Caitlin Kiernan’s Black Helicopters is an expansion of her 2014 World Fantasy Award Best Novella of the same title. The story of an “event” that kills thousands of people (and might be the harbinger of something much Worse) appears in a series of chapters from different time-lines. The story shifts from the near Present to the Past to a couple of hundred years into the Future to back to the near Present. Much of what is going on is mysterious (at least to me). Agents from secret agencies duel in the back alleys of Dublin. Strange characters with telekinetic powers send the story careening toward the growing Darkness. Caitlin Kiernan has always been an atmospheric writer. Black Helicopters might be her moodiest book yet by far. GRADE: B
I read the original version and have to say I didn’t have a clue to what was going on half the time. I found it very confusing. Not sure if it was just me.
Steve, Caitlin Kiernan specializes in confusion. All the jumping back and forth in Time adds to the chaos.
OK, if you guys are both confused, maybe Ill read something I can understand instead!
Jeff, there’s a lot going on in BLACK HELICOPTERS and AGENTS OF DREAMLAND. But, I’m guessing it will take a couple more Caitlin Kiernan books before events come into focus.
Nothing more frustrating that not being able to make sense of a book. And more often lately it also happens in a movie. I would like the author to explain it and am betting they can’t either.
Patti, I’m convinced that these confusing books and movies are part of a marketing strategy.
Confusing, with lots of time shifts? No, thank you.
Rick, I found the time-shifts intriguing. Clearly, the plot of the “event” extends into the Past as well as the Future. But, the details are murky.
You may not recall from the APA.days, but books with time shifts, lots of flashbacks, etc. are very much not to my liking.
Rick, books with time-shifts and flashbacks can be bewildering.
Nope! I like linear stories!
Bob, I prefer linear stories, too, but I’m will to take a chance on Something Different every once in a while.
Me too!
Bob, Me too!
I tried reading some “new SF” a few years ago but it didn’t connect with me – so I went back to the older books that I hadn’t read yet…
Seems I’ve really grown old!
And a novel that doesn’t make sense (as you all describe it) – not for me!
Wolf, I wonder about the strategy of deliberately confusing the Reader. I’m seeing more and more contemporary writers restoring to that kind of story-telling.