BBF | alligators and aneurysms!

Aww yea . . . She’s dead alright

It’s not my first night working the beat. I’ve experienced a lot of detectives solving a lot of crimes. Of course I’ve read the greats. Poe & Doyle. Agatha Christie and Dorthy Sayers (ugh I should do a whole post on Wimbsey alone). I can’t think of any modern authors right now but I think I’ve watched enough Law & Order (and NCIS . . . and CSI . . . You get my drift?) to know a Police Procedural when I see one.

Needless to say, most detective fiction fails to impress. However, I still seem to have a ‘soft spot’ for ‘hard boiled’ detective fiction. Dashiel Hammet and Raymond Chandler will always be my go to guys when it’s time to start handing out recommendations (unless you like fantasy and sci-fi, then it’s a whole different list). There’s something about a guy who has every chance to take the easy way out but doesn’t. Something about a man who stays by his principles (even if they’re screwed up principles) and does the right thing (even if it’s for the wrong reasons) . . .

Well let’s just say I’d like to buy that guy a drink. Maybe I’m a Romantic. Or maybe that guy would have great taste in drinks. Not sure which (what’d I just say about doing things for the wrong reasons?). That being said, sometimes even my precious hard-boiled detective fiction can run a little dry. After all, formula is formula and lord knows there are hundreds if not thousands of imitators out there (will the real slim shady please stand up?)

Dress like me and solve crimes like me and wait . . . what?

What was the title of this post again?

Ah yes. Not your average case. Well in the case of Richard Levesque’s Dead Man’s Hand (Ace Stubble), imitators need not apply. When I say Ace isn’t your average detective, I mean it. He’s actually not a detective at all. He’s a lawyer who defends less than normal clientele . . . Oh and did I mention zombies? That should give you at least a hint as to what’s going on here. Should at least give an idea of the world we’re inhabiting.

Basically, Ace Stubble defends vampires, werewolves and any other sort of paranormal crook who ends up on the wrong side of the law. He’s going about his business, drinking (ah yes the true staple of a hard boiled detective) and needing a vacation, when he’s attacked by a werewolf on a full moon. He’s able to walk away with his neck (mostly intact) because of a young, seductive hacker (possibly a vampire?) who happens to have some silver. Ace does the gentlemanly thing to do and accompanies her back to her flat. Turns out she has an abundance of problems and when Ace offers a helping hand, our vixen (name pixel) pulls one (a hand) out of the refrigerator. You’ll have to read the rest yourself, and I recommend that you do.

Incase you’re skimming . . .

What I love about this book is the way the author mixes two genres that I don’t think normally mix together. The whole ‘Vampires, Werewolves, & Zombies’ thing seems pretty trendy right now and there is a lot of content being produced in this vein. However, I wouldn’t say there is a lot of quality work out there (I’m sorry that you love Vampire Diaries but really?).

And ‘Hard-boiled’ detective fiction?

Well it died around the same time Kennedy got hitched. So essentially, Levesque takes one dead genre mixed with a dying (or perhaps undying?) genre of fiction and creates something that is refreshing and quite comical at some points (oops forgot to mention the humor until now).

But enough of me prattling along. Just go and read it already!

Hello Red.

Aww yea. Cover yea.

Looking back through my notes on this one, it appears that my initial reaction to this novel was:

Unicorns? Really?

All joking aside, that addition to the story was actually pretty great as far as fantasy creatures go. My prior experience with unicorns is effectively zero (actually it is zero) so I was (and still am) interested to see where that piece of the story goes and how it will develop.

Anyway, before I get into the meat of the review I’ll give you a quick set up of the story so you can decide whether or not you might be interested in reading further. Essentially, our main character, George or “Georj” as most of the other characters call him, is an ordinary Archeologist (for the future anyway) concerned with seemingly ordinary archeological problems (dating the site, continuing funding etc.) when he stumbles across a magic gate which transports him through time and possibly to another planet.

In this time (or on this planet) magic is an important part of the society, its cultural hierarchy/power structure etc. George and his computer, shaped like a large walking staff, must navigate through this new world, learn and use magic, and fight the attempts of an evil elf king to thwart their movements and destroy the world as we know it!

Why couldn’t it have just been snakes . . .

Not just another day at the dig site huh?

Highmage’s Plight is interesting in a variety of ways. First, in some aspects Highmage’s Plight functions as a normal story. It has characters and plot, a climax etc. However, this isn’t the whole story. It is actually meant to be an interactive, or perhaps ‘intra-active’ series in which fans and other story tellers alike can make decisions about the plot, and imbue the characters with their own individual spirit and personality. I’m hosting the author, D.H. Aire, on the site Friday and we’re going to discuss the process some more, so make sure to stop by then as well. In the mean time, you can take look at it yourself at DHR2Believe.net It’s pretty cool.

The second is in the way the story’s world is structured. Magic and technology compete in stark opposition. Both are real, and affect the world in very real ways. George and Balfour (his Healer guide) meet, and are married to four Cathartan women (2 apiece) which serve as bodyguards along the quest. These women were born into a society in which a plague ravishes the male population (definitely some evil magic going on here). Of course typical gender roles are non-existent in favor of a society where women occupy almost every role available. It’s a strange dynamic in that you have strong, ultra competent women who are still beholden to men because of their rarity. However, George arrives on the scene with the aid of technology on his side and seems reluctant to wed them or bed any of them. I sense social upheaval, the likes of which have only been propositioned in the most epic of fantasies (I’m thinking Wheel of Time here).

As far as the story elements are concerned, I feel that this piece was something of a foundational work. It set the stage for more writing to follow. The characters are interesting and have lots of room to develop. Also, it seems there are wuite a few characters to work with. Many heroes but also a great many villains. It will be interesting to see the way these threads are woven together and what the end result will be.

I’m gunning for more Unicorns! Bye all.

This one almost looks real!

alligators and aneurysms!

What does the title of this blog have to do with its content? . . . Nothing!!! That's what makes it so terrifying!

Tag Archives: BBF

Deadman’s Hand: Not Your Average Case

Highmage’s Plight by D. H. Aire