The Sword and Laser discussion
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California Bones
2017 Reads
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CB: Which wheelhouse?
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About 30% of the way in now. So far the best part is the alternate-LA and how it functions. Disney as himself is the best, although "Animal Talk" was a howler.(view spoiler)
All done, and returned to LAPL. I would be it is now going out to another S&L-ite since the book was available when the notice went out and there is now a two person waiting list.Decent enough weird fantasy. I'm not left with much interest to read more. The take on LA was a howler, especially the stretch into historical figures all the way to name-checking Watanabe, a figure in the recent Sheriff's Department scandal. More tomorrow.
I’m picking up my copy from LAPL today! Excited to read this - will be fun to read a book with both magic castle and pinks hot dog references!
Oh, it definitely delivers on those. I've lived in LA since 1986 and this book has *everything*. It's not the LA of today, perhaps the LA of 2000. The alternate-universe versions of things provide a sly commentary on the city.
I started (and finished) California Bones, and can't wait to talk about it. As near as I can figure, the technology level of the story is roughly the 1970's - no cell phones, no computers, no Internet. That's a guess, curious to hear other's opinions. A story reason for the reliance on canals is eventually alluded to, and really just about everything has a reason for being the way it is, which was very cool. I'm a big believer in having most of the story world seem real so the fantastic parts don't throw me out of the story. The author really delivers on that.
The author also delivers a thriller for us. There's some suspense, enough to keep me saying "Okay, just one more chapter," without feeling overly manipulated. I never felt that the story bogged down either - it kept me engaged all the way through.
(view spoiler)
For some reason, I initially had trouble keeping the setting straight when I was listening to the narration. With all the talk of magic and the feudal society they're living in, I kept reverting to a standard swords and sorcery, pseudo-medieval-type realm in my head, only to be momentarily confused when the action moves to a diner or whatever!
Gary wrote: "As near as I can figure, the technology level of the story is roughly the 1970's - no cell phones, no computers, no Internet."There is a passing reference to spreadsheets somewhere towards the end of the book, but otherwise that seems about right.
This was definitely my wheelhouse and I thought a lot of fun. I feel the same way as Gary, that it was just mysterious enough to get me to turn to the next chapter, but it didn’t feel fake or overly manipulative. I have always enjoyed the idea of magic being gained by what you ingest, and I Like how he did historic re-writing. It was fun.
magical heist wheelhouse, a more modern "Lies of Locke Lamora", though not as well written
Except that the physical environs are pretty much where I lived for 20 years. I can envision every location. Even the differences are interesting to see, as they reach the same result by a different manner. It's as if the City of LA was going to be the same no matter how it was expressed.