odd one out
So far this month, I've read 9 books - 8 thrillers and one SF :) So, here's the odd one out...
Inside Straight - Early Reviewer copy from LibraryThing - and this is the review I did for LT:
Sixty years ago, an alien virus spread a wave of mutations around the globe. Jokers got more visible mutations, aces became more like superheroes. But now the whole thing is a bit more mundane and Hollywood is cashing in reality TV style - a Survivor-type show to choose the newest American Hero. But reality TV gets overtaken by reality, when a couple of the cast-offs and one of the production staff, who has gained new powers, head to Egypt where the assassination of the country's ruler has lead to genocide against the changed.
I read a couple of the Wild Card books back when they first came out, but don't really remember them. And it's not really necessary for understanding or enjoying this one - the background is woven into the story, though some of the references to past Wild Cards would be easier to catch if you had read others.
This is a shared universe novel, with different parts written by different authors, and woven together into one story. Daniel Abraham's pieces - blog posts written by Jonathan Hive - do an excellent job of anchoring the story, wrapping up chapters and setting up the next parts. I really enjoyed the book - though the switch from Hollywood to Egypt seemed very abrupt, but that may also be because the type of action changes so dramatically - from reality TV challenges to real battles. Not sure I'll go back and read the older books, but I definitely think I'll pick up the new ones.
Oh, and as one other reviewer noted, the blurb on the back of the book is for the sequel, not this book.
Inside Straight - Early Reviewer copy from LibraryThing - and this is the review I did for LT:
Sixty years ago, an alien virus spread a wave of mutations around the globe. Jokers got more visible mutations, aces became more like superheroes. But now the whole thing is a bit more mundane and Hollywood is cashing in reality TV style - a Survivor-type show to choose the newest American Hero. But reality TV gets overtaken by reality, when a couple of the cast-offs and one of the production staff, who has gained new powers, head to Egypt where the assassination of the country's ruler has lead to genocide against the changed.
I read a couple of the Wild Card books back when they first came out, but don't really remember them. And it's not really necessary for understanding or enjoying this one - the background is woven into the story, though some of the references to past Wild Cards would be easier to catch if you had read others.
This is a shared universe novel, with different parts written by different authors, and woven together into one story. Daniel Abraham's pieces - blog posts written by Jonathan Hive - do an excellent job of anchoring the story, wrapping up chapters and setting up the next parts. I really enjoyed the book - though the switch from Hollywood to Egypt seemed very abrupt, but that may also be because the type of action changes so dramatically - from reality TV challenges to real battles. Not sure I'll go back and read the older books, but I definitely think I'll pick up the new ones.
Oh, and as one other reviewer noted, the blurb on the back of the book is for the sequel, not this book.