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jamjimham's review against another edition
5.0
Was really surprised by this novel. It hit the vibes of the Watchmen while feeling very modern. It touched on very relevant topics. Such as America being mired in an endless war overseas, and the glorification of war as a way controlling the population (that's what I took away anyways). Gallagher also sheds light on how America is built on fighting wars, but wants hides the returning warriors in rehabilitation centers, and away from the civilians. All of the characters felt realistic, even with being imbued with super powers.
This novel could have easily gone off the rails with a bunch of military jargon, and over the top action. But Gallagher does a wonderful job keeping this novel grounded in it's reality. It takes a bit o understand what is happening in this world. But the pacing and storyline unfolds in such a way that i never felt lost on what was going on. Would love to see more of this universe that Gallagher has created.
This novel could have easily gone off the rails with a bunch of military jargon, and over the top action. But Gallagher does a wonderful job keeping this novel grounded in it's reality. It takes a bit o understand what is happening in this world. But the pacing and storyline unfolds in such a way that i never felt lost on what was going on. Would love to see more of this universe that Gallagher has created.
ssindc's review
3.0
So many thoughts on this one... I didn't love it, but I enjoyed it ... and it raises a lot of interesting, critically important, potentially thought-provoking social issues.
Service, the military, the draft, citizenship, forever wars, government credibility (and transparency), post-tramautic stress disorder (PTSD) and TBI (traumatic brain injury), public responsibility to our veterans, duty, sacrifice, etc... and that's all before you get to the superhero sub-theme, which, frankly, for this reader, was the least interesting (and least developed) aspect of the book, and I'm a massive superhero, graphic novel, comic novelization consumer....
OK, lemme get my (unique, individual) critiques out of the way. I think my primary criticisms here were that (1) the prose didn't sing. It was sufficiently workmanlike, and no doubt competent, but it didn't sing... Hmm, by analogy, this was more Lee Child (Jack Reacher) and less Tana French (Dublin Murder Squad) or Jamie Lee Burke (Dave Robicheaux) .... (2) none of the characters fully animated for me ... I know, I know, it was a superhero novel, but I've read enough superhero novelizations to want more from character development; and (3) given the (more than adequate) pacing, I could have easily dealt with another 50-100 pages to flesh any number (let's say at least three) of the sub-plots that ultimately became loose ends....
As for the more positive, I love the themes that book introduces ... even if, in the end, they weren't fully fleshed out (at least to my mind).... Then again, I'm a veteran, the son of a veteran, whose professional life intersects with the military, and I read a lot of military-related stuff.
Let's start with the elephant in the room. It's 2020, and it's a crime ... seriously, ... it is just plain wrong ... it's unacceptable that, from 2006-2016, there were more than 6,000 Veteran suicides each year, averaging 17 Veteran suicides every day. If you haven't read David Finkel's powerful Thank You For Your Service, that's a good place to start.... While I have little idea what the author was really after, I applaud any effort to get our government, elected officials, and the public to think more about what our obligations are to our veterans (and those that support them - side note: we take better care of our veterans than we do of the contractors that support them, even if they take similar risks and suffer similar fates, but I digress....)
Also, in a nation where an unrepentant draft dodger is president, and military service is much less common, ... and too many Americans don't even know someone who serves or has served ... what it means to serve ... and who serves (and, frankly, who doesn't or who doesn't have to) is a significant issue. At least the federal government is re-thinking our approach to this issue... See, for example: The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service, at https://inspire2serve.gov/ .... Along those lines, classic sci-fi aficionados will hear powerful echos from Heinlein's Starship Troopers and Scalzi's Old Man's War - and, if you're unfamiliar with them, one of the themes is that citizenship is tied to service (far more directly than in our current experience).
As alternative histories go, this was interesting but, I have to admit, the alternative history (TV show) within the alternative history (novel) was a bit much for me. But that's a minor point.
Glad I read it.
Service, the military, the draft, citizenship, forever wars, government credibility (and transparency), post-tramautic stress disorder (PTSD) and TBI (traumatic brain injury), public responsibility to our veterans, duty, sacrifice, etc... and that's all before you get to the superhero sub-theme, which, frankly, for this reader, was the least interesting (and least developed) aspect of the book, and I'm a massive superhero, graphic novel, comic novelization consumer....
OK, lemme get my (unique, individual) critiques out of the way. I think my primary criticisms here were that (1) the prose didn't sing. It was sufficiently workmanlike, and no doubt competent, but it didn't sing... Hmm, by analogy, this was more Lee Child (Jack Reacher) and less Tana French (Dublin Murder Squad) or Jamie Lee Burke (Dave Robicheaux) .... (2) none of the characters fully animated for me ... I know, I know, it was a superhero novel, but I've read enough superhero novelizations to want more from character development; and (3) given the (more than adequate) pacing, I could have easily dealt with another 50-100 pages to flesh any number (let's say at least three) of the sub-plots that ultimately became loose ends....
As for the more positive, I love the themes that book introduces ... even if, in the end, they weren't fully fleshed out (at least to my mind).... Then again, I'm a veteran, the son of a veteran, whose professional life intersects with the military, and I read a lot of military-related stuff.
Let's start with the elephant in the room. It's 2020, and it's a crime ... seriously, ... it is just plain wrong ... it's unacceptable that, from 2006-2016, there were more than 6,000 Veteran suicides each year, averaging 17 Veteran suicides every day. If you haven't read David Finkel's powerful Thank You For Your Service, that's a good place to start.... While I have little idea what the author was really after, I applaud any effort to get our government, elected officials, and the public to think more about what our obligations are to our veterans (and those that support them - side note: we take better care of our veterans than we do of the contractors that support them, even if they take similar risks and suffer similar fates, but I digress....)
Also, in a nation where an unrepentant draft dodger is president, and military service is much less common, ... and too many Americans don't even know someone who serves or has served ... what it means to serve ... and who serves (and, frankly, who doesn't or who doesn't have to) is a significant issue. At least the federal government is re-thinking our approach to this issue... See, for example: The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service, at https://inspire2serve.gov/ .... Along those lines, classic sci-fi aficionados will hear powerful echos from Heinlein's Starship Troopers and Scalzi's Old Man's War - and, if you're unfamiliar with them, one of the themes is that citizenship is tied to service (far more directly than in our current experience).
As alternative histories go, this was interesting but, I have to admit, the alternative history (TV show) within the alternative history (novel) was a bit much for me. But that's a minor point.
Glad I read it.
pvn's review
3.0
This is pretty good overall. The author's excellent imaginations is evident with his creation of an interesting world and interesting characters. It starts slowly and has a decent ending. Recommended for alt historyfans (and are OK with some fantasy aspects).
Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!
Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!
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