In the world of Larry Correia’s Monster Hunter International, monsters are real.  Just as real as you, me, and the monsters in all the other stories and movies about monsters and the dedicated men and women who devote their lives to hunting them so that you and I don’t have to.  It’s better to fight them over there than to fight them over here.  NO BLOOD FOR OIL!!!

Sorry, I got carried away.

The secret government agency that hunts all the (monstrous) nasties of the world approach Owen Pitt with a job offer while he recuperates in the hospital.  Owen got into a fight with his boss and pushed him out the window.  The reason Owen pushed his boss out the window is because his boss was more than just a dick head (as lots of bosses are), Owen’s boss was a werewolf and wanted to have Owen for dinner.  That didn’t sit well with Owen, and after a fight for his life in which Owen tried popping several caps in his boss’s hairy werewolf ass, one thing led to another and out the window the boss went.

The official monster hunters liked Owen’s initiative, such as bringing a gun to the office, and they think he will make an excellent addition to the team.  There is never really any doubt what decision Owen makes.


Monster Hunter International comes highly recommended from several friends.  It has garnered some rave reviews from fans and critics.  All in all, everybody seems to like MHI.  Maybe I just don’t get it.

This book was a struggle for me; it went on and on, for too long.  At almost 800 pages, it wore out its pulp/B-movie sensibilities, and its welcome.  Before the half way point, I was tired and was verging on bored.  It’s a mixed bag.  At least I think so.  I was amused by some of it.  But I was glad to end it.  MHI is a long strange trip, but it’s not one I would care to take a second time.

3.5 out of 5
the_novacula