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Wild Cards #19
Busted Flush
In 1946, an alien virus that rewrites human DNA was accidentally unleashed in the skies over New York City. It killed ninety percent of those it infected. Nine percent survived to mutate into tragically deformed creatures. And one percent gained superpowers. The Wild Cards shared-universe series, created and edited since 1987 by New York Times #1 bestseller George R. R. Martin ("The American Tolkien" -- Time magazine) along with Melinda Snodgrass, is the tale of the history of the world since then—and of the heroes among the one percent.
Now a new generation of heroes has taken its place on the world stage, its members crucial players in international events. At the United Nations, veteran ace John Fortune has assembled a team of young aces known as the Committee, to assist at trouble spots around the world–including a genocidal was in the Niger Delta, an invasion of zombies in hurricane ravaged New Orleans, and a freak nuclear explosion in a small Texas town.
Now a new generation of heroes has taken its place on the world stage, its members crucial players in international events. At the United Nations, veteran ace John Fortune has assembled a team of young aces known as the Committee, to assist at trouble spots around the world–including a genocidal was in the Niger Delta, an invasion of zombies in hurricane ravaged New Orleans, and a freak nuclear explosion in a small Texas town.
398 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
47 people are currently reading
1737 people want to read
About the author
George R.R. Martin
1,506 books119k followersGeorge Raymond Richard "R.R." Martin was born September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey. His father was Raymond Collins Martin, a longshoreman, and his mother was Margaret Brady Martin. He has two sisters, Darleen Martin Lapinski and Janet Martin Patten.
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
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July 3, 2015
Zum Inhalt
Seit den 40er Jahren breitet sich das "Wild-Cards-Virus" unaufhörlich aus. Es kann jeden Menschen treffen und niemand weiß, wann seine "Wild Card" aufgedeckt wird.
Man kann Glück haben und ein Ass ziehen, was bedeutet, dass man eine geniale Fähigkeit entwickelt, oder aber einen Joker, durch den man nur Missbildungen und Missachtung erwarten kann. Zieht man die Pik Dame, hat man so gut wie keine Überlebenschance.
Nachdem man im deutschen ersten Band der Reihe die "American Hero Show" verfolgen konnte, in der verschiedene Asse gegeneinander angetreten sind, geht es jetzt im zweiten mit einigen Charakteren davon weiter. Sie haben sich zu einem Komitee zusammen geschlossen und bekämpfen das Böse auf der Welt.
Im Mittelpunkt steht auch dieses Mal der Konflikt mit den arabischen Ländern und deren Kalifat. Hauptsächlich geht es um den Kalten Krieg, die Kontrolle von Öl und den Versuch, Terroranschläge zu verhindern.
Als in Texas dann eine Bombe explodiert, gehen viele von einem Anschlag aus. Als jedoch der 10jährige Drake inmitten des zerstörten Fleckchens unverletzt gefunden wird, scheinen die Folgen noch verheerender zu werden.
Meine Meinung
Ich hoffe, dass ich den Inhalt jetzt einigermaßen richtig zusammengefasst habe, denn ich muss ehrlich gestehen, dass ich vieles von der Handlung nicht wirklich verstanden habe; gerade in der ersten Hälfte. Es ist schon eine Weile her, seit ich den ersten Band gelesen habe, aber trotzdem hatte ich nicht erwartet, dass es mir so schwerfallen würde, wieder reinzufinden. Allerdings wollte ich dieses Mal nicht einfach den Klappentext nehmen, weil der mir sehr unpassend erschienen ist.
Das Buch steigt 1 Jahr nach den Vorfällen aus dem ersten Band ein und alleine die Vielzahl der Namen hat es anfangs für mich unmöglich gemacht, irgendwie durchzublicken. Dazu kommt, dass viele Charaktere zu ihren normalen Namen auch noch die "Wild Card" Namen haben, Spitznamen, Namen für die verdeckte Ermittlung usw. Auch denke ich, dass es eine Rolle spielt, dass es sich hier um Band 19 der englischen Reihe handelt. Warum hier mitten in der Serie angefangen wurde weiß ich nicht und während es mir beim ersten nicht aufgefallen ist, hatte ich hier sehr oft das Gefühl, dass mir einiges an Hintergrundwissen fehlt oder ich Informationen verpasst habe, die wichtig gewesen wären. Ich bin deshalb etwas unsicher geworden, ob dieses Konzept tatsächlich aufgehen kann. Das hat mein Lesevergnügen schon sehr beeinträchtigt, obwohl es insgesamt schon gut geschrieben ist.
Jedes Kapitel ist von einem anderen Autor, der jeweils für einen Charakter "zuständig" ist. Die verschiedenen Schreibstile sind mir hier deutlicher aufgefallen und es wechselt auch in der Zeitform und den Sichtweisen (auktoral bzw. Ich-Perspektive). Das fand ich aber gar nicht so schlimm, vielmehr hat es mir sogar geholfen, mich zurechtzufinden.
Die Protagonisten, wo soll ich da anfangen? Es spielen sehr viele Asse eine Rolle, die für das Komitee arbeiten, dann gibt es die Silver Helix als Organisation, obwohl ich mir da nicht sicher bin, ob die zum Komitee zählt. Die Kapitel über die Double Helix sind aus der Sicht von Noel geschrieben, der gleichzeitig als Ass-Frau Lilith agiert und als Doppelagent Mann Bahir im Kalifat. SCARE überwacht wiederum die Silver Helix und alles hängt irgendwie zusammen ... Und dann gibt es noch BICC, eine Art Forschungszentrum, das die Missbildungen und Eigenschaften von Jokern und Assen untersucht und natürlich das Kalifat aus den arabischen Ländern.
Toll fand ich auf jeden Fall die vielen Ideen der Superkräfte, da haben sich die Autoren tatsächlich eine Menge ungewöhnliches und skurriles Können einfallen lassen. Am nächsten mitfühlen konnte ich mit Niobe und Drake, die einiges durchmachen müssen und der ihre Gabe nur Schmerz, Verachtung und Einsamkeit beschwert.
Hauptsächlich geht es um politische Machtkämpfe und Intrigen und die unlauteren Mittel von Regierungen, denen man hilflos ausgeliefert ist. Sehr komplex und durchdacht aufgebaut, wobei ich, wie schon gesagt, durch die vielen Erzählstränge und die fehlende Struktur durcheinander gekommen bin.
Insgesamt eine sehr aufwühlende Geschichte, in die ich aber leider nicht reingefunden habe.
Fazit
Nachdem ich vom ersten Band doch sehr begeistert war, hat mich der zweite schon enttäuscht. Die ganze Atmosphäre, die spannend und unterhaltsam war, hat hier gefehlt und vor allem der Handlungsverlauf war für mich nicht greifbar; als fehlten mir wichtige Infos. Ich bin grad etwas unschlüssig, ob das Konzept hier wirklich so gut aufgehen kann, mitten in der Reihe einzusteigen - die Bewertung nach Blümchen ist mir hier extrem schwer gefallen. Ein richtiges Lesevergnügen ist nicht aufgekommen, aber insgesamt trotzdem ein sehr aufwendiges Projekt, weshalb ich knappe 3 Sterne vergebe.
© Aleshanee
Weltenwanderer
Seit den 40er Jahren breitet sich das "Wild-Cards-Virus" unaufhörlich aus. Es kann jeden Menschen treffen und niemand weiß, wann seine "Wild Card" aufgedeckt wird.
Man kann Glück haben und ein Ass ziehen, was bedeutet, dass man eine geniale Fähigkeit entwickelt, oder aber einen Joker, durch den man nur Missbildungen und Missachtung erwarten kann. Zieht man die Pik Dame, hat man so gut wie keine Überlebenschance.
Nachdem man im deutschen ersten Band der Reihe die "American Hero Show" verfolgen konnte, in der verschiedene Asse gegeneinander angetreten sind, geht es jetzt im zweiten mit einigen Charakteren davon weiter. Sie haben sich zu einem Komitee zusammen geschlossen und bekämpfen das Böse auf der Welt.
Im Mittelpunkt steht auch dieses Mal der Konflikt mit den arabischen Ländern und deren Kalifat. Hauptsächlich geht es um den Kalten Krieg, die Kontrolle von Öl und den Versuch, Terroranschläge zu verhindern.
Als in Texas dann eine Bombe explodiert, gehen viele von einem Anschlag aus. Als jedoch der 10jährige Drake inmitten des zerstörten Fleckchens unverletzt gefunden wird, scheinen die Folgen noch verheerender zu werden.
Meine Meinung
Ich hoffe, dass ich den Inhalt jetzt einigermaßen richtig zusammengefasst habe, denn ich muss ehrlich gestehen, dass ich vieles von der Handlung nicht wirklich verstanden habe; gerade in der ersten Hälfte. Es ist schon eine Weile her, seit ich den ersten Band gelesen habe, aber trotzdem hatte ich nicht erwartet, dass es mir so schwerfallen würde, wieder reinzufinden. Allerdings wollte ich dieses Mal nicht einfach den Klappentext nehmen, weil der mir sehr unpassend erschienen ist.
Das Buch steigt 1 Jahr nach den Vorfällen aus dem ersten Band ein und alleine die Vielzahl der Namen hat es anfangs für mich unmöglich gemacht, irgendwie durchzublicken. Dazu kommt, dass viele Charaktere zu ihren normalen Namen auch noch die "Wild Card" Namen haben, Spitznamen, Namen für die verdeckte Ermittlung usw. Auch denke ich, dass es eine Rolle spielt, dass es sich hier um Band 19 der englischen Reihe handelt. Warum hier mitten in der Serie angefangen wurde weiß ich nicht und während es mir beim ersten nicht aufgefallen ist, hatte ich hier sehr oft das Gefühl, dass mir einiges an Hintergrundwissen fehlt oder ich Informationen verpasst habe, die wichtig gewesen wären. Ich bin deshalb etwas unsicher geworden, ob dieses Konzept tatsächlich aufgehen kann. Das hat mein Lesevergnügen schon sehr beeinträchtigt, obwohl es insgesamt schon gut geschrieben ist.
Jedes Kapitel ist von einem anderen Autor, der jeweils für einen Charakter "zuständig" ist. Die verschiedenen Schreibstile sind mir hier deutlicher aufgefallen und es wechselt auch in der Zeitform und den Sichtweisen (auktoral bzw. Ich-Perspektive). Das fand ich aber gar nicht so schlimm, vielmehr hat es mir sogar geholfen, mich zurechtzufinden.
Die Protagonisten, wo soll ich da anfangen? Es spielen sehr viele Asse eine Rolle, die für das Komitee arbeiten, dann gibt es die Silver Helix als Organisation, obwohl ich mir da nicht sicher bin, ob die zum Komitee zählt. Die Kapitel über die Double Helix sind aus der Sicht von Noel geschrieben, der gleichzeitig als Ass-Frau Lilith agiert und als Doppelagent Mann Bahir im Kalifat. SCARE überwacht wiederum die Silver Helix und alles hängt irgendwie zusammen ... Und dann gibt es noch BICC, eine Art Forschungszentrum, das die Missbildungen und Eigenschaften von Jokern und Assen untersucht und natürlich das Kalifat aus den arabischen Ländern.
Toll fand ich auf jeden Fall die vielen Ideen der Superkräfte, da haben sich die Autoren tatsächlich eine Menge ungewöhnliches und skurriles Können einfallen lassen. Am nächsten mitfühlen konnte ich mit Niobe und Drake, die einiges durchmachen müssen und der ihre Gabe nur Schmerz, Verachtung und Einsamkeit beschwert.
Hauptsächlich geht es um politische Machtkämpfe und Intrigen und die unlauteren Mittel von Regierungen, denen man hilflos ausgeliefert ist. Sehr komplex und durchdacht aufgebaut, wobei ich, wie schon gesagt, durch die vielen Erzählstränge und die fehlende Struktur durcheinander gekommen bin.
Insgesamt eine sehr aufwühlende Geschichte, in die ich aber leider nicht reingefunden habe.
Fazit
Nachdem ich vom ersten Band doch sehr begeistert war, hat mich der zweite schon enttäuscht. Die ganze Atmosphäre, die spannend und unterhaltsam war, hat hier gefehlt und vor allem der Handlungsverlauf war für mich nicht greifbar; als fehlten mir wichtige Infos. Ich bin grad etwas unschlüssig, ob das Konzept hier wirklich so gut aufgehen kann, mitten in der Reihe einzusteigen - die Bewertung nach Blümchen ist mir hier extrem schwer gefallen. Ein richtiges Lesevergnügen ist nicht aufgekommen, aber insgesamt trotzdem ein sehr aufwendiges Projekt, weshalb ich knappe 3 Sterne vergebe.
© Aleshanee
Weltenwanderer
September 26, 2008
WARNING: HERE THERE BE SPOILERS!
Continuing what could be viewed as "WILD CARDS: THE NEXT GENERATION," this nineteenth entry in the WILD CARDS series takes up shortly after the events of the previous novel, INSIDE STRAIGHT, left off and reintroduces readers to the former contestants from the American Hero reality show. Now banded together as the U.N.-fronted Committee and lead by John Fortune (son of the late (?) super-pimp Fortunato and winged former-cheerleader Peregrine, still sort of possessed by the Egyptian goddess Sekhmet), that motley crew of Aces travels the globe in order to quell horrific situations raging from natural disasters to armed military coups. not totally secure in the knowledge that their assorted superpowers can win the day, much less get themselves home in one piece. As is typical for the mosaic (multiple writer) format of the series the action jumps all over the place, but the main plots take place in Africa, Iran (in an alternate reality take on our current war in the Middle East) and Texas, finally converging in a battle over which faction takes possession of an adolescent whose terrifying, uncontrollable ability renders him a human thermonuclear bomb.
As WILD CARDS novels go, this one is worth reading, but is a middling entry when stacked against much of what came before it. Sure, any long-running series will hit a series of peaks and valleys in terms of holding reader interest, but if you ask me the key to keeping the readers riveted is having characters and situations that generate some sort of desire to keep going, and the problem with this installment and its predecessor is that for the most part the new crop of heroes and villains just aren't that interesting. Lemme break down what's up, both the good and the not-so-good:
* The American Idol parody, American Hero, could have gone somewhere had not the ubiquity of the original show long ago grown tired to the point of annoyance, so the joke's about four years out past relevance. Fortunately it doesn't have the prominence here that it did in the previous volume, so at least that's something.
* Of the new batch of heroes only the Amazing Bubbles, Genetrix and the three-person entity of Double Helix/Bahir and Lilith can really hold their own, interest-wise, for long stretches of chapter space, and much of what occurs when the focus is not on them amounts to a mediocre superhero soap opera.
* Speaking of which, the soap opera triangle of John Fortune, Drummer Boy — my vote for the most annoying and uninteresting of the new generation — and Curveball reaches new levels of predictable "who gives a fuck?" tedium and leaves the door wide open for more in the next book. Whoop-de-fuckin'-doo.
* Original series character the Radical — an intensely powerful "friend" of Mark Meadows, aka Captain Trips — returns as an international "combat hippie," and appears to have sadly lost nearly all of the altruistic ideals and moral center held by his host. And speaking of his host, Meadows is now a mere minor presence among the many personalities existing in his head and his attempts at regaining control from an increasingly violent Radical are impotent at best. As a huge fan of the Captain, I'm dying to see how or if Meadows overcomes that Radical asshole and returns to the sweet, spiritual burnout that readers came to love. Oh, and his daughter, Sprout, is still around and still possesses the mind of a loving four-year-old in a body that's pushing forty.
* The Carnifex/Midnight Angel romance from two books back rekindles but is given rather short shrift, coming as it does in the midst of the foofawraw over the nuclear kid, aka "Little fat Boy." Hopefully more will be seen of this since it's one of the few romantic subplots that's worth caring about.
* Noel, aka Double Helix is a fascinating character, even when he/she's not in his/her Lilith or Bahir forms, and I demand more of this character as soon as possible.
* Most disturbing new character: the Lady of Pain. You've got to read about her for yourself, but her version of empathic healing is something you'd never, ever want to see in real life.
* Zombie-fans will definitely appreciate the addition of Hoodoo Mama, a bitchy New Orleans chick who commands the dead, regardless of species.
Bottom line: I'd rate BUSTED FLUSH among the merely so-so WILD CARDS novels and give it about a five out of a possible ten. It was worth reading, but when I think back to the entries that featured Fortunato, Captain Trips, the Swarm, Yeoman, Demise, Wraith, Kid Dinosaur, Dr. Tachyon, Puppetman, Mackie Messer and the excellent multi-book arc centering on Blaise, the Jumpers and the journey to Tachis (the aftermath of which still needs to be examined, and it would make for a terrific full-length novel), this book seems to be the result of the authors just cranking out anything in order to get an new WILD CARDS book out there. Considering how long the fans waited for new material — a hiatus of seven years, followed by another four and then two more before the current run launched — the results have been mostly somewhat disappointing, with 2006's DEATH DRAWS FIVE easily rating as the best of the post-original series lot. But I'll keep on reading the damned things, provided they keep giving me at least a handful of characters that intrigue me; when that stops, I'm out.
Continuing what could be viewed as "WILD CARDS: THE NEXT GENERATION," this nineteenth entry in the WILD CARDS series takes up shortly after the events of the previous novel, INSIDE STRAIGHT, left off and reintroduces readers to the former contestants from the American Hero reality show. Now banded together as the U.N.-fronted Committee and lead by John Fortune (son of the late (?) super-pimp Fortunato and winged former-cheerleader Peregrine, still sort of possessed by the Egyptian goddess Sekhmet), that motley crew of Aces travels the globe in order to quell horrific situations raging from natural disasters to armed military coups. not totally secure in the knowledge that their assorted superpowers can win the day, much less get themselves home in one piece. As is typical for the mosaic (multiple writer) format of the series the action jumps all over the place, but the main plots take place in Africa, Iran (in an alternate reality take on our current war in the Middle East) and Texas, finally converging in a battle over which faction takes possession of an adolescent whose terrifying, uncontrollable ability renders him a human thermonuclear bomb.
As WILD CARDS novels go, this one is worth reading, but is a middling entry when stacked against much of what came before it. Sure, any long-running series will hit a series of peaks and valleys in terms of holding reader interest, but if you ask me the key to keeping the readers riveted is having characters and situations that generate some sort of desire to keep going, and the problem with this installment and its predecessor is that for the most part the new crop of heroes and villains just aren't that interesting. Lemme break down what's up, both the good and the not-so-good:
* The American Idol parody, American Hero, could have gone somewhere had not the ubiquity of the original show long ago grown tired to the point of annoyance, so the joke's about four years out past relevance. Fortunately it doesn't have the prominence here that it did in the previous volume, so at least that's something.
* Of the new batch of heroes only the Amazing Bubbles, Genetrix and the three-person entity of Double Helix/Bahir and Lilith can really hold their own, interest-wise, for long stretches of chapter space, and much of what occurs when the focus is not on them amounts to a mediocre superhero soap opera.
* Speaking of which, the soap opera triangle of John Fortune, Drummer Boy — my vote for the most annoying and uninteresting of the new generation — and Curveball reaches new levels of predictable "who gives a fuck?" tedium and leaves the door wide open for more in the next book. Whoop-de-fuckin'-doo.
* Original series character the Radical — an intensely powerful "friend" of Mark Meadows, aka Captain Trips — returns as an international "combat hippie," and appears to have sadly lost nearly all of the altruistic ideals and moral center held by his host. And speaking of his host, Meadows is now a mere minor presence among the many personalities existing in his head and his attempts at regaining control from an increasingly violent Radical are impotent at best. As a huge fan of the Captain, I'm dying to see how or if Meadows overcomes that Radical asshole and returns to the sweet, spiritual burnout that readers came to love. Oh, and his daughter, Sprout, is still around and still possesses the mind of a loving four-year-old in a body that's pushing forty.
* The Carnifex/Midnight Angel romance from two books back rekindles but is given rather short shrift, coming as it does in the midst of the foofawraw over the nuclear kid, aka "Little fat Boy." Hopefully more will be seen of this since it's one of the few romantic subplots that's worth caring about.
* Noel, aka Double Helix is a fascinating character, even when he/she's not in his/her Lilith or Bahir forms, and I demand more of this character as soon as possible.
* Most disturbing new character: the Lady of Pain. You've got to read about her for yourself, but her version of empathic healing is something you'd never, ever want to see in real life.
* Zombie-fans will definitely appreciate the addition of Hoodoo Mama, a bitchy New Orleans chick who commands the dead, regardless of species.
Bottom line: I'd rate BUSTED FLUSH among the merely so-so WILD CARDS novels and give it about a five out of a possible ten. It was worth reading, but when I think back to the entries that featured Fortunato, Captain Trips, the Swarm, Yeoman, Demise, Wraith, Kid Dinosaur, Dr. Tachyon, Puppetman, Mackie Messer and the excellent multi-book arc centering on Blaise, the Jumpers and the journey to Tachis (the aftermath of which still needs to be examined, and it would make for a terrific full-length novel), this book seems to be the result of the authors just cranking out anything in order to get an new WILD CARDS book out there. Considering how long the fans waited for new material — a hiatus of seven years, followed by another four and then two more before the current run launched — the results have been mostly somewhat disappointing, with 2006's DEATH DRAWS FIVE easily rating as the best of the post-original series lot. But I'll keep on reading the damned things, provided they keep giving me at least a handful of characters that intrigue me; when that stops, I'm out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2015
There are two reasons why I persevered all the way through this well-written but incredibly dull "mosaic novel." The first is that I've heard the overall story gets better once you make it past this book, and the second is that, being in paperback, it was something I could actually read in the tub for a change (most books I own these days are on my Kindle).
What made BUSTED FLUSH such a disappointment was that I really enjoyed the previous WILD CARDS installment, INSIDE STRAIGHT. In that book, the unlikable characters and disjointed narrative were appropriate for its reality show setting. INSIDE STRAIGHT struck me as more of a superhero parody than a serious novel. The whole time I read it, I was reminded of the Ben Stiller movie MYSTERY MEN.
But there's nothing even remotely funny about BUSTED FLUSH, a book so desperate to be relevant that it explores such obvious hot-button issues as war-for-oil in northern Africa and hurricane disaster relief in New Orleans. At least the authors manage to avoid haranguing us with their partisan political views, and for that I am grateful.
However, stripped of their reality show setting, the main characters' unlikability becomes a problem. I never cared what happened to any of them before, nor do I care now. Only now, they aren't just selfish TV brats anymore but global peacekeepers, which makes their self-centered melodrama all the more unbearable. Plus, the inherent absurdity of many of these "heroes" and their corresponding superpowers is jarring in light of the book's straightfaced tone and deadly-earnest plot. For example, there's a scene in which Hoodoo Mama uses her army of re-animated corpses to rescue potential drowning victims in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. As a reader, how the heck am I supposed to respond to such a scene?
The story is a mess, too. Every time things get even a little bit interesting, the section ends, and we once again change authors/perspectives. It took me more than half the book just to figure out what the basic plot thread was.
On top of all that, there's no story contribution from George R.R. Martin (whose name is basically what sells these books), and we get an anti-climatic ending besides.
I would have been better off with a rubber ducky.
What made BUSTED FLUSH such a disappointment was that I really enjoyed the previous WILD CARDS installment, INSIDE STRAIGHT. In that book, the unlikable characters and disjointed narrative were appropriate for its reality show setting. INSIDE STRAIGHT struck me as more of a superhero parody than a serious novel. The whole time I read it, I was reminded of the Ben Stiller movie MYSTERY MEN.
But there's nothing even remotely funny about BUSTED FLUSH, a book so desperate to be relevant that it explores such obvious hot-button issues as war-for-oil in northern Africa and hurricane disaster relief in New Orleans. At least the authors manage to avoid haranguing us with their partisan political views, and for that I am grateful.
However, stripped of their reality show setting, the main characters' unlikability becomes a problem. I never cared what happened to any of them before, nor do I care now. Only now, they aren't just selfish TV brats anymore but global peacekeepers, which makes their self-centered melodrama all the more unbearable. Plus, the inherent absurdity of many of these "heroes" and their corresponding superpowers is jarring in light of the book's straightfaced tone and deadly-earnest plot. For example, there's a scene in which Hoodoo Mama uses her army of re-animated corpses to rescue potential drowning victims in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. As a reader, how the heck am I supposed to respond to such a scene?
The story is a mess, too. Every time things get even a little bit interesting, the section ends, and we once again change authors/perspectives. It took me more than half the book just to figure out what the basic plot thread was.
On top of all that, there's no story contribution from George R.R. Martin (whose name is basically what sells these books), and we get an anti-climatic ending besides.
I would have been better off with a rubber ducky.
July 7, 2023
450 pages of 'meh'…. Not all bad, but not great either. Tor's soft reboot of the franchise is turning into a retread.
Drummer Boy has essentially the same ace power as Howler. Jonathan Hive replaces Bagabond as the ace with animal powers. Steel-plated Rusty resembles Modular Man without the gadgets. John Fortune is reduced to just another Living God of Egypt…
Genetrix gives birth to homunculi like Mother used to breed them for Chrysalis beneath the Crystal Palace (in Dead Man's Hand). The UN's peace-keeping Committee is basically a new incarnation of the Four Aces (from "The Witness", Wild Cards I).
The Radical goes full-on Homelander in the Victor Milan stories, another example of how The Boys comics had already supplanted Wild Cards as king of the edgy anti-superhero story by the late 2000's.
After 19 novels, the authors have a lot of in-universe material to play with--aliens, alternate histories, jokers, aces, deuces, even the full set of H. P. Lovecraft's Elder Gods living in a parallel reality… Why do they keep serving us the same characters and situations over and over?
Here are my individual story reviews…
"Just Cause" by Carrie Vaughn - John Fortune sends the Committee members to quell disturbances around the world--to investigate an atomic explosion in Texas, to evacuate people in New Orleans, to stop genocide in Nigeria, and to pressure the caliph to open his oil reserves. This story concentrates primarily on Curveball, but all the Committee aces are featured.
"The Tears of Nepthys" by Kevin Andrew Murphy -- Cameo is known for her ability to channel the spirits of the dead, but she may not be a match for Hoodoo Mama, the bayou witch who has raised an army of zombies. This story should be more fun than it is, especially with a laconic Harry Connick Jr. as New Orleans' mayor. The story should focus more on the zombie apocalypse rather than the novelty of sex with Cameo while she channels a dead woman's soul. Features Jonathan Hive, Isis, Simoon, and Will o' Wisp.
"Political Science" by Ian Tregillis and Walton Simons -- The best story in the book. Genetrix is a joker who lays eggs and gives birth to clutches of short-lived manikins with ace, deuce, or joker characteristics. The government imprisons her in order to study how her offspring consistently suppress the Black Queen. She escapes along with Drake, a thirteen year old boy who sets off atomic explosions when he gets scared or angry.
"Mortality's Strong Hand" by John Jos. Miller -- Billy Ray aka Carnifex is now the Director of SCARE. After several dangerous jokers escape from BICC (Biological Isolation and Containment Center), he kicks off a manhunt. He wants to locate Genetrix and the boy he has dubbed Little Fat Man, but he finds Sharky and The Racist instead. This story finally pays off his romantic subplot with Midnight Angel from Death Draws Five. Plus it features an aggressive unmarried Hillary Rodham as US Attorney General.
"Dirge in a Major Key" by Stephen Leigh (as S. L. Farrell) -- The Caliph's oil embargo is wrecking the world economy. Drummer Boy is sent as a member of the UN military force to take control of oil production in Kuwait. It seems a noble cause for the greater good, but the realities of driving Muslim families off their lands and taking away their jobs does not sit well with him. The boring-as-heck love triangle between DB, Kate, and Fortune turns this into a weak melodrama, but it features an intriguing new ace: Translator can render language understandable or else jumble words into babel.
"Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda" by Caroline Spector -- The second best story in the book. Bubbles tries to evacuate New Orleans ahead of a hurricane, but the foul-mouthed Hoodoo Mama has other plans. These are the two most intriguing new characters in this triad, and their scenes together are memorable. I did not realize how powerful Bubbles is until the final scene in Jackson Square.
"Double Helix" by Melinda Snodgrass -- Noel Matthews the teleporting hermaphrodite works around the clock and around the globe. As his female avatar Lilith, he serves the United Nations. As his male avatar Bahir, he is an assassin for a Middle Eastern prince. His third identity is a British spy. The gender-swapping aspect is intriguing for a while, but sweaty sex scenes starring Lilith keep reminding me of the time Tachyon got jumped into a female body and Turtle tried to seduce him. The payoff to this story occurs when Noel and Genetrix bond over their shared desire to be parents and their shame at their physical deformities. Plus, Noel has an epic falling out with Highwayman and Flint.
"Volunteers of America", "Won't Get Fooled Again", "A Hard Rain is A'going to Fall" by Victor Milan --
The tin-horn dictator of the People's Paradise of Africa is carving an oil-rich empire out of the Congo and Nigeria. He is supported by Radical, who has completely subsumed all Cap'n Trips' personalities (along with their respective powers). For the past twelve years Radical has been supporting failed socialist revolutions. Now embittered and desperate for success, he is finally committed to using his full powers to achieve victory for the people… no matter how many people he has to kill.
This trio of stories really rankles. Mark Meadows searched for Radical for three decades and fifteen books. When Radical returned in Black Trump it was a fun, triumphant payoff for long-time readers. Why trot him out twelve years later just to turn him into an atrocious war criminal? It smacks of another bad sequel idea. Sometimes I wish the authors would leave well enough alone. Radical's arc was satisfying as it was.
What's next? Are we going to learn that Yeoman and Wraith are peddling kiddie porn from their upstate compound? Is Croyd Crenson really a narc cop? Will Polyakov be revealed as a secret Cossack separatist?
Next up: Suicide Kings
Drummer Boy has essentially the same ace power as Howler. Jonathan Hive replaces Bagabond as the ace with animal powers. Steel-plated Rusty resembles Modular Man without the gadgets. John Fortune is reduced to just another Living God of Egypt…
Genetrix gives birth to homunculi like Mother used to breed them for Chrysalis beneath the Crystal Palace (in Dead Man's Hand). The UN's peace-keeping Committee is basically a new incarnation of the Four Aces (from "The Witness", Wild Cards I).
The Radical goes full-on Homelander in the Victor Milan stories, another example of how The Boys comics had already supplanted Wild Cards as king of the edgy anti-superhero story by the late 2000's.
After 19 novels, the authors have a lot of in-universe material to play with--aliens, alternate histories, jokers, aces, deuces, even the full set of H. P. Lovecraft's Elder Gods living in a parallel reality… Why do they keep serving us the same characters and situations over and over?
Here are my individual story reviews…
"Just Cause" by Carrie Vaughn - John Fortune sends the Committee members to quell disturbances around the world--to investigate an atomic explosion in Texas, to evacuate people in New Orleans, to stop genocide in Nigeria, and to pressure the caliph to open his oil reserves. This story concentrates primarily on Curveball, but all the Committee aces are featured.
"The Tears of Nepthys" by Kevin Andrew Murphy -- Cameo is known for her ability to channel the spirits of the dead, but she may not be a match for Hoodoo Mama, the bayou witch who has raised an army of zombies. This story should be more fun than it is, especially with a laconic Harry Connick Jr. as New Orleans' mayor. The story should focus more on the zombie apocalypse rather than the novelty of sex with Cameo while she channels a dead woman's soul. Features Jonathan Hive, Isis, Simoon, and Will o' Wisp.
"Political Science" by Ian Tregillis and Walton Simons -- The best story in the book. Genetrix is a joker who lays eggs and gives birth to clutches of short-lived manikins with ace, deuce, or joker characteristics. The government imprisons her in order to study how her offspring consistently suppress the Black Queen. She escapes along with Drake, a thirteen year old boy who sets off atomic explosions when he gets scared or angry.
"Mortality's Strong Hand" by John Jos. Miller -- Billy Ray aka Carnifex is now the Director of SCARE. After several dangerous jokers escape from BICC (Biological Isolation and Containment Center), he kicks off a manhunt. He wants to locate Genetrix and the boy he has dubbed Little Fat Man, but he finds Sharky and The Racist instead. This story finally pays off his romantic subplot with Midnight Angel from Death Draws Five. Plus it features an aggressive unmarried Hillary Rodham as US Attorney General.
"Dirge in a Major Key" by Stephen Leigh (as S. L. Farrell) -- The Caliph's oil embargo is wrecking the world economy. Drummer Boy is sent as a member of the UN military force to take control of oil production in Kuwait. It seems a noble cause for the greater good, but the realities of driving Muslim families off their lands and taking away their jobs does not sit well with him. The boring-as-heck love triangle between DB, Kate, and Fortune turns this into a weak melodrama, but it features an intriguing new ace: Translator can render language understandable or else jumble words into babel.
"Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda" by Caroline Spector -- The second best story in the book. Bubbles tries to evacuate New Orleans ahead of a hurricane, but the foul-mouthed Hoodoo Mama has other plans. These are the two most intriguing new characters in this triad, and their scenes together are memorable. I did not realize how powerful Bubbles is until the final scene in Jackson Square.
"Double Helix" by Melinda Snodgrass -- Noel Matthews the teleporting hermaphrodite works around the clock and around the globe. As his female avatar Lilith, he serves the United Nations. As his male avatar Bahir, he is an assassin for a Middle Eastern prince. His third identity is a British spy. The gender-swapping aspect is intriguing for a while, but sweaty sex scenes starring Lilith keep reminding me of the time Tachyon got jumped into a female body and Turtle tried to seduce him. The payoff to this story occurs when Noel and Genetrix bond over their shared desire to be parents and their shame at their physical deformities. Plus, Noel has an epic falling out with Highwayman and Flint.
"Volunteers of America", "Won't Get Fooled Again", "A Hard Rain is A'going to Fall" by Victor Milan --
The tin-horn dictator of the People's Paradise of Africa is carving an oil-rich empire out of the Congo and Nigeria. He is supported by Radical, who has completely subsumed all Cap'n Trips' personalities (along with their respective powers). For the past twelve years Radical has been supporting failed socialist revolutions. Now embittered and desperate for success, he is finally committed to using his full powers to achieve victory for the people… no matter how many people he has to kill.
This trio of stories really rankles. Mark Meadows searched for Radical for three decades and fifteen books. When Radical returned in Black Trump it was a fun, triumphant payoff for long-time readers. Why trot him out twelve years later just to turn him into an atrocious war criminal? It smacks of another bad sequel idea. Sometimes I wish the authors would leave well enough alone. Radical's arc was satisfying as it was.
What's next? Are we going to learn that Yeoman and Wraith are peddling kiddie porn from their upstate compound? Is Croyd Crenson really a narc cop? Will Polyakov be revealed as a secret Cossack separatist?
Next up: Suicide Kings
May 27, 2020
I first ran across the Wilds Cards series many years ago, and loved it. Super-powered people in a world that was as realistic as possible--- that might have been custom written for me. At the time, to give you an idea how long ago this was, I had no idea who George RR Martin was (yes, it's the same guy), but damn I loved the world.
History has shifted since the Wild Card virus struck Earth in 1945, and this continues the tale of that different yet familiar world. The UN has created a team of aces (people with super powers) to respond to hot spots all over the world, but, of course, political considerations rear their ugly heads. The book jumps from Africa to the Middle East to New Orleans, as the heroes try and deal with oil prices, terrorism, hurricanes, and, as usual, the biggest threat- other people.
There are some brilliantly original characters with new takes on powers, and a rich, detailed world, as you'd expect 19 books in. Strongly recommended to anyone that likes superheroes but doesn't mind the dark side, adult language, and sex.
As with most series, I suggest you start with book one, Wild Cards.
History has shifted since the Wild Card virus struck Earth in 1945, and this continues the tale of that different yet familiar world. The UN has created a team of aces (people with super powers) to respond to hot spots all over the world, but, of course, political considerations rear their ugly heads. The book jumps from Africa to the Middle East to New Orleans, as the heroes try and deal with oil prices, terrorism, hurricanes, and, as usual, the biggest threat- other people.
There are some brilliantly original characters with new takes on powers, and a rich, detailed world, as you'd expect 19 books in. Strongly recommended to anyone that likes superheroes but doesn't mind the dark side, adult language, and sex.
As with most series, I suggest you start with book one, Wild Cards.
September 9, 2015
Dies ist der zweite Teil der "Wild Cards"-Reihe und enthält Spoiler zu Teil eins "Das Spiel der Spiele".
Herausgegeben wird die Serie vom legendären Fantasyautor George R. R. Martin. Schriftstellerisch trägt er jedoch nichts dazu bei. Dies übernehmen viele andere sehr talentierte Autoren. In "Der Sieg der Verlierer" sind das S. L. Farrell, Victor Milán, John Jos. Miller, Kevin Andrew Murphy, Walton Simmons, Melinda M. Snodgrass, Caroline Spector, Ian Tregillis und Carrie Vaughn.
"Der Sieg der Verlierer" hat mir noch besser gefallen, als der Einstiegsband der Reihe. Ich war so sehr gefesselt von der Handlung, die nun deutlich an Tempo zugelegt hat, dass ich das über 500 Seiten starke Buch innerhalb von zwei Tagen verschlungen habe. Nicht nur Action und Spannung der Handlung nehmen zu, insgesamt wird das Buch intensiver. Geht tiefer in politische Machenschaften hinein, interessiert sich mehr für Zwischenmenschliches und stellt sich der - auf dem Klappentext dick gedruckten - Frage: "Wie weit darf ein Held im Namen der Gerechtigkeit gehen?"
" '[...] Da spiele ich nicht mehr mit. Ich kämpfe nicht für Öl, ich kämpfe nicht für Geld und auch nicht für politische Macht. Und ganz sicher töte ich für all das keine Kinder mehr. Ich steige aus."
Die Helden der ersten Americas Superhero Staffel können nun beweisen, dass sie nicht nur TV-, sondern auch alltagstauglich sind. Unter John Fortune, in dessen Kopf nach wie vor der Geist Sachmets in Form eines Skarabäus steckt, hat sich eine UNO Elite Truppe, genannt das Komitee, gebildet. Sie werden eingesetzt, um Menschen in Krisensituationen zu unterstützen. Das können Naturgewalten sein, aber auch Kriegsspielereien reicher Machtinhaber, unter denen letztendlich doch die Bevölkerung zu leiden hat. Plötzlich stehen die Helden nicht nur künstlich herbeigerufenen Gegnern und Gewalten gegenüber, sondern müssen entscheiden welcher Weg zum Ziel der Richtige ist. Bei der Frage, wer bereit ist dafür welche Opfer zu bringen, ist es DB, der mit seinen Ansichten zum Einsatz der Superhelden überrascht.
Sehr schnell konnte ich mich wieder im Gefüge der Superhelden zurecht finden. Auch, wenn ich mir anfangs gewünscht hätte andere Figuren näher zu verfolgen, als die von den Autoren gewählten, konnte ich mich dem fesselnden Inhalt einfach nicht entziehen. Im Laufe des Romans haben zwei Figuren ganz besonders meine Aufmerksamkeit geweckt. Zum einen Lillith / Noel / Bahir, ein Hermaphrodit, für den (oder die?) ich im ersten Teil vor allem Abneigung empfand. Dies war auch jetzt erstmal so, doch dann machte er (oder sie?) eine spannende Entwicklung durch, die stark herausarbeitete, wieviel Potential tatsächlich in dieser Figur steckt. Zum anderen ist es Nihobe, eine Neue, ein Wesen, das abschreckt und fasziniert zugleich und mit ihrer Güte und Herzenswärme immer wieder den Blick darauf lenkt, dass die Superhelden mit Verstand und vor allem Gewissen handeln sollten. Dass sie ihre Aufträge genau prüfen sollten, um tatsächlich zum Wohle der Menschen zu handeln und nicht nur im Sinne ihrer Auftraggeber. Dazu kommt ein Junge, der gefährlicher ist, als viele der erwachsenen Figuren im Roman und damit eine ausgesprochen spannende Maschinerie an politischen Handlungen, ethischen Denkweisen und Mitgefühl in Bewegung setzt.
Zum Ende des Romans geben die Autoren nochmal alles. Ich habe auf keiner der 576 Seiten Langeweile verspürt, aber im letzten Drittel haben sie noch mal gezeigt, welch starkes Team sie sind und mich so sehr in Bann gezogen, dass ich das Buch nicht mehr aus der Hand legen konnte. "Wild Cards" ist Spannung, ist grandiose Unterhaltung, sorgt für nachdenkliche Sequenzen und hält immer wieder den Finger in den Wind sehr realer politischer Handlungsstrukturen.
Herausgegeben wird die Serie vom legendären Fantasyautor George R. R. Martin. Schriftstellerisch trägt er jedoch nichts dazu bei. Dies übernehmen viele andere sehr talentierte Autoren. In "Der Sieg der Verlierer" sind das S. L. Farrell, Victor Milán, John Jos. Miller, Kevin Andrew Murphy, Walton Simmons, Melinda M. Snodgrass, Caroline Spector, Ian Tregillis und Carrie Vaughn.
"Der Sieg der Verlierer" hat mir noch besser gefallen, als der Einstiegsband der Reihe. Ich war so sehr gefesselt von der Handlung, die nun deutlich an Tempo zugelegt hat, dass ich das über 500 Seiten starke Buch innerhalb von zwei Tagen verschlungen habe. Nicht nur Action und Spannung der Handlung nehmen zu, insgesamt wird das Buch intensiver. Geht tiefer in politische Machenschaften hinein, interessiert sich mehr für Zwischenmenschliches und stellt sich der - auf dem Klappentext dick gedruckten - Frage: "Wie weit darf ein Held im Namen der Gerechtigkeit gehen?"
" '[...] Da spiele ich nicht mehr mit. Ich kämpfe nicht für Öl, ich kämpfe nicht für Geld und auch nicht für politische Macht. Und ganz sicher töte ich für all das keine Kinder mehr. Ich steige aus."
Die Helden der ersten Americas Superhero Staffel können nun beweisen, dass sie nicht nur TV-, sondern auch alltagstauglich sind. Unter John Fortune, in dessen Kopf nach wie vor der Geist Sachmets in Form eines Skarabäus steckt, hat sich eine UNO Elite Truppe, genannt das Komitee, gebildet. Sie werden eingesetzt, um Menschen in Krisensituationen zu unterstützen. Das können Naturgewalten sein, aber auch Kriegsspielereien reicher Machtinhaber, unter denen letztendlich doch die Bevölkerung zu leiden hat. Plötzlich stehen die Helden nicht nur künstlich herbeigerufenen Gegnern und Gewalten gegenüber, sondern müssen entscheiden welcher Weg zum Ziel der Richtige ist. Bei der Frage, wer bereit ist dafür welche Opfer zu bringen, ist es DB, der mit seinen Ansichten zum Einsatz der Superhelden überrascht.
Sehr schnell konnte ich mich wieder im Gefüge der Superhelden zurecht finden. Auch, wenn ich mir anfangs gewünscht hätte andere Figuren näher zu verfolgen, als die von den Autoren gewählten, konnte ich mich dem fesselnden Inhalt einfach nicht entziehen. Im Laufe des Romans haben zwei Figuren ganz besonders meine Aufmerksamkeit geweckt. Zum einen Lillith / Noel / Bahir, ein Hermaphrodit, für den (oder die?) ich im ersten Teil vor allem Abneigung empfand. Dies war auch jetzt erstmal so, doch dann machte er (oder sie?) eine spannende Entwicklung durch, die stark herausarbeitete, wieviel Potential tatsächlich in dieser Figur steckt. Zum anderen ist es Nihobe, eine Neue, ein Wesen, das abschreckt und fasziniert zugleich und mit ihrer Güte und Herzenswärme immer wieder den Blick darauf lenkt, dass die Superhelden mit Verstand und vor allem Gewissen handeln sollten. Dass sie ihre Aufträge genau prüfen sollten, um tatsächlich zum Wohle der Menschen zu handeln und nicht nur im Sinne ihrer Auftraggeber. Dazu kommt ein Junge, der gefährlicher ist, als viele der erwachsenen Figuren im Roman und damit eine ausgesprochen spannende Maschinerie an politischen Handlungen, ethischen Denkweisen und Mitgefühl in Bewegung setzt.
Zum Ende des Romans geben die Autoren nochmal alles. Ich habe auf keiner der 576 Seiten Langeweile verspürt, aber im letzten Drittel haben sie noch mal gezeigt, welch starkes Team sie sind und mich so sehr in Bann gezogen, dass ich das Buch nicht mehr aus der Hand legen konnte. "Wild Cards" ist Spannung, ist grandiose Unterhaltung, sorgt für nachdenkliche Sequenzen und hält immer wieder den Finger in den Wind sehr realer politischer Handlungsstrukturen.
February 11, 2015
Goodreads tells me that I first read Busted Flush nearly six years ago. I was not impressed at that time and my previous rating reflected that. I got curious to read the Committee trilogy now that I have experienced some more of the Wild Cards universe, and on the second time through, I liked it much better. Perhaps, already aware of the flaws, they bothered me less, or perhaps I was more able to see things that were good with a different perspective.
As far as what I didn't like, well, generally the worst part of any Wild Cards book is the part where people are having sex and their powers are interacting in weird ways. That isn't any different now that I read it again, what with one of the weirder ways to have a threesome you'll ever encounter, the ace who lays eggs immediately after having sex, the hermaphrodite who has both all-male and all-female forms, and a guy whose entire body can break apart into a swarm of wasps all being involved in sex scenes at different times.
But, and I know I did not appreciate this years ago, what's going on underneath all of that is the breaking of the illusion of the first book. The American Hero contestants who check out from the set and go to stop the genocide are triumphant there. They pay a cost, in lives, in having to see horrible things, but they are undoubtedly the heroes who made a difference just by going there.
Now they all still have powers and they're more organized, yet everything is more complicated. People with different agendas want to use them, or fight them, and it's not all so cut and dry or black and white. On top of that, there is the wearying realization that, in essence, they are the only ones. If in all of the world, you are the only person who can literally move the earth, don't you have to go anywhere there are mudslides, flooding, hurricanes, whatever in order to put things right? If people are oppressed and you, the nigh-unharmable woman who can take out squads of armed men with deadly bubbles are able to stop that, don't you have to do so? They are weary and fatigued and, by and large, the attention of the world has moved on elsewhere. There's still a new season of American Hero, after all.
That is all much more interesting to read about than I first gave it credit for. One thing that has also changed, I think, is that I am no longer in the thrall of an unrequired infatuation with a girl from New Orleans, which clouded my opinion of the whole plot involving that place and hurricanes at the time. This does still feel the most disconnected from the war-torn depths of Africa and the Caliphate, very middle book syndrome, like, well, we've got to give Bubbles and Earth Witch and Bugsy something to do while everyone else is off doing the real shit. As far as it being in bad taste, I don't know. Hoodoo Mama is just a bit over the top.
It's good, though. I can't read a Wild Cards book without wishing that someone would find a way to take a chance on turning it into at least a miniseries on TV.
As far as what I didn't like, well, generally the worst part of any Wild Cards book is the part where people are having sex and their powers are interacting in weird ways. That isn't any different now that I read it again, what with one of the weirder ways to have a threesome you'll ever encounter, the ace who lays eggs immediately after having sex, the hermaphrodite who has both all-male and all-female forms, and a guy whose entire body can break apart into a swarm of wasps all being involved in sex scenes at different times.
But, and I know I did not appreciate this years ago, what's going on underneath all of that is the breaking of the illusion of the first book. The American Hero contestants who check out from the set and go to stop the genocide are triumphant there. They pay a cost, in lives, in having to see horrible things, but they are undoubtedly the heroes who made a difference just by going there.
Now they all still have powers and they're more organized, yet everything is more complicated. People with different agendas want to use them, or fight them, and it's not all so cut and dry or black and white. On top of that, there is the wearying realization that, in essence, they are the only ones. If in all of the world, you are the only person who can literally move the earth, don't you have to go anywhere there are mudslides, flooding, hurricanes, whatever in order to put things right? If people are oppressed and you, the nigh-unharmable woman who can take out squads of armed men with deadly bubbles are able to stop that, don't you have to do so? They are weary and fatigued and, by and large, the attention of the world has moved on elsewhere. There's still a new season of American Hero, after all.
That is all much more interesting to read about than I first gave it credit for. One thing that has also changed, I think, is that I am no longer in the thrall of an unrequired infatuation with a girl from New Orleans, which clouded my opinion of the whole plot involving that place and hurricanes at the time. This does still feel the most disconnected from the war-torn depths of Africa and the Caliphate, very middle book syndrome, like, well, we've got to give Bubbles and Earth Witch and Bugsy something to do while everyone else is off doing the real shit. As far as it being in bad taste, I don't know. Hoodoo Mama is just a bit over the top.
It's good, though. I can't read a Wild Cards book without wishing that someone would find a way to take a chance on turning it into at least a miniseries on TV.
October 22, 2015
Erste Sätze
Ich lasse die Abschnitte über Asche und Würmer aus. Die Seiten sind dünn.
Klappentext
Wie weit darf ein Held im Namen der Gerechtigkeit gehen?
Eine Atomexplosion erschüttert Texas! Doch es handelt sich nicht um einen Akt des Terrors, sondern um einen schrecklichen Unfall. Ein kleiner Junge namens Drake kann sein mächtiges Wild-Cards-Talent nicht beherrschen und hat die Katastrophe ausgelöst. Die aus Assen und Jokern bestehende Eingreiftruppe der UNO – genannt Das Komitee – will den Jungen unter ihren Schutz stellen. Doch als seine Mitglieder in Texas eintreffen, ist Drake verschwunden …
Gleichzeitig versucht Drummer Boy, die Krise in der arabischen Welt zu beenden. Aber während des Einsatzes kommen ihm Zweifel. Kämpft er für die richtige Seite?
Meine Meinung
Das Buch ist sowohl aus der Ich-Perspektive als auch aus der Sicht eines auktorialen Erzählers geschrieben. Durch die vielen verschiedenen Autoren und Charaktere wurden unterschiedliche Perspektiven gewählt. Es tauchen alt bekannte Charaktere aus, die sich verändern und entwickeln, genauso wie neue Charaktere auftauchen, die erst eingeführt werden. Dabei sind es so viele verschiedene Charaktere, dass man manchmal den Überblick verliert und etwas braucht, um mit den Charakteren und ihren Geschichten wieder warm zu werden. Das Wild-Cars-Universum bietet so viele verschiedene Kräfte und Personen, die alle auf ihre eigene Art und Weise einzigartig sind. Sie sind gut durchdacht und wirken nicht platt. Doch durch die Masse an Charakteren und der ständige Wechsel konnte ich zu keinem der Personen eine richtige Verbindung aufbauen und mich daher nur ganz gut in diese hineinversetzen.
Die Geschichte an sich setzt kurz nach den Handlungen des Vorgängers an. Das Komitee muss im Auftrag der UNO verschiedene Missionen auf der gesamten Welt zu erledigen, um Menschen zu helfen. Daher ist das Buch sehr politisch geprägt, was aber nach dem Ende des letzten Buches nicht verwunderlich ist. Es geht um Macht, Intrigen, Korruption, Menschenrechte und die richtige Entscheidung zu treffen. An sich ist die Geschichte dramatisch, emotional, actionreich und spannend, hat aber auch seine Längen und ist definitiv kein Buch für Zwischendurch, aufgrund der vielen Charaktere und der komplexen Geschichte. Man wechselt öfters die Schauplätze aufgrund von Ereignissen, die parallel stattfinden. Insgesamt konnte mich das Buch nicht immer fesseln und mitreißen, aber es bietet definitiv überraschende Wendungen und Entwicklungen.
Bewertung
Diese Fortsetzung war absolut passend, sehr politisch und hat mich zwiegespalten zurückgelassen, denn die Komplexität der Handlung war großartig, aber die vielen verschiedenen Charaktere und Schauplätze haben mich ab und an durcheinander gebracht, daher gibt es von mir
3 von 5 Würmchen
Ich lasse die Abschnitte über Asche und Würmer aus. Die Seiten sind dünn.
Klappentext
Wie weit darf ein Held im Namen der Gerechtigkeit gehen?
Eine Atomexplosion erschüttert Texas! Doch es handelt sich nicht um einen Akt des Terrors, sondern um einen schrecklichen Unfall. Ein kleiner Junge namens Drake kann sein mächtiges Wild-Cards-Talent nicht beherrschen und hat die Katastrophe ausgelöst. Die aus Assen und Jokern bestehende Eingreiftruppe der UNO – genannt Das Komitee – will den Jungen unter ihren Schutz stellen. Doch als seine Mitglieder in Texas eintreffen, ist Drake verschwunden …
Gleichzeitig versucht Drummer Boy, die Krise in der arabischen Welt zu beenden. Aber während des Einsatzes kommen ihm Zweifel. Kämpft er für die richtige Seite?
Meine Meinung
Das Buch ist sowohl aus der Ich-Perspektive als auch aus der Sicht eines auktorialen Erzählers geschrieben. Durch die vielen verschiedenen Autoren und Charaktere wurden unterschiedliche Perspektiven gewählt. Es tauchen alt bekannte Charaktere aus, die sich verändern und entwickeln, genauso wie neue Charaktere auftauchen, die erst eingeführt werden. Dabei sind es so viele verschiedene Charaktere, dass man manchmal den Überblick verliert und etwas braucht, um mit den Charakteren und ihren Geschichten wieder warm zu werden. Das Wild-Cars-Universum bietet so viele verschiedene Kräfte und Personen, die alle auf ihre eigene Art und Weise einzigartig sind. Sie sind gut durchdacht und wirken nicht platt. Doch durch die Masse an Charakteren und der ständige Wechsel konnte ich zu keinem der Personen eine richtige Verbindung aufbauen und mich daher nur ganz gut in diese hineinversetzen.
Die Geschichte an sich setzt kurz nach den Handlungen des Vorgängers an. Das Komitee muss im Auftrag der UNO verschiedene Missionen auf der gesamten Welt zu erledigen, um Menschen zu helfen. Daher ist das Buch sehr politisch geprägt, was aber nach dem Ende des letzten Buches nicht verwunderlich ist. Es geht um Macht, Intrigen, Korruption, Menschenrechte und die richtige Entscheidung zu treffen. An sich ist die Geschichte dramatisch, emotional, actionreich und spannend, hat aber auch seine Längen und ist definitiv kein Buch für Zwischendurch, aufgrund der vielen Charaktere und der komplexen Geschichte. Man wechselt öfters die Schauplätze aufgrund von Ereignissen, die parallel stattfinden. Insgesamt konnte mich das Buch nicht immer fesseln und mitreißen, aber es bietet definitiv überraschende Wendungen und Entwicklungen.
Bewertung
Diese Fortsetzung war absolut passend, sehr politisch und hat mich zwiegespalten zurückgelassen, denn die Komplexität der Handlung war großartig, aber die vielen verschiedenen Charaktere und Schauplätze haben mich ab und an durcheinander gebracht, daher gibt es von mir
3 von 5 Würmchen
February 13, 2010
Unlike the recent semi-rash of novels featuring super-heroes (or more than humans if you depending on the genre) Wild Cards has been around since 1986. Whereas the books originally began as a series of short collections they gradually became what are called mosaic novels. Multiple authors stringing together their respective characters to create a single story.
This installment comes no more than a year after the previous Inside Straight. The UN is using their collection of Aces (look normal but can fly, psi powers, etc.) to proactively intervene in world affairs. Whether is the surging New Caliphate in the Middle East rasing oil prices to $300 a barrel, to war in Africa.
The world events are in the background though. Why I like these books (despite the numerous I have yet to read) are what the writers do the characters. People change, and they stay change, death is forever, and you might not want to become too attached to someone. They might end up dead (and they do in this installment) or become someone you no longer like.
Its a messy world for these people, for as the story progresses the Committee members wonder if the UN is using them, while competing Aces from Britain and the U.S. start to doubt the assignments their government sends them on.
This installment comes no more than a year after the previous Inside Straight. The UN is using their collection of Aces (look normal but can fly, psi powers, etc.) to proactively intervene in world affairs. Whether is the surging New Caliphate in the Middle East rasing oil prices to $300 a barrel, to war in Africa.
The world events are in the background though. Why I like these books (despite the numerous I have yet to read) are what the writers do the characters. People change, and they stay change, death is forever, and you might not want to become too attached to someone. They might end up dead (and they do in this installment) or become someone you no longer like.
Its a messy world for these people, for as the story progresses the Committee members wonder if the UN is using them, while competing Aces from Britain and the U.S. start to doubt the assignments their government sends them on.
November 17, 2009
It would seem that even as an editor, George R.R. Martin is extremely enamored of the idea of having different chapters deal with different characters/plotlines, and has an unerring sense of when one character or plotline has really caught your interest, which means it's immediately time to switch to a character/plotline you just don't care about at all. Other than the mild frustration with that particular structure, this was an enjoyable read. I have not read any of the previous books in the series, but found that I was able to pick up on the action pretty easily. It's an interesting take on the whole superpowers idea.
June 24, 2016
De Azen van American Hero zijn terug! In naam van het comité proberen ze de wereldvrede te handhaven, maar dat is niet altijd gemakkelijk. Verschillende auteurs laten je kennismaken met verschillende personages en hun azenkrachten. Een spannend en origineel verhaal onder redactie van George R. R. Martin.
Mijn complete recensie lees je op Oog op de Toekomst.
Mijn complete recensie lees je op Oog op de Toekomst.
May 13, 2011
“Let me get this straight,” Tom said. “You cause nuclear explosions?”
“Yes! Haven’t you been listening? When I get real scared I fucking blow up. Are you some kind of tard?” The spasm of anger passed and his eyes gushed tears again. “I wish I was dead. I’m too dangerous to be around!” – “Busted Flush”
There is an undeniable meta-fictional aspect to a science fiction novel that is written by a talented group of writers which is centered on a team of superheroes. Teamwork is essential in both cases in order to achieve success. One mistake by a hero and people die. Similarly, one mistake by a writer and the reader suffers (there are some things worse than death). Individually then, each writer mimics the heroes they write about as both are responsible for the completion of a specific task that contributes to a greater goal. And like all superteams, the quality of the team is dictated by the quality of its members. One weak link and the team goes from being the X-Men to being Alpha Flight. So the inherent difficulty in producing a mosaic novel is in assembling a top-notch team of writers. To write about the Amazing Bubbles and Drummer Boy, you need to have Action-Packed Plot Man and Snappy Dialogue Girl in your Legion of SuperLiterati. (Episodic writing for a television series also parallels the writing of a mosaic novel. Once again, the quality of each individual episode contributes to the overall quality of the show.)
Foremost, you need someone responsible for assembling the team. Assuming the Professor X role here for the latest Wild Card-themed mosaic novel “Busted Flush” is the incomparable George R.R. Martin. In his editorial stewardship, Martin has assembled a fantastic collection of talent. Stephen Leigh (writing as S.L. Farrell), Victor Milán, John Jos. Miller, Kevin Andrew Murphy, Walton Simons, Caroline Spector, Ian Tregillis, Carrie Vaughn and Melinda M. Snodgrass all make valuable contributions to the novel. There are no weak links in this collection. Snodgrass, in particular, really shines with some beautifully written interludes. She is so talented and underrated that people should probably be chained to desks and forced to read her. She’s the glue of the story and the literary Batman of the team.
As a group, the writers have created an intensely powerful and intelligent novel filled with political and social context seemingly ripped from today’s headlines. Populated with beautifully developed and extremely complex characters, “Busted Flush” goes beyond the two dimensional superheroes in comics. These superheroes have that additional dimension often missing from their comic brethren—human complexity. They live, love, do good, make mistakes, and most importantly, they must cope. Cope with their power and its repercussions. And like in real life some do it better than others. Throughout all this angst and drama though, “Busted Flush” never degenerates into a soap opera when it very easily could have. Like Martin’s fantasy series The Sword of Ice and Fire, the tone is firmly adult without being exuberantly over-the-top. So elements which on the surface would appear to be salacious or seemingly ridiculous like one hero’s lesbian experience during a hurricane or another hero being a hermaphrodite come off as believable in the course of the book. For these seemingly outlandish incidents to seem believable, the characters must work. And they work incredibly well here.
John Fortune and his U.N.-sponsored team of aces known as the Committee find themselves contending with three separate world incidents. In the oil region of Nigeria, war is blossoming between the Nigerians and a newly-formed nation called the People’s Paradise of Africa which is backed by the ultra-powerful ace The Radical. Reports of genocide have reached Fortune who decides to lead a team into Africa to further investigate the conflict and make recommendations.
The world is also in the grips of a terrible oil shortage which has sent oil prices skyrocketing. Prince Siraj of the Caliphate has manipulated oil production in order to artificially induce the crisis (as well as financially benefit from the higher prices). The U.N. has deemed Prince Siraj’s actions to be, in essence, economic terrorism. A Committee team lead by Drummer Boy is assigned to the region to support U.N. troops in opening up oil production.
New Orleans is being threatened with a brutal hurricane season. The U.N. decides to post another team of aces to the region to help with storm preparation and to provide emergency help. On their arrival, the team discovers another problem plaguing the city—someone appears to be creating zombies.
Meanwhile, a tremendous explosion has obliterated the town of Pyote, Texas. The lone survivor is a young boy named Drake who is immediately rushed off to a government facility called the Biological Isolation and Containment Center (BICC) for further evaluation. The Committee believes that a nuclear explosion is behind the town’s destruction, and the U.S. government is treating the situation as an act of terrorism. But doctors at the BICC discover that, in fact, Drake is an ace with the power to cause nuclear explosions. Determining he is too dangerous to live, the BICC administration decides to terminate Drake. With the help of another ace named Niobe, Drake eventually escapes from the BICC facility. On the run, Niobe and Drake must evade a team of aces sent after them by the U.S. government as well as avoid being captured by other organizations that would have a great interest in a young man who can cause nuclear explosions. Soon, the Committee is forced to get involved with the pursuit of the fugitives. But in the end will they help or harm Drake?
Interspersed throughout the novel are interludes focusing on the ace Noel Matthews who not only has the ability to teleport, but also the ability to shape-change into other personas. One of his alter-egos, Lilith, is an active member of the Committee, while another, Bahir, is a confidante of Prince Siraj. To complicate matters, Noel himself is a double agent working for a British organization called the Silver Helix. While caring for his dying father, Noel (through the appropriate persona) must often run conflicting errands for the Committee and Prince Siraj. Noel’s life though suddenly changes when he is sent in pursuit of Niobe and Drake.
Though it deals with hot button topics like the problems in New Orleans, America’s energy dependence on foreign oil, and genocide in Africa, “Busted Flush” is both subtle and remarkably shrewd in its political and social commentary. Issues are well-treated, fairly presented and the writing does not devolve into pedagogy. The writers refrain from getting on their soapboxes and making political statements. Instead, they focus on the human drama that arises out of these situations. This is not to say the novel doesn’t take political stances on issues. It’s just these stances evolve out of the characters, and not out of the writers. And of the character responses only Drummer Boy’s “blood for oil” meltdown near the end of the novel could be considered bombastic; however, his response perfectly mirrors the emotional trauma he is dealing with.
All the characters are wonderfully imagined, and the interpersonal drama between them rings true. Niobe and Drake’s relationship is poignant and extremely touching as both of them must learn how to cope with tremendous personal loss. Noel must undertake a journey of self-discovery, finding out who he is apart from his personas. John, Kate and Michael must find out who they truly love. Michelle must deal with betraying the trust of people that care about her. These are real problems, and like real problems they often don’t have simple answers. It’s this tremendous character complexity that makes “Busted Flush” such an absolute success. The characters live and breathe. How else could a character named the Amazing Bubbles whose power is shooting out bubbles be not only believed, but embraced?
Of the various storylines, the least engaging is the one in which the aces open up the Caliphate’s oil production. This is mainly due to the lack of an interesting foil in this scenario. While the Africa team must contend with the misguided and completely insane Radical and the New Orleans’s group has their hands full with Hoodoo Mama (and her army of zombies), Drummer Boy’s team essentially has limited opposition, allowing them to easily accomplish their objective. I would have liked to have seen a greater resistance from the Caliphate rather than them immediately surrendering the field, but their overall lack of resistance is likely a subtle commentary about America’s easy path through Iraq during the initial invasion. But sometimes reality doesn’t make the best drama, and it’s most evident in this case.
Last Word:
A stunningly powerful and smart novel, “Busted Flush” features an amazing level of character complexity and interaction. George R.R. Martin has assembled an incredible team of writers who through hard teamwork and long training sessions have accomplished one hell of a goal—writing one of the best science fiction books of the year.
“Yes! Haven’t you been listening? When I get real scared I fucking blow up. Are you some kind of tard?” The spasm of anger passed and his eyes gushed tears again. “I wish I was dead. I’m too dangerous to be around!” – “Busted Flush”
There is an undeniable meta-fictional aspect to a science fiction novel that is written by a talented group of writers which is centered on a team of superheroes. Teamwork is essential in both cases in order to achieve success. One mistake by a hero and people die. Similarly, one mistake by a writer and the reader suffers (there are some things worse than death). Individually then, each writer mimics the heroes they write about as both are responsible for the completion of a specific task that contributes to a greater goal. And like all superteams, the quality of the team is dictated by the quality of its members. One weak link and the team goes from being the X-Men to being Alpha Flight. So the inherent difficulty in producing a mosaic novel is in assembling a top-notch team of writers. To write about the Amazing Bubbles and Drummer Boy, you need to have Action-Packed Plot Man and Snappy Dialogue Girl in your Legion of SuperLiterati. (Episodic writing for a television series also parallels the writing of a mosaic novel. Once again, the quality of each individual episode contributes to the overall quality of the show.)
Foremost, you need someone responsible for assembling the team. Assuming the Professor X role here for the latest Wild Card-themed mosaic novel “Busted Flush” is the incomparable George R.R. Martin. In his editorial stewardship, Martin has assembled a fantastic collection of talent. Stephen Leigh (writing as S.L. Farrell), Victor Milán, John Jos. Miller, Kevin Andrew Murphy, Walton Simons, Caroline Spector, Ian Tregillis, Carrie Vaughn and Melinda M. Snodgrass all make valuable contributions to the novel. There are no weak links in this collection. Snodgrass, in particular, really shines with some beautifully written interludes. She is so talented and underrated that people should probably be chained to desks and forced to read her. She’s the glue of the story and the literary Batman of the team.
As a group, the writers have created an intensely powerful and intelligent novel filled with political and social context seemingly ripped from today’s headlines. Populated with beautifully developed and extremely complex characters, “Busted Flush” goes beyond the two dimensional superheroes in comics. These superheroes have that additional dimension often missing from their comic brethren—human complexity. They live, love, do good, make mistakes, and most importantly, they must cope. Cope with their power and its repercussions. And like in real life some do it better than others. Throughout all this angst and drama though, “Busted Flush” never degenerates into a soap opera when it very easily could have. Like Martin’s fantasy series The Sword of Ice and Fire, the tone is firmly adult without being exuberantly over-the-top. So elements which on the surface would appear to be salacious or seemingly ridiculous like one hero’s lesbian experience during a hurricane or another hero being a hermaphrodite come off as believable in the course of the book. For these seemingly outlandish incidents to seem believable, the characters must work. And they work incredibly well here.
John Fortune and his U.N.-sponsored team of aces known as the Committee find themselves contending with three separate world incidents. In the oil region of Nigeria, war is blossoming between the Nigerians and a newly-formed nation called the People’s Paradise of Africa which is backed by the ultra-powerful ace The Radical. Reports of genocide have reached Fortune who decides to lead a team into Africa to further investigate the conflict and make recommendations.
The world is also in the grips of a terrible oil shortage which has sent oil prices skyrocketing. Prince Siraj of the Caliphate has manipulated oil production in order to artificially induce the crisis (as well as financially benefit from the higher prices). The U.N. has deemed Prince Siraj’s actions to be, in essence, economic terrorism. A Committee team lead by Drummer Boy is assigned to the region to support U.N. troops in opening up oil production.
New Orleans is being threatened with a brutal hurricane season. The U.N. decides to post another team of aces to the region to help with storm preparation and to provide emergency help. On their arrival, the team discovers another problem plaguing the city—someone appears to be creating zombies.
Meanwhile, a tremendous explosion has obliterated the town of Pyote, Texas. The lone survivor is a young boy named Drake who is immediately rushed off to a government facility called the Biological Isolation and Containment Center (BICC) for further evaluation. The Committee believes that a nuclear explosion is behind the town’s destruction, and the U.S. government is treating the situation as an act of terrorism. But doctors at the BICC discover that, in fact, Drake is an ace with the power to cause nuclear explosions. Determining he is too dangerous to live, the BICC administration decides to terminate Drake. With the help of another ace named Niobe, Drake eventually escapes from the BICC facility. On the run, Niobe and Drake must evade a team of aces sent after them by the U.S. government as well as avoid being captured by other organizations that would have a great interest in a young man who can cause nuclear explosions. Soon, the Committee is forced to get involved with the pursuit of the fugitives. But in the end will they help or harm Drake?
Interspersed throughout the novel are interludes focusing on the ace Noel Matthews who not only has the ability to teleport, but also the ability to shape-change into other personas. One of his alter-egos, Lilith, is an active member of the Committee, while another, Bahir, is a confidante of Prince Siraj. To complicate matters, Noel himself is a double agent working for a British organization called the Silver Helix. While caring for his dying father, Noel (through the appropriate persona) must often run conflicting errands for the Committee and Prince Siraj. Noel’s life though suddenly changes when he is sent in pursuit of Niobe and Drake.
Though it deals with hot button topics like the problems in New Orleans, America’s energy dependence on foreign oil, and genocide in Africa, “Busted Flush” is both subtle and remarkably shrewd in its political and social commentary. Issues are well-treated, fairly presented and the writing does not devolve into pedagogy. The writers refrain from getting on their soapboxes and making political statements. Instead, they focus on the human drama that arises out of these situations. This is not to say the novel doesn’t take political stances on issues. It’s just these stances evolve out of the characters, and not out of the writers. And of the character responses only Drummer Boy’s “blood for oil” meltdown near the end of the novel could be considered bombastic; however, his response perfectly mirrors the emotional trauma he is dealing with.
All the characters are wonderfully imagined, and the interpersonal drama between them rings true. Niobe and Drake’s relationship is poignant and extremely touching as both of them must learn how to cope with tremendous personal loss. Noel must undertake a journey of self-discovery, finding out who he is apart from his personas. John, Kate and Michael must find out who they truly love. Michelle must deal with betraying the trust of people that care about her. These are real problems, and like real problems they often don’t have simple answers. It’s this tremendous character complexity that makes “Busted Flush” such an absolute success. The characters live and breathe. How else could a character named the Amazing Bubbles whose power is shooting out bubbles be not only believed, but embraced?
Of the various storylines, the least engaging is the one in which the aces open up the Caliphate’s oil production. This is mainly due to the lack of an interesting foil in this scenario. While the Africa team must contend with the misguided and completely insane Radical and the New Orleans’s group has their hands full with Hoodoo Mama (and her army of zombies), Drummer Boy’s team essentially has limited opposition, allowing them to easily accomplish their objective. I would have liked to have seen a greater resistance from the Caliphate rather than them immediately surrendering the field, but their overall lack of resistance is likely a subtle commentary about America’s easy path through Iraq during the initial invasion. But sometimes reality doesn’t make the best drama, and it’s most evident in this case.
Last Word:
A stunningly powerful and smart novel, “Busted Flush” features an amazing level of character complexity and interaction. George R.R. Martin has assembled an incredible team of writers who through hard teamwork and long training sessions have accomplished one hell of a goal—writing one of the best science fiction books of the year.
December 29, 2019
Da dies der zweite Band einer sehr langen Reihe mit diversen Spin-offs ist, lasse ich den Klappentext aus Spoilergründen weg. Trotzdem eine kurze Erklärung, worum es im Wild Cards Universum geht 🤓
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In den 1940er Jahren breitete sich ein Alienvirus auf der Erde aus, der sogenannte ‚Wild Cards Virus‘. Ist man betroffen, wird man entweder ein Ass mit Superheldenkräften oder ein Joker mit besonderen körperlichen Merkmalen wie Tentakeln usw. 🦸🏻♀️
So viel erst einmal zur Ausgangslage 😂
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In Band 2 verlassen wir endgültig das Setting um die Heldenshow „American Heroes“ und begleiten die Arbeit des am Ende von Band 1 gegründeten Heldenkommitees. Entsprechend lesen wir mal von Afrika, den USA, Großbritannien usw. - je nach dem, wo der Einsatz der Asse gerade stattfindet.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Wild Cards zeichnet sich vor allem durch zahlreiche Plotstränge aus, die am Ende immer geschickt zusammenführen. Generell ist die Geschichte, die von vielen Autoren geschrieben und mosaikartig zusammengeführt wird, spannend genug, um über kleine Verwirrungen hinwegzusehen. Da ich eh verschiedene Perspektiven in einer Geschichte liebe, ist das für mich kein allzu großes Problem. Es ist vor allem die große Charaktervielfalt und -komplexität, die es so interessant macht.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Wild Cards ist generell kein seichtes Weglesevergnügen. Vor allem in Band 2 haben wir es mit Kriegen, Aufständen, Naturkatastrophen und den damit verbundenen moralischen Fragen zutun. Menschen jedes Alters sterben und die Autoren zögern nicht, die Gewalt und politischen Intrigen zu betonen. Leichte Kost sieht anders aus und beim Kauf der Reihe hatte ich auch etwas anderes erwartet. 🙈 Der erste Teil hat mich aber gut auf das, was kommt, vorbereitet.
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Ich habe dem Buch 4 von 5 Sternen ⭐️ gegeben, weil die Vielschichtigkeit dieser Geschichte manchmal etwas zu unübersichtlich wurde. Der Plot trägt sich aber so gut über die Feinheiten der Charaktere, dass mir nie öde wurde oder ich abbrechen wollte. Stattdessen geht es für mich jetzt nahtlos im letzten Band der Trilogie weiter 💕
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
In den 1940er Jahren breitete sich ein Alienvirus auf der Erde aus, der sogenannte ‚Wild Cards Virus‘. Ist man betroffen, wird man entweder ein Ass mit Superheldenkräften oder ein Joker mit besonderen körperlichen Merkmalen wie Tentakeln usw. 🦸🏻♀️
So viel erst einmal zur Ausgangslage 😂
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
In Band 2 verlassen wir endgültig das Setting um die Heldenshow „American Heroes“ und begleiten die Arbeit des am Ende von Band 1 gegründeten Heldenkommitees. Entsprechend lesen wir mal von Afrika, den USA, Großbritannien usw. - je nach dem, wo der Einsatz der Asse gerade stattfindet.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Wild Cards zeichnet sich vor allem durch zahlreiche Plotstränge aus, die am Ende immer geschickt zusammenführen. Generell ist die Geschichte, die von vielen Autoren geschrieben und mosaikartig zusammengeführt wird, spannend genug, um über kleine Verwirrungen hinwegzusehen. Da ich eh verschiedene Perspektiven in einer Geschichte liebe, ist das für mich kein allzu großes Problem. Es ist vor allem die große Charaktervielfalt und -komplexität, die es so interessant macht.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Wild Cards ist generell kein seichtes Weglesevergnügen. Vor allem in Band 2 haben wir es mit Kriegen, Aufständen, Naturkatastrophen und den damit verbundenen moralischen Fragen zutun. Menschen jedes Alters sterben und die Autoren zögern nicht, die Gewalt und politischen Intrigen zu betonen. Leichte Kost sieht anders aus und beim Kauf der Reihe hatte ich auch etwas anderes erwartet. 🙈 Der erste Teil hat mich aber gut auf das, was kommt, vorbereitet.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Ich habe dem Buch 4 von 5 Sternen ⭐️ gegeben, weil die Vielschichtigkeit dieser Geschichte manchmal etwas zu unübersichtlich wurde. Der Plot trägt sich aber so gut über die Feinheiten der Charaktere, dass mir nie öde wurde oder ich abbrechen wollte. Stattdessen geht es für mich jetzt nahtlos im letzten Band der Trilogie weiter 💕
January 14, 2024
Wild Cards #18, which started this story line was stronger. Here the new batch of aces are in Africa fighting a mad ace and his African army, in Arabia trying to force open oil production for some reason, and in New Orleans strengthen the city against a coming hurricane. Readers also learn that, surprise, mad scientists have been running experiments on jokers, trying to learn the secret of the Wild Card, at a secret lab/prison in the SW U.S. dessert.
While the story is OK, the book is hard to follow. It needs a codex. Every character has their given name and hero name. Most have a slang name or two. Several have multiple identities. A few have additional names in foreign languages. Just a 2-page list of the characters with a 2-line summary of their background, primary relationships, and powers, would have helped a lot. There's one character from the primary villain's retinue who we are left wondering, "Who is she and what does she do--or is it a he?"
The book could also use some Vancian footnotes. When The Radical shows up, a line or two reminding everyone who The Radical is would be appropriate.
The book is not particularly well edited. Victor Milan's portion especially. The lack of pronoun control makes some paragraphs unintelligible. As the book list 3 different editors, at least one of them needs to use a better red pen. Overall, the book suffers for the overuse of pronouns.
While the story is OK, the book is hard to follow. It needs a codex. Every character has their given name and hero name. Most have a slang name or two. Several have multiple identities. A few have additional names in foreign languages. Just a 2-page list of the characters with a 2-line summary of their background, primary relationships, and powers, would have helped a lot. There's one character from the primary villain's retinue who we are left wondering, "Who is she and what does she do--or is it a he?"
The book could also use some Vancian footnotes. When The Radical shows up, a line or two reminding everyone who The Radical is would be appropriate.
The book is not particularly well edited. Victor Milan's portion especially. The lack of pronoun control makes some paragraphs unintelligible. As the book list 3 different editors, at least one of them needs to use a better red pen. Overall, the book suffers for the overuse of pronouns.
January 16, 2020
What a difference the authors make! Some good, fun, interesting story lines, dilemmas, but the sequences strike me as tired rather than inspired. This was my introduction to Lilith-Bahir-Noel, and I enjoyed that complexity, until the author burns the character. I wondered why from the get-go? The secrets haven't been compromised, the aliases could simply have disappeared, leaving the big mystery, were they killed? Hiding out? Surely someone who can maintain three completely different characters could drop two and create a fourth?
Maybe like me, the author was feeling bored with the cruel-crazy fest that comprises this particular collection. Each Wild Card player randomly pops out new, heretofore unknown abilities and tolerances, the world serves as a backdrop for trite monster-on-monster scenes.
For me, this collection suffers for the jumping around of narrators and perspectives - instead of building layers of tension, the approach made me not care about the outcomes. The pace is interrupted with each storyteller change. In all, this struck me as a collection for the dearly devoted, rather than a book for the average genre fan.
Maybe like me, the author was feeling bored with the cruel-crazy fest that comprises this particular collection. Each Wild Card player randomly pops out new, heretofore unknown abilities and tolerances, the world serves as a backdrop for trite monster-on-monster scenes.
For me, this collection suffers for the jumping around of narrators and perspectives - instead of building layers of tension, the approach made me not care about the outcomes. The pace is interrupted with each storyteller change. In all, this struck me as a collection for the dearly devoted, rather than a book for the average genre fan.
November 8, 2021
I am a huge fan of Wild Cards since I read the first book a few years ago. Since then I continue every now and then with the series, usually going along the reprints, so it took me quite a while to get to the [i]Committee Triad[/i].
Wild Cards to me is a little like X-Men in book-format. Humanity was exposed to an alien virus that gave some people (super?)powers (Aces or Deuces, depending on the power), some deformities (Jokers), some both, many people died (Black Queen). And now add to this the whole extent of human nature: politics, wars, racism,... So Wild Cards are like a superpowered alternative history.
In the first book of this series, the UN has created a team of Aces to respond to hot spots all over the world. But while this started out as using their powers for the greater good by saving innocents' lives, now the team needs to come to grips with the world of politics. What they deem a good cause shows their two-headed nature. And that is what I love so much about these books! Life is usually way more complex than just good and bad. Especially on the greater scale of politics, there are always innocent people who suffer, no matter the decisions. Economically, physically, ... And this is shown brillantely here.
Wild Cards to me is a little like X-Men in book-format. Humanity was exposed to an alien virus that gave some people (super?)powers (Aces or Deuces, depending on the power), some deformities (Jokers), some both, many people died (Black Queen). And now add to this the whole extent of human nature: politics, wars, racism,... So Wild Cards are like a superpowered alternative history.
In the first book of this series, the UN has created a team of Aces to respond to hot spots all over the world. But while this started out as using their powers for the greater good by saving innocents' lives, now the team needs to come to grips with the world of politics. What they deem a good cause shows their two-headed nature. And that is what I love so much about these books! Life is usually way more complex than just good and bad. Especially on the greater scale of politics, there are always innocent people who suffer, no matter the decisions. Economically, physically, ... And this is shown brillantely here.
April 13, 2019
Well I bought this book not realizing it was #19 in a series I had never read. Luckily it had new characters so didn't matter too much, but the beginning was quite confusing and not too intriguing. As the book continued some of the characters really got fleshed out and I strongly cared about characters like Niobe, Noel, and Ellen- but some of the other narrator's I didn't care for much. The politics and complicated plots all came together in the end making for a pretty satisfying read and late game page turner- I wish there had been a couple more chapters to flesh out the ending and cover what happened to everyone.
June 22, 2018
Shawn, Central patron, June 2018, 4 stars:
Starts a little slow. That may be due to the collaborative nature of the writing. And definitely read Inside Straight first, because without that I don't know how well I'd have connected to the characters. But when it gets rolling, it's full steam ahead.
Starts a little slow. That may be due to the collaborative nature of the writing. And definitely read Inside Straight first, because without that I don't know how well I'd have connected to the characters. But when it gets rolling, it's full steam ahead.
October 8, 2018
Es ist schon einige Zeit her seit ich das erste Buch gelesen habe. Trotzdem habe ich mich auf den zweiten Teil gefreut weil mir der erste relativ gut gefallen hat. Dennoch muss ich sagen dass ich es abgebrochen habe. Für mich mal wieder zu viele verschiedene Charaktere, Eigenschaften (Gaben, was auch immer) bei denen ich immer durcheinander komme. Ausserdem habe ich das Gefühl das zwischen den Charakteren auch Zeitsprünge sind? Es ist mir zu konfus.
October 28, 2017
As always, a "Wild Cards" novel is a highly enjoyable read. This one is much better than the last few specifically because t was better edited, or at least better proofread. The previous couple of books had been incredibly sloppy; this one was much more professionally presented. And the story was just as good.
June 4, 2018
Fantastic. Noel Matthews, intersex assassin, actually getting someone who loves him means a lot to me.
The premise of the American government experimenting to breed baby aces via Niobe is horrific, especially with the dubiously consensual sex being filmed by her doctor and used for wank material, but it's treated as being as horrible as it actually is.
Probably my favorite book in the series.
The premise of the American government experimenting to breed baby aces via Niobe is horrific, especially with the dubiously consensual sex being filmed by her doctor and used for wank material, but it's treated as being as horrible as it actually is.
Probably my favorite book in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2019
This book introduced interesting new characters into the series. The biggest problem I have with books written from different perspectives is when some perspectives are significantly more interesting than others. This is definitely the case for this series. It took some patience getting through the more boring chapters. But overall I really enjoyed this book.
August 19, 2017
The story went in a positive direction after being a little messy. I enjoyed several groups of characters interacting and the pieces really came together. The nice thing about the mosaic novel is that you get to follow many narrative threads and they came together well in this one.
August 20, 2017
Ook dit boek vond ik weer erg goed alleen wordt het wel steeds moeilijker om te houden wat welke aas nu allemaal kan en of het nu een aas of een joker is. Ook zie ik hier dat dit Wild Cards deel 19 is terwijl dit in het Nederlands deel 2 is. Erg verwarrend.
November 13, 2022
More great Wild Card shenanigans
A sprawling scene, from the UK to Louisiana swamps. We have terrorists, zombies and dangerous people (both nats and Takisian virus sufferers) what more could you want?
A sprawling scene, from the UK to Louisiana swamps. We have terrorists, zombies and dangerous people (both nats and Takisian virus sufferers) what more could you want?
December 2, 2017
Very interesting premise, not terribly well executed.
April 24, 2018
Ich habe 40 Seiten vor Schluss abgebrochem, weil es einfach immer schlechter wurde. Und sowas will ich mir nicht antun.
January 14, 2019
Just could not get into it. Maybe starting with number 19 in the series wasn't a good idea, but there were too many little threads and not enough big story to keep me interested, so I stopped.
February 1, 2019
I like GRRM&Co. very much but I think the first book of American Heroes was a bit better. Nevertheless I'm going to read all of Wild Cards books :)
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
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