Robin Sloan gives a head-fake to The Maltese Falcon early on in Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, but the book has more in common with an Agatha Christie mystery. Clay Jannon, an out-of-work web site designer, desperate to pay his bills, takes a job as a clerk at the strange Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. Clay discovers that the front of the store with regular books is just a cover for the bizarre books located high on the shelves. Those books are borrowed by a cult of readers who seek…well, that would be telling. Secret cults, codes, a cute GOOGLE genius girl, a friend who builds sets for Industrial Light & Magic, and another friend who owns a software company that specializes in graphical depictions of one specific body part are just some of the strange elements in this remarkable book. If you put Agatha Christie and Philip K. Dick in a blender, you’d get Robin Sloan. Check out Robin Sloan reading Chapter One below. GRADE: B+
Waiting for my turn at the library. Looks like fun.
I’ll be interested in your reaction to this book, Patti. I think it will be more fun for male readers than female readers.
I started this one yesterday. So far, so good.
Your reaction might differ from mine, Bill.
This one is definitely on my list. And speaking of starting books yesterday, let me second Bill’s recent recommendation of Matt Ruff’s BAD MONKEYS.
Great stuff!
BAD MONKEYS is on my list, Jeff.
Sounds like it could be interesting. I just don’t know how everyone reads so dang many books…
I can’t speak for the others, but I don’t watch much TV, Rick. And I don’t use Twitter or Facebook. I don’t own a cell phone so I’m not texting constantly like my students. There’s plenty of time for reading if you avoid those Time Traps.
I never text. And I don’t tweet or FB either.
Me either, Jeff and George, though I do have a cell phone now, it’s just for away from home contact with Barbara. Heck, I don’t even know the number. I do read a lot, but not as fast as either of you.
I also don’t do any yard work (which I loathe). We hire people to do that manual stuff.
I waste too much time online.
You’re right about the Internet being a Time Trap, Jeff. I have to limit my time or I’d be a hopeless addict. Glad you Reserved the book!
OK, reserved it.