“Blade Runner 2: The Edge of Human,” by K. W. Jeter

FM's ratings:

          1. Premise 8
          2. Prose 7
          3. Plot 7
          4. Characters 8
          5. Overall 8

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

Written as a sequel to “Blade Runner,” the movie, in turn based on the book “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by Philip K. Dick, this one really is, oddly, more a sequel of the movie than the book.  One could make the case that the movie is more influential than the book, if not as esthetically brilliant.  The movie has achieved what might be termed “cult status,” along the lines of Pink Floyd’s music album, “The Dark Side of the Moon.”  In the “About the Author” paragraph on the last page of this book, it says, “The Edge of Human resolves many discrepancies between the movie Blade Runner and the novel…”  Maybe so.  It has been a long time since I read the book, but I do remember that it emphasized the existential ennui that would occur in a culture that had killed off almost all species of animals, replacing them with mechanical replicas, much more so than the movie did.  In fact, I felt that was the main underlying premise of the book – hence, the odd title.  There is one scene in the book that depicts the android Pris finding an actual living spider and – criminally – picking the legs off of it one by one.  The movie on the other hand made much more of the characters and the events taking place in their lives; and so does this book.  This book is plotted so tightly that it feels as if each scene is an extension of the introduction – we are kept in suspense as to the nature of the Premise, as are most of the main characters, that we don’t really get a grasp of just what the Premise is until near the end.  This may be considered a smart novelty by some; I found it rather unsettling.  The Prose was possibly an attempt to imitate the prose style of Philip K. Dick.  I’m not familiar enough with Jeter’s work to make comparisons, but if that was the intention, it was ill-advised.  Dick’s prose has a beautifully deceptive simplicity to it that would be almost impossible to mimic.  Deckard, the protagonist, seems like an attempt to capture the superb screen presence of Harrison Ford.  It comes across as overly surly and mopey; even boring.  The other characters are portrayed much better, especially Roy Batty, who displays the brilliantly manic personality displayed by Rutger Hauer in the movie; perhaps a precursor to Heath Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker.  I would recommend this book only to those already familiar with the movie and, perhaps, the original novel, largely based on the futuristic atmosphere, which is quite tastefully rendered.

“Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She’s Dead,” by Christiana Miller

FM’s ratings:

1.      Premise 9

2.      Prose 9

3.      Plot 9

4.      Characters 8

5.      Overall 9

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

This novel is as frivolous, in many aspects, as the title would indicate; but it’s done so well that I found it vastly entertaining!  The characters were fun, especially Mara, the protagonist, and Gus, her gay friend, but the characters were arguably the weakest element.  I think many people will be thrown off by the “Voice”; the personality projected in the first-person narrative in much the same way that they were in the Twilight series, by Stephenie Meyer.  They might attribute the character’s naiveté as the author’s inability to tell a good story.  But the evidence of great writing skills is in the ability to grip the reader and hold them, as well as in the ability to project “atmosphere” as Miller did masterfully, especially in the more surrealistic scenes in this novel.  The love of the secluded cabin and its charm are infectious; the reader (this one, anyway) falls in love with it, too.  The depictions of the spirit world and its manifestations are as believable here as in any novel I have ever read.  Thank you Christiana Miller!

Here’s the March line-up!

“J is for Judgment,” by Sue Grafton [3-4-17]

“Slow Apocalypse,” By John Varley [3-11-17]

“There Goes the Bride,” by M. C. Beaton [3-18-17]

“Beautiful You,” by Chuck Palahniuk [3-25-17]

(As always, if there are any books you’d like to recommend for next month, please do so.  Also, if you have already read one on our previous lists, you are invited to send your ratings and or comments for that book!)

“We Have Always Lived in the Castle,” by Shirley Jackson

FM's ratings:

1.      Premise 10

2.      Prose 9

3.      Plot 10

4.      Characters 9

5.      Overall 9

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

Jackson is one of those rare writers who re-invented fiction-writing to suit her own preferences.  Often, this is the path to obscurity, but in her case, her personal approach resonates with us so vividly that we revel in it.  Sure, there will be those who “just don’t get it.”  Maybe they’re trying to look too deep, or are grasping for some conventional aspect to the writing.  But it’s best just to go with the flow and let Shirley Jackson lead you where she will.  Could the characters be more thoroughly developed?  Yes; but some of the allegorical magic here would be lost.  Could the prose be deeper, broader, or more penetrating?  Yes; but the narrative would lose something of its simple charm.  The plot is never predictable – nor is it the least bit confusing.  The premise is as clear as any – yet there is a mysterious quality that permeates the story like a fog, in a subtle though unforgettable way.  Is it “horror?”  That would be something of a stretch.  But “Goth” is a pretty close description, if re-defined to Jackson’s quirky standards.  While the plot doesn’t reach a nice, tidy conclusion, would we really want it to?  A clever “punchline” ending would detract from the story’s overall sense of wonder.  And perhaps no cat in literature has been depicted so perfectly as Jonas!  I love the universe to which this story and others like it belong.  I shall return.

“The Dog Who Came In From the Cold,” by Alexander McCall Smith

FM’s ratings:

1.      Premise 7

2.      Prose 8

3.      Plot 7

4.      Characters 9

5.      Overall 8

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

Another “soap opera” style “relationship-centered” gem from McCall Smith.  As always, the prose is low-key, but penetrating, riddled with pithy philosophical asides that should detract, but somehow never do.  The title character, a “Pimlico Terrier” named Freddie de la Hay, is smartly portrayed with what feels like an accurate depiction of dog psychology.  The guilt of his owner is palpable, as the owner’s betrayal of Freddie’s total trust is made manifest.  Each of the other threads that weave in and out of this main thread tells its own story of human relationships, flaws, and triumphs.  Odd situation-comedy vignettes pop up from time to time; embarrassing moments of the kind we all find ourselves in periodically.  Some may find this kind of writing “boring,” especially if they are looking for action thrillers or topical premises.  But if the reader sets aside his expectations long enough to let McCall Smith’s magic work, he will find a calm, rather profound delight in store.