Beat the Reaper

The debut novel by a writer we should keep our eye on

BY COLIN ENQUIST (originally posted on murmur.com)

Book club selections can sometimes be terrible. Making you read a novel so out of your comfort zone it sickens you as you read it (that is, if you read it). Although, leaving your comfort zone can be a good thing. But with the first book in the Murmur Book Club, Beat the Reaper, was right up my alley.

Checking the novel out of the library on Thursday afternoon before I head to the airport, I flipped through a few pages while waiting for my flight but put the book back in my bag. I must not have been in the mood to read. After I got seated on the plane and re-opened the book, it was like a flash of light, the plane was already landing at my destination. Confused, I look down at the book as I shut the crisp pages on my bookmark. Holy shit, the bookmark was sitting about halfway through the novel. Sunday night, return flight, four-hour flight delay. Bonus for me!! The only reason I mention this is because on the back cover, one of the blurbs specifically reads “It’s a book you wish you had with you when you were trapped in an airport during a three-hour flight delay”. This person was not wrong and I’m glad this book was in my bag!

Reading fast, this gut wrenching tale of a mob hit-man turned doctor in the witness protection program refuses to step off the pedal.

The character of Dr. Peter Brown (a.k.a. Pietro Brnwa (a.k.a. the “Bearclaw”)) is such a likeable creation. In the first chapter, writer Josh Bazell paints the picture of a unique, determined individual with a shady past. That first chapter hooks you in and takes you 280 more pages to shake the damn hook out of your mouth.

Although the story is about Dr. Peter Brown, the flashbacks are presented like they were completely new characters. To an extent this is true, because at each stage of his life, Dr. Brown is a vastly different person. Jumping between Dr. Brown (current time), Pietro Brnwa (young to adultish times), and the “Bearclaw” (troubled adult times) so seamlessly, Bazell makes the questions you want answered thrive by connecting all three “characters” ever so slightly.

In this form, we also get three stories as well, using characters we know already, but we just don’t understand how they got to (or from) that certain point. Yet Dr. Brown is the constant that ties it all together, while Pietro and the “Bearclaw” tend to cross paths in a ways to set up his evolution to Dr. Brown.

His evolution though could end before his next shift, when a patient figures out that Dr. Brown is the former mob hit-man, the “Bearclaw”. Dr. Brown knows that soon his time for redemption will be over, but what can he do to slow it down.

While Bazell did a fantastic job organizing the three stories into one, I felt that the story of “Bearclaw” lost a little bit of credence. Most of this was because you knew he survived every scenario thrown at him. Hand the chapter of the shark tank fiasco to a friend, who has no knowledge of the book, they may tell you how intense that was, but if you already knew he was going to survive it loses all its intensity.

During Bazell’s tale of murder and medical mumbo-jumbo, he uses footnotes to give the reader more information which is not really required. At least at first glance, this seemed lazy on Bazell’s part, just a way to add information to the novel that was not needed. Then I realized it was much more then that. Bazell created footnotes that were not essential to the story, yet added much to it, giving the reader a learning experience or just making us laugh during a situation that we wouldn’t be laughing at normally. The first footnote on page two sets up part of the ending of this novel, without the footnote, it probably would not have been as effective.

The effective ending makes me want more. Be it another novel by Bazell or a sequel to this one. I will probably go and purchase the book when I get a chance, as this is a must for a re-read. Hopefully this turns out better then my last new favourite book from a new author.

Still waiting on Godspeed, yes I am talking to you Will Christopher Baer!!

Liberating Atlantis

Liberating Atlantis
by Matt Luecke

I like getting Christmas presents as much as anyone. But sometimes when I get books as presents, it’s not always a perfect present. For example, many, many years ago, I got a Star Wars book, set well after Return of the Jedi. Leia and Han had three kids, Luke was a full Jedi, etcetera. Halfway through, I found out they killed Chewbacca off several books ago. I put it down and didn’t read any more. There was just too much back story I hadn’t read “as it happened.”

Thus, I was slightly apprehensive when I got the newest Harry Turtledove offering. Turtledove is one of my two favorite authors and I have read as much of his science fiction/alternate history work as I have been able to (he also writes fantasy). But, Liberating Atlantis is the third book in his Atlantis series. Hence, I was worried about back story.

First, let me back up. Alternate history is a sub-genre of fiction and can be alternate history-science fiction or simply alternate history. Turtledove has written both brilliantly. For example, he wrote a fascinating series of alternate history science fiction with the premise that aliens with late 20th Century technology invade Earth right at the beginning of 1942. Turtledove also tackled “simple” alternate history in a series with the premise that Robert E. Lee’s “Lost Order” (which led to the North “victory” at Antietam) wasn’t lost. The result was a southern victory and generations of strife between the Confederate States and United States.

In Turtledove’s Atlantis series, he starts with the premise that Atlantis exists—it seems to be the eastern part of the U.S. and Canada moved to the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. (This is part of the back story I could not glean from this, the third book). So, in 1452, Edward Radcliffe sailed the ocean blue and founded New Hastings on a totally unpopulated Atlantis. Later, Victor Radcliffe led the Atlanteans in a revolt against the British and found the United States of Atlantis (yes, USA). The Atlanteans even defeated Cornwallis.

Liberating Atlantis tells the story of Victor Radcliffe’s grandson, Frederick in the 1850s. Victor is the only white ancestor of Frederick, so Frederick is a house slave in the southern part of Atlantis. Frederick starts a slave uprising of blacks and “copperskins,” the equivalent of American Indians who are also slaves in this timeline. Because of the Atlantean Constitution, two “Consuls” are in charge, but either can veto any legislation of the Senate. So, while the Northern Consul prevents the national army from intervening, the insurrection gains momentum. Once the national army goes into action to quell the rebellion, it’s too late and the former slaves end up pulling off a modern Cannae, surrounding the national army in a trap. The Senate then eventually approves freedom for former slaves.

Though I enjoyed this book, it is not Turtledove’s best work. First, it does not describe the geography of Atlantis very well. Perhaps that is described better in the first two books. Also, it gets a little repetitive in the arguments that the Northern Counsel (Newton) and the Southern Counsel (Stafford) keep getting into about slavery. There are only three characters that are well developed: Radcliffe, Newton, and Stafford. Perhaps this is just a personal preference, but I don’t like when authors introduce new characters who are critical to the action near the end of the book. But, a key southern senator and his butler/house slave are introduced very late in the story. Last, it seems clear from the beginning that the uprising is going to succeed. Of course, these bits didn’t stop me from requesting (and getting) the first two books in the series for my birthday! But, if you’re new to Turtledove, check out Guns of the South (time travelers bring AK-47s to the South in 1864) or the Invasion series instead.

Ringing in the New Years!

In the only style I know

BY COLIN ENQUIST

Hopefully everyone had a good holiday, and will have a good New Years Eve. Thought I should quickly go through a big chunk of the media I got around the holidays. Some were presents, others were boxing day shopping! I will quickly review the ones I have watched since the 25th.

Guessing I should explain that a new TV finally made it to my house. Out goes the small 20 inch tube TV that has been keeping me sane until I upgraded. And in comes a 37 inch LCD! No more getting angry when watching a movie now, as I can now see what is happening without squinting.

The TV was picked up on Boxing Day, and sat till the 29th when I returned home from Nordegg, Alberta. To christen the new TV I was planning on watching Star Trek, which I got in the Chinese Gift Exchange on Christmas Eve. But I was impatient and didn’t want to wait until Meghan was done whatever it was she was doing, so I watched Body of Lies (a Boxing Day purchase).

Can’t say that Body of Lies was a good film, I did like certain things about it, although I disliked more. The acting between Leonardo Dicaprio and Russell Crowe was superb. After that though, much was left to be desired. This is a movie that requires a viewing if it is on cable TV or in the $3.99 bin like I found it.

At least I got to wash the bitter taste out of my mouth with Star Trek a few hours later! Don’t need to talk about it because my review is right here.

Next up I watched Shade, a 2003 neo-noir poker film. Or maybe it should be said a film about cheating at poker. It stars some big names in Sylvester Stallone, Melanie Griffith, Thandie Newton, Stuart Townsend, Gabriel Byrne and Jamie Foxx. Not a spectacular movie but I saw it when it came out and enjoyed it, plus I found it in the 3 for $10 bin with American Gangster and the Aviator so how could I pass it up. I also accepted a challenge laid out on murmur.com to draw a scene from a movie while you watch it. You can read my article about the progress of the drawing here.

More Boxing Day purchases include The Simpsons: The complete 12th season, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist and RockNRolla. Have yet to watch RockNRolla but have heard good things about it. The Simpsons is still a classic, only behind Seinfeld.

Just finished watching Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist 5 minutes ago. I love that movie, just one of those films that make you smile. The writing is just perfect. And the music doesn’t hurt it either.

That is it on the movie side, the medium of comics is another…

I picked up quite a bit on Boxing Day. The Nobody by Jeff Lemire was one of those books, which I read last night, and loved to death. This will be a book I will be pushing on all my friends along with The Nightly News by Jonathan Hickman and Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughn. Also sitting next to my nightstand is Lemire’s award winning Essex County trilogy.

A few books are on top of Essex County though, Fear Agent vol 5, Hellboy Library Edition vol 3, Asterios Polyp, Neon Genesis vol 3 and others I can not remember right now.

Over the holidays I finished I Kill Giants, Filthy Rich and Pax Romana. If you follow me on twitter you would know that I didn’t enjoy IKG as much as most people, but it is still a good read and I can see why everyone enjoyed it so much. Filthy Rich left a bad taste in my mouth and I hope the other Vertigo Crime Novels are much better. Pax Romana helped cement the talent of Jonathan Hickman in my mind that The Nightly News created.

Surprisingly I don’t have many novels to read. Water for Elephants is the only one, and I am borrowing it from a family member, not even sure who wrote it and can't tell you because I left it in the van that Meghan is currently using. Surely I will pick up some novels though for the New Year soon!

Now it is off to a New Year party and watch Canada vs. USA in the World Junior Championships! The yearly ritual of Canada beating the USA shall continue!

Cameron’s Avatar Re-Affirms That He...

...Is “King of the World”

BY COLIN ENQUIST

James Cameron’s Avatar has been a decade long project. One that began shortly after he proclaimed himself as “King of the World” during his Oscar speech, one of the many awards Titanic (Cameron’s last feature film) won, way back in 1997. Since that time the world has seen 6 Olympic games, the September 11th attacks, Michael Jackson’s death, Hurricane Katrina, the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, a final Harry Potter book, Barack Obama becoming the first African-American U.S. President and the threat of global warming. In between all of those moments the film industry has grown to having most films utilize the blockbuster formula that brought Titanic its 11 (of a possible 14) Academy Awards. Although, it’s arguable, none have changed cinema in the way Titanic has.

It is only fitting that the next wave of change is brought upon us by Cameron. But after a twelve year hiatus, aside from a few documentary films, is Cameron still “King of the World”?

The keys to the success of Avatar will be how well the new technology works, but Cameron still needs to tell an engaging story to keep us planted in our seats. As Cameron begins working his magic, you get the sense this story has already been told. Even with the comparisons to Fern Gully, Pocahontas and Dances with Wolves, Avatar is so unique that the similarities are forgivable.

Written by Cameron, Avatar delves into the alien world called Pandora, and its beautiful natives, the Na’vi. With no desire to forge any bond with the Na’vi, SecFor is only looking for Unobtanium. “This is why we're here, because this little grey rock sells for twenty million a kilo,” reminds Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi), head administrator of the operation. Although we are never meant to know what Unobtanium does, it does not matter. Unlike Parker, who wants the Unobtanium at whatever cost, be it diplomatic or war, Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) only wants war. Colonel Quaritch enlists one of the newest Avatar recruits, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), to infiltrate the Na’vi people once linked up to his Avatar. Sully, a marine paraplegic with no Avatar training, is only on Pandora because of the death of his twin brother, leaving him as the only person capable of piloting the expensive Avatar. Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) is the lead scientist that helped write the book on the creation of Avatar’s, which are cloned after being mapped out by the pilots human genome, making Sully an asset, due to having the same genome as his now deceased twin. Don’t think Sully fails to notice this could be his last chance to walk again either.

As Sully commences to learn the ways of the Na’vi, the predictable nature of the plot begins to show. Once fully accepted into the Na’vi clan, and only then, does Sully realize exactly what the sky people (what the Na’vi call humans) are doing to the planet.

Cameron paces this film so well, when the third act begins, the all out war does not seem to be an action centre piece. Unlike other blockbusters, you feel the sense of urgency along with the Na’vi.

Not to shy away from any minute detail, Cameron immerses us completely into this new world, just as George Lucas did with Star Wars and Peter Jackson with The Lord of the Rings. Cameron places exotic wildlife all around us, enhancing the experience is the marvellous use of the 3D technology. During some scenes, you almost wanted to reach out and brush aside the forest, truly creating a magnificent experience.

This film was made for 3D, and Cameron is the director that is not going to just use it as a gimmick either. Rather then make you feel like you are watching a movie, Cameron almost tricks us into believing we are actually on Pandora. He does use the 3D technology very conservatively at times, but when Cameron wants your eyes trained on something specific, it is just beautiful.

Not only did Cameron create a new technology for the film, he also created a new language. With the help of Prof. Paul Frommer, a linguistics professor at the University of Southern California, they created a 1000 word language for the Na’vi, based off of the Amharic language of Ethiopia. Cameron himself created at least 30 of the words for the Na’vi vocabulary.

James Horner did not want to waste this new language either, using it in one of the songs he composed for the film. This was Horner’s third collaboration with Cameron, the others being Aliens and Titanic.

Surprisingly with all that is going on in the film, Cameron manages to get very life like performances out of the actors portraying the Na’vi. Zoe Saldana does a wonderful job of playing the blue skinned Neytiri. You could argue, if Andy Serkis (who played Gollum in LOTR) deserved an Oscar nomination, Saldana might as well. Will that happen? The safe bet would be no but she really carries this film at times. Weaver and Worthington’s blue skinned counterparts were impressive as well, although Weaver’s was the least believable of the three.

After seeing Avatar, Cameron still holds his “King of the World” title, at least until someone can take it from him. Avatar was filled with stunning imagery of an extravagant world that requires multiple viewings. The predictable story does not bring the film down at all either, this is due to Cameron’s ability to place enough doubt in the viewers mind during the film that they will be unsure of what happens next. Whether the budget was the reported $200 million or the rumoured $350+ million, it is all up there on the screen, waiting for you to reach out and touch it.

Bring the Jubilee

One Awesome Story

by Matthew Luecke

Bring the Jubilee, by Ward Moore, is a novella first published in the 1952. I had no idea it was so old when I first read it, included in a volume I picked up at the St. Louis airport titled, The Best Alternate History Science Fiction of the 20th Century. I loved it the first time I read it and have appreciated it every time I have picked up the volume. Why review a story more than 50 years old? Because it is such a wonderful story, rich with details so vivid you can see the scenery. Because I actually started analyzing it and looking for deeper meaning: something I haven’t done to a story since I was forced to by high school teachers. Because I really think anyone who picks it up will enjoy it.

Briefly, the novella tells the story of Hodgkins Backmaker, a boy who grows into a man after a victory by the South in the American Civil War. In Moore’s story, the South wins the Battle of Gettysburg and goes on to defeat the Northern Army led by General Meade. Hodge grows up in the United States, a third rate world power. He makes his way to New York City where he begins a self-taught course in History as a worker in a bookstore. After several years of working there, he is recruited by a commune of scholars to continue his research. He becomes one of the leading scholars of the War for Southron Independence (what the Civil War is called in that timeline). He makes the acquaintance of the leading physicist of the day Barbara Haggerswells (apparently Einstein is never born in this history) who creates a time machine. Hodge then goes back to observe the Battle of Gettysburg, but his mere presence causes the advance Southron troops from occupying Big and Little Roundtop, leading to Barbara’s grandfather getting killed and the North victory leading to the timeline we all live in.

Sound geeky? It’s not. The story is told from first person perspective, Hodge’s. The science for the time machine is told from his perspective, a historian who doesn’t understand much science. In fact, all of the different gadgetry in the alternate timeline is told from this slightly befuddled view. I have no idea how a “minible” differs from an automobile. Second, some alternate history stories simply are “Hey, let’s find something in history, change it, and see how cool that is!” without any kind of character development or “good” story telling.

As I said before, this story is story telling at its finest. It never hurries, but you never get bored. Ward Moore also tackles the question of whether we have free will, are simply fated to do what we do, or if there is some type of middle ground. The bookstore owner espouses the view that we simply do what we are fated to do. The Haitian ambassador to the United States (interested yet?), a deeply religious man, believes not in unlimited free will or chaos, but that chaos tempered by God. Barbara, through her actions and warnings about altering the past while time-traveling, represents unlimited free will. Hodge? He never comes out and says exactly what he believes. At varying stages of the story, he goes back and forth in his belief. At times, he seems to be caught up in events he can’t control and playing out actions fated for him, such as when he unwittingly runs guns (interested yet?). There are times of chaos, such as when he witnesses bandits robbing Spanish nobility (interested yet?) or riding his father’s horse the wrong way.

I think Moore’s answer, and what seems to be applicable to my own life, is that each of us has free will when we actively choose and try to control our lives. It is so easy to get caught up in only reacting to what is presented to us that it seems easy to believe we have no choice. Hodge certainly experiences long periods of his life where he gets caught up in events seemingly beyond his control. But, we are free when we actively attempt to change our lives. Hodge is at his most free when he leaves his home town for New York City, when he attempts to get accepted at Universities, and when he studies at the commune of scholars. But, ultimately we are left with the unanswered question of what truly is the answer. Was Hodge fated to change history? Was his decision to go back to watch the Battle of Gettysburg completely of his own free will? Is it a combination?

Why Fantasy Football Matters: (And Our Lives Do Not)

Shhhhh, don't tell your wife that!

You would think a book based off of a fantasy football league, which is also an attempt to educate people on what 27 million fanatics obsess over on a yearly basis, would be right up my alley. As I obsess over sports almost as much as I do stories. Yet this book did not really interest me in the least little bit. Why would I want to read a book based on a fictional league trying to teach the game I have been playing for years?

I can tell you that was 4 years ago. How things have changed. The pages are stained, the cover is bent and contorting away from the pages, the binding is slowly unravelling. This has become my bible, at least in a football sense. Reading Why Fantasy Football Matters: (And Our Lives Do Not) before each season helps me prepare, get in that mental mindset, for the long gruelling haul of arthritic fingers (and strained bloodshot eyes) required for scouting my next championship team (at least I’m hoping it is).

Written by Max Handelman and Erik Barmack, who run the weblog Beyond Bowie about the Portland Trailblazers, Why Fantasy Football Matters is loosely based off their own experience playing in a fantasy football league. They break down a single season of the “Bush League” from beginning to end. We follow a few of the team’s owners as they start their yearly rituals.

This book is not just for fantasy football fanatics. If you ever wanted to understand why so many people have this obsession to crunch statistics they can not control, this book explains that. Through a comedic year, from draft to championship, the writers also introduce many habits and aspects of fantasy football that make it so much fun.

Not styled like a typical novel, Handelman and Barmack help us look through the narrator’s eyes as if he is one of the unnamed owners of the Bush League. We are privy to read the email chains created from smack talk, the banter of two owners attempting a trade and the camaraderie of the Sunday (and sometimes Monday) night get together, to watch one team dominate the another.

Creating (or maybe modeling) the characters after the many different personalities you encounter in fantasy football leagues really separate the viewpoints of each character. Intriguing as they may be, each character seemingly reminds you of certain owners that could be in your own fantasy football league. If you have never been in a fantasy football league then this gives you a distinct perspective of what to expect when joining your first league.

Handelman and Barmack write this book with the love for the sport and display their own experiences with great knowledge of football. The history aspect of the sport of football (and a few other sports as well) add another element to the book that is already loaded to the brim with information.

A well crafted story based around a single season creates a comedic tale that informs the reader (be it a fantasy football player or not), not only about the obsession but why it has become such an obsession. If you are part of the many fantasy football alumni, then you may regale in past glories as this book, at times, feels like it is reminiscing about your past. I warn all the fantasy football fanatics, if you pick this book up, expect to have a new “bible”, to read before each upcoming season.

5 out of 5