Chicago Red

by R.M. Meluch

America had been free, a democracy. But now Edward III was king, and America was a land with a small, wealthy elite and a vast body of peasants eking out their meager living in the countryside or preying upon one another in dangerous city slums. Edward's soldiers and especially his executioner, Brigadier General Tow, would see that this was exactly how life in America remained.Only one man ever had the courage to speak out against the tyrant's rule - a man driven by the dream of restoring democracy to the land, only to become the martyr ignominiously hanged on Boot Hill. But from his death a new leader was born, a visionary young man not quite of this world, Chicago Red. His words would take action and be the spark to set the land ablaze with a new kind of revolution...

Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopia, Post Apocalyptic, Politics

319 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 3, 1990

Reviews

[Pygmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meluch!!! I don't even...man. No words.

She builds up people, then drops them. Then picks them back up. Kills off a liberal smattering of good and bad alike. She makes the bad guy really, really bad. Like, sadistic rapist-murderer-incesty-grossness in a gorgeous shell, then makes you fall in love with him, gives you vague bloody hope that there's redemption, then farts all over it and makes it a miserable schlock of karma coming 'round. Half the bad guys end up not being that bad, with sound reason. The main good guy is visionary and majestic and then suddenly things don't quite seem right anymore. Passions are all over in the book; there are no less than 3 romances squished into here, and I even got suckered into the gay one. Romance authors, take heed. THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT, yeah? Takes a sci-fi author to do it right.

Except it's ALL WRONG. A89&*)*($(*!! But despite the rocks falling, it is not a tear-jerker! The biggest emotional point came near the beginning/middle, and not the end. It is bizarre, I am torn all up, but left able to walk.

That said, I could've done without the incest, twincest, and the seme-uke imagery. Perhaps Meluch likes messed up family dynamics a little too much?

[Jamie Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd book, but it’s a pretty good read if you like a slashy, angsty, character-driven sci-fi story. It’s set in a post-apocalyptic American “kingdom” whose tyrannical government is fighting off a rebellion. This setting is not much fleshed out, though, and the story focuses tightly on two small groups of characters.

One group centers on the king: the psychopathic assassin he raised from the gutter, the feisty young noblewoman he admires, and his friend the bishop who is far too concerned with the actual welfare of poor people.

The other motley crew surrounds the beautiful young man who heads the rebellion. It’s unclear how he accomplishes this leadership, as he’s idealistic but prone to weeping and hysterics in difficult circumstances, but his lovely eyes inspire others to do remarkable things.

There’s not a strong plot. There is some action - the rebels like to blow things up, and there are a few rescues and escapes - but mostly the story is about a set of unlikely, life-altering romances which arise among the characters.

[Bruce Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird book. Less hands on revolution and more shagging than I expected.

[Tieria's · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to say it loudly and clearly - the first time I picked up The Hunger Games, I was IMMEDIATELY thrown back to Chicago Red. The mood and flavor of these two books are very, very close.

However...nothing comes close to Chicago Red in my mind. After Wind Dancers/Wind Child, this is my favorite Meluch book, and it has a great deal to do with the characters, her quirky sense of humor and her deft turn of phrase.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good post apocolyptic novel. A bit like David Brin's The Postman.

[Speedtribes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stalled. Got distracted by Warhammer. I'll return to this because in my dark little heart, Meluch is shelved next to my Abnett.