Baker's Dozen Challenge Book 7

For Another World I started the Wild Card series edited by George R. R. Martin. I LOVE the premise for this series. Right after WWII an alien virus is released on earth that is a total wild card. The infected will either draw the black queen (die), become deformed or mutated (jokers), or gain a power (aces). Sometimes it's hard to tell if someone is a joker or an ace. The uninfected or with a dormant strain are called nats or naturals.

I loved the grit and realism and darkness of these stories. The fate of the four aces and Tachyon (the lone alien who survived the trip and tried to stop the virus) is a very realistic portrayal of human nature and it's failures. It's disappointing but that's life especially during the McCarthy era. We also saw how people can become heroes with Stop Watch and Turtle so that was a nice boost. Ghost Girl brought some levity just trying to get through one bad night.

The stories here inspire disappointment, hope, disgust, and most other emotions you would expect if something like this happened in our world. The variety of powers and deformities was fascinating. The telepathic bartender with no eyes, the brain trust who had trouble with so many minds living in her head, the girl who stopped being human to cope with her pain.

My biggest problem was how long it took me to finish the book. It was a combination of being busy, being distracted, and 600 pages of fiction. I enjoyed almost everything I read but I was ready to be done. The appendix was a nice touch though. The 'nonfiction' scientific pieces helped add to the world and round out the main narrative.

The depravity and ugliness of the world didn't bother me but I can see where some parts may disturb others. It's not for the faint or heart but I went into it warned. If you like the premise and can handle some darkness, give this series a shot.

1) Another World – Wild Cards edited by George R. R. Martin (Wild Cards #1)

2) Learned Something –

3) Movie-Book – The Fault in Out Stars by John Green

4) Graphic Novel – Fanboys vs. Zombies Vol 1 by Sam Humphries

5) Dust –

6) Nonfiction –

7) Reread – Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (as read by Wil Wheaton)

8) Shorts – 20something Essays by 20something Writers edited by Matt Kellogg and Jillian Quint

9) Fiction – The Rosie Project by Graeme Simison

10) Shiny – Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay

11) Retelling –

12) Wild Card –

13) The End –

Music: Virus by Abney Park