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Spaceman Blues
When Manuel Rodrigo de Guzman Gonzalez disappears, Wendell Apogee decides to find out where he has gone and why. But in order to figure out what happened to Manuel, Wendell must contend with parties, cockfights, and chases; an underground city whose people live in houses suspended from cavern ceilings; urban weirdos and alien assassins; immigrants, the black market, flight, riots, and religious cults.
Painted in browns and grays and sparked by sudden fires, "Spaceman Blues" is a literary retro-pulp science-fiction-mystery-superhero novel, the debut of a true voice of the future, and a cult classic in the making."
Painted in browns and grays and sparked by sudden fires, "Spaceman Blues" is a literary retro-pulp science-fiction-mystery-superhero novel, the debut of a true voice of the future, and a cult classic in the making."
224 pages, Hardcover
Published August 7, 2007
14 people are currently reading
539 people want to read
About the author
Brian Francis Slattery
56 books100 followersEditor, reporter, musician, and writer living just outside of New Haven, CT.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
January 26, 2017
The Apocalypse has a broken heart.
December 23, 2008
It's not often that one comes in contact with a truly literary-style piece of science fiction with superheroes, trench coat aliens, and underground floating cities, let alone a literary-style piece of science fiction that works. Slattery's Spaceman Blues is a stunning, if not astonishing piece of fiction; the kind of book you want to read over and over, because each time you do you'll find something new that you missed before; the kind of book that reigns in the pulpy goodness of the Golden Age of science fiction and comics with a style that will draw in readers of Thomas Pynchon and E. L. Doctorow (in my opinion and based upon a limited exposure to those writers).
Spaceman Blues takes off with the disappearance of Manuel Rodrigo de Guzman Gonzalez, the boyfriend of Wendell Apogee. Wendell isn't willing to accept that Manuel is simply dead and sets out to find out what happened. But in doing so he finds himself chased by alien assassins and the unexpected hero to an underground society stricken with fear by the destructive force of beings that have more in store for the Earth than they are letting on.
With a diverse cast, each with their own stories and connections, Spaceman Blues is a rather unusual and exciting read. Every sentence seems packed with important information and Slattery's style manages to wander into the lives of his unique characters while still pushing the story forward; that wandering rarely harms the overall integrity of the story. For such a short novel, Spaceman Blues does so much: it takes our main character from being just a man to a superhero, digs into the lives of a multitude of characters, each with unique back stories and personalities, and gives respect to the pulp literatures of the last century by taking them to a new level while still engaging with their "classic" nature.
Readers of Spaceman Blues may see interesting mythological parallels, too. The plot itself feels like an allusion to the story of Orpheus, with Wendell descending into an underground world in search of his lover in much the same way as Orpheus had. There are interesting parallels to Biblical figures too, particularly the four horseman. These elements add to the depth of the work, giving it the sort of multi layered narrative not often found within inherently "popular" forms of literature, particularly because the way this work is written intentionally draws one to the language, to the writing itself and what Slattery is actually saying rather than what the basic points of the plot are.
Spaceman Blues is not without flaws, though. While I enjoyed the ending of Slattery's 219-page novel, I expect some readers will dislike the lack of a significant conclusion, and perhaps may find the pessimistic view at the end to be too literary, or unsatisfying (or depressing?). To add, Slattery's style is not an entirely approachable one in the sense that it is not written like the novels that embrace the "popular literature" style. He writes with a certain fluidity, if that is the proper term to use here, with sentences that would generally be considered run-ons, but work precisely because of the type of book Slattery was writing; occasionally his style works against him when he wanders too far in the narrative. If you want to read this book, go into it understanding that it is written in a long, literary style, rather than the style you might be more familiar with.
Despite its flaws, Spaceman Blues is a fast-paced (and short) read. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for something a little different, because this work is certainly different, if not unique--a character story more than a plot story. It's also an example of why Tor is one of the pioneers of science fiction publishing: Slattery has an interesting vision that I'm glad to see get the attention it deserves. Hopefully I will have the opportunity to read more of Slattery's work in the future, because if Spaceman Blues is anything to go by, I expect he'll have a long career ahead of him.
Go check it out!
Spaceman Blues takes off with the disappearance of Manuel Rodrigo de Guzman Gonzalez, the boyfriend of Wendell Apogee. Wendell isn't willing to accept that Manuel is simply dead and sets out to find out what happened. But in doing so he finds himself chased by alien assassins and the unexpected hero to an underground society stricken with fear by the destructive force of beings that have more in store for the Earth than they are letting on.
With a diverse cast, each with their own stories and connections, Spaceman Blues is a rather unusual and exciting read. Every sentence seems packed with important information and Slattery's style manages to wander into the lives of his unique characters while still pushing the story forward; that wandering rarely harms the overall integrity of the story. For such a short novel, Spaceman Blues does so much: it takes our main character from being just a man to a superhero, digs into the lives of a multitude of characters, each with unique back stories and personalities, and gives respect to the pulp literatures of the last century by taking them to a new level while still engaging with their "classic" nature.
Readers of Spaceman Blues may see interesting mythological parallels, too. The plot itself feels like an allusion to the story of Orpheus, with Wendell descending into an underground world in search of his lover in much the same way as Orpheus had. There are interesting parallels to Biblical figures too, particularly the four horseman. These elements add to the depth of the work, giving it the sort of multi layered narrative not often found within inherently "popular" forms of literature, particularly because the way this work is written intentionally draws one to the language, to the writing itself and what Slattery is actually saying rather than what the basic points of the plot are.
Spaceman Blues is not without flaws, though. While I enjoyed the ending of Slattery's 219-page novel, I expect some readers will dislike the lack of a significant conclusion, and perhaps may find the pessimistic view at the end to be too literary, or unsatisfying (or depressing?). To add, Slattery's style is not an entirely approachable one in the sense that it is not written like the novels that embrace the "popular literature" style. He writes with a certain fluidity, if that is the proper term to use here, with sentences that would generally be considered run-ons, but work precisely because of the type of book Slattery was writing; occasionally his style works against him when he wanders too far in the narrative. If you want to read this book, go into it understanding that it is written in a long, literary style, rather than the style you might be more familiar with.
Despite its flaws, Spaceman Blues is a fast-paced (and short) read. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for something a little different, because this work is certainly different, if not unique--a character story more than a plot story. It's also an example of why Tor is one of the pioneers of science fiction publishing: Slattery has an interesting vision that I'm glad to see get the attention it deserves. Hopefully I will have the opportunity to read more of Slattery's work in the future, because if Spaceman Blues is anything to go by, I expect he'll have a long career ahead of him.
Go check it out!
June 25, 2010
3.0 stars. Well written, original and very, very odd. Certainly not everyone's cup of tea but I thought it was a pretty fun read.
February 2, 2017
Sort of Neverwhere meets Men in Black, if that can be believed. Wendell's lover Manuel disappears, and rather than grieve and let go, Wendell decides to dedicate himself to finding him, even if it means giving up everything he is and traveling deep into New York City's underworld, a city beneath the city populated by the forgotten and the dispossessed. Oh, and also, there are some aliens.
There was a lot I liked about this book. Slattery achieves some very moving moments, moments that say a ton about the relationships between people and about how hard—but also how important—it is to make a connection. Unfortunately, pretty much all of these moments happen between minor characters. I never felt like I really had enough of a handle on Wendell to feel the full weight of his transformation and his journey. Part of this, I think, is because I found Slattery's prose style a little difficult; he employs lots of long, loopy, dream-like sentences, and they can be a bit hard to follow. I also found the red-herring of Manuel's past and personality very frustrating; he's not, in the end, very important to the story at all, but it feels a little bait-and-switch to me, this holy grail at the end of the quest that not only isn't holy, but is manufactured by Dixie Cup. Maybe if Slattery had sold the ending better, or even just differently. Still: a lot about this book is memorable and strange and beautiful, and it says some interesting things about immigrants in America, and about love. It also has a pair of buddy-cops named Trout and Salmon. So much potential! Hopefully I'll be able to return to it in a few more years and get more out of it.
There was a lot I liked about this book. Slattery achieves some very moving moments, moments that say a ton about the relationships between people and about how hard—but also how important—it is to make a connection. Unfortunately, pretty much all of these moments happen between minor characters. I never felt like I really had enough of a handle on Wendell to feel the full weight of his transformation and his journey. Part of this, I think, is because I found Slattery's prose style a little difficult; he employs lots of long, loopy, dream-like sentences, and they can be a bit hard to follow. I also found the red-herring of Manuel's past and personality very frustrating; he's not, in the end, very important to the story at all, but it feels a little bait-and-switch to me, this holy grail at the end of the quest that not only isn't holy, but is manufactured by Dixie Cup. Maybe if Slattery had sold the ending better, or even just differently. Still: a lot about this book is memorable and strange and beautiful, and it says some interesting things about immigrants in America, and about love. It also has a pair of buddy-cops named Trout and Salmon. So much potential! Hopefully I'll be able to return to it in a few more years and get more out of it.
November 6, 2007
A difficult book to explain. Cryptic and charming and filled with humor and beauty and love. And constantly, a surprise around the corner. One doesn't expect, in a book stylistically modeled after SF's New Wave, to find such a great, action-packed climactic battle. Yet Captain Spaceman's fight with the Four Horsemen is truly brilliant. The denouement afterwards is a little lacking, but satisfying and disturbing and puzzling, as it should be.
February 6, 2017
“Spaceman Blues” is an exhilarating story that runs full tilt from start to finish. That’s not to say that there are no changes in tempo, pauses where a character (and reader) can catch their mental breath, or passages that back-fill our knowledge of people or places. But, the book is so tightly woven that it feels like the rhythm of a racing heart. You are swept along with emotion, imagery, and multiple perspectives.
I found this book glancing at a shelf – talk about lucky! It’s hard to believe it is a first novel. I’ve not read any of Mr. Slattery’s other work: perhaps he is an accomplished short story writer and used those skills at crafting a longer work that is as dense as short fiction must be? No matter how it was done, it was done excellently.
It’s inherently unfair to single out any element, but the use of language is superb. Voices are poignant and descriptive with a minimum of words. For example, when one detective accuses his partner of liking the pathologist, Dr. Indira Gore, he defends his reaction to meeting her by saying, “She is clever and she bears her unfortunate moniker with grace”. But I haven’t done justice to the scene or the writer. Here it is in his words and pacing (starting with the medical examiner.)
********************
“Gentlemen, gentlemen, lower your voices, remember you’re not suppose to be here?”
“Of course you’re right Doctor…”
“Indira Gore.”
“Dr. G-“
“-Yes, that’s right, please don’t bother with jokes or surprise. It could be worse. I know a Dr. Slaughter who’s a surgeon. Now if you have no more questions?”
They exchange cards, handshakes. Gore’s hand is humid and powdered from the glove, and later, Trout finds himself moving his fingers over his palm, bringing his hand up to his face. The tart smell of latex comes first, then passes, then there is a faint floral air, carrying lilies, sweet and full.
“You liked her,” Salmon says.
“She is clever and she bears her unfortunate moniker with grace.”
“…”
“Be quiet.”
********************
The “sound bite” about her name is probably cited often. But the passage shows the kind of imagery that reminds me of how Ross Macdonald would conjure up a place with detailed and delicate descriptions. He used this sparingly whereas Mr. Slattery uses it often and without diminishing the effect.
The book is full of strong fiction, human emotions and the colors, sounds, and smells of a fantastic melting pot. But it is not all fiction. The author weaves in real places, cults, history. Like obedient soldiers, they all serve his needs, bring this book to life.
The plot is both old and new. It has many sub-plots that flesh out the characters. It combines familiar elements that can be compared to other books, stories, and films, but they have not been combined in such a way before. As I wrote above, the pacing is precise – you never wish for a slow passage to quicken nor a fast one to slow down.
Is it fair to write a short review about a short novel? I could easily find more to write, but I’ve run out of superlatives. If this hasn’t been enough, then let me point out that a master writer and personal favorite, Harlan Ellison, has applauded it as well. Oh, and it’s worth every bit of a full “5”. Now, read it for yourself.
PS – I can see that a fair number of people have reviewed this book and liked it, but no one really LIKED it (i.e. no fives that I saw). Is it that I’m losing my mind? No, I think that I saw all of the threads that everyone else commented on and concentrated on the “whole” and not the parts. I think the synergy that this book embodies is writing at its highest level. Not the “Moby Dick” or “Tale of Two Cities” kind of writing (both of which I like), but a dynamic melding of story, plot and characters that few books accomplish let alone strive for. In the end its “IMHO” for each of us. This is mine.
I found this book glancing at a shelf – talk about lucky! It’s hard to believe it is a first novel. I’ve not read any of Mr. Slattery’s other work: perhaps he is an accomplished short story writer and used those skills at crafting a longer work that is as dense as short fiction must be? No matter how it was done, it was done excellently.
It’s inherently unfair to single out any element, but the use of language is superb. Voices are poignant and descriptive with a minimum of words. For example, when one detective accuses his partner of liking the pathologist, Dr. Indira Gore, he defends his reaction to meeting her by saying, “She is clever and she bears her unfortunate moniker with grace”. But I haven’t done justice to the scene or the writer. Here it is in his words and pacing (starting with the medical examiner.)
********************
“Gentlemen, gentlemen, lower your voices, remember you’re not suppose to be here?”
“Of course you’re right Doctor…”
“Indira Gore.”
“Dr. G-“
“-Yes, that’s right, please don’t bother with jokes or surprise. It could be worse. I know a Dr. Slaughter who’s a surgeon. Now if you have no more questions?”
They exchange cards, handshakes. Gore’s hand is humid and powdered from the glove, and later, Trout finds himself moving his fingers over his palm, bringing his hand up to his face. The tart smell of latex comes first, then passes, then there is a faint floral air, carrying lilies, sweet and full.
“You liked her,” Salmon says.
“She is clever and she bears her unfortunate moniker with grace.”
“…”
“Be quiet.”
********************
The “sound bite” about her name is probably cited often. But the passage shows the kind of imagery that reminds me of how Ross Macdonald would conjure up a place with detailed and delicate descriptions. He used this sparingly whereas Mr. Slattery uses it often and without diminishing the effect.
The book is full of strong fiction, human emotions and the colors, sounds, and smells of a fantastic melting pot. But it is not all fiction. The author weaves in real places, cults, history. Like obedient soldiers, they all serve his needs, bring this book to life.
The plot is both old and new. It has many sub-plots that flesh out the characters. It combines familiar elements that can be compared to other books, stories, and films, but they have not been combined in such a way before. As I wrote above, the pacing is precise – you never wish for a slow passage to quicken nor a fast one to slow down.
Is it fair to write a short review about a short novel? I could easily find more to write, but I’ve run out of superlatives. If this hasn’t been enough, then let me point out that a master writer and personal favorite, Harlan Ellison, has applauded it as well. Oh, and it’s worth every bit of a full “5”. Now, read it for yourself.
PS – I can see that a fair number of people have reviewed this book and liked it, but no one really LIKED it (i.e. no fives that I saw). Is it that I’m losing my mind? No, I think that I saw all of the threads that everyone else commented on and concentrated on the “whole” and not the parts. I think the synergy that this book embodies is writing at its highest level. Not the “Moby Dick” or “Tale of Two Cities” kind of writing (both of which I like), but a dynamic melding of story, plot and characters that few books accomplish let alone strive for. In the end its “IMHO” for each of us. This is mine.
October 27, 2015
Balls-to-the-walls wacky, absolutely hilarious and surprisingly poignant, Spaceman Blues is an absolute joy to read. Detectives that might be literal fish, gravity-ignoring Ecuadorian soccer players, invincible robots, 23-member funk bands and, of course, tons of crazy parties make Brian Francis Slattery's debut gloriously unique and fun. Recommended to anyone who wants Vonnegut on (more) drugs.
November 17, 2014
rambling and aimless most of the time. the descriptive punch took forever to get to and would often lead to my own mind wandering off and even forgetting who was “thinking” or speaking. i wasn’t even sure who he was writing about in certain places because of the way pronouns were used.
i certainly do not enjoy the writing style but some things about the story and characters are keeping me going. little bits and pieces, glimpses of something more, something that might not be what we expect, something surreal even. i’m hoping to find out that the out-of-focus passages in this book are on purpose and are supposed to reflect some inner plight of the protagonist(s) rather than just poor writing style.
...Nope.
I cared for none of the characters (when i knew which one was being written about) and saw no point in the story. Wendell the protagonist becomes some sort of superhero who is able to take on alien badasses and calls himself Captain Spaceman. Somehow. We're never sure how, just that he trained with the "Ciphers." haven't a clue. Never will. Not horrible by a long shot but not my cup of tea.
i certainly do not enjoy the writing style but some things about the story and characters are keeping me going. little bits and pieces, glimpses of something more, something that might not be what we expect, something surreal even. i’m hoping to find out that the out-of-focus passages in this book are on purpose and are supposed to reflect some inner plight of the protagonist(s) rather than just poor writing style.
...Nope.
I cared for none of the characters (when i knew which one was being written about) and saw no point in the story. Wendell the protagonist becomes some sort of superhero who is able to take on alien badasses and calls himself Captain Spaceman. Somehow. We're never sure how, just that he trained with the "Ciphers." haven't a clue. Never will. Not horrible by a long shot but not my cup of tea.
December 8, 2008
This book really straddles whatever arbitrary lines people keep between "science fiction" and "literary fiction." Imagine if somebody took the first chapter of V, about the sailors carousing around the city, and yo-yo'ing around, and built that into a jazzy, loose narrative about New York. You'd be close to the idea of Slattery's debut, which is filled with thrilling prose. Sure, at times it's a bit much: there's not one common verb in the book, everything's "exploding" or "burning" or "melting," and the protagonist Wendell Apogee starts from an intriguing man out of his depth and too quickly becomes Amazing Badass Hero. But overall it's an enjoyable read, and one I'd recommend to anyone looking to pepper their ideas of the apocalypse with underground cities and great parties.
August 5, 2007
I was disappointed by this one. Douglas Adams was better at whimsy, Vonnegut was a far abler satirist, and I swear I have read this exact _EXACT_ style from another writer (Ellison?). The characters are flat, the love story dull, and the plotting predictable. For the author to foreshadow with any less subtlety, he'd have to come to your house and hit you with a hammer.
That said, there are flashes of something good here and there, and I'd be more than willing to read this guy's next work, when hopefully he's found more of his own voice.
That said, there are flashes of something good here and there, and I'd be more than willing to read this guy's next work, when hopefully he's found more of his own voice.
February 6, 2017
From the first section of the first chapter, Slattery astounded me. Spaceman Blues rocks with the people of New York City, bringing heat from cold steel and concrete. In the actions of thousands of unnamed characters, the city itself comes to life. The characters who are named experience a surreal odyssey, full of longing, passion, music, death, and of course, impending alien invasion. Spaceman Blues goes up on that too-light shelf of books I'll read again and again just to find out how the authors do what they do. Go read and enjoy.
December 30, 2013
It's literary science fiction for sure - especially the underground search through floating cities part. The prose is flowery and the allusions to great works obvious. I think Slattery is very well read and equally well educated . . . and he wanted me to know it.
It is a good adventure yarn, packed with things exploding. It'd make a good movie.
But the reading is sort of a Canterbury Tales goes to Inferno - many interesting individual tales along the journey to the center of the apocalypse.
It is a good adventure yarn, packed with things exploding. It'd make a good movie.
But the reading is sort of a Canterbury Tales goes to Inferno - many interesting individual tales along the journey to the center of the apocalypse.
March 19, 2024
Frenetic and fast paced, think Kerouac sci-fi vibe. If you can get with the jazz riff pace and vibe of the book you might find yourself in a groove that you really enjoy and can't really find anywhere else (if you know of a book like this one please tell me in a comment).
Topics that stood out (there are so many): alien visitation, queer love, cults, climate change, underground city below NYC, mental illness, ethnic foods and friendship.
Recommended for... I'm not really sure
Topics that stood out (there are so many): alien visitation, queer love, cults, climate change, underground city below NYC, mental illness, ethnic foods and friendship.
Recommended for... I'm not really sure
Want to read
April 25, 2016"an underground city whose people live in houses suspended from cavern ceilings; urban weirdos and alien assassins; immigrants, the black market, flight, riots, and religious cults"?
"A literary retro-pulp science-fiction-mystery-superhero novel"?
Count me in!
"A literary retro-pulp science-fiction-mystery-superhero novel"?
Count me in!
November 15, 2007
A talented writer - particularly good at describing action. He bit off a little more than he could chew with this one, but I'm looking forward to seeing what he does next.
February 9, 2017
Needs to take a chill pill. Slattery is talented but needs to get away from the Pynchon/Vonnegut lolsorandomness and write with focus.
December 24, 2018
At the start it isn’t clear that Spaceman Blues needs to be science fiction, as New York City is a large enough and a strange enough place that you can fictionalize it with all the parties, eccentrics, and hidden nooks you want and it’s not that far from the truth. But as the story goes on it’s clear that Slattery’s Spaceman Blues needed to be a piece of science fiction, to create the type of boiling point that reveals the true priorities of the characters. Love, friendship, or selfishness, when the apocalypse comes the various characters show us what means the most to them.
This work has several strengths: Slattery is a quality writer, with better prose than most authors in the science fiction genre, and likewise a good hand at dialogue. He does interesting things with silence in dialogue that I’ve not seen before. The story’s structure is another strength, with the future being revealed through flash-forwards involving minor characters that suggest what has happened to the world, without spoiling the fates of the protagonists. This allows Slattery to create tension through the anticipation of what is coming (eventually morphing into a literal countdown) while not undercutting the narrative flow of the main story.
The characters are also largely a pro, as they are distinct and likeable (or at least understandable), but it’s a flaw in character portrayal that serves as Spaceman Blues’ greatest flaw and weakens the main plot a bit. Our protagonist Wendell Apogee, who is trying to track down his boyfriend through worlds where he’s an outsider, serves as a good vehicle to be introduced to this world, and his motives are sympathetic. However, Slattery, for reasons I can’t fathom, decided to take a relatable protagonist and transform him into an action movie star two-thirds of the way into the book. Wendell’s ninja-like skills, developed over an entire month of training, allow him to perform multiple action scenes in the back half of this book that no sane person would guess Wendell would be involved in based on his characterization for the book’s first half. It can be weakly justified as an homage to sci-fi action pulp of the past, but overall the change unbalances the story far more than is justifiable for such an homage.
I’m all for protagonists having arcs and developing over the course of the book, but the shifts in Spaceman Blues were abrupt and jarring. As far as I can tell, they aren’t necessary for the book’s ending or its themes. It’s possible I’m missing something about what Slattery was trying to convey with the book, as I didn’t find any profound message here, but it explores the themes of overcoming loss, making the most out of the time you have, and the importance of community with writing good enough that, even if it lacks something meaningful to say, I can overlook that.
A strong debut novel, not without its flaws, and Slattery made some baffling choices, but overall worth your time in my opinion (though certainly not for everyone). 3.5/5, rounding up.
This work has several strengths: Slattery is a quality writer, with better prose than most authors in the science fiction genre, and likewise a good hand at dialogue. He does interesting things with silence in dialogue that I’ve not seen before. The story’s structure is another strength, with the future being revealed through flash-forwards involving minor characters that suggest what has happened to the world, without spoiling the fates of the protagonists. This allows Slattery to create tension through the anticipation of what is coming (eventually morphing into a literal countdown) while not undercutting the narrative flow of the main story.
The characters are also largely a pro, as they are distinct and likeable (or at least understandable), but it’s a flaw in character portrayal that serves as Spaceman Blues’ greatest flaw and weakens the main plot a bit. Our protagonist Wendell Apogee, who is trying to track down his boyfriend through worlds where he’s an outsider, serves as a good vehicle to be introduced to this world, and his motives are sympathetic. However, Slattery, for reasons I can’t fathom, decided to take a relatable protagonist and transform him into an action movie star two-thirds of the way into the book. Wendell’s ninja-like skills, developed over an entire month of training, allow him to perform multiple action scenes in the back half of this book that no sane person would guess Wendell would be involved in based on his characterization for the book’s first half. It can be weakly justified as an homage to sci-fi action pulp of the past, but overall the change unbalances the story far more than is justifiable for such an homage.
I’m all for protagonists having arcs and developing over the course of the book, but the shifts in Spaceman Blues were abrupt and jarring. As far as I can tell, they aren’t necessary for the book’s ending or its themes. It’s possible I’m missing something about what Slattery was trying to convey with the book, as I didn’t find any profound message here, but it explores the themes of overcoming loss, making the most out of the time you have, and the importance of community with writing good enough that, even if it lacks something meaningful to say, I can overlook that.
A strong debut novel, not without its flaws, and Slattery made some baffling choices, but overall worth your time in my opinion (though certainly not for everyone). 3.5/5, rounding up.
April 16, 2020
3,5 stars
Kun Manuel Rodrigo Guzmán González katoaa, päättää Wendell Apogee löytää rakkaansa. Etsinnän kuluessa Manuelin elämästä paljastuu uusia asioita. Muiden muistojen kautta poissaoleva Manuel nousee kirjan toiseksi päähenkilöksi. Järkytyksekseen Wendell saa huomata, ettei hän ole ainoa, joka etsii Manuelia. Tämän perässä ovat myös kummalliset avaruusoliot, jotka näyttävät hyökkäävän kaikkien Manuelin tunteneiden kimppuun. Etsintä vie Wendellin Pimeälän kaupunkiin, maanalaiseen New Yorkiin; salaiseen metropoliin kaupungin alla, johon maahan salaa saapuneet maahanmuuttajat ovat perustaneet oman yhteiskuntansa. Sieltä tämä hieman arka ja tavanomainen mies saa suojapaikan ja oppii taistelemaan. Wendell Apogeesta kuoriutuu Kapteeni Avaruus, supersankari, jonka uskotaan pystyvän kukistamaan muukalaiset.
Kirjoittaja on muusikko ja Avaruusbluesin surrealistinen kerronta kulkee kauniisti rytmissä ja kirjan tapahtumia säestää kaikkialla soiva musiikki. Nopeatempoinen kaaos, jossa useita eri elementtejä on heitetty yhteen, mutta kirjailija onnistuu kuitenkin ohjaamaan tapahtumia niin, että esiin nousee kaikessa kurjuudessakin riemukkaan värikäs juoni, joka vie yllättävään lopputulokseen.
Kiinnostava lukukokemus.
Kun Manuel Rodrigo Guzmán González katoaa, päättää Wendell Apogee löytää rakkaansa. Etsinnän kuluessa Manuelin elämästä paljastuu uusia asioita. Muiden muistojen kautta poissaoleva Manuel nousee kirjan toiseksi päähenkilöksi. Järkytyksekseen Wendell saa huomata, ettei hän ole ainoa, joka etsii Manuelia. Tämän perässä ovat myös kummalliset avaruusoliot, jotka näyttävät hyökkäävän kaikkien Manuelin tunteneiden kimppuun. Etsintä vie Wendellin Pimeälän kaupunkiin, maanalaiseen New Yorkiin; salaiseen metropoliin kaupungin alla, johon maahan salaa saapuneet maahanmuuttajat ovat perustaneet oman yhteiskuntansa. Sieltä tämä hieman arka ja tavanomainen mies saa suojapaikan ja oppii taistelemaan. Wendell Apogeesta kuoriutuu Kapteeni Avaruus, supersankari, jonka uskotaan pystyvän kukistamaan muukalaiset.
Kirjoittaja on muusikko ja Avaruusbluesin surrealistinen kerronta kulkee kauniisti rytmissä ja kirjan tapahtumia säestää kaikkialla soiva musiikki. Nopeatempoinen kaaos, jossa useita eri elementtejä on heitetty yhteen, mutta kirjailija onnistuu kuitenkin ohjaamaan tapahtumia niin, että esiin nousee kaikessa kurjuudessakin riemukkaan värikäs juoni, joka vie yllättävään lopputulokseen.
Kiinnostava lukukokemus.
July 21, 2018
I'm not normally one to use words like "kaleidoscopic" or "psychedelic" when reviewing a book, but I'm hard pressed to come up with anything else to describe my experience with reading this. More than 2 thirds of the way through the book, and I still wasn't quite sure just what kind of novel I was reading. It didn't matter though, as I was enjoying every word.
The present tense prose flows far more easily than conventions would have one believe. The author has a real knack for making the absurd seem plausible and nearly appealing. Despite the frightful events that eventually happen (Notice I haven't given any real details. That's on purpose. Going in blind is just half fun here.), you almost want to live in this insane world.
The present tense prose flows far more easily than conventions would have one believe. The author has a real knack for making the absurd seem plausible and nearly appealing. Despite the frightful events that eventually happen (Notice I haven't given any real details. That's on purpose. Going in blind is just half fun here.), you almost want to live in this insane world.
December 11, 2018
I read this book years ago. I don't know how to describe it other than it was like that that first few seconds of holding your breath with the anticipation of the exhaul mixed with smiles and heartbreak. It is like a dream with all the dream logic and dream feelings. Thinking about it makes me want to read it all over again. I read it over two nights. The first night I read until I forced myself to stop and then stared at the dark ceiling for an hour thinking about it. The next night I didn't even try to stop myself. The next day I called my mom so I could talk to her about it and gave it to her the next time I saw her. She loved it as much as I did, but took different things away from it. It is one of the books I will probably never be able to part with.
April 23, 2021
This was a wild ride! Slattery has a real knack for taking you on an adventure down paths you never knew could exist, and decorating the trip with very real and hilarious trappings. His prose are so poetic yet simultaneously relatable, as to almost invoke a sense of knowing through experience. He not only describes in beautiful detail, he describes things that most would never even think to describe. This was a genre defying romp, and I highly recommend it to anyone with a sense of humor and a love for literary fiction.
December 27, 2019
Despite the glowing blurb on the cover from my favorite SF writer Harlan Ellison, I didn't warm to this high-energy novel. It's subtitled "A Love Song," and I was pleasantly surprised that the central relationship is between two men, with no apology or explanation; nevertheless, its many characters and fantastical battle scenes left me cold. Slattery's verbose style feels too deliberate, too florid and tangled for its own sake, choking the characters' efforts to come alive.
May 23, 2022
That was...deeply weird & uncomfortable. At times, it reads like a darker, sweatier, lewder, more profane (and dare I say it...more American) version of Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere". It actually works best in its first act, without most of the SF trappings...and when those trappings finally take the spotlight, I find the novel actually becomes less interesting. It's a quick read, but it will randomly poke at your brain.
August 6, 2023
This is wild and genre-defyingly hard to categorize beyond the emotional backdrop of coping with loss and heartbreak. It’s got detective/noir elements, sci-fi elements, superhero elements, apocalyptic elements, existential elements, stylistic elements. Relatively short at about 220 pages, engaging and fast paced enough to devour in a handful of sittings. Strongly recommend to open minded readers who want something unique and/or different.
May 24, 2022
Really loved this book. The prose is just out of this world, so the reader feels like they're just tumbling through this euphoric narrative. The story was by turns depressing, silly, and uplifting. I think it also spoke to me because I love cities. Probably not to everyone's taste; very much to mine.
October 9, 2023
my dad literally named me after the main character of this book so i've been meaning to read it for a while and it's pretty good. was expecting a lot more to happen so i was a little bit disappointed but the characters, imagery, and ideas the book presents and the way it describes them are just so incredible. ending is so fucking good too.
February 7, 2020
I think this is a book that is best enjoyed if you pay attention to the journey instead of expecting a conclusion. And the journey was a wonderful mix of whimsical, absurd and almost tragic but hopeful.
April 2, 2022
This is second time I tried reading this book but I can’t get through it. I know it’s supposed to be a cult classic but I didn’t enjoy reading it. The fantasy seems forced and I didn’t have any empathy for the characters.
June 4, 2022
Sci-fi for beat poets - my second Brian Slattery read after really enjoying 'Liberation' a couple of years ago. Unique, without comparison, uplifting prose, and set in New York City too - what else can you ask for?
July 14, 2017
Slattery channels Richard Brautigan! Fabulous trip down memory lane- now I need to dig out Trout Fishing in American and In watermelon sugar.
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