Marty
Burns is a LA-based former child star turned amateur investigator into
the weirder corners of the city, who has featured in previous Jay Russell
stories and novels. In this new novel, a naked lady is hired as entertainment
at a biker's birthday party. Suddenly, she's murdered, and Marty is
captured, leading to a chase involving men and women who think they're
dogs and a very old shaman, ending up in the culverts of the Los Angeles
River ...
Apocalypse Now, Voyager (a rather meaningless title, beyond
its obvious movie references) is a fast-moving and very slick novella,
with engaging cynical narration from Marty, a cluster of very strange
characters, an impeccably attention-grabbing opening sentence and plenty
of pace. Unfortunately it seems very slight and does a quick fade from
the memory almost as soon as you finish reading it. I had to read it
a second time to remember it well enough to review it. Literary fast
food.
Earthling's edition has artwork by J.K. Potter, an introduction by
Paul McAuley and an afterword by Jay Russell. It is limited to 400 paperbacks,
signed by Russell. There was also a run of fifteen lettered, handmade
and slipcased hardcovers, signed by Russell, McAuley and Potter, but
it's sold out as I write this.
Marty
Burns is a LA-based former child star turned amateur investigator into
the weirder corners of the city, who has featured in previous Jay Russell
stories and novels. In this new novel, a naked lady is hired as entertainment
at a biker's birthday party. Suddenly, she's murdered, and Marty is
captured, leading to a chase involving men and women who think they're
dogs and a very old shaman, ending up in the culverts of the Los Angeles
River ... 