The Calling

By David Mack

Book Overview

Quinn McAlister woke up floating above her bed on her eighteenth birthday. For this shy introverted girl this is the worst thing that could ever happen. She learns that she is a "Miles Dei", a soldier... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416579923
• ISBN13: 9781416579922
• Release Date: July 2009
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Length: 326 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

GREAT Book!

I picked this book off of the shelf based on the cover. I read the back of the book and it sounded like it could be interesting...I was RIGHT!!! This is a really good book...easy read, good characters, and interesting plot. I would definitely recommend this book to people.

Bridget's Review

Tom Nash has a special ability, he can hear prayers. Tom is sure that there is a reason for this ability but he's not sold on the whole "part of God's plan" thing. He knows that he is special and has the ability to help others' in need. When he hears the prayer of an eleven year old girl, the words "God please don't let them kill me" shocks him to the core. He takes of to New York to try and find this little girl that he doesn't even know. Will he be able to save her? Will he find out who he is and why he has this talent? Will he make it home to see his wife and their child that will be born any day now? I loved it. I was drawn in right away and did not want to put this book down. I was laying in bed reading it cross eyed trying to stay awake. If you like Fantasy, then this is a book you don't want to miss.

Great characters, concept & storytelling

The Calling is a great addition to a genre I've really come to enjoy, but don't exactly have a name for. Some other recent examples are the S.J. Day "Eve" series, and the Signs of the Zodiac series by Vicki Petterson. A hallmark of the genre is that mortals are recruited/shanghaied into the cosmic struggle between good and evil, on both sides, and serve as the troops, the footsoldiers, the actual combatants, in the ancient struggle between those who wish this world and its people well, and those who wish to destroy it and them (or just see them suffer - for the fun of it). Come to think of it, the Repairman Jack series by F. Paul Wilson is another great example of this genre, which I'll call "Angels Unaware." Ok, that is somewhat lame, but maybe someone else can do better. Howabout "Apocalypse for Everyman?" Anyway, on to attempt an actual review. I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Some elements I found particularly appealing: the protagonist, Tom Nash, is a character with whom its easy to empathize, even (especially?) as he gets in over his head. He's kind of reminiscent of some old time Dick Francis everyman characters who find themselves out of their depth, but are able to dig deep and find the resources, physical and spiritual, to persevere and survive, if not actually prosper. I did find Tom's wife, Karen, a big self absorbed pain in the keister, I must say, to the point where I wondered if her only function was to make the other "good" character, Erin, even more tempting to Tom than she might otherwise have been. Not that she needed any help, imho, she's also a richly imagined and multi-dimensioned heroine with strenghths, vulnerabilities and personality to spare. Another element I really enjoyed was the basic story. It just never quits! I had a hard time putting this down when I got to work, and could barely wait for the train ride home to reenter the story and its universe. The villains are another great element, with the main antagonist being appropriately despicable, sleazy and yet realistically human as well. The settings are well evoked, too, with the craziness of New York City underscored by the small town opening, and Tom's unfamiliarity with the urban locales. So, all in all, a great read. One element of this genre that I'm not that super crazy about is the "romance" element. Don't get me wrong, I like a developing tension from a relationship as much as the next guy (key word there, perhaps?), but when that threatens to overshadow, or become, the plot, I tend to want to skip ahead. So, the good news is, that's not really an issue here. There is some chemistry between the protagonists, but none of that silly "misunderstanding" nonsense that is a staple of the romance plot. Just straight ahead story, action and a great metaphysical framework in which they unfold. I am looking forward to sequels, which is part of my rationale for this review. If enough people discover (and buy) this, maybe the likelihood

Original and Satisfying

Tom Nash seems like an ordinary man with a wife and child on the way. But Tom has a gift. He can hear people's prayers and feels a compulsion to answer them. When he hears a terrified young girl pleading for her life, Tom knows that he must help her. Tom embarks on a mission to save a kidnapped girl, and along the way discovers that he's not the only one with special gifts. And not everyone uses them for good. Mack has created an incredible fantasy world of angels (the Called) and demons (the Scorned), among other super-powered beings. Tom Nash is a good man with a destiny to help people. When faced with deadly adversity, he doesn't even question what he's doing. He simply makes up his mind that helping an innocent stranger is his only option. Along the way, he meets another Called like himself, with not as wholesome morals. But the Scorned are pure evil. And when the forces of evil team up with vicious mafia, Tom is confronted with a danger he has never faced before. The supporting characters are vivid and mysterious. It's difficult to go into much detail without giving away some surprises. But there are several twists to the story, with some revelations at the end that leave it open-ended for a sequel. Here's hoping! The Calling is an exciting, dark and suspenseful urban fantasy tale. Fast-paced and thrilling, this is definitely one of my favorite original novels of the year. This is a must read for urban fantasy fans.

Non-Vampire Urban Fantasy. Yeah!

Urban Fantasy is replete with different themes and catchy permutations of your standard combination of mythological/fantastic beings who happen to turn up in the world we live in today. In The Calling, David Mack tries something pretty original by trading on the concept of Guardian Angels and their evil counterparts to create a Fantasy version of the world we live in. Tom Nash is your everyman who happens to have a mystical gift. In his case, this gift is the mechanism by which he is Called into the service of a force for good. The very nature of his existence is so set in opposition to all things fantastic that it sets up a powerful conflict between his need to stay in his life's paradigm while struggling through a serious adventure into the fantastic. It's refreshing to see a Urban Fantasy author who can understand how really difficult it could be to have your frame of reference thrown completely out of balance. Tom Nash is not terribly exciting as a character, but that's the point. The story is not so much about Tom as it is about anyone who could be placed on this path away from reality. How Tom reacts, his ability to apply real-world skills to the challenges he faces, and his willingness to adapt, but not cave in to the temptation to toss aside his morality when faced with something completely different. Tom leads us on quite a chase back an forth through New York City trying to answer the prayer of a young girl in need. David Mack doesn't stick with just his perspective. We are shown how the story evolves through at least four different sets of eyes, but this doesn't give you an omniscient view, it just fills in some blanks. Mack is very good at this and he also does a really good job of creating tension. I almost felt like I was reading a thriller novel instead of Urban Fantasy. For the first book in what appears to be a new series, I was very impressed. David Mack writes very well and gets the story moving at a pace that keeps you interested without blowing through too much too quickly. His characters are believable for the most part and in this genre that's important to keep any sense of realism. I strongly recommend this as a quick read with the hope that more will be soon on it's way.