|
-
Hivemind social net
-
News
- Features
- Blogs
- Events
Calendar
- Editorials
- Monthly
Zine
- Offworld
Report
- Our Daily
RSS Feed
- Google Toolbar scifi
- Movie/TV
Reviews
> Recent movies
> Movies by year
> Movies by title
- Book
Reviews
> Recent books
> Books by year
> Books by title
- Home
- Worlds
- Biography
- Bibliography
- Appearances
- Reviews
- Blog
- Community
- Press
- Links
Become
an Advertiser
- Web
Site Directory
- Search
the Net
- StephenHunt.net
- WoodenRocket.com
- Check
your E-mail
- Non Sci-Fi
News
|
The Down Home Zombie Blues by Linnea Sinclair
01/12/2007 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Bantam Spectra. 516 page paperback. Price: $ 6.99 (US), $ 9.99 (CAN). ISBN: 978-0-553-58964-1. Buy The Down Home Zombie Blues in the USA - or Buy The Down Home Zombie Blues in the UK  check out websites: www.bantamdell.com and www.linneasinclair.com
Linnea Sinclair has made a marked departure with this book. Not so much into the far-flung future but more modern day. In fact, she doesn't really explain much about what is going on until some two hundred pages in. We know aliens have come to Earth fighting a menace, just not why.
The Earth is unknowingly playing host to tentacled creatures called Zombies which are being grown here by the Tresh. Galactic Guardians which are a military unit are sent in to sort things out, get in a serious pickle and helped by Florida detective Theo Petrakos. As they need his help and don't trust nils, what they call humans, he's given a potentially explosive implant in his shoulder. He has to help covertly and the team leader, Jorie Mikkalah becomes his house-mate as they set up their terrestrial operation. When her mothership goes missing and most of her team, a more friendly alliance develops.
Oddly enough, the romantic side of this book is vastly minimised compared to Sinclair's previous books. If anything, it's the impression of these 'Zombie' aliens that doesn't really sink in. Whether its because of the name or not really being given a strong enough impression if what they look like I'm not sure. I have a suspicion that Sinclair came up with the title and wanted to keep it. Certainly, the inflection and the noted research for 'Blues' to mean police than something downbeat, although that can also be implied might have something to do with it.
With contemporary reference and a female alien out of...well, space more than water, getting used to some things on Earth the story does have things going for it on different levels. If anything, Sinclair's main weakness lies with multi-character action but considering she's a character writer initially and shows she's capable of developing, I'm sure this will be resolved in future books. If you're developing a taste for Linnea Sinclair's fiction and in a rare thing, not set on any one reality or series, then you'll be adding to your collection. If you feel a little uneasy with the sub-genre of 'Romantic SF' then be assured there's little romance here.
GF Willmetts
|
|
