Set in an alternate New York City on the fortieth anniversary of the alien virus outbreak, this mosaic novel tracks several superpowered Aces and deformed Jokers over a single chaotic day. While the city commemorates Wild Cards Day, the astronomer-turned-superhero Fortunato uncovers a plot by the vengeful Mason Wheeler, also known as the Astronomer. As high-stakes celebrations unfold, characters like the telekinetic Golden Boy and the shape-shifting Septimus face a deadly confrontation against the reemerging Egyptian Freemasons. The narrative focuses on the immediate physical dangers of a cityscape occupied by those marginalized by their mutations.
Science fiction readers interested in gritty, urban superhero realism read this for its multi-perspective storytelling and subversion of comic book tropes. It appeals to those who prefer grounded consequences and political complexity over idealized heroics. Readers gain a detailed view of social stratification within an irradiated society and walk away with a specific understanding of how power imbalances function in a world where biological luck dictates one’s status and survival.
Practical, clear-cut and escapist; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1987
- Language
- EN
