Strange Robby

by Selina Rosen

Spider Webb and her partner Tommy Chan are police detectives on the edge of serious burnout. They've spent too much of their lives and too much energy collaring perps just to watch them slip through gaping holes in the system. So when a vigilante, dubbed "The Fry Guy" by the news media, starts to systematically kill the scum of the city by somehow microwaving their brains, they don't think of him as a "serial killer," they see him as an implement of justice. As far as they're concerned, "The Fry Guy" is doing their job for them and in a way that they never could - a permanent way.

Genres: Science Fiction

368 pages, Paperback

First published July 26, 2006

About the author

Selina Rosen’s short fiction has appeared in several magazines and anthologies including Sword & Sorceress, Witch Way To The Mall, Turn The Other Chick, the two newest Thieves’ World anthologies, Aoife’s Kiss, and Here Be Dragons.

Her novels include How I Spent The Apocalypse, Black Rage, Queen Of Denial, Strange Robby, and Jabone’s Sword.

Her mystery novels, Bad Lands, and Bad City, the first two Holmes and Storm Mysteries, were co-written with Laura J. Underwood.

One of Selina’s recent projects was a novelization of the first Duncan and Mallory graphic novel that was co-written by Robert Asprin and Mel. White, tentatively entitled Duncan and Mallory I.

Selina was honored by Deep South Con/FenCon in Dallas this past September where she was awarded the Phoenix Award.

Check out her website for her continuing series, The House. It’s posted in episodes—approximately two per month.

In her capacity as editor-in-chief of Yard Dog Press, Ms. Rosen has edited several anthologies, including the five award-winning Bubbas Of The Apocalypse anthologies and two collections of “modern” fairy tales including the Stoker-nominated Stories That Won’t Make Your Parents Hurl.

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosen has done a good job with characterization and evolution of relationships over the course of the novel. I like the premise, and where she takes it makes for a fun ride. I heartily recommend it to anyone interested in psychic abilities (especially pyrokinesis).

[Katharine Kimbriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a mystery/adventure/near-future thriller about two police detectives on the edge of burnout. They're on the trail of a serial killer/vigilante they really don't want to catch -- he's been "frying" the brains of scum of the earth. So Spider Webb and Tommy Chan feel the perp is doing their job for them. When the Strange Weapons Task Force shows up with too many questions, Spider realizes that there is no weapon -- the guy IS the weapon. And now SWTF is interested in her, too. A horrifying piece of information from her past is about to seize control of her future.

I really liked the friendly, matter-of-fact partnership between lesbian Spider and straight Tommy -- Tommy has a challenging but loving marriage, and Spider hasn't found an interesting date in much too long, but they are solid partners in crime fighting. That lack of romance changes in this tale, in realistic scenes showing both a sizzle of a new romance, and how long-married folk can renew their joy in each other. STRANGE ROBBY is gritty, colorful, and full of black humor. It carries you along to new places and people for both Spider and Tommy. They prove you can survive just about anything and learn to love again -- or find out the people you love are even tougher than you knew, and can weather almost anything if with people they love.

This book also advises you to love your country, but be wary of your government.

Rosen is dynamite on characterization, especially with interesting, strong women, and humor of some kind can always be found. This book was a bit of a breakout for her, and it was not well supported by the publisher. So if you need a quick gift, pick up this book! You'll surprise your friend, and they'll discover a great writer. I know that they still have copies over at www.yarddogpress.com .

[James K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The overarching story left me feeling a bit let-down but the characters and Rosen's ability to keep the tension tighter than a violin string are put to their best use here. I loved Strange Robby and liked the other characters, except, of course, for the ones I wasn't supposed to like. She did her job well. And besides being a fine adventure novel, it is thought-provoking as few books are. I read this to a friend who was legally blind and we had some lively discussions about it, although we both agreed it was a remarkably good book.

[Shado · Rating 4 out of 5]

"That woman is... well, she's way out of my league. I only ever date really homely women; there's less heartache and rejection that way"