jdavidhacker1 reviewed Usher's passing by Robert R. McCammon
None
3 stars
Usher's Passing is my second foray into McCammon, and my first novel length work.
As one might imagine, this focuses on the Usher family of Poe's story, from roughly the time of the Poe story until 'present' (i.e. 80s). This conceit, that the Usher family was real and known to Poe (who even figures briefly in the beginning of the story) does feel a little silly. As do some of the more meta- aspects of the narrative, such as one of the main characters being an author with a novel rejected because of a number of characteristics shared by Usher's Passing.
The Ushers are afflicted with a curse/genetic malady, that only seems to mysteriously improve (those not vanish) when on their family's home estate. Which is located near and funded by their large military armaments business.
As we move through current day events involving the passing of the most recent …
Usher's Passing is my second foray into McCammon, and my first novel length work.
As one might imagine, this focuses on the Usher family of Poe's story, from roughly the time of the Poe story until 'present' (i.e. 80s). This conceit, that the Usher family was real and known to Poe (who even figures briefly in the beginning of the story) does feel a little silly. As do some of the more meta- aspects of the narrative, such as one of the main characters being an author with a novel rejected because of a number of characteristics shared by Usher's Passing.
The Ushers are afflicted with a curse/genetic malady, that only seems to mysteriously improve (those not vanish) when on their family's home estate. Which is located near and funded by their large military armaments business.
As we move through current day events involving the passing of the most recent patriarch of the Usher clan and uncertainty about which of his three heirs will inherit, we are exposed to much of the family's history through flashbacks, and follow the repercussions of its curse and its influence on current events.
While an enjoyable and fast read, I get the impression this is not one of McCammon's strongest efforts. I'm guessing he knew it, since he does present many of the characteristics shared of the rejected novel shared by his own work as flaws (rambling cast of characters, murky plot, over-use of certain tropes). Worth a read, but I think you would mostly be better served with one of his other books unless you're a completionist.
