FACT SF Reading Group

January 2010

January 4: Shambling towards Hiroshima by James Morrow

Eleven people attended this discussion at the North Village Library. Our topic, a short novel by James Morrow, is a secret history about a weapons project conducted by the US Navy during World War II. While the Army was busy researching atomic bombs, the Navy was working on giant monsters to fight the Japanese enemy.  And a host of people from the American film industry were recruited to help them with their task.  Six of us had read Morrow before. All of us started and finished Shambling towards Hiroshima.

Several of us loved the idea of the Naval Giant Monster project. One person said the fantastic element worked for her, and activated her sense of wonder. Another commented that the story was oddly believable in a subversive way. The author played the story straight, which we agreed was the right strategy. We liked the cover, which fit the outrageous story.

Many of us enjoyed and “geeked out” at the Hollywood elements of the story. James Whale’s involvement moved the many of us who’d seen Gods and Monsters.  The intermingling of real and fictional film industry professionals worked.  The depiction of professional jealousy among rivals was particularly effective, and ended up being a strong driving force for the story.

We felt the book’s protagonist, actor/writer Syms Thorley, was a strong and engaging character. One person said his humanity was what drew her into the story. Another liked Syms’s description of his affection for smart women.

In general we felt that Morrow’s writing style was breezy, engaging, and easy to read. Several commented that the book was a “quick read.”

A handful of people in the group were longtime Morrow fans, and we enjoyed the book immensely. We delighted in his approach to satire, the clever writing, and the sly observations.

A few of us felt that the light tone of the Hollywood elements did not mesh well with the book’s serious messages about nuclear war, particularly near the end. One member said this felt like two books: a fun one he liked, followed by a preachy one he did not like.

Two members of the group did not enjoy the book much at all. They were not interested in the film industry, and commented that the book felt like a bunch of name-dropping that they did not understand. They also felt the diverse elements of the story just did not come together well.

A few of us complimented the research Morrow must have done in writing the book. One person was fascinated by the letters between Truman and Hiroshima.

Near the end, we talked about World War II and what it meant to us and our older relatives.

After the discussion, several of us had a nice dinner at Fuddrucker’s.

January 19: Thirteen Orphans by Jane Lindskold

Appropriately, thirteen people attended this meeting at the Milwood Library. Our topic was Thirteen Orphans, a tale of Asian magic unleashed in the American Southwest. Three of us had read Lindskold before. All of us started the book, and ten finished it.

We all appreciated this book’s new magic system, based on mahjongg. We hadn’t seen it used before in fantasy, and we appreciated how the author had researched the game and incorporated it so well into the story.

One person liked the element of immigrants adapting their culture to their new home in America. He thought the loss of interest and knowledge in the old traditions by the third generation was realistic. He also felt the story had a good mix of younger and older characters.

We liked several of the book’s major characters. Pearl Bright, an elderly woman, was a particularly favorite. Others enjoyed Brenda, a young viewpoint character, and wanted to know more about her.

In general we found this book to be well written and flowed well.  One reader noted that the author did a good job of holding back who the main character was.

We had mixed opinions on the pacing of the book. A few people felt that the story started too slowly and did not get moving until the last hundred pages. The rest were content with the pacing and story development. One mahjongg fan in our group felt that a leisurely pace was appropriate for a leisurely game. Another got so involved with the story that when he got to this book’s cliffhanger ending, he rushed out and read its sequel.

Some of us weren’t sure of the book’s intended audience. A few of us felt that Brenda’s teen angst and the limited number of character made it feel like a Young Adult novel. Others, particularly those who’d read later books in the series, felt that it was intended for adults.

One person in our group simply had a less satisfying experience than the rest of us. He said he wished he’d read the book that others had described. He found the author’s prose style was inconsistent and just did not mesh well with his reading style. He felt there was an interesting story in the book, but it was too hard for him to find.

Another member of the group simply loved the book. She read it straight through in one holiday weekend. She was glad the story downplayed the romance element. She loved the new magic system. She found it interesting that the opposing forces did not want to kill each other, but just take their powers. She found the book thoroughly entertaining and plans to read the next installment.

After the meeting, many of us had a nice dinner at Opal Divine’s.

--A.T. Campbell, III