• Devil Said Bang

  • Sandman Slim, Book 4
  • By: Richard Kadrey
  • Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
  • Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (2,320 ratings)

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Devil Said Bang  By  cover art

Devil Said Bang

By: Richard Kadrey
Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
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Publisher's summary

What do you do after you’ve escaped Hell, gone back, uncovered the true nature of God, and then managed to become the new Lucifer?

Well, if you’re James Stark, you have to figure out how to run Hell while also trying to get back out of it... again. Plus there’s the small matter of surviving. Because everyone in Heaven, Hell, and in between wants to be the fastest gun in the universe, and the best way to do so is to take down Lucifer, a.k.a. James Stark.

And it’s not like being in L.A. is any better — a serial-killer ghost is running wild and Stark’s angelic alter ego is hiding among the lost days of time with a secret cabal who can rewrite reality. Starting to care for people and life again is a real bitch for a stone-cold killer.

©2012 Richard Kadrey (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

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What listeners say about Devil Said Bang

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

"I've seen how the sausage is made..."

Sandman Slim has become a toothpick of his former self and he's jumped several sharks along the way. I was disappointed with the last book, saw several positive reviews for this one, was bored and in a forgiving mood.

Damned if I do that again!

MacLeod Andrews saves this hot mess, as usual. There are some great one-liners, but I think Kadrey has a machine to churn those out (or people just send their best to him via Twitter). Even the best, favorite characters get sent backfield on this one.

Implausible situations (considering the context), convenient superpowers, an "unending", you never actually get the sense that Stark is ever in any real danger, so why bother, and you're just kinda sick of him after the first page. There are several points in the story that caused my eyes to roll and think "well, THAT was convenient...what handy thing happens next?"

Contrived...yep, that's the word I was looking for.

Ah well. Should have known better!

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

New Lucifer is in town!!!!

The author made some interesting choices in this book.
But the plot is great narration is excellent and you have to listen for it!!!!!

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Only 3 Stars, but Still Wonderful Series

I am still a huge fan of this well-written, engaging, fast-paced series, but this book is a little bit weaker than the previous installments.
Some other reviewers said it best, but there are some plot developments that have too many loopholes and some characters such as the Dreamers, that really stretched any believability.
Especially since I live in Los Angeles, I love all the locations and happenings in this city. And I adore all the wonderful references to movies, books and social media.
But no review is worth anything without a standing ovation to the narrator, MacLeod Andrews, who makes the character come alive.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Not the best Sandman Slim book, but it was ok.

To me this wasn't the best Sandman Slim book, the beginning was a bit slow. It was a lot of Stark complaining about being the new Satan and him having to watch his back. It wasn't until he got top side when it got to be interesting, a lot of old characters and some good old Sandman Slim fun.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Still amusing but more contrived

This installment in the series still has a lot of what made the first book engaging, in its style, irreverence, and brutality but it has slid pretty far down the hill as far as the quality of writing. The plot is riddled with irrational actions and unconvincing twists that just aren't believable, even in the fantasy universe. Characters repeatedly display incredible power when they're using it to impress but then fail to use it in a fight for their life. Stark continues to walk into every trap imaginable without a thought in his pretty little head and ends up helpless before his enemies, not because of a fiendishly clever and devious deception on the villain's part but because Stark's an idiot. This makes it very difficult to respect the protagonist. There is also some completely ludicrous business with "dreamers" that makes absolutely no sense and frustrated me significantly.

That said, there are interesting developments. His new job as Lucifer is pretty amusing and kicks up a lot of awkward situations. The morality of God, Samael, and everyone else continues to fall further into the gray territory. Stark himself does some pretty nasty stuff but it's always warranted and I still consider him to be a decent fellow in a series of bad situations. Most of the previous books' characters reappear in this one and see about as much limelight as usual. It's Stark's show but, as always, he's just stumbling down the road laid out by his enemies and coming through by blind luck and the help of his friends.

The narrator was fantastic, as always. He really makes Stark's character come alive with the gruff tone and devil-may-care (pun intended) attitude.

I only rate this one as average quality but I'll continue on to the 5th book because I enjoy the universe and I'm interested in seeing if he gets God's job next :p

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sympathy for the Devil

Would you consider the audio edition of Devil Said Bang to be better than the print version?

Yes, the audio is better than the print version as the narrarator does such a good job.

What other book might you compare Devil Said Bang to and why?

I can't really think of anything similar. This is a cross between urban fantasy and cyberpunk. Great punk sensibilities in an urban fantasy setting. The closest might be Simon Green's Nightside sereies but without all the self-bluster.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scenes where Stark deals with the child ghost.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Heck I would listen to the whole series in one setting if I had the time and stamina.

Any additional comments?

This is a great series. This could have been the finale to the series if the author wanted as it closes most issues out while still leaving enough unasnswered to keep the series going.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sandman Slim just keeps getting better!!

Any additional comments?

I love sandman slim! MacLeod Andrews has got to be one of the best narrators Ive ever heard. The different voices that he gives to each character amazes me. I think I am in love with him!!
Richard Kadrey what can I say. His writting just keeps getting better. Book 4 is probably my favourite of the Sandman Slim stories. Its a bit darker (if possible) than the rest.
Top job and a 5 star read!!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Aimless ride into mediocrity

The series had a logical stopping point at book 3, so I was expecting a change in direction. I just wasn’t expecting such a lackluster showing.

“I am bacon; hear me roar!”
Stark handles his new position like a sulking teenager, mostly whining and making zero effort to actually run Hell. Turns out, politics in Hell is hella boring.

“If wishes were horses, we’d be walking in a lotta 💩.”
The second half brings him back to LA for another nonsensical apocalypse and new magic systems, creatures and gods that also don’t make any sense. The rules keep changing to prolong the series. Past plot points are abandoned and regained when convenient (the half angel schtick? Ability to heal?)

The supporting characters pop in for small cameos and the women in particular, once smart and lethal, now only exist to be eye candy and provide cat fight comedy. This book was mostly just Stark aimlessly existing and lashing out at anyone who won’t leave him alone until he bumbles into fights that must be addressed. Four books in and I’m not invested in him at all. I should’ve stopped after book 1. Welp. Better late than never. I’m out now.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Pretty Weak

I assume by the time most people make it to the 4th installment of a series they are invested and are going to give it a 4-5 star rating, for myself this is also true; however, this book was just not good enough to bring me back. A good series should be like a chain, each link needs to be strong enough to draw me further into an ever expanding story and world.
The characters in this series never made me feel anything more then "meh", bland tough guy nonsense and little else.

Skip it and read something by Dresden Files or Iron Druid instead.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Losing a little steam

While a fun and interesting continuation of the Sandman Slim story, book 4 feels like it missed a real opportunity to explore the inner workings of Hell and seems to have lost some of the magic captured in books 1-3. We do get to discover the true nature of God, which turns out to be very interesting. Worth the listen if you're a fan of the series as all Sandman Slim stories tie together in one manner or another.

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1 person found this helpful