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Wild Cards #2
Aces High
It all began in 1946, when the bizarre, gene-altering A3Wild CardsAy virus was unleashed in the skies over New York City. A virus that created superpowered Aces and bizarre, disfigured Jokers. Now, thirty years later, the victims face a new nightmare. From the far reaches of space comes The Swarm, a deadly menace that could very well destroy the planet. Putting aside their hatred and mistrust, Aces and Jokers must form an uneasy alliance and prepare for a battle they must not lose.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
About the author
George R.R. Martin
1,444 books114k followersGeorge Raymond Richard "R.R." Martin was born September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey. His father was Raymond Collins Martin, a longshoreman, and his mother was Margaret Brady Martin. He has two sisters, Darleen Martin Lapinski and Janet Martin Patten.
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
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October 30, 2021
Pues después de bastante tiempo he vuelto al universo de las Wild Cards. Para los iniciados en esta colección de novelas mosaico, sepan que estáis ante un universo compartido “superheroico” enfocado para adultos. La intención de los autores al fin al cabo siempre fue la ucronía, así que es como el mundo real pero con la variación de que un virus alienígena muto a un sector de la población durante los años cuarenta, y a partir de ahí juegan con la historia. Como no quiero volver a repetirme y en la reseña del primer libro ya escribí una introducción muy larga sobre el tema, os dejare la mencionada reseña por aquí.
En todo caso y esto si es importante porque se dé más de uno que está confundido, es que estos libros NO están escritos SOLO por George RR Martin (aunque aparezca en grande en la portada), si no que él es editor y escribe algunos relatos junto a otros autores.
En esta entrega sin duda hay una diferencia en esquema y estilo al primero, y es que si en el anterior teníamos una introducción al universo y a los personajes que lo pueblan, en este en cambio nos encontramos con una novela que tira más a la acción, al tener a los personajes y el escenario presentados. Además de suceder todo en un lapsus de dos años, cuando en el primero teníamos saltos temporales de décadas. Esto puede ser algo positivo para quien el estilo ucrónico se le quedara atragantado en el primer libro, en cambio a mí me gusto más el primero precisamente por eso, al fin al cabo la gracia de Wild Cards es que no era precisamente solo relatos de superhéroes, si no que presentaba varios géneros mezclados, pudiendo jugar con el thriller, el drama social, la política, o la ya mencionada ucronía. Además en el primero el nivel fue bastante alto en lo que respecta a los relatos (uno de ellos incluso fue nominado al Nébula), y aquí en cambio pese a que no es que haya uno malo como tal, sí que los hay más flojetes. Lo bueno de estas novelas, es que no hay relleno como tal, al final todo está conectado.
Peniques desde el infierno por Lewis Shiner (3 de 5): empezamos fuerte sin duda jaja. Como dije en la reseña del primer libro, el relato protagonizado por Fortunato, este as negro, proxeneta, mago tántrico (que consiste en que canaliza sus poderes a través del sexo), fue el más polémico de todos por el recibimiento de los lectores. Tener de “héroe” a un chulo y macarra (que no soporta a los “mariquitas”), no es el factor más políticamente correcto precisamente, y menos ahora donde parece que las sensibilidades son aún más fuertes que en los ochenta. Ignorando esto que podrá gustar más o menos tenemos un relato correcto, donde continua con la trama colgada del relato del anterior libro. Donde teníamos a Fortunato investigando una especie de secta la cual había asesinado a algunas de sus geishas. Fortunato conoce a una mujer llamada Eileen que es experta en la materia ocultista, donde gracias a la moneda extraña que obtuvo, acaban descubriendo la existencia de una escisión de la secta masónica de Cagliostro, está más enfocada en la francmasonería egipcia. Donde veneran a una especie de deidad oscura y maligna la cual llaman “TIAMAT” (como la monstruosidad asiria), el cual según mencionan es la criatura que se basó Lovecraft para crear a Cthulhu (porque aquí mencionan que Lovecraft también era masón), aunque me parece a mí que estos de masones solo tienen el nombre y los rituales, son más una secta satánica de sacrificios humanos. Fortunato y Eileen acaban infiltrándose demasiado en esta secta hasta que el peligro les acaba encontrando.
Jube por George R.R. Martin (4,5 de 5): aquí tengo que detenerme puesto que da comienzo un relato intersticial, estos son aquellos escritos como argamasa para el resto de relatos, hacen de puente entre ellos y esta partido por partes a lo largo del libro. En este libro tenemos dos, está escrita por Martin, y la siguiente que reseño más abajo. Este relato está protagonizado por Jube la Morsa, un joker con camisa hawaiana y sombrero a lo Buster Keaton. Jube que ya había salido en el anterior libro aquí ya se nos presenta totalmente, con la sorpresa de que en realidad no es un Joker, sino un alienígena, más concretamente una raza perteneciente a la Red. La Red es una de las tres facciones alienígenas que se nos presenta en Wild Cards, junto a los Taquisianos y el Enjambre (la amenaza junto a los masones en este libro y la cual estos llamaban TIAMAT). La Red en este caso es por así decirlo un conglomerado de razas alienígenas bajo un gobierno que los representa basado en un sistema del capitalismo más atroz. Jube que en realidad es un xenologo llamado Jhubben, fue elegido (junto a Ekkedme del que luego hablare) por el Señor del Comercio para vigilar e inspeccionar a la raza humana por si tendrían un valor en el futuro. Y como su apariencia física (una especie de morsa) no destaca junto a los otros Jokers deformes que pueblan Ciudad Joker, es el espía idóneo para esta misión. El problema es que Jube, se encariña tanto con la humanidad, que al final acabara eligiendo defender a esta de cualquier amenaza, incluyendo a la misma Red. Y esta aventura que empieza con la amenaza de la llegada de la Madre del Enjambre, le acabara llevando a afrontar su papel en este mundo y a infiltrarse a su pesar en la temida secta masónica. Uno de mis favoritos evidentemente como no podría ser menos cuando está escrito por el tito Martin. Sin duda ocurren muchas cosas en este largo cuento intersticial que esta partido en partes a lo largo de todo el libro.
Hacia la sexta generación por Walter Jon Williams (4 de 5): nos encontramos con el segundo relato intersticial del libro, este escrito por Walter Jon Williams (el mismo que escribió el relato “Testigo” del primer libro). A diferencia del de Jube, este no se alarga tanto aunque si es importante como argamasa para la primera mitad de la historia. Comienza cuando la Madre del Enjambre ataca al compañero alienígena de Jube, Ekkedme, el cual se encargaba de vigilar la Tierra desde el espacio. El Enjambre es una especie alienígena que se desplaza por la galaxia consumiendo toda vida a su paso. Está compuesto de materia orgánica, y da forma a esta materia en innumerables formas para sus conquistas, está liderada por una mente inteligente (la Madre), aunque todas sus partes están conectadas a ellas como una colmena. Es como Galactus de la Marvel vamos, pero sobretodo como el Galactus que aparece en el Universo Ultimate o en la segunda película de los Cuatro Fantásticos. Ekkedme se teletransporta muy herido a Nueva York gracias a un aparato muy sofisticado parecido a una bola de jugar a los bolos y acaba falleciendo mientras una vagabunda algo ida de la olla le arrebata el artefacto, la cual usa como juguete por todo su vagabundeo. Al mismo tiempo se nos presenta al Hombre Modular, un androide creado por un excéntrico científico al igual que ingenioso llamado Travnicek. Inicialmente, Travnicek tiene la intención de usar el androide como una táctica de marketing para comenzar su propia empresa de construcción de robots, por lo que programó al androide para que actuara como un superhéroe. El Hombre Modular que gracias a su avanzada inteligencia artificial lucha por lidiar con sus propias emociones humanas y los caprichos de su megalómano creador. Y acabara enfrentándose a la primera avanzadilla del Enjambre que asola el mundo y convirtiéndose en uno de los ases más poderosos. La Guerra del Enjambre (que es como se llama al corto pero mortífero conflicto) acaba por terminar con la amenaza espacial retirándose para una segunda futura oleada y el androide acaba descubriendo por casualidad a la vagabunda antes mencionada que tiene en sus manos el artefacto, la cual también es buscada por los masones (los cuales tienen infiltrados en la policía). Muy buen relato, largo y completito.
Cenizas a las cenizas por Roger Zelazny (2,5 de 5): tenemos al que me parece el más flojo de todos los relatos del libro. Y eso viniendo de Zelazny que no es un don nadie y que su relato del primer libro me encanto. Vuelve a estar protagonizado por Croyd Crenson, el Durmiente, el cual tras volver a despertar es contratado por Jube para recuperar el cuerpo de su compañero Ekkedme de la morgue de la Clínica del Doctor Taquión en Ciudad Joker. Porque Jube teme que Taquión identifique el cuerpo como perteneciente a la Red (puesto que es taquisiano) y descubra el complot. Croyd como viene siendo habitual acaba cumpliendo su cometido de la manera más rocambolesca y complicadamente posible, evitando en el camino al Niñosaurio, un crio as que es capaz de transformarse en dinosaurios y que no para de hostigar al Durmiente como buen fanboy. Como digo, no está mal, pero se me queda cojo respecto a los otros relatos.
Si las miradas mataran por Walton Simons (3 de 5): un relato correcto donde se nos presenta a James Spector, un personaje de lo más siniestro el cual su poder comodín le otorgo ser capaz de matar con la mirada. Este acaba siendo contactado por los masones y por su mismo líder, el Astrónomo, un anciano en silla de ruedas de aspecto aún más turbio que parece ser de los ases más poderosos que se nos han presentado, que está más que interesado en el uso que se le puede dar al poder de James. Incluye una parte bastante cafre donde se nos narra una violación de lo más horripilante, como digo, Wild Cards no es para todo el mundo.
Frío de invierno por George R. R. Martin (4,5 de 5): creo que es mi relato favorito del libro, como no podía ser menos del tito Martin. Muy crepuscular y melancólico. Vuelve a estar protagonizado por la Gran y Poderosa Tortuga, pero aquí las tornas han cambiado y ahora la Tortuga está pasando por lo que paso Taquión en el relato del anterior libro. Deprimido y perdido en su propia vida nos narra por qué esta así a través de recuerdos que la verdad es que llega a calar.
Dificultades relativas por Melinda M. Snodgrass (3,5 de 5): protagonizado por el Doctor Taquión se nos presenta a otro as llamado el Capitán Viajes que gracias a unas pócimas que ha inventado puede llamar a sus otras excéntricas personalidades los cuales también tienen sus propios poderes. Los dos son secuestrados por una nave taquisiana que se descubre que son de la familia que pertenece Taquión, los cuales piensan llevarle de regreso a casa quiera o no, junto a otros especímenes ases para sus experimentos entre ellos está la Tortuga, muy amigo del Doctor. Muy divertido, siempre me ha gustado cuando entra en juego la cultura taquisiana y su sistema feudal galáctico. Además cierra el arco de redención de la Tortuga abierto en el anterior relato.
Con un poco de ayuda de sus amigos por Victor Milan (3,5 de 5): continua la trama del anterior relato donde vuelve a estar protagonizado por Taquión y Viajes, que intentan exculpar a un chico joker retrasado al que han culpado del asesinato de un polémico científico. Solo será el principio para desmontar un complot entre el Enjambre y Zabb, el primo de Taquión que busca venganza por su derrota en el anterior relato. Igual de divertido que el anterior.
Por sendas perdidas por Pat Cadigan (3 de 5): aquí se nos presenta a un nuevo personaje femenino, Lirio de Agua, que puede controlar esa misma sustancia. Eso incluye la humedad del ambiente, o el agua de su propio cuerpo y el de otros. El Astrónomo se interesa por ella, y la secuestra para intentar manipularla y que se una a ellos, pero todo acabara en un caos de ases que hará que el asunto masónico acabe momentáneamente para ser resuelto en el siguiente libro. Interesante, sin más.
El cometa del señor Koyama por Walter Jon Williams (3 de 5): otra vez Walter Jon escribiendo un relato, pero esta vez es un mini relato de pocas páginas bastante curioso por contarnos a un Japonés que está obsesionado por descubrir sus propios cometas. Pero descubrirá otra cosa que no esperaba, para su desgracia. Sencillo pero curioso relatillo.
Al filo de la muerte por John J. Miller (3,5 de 5): volvemos a reencontrarnos con el temido Alabardero, con su arco y sin poderes sobrenaturales, un justiciero a la vieja escuela. Acaba haciendo equipo con Fortunato, el Doctor Taquión y una compañera que rescato en el anterior libro, Mai, para detener de una vez por todas la amenaza del Enjambre. Había una parte del relato que parecía un videojuego, con el característico estilo de niveles que sube de dificultad. Correcto como último relato del libro, donde solo queda la amenaza de los Masones en el limbo para ser resuelto en el siguiente libro y último de la primera trilogía.
En todo caso y esto si es importante porque se dé más de uno que está confundido, es que estos libros NO están escritos SOLO por George RR Martin (aunque aparezca en grande en la portada), si no que él es editor y escribe algunos relatos junto a otros autores.
En esta entrega sin duda hay una diferencia en esquema y estilo al primero, y es que si en el anterior teníamos una introducción al universo y a los personajes que lo pueblan, en este en cambio nos encontramos con una novela que tira más a la acción, al tener a los personajes y el escenario presentados. Además de suceder todo en un lapsus de dos años, cuando en el primero teníamos saltos temporales de décadas. Esto puede ser algo positivo para quien el estilo ucrónico se le quedara atragantado en el primer libro, en cambio a mí me gusto más el primero precisamente por eso, al fin al cabo la gracia de Wild Cards es que no era precisamente solo relatos de superhéroes, si no que presentaba varios géneros mezclados, pudiendo jugar con el thriller, el drama social, la política, o la ya mencionada ucronía. Además en el primero el nivel fue bastante alto en lo que respecta a los relatos (uno de ellos incluso fue nominado al Nébula), y aquí en cambio pese a que no es que haya uno malo como tal, sí que los hay más flojetes. Lo bueno de estas novelas, es que no hay relleno como tal, al final todo está conectado.
Peniques desde el infierno por Lewis Shiner (3 de 5): empezamos fuerte sin duda jaja. Como dije en la reseña del primer libro, el relato protagonizado por Fortunato, este as negro, proxeneta, mago tántrico (que consiste en que canaliza sus poderes a través del sexo), fue el más polémico de todos por el recibimiento de los lectores. Tener de “héroe” a un chulo y macarra (que no soporta a los “mariquitas”), no es el factor más políticamente correcto precisamente, y menos ahora donde parece que las sensibilidades son aún más fuertes que en los ochenta. Ignorando esto que podrá gustar más o menos tenemos un relato correcto, donde continua con la trama colgada del relato del anterior libro. Donde teníamos a Fortunato investigando una especie de secta la cual había asesinado a algunas de sus geishas. Fortunato conoce a una mujer llamada Eileen que es experta en la materia ocultista, donde gracias a la moneda extraña que obtuvo, acaban descubriendo la existencia de una escisión de la secta masónica de Cagliostro, está más enfocada en la francmasonería egipcia. Donde veneran a una especie de deidad oscura y maligna la cual llaman “TIAMAT” (como la monstruosidad asiria), el cual según mencionan es la criatura que se basó Lovecraft para crear a Cthulhu (porque aquí mencionan que Lovecraft también era masón), aunque me parece a mí que estos de masones solo tienen el nombre y los rituales, son más una secta satánica de sacrificios humanos. Fortunato y Eileen acaban infiltrándose demasiado en esta secta hasta que el peligro les acaba encontrando.
Jube por George R.R. Martin (4,5 de 5): aquí tengo que detenerme puesto que da comienzo un relato intersticial, estos son aquellos escritos como argamasa para el resto de relatos, hacen de puente entre ellos y esta partido por partes a lo largo del libro. En este libro tenemos dos, está escrita por Martin, y la siguiente que reseño más abajo. Este relato está protagonizado por Jube la Morsa, un joker con camisa hawaiana y sombrero a lo Buster Keaton. Jube que ya había salido en el anterior libro aquí ya se nos presenta totalmente, con la sorpresa de que en realidad no es un Joker, sino un alienígena, más concretamente una raza perteneciente a la Red. La Red es una de las tres facciones alienígenas que se nos presenta en Wild Cards, junto a los Taquisianos y el Enjambre (la amenaza junto a los masones en este libro y la cual estos llamaban TIAMAT). La Red en este caso es por así decirlo un conglomerado de razas alienígenas bajo un gobierno que los representa basado en un sistema del capitalismo más atroz. Jube que en realidad es un xenologo llamado Jhubben, fue elegido (junto a Ekkedme del que luego hablare) por el Señor del Comercio para vigilar e inspeccionar a la raza humana por si tendrían un valor en el futuro. Y como su apariencia física (una especie de morsa) no destaca junto a los otros Jokers deformes que pueblan Ciudad Joker, es el espía idóneo para esta misión. El problema es que Jube, se encariña tanto con la humanidad, que al final acabara eligiendo defender a esta de cualquier amenaza, incluyendo a la misma Red. Y esta aventura que empieza con la amenaza de la llegada de la Madre del Enjambre, le acabara llevando a afrontar su papel en este mundo y a infiltrarse a su pesar en la temida secta masónica. Uno de mis favoritos evidentemente como no podría ser menos cuando está escrito por el tito Martin. Sin duda ocurren muchas cosas en este largo cuento intersticial que esta partido en partes a lo largo de todo el libro.
Hacia la sexta generación por Walter Jon Williams (4 de 5): nos encontramos con el segundo relato intersticial del libro, este escrito por Walter Jon Williams (el mismo que escribió el relato “Testigo” del primer libro). A diferencia del de Jube, este no se alarga tanto aunque si es importante como argamasa para la primera mitad de la historia. Comienza cuando la Madre del Enjambre ataca al compañero alienígena de Jube, Ekkedme, el cual se encargaba de vigilar la Tierra desde el espacio. El Enjambre es una especie alienígena que se desplaza por la galaxia consumiendo toda vida a su paso. Está compuesto de materia orgánica, y da forma a esta materia en innumerables formas para sus conquistas, está liderada por una mente inteligente (la Madre), aunque todas sus partes están conectadas a ellas como una colmena. Es como Galactus de la Marvel vamos, pero sobretodo como el Galactus que aparece en el Universo Ultimate o en la segunda película de los Cuatro Fantásticos. Ekkedme se teletransporta muy herido a Nueva York gracias a un aparato muy sofisticado parecido a una bola de jugar a los bolos y acaba falleciendo mientras una vagabunda algo ida de la olla le arrebata el artefacto, la cual usa como juguete por todo su vagabundeo. Al mismo tiempo se nos presenta al Hombre Modular, un androide creado por un excéntrico científico al igual que ingenioso llamado Travnicek. Inicialmente, Travnicek tiene la intención de usar el androide como una táctica de marketing para comenzar su propia empresa de construcción de robots, por lo que programó al androide para que actuara como un superhéroe. El Hombre Modular que gracias a su avanzada inteligencia artificial lucha por lidiar con sus propias emociones humanas y los caprichos de su megalómano creador. Y acabara enfrentándose a la primera avanzadilla del Enjambre que asola el mundo y convirtiéndose en uno de los ases más poderosos. La Guerra del Enjambre (que es como se llama al corto pero mortífero conflicto) acaba por terminar con la amenaza espacial retirándose para una segunda futura oleada y el androide acaba descubriendo por casualidad a la vagabunda antes mencionada que tiene en sus manos el artefacto, la cual también es buscada por los masones (los cuales tienen infiltrados en la policía). Muy buen relato, largo y completito.
Cenizas a las cenizas por Roger Zelazny (2,5 de 5): tenemos al que me parece el más flojo de todos los relatos del libro. Y eso viniendo de Zelazny que no es un don nadie y que su relato del primer libro me encanto. Vuelve a estar protagonizado por Croyd Crenson, el Durmiente, el cual tras volver a despertar es contratado por Jube para recuperar el cuerpo de su compañero Ekkedme de la morgue de la Clínica del Doctor Taquión en Ciudad Joker. Porque Jube teme que Taquión identifique el cuerpo como perteneciente a la Red (puesto que es taquisiano) y descubra el complot. Croyd como viene siendo habitual acaba cumpliendo su cometido de la manera más rocambolesca y complicadamente posible, evitando en el camino al Niñosaurio, un crio as que es capaz de transformarse en dinosaurios y que no para de hostigar al Durmiente como buen fanboy. Como digo, no está mal, pero se me queda cojo respecto a los otros relatos.
Si las miradas mataran por Walton Simons (3 de 5): un relato correcto donde se nos presenta a James Spector, un personaje de lo más siniestro el cual su poder comodín le otorgo ser capaz de matar con la mirada. Este acaba siendo contactado por los masones y por su mismo líder, el Astrónomo, un anciano en silla de ruedas de aspecto aún más turbio que parece ser de los ases más poderosos que se nos han presentado, que está más que interesado en el uso que se le puede dar al poder de James. Incluye una parte bastante cafre donde se nos narra una violación de lo más horripilante, como digo, Wild Cards no es para todo el mundo.
Frío de invierno por George R. R. Martin (4,5 de 5): creo que es mi relato favorito del libro, como no podía ser menos del tito Martin. Muy crepuscular y melancólico. Vuelve a estar protagonizado por la Gran y Poderosa Tortuga, pero aquí las tornas han cambiado y ahora la Tortuga está pasando por lo que paso Taquión en el relato del anterior libro. Deprimido y perdido en su propia vida nos narra por qué esta así a través de recuerdos que la verdad es que llega a calar.
Dificultades relativas por Melinda M. Snodgrass (3,5 de 5): protagonizado por el Doctor Taquión se nos presenta a otro as llamado el Capitán Viajes que gracias a unas pócimas que ha inventado puede llamar a sus otras excéntricas personalidades los cuales también tienen sus propios poderes. Los dos son secuestrados por una nave taquisiana que se descubre que son de la familia que pertenece Taquión, los cuales piensan llevarle de regreso a casa quiera o no, junto a otros especímenes ases para sus experimentos entre ellos está la Tortuga, muy amigo del Doctor. Muy divertido, siempre me ha gustado cuando entra en juego la cultura taquisiana y su sistema feudal galáctico. Además cierra el arco de redención de la Tortuga abierto en el anterior relato.
Con un poco de ayuda de sus amigos por Victor Milan (3,5 de 5): continua la trama del anterior relato donde vuelve a estar protagonizado por Taquión y Viajes, que intentan exculpar a un chico joker retrasado al que han culpado del asesinato de un polémico científico. Solo será el principio para desmontar un complot entre el Enjambre y Zabb, el primo de Taquión que busca venganza por su derrota en el anterior relato. Igual de divertido que el anterior.
Por sendas perdidas por Pat Cadigan (3 de 5): aquí se nos presenta a un nuevo personaje femenino, Lirio de Agua, que puede controlar esa misma sustancia. Eso incluye la humedad del ambiente, o el agua de su propio cuerpo y el de otros. El Astrónomo se interesa por ella, y la secuestra para intentar manipularla y que se una a ellos, pero todo acabara en un caos de ases que hará que el asunto masónico acabe momentáneamente para ser resuelto en el siguiente libro. Interesante, sin más.
El cometa del señor Koyama por Walter Jon Williams (3 de 5): otra vez Walter Jon escribiendo un relato, pero esta vez es un mini relato de pocas páginas bastante curioso por contarnos a un Japonés que está obsesionado por descubrir sus propios cometas. Pero descubrirá otra cosa que no esperaba, para su desgracia. Sencillo pero curioso relatillo.
Al filo de la muerte por John J. Miller (3,5 de 5): volvemos a reencontrarnos con el temido Alabardero, con su arco y sin poderes sobrenaturales, un justiciero a la vieja escuela. Acaba haciendo equipo con Fortunato, el Doctor Taquión y una compañera que rescato en el anterior libro, Mai, para detener de una vez por todas la amenaza del Enjambre. Había una parte del relato que parecía un videojuego, con el característico estilo de niveles que sube de dificultad. Correcto como último relato del libro, donde solo queda la amenaza de los Masones en el limbo para ser resuelto en el siguiente libro y último de la primera trilogía.
July 14, 2017
Buddyread with John Goode, John's review here :)
---
This one had its moments (Croyd, Tachyon, Brennan)but overall, I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first volume. Why? Get to that in a minute or so.
Positive:
We get to see Croyd again... though not nearly enough
New Ace with ,brief glimpse
Get to know Jube better.
Modular Man was fun and interesting
Cons:
*Minor spoilers abound, fair warning now*
The Masons, Astronomer, Swarm Mother storyline/plot.
The former two, creeped me out.. while this was probably the purpose, I couldn't get through these sections fast enough and yet I wanted to run away at the same time. I felt dirty after reading a particular sex scene featuring the Astronomer *gags*
The latter, well done and menacing in its own way... managed to be interesting and boring at the same time. I kept putting this book down to take breaks from it (partly due to my migraine, and partly due to this plot point) and had to push myself through the last section. The way it was ended was clever and but for me, was not over soon enough.
It had some tense moments but overall I am glad to see that it seems to be done with in this volume.
-----
The characterization, atmosphere, and flow were all there just like before but for me, this one was not quite a dud but it came close. I seem to be in the minority here but its all good *shrugs* I did enjoy parts of the book at least.
Some of may have been personal preference and whatnot too *shrugs again*
I will continue with the series, but I doubt this will be one of my favorite installments.
Don't let me dissuade you though, give it a shot if your interest is still there :).
---
This one had its moments (Croyd, Tachyon, Brennan)but overall, I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first volume. Why? Get to that in a minute or so.
Positive:
We get to see Croyd again... though not nearly enough
New Ace with ,brief glimpse
Get to know Jube better.
Modular Man was fun and interesting
Cons:
*Minor spoilers abound, fair warning now*
The Masons, Astronomer, Swarm Mother storyline/plot.
The former two, creeped me out.. while this was probably the purpose, I couldn't get through these sections fast enough and yet I wanted to run away at the same time. I felt dirty after reading a particular sex scene featuring the Astronomer *gags*
The latter, well done and menacing in its own way... managed to be interesting and boring at the same time. I kept putting this book down to take breaks from it (partly due to my migraine, and partly due to this plot point) and had to push myself through the last section. The way it was ended was clever and but for me, was not over soon enough.
It had some tense moments but overall I am glad to see that it seems to be done with in this volume.
-----
The characterization, atmosphere, and flow were all there just like before but for me, this one was not quite a dud but it came close. I seem to be in the minority here but its all good *shrugs* I did enjoy parts of the book at least.
Some of may have been personal preference and whatnot too *shrugs again*
I will continue with the series, but I doubt this will be one of my favorite installments.
Don't let me dissuade you though, give it a shot if your interest is still there :).
August 5, 2020
Супергерои от комикси, извънземни и масони. Няколко предотвратени планетарни катастрофи. Тупаник и битки на килограм.
Приятни летни разтоварващи разкази за нови или познати жокери и аса на дядо Дж. Р. Р. Мартин и компания. Някои р��зкази са по-силни от други (първият едва не ме отказа), има доста свежи проблясъци за алтернативната вселена, в която жокерният вирус шества из САЩ на 80-те години. Без дя задъбават - ако е надвиснала такава опасност, веднага се появява поредната апокалиптична заплаха за неутрализиране.
Чак се размечтах да имаше и истински комикс към разказите.
Приятни летни разтоварващи разкази за нови или познати жокери и аса на дядо Дж. Р. Р. Мартин и компания. Някои р��зкази са по-силни от други (първият едва не ме отказа), има доста свежи проблясъци за алтернативната вселена, в която жокерният вирус шества из САЩ на 80-те години. Без дя задъбават - ако е надвиснала такава опасност, веднага се появява поредната апокалиптична заплаха за неутрализиране.
Чак се размечтах да имаше и истински комикс към разказите.
October 23, 2014
This was pretty good, not quite a 4. Again it was short stories, but much more tightly bound together over the course of the book. There were several definite objectives that went through each story. Very well done. Several new characters were also introduced, but one of my favorites is Cap'n Tripps. Croyd also makes several short appearances. Lots of fun.
January 27, 2015
-Alejándose de la ucronía, acercándose al pulp de superhéroes.-
Género. Ciencia-Ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. Una pequeña moneda roja parece algún tipo de código sobrenatural y parece estar acompañada de una extraña historia con raíces en el pasado. Un enjambre se acerca a la Tierra. Diferentes ases se ven inmersos en una situación tan complicada como peligrosa y un androide muy particular (casi tanto como su creador) entra en escena. Segundo volumen de la serie Wild Cards.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Ciencia-Ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. Una pequeña moneda roja parece algún tipo de código sobrenatural y parece estar acompañada de una extraña historia con raíces en el pasado. Un enjambre se acerca a la Tierra. Diferentes ases se ven inmersos en una situación tan complicada como peligrosa y un androide muy particular (casi tanto como su creador) entra en escena. Segundo volumen de la serie Wild Cards.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
May 17, 2021
„Аса в небето” е втори том на антологията „Жокери”, съставена от жанровия гуру Джордж Р. Р. Мартин. Пълна с всевъзможни комиксови тропи, поп-културни препратки и литературни намигвания, тази алтернативна история на миналия век си играе не само с любими на любителите на фантастичните жанрове мотиви, но и с техните очаквания. Ако смятате, че две глави мислят по-добре от една, елате да видите какво са сътворили всички глави, работили дружно върху този сборник. Ще прочетете наниз от разкази на различни автори, които всъщност изграждат един общ сюжет. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
April 22, 2016
I liked the first volume, and absolutely hated this one. I nearly stopped reading it several times, but cajoled myself into continuing each time because I hoped the next story would be better. It never was.
In short, I hated every character in this anthology except perhaps the Turtle/Tom and Croyd. Their stories were the only ones I read with at least some interest. Fortunato, on the other hand, kept showing up in every other story, and each time he was mentioned I wished he would just disappear forever. I hated him in the first volume and I hated him here. His "love" for Eileen was entirely unbelievable and it seemed like women were objects to him (really the trend of most of the volume, to be fair), so I felt no sense of loss when Eileen met her incredibly unfortunate end.
In By Lost Ways and Half Past Dead, when Fortunato started referring to Dr Tachyon as "space faggot" both internally and in dialogue with another character, I dare say I saw red - not because I like Tachyon (faaaaar far from it) but because it just wasn't right. I don't believe the story's intention was to make me accept it somehow or agree to it, but all it actually did was make me wish Fortunato died in some horrible accident, perhaps something involving getting fed into a wood chipper posthumously (à la Fargo).
The anthology's overarching plot was terrible. I hate gross aliens and I hate cultists, and I got both of those in spades (har har see what I did there) in this volume. The only upshot was that towards the end of the book most of the cultists were killed or arrested in an ace raid. There was also a lot of weird sex, almost all of it unnecessary (like the sex scene on the Takisian spaceship in Relative Difficulties; and don't get me started on the scifi elements of the volume...). Some of it was even exceptionally revolting (the Astronomer's sex scene during the ritual sacrifice from If Looks Could Kill, anyone?). I read most of the volume with a look of disgust on my face. I'm afraid it might stick.
I'm only giving this series one last shot because I bought the third volume before I even started reading this one. I could never have guessed how dreadful it would turn out to be, so my hopes will be extremely low for the third volume. I certainly would not recommend this instalment of the Wild Cards series to anyone. No one deserves to have it inflicted upon them.
If you enjoyed this volume: why don't you respect yourself?
In short, I hated every character in this anthology except perhaps the Turtle/Tom and Croyd. Their stories were the only ones I read with at least some interest. Fortunato, on the other hand, kept showing up in every other story, and each time he was mentioned I wished he would just disappear forever. I hated him in the first volume and I hated him here. His "love" for Eileen was entirely unbelievable and it seemed like women were objects to him (really the trend of most of the volume, to be fair), so I felt no sense of loss when Eileen met her incredibly unfortunate end.
In By Lost Ways and Half Past Dead, when Fortunato started referring to Dr Tachyon as "space faggot" both internally and in dialogue with another character, I dare say I saw red - not because I like Tachyon (faaaaar far from it) but because it just wasn't right. I don't believe the story's intention was to make me accept it somehow or agree to it, but all it actually did was make me wish Fortunato died in some horrible accident, perhaps something involving getting fed into a wood chipper posthumously (à la Fargo).
The anthology's overarching plot was terrible. I hate gross aliens and I hate cultists, and I got both of those in spades (har har see what I did there) in this volume. The only upshot was that towards the end of the book most of the cultists were killed or arrested in an ace raid. There was also a lot of weird sex, almost all of it unnecessary (like the sex scene on the Takisian spaceship in Relative Difficulties; and don't get me started on the scifi elements of the volume...). Some of it was even exceptionally revolting (the Astronomer's sex scene during the ritual sacrifice from If Looks Could Kill, anyone?). I read most of the volume with a look of disgust on my face. I'm afraid it might stick.
I'm only giving this series one last shot because I bought the third volume before I even started reading this one. I could never have guessed how dreadful it would turn out to be, so my hopes will be extremely low for the third volume. I certainly would not recommend this instalment of the Wild Cards series to anyone. No one deserves to have it inflicted upon them.
If you enjoyed this volume: why don't you respect yourself?
June 13, 2016
Fortunato's story of TIAMAT was one of the most obvious dangling loose ends from the original Wild Cards volume, so it's great to see that it was all a setup for this second volume.
However, what's greatest about this volume is how successfully it interweaves multiple short stories to create a ... mosaic (though the book doesn't use that term in its early printings). This was a step beyond what Thieves World had done, creating not just a coherent universe, but also a coherent story.
This second volume is also quite impressive for how it melds together mysticism and science-fiction. It's all in the eyes of the beholder ... which was probably a great model for *how* to fit together this disparate stories by these disparate creators.
Pennies from Hell (Shiner: Fortunato). Fortunato does mystic things. Fortunato does sexual things. Tragedy strikes. Fortunato fails to conquer TIAMAT. The biggest problem with this story is that it feels like a rehash of the Fortunato story from the first volume. It's a nice setup for the rising power of TIAMAT, but not very original. Also, not very deep. [5+/10].
Jube (Martin: Jube). When Jube appears in the first part of his story, he looks to be a take on Thieves' World's Hakiem: the main editor of the anthology uses a storyteller character to help set the stage and show the background of his shared world. But then Martin pulls the rug out from under us by revealing that Jube is an alien ... the other part of the tapestry that makes up Aces High. Afterward, he very successfully uses Jube to tie together the various parts of the novel into a coherent whole. In the end, this is just an interstitial bit of connectivity, but it's well done and well characterized [6+/10].
Ashes to Ashes (Zelazny: Croyd). This minor caper could have been dull if Zelazny didn't play it for laughs so successfully. Instead it becomes another magnificent tale of the Sleeper [7+/10].
Unto the Sixth Generation (Williams: Modular Man). Williams creates another great character here in Modular Man. He's neat because he's another super character that isn't a Wild Card (like Yeoman from the previous volume), but he's also got great characterization as he tries to balance his own evolving self with his creator's asinine demands. The first half of the story itself is also impressive because it's greatly epic: a space invasion of Earth held off by numerous Aces. It tells you the sort of thing you can expect in the Wild Cards books, and the scope is magnificent. [7+/10]. Unfortunately, the second half is anticlimactic, with Modular Man fading into the background in the face of the Masons and the whole quest for a bag lady with a magic bag not making much sense (yet). [5/10] However, I do admire the decision to break this story in two (or four or five), allowing it to interweave with the rest of the novel, much like the "Jube" story, as part of a mosaic.
If Looks Could Kill (Simons: Demise). When I was young and read this for the first time, I found Demise and his ability to kill with a look terrifying. I dunno if I was scared for the characters of the Wild Card universe, or just myself. In any case, Simons does a good job of making Demise a terrifying villain, and simultaneously makes the Astronomer quite creepy — with the latter character connecting this story into the larger narrative. But the plot? I'm not convinced that "bad guy decides to join up with even worse people" is really much of a story [5/10].
Winter's Chill (Martin: Turtle). Martin is very deft with this whole shared-world-anthology idea. He manages to tie his Turtle story into the Swarm invasion, and even has Tom play one round in the catch-the-macguffin plot. However at its heart it's a character story, and it's a pretty wonderful one. I can forgive Tom refusing to tell the secret that might have made everything all right, because he had decades of keeping to himself. And that secret leads us into a wonderfully melancholy tale of a mature hero ... who is alone. Great stuff! [8/10]
Relative Difficulties (Snodgrass: Tachyon, Turtle, Captain Trips). This story isn't really related to the big Swarm plot, but it gets by fine through references and the fact that it's another space story. However, where it really excels is in detailing the universe of the Wild Cards and in developing its characters. Its great to see the Takysians for the first time and learn a bit about their culture. It's also really nice that Snodgrass replies to Martin's story in the first volume by expanding and deepening the friendship between Tachy and Turtle. Captain Trips is also used to fun effect here: it's pretty amazing that Snodgrass got to be the one revealing how Trips' powers worked. Overall, this emotional, character-based story makes it clear how closely and well the Wild Cards writers worked together in these early days [7+/10].
With a Little Help from My Friends (Milán: Tachyon, Captain Trips). It's surprising to see Milán write another Tachyon story, with his own Captain Trips playing a supporting role. It's a perfectly fine Tachyon story that continues on from "Relative Difficulties" while still maintaining its own existence as a standalone short story with a beginning, middle, and end. I don't think any of the characters come into as strong of focus as in Snodgrass' story, but this is still an interesting and meaningful episode in Wild Cards [7/10].
By Lost Ways (Cadigan: Water Lily). This story is obviously meant to be another major climax for the book, setting back the Masons who have been sneaking around the background since Wild Cards I. Setting up multiple plot points in the book (swarm invasion, bowling ball search, Masons, TIAMAT) and giving multiple authors the ability to write important tales is nice model. Unfortunately, this feels more like a anti-climax. The problem is that Cadigan is just trying to do too much: introduce Water Lily; characterize the Masons; give Fortunato a chance for vengeance; bring down the Masons. The result is very awkwardly plotted and goes from 0 to 60 in the span of a paragraph or two. [5/10]
Half Past Dead (Miller: Yeoman). It's a bit surprising to close the threat of the Swarm Mother with a "Green Arrow" story, but that's exactly what Aces High does. And, it's a pretty good story that doesn't feel out of place. I'm not convinced that we learn much new about Yeoman (or Fortunato or Tachyon), but this is a nice adventure with a great, appropriate ending [7+/10].
When comparing this to Thieves World, it's obvious how much George R.R. Martin is pushing the shared-world anthology into the future. Thieves World never achieved this sort of tight continuity, but here Martin does an amazing job of both corralling the writers to tell a consistent story while also allowing them to each shine in your own way.
There are still bumps along the way. The constantly changing set of goals (Masons, black globes, Swarm) feels a bit artificial. With a few exceptions (the first half of the Modular Man story & the main Turtle story), the stories also don't excel in the way they did in the first Wild Cards anthology. Still, this is a fun "novel" that nicely blends the creativity of many fine authors.
Oh, I wish these Wild Cards novels had meaningful names though. Aces High just barely manages to remind you it's about the threat from space, but it'd get lost among the dozens of very similar names over the years.
However, what's greatest about this volume is how successfully it interweaves multiple short stories to create a ... mosaic (though the book doesn't use that term in its early printings). This was a step beyond what Thieves World had done, creating not just a coherent universe, but also a coherent story.
This second volume is also quite impressive for how it melds together mysticism and science-fiction. It's all in the eyes of the beholder ... which was probably a great model for *how* to fit together this disparate stories by these disparate creators.
Pennies from Hell (Shiner: Fortunato). Fortunato does mystic things. Fortunato does sexual things. Tragedy strikes. Fortunato fails to conquer TIAMAT. The biggest problem with this story is that it feels like a rehash of the Fortunato story from the first volume. It's a nice setup for the rising power of TIAMAT, but not very original. Also, not very deep. [5+/10].
Jube (Martin: Jube). When Jube appears in the first part of his story, he looks to be a take on Thieves' World's Hakiem: the main editor of the anthology uses a storyteller character to help set the stage and show the background of his shared world. But then Martin pulls the rug out from under us by revealing that Jube is an alien ... the other part of the tapestry that makes up Aces High. Afterward, he very successfully uses Jube to tie together the various parts of the novel into a coherent whole. In the end, this is just an interstitial bit of connectivity, but it's well done and well characterized [6+/10].
Ashes to Ashes (Zelazny: Croyd). This minor caper could have been dull if Zelazny didn't play it for laughs so successfully. Instead it becomes another magnificent tale of the Sleeper [7+/10].
Unto the Sixth Generation (Williams: Modular Man). Williams creates another great character here in Modular Man. He's neat because he's another super character that isn't a Wild Card (like Yeoman from the previous volume), but he's also got great characterization as he tries to balance his own evolving self with his creator's asinine demands. The first half of the story itself is also impressive because it's greatly epic: a space invasion of Earth held off by numerous Aces. It tells you the sort of thing you can expect in the Wild Cards books, and the scope is magnificent. [7+/10]. Unfortunately, the second half is anticlimactic, with Modular Man fading into the background in the face of the Masons and the whole quest for a bag lady with a magic bag not making much sense (yet). [5/10] However, I do admire the decision to break this story in two (or four or five), allowing it to interweave with the rest of the novel, much like the "Jube" story, as part of a mosaic.
If Looks Could Kill (Simons: Demise). When I was young and read this for the first time, I found Demise and his ability to kill with a look terrifying. I dunno if I was scared for the characters of the Wild Card universe, or just myself. In any case, Simons does a good job of making Demise a terrifying villain, and simultaneously makes the Astronomer quite creepy — with the latter character connecting this story into the larger narrative. But the plot? I'm not convinced that "bad guy decides to join up with even worse people" is really much of a story [5/10].
Winter's Chill (Martin: Turtle). Martin is very deft with this whole shared-world-anthology idea. He manages to tie his Turtle story into the Swarm invasion, and even has Tom play one round in the catch-the-macguffin plot. However at its heart it's a character story, and it's a pretty wonderful one. I can forgive Tom refusing to tell the secret that might have made everything all right, because he had decades of keeping to himself. And that secret leads us into a wonderfully melancholy tale of a mature hero ... who is alone. Great stuff! [8/10]
Relative Difficulties (Snodgrass: Tachyon, Turtle, Captain Trips). This story isn't really related to the big Swarm plot, but it gets by fine through references and the fact that it's another space story. However, where it really excels is in detailing the universe of the Wild Cards and in developing its characters. Its great to see the Takysians for the first time and learn a bit about their culture. It's also really nice that Snodgrass replies to Martin's story in the first volume by expanding and deepening the friendship between Tachy and Turtle. Captain Trips is also used to fun effect here: it's pretty amazing that Snodgrass got to be the one revealing how Trips' powers worked. Overall, this emotional, character-based story makes it clear how closely and well the Wild Cards writers worked together in these early days [7+/10].
With a Little Help from My Friends (Milán: Tachyon, Captain Trips). It's surprising to see Milán write another Tachyon story, with his own Captain Trips playing a supporting role. It's a perfectly fine Tachyon story that continues on from "Relative Difficulties" while still maintaining its own existence as a standalone short story with a beginning, middle, and end. I don't think any of the characters come into as strong of focus as in Snodgrass' story, but this is still an interesting and meaningful episode in Wild Cards [7/10].
By Lost Ways (Cadigan: Water Lily). This story is obviously meant to be another major climax for the book, setting back the Masons who have been sneaking around the background since Wild Cards I. Setting up multiple plot points in the book (swarm invasion, bowling ball search, Masons, TIAMAT) and giving multiple authors the ability to write important tales is nice model. Unfortunately, this feels more like a anti-climax. The problem is that Cadigan is just trying to do too much: introduce Water Lily; characterize the Masons; give Fortunato a chance for vengeance; bring down the Masons. The result is very awkwardly plotted and goes from 0 to 60 in the span of a paragraph or two. [5/10]
Half Past Dead (Miller: Yeoman). It's a bit surprising to close the threat of the Swarm Mother with a "Green Arrow" story, but that's exactly what Aces High does. And, it's a pretty good story that doesn't feel out of place. I'm not convinced that we learn much new about Yeoman (or Fortunato or Tachyon), but this is a nice adventure with a great, appropriate ending [7+/10].
When comparing this to Thieves World, it's obvious how much George R.R. Martin is pushing the shared-world anthology into the future. Thieves World never achieved this sort of tight continuity, but here Martin does an amazing job of both corralling the writers to tell a consistent story while also allowing them to each shine in your own way.
There are still bumps along the way. The constantly changing set of goals (Masons, black globes, Swarm) feels a bit artificial. With a few exceptions (the first half of the Modular Man story & the main Turtle story), the stories also don't excel in the way they did in the first Wild Cards anthology. Still, this is a fun "novel" that nicely blends the creativity of many fine authors.
Oh, I wish these Wild Cards novels had meaningful names though. Aces High just barely manages to remind you it's about the threat from space, but it'd get lost among the dozens of very similar names over the years.
February 27, 2020
Поне от миналата година чакам с особено нетърпение "Сиела" да осъществят на майчин език обещаната в сайта им втора книга от яката поредица "Wild Cards", създадена от Джордж Р.Р. Марти�� през осемдесетте. Книгата все още "предстоящо" в сайта на издателството, а аз загубих търпение. Книгата отново е в якия формат от разкази, писани от различни автори, но следващи обща основна сюжетна линия. Накратко за всеки от тях, внимание - възможни са леки спойлери:
Разбира се, като във всеки сборник, не всичко е на епично високо ниво, но за сметка на това оставя една много сериозно удовлетворение и удоволствие от прочитането ѝ. Много доволен, а в съвсем обозримо бъдеще виждам прочитането на третата (от 27 до този момент)!
Разбира се, като във всеки сборник, не всичко е на епично високо ниво, но за сметка на това оставя една много сериозно удовлетворение и удоволствие от прочитането ѝ. Много доволен, а в съвсем обозримо бъдеще виждам прочитането на третата (от 27 до този момент)!
July 16, 2007
Christmas Gift, 1987. Along with a Laser Tag set that drained batteries with a startling quickness. Read this during the winter break...my introduction to the Egyptian Freemasons...Cthulhoid creatures...tantric sex magick...yeah, this little paperback warped me eternally. And, for that, I'm grateful.
May 14, 2021
„Аса в небето“ е втората в поредицата и тя продължава от там от където приключи предходната. Основите на светът са поставен и историята вече може да се прехвърли върху други идеи. Пак е много интересно да се улавят разликите с „оригиналната“ историческа линия, но вече други истории превземат книгата. Втората част е един реверанс както към „златната ера“ на фантастичната литература, така и към една камара емблематични жанрови ленти от периода на 60-те, 70-те и 80-те години. Хванах препратки и намигвания към десетки произведения, но със сигурност съм пропусна още повече. Заплаха от космическо нашествие, древен култ иска да възроди още по-древно зло, огромни чудовища опустошават градове, а жокери и аса обединяват сили, за да спасят Земята и това е само част от историите. Появяват се нови герои, а старите продължават да се развиват както в личен, така и в „професионален“ план. Книгата отново е страхотна амалгама от идеите, стиловете и похватите на различните автори. Отделните истории, разказни от различни герои водят към един наистина хубав, интересен и идеен финал, които едновременно е реверанс, към станалите вече клишета финали за извънземни инвазии и заедно с това една възможна алтернатива на дефиницията за разум, идея много сходна с идеята в „Слепоглед“ на Уотс.
April 2, 2019
As usual for an anthology, I'm going to post my thoughts on each story, but before I get to that, my thoughts on the book as a whole. It was a big change from the previous book and that might be good, bad, or neutral to you. The first book, our introduction to the Wild Cards universe, was basically a series of stories that took place in the same universe and used the same characters (everyone LOVES to play with Croyd) but there wasn't any unifying story outside of Dr. Tachyon coming to terms with the effects of the virus. But the stories mostly stood alone and even explored different narrative techniques like a Hunter S. Thompson parody. By contrast this book is one tight story that goes from beginning to end strongly being involved in each of the stories. It also once again expands the Wild Cards universe, more literally than metaphorically. Where this works best is with the theory of the small man of history. Many of the characters are just doing their own thing and only tangentially interacting with the PlotDevice.. It's constantly changing hands and driving the plot and almost no one understands what's going on until near the end of the book. But everyone's actions are leading towards the various major plot points of the anthology.
The only reason I'm being a little cagey both here and in my status updates with a 20-30 year old story is because it's going to be a Hulu show pretty soon. So I think that puts a fresh bit of spoiler-paint on it. Anyway, I really enjoyed revisiting this world and its characters. That said, a few things haven't aged well - particularly use of homophobic slurs that were de rigueur in the 80s and some of the female characters. That said, I recommend it if you're into SF and a more realistic version of an X-Men crossed with some Fantastic Four section of the Marvel Universe.
Now, the individual stories:
"Pennies from Hell:" Fortunato, the half-black/half-Japanese pimp who (in the first book) gained Tantric magic powers, solves a mystery. A good pulp mystery with all that entails. I think I spotted Zelazny's chimeric character at the climactic meeting. A great reintroduction to the NYC of Wild Cards.
"Jube: One": Impossible to talk about without ruining the final reveal, but suffice to say it's a brilliant use of the Wild Cards world to subvert expectations. Also love reading about intel informants. Usually pretty neat stories.
"Unto the Sixth Generation": Connected somewhat to the Jube stories. A warning that goes unheard.
"Jube: Two": A continuation of both Unto the Sixth Gen and the previous Jube story. It gets filled in a bit more as well as introducing us to more of Jube's life and friends.
"Ashes to Ashes" - Continues exactly at the end of Jube 2. The stories seem more connected this anthology than the first one. Croyd again! A really, really fun story as he does a task for Jube that connects all of the stories including the Fortunato one.
"Unto the Sixth Generation Part 1": A modern Frankenstein story. ... Alien invasion. Wonder if this leads to a different modern world for Wild Cards or if it swings back towards our trajectory. In other words, do we still have Reagan, Bush, Clinton, etc.
"Unto the Sixth Generation Part 2": The aftermath of the Alien invasion. Hmm...gentrification was a thing in the 80s! A terrifying end, but at least progress has been made in the stories that both started with Fortunato and Jube.
"Jube: 3": Jube makes a plan in the aftermath of the previous chapters.
"If Looks Could Kill": A guy with the ability to kill others by making them experience his death gets involved in the book's overarching plot."
"Jube: Four": He starts workign with Chrysalis. Love the trope of no one believing honesty because the truth is too ridiculous.
"Unto the Sixth Generation: Epilogue": Modman's creator is robbed and somethin changes hands again.
"Winter's Chill": Of course this is GRRM's entry. A more realistic version of what I think might have happened to Peter Parker or any other child superhero as they grew up. We catch up with The Turtle. Learn about some tragedy. Perhaps also a setup for future books with the concept of latent Wild Cards. And The Device once again changes hands. I think the cover on Good Reads makes more sense than the cover from the Tor re-release. (It's a picture of Jube)
"Jube: Five": Jube's storyline crosses more directly with the antagonists from the first story now.
"Relative Difficulties": That ship we learned about in the previous Jube chapter....now we deal with it. And so ends another chapter of Dr. Tachyon's life. We learn a bit about Takisian culture and technology. The item shifts owners once again.
"With a little help from his friends": a detective story with Dr. Tachyon. The mystery is solved, we encounter foes from a previous story. The main story of the anthology continues. With all I've learned about Tiamat from this book, I think I can guess what happens in the next Expanse book - the one that came out in March 2019 (Tiamat's Wrath).
"Jube: Six": Jube reflects on what has happened since the last Jube story while he heads towards a meeting.
"By lost ways": A return to the antagonists of this book. An innocent young lady gets caught up in the antagonists' plots. Overall a fun story. Although things got absurdly chaotic in the climax. I wonder if she's the girl from the Tor re-release cover redesign. Frankly, given the novel's focus, I think the Jubal cover is a better one.
"Mr. Koyama's Comet": A very fun short story that seems to have no relevance to the book until the final, fun twist. Although I was starting to see where it was going just before the twist.
"Half Past Dead": Finally learn who's playing The Green Arrow in town. Great mystery story, very pulpy. And I believe the main antagonist has now been dealt with.
"Jube: Seven": Everything is completed.
The only reason I'm being a little cagey both here and in my status updates with a 20-30 year old story is because it's going to be a Hulu show pretty soon. So I think that puts a fresh bit of spoiler-paint on it. Anyway, I really enjoyed revisiting this world and its characters. That said, a few things haven't aged well - particularly use of homophobic slurs that were de rigueur in the 80s and some of the female characters. That said, I recommend it if you're into SF and a more realistic version of an X-Men crossed with some Fantastic Four section of the Marvel Universe.
Now, the individual stories:
"Pennies from Hell:" Fortunato, the half-black/half-Japanese pimp who (in the first book) gained Tantric magic powers, solves a mystery. A good pulp mystery with all that entails. I think I spotted Zelazny's chimeric character at the climactic meeting. A great reintroduction to the NYC of Wild Cards.
"Jube: One": Impossible to talk about without ruining the final reveal, but suffice to say it's a brilliant use of the Wild Cards world to subvert expectations. Also love reading about intel informants. Usually pretty neat stories.
"Unto the Sixth Generation": Connected somewhat to the Jube stories. A warning that goes unheard.
"Jube: Two": A continuation of both Unto the Sixth Gen and the previous Jube story. It gets filled in a bit more as well as introducing us to more of Jube's life and friends.
"Ashes to Ashes" - Continues exactly at the end of Jube 2. The stories seem more connected this anthology than the first one. Croyd again! A really, really fun story as he does a task for Jube that connects all of the stories including the Fortunato one.
"Unto the Sixth Generation Part 1": A modern Frankenstein story. ... Alien invasion. Wonder if this leads to a different modern world for Wild Cards or if it swings back towards our trajectory. In other words, do we still have Reagan, Bush, Clinton, etc.
"Unto the Sixth Generation Part 2": The aftermath of the Alien invasion. Hmm...gentrification was a thing in the 80s! A terrifying end, but at least progress has been made in the stories that both started with Fortunato and Jube.
"Jube: 3": Jube makes a plan in the aftermath of the previous chapters.
"If Looks Could Kill": A guy with the ability to kill others by making them experience his death gets involved in the book's overarching plot."
"Jube: Four": He starts workign with Chrysalis. Love the trope of no one believing honesty because the truth is too ridiculous.
"Unto the Sixth Generation: Epilogue": Modman's creator is robbed and somethin changes hands again.
"Winter's Chill": Of course this is GRRM's entry. A more realistic version of what I think might have happened to Peter Parker or any other child superhero as they grew up. We catch up with The Turtle. Learn about some tragedy. Perhaps also a setup for future books with the concept of latent Wild Cards. And The Device once again changes hands. I think the cover on Good Reads makes more sense than the cover from the Tor re-release. (It's a picture of Jube)
"Jube: Five": Jube's storyline crosses more directly with the antagonists from the first story now.
"Relative Difficulties": That ship we learned about in the previous Jube chapter....now we deal with it. And so ends another chapter of Dr. Tachyon's life. We learn a bit about Takisian culture and technology. The item shifts owners once again.
"With a little help from his friends": a detective story with Dr. Tachyon. The mystery is solved, we encounter foes from a previous story. The main story of the anthology continues. With all I've learned about Tiamat from this book, I think I can guess what happens in the next Expanse book - the one that came out in March 2019 (Tiamat's Wrath).
"Jube: Six": Jube reflects on what has happened since the last Jube story while he heads towards a meeting.
"By lost ways": A return to the antagonists of this book. An innocent young lady gets caught up in the antagonists' plots. Overall a fun story. Although things got absurdly chaotic in the climax. I wonder if she's the girl from the Tor re-release cover redesign. Frankly, given the novel's focus, I think the Jubal cover is a better one.
"Mr. Koyama's Comet": A very fun short story that seems to have no relevance to the book until the final, fun twist. Although I was starting to see where it was going just before the twist.
"Half Past Dead": Finally learn who's playing The Green Arrow in town. Great mystery story, very pulpy. And I believe the main antagonist has now been dealt with.
"Jube: Seven": Everything is completed.
January 8, 2012
There's 11 stories in this "Mosaic novel", but only two main plots: there's Jube, the slightly walrus-shaped newsagents, who is actually not a joker but an alien, discovering that an alien Swarm, a yeast creature controlled by an intelligent "mother" is coming to Earth, and the ensuing war.
Then, there's a Masonic conspiracy around the powerful ace called The Astronomer, looking for the last pieces to complete a mysterious alien device to call a being called TIAMAT (note the Caps) to Earth.
This collection broadly follows storylines begun in the very first collection. The beginnings of the Masonic twats in robes were shown when Fortunato discovered his powers and killed one of their members if I remember correctly. The end of the whole story will be in the third collection, although this one also has a completed stand-alone plot.
I quite liked it, although I thought that the masonics were a bit ill-defined, and shoehorned in to provide an opponent for the others to fight against.
Also, the writer of Brennan still doesn't have a clue about how archery works...If he was good enough to look up the concept of a compound bow, he might also have considered that it is pretty much physically impossible to sling such a bow across your torso. You can also not lean on it, unless you're very short, because they're no more than 3 ft tall. They also cannot be seperated into parts fir transport, or strung and unstrung without considerable effort and material. Such thing just irritate me :p (at least he didn't shoot 6 arrows in 9 seconds this time...)
Aanywhooo...
I liked Croyd's appearance in this one. He's one of my favourite Wild Cards characters, as he is quite a nice guy, who may do questionable things to get by, but is never really evil. Here, he gets paid by Jube to steal the body and belongings of a dead alien spy from a morgue. In the course of this, pretty much everything goes wrong, the body is lost, dumped, stolen and otherwise mistreated several times, and in the end arrives at Jube's in a large jar and several doggie-bags...
Another important story element is the hunt for an alien artifact that can teleport people away and generally do energy things. It appears like a black bowling ball, and it intially snatched by a deranged baglady, who uses it to displace everybody who gets near. Both the Masons and the goodies are trying to get it. On the side of the goodies, it's mostly Tachyon, the Turtle, and Mark Meadows, who has created drugs which allow him to turn into a collection of different aces for a short time, mostly to the confusion of everyone around. Meanwhile, the artifact changes hands from the baglady to a bunch of young thugs to Tachs family (not a good thing).
In general: 8/10
Then, there's a Masonic conspiracy around the powerful ace called The Astronomer, looking for the last pieces to complete a mysterious alien device to call a being called TIAMAT (note the Caps) to Earth.
This collection broadly follows storylines begun in the very first collection. The beginnings of the Masonic twats in robes were shown when Fortunato discovered his powers and killed one of their members if I remember correctly. The end of the whole story will be in the third collection, although this one also has a completed stand-alone plot.
I quite liked it, although I thought that the masonics were a bit ill-defined, and shoehorned in to provide an opponent for the others to fight against.
Also, the writer of Brennan still doesn't have a clue about how archery works...If he was good enough to look up the concept of a compound bow, he might also have considered that it is pretty much physically impossible to sling such a bow across your torso. You can also not lean on it, unless you're very short, because they're no more than 3 ft tall. They also cannot be seperated into parts fir transport, or strung and unstrung without considerable effort and material. Such thing just irritate me :p (at least he didn't shoot 6 arrows in 9 seconds this time...)
Aanywhooo...
I liked Croyd's appearance in this one. He's one of my favourite Wild Cards characters, as he is quite a nice guy, who may do questionable things to get by, but is never really evil. Here, he gets paid by Jube to steal the body and belongings of a dead alien spy from a morgue. In the course of this, pretty much everything goes wrong, the body is lost, dumped, stolen and otherwise mistreated several times, and in the end arrives at Jube's in a large jar and several doggie-bags...
Another important story element is the hunt for an alien artifact that can teleport people away and generally do energy things. It appears like a black bowling ball, and it intially snatched by a deranged baglady, who uses it to displace everybody who gets near. Both the Masons and the goodies are trying to get it. On the side of the goodies, it's mostly Tachyon, the Turtle, and Mark Meadows, who has created drugs which allow him to turn into a collection of different aces for a short time, mostly to the confusion of everyone around. Meanwhile, the artifact changes hands from the baglady to a bunch of young thugs to Tachs family (not a good thing).
In general: 8/10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2013
This installment of the Wild Cards saga was much more cohesive than Wild Cards. We followed only a few characters whom we got to know very well - Jube, Dr. Tachyon and some other old faces like The Great and Powerful Turtle. Except everyone who we encountered at the height of their popularity (or stigma) has declined somewhat. We also aw new faces, who were a treat to meet - Captain Trips and all his friends, Water Lily Jane and Modular Man. I loved Captain Trips as a byproduct of quiet little Brian Meadows from book 1 - plus his alternate personas were super cool, and even better, brought on by ACID TRIPS. What's not to like about that? I enjoyed reading this book, but not as much as the first - I had really enjoyed the alternate history of the aces and jokers' world. In this book, the controversy seems to have died down, and the Swarm becomes the focus - the Masons were a great touch though, I really wanted the Astronomer to get bitch-slapped by karma. On a whole, read it you won't regret it. I do regret that I have to wait for the new edition of Jokers Wild.
January 6, 2011
This time around the Wild Card universe takes us trough an alien invasion, giving clever nods to ancient mythology and even the ctulhu mythos, while introducing several new characters like Walrus, the Astronomer, Dr. Tachyon’s family and their sentient ships (Hellcat and Baby), Captain Trips, Modular Man, and many others.
I was again mesmerized by this alternate Earth that George R R Martin and his friends created, even if it did not amaze me as much as the first volume, it felt as if I was reading about old friends. Jokertown in itself is gripping, a city within the city, where everything seems to happen, a town of endless possibilities.
This second volume read more like a pulp adventure, with alien invaders and a secret society of villains that’s trying to rule the world against the good guys that are always saving the day in the nick of time. Yet it was good, interesting and I’m certain I’m gonna keep reading the series.
Honestly, if you love sci-fi, horror and superheroes then so should you.
I was again mesmerized by this alternate Earth that George R R Martin and his friends created, even if it did not amaze me as much as the first volume, it felt as if I was reading about old friends. Jokertown in itself is gripping, a city within the city, where everything seems to happen, a town of endless possibilities.
This second volume read more like a pulp adventure, with alien invaders and a secret society of villains that’s trying to rule the world against the good guys that are always saving the day in the nick of time. Yet it was good, interesting and I’m certain I’m gonna keep reading the series.
Honestly, if you love sci-fi, horror and superheroes then so should you.
March 28, 2014
And so continues the saga of the wild cards - the Aces and Joker survivors of the Wild Card biological weapon. The "cast list" of players is still being expanded but the interesting thing here is that the main challenge is from another outside source - this time the "swarm" and extra terrestrial threat that requires everyone to join together and temporarily put aside the differences and work together. I must admit that even though the storyline was fun - carrying on the tradition of the super hero feel - I did get the feeling that the series is still finding its stride and getting used to it self. There were still a lot of explanations of what was going on and why - almost as much to convince themselves as there were to convince the reader for example. That said it still has a fresh feel and does not fall in to the clichés you would expect to trip such a project up as this (does that reflect the superior guidance of Mr Martin I wonder)
May 26, 2015
I am really enjoying this series. This volume puts together a slightly tighter story arc than the previous book, with good collaboration between the various authors. There are some new characters introduced, with interesting backgrounds. The Swarm as a primary villain of one of the major arcs is pretty cool, especially the way it adapts continuously to the changing conditions, constantly probing for ways to get established on Earth. The other primary villain, the Astronomer, is very nasty in the best way. I still don't like Fortunato, and I'm not sure I ever will, although this may be intentional on the author's part. Roger Zelazny and Walter Jon Williams deliver my favorite sections, but I'm biased already, since Zelazny is a long time favorite since high school. This volume seemed a bit less grim than the previous one, but there is still a lot of violence, death, and destruction.
August 24, 2016
Another solid Wild Cards anthology. The narrator for this books does a nice job of staying consistent with the various characters, which can be the downfall of many good "voices". Some stories were weaker and I thought Fortunato's stories were rather weak. The Great and Powerful Turtle's backstory was wonderful and I thought his journey in this anthology was what made it all worthwhile.
July 30, 2020
Аса в небето воюват с извънземни: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/a...
“Аса в небето” обаче е различна – създадена с идеята да отдаде почит на велики книги (ще видите явни и неприкрити отгласи от “Война на световете”, “Франкенщайн”, “Кинг Конг” и др.), тя продължава историите на някои от героите от първата книга, но и проследява космическа инвазия от страна на извънземен Рояк, който опустошава планети от незнайно колко време. А, да, и един жокер с моржовидна възншност се оказва извънземен наблюдател (хей, Форд Префект, здравей!) на чуждопланетна конфедерация, който се опитва да спаси планетата в духа на филма “Мъже в черно”.
CIELA Books
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/a...
“Аса в небето” обаче е различна – създадена с идеята да отдаде почит на велики книги (ще видите явни и неприкрити отгласи от “Война на световете”, “Франкенщайн”, “Кинг Конг” и др.), тя продължава историите на някои от героите от първата книга, но и проследява космическа инвазия от страна на извънземен Рояк, който опустошава планети от незнайно колко време. А, да, и един жокер с моржовидна възншност се оказва извънземен наблюдател (хей, Форд Префект, здравей!) на чуждопланетна конфедерация, който се опитва да спаси планетата в духа на филма “Мъже в черно”.
CIELA Books
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/a...
June 25, 2018
You know what....DNF at 80%
It has been a year since I last picked this up, and it is clear I have no intention of going back. I love the promise of this series, and the first book was pretty good. This one was a flop. The stories were so disjointed, the main antagonist was dealt with by the middle of the book, and none of the characters were captivating.
I may give the series one more chance (and since I already own the third book....)
So I think I may just call it quits here. And get my Slytherin bookmark back =P
It has been a year since I last picked this up, and it is clear I have no intention of going back. I love the promise of this series, and the first book was pretty good. This one was a flop. The stories were so disjointed, the main antagonist was dealt with by the middle of the book, and none of the characters were captivating.
I may give the series one more chance (and since I already own the third book....)
So I think I may just call it quits here. And get my Slytherin bookmark back =P
August 4, 2020
I enjoyed this one much, much more than I did the first. This one was more in tune i think with each character and each story. Seemed to gel better this time around. Based around the sub plot of an alien invasion.
March 18, 2019
Fantastic. Keeps you hooked all the way through to the end. Seemingly disparate stories all linked together beautifully. Full of adventure.
June 30, 2019
This was almost as good as the first book, but somewhat dragged fro me because I didn't love the alien invasion subplot. Still, lots of good writing here, well worth your time.
June 26, 2020
Wild Cards novels are not always consistent. Some stories are amazing, some others, not so much. In this book, George R. R. Martin, Roger Zelazny, and Pat Cadigan shine the brightest.
I would say it's weaker than the previous book, but a nice reading anyway. It's great to read the origins of WC, since I read mostly the more recent books of the series.
I would say it's weaker than the previous book, but a nice reading anyway. It's great to read the origins of WC, since I read mostly the more recent books of the series.
October 22, 2023
While better than the first, still not all that incredible. I'll buy the next one if I see it thrifting but I'm not seeking it out.
February 19, 2024
Druhý diel v podobnej kvalite ako prvý. I keď tu už šlo o ucelenejší diel v menšom časovom okne (iba pár rokov) a menej politicky ladený s väčsou akciou a mám pocit, že aj väčším vývojom postáv, rozdielni autori jednotlivých poviedok a tým aj kolísavá kvalita bolo niečo, čo mi nie stále úplne rezalo. Celkovo ma to ale bavilo a okamžite pokračujem tretím dielom.
June 27, 2015
http://recenzent.com.pl/1/recenzja-ks...
W alternatywnej rzeczywistości II wojna światowa wyglądała zupełnie inaczej. Główne zagrożenie stanowił wirus dzikiej karty, ingerujący w ludzkie geny. Na drodze kosmicznej loterii obywatele całego świata zyskiwali nowe moce stając się Asami, przechodzili deformację i zyskiwali określenie Dżokerów, umierali albo umykali wirusowi. Po trzydziestu latach Ziemia raz jeszcze staje w obliczu zagrożenia pochodzącego z głębin wszechświata. Tym razem zmierza nań Rój, gotowy pozbawić życia każdego, kogo napotka na swojej drodze. Ofiary dzikiej karty zmuszone są, niezależnie od prywatnych animozji, zjednoczyć się i stanąć do walki z kosmicznym najeźdźcą.
Opowiadania, które umieszczono pod szyldem „Wieży asów”, powstały już w latach 80., czyli zasadniczo przed uznaniem Martina za literackie guru, a „Wieża asów” to tak naprawdę drugi tom serii zbiorów opowiadań „Dzikie karty”. Obok autora „Pieśni lodu i ognia” znajdziemy w tomie teksty autorstwa Rogera Zelazny’ego, Waltera Jona Williamsa czy Pat Cadigan (nazwiska niekoniecznie tak popularne i nęcące w Polsce, jak ma to miejsce w Stanach Zjednoczonych).
„Wieża asów” to nie opowiadania sensu stricto, które zwykły kojarzyć się z twardymi ramami, oddzielającymi jedną wizję od drugiej. Zwykle zbiór spina wspólna koncepcja świata, wydarzenie czy przynależność do jakiejś formy organizacji. W tym przypadku mamy do czynienia z niesamowitą ciągłością historii. Postaci przeplatają się, wkradają na karty opowiadań innego autora, znienacka wyskakują, by przypomnieć o swoim istnieniu. Świat przedstawiony zdaje się jednolity. Ma to swoje dobre i złe strony. Ciągłość zamazuje nieco wrażenie po lekturze słabszych fragmentów, ale jednocześnie stwarza wrażenie czytania opowieści niedokończonej i pobieżnie potraktowanej. Nacisk kładziony jest raz na jednego, raz na drugiego bohatera, ale żaden z nich nie zyskuje na tyle silnego rysu, by mógł zostać protoplastą całej historii.
Nie oznacza to, że kreowane przez autorów postaci są nijakie. W ramach opowiadań stają się nośnikami nierzadko skomplikowanych rozgrywek psychologicznych, niejasnych motywacji oraz wewnętrznych walk dobra i zła. Bohaterowie mają swoje traumy i tragedie, swoje miłości i wielkie poświęcenia. Niemniej żaden z nich nie mógłby zostać uznany za bezsprzecznie głównego bohatera.
Niezależnie od psychologicznego skomplikowania, które wydaje się tematem dość trudnym, „Wieża asów” to dzieło zadziwiająco lekkie. Opowiadania są chwilami bardzo dowcipne, przypominające nieco parodię „Watchmen”. Mają w sobie sporo z takich produkcji, jak „Sucker punch”, czy „Kick-Ass”, chociaż oczywiście czasy powstania tych tekstów kultury są na tyle odmienne, że inspiracja autorów książki jest niemożliwa. Zdarzają się jednak również chwile, gdy dowcip wydaje się przesadzony, wymuszony i do bólu sztuczny, śmiesząc swoją wtórnością, a nie faktycznym elementem komicznym.
Poza pierwszym opowiadaniem autorstwa Lewisa Shinera, które bardzo odstaje od kolejnych tekstów, wszystkie przypadły mi do gustu. Językowa różnica pomiędzy opowiadaniami była tak niewielka (to zapewne kwestia tłumaczenia), że świadomość odrębności autorów bardzo szybko mi umykała. Mogłabym czytać „Wieżę asów” bez nagłówków autorów i tytułów ich opowiadań, a pewnie nie zorientowałabym się, że stoją za nimi różni pisarze. Różnice zrzuciłabym raczej na karb lepszego lub gorszego dnia jednego autora.
Historia z „Wieży asów” – dotycząca wybranych, pokonanych i nieświadomych (Asów, Dżokerów i zwykłych ludzi) oraz kosmicznej infiltracji – bardzo przypadła mi do gustu. Jeżeli nie czytaliście pierwszego tomu opowieści o dzikiej karcie, nie martwcie się. I bez jej znajomości można dać pochłonąć się tej historii. Szkoda tylko, że fabuła nie pozostała w rękach jednego autora, bo sądzę, że to znacząco wpłynęłoby na wyrazistość świata przedstawionego. A może to jedynie moja odwieczna niechęć do opowiadań? I to właśnie najlepsza reklama dla „Wieży asów”, którą polubiłam pomimo ogólnej niechęci do jej formy podawczej.
W alternatywnej rzeczywistości II wojna światowa wyglądała zupełnie inaczej. Główne zagrożenie stanowił wirus dzikiej karty, ingerujący w ludzkie geny. Na drodze kosmicznej loterii obywatele całego świata zyskiwali nowe moce stając się Asami, przechodzili deformację i zyskiwali określenie Dżokerów, umierali albo umykali wirusowi. Po trzydziestu latach Ziemia raz jeszcze staje w obliczu zagrożenia pochodzącego z głębin wszechświata. Tym razem zmierza nań Rój, gotowy pozbawić życia każdego, kogo napotka na swojej drodze. Ofiary dzikiej karty zmuszone są, niezależnie od prywatnych animozji, zjednoczyć się i stanąć do walki z kosmicznym najeźdźcą.
Opowiadania, które umieszczono pod szyldem „Wieży asów”, powstały już w latach 80., czyli zasadniczo przed uznaniem Martina za literackie guru, a „Wieża asów” to tak naprawdę drugi tom serii zbiorów opowiadań „Dzikie karty”. Obok autora „Pieśni lodu i ognia” znajdziemy w tomie teksty autorstwa Rogera Zelazny’ego, Waltera Jona Williamsa czy Pat Cadigan (nazwiska niekoniecznie tak popularne i nęcące w Polsce, jak ma to miejsce w Stanach Zjednoczonych).
„Wieża asów” to nie opowiadania sensu stricto, które zwykły kojarzyć się z twardymi ramami, oddzielającymi jedną wizję od drugiej. Zwykle zbiór spina wspólna koncepcja świata, wydarzenie czy przynależność do jakiejś formy organizacji. W tym przypadku mamy do czynienia z niesamowitą ciągłością historii. Postaci przeplatają się, wkradają na karty opowiadań innego autora, znienacka wyskakują, by przypomnieć o swoim istnieniu. Świat przedstawiony zdaje się jednolity. Ma to swoje dobre i złe strony. Ciągłość zamazuje nieco wrażenie po lekturze słabszych fragmentów, ale jednocześnie stwarza wrażenie czytania opowieści niedokończonej i pobieżnie potraktowanej. Nacisk kładziony jest raz na jednego, raz na drugiego bohatera, ale żaden z nich nie zyskuje na tyle silnego rysu, by mógł zostać protoplastą całej historii.
Nie oznacza to, że kreowane przez autorów postaci są nijakie. W ramach opowiadań stają się nośnikami nierzadko skomplikowanych rozgrywek psychologicznych, niejasnych motywacji oraz wewnętrznych walk dobra i zła. Bohaterowie mają swoje traumy i tragedie, swoje miłości i wielkie poświęcenia. Niemniej żaden z nich nie mógłby zostać uznany za bezsprzecznie głównego bohatera.
Niezależnie od psychologicznego skomplikowania, które wydaje się tematem dość trudnym, „Wieża asów” to dzieło zadziwiająco lekkie. Opowiadania są chwilami bardzo dowcipne, przypominające nieco parodię „Watchmen”. Mają w sobie sporo z takich produkcji, jak „Sucker punch”, czy „Kick-Ass”, chociaż oczywiście czasy powstania tych tekstów kultury są na tyle odmienne, że inspiracja autorów książki jest niemożliwa. Zdarzają się jednak również chwile, gdy dowcip wydaje się przesadzony, wymuszony i do bólu sztuczny, śmiesząc swoją wtórnością, a nie faktycznym elementem komicznym.
Poza pierwszym opowiadaniem autorstwa Lewisa Shinera, które bardzo odstaje od kolejnych tekstów, wszystkie przypadły mi do gustu. Językowa różnica pomiędzy opowiadaniami była tak niewielka (to zapewne kwestia tłumaczenia), że świadomość odrębności autorów bardzo szybko mi umykała. Mogłabym czytać „Wieżę asów” bez nagłówków autorów i tytułów ich opowiadań, a pewnie nie zorientowałabym się, że stoją za nimi różni pisarze. Różnice zrzuciłabym raczej na karb lepszego lub gorszego dnia jednego autora.
Historia z „Wieży asów” – dotycząca wybranych, pokonanych i nieświadomych (Asów, Dżokerów i zwykłych ludzi) oraz kosmicznej infiltracji – bardzo przypadła mi do gustu. Jeżeli nie czytaliście pierwszego tomu opowieści o dzikiej karcie, nie martwcie się. I bez jej znajomości można dać pochłonąć się tej historii. Szkoda tylko, że fabuła nie pozostała w rękach jednego autora, bo sądzę, że to znacząco wpłynęłoby na wyrazistość świata przedstawionego. A może to jedynie moja odwieczna niechęć do opowiadań? I to właśnie najlepsza reklama dla „Wieży asów”, którą polubiłam pomimo ogólnej niechęci do jej formy podawczej.
July 11, 2017
The first Wild Cards book had me hooked because I am a history nut as well as a comic book fan. A book that puts the two together is cheating and there was no way I could escape it's grasp. So when I set out to the second one I was worried that the story itself might not hold my interest.
Man was I wrong on that one.
The true strength of these books, besides their concept, is the way that each character is treated like a main character. Take Jube for example. The walrus joker who sold papers and told bad jokes, I mean at best he is a side character, at worst a punchline.
Well, no he in the center of his own adventure, his own life and once you step into his story you see how he is indeed, a main charter. That alone is off the charts cool but wait, there is more.
The way the individual stories weave and move to tell a much larger meta plot, something that is pure genius and will not be truly appreciated for decades when Marvel builds a film industry on it. These books are phases unto themselves and that alone make reading them amazing. Not just one story about one person, these early novels were truly an ensemble world that made you feel like the whole thing was living and breathing around you.
There are some clunkers of course but that is the genius about a shared universe. Is Thor 2 weak? Make up for it with Winter Solider, it will all even out in the end. These books age well, they still tell an incredible story and I wish Game of Thrones would go away already so he can start working on this series for TV. Because I assure you, there will be some Buzzfeed article on how George RR Martin is using the "Marvel way" to sell his book series. Read these books now, learn the truth.
The Marvel way is the Wild Cards way.
Man was I wrong on that one.
The true strength of these books, besides their concept, is the way that each character is treated like a main character. Take Jube for example. The walrus joker who sold papers and told bad jokes, I mean at best he is a side character, at worst a punchline.
Well, no he in the center of his own adventure, his own life and once you step into his story you see how he is indeed, a main charter. That alone is off the charts cool but wait, there is more.
The way the individual stories weave and move to tell a much larger meta plot, something that is pure genius and will not be truly appreciated for decades when Marvel builds a film industry on it. These books are phases unto themselves and that alone make reading them amazing. Not just one story about one person, these early novels were truly an ensemble world that made you feel like the whole thing was living and breathing around you.
There are some clunkers of course but that is the genius about a shared universe. Is Thor 2 weak? Make up for it with Winter Solider, it will all even out in the end. These books age well, they still tell an incredible story and I wish Game of Thrones would go away already so he can start working on this series for TV. Because I assure you, there will be some Buzzfeed article on how George RR Martin is using the "Marvel way" to sell his book series. Read these books now, learn the truth.
The Marvel way is the Wild Cards way.
January 18, 2012
...I guess this volume signals change for the reader. It exchanges some variety and distinctness found in the first volume for a more solid story arc in the second. I don't think the series would have lasted twenty-five years and produced twenty-one volumes (I understand there is a twenty-second in the works continuing the
Fort Freak
story line). It also shifts the focus a bit from the Aces and Jokers to the various alien races that inhabit the Wild cards universe. Maybe doing both at once is a bit too much of a good thing but who can resits a dose of horrific extraterrestrials, superheroes who are both tragic and heroic (and never end up with the girl) and some fine over the top fighting scenes to keep the adrenaline going? Aces High is both massively entertaining and a solid foundation for the rest of the series. I can't wait for the reissue of the third volume: Jokers Wild.
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