Inhuman Beings

by Jerry Jay Carroll

Jerry Jay Carroll's second novel, Inhuman Beings, is a cynical, hilarious blend of Raymond Chandler and Philip K. Dick. Former cop Goodwin Armstrong finds his detective agency getting mysteriously... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0441006124
• ISBN13: 9780441006120
• Release Date: April 1999
• Publisher: Ace Books
• Length: 249 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Author of TOP DOG takes on noir & aliens

The author of Top Dog - "Wall Street" meets "The Lord of the Rings" - this time blends film noir with an alien conspiracy theory. Again, he spices things up with a flashy manipulation of sarcasm. Goodwin Armstrong is a typical ex-cop/gumshoe, down on his luck. Just when he thought things could any worse, a survivor of a brutal divorce, Security Concerns, a "Private-Eyes-R-Us," begins to kill his business. His financial situation forces him to take on a case involving a psychic, Princess Dulay. She believes that aliens have invaded, and are taking over people in the San Francisco are. Also, they are killing psychics because they can sense the aliens' presence. Armstrong takes on the case, and through a long and painful process becomes a believer and fighter for the cause.Carroll manages to take many elements and genres and skillfully blends them into an entertaining plot. Driving his tale is some strong and well-developed characters. Carroll's narrative has the traditional feel of a quest, but with modern dressings. His real strength lies in his ability to create substantial, believable characters that a reader can sink his teeth into. The story elements are not anything new, but he plays them off each other in a clever and invigorating style. Grounding his characters in reality allows his to take the reader deeper into reality. He structures the tale so that it unfolds as memories from Armstrong, whom they are holding in a government type facility. This device allows him to create mystery and build suspense. The result is a fast and fulfilling read.Jerry Jay Carroll is the reining master of recombinative fiction, a refreshing voice. He not only makes everything old new again, but knows how to plot, develop characters and heat things up. INHUMAN BEINGS is what "The X-Files" should be, with a little "Dr. Strangelove" thrown in for good measure. Hey, somebody should get this guy to write for television.

a fun escape from reality book!

the premise of 'inhuman beings' in this city is amusing-or was this a mislabled non-fiction book? i think i have seen some of these people around my neighborhood. the author wrote quite realistic dialogue while showing a clever use of language. his use of places and landmarks in the bay area was in keeping with the story-no golden gate bridge references thrown into the storyline just so the reader could have a city tour. waitng for the next book.

Clever, suspenseful and witty! Couldn't put it down!

Carroll has a beautiful writing style. His characters are real, his dialogue is convincing and he knows how to keep you interested. I particularly enjoyed his sense of humor and his appreciation for the absurd. Some examples: "The bold scarf tied under his chin represented a rival theory of art"; ""Gloria had a tongue rough enough to sand floors"; "I told lawyers Mulhenny couldn't find his ass if he grew an extra hand back there"; "Feelings are important. Mr. Rogers says so"; "I feel like I've been here long enough for continents to form"; and "Anarchists don't pay parking tickets." (The trick to writing great metaphors is to not sound pretentious. Carroll has real style!) I can't recommend this book enough to science fiction fans who enjoy a good story and great writing.

Writing wins the day

(Editor: I wrote an earlier review before I read your advisory. Here is another try.) The story line is rather basic, the ending a little too sweet. But I was swept along by Carroll's crisp writing style. Situation, character, action, and implications are conveyed in a free flow of short, simple sentences. As a native, I feel his settings in San Francisco and Northern California are right on. His main character is alien to my experience. But he rang true and I came to care about his frantic kill-or-be-killed crusade.

Duking it out with the unknowable

A delightful, violent romp through national disaster. Carroll's svelte prose flows past death and destruction as his detective progagonist comes to grips with unknowable alien conquistadors and works his way around their superior intellect and seemingly impenetrable defenses. Friends become foes in the wink of an eye. The ending is too tidy, but the devastastation that precedes it is awesome. Is it too much for film? I like Carroll's crisp, spot-on portrayals of politicians, media, and the security community. "Inhuman Beings" is particularly pleasant for a Northern Californian. It reels you through a gallaxy of familiar and off-beat venues.