Song of Kali

By: Dan Simmons

Narrated by: Mark Boyett

Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's Summary

Blood will curdle in Calcutta. In the most crime-ridden city, nightmares become real and evil is defined by frightening occurrences. When an American family finds themselves encircled by the terrors of this land, lurid events befall them and life takes on a new meaning - death. Winner of the World Fantasy Award, Song of Kali will chill the blood and frighten even the most jaded of horror fans.

©1985 Dan Simmons (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Excellent, atmospheric horror

Simmons practically makes his setting into a major character in this subtle, unsettling novel set in Calcutta, India. Song of Kali is mysterious and though-provoking and like some of the best horror, a bit ambiguous. Simmons doesn't spell everything out for the reader and that works to the novel's benefit. This book is definitely worth a credit and the reading by Mark Boyett is superb.

Not what I was hoping for

Is there anything you would change about this book?

More gross than scary. If you are looking for a good ghost story, this is not it.

All Violence is an Exercise in Power

Horror is not my normal territory. It isn't my alternate either. As far as genre fiction goes I probably reach for a horror novel as often as I reach for a fantasy novel. But this is Dan Simmons we are talking about. After reading Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion, I was intrigued. How poetic could Simmons make horror? How literate?

I liked the 'Song of Kali'. It was a good story. I'm just not sure I'd count it as great horror. It wasn't that scary. It was definitely more psychological and mental than most. It seemed like a strange mixture of H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King, all with a big glob of Calcutta madness and poetic mysticism.

Anyway, I liked it. I'll keep reading Simmons when I want a vacation from the classics or an escape into literary genre fiction, but I don't think I will need to steel my nerves with any tonics or leave the lights on to go to sleep after I close the book at night. I might, however, rethink vacation plans to Kolkata and West Bengal. Screw THAT.

Truly immersive horror!

Excellent listen! Dan Simmons captures the essence and atmosphere of Calcutta expertly. A truly horrific story that seems more truth than fiction. The fate of a particular character seems pre-ordained simply that that character's inclusion into the story which is my only criticism of the plot.
The narrator is absolutely superb going from American Mid-West, American-New York, to Indian accents with ease.
A definite recommended listen.

Good narration, compelling story

Boyett does a good job narrating this novel. The novel is less horror, and more about the human condition.

Grim.

One of the grimmest books I've ever read. The narrator did an excellent job with all the accents. I especially enjoyed the one moment of Punjab/cockney English.

Dated, but still good fiction

This is an early work of talented author Dan Simmons set for the most part in Calcutta, India. And it is definitely a horror story. The setting and suspense are very entertaining if you can overcome the voice in the back of your mind wondering why you would ever take a seven month old baby on a trip to Calcutta to find a may be dead poet. That voice will also wonder about some of the other choices the main characters make. Choices that I’m pretty sure I would not have made even back in the 80s. But if you can get over those blocks you have a terrifying good listen.

Creepy but great!

It was much creepier than a lot of Simmon's work, but I personally thought it was excellent. Not for the faint of heart, however.

Awesome book!! True horror at it's very best!!

If you have never read Dan Simmons then I highly recommend that you start! This early work is one of my favorites and true horror at it's very best; very original and one of those rare stories you "can't put down". Incredible skill by the author to immerse you in a distant, frantic, dangerous and exotic culture. This book and "The Terror" are my two favorites, put them at the top of your list!

unforgettable

top notch all around. excellent narration of a dynamic text. haunting and unsettling, I will be reliving scenes from the streets of Calcutta until Kali takes me.

Song of Kali

What a fantastic story I really enjoyed this booked, when it starts you just know that this story is going to be very dark, and indeed it was, this is a very dark story and I must admit I did not expect the out come a little disturbing but well worth a listen.

Exotic and terrifying.

This is my first book by Simmons but I am now a big fan.

His discrimination of India is just what I remember from travelling and his mix of detective story, thriller and supernatural tail is addictive. Although the supernatural element may not be as much as you expect this is a truly terrifying story.

Simmons first and not his best

A brave journey into a scary Calcutta by the author as his first novel; culturally a stranger and Simmons makes that part of the underlying horror. Fear of the unknown is prominent here; my only reservation is it got somewhat unbelievably crazy and hence only three stars. Worth a listen but his Drood for me currently remains his best although unfortunately not yet available on audible in English.