Audible Book Review: World Made By Hand, Book 1, by James Howard Kunstler

This is the first book in an interesting character driven dystopian series.
World Made by Hand: The World Made by Hand Novels, Book 1
By: James Howard Kunstler
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

Series: World Made By Hand, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
Release date: 08-23-10
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Dystopian, Sci Fi, Speculative Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
In The Long Emergency, celebrated social commentator James Howard Kunstler explored how the terminal decline of oil production combined with climate change had the potential to put industrial civilization out of business. In World Made by Hand, an astonishing work of speculative fiction, Kunstler brings to life what America might be, a few decades hence, after these catastrophes converge.
The electricity has flickered out. The automobile age is over. In Union Grove, a little town in upstate New York, the future is nothing like people thought it would be. Life is hard and close to the bone. Transportation is slow and dangerous, so food is grown locally at great expense of time and energy, and the outside world is largely unknown. There may be a president, and he may be in Minneapolis now, but people aren’t sure. The townspeople’s challenges play out in a dazzling, fully realized world of abandoned highways and empty houses, horses working the fields and rivers, no longer polluted, and replenished with fish.
This is the story of Robert Earle and his fellow townspeople and what happens to them one summer in a country that has changed profoundly. A powerful tale of love, loss, violence, and desperation, World Made by Hand is also lyrical and tender, a surprising story of a new America struggling to be born - a story more relevant now than ever.
©2008 James Howard Kunstler (P)2010 Blackstone Audiobooks

Review:
Robert Earle is old enough to remember life before technology started to fail and bombs eliminated live as known in the 21st century. Now there is only limited electric power, food is grown locally, transportation is mostly horse and cart or walking, and life is generally hard. Robert lost his wife and daughter to illness in a two year period. Five years later his nineteen-year-old son took off to find out what was left of the world. There are no phones or mail service to stay in touch. It is enough of a struggle to get clean water and barter for supplies without running into violence.

Robert goes on a trade run to the local ‘trading post’ (think a dump taken over by a gang). He ran into a young man, Sean, who is there with his dog. Since the guard won’t allow Sean in with the dog, Robert agrees to pick up Sean’s list. But before the transactions are complete, gun shots are heard and Robert returns to the entrance to find Sean and his dog shot to death. Although the guard claims self-defense, clearly there is a problem with the trading gang but there is no one in town to investigate, arrest or pursue the murder. There is a Chief of Police/Sheriff but he said he “wouldn’t serve if elected” and has continued to drink and live up to that promise.

A new religious group, consisting of 70 or so members led by Brother Jobe, has arrived in town. Brother Jobe is prepared to push for more control in the community. Soon, at a duly called town meeting, the existing, do-nothing mayor is fired, and Robert is elected as the new mayor. Robert’s friend, Loren, the existing Pastor, is elected to replace the Chief of Police. Robert and Loren are at least willing to take their positions seriously but before they take up their tasks, Robert is asked to join a rescue team to travel down the river to find a boat of local men who took trade goods to another city. They do manage to find the men but retrieving them ends in violence.

When the team returns with the men, there is a celebration. While most of the community attends the festival, the trader gang members travel through town apparently looting and intimidating people who remained in their homes. One of those intimidated is Sean’s widow who has moved in as Robert’s housekeeper after her house burned down.

Robert and Loren have a jailed prepared. They arrest Brother Jobe for shaving people without consent. Then they attempt to arrest the trading gang leader which ends in a violent confrontation. The town situation is changing and Robert, Loren, Brother Job and the others have to juggle to find their way in this strange new life.

This dystopian story focuses on personal and relational issues as the survivors struggle to continue life and find an acceptable level of community. I wasn’t thrilled by the female characters who are given lesser roles bordering on sex objects. The descriptions are lyrical at times and I liked the title phrase. I found the overall story interesting if not totally compelling. I do have the next three books and plan to continue to listen over the next few months.

Audio Notes: Jim Meskimen is a new-to-me narrator and I think he does a good job. His voice seems to fit Robert and he gives appropriate accent and energy to the characters. The audio enhanced my engagement in the story.

Source: Audible Plus Catalog December 2020. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook and 2021Alphabet goals.

Book Review: Joy to the Worlds: Mysterious Speculative Fiction for the Holidays by Four Authors

This is an engaging collection with mystery, time travel, humor and some creepiness!

Joy to the Worlds: Mysterious Speculative Fiction for the Holidays

by Maia Chance , Janine A. Southard, Raven Oak,G. Clemans

File Size: 3951 KB
Print Length: 298 pages

Publisher: Grey Sun Press (November 26, 2015)
ASIN: B014RK5UX0
Genre: Speculative Fiction
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

What do you get when you mix mystery and speculative fiction, then toss in the holidays for good measure? A mobster Santa, genetic hanky-panky, Victorian villages, time-travelling detectives, Krampus, eerie bell spirits, and more–this collection of short cross-genre fiction is the perfect counterpoint to traditional holiday reading!

This collection stars four authors, each with their own distinct style. National bestselling mystery author Maia Chance, who is famous for her cozy mysteries, dazzles with humor and folklore. IPPY award-winning science fiction author Janine A. Southard beguiles with unexpected time-travel science. Science fiction and fantasy bestseller Raven Oak offers a look into the gothic past. And for a whole new perspective, debut fiction author and art expert G. Clemans dives into the intersections of creativity and mystery.

Joy to the Worlds brings together eight short works that explore mysteries across time and space. Ranging from dark dystopian worlds to comedic retro-futures, four diverse writers find new ways to combine these disparate worlds into something everyone will enjoy.

Review:
This is an engaging collection although more dark than light. There are elements of Christmas, particularly folklore connections, but I think this need not be limited to holiday season reading. I liked meeting the new authors through two short stories each which gave me a good feel for their writing styles. I am inclined to look for longer works by a couple of the authors.

Wild Hunt by Janine A. Southard - my rating 4.25
Tyson Wallenstein is a preternatural (dead man) trying to prove his right to be part of the Wild Hunt. The hunt group, who are known as the best detectives…when not devouring miscreant souls… are out with King Herla trying to capture wayward pixies. Tyson is distracted by a local murder investigation while the Hunt continues on the original search. Tyson must prove his sleuthing expertise if he hopes to rise in the Hunt and gain his own hound dog.

The story has a nice writing flow with good description and well developed mystery. I enjoyed the humor that made the dead huntsman engaging.

Escape from Yorktown by G. Clemans - my rating 4.0
Lizzy is a teenager living in a galactic, live museum. Victorian Yorktown is a tourist town on an isolated planet where the inhabitants are stuck as full time reenactment characters. Lizzy is frustrated by her isolation but her mother is the Old Yorktown manager. Lizzy’a life gets excitement from an unplanned visit from J.D., the teenage son of the President of the Galaxy. He has slipped his security team but his father declares that he has been kidnapped. As Lizzy and her friend Cab try to hide J.D., they begin to run into bizarre clues that point to rebellion and conspiracy. J.D. may be in danger from threats but the biggest threat may be closer to home than anyone realizes.

This story is light with YA elements. I did enjoy the puzzle features that the youths unraveled. There were secrets but not a lot of awe in this piece.

Odysseus Flax & The Krampus by Maia Chance - my rating 4.25
This bit of darkness features a Krampus, a judgmental demon character who comes out on Christmas eve to capture bad boys or girls in his basket. The protagonist, Odysseus Flax, is an unlikely hero. His occupation is stealing from criminals. He inadvertently got off the train at the wrong station and finds himself the framed first for robbery, then kidnapping and worse. Odysseus has to hunt down the real Krampus if he wants to save his own reputation… and neck.

What I noted most in this story was the author’s wonderful ability at storytelling. It reminded me of a good ghost tale told in the dark around a campfire. There is a unique, steampunk element of surprise that caps the ending.


Ol’ St. Nick by Raven Oak - my rating 4.25
This is a version of the murder in a locked room. It is set on a spaceship and the victim is a mobster traveling under the alias of St. Nick. The dead man’s name really is Nick and he is the estranged father of the Captain of the crew who is taking the abandoned ship as salvage. Since the murder occurred after the crew boarded the disabled craft, everyone is suspect until they can be eliminated.

In addition to the mystery the story dealt with some prejudices, pitting the crew members against each other. The story also laughs at some holiday myths. I liked the space setting, the fast paced mystery and the alien crew member.

Bevel & Turn by G. Clemans - my rating 4.25
Anyone who has ever had or seen a Christmas whirligig (spinning angels or characters propelled by the candle heat) will enjoy this story built on wood crafting and a curse. Georgia comes from a long family line of wood crafters. Unfortunately many of her ancestors suffered serious accidents from their craft. Georgia’s parents seemed to have escaped the craftsman’s curse and they are hoping Georgia will too. However Georgia’s beloved Aunt and the prized three-tiered Christmas tower have disappeared and Georgia is obsessed with building a new whirligig in shop class. A new boy in class, Caleb, steps up to help Georgia finish her special project before winter break. Together they make a macabre discovery about the whirligig and the curse in Georgia’s family.

I enjoyed the time traveling element and the German history peppered through the story. The folk tale and history features show good research used to create a new tale.

Death Node by Janine A. Southard - my rating 4.25
This tale takes the reader on a time warp where alternate realities occur … either in spite of, or because of the time travel. The chapters jump between different times, past and present, as Marie Postrel, fulfills a mission to travel back in time. At first the style was a bit confusing but once I realized the author was presenting different time scenarios it became quite intriguing. It isn’t quite clear if Marie is to keep the directive of observation only or if she is being sent to proactively impact the people in the past in an effort to change the future. And perhaps the purpose changes with the timeline. I felt there were obvious clues that the reader gets but the time traveler misses. The ending is not the result I would have wished for but it makes for an engaging story.

The Ringers by Raven Oak - my rating 4.75
This is a story with a different tradition of bells and death, and fresh and twisted magic. The Ringers are soul eating wraiths that roam the town of Dekwood five nights before the Yule. The town people are oppressed and defeated in their daily drudgery with little hope of escape or change.
Elise is a fourteen year old girl hoping to enter the Acadame to study magic. Her father has always worked hard to set aside funds to support her efforts but now they have fallen on hard times. They move to Dekwood where magic is forbidden but Elise is not willing to settle for the depressing surroundings. When a friend who tries to help her disappears, Elise is even more determined to uncover the dark magic that is killing the community.

The story is creepy in a fascinating way. The plotting is precise and the story well-told. Even with the dark magic the author’s wonderfully creative imagination is revealed.


Mr. And Mrs. Mistletoe by Maia Chance - my rating 4.0
This story is a retro-future tale set in the 1950s that uses a theme along the line of The Stepford Wives. The local doctor tries to convince the spinster librarian, Miss Pynne, that she needs to find a mate. He reels her into an elaborate scheme by asking her to hunt down the missing Mistletoe Trophy. As she interviews the winners and scheduled contestants she begins to see several motives and bizarre likenesses in children of similar ages.

This is a bit funny crazy as well as creepy. I really liked the creative world of hover pads, Hooverpets and Robarmaids.

I received this title through NetGalley for an honest review. It is part of my NetGalley Challenge