A review by jdcorley
Black Helicopters by Caitlín R. Kiernan

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This second, slightly more focused, installment in Kiernan's attempt to meld cosmic horror and paranoid spy thriller, seems to find its feet much more quickly and go much further and faster than the initial installment. A critical theme, in my view, is that the post-Vietnam thriller is always ultimately not about the enemy but is really about the perfidy, cowardice and crawling ass-covering of the allies. I saw the twist coming a mile away - so obvious that it barely qualifies as one, but for the same reason its much more deeply satisfying than the more common potboiler twists coming out of left field. Instead it felt thematic, felt like it was again and again drawing attention back to the same crimes, screwups and cover-ups, in an endless spiral. What a pleasure.