Floating Dragon: Amazon.ca: Peter Straub: Books

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First Sentence
May 17, 1980; a wonderful day, you would have said if you lived in Patchin County. Read the first page

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Concordance

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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover

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Customer Reviews

24 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

3.8 out of 5 stars (24 customer reviews)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Floating Plotline, May 21 2002

By	Bruce Rux (Aurora, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Floating Dragon (Paperback)

Peter Straub has never written a bad book, only better and worse ones. This is probably his worst, but it's still readable and has a few things going for it.

The plot is confused. The "Floating Dragon" is - perhaps - partly supernatural, though primarily it is explained as a leaked Department of Defense gas, that drives people insane and eventually liquefies their bodies. While losing their minds, the unfortunate victims hallucinate - hence, the possibility that what is being perceived as a recurring supernatural evil is all in the mind of the beholder.

I really disliked this book when I first read it, but I decided it required a re-read in later years after overcoming my initial disappointment. It was much better than I remembered it, but its flaws still gravely weaken it. Really, it's all quite good until the last seventy-five pages or so, when the action becomes completely hallucinogenic and virtually impossible to follow, and the ending is terribly trite to the point of being laughable. Straub's worst trait is a tendency to go way over-the-top, and that is at its worst here. But his characters, as usual, are quite memorable, and his writing in every other regard in typically splendid form.

If you're a Straub fan, this one may or may not put you off him. If this is your first exposure to the author, pick a different title, something like Ghost Story or If You Could See Me Now, to get a better feel for Straub closer to the top of his game.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect...Classic..., Jan 29 2004

By	"nytemar30" (New Milford, CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Floating Dragon (Paperback)

This was only my second Straub read. I can see now how he and King could blend so flawlessly for the Talisman and The Black House. They both seem to share my feeling that nothing is more frightening than what the human mind can do to itself. The ability of the evil doer to pick from our heroes' minds the situations which will most torment them is the perfect torture.
I've heard that this isn't even Straub's best book!! I can't wait read more!!

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4.0 out of 5 stars Very, Very Good, Feb 20 2003

By	papaphilly (Bayonne, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Floating Dragon (Paperback)

If I could give this book 4 1/2 stars, then I would. It is some of the best work Straub has produced. He should be wearing the mantle for gothic horror author master. Straub reminds me of Nathanial Hawthorne with this story. He tells the tale of an area dying into madness and the horror the various individuals have to face including people that are dissolving into water. The only complaint I have is that Straub writes in a very disjointed style that jumps around the plot and can be hard to follow. I think he chose this method to enhance the suspense. If you have read either Shadowlands or Ghost Story, then you will love Floating Dragon. It is a harder read, but it is ceratainly worth the effort. It is my personal favorite of his books.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Peter Straub's best books!!
I have read this book three times since it was released in the early '80's. I think this is Peter Straub's best all-out horror novel. Read more

Published on April 3 2002 by Patrick m Tinney

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Straub's best
By far, my favorite work by Mr. Straub. The bizarre events of the story and interesting characters fill the reader with deep concern for the outcome of this tale. Read more

Published on Feb 24 2002 by allison k mangin

3.0 out of 5 stars COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
In 1995, I was in Manhattan at the Pennsylvania Hotel. While in the elevator traveling down to the lobby a man was standing in front of me. Turns out this was Peter Straub. Read more

Published on Feb 22 2002 by Daniel Vullo

4.0 out of 5 stars Straub's 'final' horror tale is wonderfully over the top.
"I wanted to write a special effects show. Something that would make the reader's jaw drop and make them think 'I can't believe that I'm reading this. Read more

Published on Nov 20 2001 by Chadwick H. Saxelid