Books: The Art of Prophecy (The War Arts Saga) By Wesley Chu (2022)

 

“It has been foretold: A child will rise to defeat the Eternal Khan, a cruel immortal god-king, and save the kingdom. The hero: Jian, who has been raised since birth in luxury and splendor, celebrated before he has won a single battle. But the prophecy was wrong. Because when Taishi, the greatest war artist of her generation, arrives to evaluate the prophesied hero, she finds a spoiled brat unprepared to face his destiny. But the only force more powerful than fate is Taishi herself. Possessed of an iron will, a sharp tongue—and an unexpectedly soft heart—Taishi will find a way to forge Jian into the weapon and leader he needs to be in order to fulfill his legend. What follows is a journey more wondrous than any prophecy can foresee: a story of master and student, assassin and revolutionary, of fallen gods and broken prophecies, and of a war between kingdoms, and love and friendship between deadly rivals.”

The Art of Prophecy is squarely directed at fans of kung fu, wuxia, and wire-fu fans who love Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero, The Legend of Drunken Master, Kung Fu Hustle, and other aspects of that genre. Here Wesley Chu offers an ambitious new series that reminded me why I liked his Tao series so much; though here, he takes a step up into full on epic with this first volume. Much like his earlier work, what makes The War Arts Saga work are his decades-long training as a martial artist and occasional stuntman. This means his set pieces are easy to understand, the fight sequences believable, and story easy to follow.

The novel is also dominated by women, all who are very well defined and three dimensional. Ling Taishi is Chu’s best character, smart, sharp-tongued, hilarious, and wise. The fact she does what she does with only one arm is amazing. Both Salminde –who’s world has come to end with the failure of the prophecy- and shadow assassin Maza Qisami come on strong as well.

I will say I did struggle with to stay invested with characters, especially when Jian and Taishi become separated and spend a year apart from each other. I will also say that this may not have anything to do with the book –I just fell into a funk (and was not feeling 100% as well, either) and found TV (watching the Disney + docuseries on Industrial Light and Magic) and my phone more interesting. So It did take me much longer to finish this book than I normally take.

And like some trilogies, the writer’s world building sometimes can slow the narrative momentum down a bit, mostly by focusing on secondary characters and their problems. There is also a lot to keep straight here, a lot of new characters (with big, ambitious titles) to keep an eye on. But that said, The Art of Prophecy is action-packed, often snarky and absurd and you appreciate Wesley Chu’s attempt to put a fresh spin on the Chosen One trope.  

Books: Daredevils, Ltd. The Exchameleon By Ron Goulart (1987)

 

"Ben Jolson, a former member of the galactic Chameleon Corps, doesn’t want to be a private investigator –he much rather stay home and run his quiet antiques business. But fellow PI Lou Killdozer gets himself killed on the biggest hellhole planet in the galaxy; it’s up to Ben to investigate. For Ben can look like anything –and that’s helpful on a world of catmen, toadmen, gollrilla men and luminous squirrels. But what starts as a routine security case soon turns ugly, with a mysterious red-haired man who is systematically cutting down the top executives of the fabulously profitable Plazhartz Corporation. But the only Ben can get his killer is to pose as the next victim..." 

The prolific Ron Goulart returned to the Ben Jolson character he first created for his 1968 debut novel, The Sword Swallower (which continued with The Chameleon Corps and Other Shape Changers in 1974, and Flux, also 1974). Those books (and the many books that would follow) are set in a vast, space-opera universe known as the Barnum System (with this late 1980s series, he also folded in his Hellquad universe), a galaxy that is a bit helter-skelter, crazed and balkanized. The planets of this system, where the Corps originates and operates, are populated in large part by traditional comic stereotypes, most which are deftly drawn.

It’s an absurdist science fiction mystery, almost noir at certain points. As well, the book follows the same basic premise and formula as many of his previous books, but he keeps the chuckles and smirks coming so swiftly that it's hard to notice unless you stop and really think about it.

I originally read this series back when they were released, but lost them along the way. I got them back through Thrift Books. The funny part, I don’t remember anything about them. Still, it’s enjoyable, if more toned down than some of his earlier books.

Books: Doctor Who: The Murder Game (1997)

 

“It is the year 2146 (actually, 2136. The early BBC Books were notorious for their typos, so this clearly one of them). Answering a distress call from the dilapidated Hotel Galaxian, the TARDIS crew discover a games enthusiast is using the hotel to host a murder-mystery weekend. But then it seems that someone is taking the games too seriously -and then there is a sinister force waiting out in space.”

One of the treats of The Murder Game is seeing Ben Jackson and Polly Wright (though never given a surname in the TV series, but writer Gary Russell is credited with giving her that last name in an earlier book) together. The War Machines is the only serial that still exists with them in it, and it’s their introductory one at that. So it was great to explore more of their characters, sort of expand them beyond what we’ve only read on the novelizations of those missing episodes.  Here they also show some stronger feelings for each other, which seems to be something added for the more modern audience of 1997.

The tale is alright, the murder mystery game becomes less important as the book goes along. It could be a tale made during the mid-1960s, as well, but with more action and more violence. There are a few funny bits, mostly dealing with the Doctor dressing up in drag (if only because it’s so unexpected), but overall the book is just fine entertainment. 

This book also introduced the Selachians, aquatic creatures who mutilate themselves to fit into suits that have shark faces painted on them for intimidation. They look a bit like pink dolphins inside and collect advanced weapons to wage war against air-breathers (or the "planktons"). They would only appear one more time in these original books, in Lyons The Final Sanction (though he mentioned them in passing when the Sixth Doctor faced the Cybermen in Killing Ground). The author gives them a complex background that certainly does not justify their murderous ways, but gives them more dimensions than most villains on the TV series are depicted or even in these original novels.

Book: Whispers Underground By Ben Arronovitch (2012)

"It begins with a dead body at the far end of Baker Street tube station, all that remains of American exchange student James Gallagher—and the victim’s wealthy, politically powerful family is understandably eager to get to the bottom of the gruesome murder. The trouble is, the bottom—if it exists at all—is deeper and more unnatural than anyone suspects . . . except, that is, for London constable and sorcerer’s apprentice Peter Grant. With Inspector Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, tied up in the hunt for the rogue magician known as “the Faceless Man,” it’s up to Peter to plumb the haunted depths of the oldest, largest, and—as of now—deadliest subway system in the world. At least he won’t be alone. No, the FBI has sent over a crack agent to help. She’s young, ambitious, beautiful . . . and a born-again Christian apt to view any magic as the work of the devil. Oh yeah—that’s going to go well." 

With the third book in this Rivers of London (or Peter Grant) series, Ben Aaronvitch continues to explore the magical world that exists –mostly unnoticed- in the United Kingdom. Yes, it can be a dull procedural that mixes in Harry Potter magic (something that gets dropped a lot here), but Peter remains a witty, droll apprentice wizard and cop. Aaronovitch’s love of history is also on display, as well as his wry observation on the architecture of London. While the tales starts with a murder –the son of an American senator- most of the novel is about the what exits under the streets of London, where Aaronovitch can expand his universe by taking on fables, with a nod to the Linda Hamilton/Ron Pearlman TV series Beauty and the Beast, The Lord of the Rings, and other fantasy tales that include fairies, trolls, goblins, and even an earth bender. Whispers Underground also as the world of art, graffitist, the Underground, Raves, Portobello Road markets,  the history of the urbanization of London, and hints at Chinese sorcery to the mix. I was also pleasantly surprised to see the lone FBI agent not become an American caricature, here. She is intelligent and capable of handling herself, including the idea that magic exists. The whole Christian part is barely acknowledged. 

Much like Peter Grant, though, who’s lack of focus as a wizard-in-training, can be distracting, Aaronovitch does go off on tangents which can appear to slow the story down. I mean, in the end, the murder of an American student becomes less and less important as the story progresses. Still, I enjoyed it and will probably now continue to read the six other books currently in the series in the months ahead.