Suicide Kings is the latest entry in the Wild Card shared-universe. The series setting is contemporary, but in the aftermath of an alien virus unleashed on September 15, 1948. The virus mutated the DNA of those affected, so that a lucky 1%—Aces and Deuces—developed various paranormal powers (Deuces are the ones whose abilities are useless or trivial), an unlucky 9%—Jokers—developed freakish deformities, and a really unlucky 90%—"drawing the Black Queen"—died on contact.

This isn’t a book that makes you think in terms of gentle reader. It’s graphic and violent, weaving a lightning-paced, inventive set of intertwined stories together through short bursts of episodic action. That’s not a style that normally appeals to me, but it’s done amazingly well here, with seamless integration of the different authors, different characters, and different stories into one cohesive whole. The episodic chunks are also individually satisfying, making this a perfect read for someone who only has time for a few pages at a time during the commute.

The action moves around the world, from Africa to New Orleans, New York, Paris and beyond. Loosely speaking, it’s about Tom Weathers, aka The Radical, his destructive Revolution, and the struggle to stop him. But that’s just the over-story umbrella under which you’ll find other Ace’s personal tales, from hermaphrodite Double Helix trying to get out of the agent game as fatherhood approaches, to metal man Rustbelt trying to rescue a lost child he’s been sponsoring. There are so many different things going on that a detailed plot outline would involve too many spoilers, so please just take my word for it that you’ll be fascinated, amazed, horrified, wrung out, and thoroughly hooked by what happens next inside.

Suicide Kings stood well on its own, but references to past events left me thinking I’d probably have enjoyed it even more if I’d read some prior books. There’s more to know about these characters and what made them as they are, but also entirely different threads built into the series-wide story arc.

Recommended. Not a book for everyone, but definitely recommended for those who think it might be their sort of thing.