Sean Murphy (6)

Imagine Jasper Fforde writing a contemporary version of 1984 and you get the basic idea of The Time of New Weather. Murphy creates a sometimes bizarre/sometimes eerily familiar version of an era when America is purchased by an all powerful, all knowing corporation, the president is replaced by a CEO, and the newly managed country/company begins a policy of purchasing weaker governments and battling the others in their bid to take over Antarctica. All of this takes place against a backdrop of inconsistent gravitational pull, upside down rainbows, heat waves which cause icy chills, and time anomalies which introduce the Spanish Armada, Roman Centurians and Aztec warriors into modern day conflicts.

But sanity (or some semblance thereof) is within reach when Buddy’s Freaks and Rhonda’s Geeks join forces with the deposed President, a Hubcap Ranch King, and the Elvis Loving/BeeHive Wearing manager of the What-a-Weenie franchise and her group of octogenarian activists.

Admittedly, this is not a common genre for me, and I only read it as part of a library challenge program, but I’m glad I took it on. At times the writing was fully engrossing and I couldn’t put it down, but there were more than a few moments where the sheer scope of the satire and the subtle/not so subtle references to contemporary society left me needing a breather. Overall, a worthwhile read for those willing to tackle a new reality.… (meer)