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A review by platyphemus
Last Call by Tim Powers
2.0
Didn't like it!
I saw Anubis Gates on a list and picked it up. I enjoyed it, the prose lacked a certain deftness, but the subject matter was interesting, the world of 19th Century London Society mixed with ancient religions and the seedy underworld got me through it.
This book? I don't know.
This is the paragraph of my reviews where I point out what I liked. Something certainly made me want to know where the story was going. I guess that was pacing? Powers gives the reader just enough of of the characters' motivations mixed in to a bizarre world that was compelling enough for me not to give up. This is the end of that paragraph.
If I drank, and did so in a way that I wanted to get drunk, and needed to have a game to justify the drinking, or make it "fun", I would have the reader drink a beer for every part of this book that reminds you of the American Gods novel. Dead wife come to life? Drink. Troubled middle aged man? Drink. Concerning father figure that can't be figured out? DRINK. A hero's journey, learning the hidden world of old Gods? YES YOU ARE DRINKING. All in time for...fucking Easter? Send your liver my condolences. American Gods came out before this one. For the unlikely person having to choose between the books, go with Gaiman.
This book lacks likable characters. Really, there's nobody. I realized early on that I had no attachment to a character living or dying. It seemed like the protagonist wasn't going to pull off the quest objective, and I was disappointed when I turned out wrong. The world itself really lacks any kind of pull to keep me interested. I wanted to know what happened, mostly just out of a desire for closure.
Also there's child endangerment, which is not done in a way that moves the plot, it's just disturbing. A few times. Also, there is some derogatory use of the word "Queer" by one of the protagonists, and don't worry, he drops an "f" bomb later on, and it's played for...laughs? Or to show how manly this place is? I don't know, it wasn't good use of it, it just seemed hateful.
American Gods. Written before this. Lacking weird homophobia. A clear choice.
It's very unlikely I'm reading the sequel.
I saw Anubis Gates on a list and picked it up. I enjoyed it, the prose lacked a certain deftness, but the subject matter was interesting, the world of 19th Century London Society mixed with ancient religions and the seedy underworld got me through it.
This book? I don't know.
This is the paragraph of my reviews where I point out what I liked. Something certainly made me want to know where the story was going. I guess that was pacing? Powers gives the reader just enough of of the characters' motivations mixed in to a bizarre world that was compelling enough for me not to give up. This is the end of that paragraph.
If I drank, and did so in a way that I wanted to get drunk, and needed to have a game to justify the drinking, or make it "fun", I would have the reader drink a beer for every part of this book that reminds you of the American Gods novel. Dead wife come to life? Drink. Troubled middle aged man? Drink. Concerning father figure that can't be figured out? DRINK. A hero's journey, learning the hidden world of old Gods? YES YOU ARE DRINKING. All in time for...fucking Easter? Send your liver my condolences. American Gods came out before this one. For the unlikely person having to choose between the books, go with Gaiman.
This book lacks likable characters. Really, there's nobody. I realized early on that I had no attachment to a character living or dying. It seemed like the protagonist wasn't going to pull off the quest objective, and I was disappointed when I turned out wrong. The world itself really lacks any kind of pull to keep me interested. I wanted to know what happened, mostly just out of a desire for closure.
Also there's child endangerment, which is not done in a way that moves the plot, it's just disturbing. A few times. Also, there is some derogatory use of the word "Queer" by one of the protagonists, and don't worry, he drops an "f" bomb later on, and it's played for...laughs? Or to show how manly this place is? I don't know, it wasn't good use of it, it just seemed hateful.
American Gods. Written before this. Lacking weird homophobia. A clear choice.
It's very unlikely I'm reading the sequel.