Review: THE LEGEND OF VICTOR STANDISH
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 4, 2011
The Legend of Victor Standish . . Is the story of 13 year old Victor Standish, a legend in his own mind; self taught in the arts of history, philosophy, mysticism, and the popular Parkour moves. His weapon of choice is the ball bearing; his target the elusive acupuncture points that cause paralysis and blindness.For seven years Victor has traveled city to city, on rare occasions accompanied by his mother on the bus rides, bus usually he is alone. He has learned to live by his wits, and is always sure his next encounter will be the one that results in his death. New Orleans - just prior to the advent of Katrina - proves no different for the street smart orphan; until he meets Capt Samuel McCord. Victor has heard the legends of Capt. Sams valor, and magic, and is witness to the former in their first meeting. An awesome display of power . .The mystical walk to Meilori's at sundown is also one of the finer points of intrigue in this novel. Use of this power is not without cost to Sam, and the loved ones he is sworn to protect. Each life saving act Samuel performs on behalf of Victor, his newfound ghoul friend Alice, and the revenant priest Renfield and his nun wife Magda results in even more danger and sure death for them.The novel progresses from one near death scene to another; rife with the poetic action dialogue and self sacrifice I've come to expect from each of Roland's novels. In order to save his hero from distraction in the prophesied events of hurricane Katrina - and hints of a much larger, more devastating plot set in motion by DayStar, Victor must be killed. Sams friends (especially the mirror bound Elu) agree that Victor should go to his death willingly; and he is attempting to fulfill his promise when he meets and falls in love with the hungry ghoul Alice Wentworth.Victor sums up his dilemma thus: "After years of scuffling alone on the streets, I had finally found a friend. A creepy friend to be sure. But a friend." Victor and Alice consistently fight against the frenemies arrayed against Samuel, until finally, the Lady Death arrives at the jazz club Meilori's to collect Victor in person (so to speak)........dhole