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    Pandemonium
    Pandemonium
    Pandemonium
    Audiobook10 hours

    Pandemonium

    Written by Daryl Gregory

    Narrated by Peter Berkrot

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    It is a world like our own in every respect, save one. In the 1950s, random acts of possession begin to occur. Ordinary men, women, and children are the targets of entities that seem to spring from the depths of the collective unconscious, pop-cultural avatars some call demons.

    As a boy, Del Pierce is possessed by the Hellion, an entity whose mischief-making can be deadly. With the help of Del's family and a caring psychiatrist, the demon is exorcised...or is it? Years later, following a car accident, the Hellion is back, trapped inside Del's head and clamoring to get out.

    Del's quest for help leads him to Valis, an entity possessing the science fiction writer formerly known as Philip K. Dick; to Mother Mariette, a nun who inspires decidedly unchaste feelings; and to the Human League, a secret society devoted to the extermination of demons. All believe that Del holds the key to the plague of possession-and its solution. But for Del, the cure may be worse than the disease.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateNov 4, 2014
    ISBN9781494576882
    Pandemonium
    Author

    Daryl Gregory

    Daryl Gregory won the IAFA William L. Crawford Fantasy Award for his first novel, Pandemonium. His second novel, The Devil's Alphabet, was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award and was one of Publishers Weekly's best books of 2009. His novelette "Nine Last Days on Planet Earth" was a Hugo finalist. His short fiction has appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, and The Year’s Best SF. He has also written comics for BOOM! Studios and IDW. Daryl lives in Oakland, CA.

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    Reviews for Pandemonium

    4/5

    223 ratings20 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I have enjoyed everything I've read by Daryl Gregory, and highly recommend his stories and novels to everyone.
    • 4/5
      Like many other reviewers, I really enjoyed the worldbuilding. In particular, I liked the uneasy linkage between science and mysticism, and the sense that no one actually has the answers and everyone is working from their own incomplete understanding. But also like other reviewers, I felt it faltered in the last third.
    • 4/5
      I feel like for a tribute to Jung and PKD, he definitely could've made it a lot weirder. I like weird books, though. It would work well as a comic book. Kind of reminded me of Scott Westerfield's writing... more clever than Westerfield, though.

      Overall, very well-executed.
    • 4/5
      This was an interesting urban fantasy type book about an alternate world where a set of demons periodically possess people. It’s a stand alone book and a creative read, but was a little hard to follow at times.Parts of the story get a bit ambiguous and hard to follow; Del is struggling with his reality and some other realities which can be a bit tough to keep track of. However, it ended up being a decent story that kept my attention up to the end. I really enjoyed the world-building. I also loved how supportive Del’s family was despite him going through some pretty rough stuff throughout the story. I also thought the twist at the end was interesting and completely unpredictable without seeming contrived.Overall I enjoyed this book. It was a creative urban fantasy read with some amazing world-building, an engaging story, and characters that are flawed but still surprisingly likable. I would recommend to those who enjoy gritty urban fantasy that’s a bit ambiguous at times.
    • 4/5
      Pandemonium takes place in a world pretty much like our own, except that there are "demons" (entity actually unidentified) that possess people. The narrator was possessed as a young boy but believes the demon never left his head, so he is seeking help with that. I don't want to say too much about the plot because I think part of this book's pleasure lies in the discovery. I enjoyed this read, although I found it light. The characters are well done, and there are plenty of fun pop-culture references. The story moved along at a nice place, although I would have appreciated more information about who or what the demons are exactly and how they came to be in the world. It's always good when a premise is interesting enough that the reader wants more, rather than less.
    • 4/5
      In a world in which possession by demons/archetypes/entities (it’s a matter of great debate) is common, Del is an aimless young man still struggling with the longterm effects of possession by the Hellion, a Dennis the Menace type, when he was younger. As he searches for someone to help him, he finds out that his problem is more complicated than mere possession. A clever twist and an intriguing world, though I wanted a lot more worldbuilding than just finding out that Nixon took over when Eisenhower was killed by the Kamikaze, and then something internment camps something.
    • 3/5
      I really enjoyed Gregory's new book, We Are All Completely Fine, and I liked the premise of this novel -- that demonic possessions are accepted as an occasional phenomenon that happens seemingly at random across the world, though mostly to men. I expected to like this book immensely. Sadly, I found it mediocre. I'm not sure why. I just couldn't get into the character's story, and I could never tell what I was supposed to make of other characters' views on possession (faking? conversion disorder?). I did finish the book, though.And, an extra point for a reference to Elvis Costello's "Red Shoes."
    • 4/5
      I stumbled across this little book quite by chance, and I’m so glad I did because it’s an astounding story that stays with you long after you’re finished reading.Synopsis:Pandemonium is a novel set in a world exactly like ours, except for one thing – possession is real, and can happen to anyone. The story’s protagonist Del, experiences one such possession in his childhood, after a swimming accident. Now many years later, Del is involved in a car crash and the demon – known as the Hellion – is back inside his head. Del struggles with this other being fighting for dominance inside his own head. Del also struggles with having no recollection of his night time wanderings (or wolfing out, as he labels it) in which the demon is most active. Pandemonium follows Del in his search for someone who can help him be free of the Hellion inside his head.Review:The premise alone for this book blew me away. Imagine living in a world where at any moment a being could take over your whole person and force you to do whatever it likes? Firstly although on goodreads and Amazon the book is pegged as a horror, Pandemonium does not really fall into any particular genre. There are elements of science fiction, horror and a few other things besides. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy alternative histories, the work of Philip K. Dick and anyone who loves a puzzle as this book kept me guessing right to the very end.The story opens with Del in an airport, witnessing a possession taking place in another passenger. This moment for me felt incredibly realistic as the demon now in control of the man starts making a picture on the floor using materials around the airport – being possessed by the demon known as ‘the painter.’ The people around him have no choice but to stand around him, the police have cordoned off the area, and people begin to grumble about the delay – as they would do in everyday life. These little snapshots of people in the background made the story feel incredibly realistic. Most notable are the conferences on possession, the scientific experiments and the protests – these all make it seem like demon possession is something that could easily happen in our world.Author Charles Coleman Finlay states “Look out, Lethem! Daryl Gregory mixes pop culture and pathos, flavoring it with Philip K. Dick. Pandemonium possesses every quality you want in a great novel, and the good news is it’s only his debut.” This is something I really loved. I’m a massive science fiction fan, and the pop culture references are just great, Philip K. Dick is featured, being possessed by a demon himself. There are lots of comic book references, which adds to the mixing pot to make a wonderful story.One thing I must mention before I round off, is that in between the chapters there are little short stories, snippets of accounts of people who have witnessed possessions. It gives you an insight into the different demons in the world, the way they behave and how you can recognise them. I really loved this, it gives you a greater insight into how the possession occurs and why they behave. My favourite had to be the ‘Little Angel’ a demon who possesses little girls, an eerie Shirley Temple type figure, who visits hospitals and bestows the kiss of death on patients.This is Gregory’s debut novel, and has since published several other novels. Pandemonium is the sort of story that makes you want to run to the nearest bookshop and buy everything he’s ever written (and I suggest you do!) Pandemonium is an exceptionally clever book with moments of great humour, as well as great sadness, and although at times you are not always clear what is happening, it all adds to the suspense of the ending. There is a great twist near the end, but my lips are sealed – I would not want to spoil it! Gregory leaves little hints along the way, and on finishing I found the urge to start from the beginning again, just to see if I could pick up on all the little breadcrumbs. I immensely enjoyed Pandemonium and I sincerely look forward to reading more of Gregory’s work.
    • 5/5
      Very original.
    • 4/5
      For some reason, the first chapter didn’t grab me, but I happily devoured the rest of the book. It’s to Gregory’s credit that even though the situation became obvious before it was spelled out in the story, I wasn’t sure how it would be dealt with, or how I wanted it to be dealt with. Well-written. I’ll look for his next book.
    • 5/5
      This book is the ultimate mash-up. Gregory skillfully combines elements of pop culture, blends and bends historical events, and grinds together genres in a way I've never experienced. Set in a world where demonic possession is an accepted, albeit misunderstood, occurrence, we follow Del through his own journey of self-awareness. Possessed at an early age, Del struggles with the after-effects lingering even into his adulthood.

      Whether a fan of horror, science fiction, or fantasy, you won't be disappointed. Gregory has a touch of everything in here, all fit together like some masterful jigsaw puzzle of a complex mandala.
    • 4/5
      I swear, Daryl Gregory writes some of the most interesting, original premises I’ve ever seen. In this, his first novel, it’s possession by entities that everybody calls demons, but are clearly cultural archetypes – the Captain is Captain America, the Truth is a Dick Tracy/noir pulp hero, the Hellion is Katzenjammer Kids meets Dennis the Menace, and the Little Angel is Shirley Temple meets the World War I “Angel of the Battlefield.” And, well, everyone in the book is smart enough to know that; I appreciate that in a story.

      There’s a wonderful cast of characters in Pandemonium, from Del himself to his older brother Lew, their mother (whom they call the Cyclops since she’s missing one eye), the Irish exorcist Mother Mariette, and the entity formerly known as the author Philip K. Dick. They’re all struggling to understand this thing that’s been destroying peoples’ lives for the past fifty-odd years, but they’re all also so wrapped up in their own damages and perceptions that it’s clearly going to take them a while.

      One of my favorite parts of the book were the Demonology inserts, short chapters describing possession incidents by various demons. These bits did a wonderful job fleshing out the universe of the book as well as letting you meet some demons who weren’t tremendously important to the main narrative. They also led me, subtly but ingeniously, to the climax of the book, which struck just the right balance between explaining enough to make it satisfying and not explaining so much that it seemed like all the fun was being explained away.

      Admittedly, Del reminded me an awful lot of the main character of The Devil’s Alphabet, and there was a completely pointless sexual encounter about three-quarters of the way through that left me rolling my eyes at both characters involved. But the premise and incredible resolution of Pandemonium carried it through for me. I’ll definitely be checking out Gregory’s new novel, Raising Stony Mayhall, as soon as I get a chance.
    • 5/5
      A great read! Original and interesting characters, original world and a great ending make this my fave read of 2012 (of course, it's the only one I've read so far!)
    • 4/5
      As long as Del can remember, there have been demons, or archetypes, that randomly possess innocent people. There's The Truth, The Captain, Painter and more that are archetypal heroes. As a child Del was possessed by a mischief maker called Hellion. Only even as an adult what Del has come to realize is that the Hellion never left; he remains possessed.This is the story of his journey to get others, including his brave brother Lew and his mother, to believe that the Hellion remains trapped inside him. Del goes to a demon convention, to a remote lake with it's own demon, meets a provocative priest who experienced possession as a child herself.Together they will unravel the truth and Del's very important role in the presence of these archetypes.Full of humor, sly pop-culture references and zippy dialog. Sweet pathos and a pleasing ending.
    • 5/5
      This book is deeply weird--and I thought absolutely amazing. Did I say weird? This is set in an alternate universe where demonic possession has been wrecking havoc since the 1940s. There are certain "strains" or archetypes that keep showing up. Like the "Captain"--a berserking solider of superhuman strength. Or "Truth"--a man in a fedora weidling two guns that, for instance, gunned down O.J. Simpson after the verdict of not guilty. Or the "Kamikaze" who assassinated President Eisenhower.The first person narrator of this story, Del, was possessed as a child by the "Hellion"--a Denis the Menace character. And he's beginning to suspect the demon never really left. By page 50, when he tells us he's looking for an exorcist I was absolutely hooked. About half way in, I guessed--or maybe the best word given the author played fair--realized the main twist. And it's one of those Sixth Sense type ones that so works--and it's not the last twist in the tale. I loved this. It was a wacky mix of science fiction and fantasy--even gives a winking nod to that. One of the characters is science fiction writer Philip Dick and his demon Valis. There's allusions here to Van Voght, Star Trek, Lovecraft. It's playful, imaginative, well-written, and on top of all that gave me characters to care about--particularly Del's family. And well, that love is important to the story. So is the title. I only recently read Milton's Paradise Lost. As it happens Milton coined the word "pandemonium" to name the capital of Hell. While the word "demon" derives from the Greek word for benign demigods. That's never stated in the book, but it's certainly not coincidental. I loved how everything fit together.
    • 5/5
      This novel was excellent - nothing I have read recently compared to it. The complexity really appealed to me - I had to reread part of it and it is unheard of for me to reread a fiction novel... I enjoyed the layers upon layers of meaning. Really got me thinking.
    • 4/5
      Del Pierce's life changed when he was 5 years old. Back then, he was one of the many people who became possessed by a demon. Most of the possessions lasted a brief period of time, but not Del's. His encounter with the demon known as the Hellion, who took over 5 or 6 year-old boys and made them throw tantrums or shoot a slingshot with such accuracy as to knock a person's glasses off, didn't end when Del's mother somehow managed to help Del control the presence.But that was back then. Demons still jump around from person to person, sometimes acting altruistic like The Truth who abhors liars or sometimes more deadly like The Little Angel who haunts hospitals and whose kiss brings death. Incidents of the appearances are commonplace in the world. But the Hellion disappeared completely. And now, Del fears his demon may be aiming for a comeback via Del himself.At night, he has to restrain himself for fear of what he might do. And the noises in his head are becoming more and more frequent visitors. Del sets out to find some way to stop the demon, but will he be able to handle the truth about the Hellion once he uncovers it?I enjoyed "Pandemonium". Author Daryl Gregory creates an alternate world, in which possessions are an everyday occurrence and have been for longer than anyone cares to remember. Not only that, but sci-fi author Philip K. Dick plays a major character, or rather, the demon Valis who possesses him does. For the most part, I found myself caught up in this world; then, in a passing moment, mention is made of Eisenhower's assassination, and I was left scratching my head, wondering what the heck that was all about. Fortunately, my confusion was cleared up, but much later in the story than I would have hoped.As for the characters, I thought the mini Demonology chapters did a fine job of illustrating each of the major demons: The Captain's sudden appearance during a battle in India 2004, The Truth's in the courtroom of the O.J. Simpson trial, and others. Great vignettes, all of them. Also, Del Pierce provided a great glimpse into a man on the brink of sanity, struggling to keep himself in check while the world around him tells him that there's nothing anyone can do for him.A thrill ride of a book, managing to mix sci-fi, horror, fantasy, mystery and thriller into one engaging story. Highly recommended.
    • 3/5
      This was the story of people and being possessed by demons, which in this book is a pretty common occurrence. I didn't get the feeling this was a futuristic time period just modern day with a twist. I was not wild about this book. Parts of it were just so hard to get through. It felt like at times I was back in college in a philosophy class trying to stay awake. The other parts, the ones that the words I could actually read and understand without having to reread the paragraphs 5 times to even get a grasp of what was being said, I loved. In the end the book was just to much mumbo jumbo talk and big words and I wanted more of the understandable story. I was really disappointed.
    • 5/5
      Del Pierce is heading to his mother's house in Chicago, once more being haunted by a condition he has faced in the past. Starting in the 1950's people have been randomly possessed by demons--usually for a short time only. Del was possessed when he was five, but he gradually was cured. But then when he was 14, after an accident, he started hearing strange sounds no one else could, but again, he was eventually cured with the help of a therapist. But now, after a car accident, the noises have returned, along with more problems. Del believes his demon never really left him and now it's trying to take over his life. He's hoping a doctor attending a conference with a new theory can help him. This is one of the best books I've read all year. The world, with just that one little thing about the demon possessions making it different, is fascinating. The characters are varied, interesting, even quirky. I love all the references to comics and SF and other bits of pop culture. It's not just included to be hip or for characterization, but really works in the book and adds to it. I love the mix of normal relations and feelings and the strangeness of the demons and Del's condition. There are elements one would expect from the typical dark, contemporary-urban fantasy, and yet it's all a bit new and different, too. It's hard to explain, but the book is so very worth the read. I highly recommend it.
    • 5/5
      Something strange has happened to Del Pierce. As a child, , he lost control of his own self and fell under the spell of some sort of power which, while temporary, changed the course of his life. He is not the only person who has suffered from these "possessions". However, as he returns home to Chicago after a self-appointed stint in a psychiatric hospital, he is the one most determined to find their cause and get the voices out of his head.

      Pandemonium is set in a world just a hair's breadth removed from our own. On Del's Earth, there is a long history of people being possessed by sudden and unexplainable behavior; behavior attributed by many to so-called demons. These incidents follow a number of trends, as if there are numerous entities flying about, each with their own pattern: the Painter makes its host create works of art out of whatever material is available, the Truth dresses in black and seeks justice with the help of a pair of .45's, the Little Angel gives young girls the ability to end the lives of the old and sick with a kiss. There seem to be many of these spirits, archetypes, or powers among us, and no one can agree on what they are or what they are doing. Mr. Gregory does not give his readers a moment to grow accustomed to the strange new traits of his alternative reality, opening his story in the middle of an airport as the protagonist, Del, watches a possessed man follow out a demon's strange but harmless script. We must catch up with the rest of the book's characters who find these incidents frightful but almost routine, with their own branches of study, theory, and fan bases. Deftly, he avoids exposition, working explanations as to what the heck's going on in the character's dialogue. Interspersed through the story are what might be called case files of individual demons, revealing more of his world and the alternative history he has created. If you are anything like me, you'll be disappointed by how few of these are included, leaving the rest of the possessive cohort as little more than names casually mentioned and never explored. The subtle little changes Gregory has made to the world, and his ability to integrate them into what we know, reminds me of Michael Chabon, as does Gregory's trend of giving his characters and his prose a realistic and clever level of pop-culture awareness. Though, for the most part, this book has a stable sort of magical realism, the author was more than willing to throw in a touch of absurd, a bit of action, and a dash of alien horror to satisfy most any pallet. At times, Pandemonium can sound ridiculous, but they all make sense in the world of the book. Gregory weaves in an excellent subplot of identity and personal understanding as Del travels across the country to try and understand what happened to him. As he and the reader find out, some answers hurt. Overall, the writing is not only humorous and engaging, but very aware of aware of the challenges of simply understanding what it is to be human. I have not read any of Gregory's short stories, but I will certainly be on the lookout for them and, if we're lucky, another novel out of this excellent modern author.