Hard Magic (Grimnoir Chronicles #1)

by Larry Correia

Overview

Jake Sullivan is a war hero, a private eye—and an ex-con. He’s free because he has a magical talent, being able to alter the force of gravity in himself and objects in his vicinity, and the Bureau of Investigation calls on him when they need his help in apprehending criminals with their own magical talents. But the last operation he was sent along to help with went completely wrong, and Delilah Jones, the woman the G-men were after, who just happened to be an old friend of Jake’s in happier times, had a lot of magical muscle with her, too much muscle for the cops to handle, even with Jake’s help.

It got worse. Jake found out that the Feds had lied to him about Delilah being a murderer as well as a bank robber, and they had lied about this being his last job for them—he was too valuable for them to let him go. And things were even worse than Jake imagined. There was a secret war being waged by opposing forces of magic-users, and Jake had no idea that he had just attracted the attention of one side, whose ruthless leaders were of the opinion that Jake was far too dangerous to be permitted to live . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781439134344
Publisher:	Baen
Publication date:	05/03/2011
Series:	Grimnoir Chronicles Series , #1
Edition description:	Original
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	456,527
Product dimensions:	9.04(w) x 6.18(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

is hopelessly addicted to two things: guns and B-horror movies. He has been a gun dealer, firearms instructor, accountant, and is now a very successful writer. He shoots competitively and is a certified concealed weapons instructor. Larry resides in with his very patient wife and family. His first novel, Monster Hunter International is now in its third printing.

Editorial Reviews

Jake Sullivan, a war hero, private eye, and now an ex-con assisting the government, accompanies a team of special agents as they attempt to bring down Sullivan's former friend Delilah Jones, a notorious criminal possessing special powers. Jake also has a unique ability: as a "Heavy," he can increase or decrease gravity. When Jake and Delilah meet, however, the consequences launch a chain of events that lead the pair to their unforeseen and shattering destinies. Set in an America circa 1930 in which dirigibles are a standard mode of transportation and FBI tsar J. Edgar Hoover spins a dark web of intrigue, this series debut by the author of the popular "Monster Hunter" titles (Monster Hunter International; Monster Hunter Vendetta; Monster Hunter Alpha) exemplifies the best of the superhero noir genre. VERDICT Steampunk meets the hard-boiled detective story with a strong flavoring of superpowers in a tale that will please Correia's enthusiastic fans as well as lovers of Glen Cook's "Garrett, P.I." noir fantasies. Highly recommended.

Library Journal

Narrator Bronson Pinchot makes this story engagingly real. His close attention to Correia’s tonal shifts can swiftly and convincingly change from whimsical reflection on the magnificence of Correia’s magical world to the skeptical tone of the protagonist, Jack Sullivan, a convicted man who is manipulated into service for the FBI, and to the sinister viewpoint of the antagonist, a man whose power is to deliver death. Pinchot provides multidimensional character voices. For instance, though Jake’s prolonged drawl implies a lack of intelligence, Pinchot’s execution also suggests a deliberateness that reflects Jake’s reserved personality. Ultimately, Pinchot adds depth and nuance to Correia’s novel. L.E. 2012 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

AUGUST 2012 - AudioFile