Shane Stadler – Thank you for writing this!
Important Update: Mr Stadler himself reached out to let me know that the problems with the copy editing have been ironed out and the Ebook version has been updated and revised, which I am very pleased to hear. That means I award Tympanum an impressive full marks.
After the pleasantly surprising first offering, Exoskeleton, which thankfully amounted to so much more than just extreme torture-porn, I wasn’t expecting Tympanum – Exoskeleton 2 – to match the quality or storytelling prowess of its predecessor.
I was wrong.
Picking up shortly after the events of the first novel, we’re thrown pretty much straight into the action and introduced to many new characters, all of whom are interesting, some of whom are important.
This is the sort of story you read in a day or two.
It’s that intense.
It might seem that some of the villains, of which there are several, are simply evil for the sake of being evil. However, Stadler’s slow reveals and expertly crafted narrative lays a solid and true foundation for more to come.
Whilst the heroes and villains of this continuing story might be making it up as they go along, certainly Mr Stadler is not, and the phrase – uttered early in the story – “existential implications” keeps coming to mind.
A subtle reminder, that the stories protagonist, Will, is on a collision course with something far greater than any reader (including myself) might imagine.
The Good:
There’s so much right with this novel, and very little wrong.
Whilst Exo was written back in 2012, I actually only read it after seeing the reviews swelling on Facebook – like the page here – and lucky for me; the sequel was out not long after!
Somehow, I ended up caring a lot about the characters previously introduced, and instantly despising the new ones. I think that was probably the point.
In my humble opinion, Exoskeleton, and this, the sequel, are definitely ghost stories.
Without wishing to spoil the story of either offering, I’ll simply say there are supernatural presences that are well worth investigating for anyone interested in the genre.
Also, the violence and shock-tactics of the first novel have been somewhat scaled down, and there story benefits.
Yes, there’s some aggression and some violence, but I’m not still wincing from previous pages as I burn through the story. Instead of being disturbing and jarring, the threats present in Tympanum compliment the narrative in a way that propels and compels a thorough reading rather than detracting from it.
If Exoskeleton was about the past, Tympanum is very much about the future, and how the two are connected.
The third, we hope, will offer some form of resolution.
The shocking conclusion of Tympanum has left me hankering for more soul-separating action, and I’d love to see a positive note. Which leads me to…
The Bad:
I hope your emotions are not easily influenced, reader.
This makes for one depressing ride.
In fact, so relentless is this harrowing tale that I did have to take a break to imagine how it might be resolved peacefully; happily.
As yet, I’m not sure it can be. I’d love to see the romance between Will and Denise bloom, and I’d love to feel any sort of hope for the characters.
The only word I can use to sum up the feelings I do have for them, however, is dread.
Again, this could be the point.
I’d have happily awarded Exoskeleton II (2) – Tympanum – full marks, were it not for several errors in the formatting, grammar and punctuation present in the Kindle version that I found quite upsetting.
I do expect better in the third offering, that I intend to buy as soon as I am able.
The Verdict:
An absolute must-read for people who enjoyed the first offering and hopefully were not put off this excellent tale by the horrendous violence of Exoskeleton.
Reading it makes you ask questions, and here’s a few I have for Mr Stadler:
- Why is there no hope for our heroes?
- Are humans innately evil in your stories?
- Will the nature of the real, true, villains be revealed
- Can Horace return?
- WHEN CAN I READ THE THIRD?!
