Hard Luck Hank: Dumber Than Dead

By: Steven Campbell

Narrated by: Liam Owen

Length: 18 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's Summary

Hank is getting married! 

The space station Belvaille has become home to a species of actors. The newest edition to the Post Colmarian Confederation are the Damakan race. As a species they are capable of “broadcast empathy”. Their acting skills are so powerful they are able to make people believe their portrayals are literally happening - even over remote transmission.

Belvaille, with its access to powerful radio telescopes, becomes an entertainment powerhouse, cranking out Damakan dramas and tragedies across the empire. As the city modifies is resources to accommodate the new cash cow, Hank is hired to protect important actors by the city’s premier talent agent: his butler Cliston. But the good times don’t last as Damakans start getting murdered and whole productions are sabotaged and even outright attacked.

The navy threatens to get involved as their favorite tele programs are interrupted and Garm, the Adjunct Over-watch of the city, enlists Hank to find the source of the violence and put an end to it. Hank fears his own betrothed is in danger as the city gets dragged into a gang war of which no one knows the cause.

©2018 Steven Campbell (P)2019 Steven Campbell

As Good As The First

A long time ago, Audible incessantly recommend Hard Luck Hank to me and I ignored it. In my view, it was just another low brow sci-fi/fantasy book about a cliché "hard to kill" hero. One day, however, I was out of books to read, had an abundance of credits, and a lot of time to fill driving. When I purchased the first book, I soon discovered exactly how ignorant and incorrect I was. Needless to say, several books later the author has not lost his voice and the characters continue to be as interesting, diverse, and vibrant as ever. The world is novel and well constructed, the stories are crazy and often hilarious, and Hank is always himself. He never disappoints. The series has strong noir/mystery overtones that fit surprisingly well in the sci-fi/fantasy world the author has built. Everything is always fresh and interesting, even in the most recent entry, which is surprising. Most series get sort of dull and watered down by this point, but not Hank. While the universe evolves and changes around him, Hank always stays his usual self as if he is some sort of a cosmically singular counterweight to the chaos that is existence. Bless Hank and bless Steve Campbell for creating him. Truly a treat.

Best Hank So Far

Hank actually gets fleshed out. Pathos, grief, acceptance, philosophy, all the things you’d not really expect from the normal Hank you’ve grown to love. And yet, still Hank, but a bit better known. I think it’s the best one yet. I better add that yeah, still funny and fun to listen to. That voice is still perfect.

Plus really strange, yet somehow oddly relevant, life lessons..

Almost gave up on the series, but glad I didn't

Hard Luck Hank has been a guilty pleasure for me since joining Audible, but the writing and story has been waning the last few books. I almost skipped this book, but so glad I didn't It's definitely the best book in the series. I feel like Steven Campbell spent a lot more time perfecting the story and just not leaning on easy jokes stuck to a loose plot.

Liam Owen is amazing as always. I'd love to see an animated series of Hard Luck Hank where Owen does all the voices. His comedy timing with Campbell's jokes are just perfect.

More Hank!

Longer book than usual, enjoyed every extra minute. Can’t imagine ever getting sick of this series. New Hank book is always a treat.

Worst HLH, by far.

It feels like the author was drunk while writing it. It doesn't even have the humor of the original. Just drags on and on. I thought it would eventually get better, that the pieces were being put into place...but it finally became impossible to endure. If this is how the series is now, I'm done.

Mutant Charlie Brown delivers again.

These books always run from side splitting laughter to flabbergasted frustration (at the same time whe. these idiots try a heist) and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Another crazy mess for Hank

Overall the story was fun and kept me interested the whole time. The issue was with the quality of the audio. I can’t remember if all the books are this way but the narrator would routinely say “he said “ or “I said” etc. as if it were a question or an amazing discovery. There also was plenty of background noise, papers rustling and even a cell phone going off. It’s too bad because it distracted me quite often and made the book a lot less enjoyable.

I love Hank!

Man I love this series. no other books make me laugh so damn hard.

I must say that I was a little disappointed in wimpy Hank, he was kind of a pussy in this one. I hope in the next one he toughens up a bit like he used to be.

Just OK.

I was a little disappointed with the way character voices were changed mid-story. Suddenly a wimpy, odd-faced kid is an Irish pub-keep. Some action sequences went on for far to long. I felt like I was being dragged through the writer's writing block with him as he struggled to make it to the ending. Although, this was the first one that had an "ending" which was an interesting twist.

great fun 👍

enjoyed listening. not sure if I read it i would like as much. i have listened to the entire series and it is a great respite from all the news we have now.