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A review by bookiesanta
The Rise of Ransom City by Felix Gilman
4.0
Written as an autobiography of Harry Ransom, an alternate history version of Nikola Tesla, wandering the not-quite-America-but-kind-of-America from The Half-Made World. I liked that Gilman did not just fall back to Liv and John from the first book, and decided to tell a new person's story. I, in turn, liked that Liv and John showed up early, to assist with Ransom's story. And I liked that it was written as Ransom's autobiography, the story he's telling you. I did, until I didn't. Because the second half of the book became more about the story he didn't want to tell you. I was reminded of reading Ben Franklin's autobiography, which is a fantastic read, and an absorbing philosophical treatise. But as the story of Ben Franklin's life, from that vantage alone, it is not great. Franklin doesn't talk about a lot in his life that should be touched on. That was the problem with Ransom City, especially in the second half. Harry makes some terrible, though understandable, decisions, and his story grinds to a halt, and it felt like the character gave up, within the story and the book. It'a a bad sign when Ransom would mention some event happening, and then dismiss telling about it because it didn't happen to him, and I was thinking "damn, I'd rather hear about that."
You might be wondering why I gave the book 4 stars. 3 things...
1. The first half of the book was awesome. Until Ransom makes it to Jasper City, the book was more enjoyable than "Half-Made World". The dreams and plans of Harry Ransom, the travels with Liv and John, and the blind love that Harry develops for a player piano (you have to read it) kept me hooked on the line right up to the point when Ransom makes it to Jasper, home of his hero Mr. Baxter, who is not as neutral in the war between Line and Gun as he seems.
2. It's more of a 3.5 stars book, but I'm rounding up because...
3. Felix Gilman is masterful at building a universe that fascinates me, and despite my complaints, I still want him to write stories about this world. There is something fascinating about looking at American History through the strange supernatural kaleidoscopic writings that Gilman is adept at. That's worth an extra point or two.
You might be wondering why I gave the book 4 stars. 3 things...
1. The first half of the book was awesome. Until Ransom makes it to Jasper City, the book was more enjoyable than "Half-Made World". The dreams and plans of Harry Ransom, the travels with Liv and John, and the blind love that Harry develops for a player piano (you have to read it) kept me hooked on the line right up to the point when Ransom makes it to Jasper, home of his hero Mr. Baxter, who is not as neutral in the war between Line and Gun as he seems.
2. It's more of a 3.5 stars book, but I'm rounding up because...
3. Felix Gilman is masterful at building a universe that fascinates me, and despite my complaints, I still want him to write stories about this world. There is something fascinating about looking at American History through the strange supernatural kaleidoscopic writings that Gilman is adept at. That's worth an extra point or two.