Hello, Stranger. Let's talk about Fritz Leiber's The Wanderer. The Short of It Plot: A mysterious planet appears out of hyperspace, high jinks ensue. Page Count: 320 Award: 1965 Hugo Worth a read : For the love of all you hold dear, No. Primary Driver: (No) Bechdel Test : Pass (Surprising!) Technobabble: Plenty Review: How do you take a book about a planet of freedom fighting space cats appearing out of hyperspace to devour the moon and make it so boring? So many characters, none of them have personalities except for racial stereotypes. Silly to include multiple comic relief characters when the book itself is a joke. I think I understand book burning now. The Medium of It Spoiler Free! We're not doing this, Stranger. The only reason to read this book is to tell other people how bad it was. I haven't decided if that makes it so-bad-it's-good. I'm inclined to say it's so-bad-it's-bad. Do...
Hello, Stranger. Let's talk about Robert Heinlein's Job: A Comedy of Justice. The Short of It Plot: When Alex comes to, he is not in his own world. Is God testing him? Page Count: 377 Award: 1985 Locus Fantasy Worth a read : No Primary Driver: (Plot, World , or Character ) Bechdel Test : Fail Technobabble: Minimal to moderate. Review: All the fun of parallel worlds with no charm. Irritating characters responding in incomprehensible manners to unfortunate but often uninteresting twists of fate. New candidate for weakest female lead character in a book! Pacing is atrocious - up to and including a massive shift for the final third or so of the book, making it feel like two lackluster novellas. This book felt significantly longer than its 370 pages. Everything about this book feels half-baked and peculiarly self-indulgent. The Medium of It Spoiler Free! Except for the premise being a parallel world. I thought I loved Hei...
Hello, Stranger. Let's talk about Robert R. McCammon's Boy's Life. The Short of It Plot: Twelve year old Cory's quiet life in 1960s Alabama is shaken up when, by chance, he witnesses a murder. Page Count: 625 Award: 1992 World Fantasy Award Worth a read : Absolutely Primary Driver: (Plot, World, or Character ) Bechdel Test : Pass Technobabble: N/A Review: This objectively boring and meandering book is somehow completely and utterly engrossing. Truly exceptional writing captures both the whimsy of childhood and the slow maturation of its characters. Backdrop of 1960s in the South used well: both the idyllic aspects of life in days when the milkman still made his rounds, and the darker aspects of embedded racism. It's a snapshot of life with overlaid story elements - but it just works. Switches from casually humorous to introspective to devastating and back, without warning. A few scenes really punch you right in the gut. The Medium of It Spoi...
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