Inside Straight:
A Wild Card Novel
Edited by George R.R. Martin
Imagine an alien virus hit the world in 1946 - a virus that rewrites human DNA. Most of those affected died; the
rest...changed. For some, the changes made them rejects, too mutated for human tastes. Women with snakes for
fingers. Men with animal heads. Freaks. Jokers. For a tiny number, the changes were fantastic, giving them super
powers. These were the Aces. And the virus was called the Wild Card.
Given those kinds of changes - what would the world of 2008 be like? What would the United States do with
these Aces? Well, put them on a reality television show, of course. And that is the premise for Inside
Straight. Aces are competing to become The American Hero - and the competition has them acting anything but
heroic. Still, for some of the group, there is a longing to be real heroes, and an opportunity just might be
brewing for exactly that.
This novel has a huge cast of characters and you spend time inside the heads of several of the Aces - both in
the competition and not. At first, that can be a bit confusing as it weaves its web of international intrigue.
Also, for a novice to the Wild Card stories, the references to past Aces are sometimes a little confusing. But
the whole premise of the novel - the reduction of a major world change to a reality game show - is fascinating.
I enjoyed the grayness of the book - just when you're absolutely sure you know what is good and what is bad,
the story shifts to give you a new perspective, forcing you to see just how complex life and human emotion really
are. Funny, tense, annoying and satisfying - this is a book that just won't let you become too comfortable with
the reading ride. And it lingers long after the cover's closed. What more could you ask from a story? |
The Book |
Tor |
January 2008 |
ARC of Hardcover |
0765317818 / 9780765317810 |
Fantasy |
More at Amazon.com |
Excerpt |
NOTE: |
The Reviewer |
Jan Fields |
Reviewed 2008 |
NOTE: Reviewer Jan
Fields is the editor of Kid Magazine Writers emagazine and has written dozens of
stories and articles for the children's magazine market. |
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