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Dewey Decimal #2
The Nervous System
Decimal, attempting to clean up loose ends after the violent events in the first book, stumbles upon information concerning the gruesome murder of a prostitute and a prominent US senator's involvement. Immediately he finds himself chasing ghosts and fighting for his life, pursued by Blackwater-style private military contractors and the ever-present specter of his own past. Decimal confronts a twilight world of Korean hostess bars, childhood bogeymen, and the face of the military-industrial complex gone haywire -- all framed by a city descending toward total chaos.
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2013
14 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
Nathan Larson
10 books54 followersNathan Larson is best known as an award-winning film music composer, having created the scores for over thirty movies, such as Boys Don't Cry, Dirty Pretty Things, and Margin Call. He was deeply involved in the hardcore punk scene in Washington D.C., and in the 1990s, he was the lead guitarist for the influential prog-punk outfit Shudder to Think. THE DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM is his first novel, the first of three in a series. The second installment, THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, is Larsons latest work.
Larson lives in Harlem, New York City, with his wife and son.
Larson lives in Harlem, New York City, with his wife and son.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 23, 2012
what else am I supposed to give it?
June 27, 2025
There’s nothing I love more than good Noir. Well, maybe sex. And of course, my wife and kid. And then pizza ranks pretty high up there, too… but whatever, you know what I’m saying. To me, Noir is the crème-de-la-crème of the mystery/crime genre. And whenever an author can combine Noir and some other genre I love into a devil’s brew of literary deliciosity, well then that’s just the cherry on top of my ice cream sunday.
That’s why I was so enthralled with Nathan Larson’s The Nervous System. It combines Noir and post-apocalyptic fiction with one of the most unique narrative voices I’ve ever seen in modern literature. It’s gritty and bleak and hilariously funny. And, well… why don’t I tell you a little bit about the plot, first? You’ll need some background to fully appreciate all the gushing I’m about to unleash, so let’s do that first.
The Nervous System (and all of the Dewey Decimal series, of which The Nervous System is book two of three) envisions a near-future post-Imperial America, an America well on the downward slide from its previous greatness. Congress has been disbanded, the constitution suspended, and martial law reigns. After multiple large-scale terrorist attacks, an influenza pandemic, several man-made ecological disasters, and the total collapse of Wall Street, New York City is a shadow of its former self. There’s also something referred to as “The 2/14 event,” which could refer to one or all of the aforementioned events. I came in on the 2nd book in the series, and it was never really explained in detail here. Maybe it is in the 1st book? I dunno. It doesn’t matter. Bottom line is that New York, NY is a broken-down shit hole with the military-industrial complex run amok—kind of like Iraq circa 2004. The decimated cityscape is occupied by foreign contractors, private military contractors, and even foreign military troops, all fighting over the ruins of a once-great society.
Enter Dewey Decimal (not his real name, of course), a neurotic, germophobic, amnesiac, OCD, African American veteran (try saying that five times fast) who has taken up residence in the main branch of the New York City Public Library. He lives his life according to the “System,” abiding by dictates such as not hurting women and children and only making left turns before 11 a.m. He also religiously lathers up with Purell™, wears latex gloves and a dust mask at all times, and wouldn’t be caught dead in anything but the best in designer duds. Rather than seeking out the truth of his past identity (a la Jason Bourne), Decimal is perfectly happy to let the past alone. The snippets that he does remember of his time in the military and his days spent in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) “torture labs” (where they evidently pumped him up with chemicals, stuffed him with implants, and general took an eggbeater to his mind) are nightmare-inducing enough as it is. Instead he’d rather focus on his life’s work—reorganizing the library’s shelves according to his System—and leave the rest of the world to rot.
But it’s never as simple as all of that, is it? In the first installment, The Dewey Decimal System, Decimal plays bagman and enforcer for New York’s corrupt district attorney, who supplies him with his much-needed medication. In The Nervous System, the D.A. is dead and Decimal thinks he’s home free—that is, until a powerful U.S. Senator and his private army come knocking. The D.A. had some dirt on the senator, evidence indicating that, pre-2/14, the senator ordered the murder of his Korean prostitute/mistress and her unborn baby to rid himself of any political liabilities. And now that the D.A. is dead, the Senator believes that evidence has passed into Decimal hands. Mostly that’s because Decimal really does have the evidence, but he wasn’t planning on using it, so really, why all the fuss? At least, that’s how Decimal looks at it. Anyhow, the Senator’s corporate soldier boys occupy Decimal’s beloved library, and Decimal takes it about as well as if someone kidnapped his baby girl.
He can’t just give the Senator what he wants, though. The System dictates the protection of women and children, and letting a baby-killer waltz away with the evidence of his crime would mean bad mojo. Therefore, he takes it upon himself to investigate the murders, find out what really happened, and—if the Senator is guilty—burn that bastard to the ground. The resulting narrative is an almost mad-cap romp through a decimated New York City, from Korea Town to the Bronx to the shattered remains of the Brooklyn Bridge. Even as the body count rises, still Decimal tries to do the right thing, to respect the sanctity of life and spare what’s left of his battered karma. But in the process, he uncovers specters of his past that cannot be denied.
Despite all the cool stuff going on in the setting and the plot, probably the coolest thing about the entire experience was Larson’s narrative voice. The novel is told in the first person by Decimal himself. It’s mostly clipped phrases and sentence fragments filled to the brim with self-deprecating humor, profanity, and ghetto slang. The style is a lot like James Ellroy if you blunted the razor’s edge with a nihilistic funny bone. Oh yeah, and it’s told in present tense, which is kind of a rarity in Noir. But instead of taking my word for it, read an excerpt and see for yourself.
“No big wonder my skeez is wrecked: I high-fived a fast-moving military chopper. Perhaps not the slickest plan; but I got results, did I not? I’m unconcerned. Dr. Feelgood will prop me up. Point a gun just fine with my left hand.”
So imagine that plus a shit-ton of cursing for 281 pages. Larson’s style is pure brilliance. He also toys with a kind of side-slipping narrative, using flashbacks to illustrate Decimal’s fragmented memory. Oh, and then there’s the opening prologue (or whatever it is—there are no chapter titles) that is pretty much one long run-on sentence. Though, the most innovative thing I saw through the whole thing happened when Decimal literally forgot where he was and why he was there, flipped out, and had to mentally retrace his steps to figure out what was going on. I know, sounds kind of surreal, but it works. Trust me.
Larson also incorporates a lot of thematic components that I loved.
• The military industrial complex spinning out of control and by proxy precipitating the downfall of the American military in favor of private security firms.
• The “blow it up, build it back” mentality we’ve used in other countries being visited upon us.
• The loss of personal liberty and suspension of the democratic process in the name of “security.”
• The effects of psychological and biological tinkering on the human psyche.
• The effective downfall of a post-Imperial America.
It’s all fun stuff to explore through fiction. Deep, too. Best of all, though, is a theme that has been a staple of Noir for a long time—the broken man seeking redemption. Decimal tries to atone for his past sins by doing the right thing even though it’s against his best interests. He justifies it as being part of “the System,” but it is in effect an attempt to absolve himself of his half-remembered crimes. But as hard as he tries, he simply cannot. His attempts at redemption are about as effective as trying to wrestle a cloud to the ground. Just as he thinks he’s getting somewhere, it all turns to vapor and he’s left empty-handed. That’s Dewey Decimal, and that’s why—unlike a lot of stuff being called Noir these days—The Nervous System is actually Noir.
That being said, there are a few things about The Nervous System that some people might construe as negatives. None of them impacted my enjoyment of the book, though. For instance, the mystery is a little on the light side. Decimal doesn’t do that much actual investigating, and the little that he does do is far outweighed by the run-n-gun action. I happen to like run-n-gun action, though, so I didn’t mind. And the narrative is a bit disjointed at times, but that’s O.K. The story is told from Decimal’s POV, and he’s nuckin’ futs, so of course it’s going to be a bit disjointed. It’s just that some people may not be able to appreciate that kind of narrative.
When it came to rating The Nervous System, I was torn. At first I thought four stars would be appropriate, but then I started writing this review, really thinking about the book, and now four stars doesn’t seem to do it justice. But by the same token, it just doesn’t feel like a five-star book. If you asked me what would have bought The Nervous System extra star, though, I honestly couldn’t tell you. Maybe if the investigation had been a little more involved? I don’t know. But whatever--I’m going with my gut, and my gut is telling me to split the difference. That’s why I give The Nervous System four and a half out of five stars.
And—at the risk of ending on a pun—that ain’t half bad.
That’s why I was so enthralled with Nathan Larson’s The Nervous System. It combines Noir and post-apocalyptic fiction with one of the most unique narrative voices I’ve ever seen in modern literature. It’s gritty and bleak and hilariously funny. And, well… why don’t I tell you a little bit about the plot, first? You’ll need some background to fully appreciate all the gushing I’m about to unleash, so let’s do that first.
The Nervous System (and all of the Dewey Decimal series, of which The Nervous System is book two of three) envisions a near-future post-Imperial America, an America well on the downward slide from its previous greatness. Congress has been disbanded, the constitution suspended, and martial law reigns. After multiple large-scale terrorist attacks, an influenza pandemic, several man-made ecological disasters, and the total collapse of Wall Street, New York City is a shadow of its former self. There’s also something referred to as “The 2/14 event,” which could refer to one or all of the aforementioned events. I came in on the 2nd book in the series, and it was never really explained in detail here. Maybe it is in the 1st book? I dunno. It doesn’t matter. Bottom line is that New York, NY is a broken-down shit hole with the military-industrial complex run amok—kind of like Iraq circa 2004. The decimated cityscape is occupied by foreign contractors, private military contractors, and even foreign military troops, all fighting over the ruins of a once-great society.
Enter Dewey Decimal (not his real name, of course), a neurotic, germophobic, amnesiac, OCD, African American veteran (try saying that five times fast) who has taken up residence in the main branch of the New York City Public Library. He lives his life according to the “System,” abiding by dictates such as not hurting women and children and only making left turns before 11 a.m. He also religiously lathers up with Purell™, wears latex gloves and a dust mask at all times, and wouldn’t be caught dead in anything but the best in designer duds. Rather than seeking out the truth of his past identity (a la Jason Bourne), Decimal is perfectly happy to let the past alone. The snippets that he does remember of his time in the military and his days spent in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) “torture labs” (where they evidently pumped him up with chemicals, stuffed him with implants, and general took an eggbeater to his mind) are nightmare-inducing enough as it is. Instead he’d rather focus on his life’s work—reorganizing the library’s shelves according to his System—and leave the rest of the world to rot.
But it’s never as simple as all of that, is it? In the first installment, The Dewey Decimal System, Decimal plays bagman and enforcer for New York’s corrupt district attorney, who supplies him with his much-needed medication. In The Nervous System, the D.A. is dead and Decimal thinks he’s home free—that is, until a powerful U.S. Senator and his private army come knocking. The D.A. had some dirt on the senator, evidence indicating that, pre-2/14, the senator ordered the murder of his Korean prostitute/mistress and her unborn baby to rid himself of any political liabilities. And now that the D.A. is dead, the Senator believes that evidence has passed into Decimal hands. Mostly that’s because Decimal really does have the evidence, but he wasn’t planning on using it, so really, why all the fuss? At least, that’s how Decimal looks at it. Anyhow, the Senator’s corporate soldier boys occupy Decimal’s beloved library, and Decimal takes it about as well as if someone kidnapped his baby girl.
He can’t just give the Senator what he wants, though. The System dictates the protection of women and children, and letting a baby-killer waltz away with the evidence of his crime would mean bad mojo. Therefore, he takes it upon himself to investigate the murders, find out what really happened, and—if the Senator is guilty—burn that bastard to the ground. The resulting narrative is an almost mad-cap romp through a decimated New York City, from Korea Town to the Bronx to the shattered remains of the Brooklyn Bridge. Even as the body count rises, still Decimal tries to do the right thing, to respect the sanctity of life and spare what’s left of his battered karma. But in the process, he uncovers specters of his past that cannot be denied.
Despite all the cool stuff going on in the setting and the plot, probably the coolest thing about the entire experience was Larson’s narrative voice. The novel is told in the first person by Decimal himself. It’s mostly clipped phrases and sentence fragments filled to the brim with self-deprecating humor, profanity, and ghetto slang. The style is a lot like James Ellroy if you blunted the razor’s edge with a nihilistic funny bone. Oh yeah, and it’s told in present tense, which is kind of a rarity in Noir. But instead of taking my word for it, read an excerpt and see for yourself.
“No big wonder my skeez is wrecked: I high-fived a fast-moving military chopper. Perhaps not the slickest plan; but I got results, did I not? I’m unconcerned. Dr. Feelgood will prop me up. Point a gun just fine with my left hand.”
So imagine that plus a shit-ton of cursing for 281 pages. Larson’s style is pure brilliance. He also toys with a kind of side-slipping narrative, using flashbacks to illustrate Decimal’s fragmented memory. Oh, and then there’s the opening prologue (or whatever it is—there are no chapter titles) that is pretty much one long run-on sentence. Though, the most innovative thing I saw through the whole thing happened when Decimal literally forgot where he was and why he was there, flipped out, and had to mentally retrace his steps to figure out what was going on. I know, sounds kind of surreal, but it works. Trust me.
Larson also incorporates a lot of thematic components that I loved.
• The military industrial complex spinning out of control and by proxy precipitating the downfall of the American military in favor of private security firms.
• The “blow it up, build it back” mentality we’ve used in other countries being visited upon us.
• The loss of personal liberty and suspension of the democratic process in the name of “security.”
• The effects of psychological and biological tinkering on the human psyche.
• The effective downfall of a post-Imperial America.
It’s all fun stuff to explore through fiction. Deep, too. Best of all, though, is a theme that has been a staple of Noir for a long time—the broken man seeking redemption. Decimal tries to atone for his past sins by doing the right thing even though it’s against his best interests. He justifies it as being part of “the System,” but it is in effect an attempt to absolve himself of his half-remembered crimes. But as hard as he tries, he simply cannot. His attempts at redemption are about as effective as trying to wrestle a cloud to the ground. Just as he thinks he’s getting somewhere, it all turns to vapor and he’s left empty-handed. That’s Dewey Decimal, and that’s why—unlike a lot of stuff being called Noir these days—The Nervous System is actually Noir.
That being said, there are a few things about The Nervous System that some people might construe as negatives. None of them impacted my enjoyment of the book, though. For instance, the mystery is a little on the light side. Decimal doesn’t do that much actual investigating, and the little that he does do is far outweighed by the run-n-gun action. I happen to like run-n-gun action, though, so I didn’t mind. And the narrative is a bit disjointed at times, but that’s O.K. The story is told from Decimal’s POV, and he’s nuckin’ futs, so of course it’s going to be a bit disjointed. It’s just that some people may not be able to appreciate that kind of narrative.
When it came to rating The Nervous System, I was torn. At first I thought four stars would be appropriate, but then I started writing this review, really thinking about the book, and now four stars doesn’t seem to do it justice. But by the same token, it just doesn’t feel like a five-star book. If you asked me what would have bought The Nervous System extra star, though, I honestly couldn’t tell you. Maybe if the investigation had been a little more involved? I don’t know. But whatever--I’m going with my gut, and my gut is telling me to split the difference. That’s why I give The Nervous System four and a half out of five stars.
And—at the risk of ending on a pun—that ain’t half bad.
August 28, 2012
[Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography (cclapcenter.com). I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.]
I know, I know, you haven't been seeing very many reviews this year from our buddies at Akashic Books, which is because they simply haven't been sending very many books this year; and that's a shame, because it seems like every time I pick a new one up by them, at the very least it's still okay but much more often some of my favorite reads of the year. Take this most recent double-header, for example, the "soft apocalypse" noir thrillers The Dewey Decimal System and The Nervous System by former Shudder To Think guitarist Nathan Larson, which turns out to contain one of the most inventive post-apocalyptic milieus I've ever come across (and I read a lot of post-apocalyptic novels); two tales concerning a black former soldier with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, who has recently moved into the New York Public Library with the goal of manually reshelving all its books, within a Manhattan that after an endless series of coordinated terrorist attacks in the near future has voluntarily emptied to roughly one-tenth the population it once was, like The Yiddish Policeman's Union these use simple crime-novel plots as a sly way to explore this expansive alt-history universe, even while layering in an ultra-slow reveal concerning "Dewey"s actual past, the terrible eugenics experiments performed on him by the US military, and why it is that he can't remember any of it, despite still having an autonomic sense memory of how to speak Korean (for one example) or how to kill a man with his bare hands (for another). Two of the most legitimately exciting novels I've read in a long time, these had the rare ability to completely suck me out of my daily reality while I was in the middle of reading them, something that doesn't happen to me much anymore now that I read 150 books a year; and I always take that as an extremely good sign, taut genre actioners that belie the usual tropes of their genres, and which will undoubtedly be making our Best Of The Year lists come December.
Out of 10: 9.7
I know, I know, you haven't been seeing very many reviews this year from our buddies at Akashic Books, which is because they simply haven't been sending very many books this year; and that's a shame, because it seems like every time I pick a new one up by them, at the very least it's still okay but much more often some of my favorite reads of the year. Take this most recent double-header, for example, the "soft apocalypse" noir thrillers The Dewey Decimal System and The Nervous System by former Shudder To Think guitarist Nathan Larson, which turns out to contain one of the most inventive post-apocalyptic milieus I've ever come across (and I read a lot of post-apocalyptic novels); two tales concerning a black former soldier with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, who has recently moved into the New York Public Library with the goal of manually reshelving all its books, within a Manhattan that after an endless series of coordinated terrorist attacks in the near future has voluntarily emptied to roughly one-tenth the population it once was, like The Yiddish Policeman's Union these use simple crime-novel plots as a sly way to explore this expansive alt-history universe, even while layering in an ultra-slow reveal concerning "Dewey"s actual past, the terrible eugenics experiments performed on him by the US military, and why it is that he can't remember any of it, despite still having an autonomic sense memory of how to speak Korean (for one example) or how to kill a man with his bare hands (for another). Two of the most legitimately exciting novels I've read in a long time, these had the rare ability to completely suck me out of my daily reality while I was in the middle of reading them, something that doesn't happen to me much anymore now that I read 150 books a year; and I always take that as an extremely good sign, taut genre actioners that belie the usual tropes of their genres, and which will undoubtedly be making our Best Of The Year lists come December.
Out of 10: 9.7
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February 18, 2022Review coming soon
January 8, 2013
the 2nd installment of dewey's beefs with the powers that be in a ruined nyc. dewey has a past, but he just can't remember it very well, but one aspect of it has made him a mad mad badass killer, with very little compunction to the whys or whos of those destined for his bullet in their face. this makes him both popular with the corrupt leaders and corrupt mafia and corrupt military etc. and alls dewey wants to do is reorganize the main branch of nypl, if they'll let him. written in both a funny/snarky street patois and old fashioned gumshoe noir. collect all two!
January 25, 2013
Post-apocalyptic social meltdown, an anti-hero main character with memory loss who survives by his wits, paramilitary bad guys, a corrupt Bible-spouting politician, an off-the-grid computer genius, and a double mystery: The 20 year old brutal murder of a young Korean woman and her infant, and the resurfacing of repressed memories – much of this plot may sound derivative. What I love about this book is that author Nathan Larson is able to re-assemble these threads into a story that feels fresh.
The Event, labeled “2/14,” is a coordinated bombing of New York City which occurs sometime in the near future. The main character is Dewey Decimal (an epithet adopted because he cannot remember his real name). Dewey resides in the New York Public Library where he attempts to reorganize the scattered remains of the still vast collection when he's not evading danger, struggling to survive on the streets, or repressing past traumas which include a stint in the military and experimental neurosurgery implants. In addition to PTSD his repressions may also stem from performing acts he'd rather not remember.
This is the second book of the series. Even more than the first, it involves non-stop action which spills across New York's streets. The details of these wanderings will especially be appreciated by anyone familiar with New York. The story opens with Decimal's abduction by a Cyna-corp unit controlled by a powerful and (of course!) corrupt Bible-spouting U.S. Senator, Clarence Howard. The Senator is worried that Dewey has evidence that might implicate him in the murder of the Korean girl. Dewey wonders why Senator Howard would be worried by a 20 year old closed case that no one cares about. Also, he adheres to the maxim that the best defense is a proactive offense. And, finally, he's just an ornery character who doesn't like being pushed around. His curiosity leads him into the murky, closed environs of Koreatown. At the same time, he begins having flashbacks that hint of a past that somehow may connect him to people involved with the murder.
This is a plot-driven book filled with violence, profanity and political vitriol. The genre is outside of my normal preference. What I like about Larson's writing is its jittery vibe with it's staccato cadences and violent run-on torrent of fragmented impressions. Cyna-corp is imagined as a combination Halliburton-Blackwater Worldwide: “Cyna-corp doesn't just do military. Cyna-corp does catering. Office supplies. Janitorial and laundry services. General infrastructure, and construction of all types. Kick it from this angle: they get paid to knock it down, and paid to build it up again. Funny little world.” The story is narrated entirely in the first person from Dewey's justifiably paranoid viewpoint in a unique stylized argot. Dewey characterizes the Senator's mellifluous elocution: “...getting more Southern-fried churchified.” At another point he observes: “His face is beatific, rapturous. His insanity is profound and rare. Specific. It occurs to me that all men and women of power have varying degrees of sickness within them.”
Larson has bestowed on his character an almost endless chain of neuroses. Dewey's sartorial preoccupations are almost ludicrous given the violent situations he thrusts on himself. In need of some clothes, he exults in the find of a Paul Smith wool and mohair overcoat with velvet collar -- this but an afterthought to his carefully chosen double-breasted suit. This occurs in a hiatus after taking Senator Howard's wife hostage. He obsesses over hygiene, only barely resisting the urge to Purell even in the midst of a gun battle. His compulsions include OCD-leaning rules about left turns before noon and riding the subway in alphabetical order. The problem for Larson is building on this foundation without foundering into “schtick.” I'm not sure if he totally succeeds here, but I also have to admit that I'm mesmerized by his escapist web of nightmares. I defer to the judgment of those more enamored of the genre. I do recommend reading the books in order. If you like the character, you will be motivated to continue on in the series. In addition, Larson has left an unresolved strand in THE NERVOUS SYSTEM that fairly begs for a sequel. It's obvious he intends to build momentum through the series. Hopefully that momentum will be rewarded.
The Event, labeled “2/14,” is a coordinated bombing of New York City which occurs sometime in the near future. The main character is Dewey Decimal (an epithet adopted because he cannot remember his real name). Dewey resides in the New York Public Library where he attempts to reorganize the scattered remains of the still vast collection when he's not evading danger, struggling to survive on the streets, or repressing past traumas which include a stint in the military and experimental neurosurgery implants. In addition to PTSD his repressions may also stem from performing acts he'd rather not remember.
This is the second book of the series. Even more than the first, it involves non-stop action which spills across New York's streets. The details of these wanderings will especially be appreciated by anyone familiar with New York. The story opens with Decimal's abduction by a Cyna-corp unit controlled by a powerful and (of course!) corrupt Bible-spouting U.S. Senator, Clarence Howard. The Senator is worried that Dewey has evidence that might implicate him in the murder of the Korean girl. Dewey wonders why Senator Howard would be worried by a 20 year old closed case that no one cares about. Also, he adheres to the maxim that the best defense is a proactive offense. And, finally, he's just an ornery character who doesn't like being pushed around. His curiosity leads him into the murky, closed environs of Koreatown. At the same time, he begins having flashbacks that hint of a past that somehow may connect him to people involved with the murder.
This is a plot-driven book filled with violence, profanity and political vitriol. The genre is outside of my normal preference. What I like about Larson's writing is its jittery vibe with it's staccato cadences and violent run-on torrent of fragmented impressions. Cyna-corp is imagined as a combination Halliburton-Blackwater Worldwide: “Cyna-corp doesn't just do military. Cyna-corp does catering. Office supplies. Janitorial and laundry services. General infrastructure, and construction of all types. Kick it from this angle: they get paid to knock it down, and paid to build it up again. Funny little world.” The story is narrated entirely in the first person from Dewey's justifiably paranoid viewpoint in a unique stylized argot. Dewey characterizes the Senator's mellifluous elocution: “...getting more Southern-fried churchified.” At another point he observes: “His face is beatific, rapturous. His insanity is profound and rare. Specific. It occurs to me that all men and women of power have varying degrees of sickness within them.”
Larson has bestowed on his character an almost endless chain of neuroses. Dewey's sartorial preoccupations are almost ludicrous given the violent situations he thrusts on himself. In need of some clothes, he exults in the find of a Paul Smith wool and mohair overcoat with velvet collar -- this but an afterthought to his carefully chosen double-breasted suit. This occurs in a hiatus after taking Senator Howard's wife hostage. He obsesses over hygiene, only barely resisting the urge to Purell even in the midst of a gun battle. His compulsions include OCD-leaning rules about left turns before noon and riding the subway in alphabetical order. The problem for Larson is building on this foundation without foundering into “schtick.” I'm not sure if he totally succeeds here, but I also have to admit that I'm mesmerized by his escapist web of nightmares. I defer to the judgment of those more enamored of the genre. I do recommend reading the books in order. If you like the character, you will be motivated to continue on in the series. In addition, Larson has left an unresolved strand in THE NERVOUS SYSTEM that fairly begs for a sequel. It's obvious he intends to build momentum through the series. Hopefully that momentum will be rewarded.
September 8, 2013
When I think Dewey Decimal I think of the warm embrace of books in a cozy library. Bright sunny windows. Comforting books. Maybe a cat.
This isn't that Dewey Decimal. This Dewey Decimal is a highly skilled but deeply damaged warrior, a veteran of war and a victim of military experimentation, making his way through a New York City that has been debilitated by a series of terrorist bombs.
There is a library. Dewey makes his home in the large cold hulk of the abandoned New York City main branch. His avocation is to organize and catalog the chaos of the remaining books but he frequently finds himself navigating the chaos of politics and power instead, in order to ensure his survival.
Dewey is truly a lone foot soldier. He can't trust anyone or anything, including his own memory. He remembers very little of his past. He doesn’t even remember his real name. Memories bubble up, but are they real or the product of those military experiments? He’s not sure he wants to know.
To cope with the breakdown of society, Dewey has developed his own OCD system. Despite all the quirks of his implementation, the heart of the system is the concept of balance:”If you've got internal balance, you can radiate that balance externally, exercise control over your environment.” Of course, Dewey has some unique ways of maintaining this balance: “Check my left breast: the Beretta under my jacket helps fill out the sunken cavity where my heart used to be. The Sig Sauer achieves the same effect on my right side. Symmetry. That’s the System working for me, people. Watch and learn.”
In The Nervous System, Dewey finds himself soliciting the assistance of the Korean mafia in his battle for truth and survival. The Senator from New York, Clarence Howard, believes Dewey holds material that has been used to blackmail him about a Korean girlfriend and child that were murdered long ago. Howard wields Cyna-corp, a Blackwater-type organization on steroids, as his weapon, threatening not only Dewey but also his beloved library. Events in the conflict force Dewey to reluctantly recall pieces of his past, undermining his continual struggle for self-respect.
The Nervous System is a compelling example of contemporary noir, however I cannot recommend that you run right out and buy it. Start with The Dewey Decimal System, the first book of the series. I don’t feel The Nervous System works as well on its own. Also, there is clearly more to come. The scenario described in the opening chapters is wrapped up in the end but there is no true resolution. The overall story is still mid-arc. I’ll have my eye out for the following book.
I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
This isn't that Dewey Decimal. This Dewey Decimal is a highly skilled but deeply damaged warrior, a veteran of war and a victim of military experimentation, making his way through a New York City that has been debilitated by a series of terrorist bombs.
There is a library. Dewey makes his home in the large cold hulk of the abandoned New York City main branch. His avocation is to organize and catalog the chaos of the remaining books but he frequently finds himself navigating the chaos of politics and power instead, in order to ensure his survival.
Dewey is truly a lone foot soldier. He can't trust anyone or anything, including his own memory. He remembers very little of his past. He doesn’t even remember his real name. Memories bubble up, but are they real or the product of those military experiments? He’s not sure he wants to know.
To cope with the breakdown of society, Dewey has developed his own OCD system. Despite all the quirks of his implementation, the heart of the system is the concept of balance:”If you've got internal balance, you can radiate that balance externally, exercise control over your environment.” Of course, Dewey has some unique ways of maintaining this balance: “Check my left breast: the Beretta under my jacket helps fill out the sunken cavity where my heart used to be. The Sig Sauer achieves the same effect on my right side. Symmetry. That’s the System working for me, people. Watch and learn.”
In The Nervous System, Dewey finds himself soliciting the assistance of the Korean mafia in his battle for truth and survival. The Senator from New York, Clarence Howard, believes Dewey holds material that has been used to blackmail him about a Korean girlfriend and child that were murdered long ago. Howard wields Cyna-corp, a Blackwater-type organization on steroids, as his weapon, threatening not only Dewey but also his beloved library. Events in the conflict force Dewey to reluctantly recall pieces of his past, undermining his continual struggle for self-respect.
The Nervous System is a compelling example of contemporary noir, however I cannot recommend that you run right out and buy it. Start with The Dewey Decimal System, the first book of the series. I don’t feel The Nervous System works as well on its own. Also, there is clearly more to come. The scenario described in the opening chapters is wrapped up in the end but there is no true resolution. The overall story is still mid-arc. I’ll have my eye out for the following book.
I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
February 15, 2019
This apocalyptic story takes place in New York City after a flu pandemic that has wiped out the vast majority of the population. It is told through the eyes of Dewey Decimal - a physically and emotionally damaged former soldier who lives in what is left of the main branch of the New York Public Library. To deal with his obsessive compulsive issues and PTSD, Dewey has set himself to re-shelving the books in the NYPL while constantly washing his hands with Purell hand sanitizer and taking some unknown pills to stave off his PTSD flashbacks. To keep himself in pills and Purell, he uses his special ops skills to get occasional work from dubious politicians.
Dewey is a very damaged protagonist but you get the feeling that he has a deep moral code of ethics. Despite littering the landscape, both past and present, with dead bodies, Dewey takes on the bad guys and tries to protect the innocent. He does all of this despite blackouts and trying to adhere to his unclear OC system that includes such rules as only taking left turns in the morning.
I would categorize this book as more of a detective novel that an apocalyptic science fiction book. Following the trail of who committed a gruesome murder Dewey gets embroiled with city and international politics while he tries to solve both the murder and his past at the same time. I found that, once I got into the storyline, I didn't want to put this book down.
Dewey is a strange combination of hero/anti-hero. The story line has some strong similarities to the movie Chinatown by Robert Towne, not the least of which is that a lot of the action takes place in New York's Chinatown district. In a similar fashion to Chinatown, Nathan Larson has woven a tale that twists and turns, has lots of suspense, damaged characters, deceptions, subterfuge, and a story line that will keep you guessing as to who is who and how it will come out.
Unfortunately I read this book without realizing that it is the second in the series and felt like I started in the middle of a story. I'm sure I would have been less confused had I the background from the first book and strongly recommend that you read The Dewey Decimal System before taking on The Nervous System. I'm backtracking to read the first in the Dewey Decimal Series now and am already hooked by the storyline.
Dewey is a very damaged protagonist but you get the feeling that he has a deep moral code of ethics. Despite littering the landscape, both past and present, with dead bodies, Dewey takes on the bad guys and tries to protect the innocent. He does all of this despite blackouts and trying to adhere to his unclear OC system that includes such rules as only taking left turns in the morning.
I would categorize this book as more of a detective novel that an apocalyptic science fiction book. Following the trail of who committed a gruesome murder Dewey gets embroiled with city and international politics while he tries to solve both the murder and his past at the same time. I found that, once I got into the storyline, I didn't want to put this book down.
Dewey is a strange combination of hero/anti-hero. The story line has some strong similarities to the movie Chinatown by Robert Towne, not the least of which is that a lot of the action takes place in New York's Chinatown district. In a similar fashion to Chinatown, Nathan Larson has woven a tale that twists and turns, has lots of suspense, damaged characters, deceptions, subterfuge, and a story line that will keep you guessing as to who is who and how it will come out.
Unfortunately I read this book without realizing that it is the second in the series and felt like I started in the middle of a story. I'm sure I would have been less confused had I the background from the first book and strongly recommend that you read The Dewey Decimal System before taking on The Nervous System. I'm backtracking to read the first in the Dewey Decimal Series now and am already hooked by the storyline.
August 20, 2020
Before I bought this limited edition hardback when it was originally published, I read the first in the series and reviewed it. That review follows:
A crazy story about a crazy man in a crazy post-Apocalyptic New York City. Edge of the seat laughs where thrills might otherwise be. No Zombies (I think).
Loads of escapist fun, plenty of action and bad guys. A few bits of social commentary.
Recommended.
I could have let that stand as a review of the present novel with the exception that I read it this week, as COVID-19 Fall Semester 2020 is about to begin. And certain hallmarks of "The Nervous System" ring uncannily familiar. Sanitizer. Masks. Destruction. Corrupt, lying, religious pretender politicians. And destruction beyond what we have seen. Away beyond. But. We ain't out of the woods yet.
Recommended.
A crazy story about a crazy man in a crazy post-Apocalyptic New York City. Edge of the seat laughs where thrills might otherwise be. No Zombies (I think).
Loads of escapist fun, plenty of action and bad guys. A few bits of social commentary.
Recommended.
I could have let that stand as a review of the present novel with the exception that I read it this week, as COVID-19 Fall Semester 2020 is about to begin. And certain hallmarks of "The Nervous System" ring uncannily familiar. Sanitizer. Masks. Destruction. Corrupt, lying, religious pretender politicians. And destruction beyond what we have seen. Away beyond. But. We ain't out of the woods yet.
Recommended.
July 22, 2018
Anti hero much, much too anti for me. No one to root for. All characters are awful
September 29, 2019
Violent and thrilling ... the ending is a frustrating cliff-hanger for #3
August 14, 2012
The Nervous System is Nathan Larson's second installment of the Dewey Decimal series. Even more amped up than the first book, The Nervous System is the next logical step in the right direction. Larson's taken a turn though with Decimal. I'm not sure how to say this but he's just more ghetto as a character. I don't remember him like this in the first novel. Sometimes it comes off as tongue in cheek and other times I can't make sense of Larson's intent. The net--check this series out. It's worth the read thus far.
One critique of Larson's book--editor please. I'm not sure what the Akashic budget is for editing but Larson's latest is chock full of typos and this is just irritating. I'm a fan of Larson's work and an unabashed supporter of Akashic, but I can't be silent anymore. Readers pay full price for a novel so we shouldn't get one with distracting misspellings. Sorry to hang you publicly Nate Dogg, but I'd give Akashic a quick boot in the arse for your next novel. You're a good writer, don't like poor editing take away from your books.
One critique of Larson's book--editor please. I'm not sure what the Akashic budget is for editing but Larson's latest is chock full of typos and this is just irritating. I'm a fan of Larson's work and an unabashed supporter of Akashic, but I can't be silent anymore. Readers pay full price for a novel so we shouldn't get one with distracting misspellings. Sorry to hang you publicly Nate Dogg, but I'd give Akashic a quick boot in the arse for your next novel. You're a good writer, don't like poor editing take away from your books.
March 28, 2013
This follow-up to Larson’s 2011 debut novel, The Dewey Decimal System, takes us back to near-future NYC and the madcap life of the eponymous Dewey Decimal. With events from his past still spotty, Dewey operates as muscle for various politicians, stumbling through the ruins of the city and just barely surviving one event after the next. Another great installment in this young series, perfect for fans of Josh Bazell and Ken Bruen.
June 15, 2012
First of all, if you’re thinking this is about books, you would be wrong; Dewey Decimal is an amnesiac soldier that has taken up residence at the New York Public Library. Akashic Books has a well-received selection of Noir Books and this could be considered Dystopian Noir. It’s a very bleak but exciting story.
Free Review Copy.
Free Review Copy.
August 9, 2012
"Listen here; I fear no man, save myself."
p. 59
"*We* don't try to move in on each other's territories, sir, or poach each other's property; we're not like the Italians or the Russians, killing each other, lying to each other. This is a life thing, and a true family. The Sicilian thing, they're vain, spoiled children."
p. 115
p. 59
"*We* don't try to move in on each other's territories, sir, or poach each other's property; we're not like the Italians or the Russians, killing each other, lying to each other. This is a life thing, and a true family. The Sicilian thing, they're vain, spoiled children."
p. 115
September 22, 2012
Not my cup o tea. But as a dystopian novel about a guy with severe OCD in a NYC that would barely qualify as third world, I guess it's okay. I expected this to be a post-apocalyptic novel with some hope and a touch of humanity at least as an undercurrent. This just seemed crazy and dark.
October 18, 2012
Not nearly as good as the first book.
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