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professorfate's review against another edition
5.0
As I may have mentioned before, I am on a quest to reread all of the “Wild Cards” books that I have already read (the first thirteen or fourteen books, I think) in order before I start to read the newer ones (which I haven’t read), mainly so that I can remind myself of who all the characters are after all these years. I was looking forward to reading this one because, as I remember it, this was one of my favorite (if not the favorite) books. Having just finished it, that belief was proven correct.
The novel takes place during the 1988 Democratic convention in Atlanta, where the Democrats are trying to choose a candidate to run against George Bush (the elder, not the Shrub). None of the contenders have the nomination locked up, but the two front runners are Senator Gregg Hartmann and Reverend Leo Barnett. Hartmann is the senator from New York, who is very much in favor of jokers’ rights (healthcare for jokers, etc.). Barnett, on the other hand, is sold as the conservative Southern minister who wants to remove all people affected by the wild card virus to concentration camps.
A full summary of who is present and what is going on would take too long (and would spoil the fun of the book), but a couple of highlights are in order:
Sara Morganstern is there, still trying to expose Hartmann’s secret ace power to the world to avenge the death of her sister, which she believes was caused by Hartmann.
In order to prevent this, Hartmann has secretly hired Mackie Messer—aka Mack the Knife—to silence Morganstern and others who know about his ace, Puppetman.
Somebody else has hired James “Demise” Spector to kill Hartmann.
Dr. Tachyon is there to support Hartmann, until he learns the truth.
Jack Braun—aka Golden Boy—is there as the head of the California delegation and a Hartmann supporter who becomes embroiled in all of the intrigue.
This book sizzles along, with plenty of action to keep you turning pages. It is a great addition to (or edition of, whatever) the Wild Cards series and I highly recommend it (after reading the first five so that you know who everybody is).
The novel takes place during the 1988 Democratic convention in Atlanta, where the Democrats are trying to choose a candidate to run against George Bush (the elder, not the Shrub). None of the contenders have the nomination locked up, but the two front runners are Senator Gregg Hartmann and Reverend Leo Barnett. Hartmann is the senator from New York, who is very much in favor of jokers’ rights (healthcare for jokers, etc.). Barnett, on the other hand, is sold as the conservative Southern minister who wants to remove all people affected by the wild card virus to concentration camps.
A full summary of who is present and what is going on would take too long (and would spoil the fun of the book), but a couple of highlights are in order:
Sara Morganstern is there, still trying to expose Hartmann’s secret ace power to the world to avenge the death of her sister, which she believes was caused by Hartmann.
In order to prevent this, Hartmann has secretly hired Mackie Messer—aka Mack the Knife—to silence Morganstern and others who know about his ace, Puppetman.
Somebody else has hired James “Demise” Spector to kill Hartmann.
Dr. Tachyon is there to support Hartmann, until he learns the truth.
Jack Braun—aka Golden Boy—is there as the head of the California delegation and a Hartmann supporter who becomes embroiled in all of the intrigue.
This book sizzles along, with plenty of action to keep you turning pages. It is a great addition to (or edition of, whatever) the Wild Cards series and I highly recommend it (after reading the first five so that you know who everybody is).
scheu's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first of the WC books I've re-read where I had serious problems. Everything seemed fine when I was fourteen...
My biggest issue is Tachyon. He's pathetic. I feel badly for the jokers and everyone who relies on him - he ought to be a little effective but spends nearly the entire book crying. Literally weeping.
My second issue would be the female characters, since they barely do anything - and when they do, they're sleeping with someone or looking to their male counterparts. Chrysalis - the one with any agency typically - is killed "off-panel". The Wild Cards books have come a long way in the past quarter-century, thankfully, in regards to its female characters.
Then there's Jack Braun. The writers really over-estimate the memory of the American public. Jack, no one's going to care about you being a traitor or whatever. Stop whining.
Then there's Hiram and his plot point (which won't be resolved until next volume). Everyone's staring at this nasty scab on his neck, everyone notices he's acting REALLY STRANGELY, but no one acts on it, just so we can kick his plot point can down the road.
If there's one thing I appreciate about this volume, it's that some too-powerful characters are taken off the table (Demise, Puppetman, Mackie). Not the end of mental-domination plotlines but we're getting there.
My biggest issue is Tachyon. He's pathetic. I feel badly for the jokers and everyone who relies on him - he ought to be a little effective but spends nearly the entire book crying. Literally weeping.
My second issue would be the female characters, since they barely do anything - and when they do, they're sleeping with someone or looking to their male counterparts. Chrysalis - the one with any agency typically - is killed "off-panel". The Wild Cards books have come a long way in the past quarter-century, thankfully, in regards to its female characters.
Then there's Jack Braun. The writers really over-estimate the memory of the American public. Jack, no one's going to care about you being a traitor or whatever. Stop whining.
Then there's Hiram and his plot point (which won't be resolved until next volume). Everyone's staring at this nasty scab on his neck, everyone notices he's acting REALLY STRANGELY, but no one acts on it, just so we can kick his plot point can down the road.
If there's one thing I appreciate about this volume, it's that some too-powerful characters are taken off the table (Demise, Puppetman, Mackie). Not the end of mental-domination plotlines but we're getting there.
dtener89's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
shane's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of the 'mosaic' novels that rather than being written by numerous authors in the form of short stories that are then edited together, are written by one or two authors with a definite story-line, much more like an ordinary novel. I prefer the numerous authors and their short stories though.
This one was set around a political campaign, which I wouldn't normally be interested in at all if it wasn't for the various characters. The Jokers and Aces that fill the pages of these wild card novels are just wonderful and this is what held my attention and to be honest, what always holds my attention with these books, even if the story isn't to my liking per se.
The next book was originally a part of this one but they felt it would be too long to publish as one novel, and I have to say, I think I agree with them. Apparently it follows the investigation into the murder of Chrysalis who was one of my favourite characters and whom I shall miss terribly now.
A good read. Looking forward to the next one more though, even though it is another 'mosaic' novel.
Very good.
This one was set around a political campaign, which I wouldn't normally be interested in at all if it wasn't for the various characters. The Jokers and Aces that fill the pages of these wild card novels are just wonderful and this is what held my attention and to be honest, what always holds my attention with these books, even if the story isn't to my liking per se.
The next book was originally a part of this one but they felt it would be too long to publish as one novel, and I have to say, I think I agree with them. Apparently it follows the investigation into the murder of Chrysalis who was one of my favourite characters and whom I shall miss terribly now.
A good read. Looking forward to the next one more though, even though it is another 'mosaic' novel.
Very good.
chukg's review against another edition
5.0
Probably my favourite Wild Cards book. You know how you read a series with a lot of characters and try to figure out who'd win if they fought? This book answered all my questions in that area. It parallels events in book 7 and has satisfying resolutions to several plots.
scottydee's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
curgoth's review against another edition
Audiobook re-read.
I had good memories of this, and was surprised that it mostly held up. Tachyon and Braun are awful people, but they are supposed to be. Tachyon's arrogance and self-absorption just ruins everything.
I also remember hating Blaise intensely every time he showed up, and that still remains true.
The last couple Wild Cards books felt a bit like a slog, but with this one I was actively looking for ways to listen to *just a little more*. This is partly that the writing is pretty strong, but also because the voice work is great - same voice actors as previous novels, but the characters in focus here mean we get a lot of both Stephen McHattie and the always exceptional Clancy Brown. Even if no one can ever remember what Hiram Worcester is supposed to sound like from chapter to chapter.
The women characters aren't terribly well-served here, being defined almost entirely by the men around them, and I'm pretty sure we have Bechdel fail here.
We also get a stellar example of how to write a truly indestructible character like Superman. I like Golden Boy best when he loses while trying so very hard to do the right thing.
This wraps up the second trilogy and takes care of Puppetman. Next up, we have the Jumpers, Bloat and Blaise becoming a teenager. I am going to try to get through the Jumper trilogy, but I may tap out and jump ahead to the 2000s at that point.
I had good memories of this, and was surprised that it mostly held up. Tachyon and Braun are awful people, but they are supposed to be. Tachyon's arrogance and self-absorption just ruins everything.
I also remember hating Blaise intensely every time he showed up, and that still remains true.
The last couple Wild Cards books felt a bit like a slog, but with this one I was actively looking for ways to listen to *just a little more*. This is partly that the writing is pretty strong, but also because the voice work is great - same voice actors as previous novels, but the characters in focus here mean we get a lot of both Stephen McHattie and the always exceptional Clancy Brown. Even if no one can ever remember what Hiram Worcester is supposed to sound like from chapter to chapter.
The women characters aren't terribly well-served here, being defined almost entirely by the men around them, and I'm pretty sure we have Bechdel fail here.
We also get a stellar example of how to write a truly indestructible character like Superman. I like Golden Boy best when he loses while trying so very hard to do the right thing.
This wraps up the second trilogy and takes care of Puppetman. Next up, we have the Jumpers, Bloat and Blaise becoming a teenager. I am going to try to get through the Jumper trilogy, but I may tap out and jump ahead to the 2000s at that point.
agoldstarforyou's review against another edition
4.0
This has unfortunately been one of my least enjoyed books in the series so far; though I found a small redemption in the drawing of conclusions to some unanswered questions of the series. I look forward to moving on to what is shaping to be a next generation wave of wildcards.
brandt's review against another edition
5.0
Great mosaic novel. Multiple characters saw growth. Love how it is intertwined with the seventh book.
bent's review against another edition
2.0
Kind of a boring entry in the series. When I started reading the wild card books, I never thought "superheroes are OK, but I'd really like a fictionalized account of a nomination process for a presidential candidate." But that's what we got.
Besides the boring plot, we have a number of characters milling around, not really getting anywhere, building to what is supposed to be a climatic scene. But that scene is a bit of a letdown. I will admit that I read the first two books in this particular arc a little while ago, so I might have appreciated this book more if there was less of a gap, but in general, I found that this book spent most of its time on characters that didn't really grab the attention. Spectre was probably the most compelling character.
There were elements of what I love about the Wild Card books, but not enough to hold my attention. A real letdown for what had been until now, an excellent series.
Besides the boring plot, we have a number of characters milling around, not really getting anywhere, building to what is supposed to be a climatic scene. But that scene is a bit of a letdown. I will admit that I read the first two books in this particular arc a little while ago, so I might have appreciated this book more if there was less of a gap, but in general, I found that this book spent most of its time on characters that didn't really grab the attention. Spectre was probably the most compelling character.
There were elements of what I love about the Wild Card books, but not enough to hold my attention. A real letdown for what had been until now, an excellent series.