Last Call
EUR 3,62
A Monument to Imagination - Last Call is a book about loss, death, redemption, tarot cards and the Fisher King. It plays out in a vast and mythical Las Vegas that only marginally resembles the one that sits in the Nevada desert. Scott Crane is a man who loses. As a child, he lost an eye. As a young man, he lost his soul in a card game. As an adult, is wife dies and he loses his will to survive. Until he is drawn to Las Vegas, where the last Fisher King died, and learns his is one of four Jacks vying for the right to assume the King s place.It sounds wacky and ridiculous and I m sure it would fall flat in any hands but those of Tim Powers. But Powers is a master of Urban Magic, at finding mystery in the oridinary and in drawing conclusions from history that might only be inferred by a madman. But once he has cast his eye on a subject and explained it to us, it all makes sense. We wonder why we never saw it before.In typical fashion, Powers has selected Eliot s The Waste Land as a sort of working illustration of the story, writing elements that make you stop and think Oh, ho! Eliot was in on it, too!. Powers uses the poem to good effect, as he has with the Romantic poets in The Stress of Her Regard and other works.I don t get excited about many books or many authors, but this is one of the best. Powers is an amazing talent, always satisfying, always fresh and always jaw-droppingly unique.
Last Call -- One to Read! - I was in one of Tim Power s first fiction classes at the University of Redlands. So believe me, I know what I m talking about when it comes to his stories. :) He s been my sounding board as much as he s been mine. I was skeptical when he handed Last Call to me: I was very quickly hooked and dragged into the world inside. Its cast of initially tragic but likable characters, his descriptions of scenes, and even the supernatural/sci-fi flavor that is apparent in all his stories.. Well. I m a fan. Have been for years now, all because of this book. My personal opinion is, this is the best of his I ve read to date: Feel free to think me wrong, since I have yet to read EarthQuake weather, or that spy one with the title I can t recall (Unless it still isn t out?). All in all, his stuff s fun to read. Give it a try!
Another great book from the T.S. Eliot of fantasy. - How do you mix tarot cards, gangsters and arthurian legend into a cohesive whole? You need to have the depth and knowledge of language that Mr Powers has. Whereas his long time fans will already be convinced towards this book s strengths, I recommend giving it to those who think fantasy novels are a matter of sweaty barbarians.
Wow - I can t decide whether I like this book or The Stress of Her Regard better. It s like trying to choose between a romantic evening with the one you love and a sleazy quicky with the one after whom you lust--either one has its attraction. Of the two, Last Call is certainly the sleazy choice. It s a disturbing book, and so tightly plotted that you must pay attention from the first page. Don t be put off if it doesn t seem to make sense early. Trust me, it will.
Most Brilliant So Far! - Powers usual mixture of historical fact and mythology are tightly plotted around the descent of playing cards from the Tarot. I can t recommend this book more highly!