a one.

I’m satisfied; cool themes in a quick horror romp

It’s a good short story, somewhere between Quintin Tarantino and H.P. Lovecraft. Laird’s writing in an even more highly visual way then usual on this one. Listening to it on tape is almost a cinematic experience if you have a quick imagination.

Maybe not Lovecraft but a Master of Noir Violence

Few writers portray the atmosphere surrounding revenge, violence and mayhem as powerfully as Barron. I should not be so drawn to his explicit scenes, but like all well executed Noir it is captivating.

Four stars with five for the narration. ****/*****

Punchy, gritty action-horror.

A wild genre mix of Yakuza crime-action & surreal horror. Trevanian meets William Hope Hodgson's House on the Borderland. Elmore Leonard + Lovecraft.
I despair this writing can't exist--yet here it is.
Loved it.

Pretty good

3.5/5

Fast-paced, violent (slashed throats, exploding eyeballs, general bloodbath), and weird. I liked it, just didn't love it.

Evolves

starts as a fairly standard Japanese crime story, changes into a weird supernatural odyssey.

Satisfyingly Creepy

I always like Laird. I never know what's going on, but that doesn't take away from the story telling.

Wanted to like it... But did not

I read this book to see if I would like Laird Barron's writing style, which might prompt me to read some more of his works. At first I thought the book was a bit boring, but I figured it would kick up. Then, I started to really like it and had hopes for the direction it was headed in... But it did not.
Instead it took a turn for the confusing and bizarre. I had to go back and re-listen to a parts over and over to figure out what had actually happened.
When it finally made it to the end I was just hoping for a really good payoff...
No. The final little insert in an attempt to make it a horror, or even a thriller, which it wasn't for 90% of the book, was a total waste!
This to me was a perfect example of trying to do too many things and because of it, they all fail.