A review by shirezu
Empire State by Adam Christopher
4.0
From outside this looks like some cross-over of noir and superheroes with flashes of [b:Watchmen|472331|Watchmen|Alan Moore|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327866860s/472331.jpg|4358649] and [b:Wild Cards|147908|Wild Cards |George R.R. Martin|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172191781s/147908.jpg|1807663] but when you drill down you find this confusing, tangled sci-fi heart of other dimensions, reflections of the real world and duplicity of the soul.
The book starts as a detective novel set in a 30's/40's blend of Prohibition and World War 2 era Manhattan, known as the Empire State. A woman is missing and it's up to PI Rad Bradley to find out what's going on. The more he digs the more he discovers only find a whole lot more than he bargained for. It's almost as if he walked onto the wrong sound stage and suddenly he's in a different movie. Full of mad scientists, superheroes, an unknown Enemy, bizarre cults and more.
This is a madcap book with so many different genres pushed into it but somehow it holds them all together and doesn't burst. Towards the end it does start getting a bit full with a lot of things crossing over but it all ties up well. The description was great, the characters brilliant. I could see this making a great movie. For a debut novel it's a hell of a good start and I look forward to seeing what Adam Christopher comes out with next.
Definitely recommend this.
The book starts as a detective novel set in a 30's/40's blend of Prohibition and World War 2 era Manhattan, known as the Empire State. A woman is missing and it's up to PI Rad Bradley to find out what's going on. The more he digs the more he discovers only find a whole lot more than he bargained for. It's almost as if he walked onto the wrong sound stage and suddenly he's in a different movie. Full of mad scientists, superheroes, an unknown Enemy, bizarre cults and more.
This is a madcap book with so many different genres pushed into it but somehow it holds them all together and doesn't burst. Towards the end it does start getting a bit full with a lot of things crossing over but it all ties up well. The description was great, the characters brilliant. I could see this making a great movie. For a debut novel it's a hell of a good start and I look forward to seeing what Adam Christopher comes out with next.
Definitely recommend this.