Carrie Vaughn’s The Wild Dead, a sequel to Bannerless (you can read my review here), concerns a mystery and a murder. Set in the future after economic and environmental collapse, the survivors on the Coast Road practice a disciplined existence. Investigators Enid of Haven and her new partner, Teeg, initially resolve a community problem over an ancient structure. But then the body of a young girl is found with her throat cut. The girl isn’t part of the community, she’s from one of the outsider camps made up of nomads and “wild folk” who reject the strictures of the Coast Road communities. Enid finds clues and follows leads to solve the crime. The Wild Dead is a traditional whodunit set in a dystopian future. I thought it took Enid a little too long to find the murderer. I figured it out 50 pages before she did. GRADE: B
She started out writing urban/romantic fantasy so she has never been a name to attract me to read one of her books. This doesn’t sound like a must read for me.
Steve, I have a collection of Carrie Vaughn’s short stories on my Read Real Soon stack.
I sort of liked the first one (though I wish she’d write a sequel to MARTIANS ABROAD), so reserved the ebook version from the library.
Jeff, I’m waiting for a sequel to MARTIANS ABOARD, too. THE WILD DEAD was a step back from BANNERLESS.
I had no idea about the combo of mystery/dystopia. The later doesn’t appeal to me much.
Patti, there’s crime in the ruins of Civilization, too.
We’ll be leaving for Bouchercon in a half hour or so. I’m hoping by the time we get back this heat will be over.
Have a good week, everyone. Back next Tuesday.
Jeff, have a safe trip! Say “Hi!” to everybody for us.
I spent The morning at the DMV, since it’s time to renew my driver’s license. Jolly good fun. Then to the library to return 4 books and pick up 3 others. Going to be 90 today, and wildfire smoke is blowing in. I hope you have a good day, and a good time at B’con.
This dystopia sounds to me like it had been invented 50 or 60 years ago.
During the cold war this was a standard background – civilisation as we know it is destroyed, life goes on at a more or less primitive level.
Most books based on that premise I found boring, just a few were well written imho.
Wolf, tons of SF stories in the 1950s–when World War III looked like a probable event–dealt with the aftermath of a destroyed Civilization. Here’s a handy list of dystopian novels: https://www.shortlist.com/news/20-best-dystopian-novels/43969
I’m not a fan of dystopian fiction.
Rick, dystopian fiction sells Big Time. I’m sure THE WILD DEAD will find a receptive audience.