To Battle Beyond [Paperback]

Set in the months prior to the start of World War II, strange weather patterns fall upon America both on the west and eastern coasts. Savage, brutal storms that leave a wake of death and destruction in their paths. When several colorful characters, at divergent locales, begin to investigate these supposedly natural tragedies, they soon uncover an evil malevolent force that is anything but natural.

Within days, an occult magician named Ravenwood, summons three people to his New York apartments. They are Ellen Patrick, the crime fighting Domino Lady from California, Anthony Quinn, the blind lawyer from New York who is really the avenger known as the Black Bat and lastly, Inspector John Raymond Legrasse of New Orleans, a veteran in fighting the forces of arcane evil. This is very much the pulp version of "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" and the conceit works extremely well. Taking a bunch of second string pulp heroes, Henderson ties them to the world of H.P.Lovecraft's Ancient Gods myth by brining in Legrasse, a character he's used many, many times in other horror orientated adventures.

Henderson is brilliant at capturing personalities with only a few words and I found myself seeing these familiar heroes in an entirely new and exciting new light. The interaction between them is fun and as always C.J. doesn't scrimp on the action. There's plenty of it, all in the rousing traditional bloody pulps mode. So if, like me, you truly enjoy pulp action and adventure, pick this one up. Oh, and did I mention it has an introduction by some pulp fan named Fortier?

Hello everyone,

I wanted to write a review for a novel I just read called "To Battle Beyond" by CJ Henderson. (www.cjhenderson.com) Now, let me say from the start that I approached this novel with some bias, I like Pulp novels to begin with and I am a friend of the authors. However, I am also known as a mean, heartless critic who has reduced friends, friends girlfriends and the occasionally tot to tears for my brutally honest brand of commentary on just about everything. So putting those two factors up on the scales I hoped I could write a fair review of the book.

Oh and why am I writing the review you may ask... since I don't usually have time to write reviews on everything that fly's my way. Well that's simple, cause when I finished the book I was bowled over. Not because I had just read the modern equivalent of Melville or Milton, not because it was grounded in such deep thought constructs as to shift my world view upon closing the cover. No, I was bowled over because I had just spent a night of time, a portion of my life that I would not get back and I was glad I had. See, it was fun with a capital F. I don't get to say that many days, but this day I can.

The book is a wonderful pastiche of pulp characters from the Domino lady to the Black bat to Lovecraft's Inspector Legrasse thrown together in the time prior to WWII in a plot to lay America low that seems to originate beyond the stars. It's written in a style that while lending homage to those pulp authors who have gone before still has its own unique voice. Its rollicking two fisted FUN with plenty of twists and turns included.
All in all, if you like adventure and pulps in particular, this book is one you will like.
These days, in an age where everything is in turmoil, change is your only constant, the media we are given for entertainment from books to movies to TV to online is a barrage of mediocre stuff that just seems to be seen because it overwhelms us by sheer volume. In a world of scatter shot attempts to get the next hit, it's refreshing to come across a book that can be read in a sitting, bring a thrill along the way and in the end leave the reader satisfied that he or she just had a fun time.

Read this review and take it all with the grains of salt I outlined at the beginning as far as my bias, but if it interests you at all, then take a chance and give this book a shot. Who knows you just might find yourself having fun after all.

Kevin DiVico

To Battle Beyond To Battle Beyond brings together some pulp heroes to fight an evil threatening to destroy the United States. The interaction and interplay of these characters provides an exciting experience. To Battle Beyond does what a book is supposed to do. It is an entertainment that provides thrills, surprises and great humor as well as real peril. There are cliffhangers at the endings of many chapters that compel you to read just one more chapter before getting at those chores you were supposed to have already started. For a fun and exciting time, I recommend To Battle Beyond.

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