Review: ‘Tales of the Rook’

The Rook is a New Hero pulp character created by Barry Reese. The Rook fights crime and evil in the ’30s and ’40s (and later).

In his six Rook novels, Barry mixes in pulp hero, comic book and comic strip characters, along with occult horror/weird menace angles, and does a good job. He also adds in a love interest who will marry him (pulp heroes usually never do that, which is different). The Rook goes up against traditional villians, pulp super-foes and occult horrors, and is assisted by characters based on pulp heroes and comic book/comic strip characters (some original, other done as pastiches or homages to other characters).

I recently did a review of the first Rook volume, so check it out for more info on this character if you are not familiar with him.

“Tales of The Rook” is something different, and something promised for a long time. This is not “The Rook volume whatever.” It’s a collection of new short stories featuring the Rook but written by others. This allows for some other new pulp writers to have a go at this new and popular character.

Barry writes the first story. It’s a sort of new take on “The Deadliest Game,” but with some different elements so it’s not a total copy.

Next is a story, by Ron Fortier (of Airship 27 fame), is set in the early years of The Rook’s career.

Then we have a story by Bobby Nash. It’s a decent story, with The Rook battling an arsonist in Atlanta. But after all the supernatural-based stories, it’s overshadowed.

Then Mike Bullock has The Rook team up with a new pulp hero, Xander Janus. Will we see more of this character?

Perry Constantine‘s story is set in the future with the fourth Rook. Another pulp hero makes a cameo appearance.

And finally, Tommy Hancock, the head of Pro Se Press, has The Rook go up against classic pulp villain Doctor Death! And this sets up possible future conflicts with him.

One thing I would have liked to have seen would have been some short biographical info on all of the authors. I’ve seen this in many works, and was a little disappointed by the absence here.

I look forward to the next Rook volume, as well as more “Tales of the Rook.”