Rating: 
Summary: Complex but worth the effort.
Review: I must start by saying that I am a fan of Tim Powers from way back and thus am somewhat biased..however this is Tim Powers most ambitous work to date and has turned what was two seperate novels (Expiration Date and Last Call) into a gripping trilogy. The amount of research that Mr.Powers must have carried our to write this book is staggering. Throw away references conceal what must have been weeks of research (such as the reference to the Serpent Rouge of France which raises it's head in Umberto Ecco's Faucaults pendulumn and the Holy blood- holy grail) are littered throughout. Although diffrent, this book must rival that of his other masterpiece "The Anubis Gates". I highly recomend this book but suggest that people read the other two books in this "series" first - or suffer the consequences. Great stuff Mr.Powers.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as much fun as Last Call, but still interesting!
Review: I picked this up, as a hardcover, thinking, "Hey, I liked Powers, I'll try him again." I didn't realize at the time that it was a sequel. I didn't know, until just recently, that this was the *3rd* book in the loose trilogy that started with "Last Call," which I loved, followed by "Expiration Date." Even having the background of having read "Last Call," I *still* found this book very hard to get into, and hard to follow, at the outset. It wasn't until well into it that things started making more sense. It was worth the wait, sure, but I did get frustrated at the beginning.On the whole, this focused less on Tarot (part of my initial interest in "Last Call"), and the Las Vegas mythos, having basically diverged into the mystical operations of the need for a new Fisher King. We see many of the same characters from "Last Call," but I'm not sure I like how they've 'grown up,' as this is set about 20 years later, as the cycle continues. I really need to read the 2nd book, I guess, to tie the two together, perhaps that's why I wasn't as thrilled by this book. My advice: READ THEM IN ORDER! Without the story background from the prior tales, I'm not sure how much fun/sense this would make for the first-time reader. I *did* enjoy the scenery in this tale, as I have with other of his works. From the California vineyards to the Winchester Mystery House, I had a good time thinking about the magic and mystery presented as plausible, and of how an unseen ghost world might continue to be all around us.
Rating:
Summary: Not as much fun as Last Call, but still interesting!
Review: I picked this up, as a hardcover, thinking, "Hey, I liked Powers, I'll try him again." I didn't realize at the time that it was a sequel. I didn't know, until just recently, that this was the *3rd* book in the loose trilogy that started with "Last Call," which I loved, followed by "Expiration Date." Even having the background of having read "Last Call," I *still* found this book very hard to get into, and hard to follow, at the outset. It wasn't until well into it that things started making more sense. It was worth the wait, sure, but I did get frustrated at the beginning. On the whole, this focused less on Tarot (part of my initial interest in "Last Call"), and the Las Vegas mythos, having basically diverged into the mystical operations of the need for a new Fisher King. We see many of the same characters from "Last Call," but I'm not sure I like how they've 'grown up,' as this is set about 20 years later, as the cycle continues. I really need to read the 2nd book, I guess, to tie the two together, perhaps that's why I wasn't as thrilled by this book. My advice: READ THEM IN ORDER! Without the story background from the prior tales, I'm not sure how much fun/sense this would make for the first-time reader. I *did* enjoy the scenery in this tale, as I have with other of his works. From the California vineyards to the Winchester Mystery House, I had a good time thinking about the magic and mystery presented as plausible, and of how an unseen ghost world might continue to be all around us.
Rating:
Summary: Not as much fun as Last Call, but still interesting!
Review: I picked this up, as a hardcover, thinking, "Hey, I liked Powers, I'll try him again." I didn't realize at the time that it was a sequel. I didn't know, until just recently, that this was the *3rd* book in the loose trilogy that started with "Last Call," which I loved, followed by "Expiration Date." Even having the background of having read "Last Call," I *still* found this book very hard to get into, and hard to follow, at the outset. It wasn't until well into it that things started making more sense. It was worth the wait, sure, but I did get frustrated at the beginning. On the whole, this focused less on Tarot (part of my initial interest in "Last Call"), and the Las Vegas mythos, having basically diverged into the mystical operations of the need for a new Fisher King. We see many of the same characters from "Last Call," but I'm not sure I like how they've 'grown up,' as this is set about 20 years later, as the cycle continues. I really need to read the 2nd book, I guess, to tie the two together, perhaps that's why I wasn't as thrilled by this book. My advice: READ THEM IN ORDER! Without the story background from the prior tales, I'm not sure how much fun/sense this would make for the first-time reader. I *did* enjoy the scenery in this tale, as I have with other of his works. From the California vineyards to the Winchester Mystery House, I had a good time thinking about the magic and mystery presented as plausible, and of how an unseen ghost world might continue to be all around us.
Rating:
Summary: Great book, if you have read his other works.
Review: I thought that Earthquake Weather was the best Powers' book since Anubis Gates, but first you have to read Last Call and Expiration Date. Mind you I'm not saying these are bad books it's just that you don't see how truly cool all the characters are until they all interact with each other in Earthquake Weather. As a book by it's self Earthquake Weather would not be good and by themselves Last Call and Expiration Date are good books but together with EW they become three GREAT books. A must read triology for any Powers fan
Rating: 
Summary: Maybe I should have been drunk to read this
Review: If you haven't read the first 2 novels in the series, don't even begin to attempt this one. "Last Call" and "Expiration Date" were all time classic novels, but this sequel was too complicated (even by Powers' standards) and slow moving for my liking. However, the story does have its moments, and wading through the book will have some rewards for fans of his previous novels.
Rating:
Summary: chaotic and difficult, he should have stopped with Last Call
Review: Last Call was a terrific book, Expiration Date was OK, Earthquake Weather disappointing. Powers has so many interesting ideas and follows his nose down many fascinating paths that I want to love all of his books. However, by the end of Earthquake Weather, I was bored with ghosts, the fisher king, tarot, psychiatry, bacchus and the whole bunch. This is a shame, since I have loved almost everything else I've read of his and any trouble I have had getting them has always been well worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Red, Red Wine.........
Review: Let me preface this by saying that I generally avoid reading fantasy. I've never read Lord Of The Rings and I bet I never will. But some fantasy will entertain my skeptical, scientific, hard-to-shut-off-the-BS-filters mind. Tim Powers' Fisher King trilogy is one such set of fantasy novels. First, there's Last Call, which introduces Scott Crane and future-telling poker hands. Second, there's Expiration Date, where the ghost of Thomas Edison leads Koot Hoomie Parganas through a hellish version of Los Angeles. The final book in this [as described by the author] loose trilogy is Earthquake Weather. What a wild ride! All of the important characters are back from the first two novels [which is why you should read those first - each of the first two can stand alone, but this one reads better if you know the backstory of the first two]. This novel introduces three (if the Janis character only constitutes one character) important new characters: Janis Plumtree, a person with multiple personalities and the murderer of Scott Crane, Fisher King of the American West; Dr. Armentrout, a psychiatrist in desperate need of healing himself and a frequent companion to Long John Beach [Sherman Oaks from Expiration Date]; and Sid 'Scant' Cochran, a recent widower with the mark of Dionysius on his hand. From various locations in southern California, the characters, both old and new, converge on San Francisco and the possible resurrection of Scott Crane. Be ready to hit the reference books; this novel requires knowledge about a wide range of things - all the way from Androcles to Zinfandel. Yes, the story can get confusing, even when you've read the first two novels. If I could give fractional ratings, this novel would rate more than 4 stars, but less than 5 stars. Even though they are not easy reads, Earthquake Weather and the preceding two novels are well worth the effort.
Rating:
Summary: Red, Red Wine.........
Review: Let me preface this by saying that I generally avoid reading fantasy. I've never read Lord Of The Rings and I bet I never will. But some fantasy will entertain my skeptical, scientific, hard-to-shut-off-the-BS-filters mind. Tim Powers' Fisher King trilogy is one such set of fantasy novels. First, there's Last Call, which introduces Scott Crane and future-telling poker hands. Second, there's Expiration Date, where the ghost of Thomas Edison leads Koot Hoomie Parganas through a hellish version of Los Angeles. The final book in this [as described by the author] loose trilogy is Earthquake Weather. What a wild ride! All of the important characters are back from the first two novels [which is why you should read those first - each of the first two can stand alone, but this one reads better if you know the backstory of the first two]. This novel introduces three (if the Janis character only constitutes one character) important new characters: Janis Plumtree, a person with multiple personalities and the murderer of Scott Crane, Fisher King of the American West; Dr. Armentrout, a psychiatrist in desperate need of healing himself and a frequent companion to Long John Beach [Sherman Oaks from Expiration Date]; and Sid 'Scant' Cochran, a recent widower with the mark of Dionysius on his hand. From various locations in southern California, the characters, both old and new, converge on San Francisco and the possible resurrection of Scott Crane. Be ready to hit the reference books; this novel requires knowledge about a wide range of things - all the way from Androcles to Zinfandel. Yes, the story can get confusing, even when you've read the first two novels. If I could give fractional ratings, this novel would rate more than 4 stars, but less than 5 stars. Even though they are not easy reads, Earthquake Weather and the preceding two novels are well worth the effort.
Rating:
Summary: It's Averaging only 3 1/2 Stars?!?
Review: Ok, to read Earthquake Weather, it helps to have 1) read Last Call and Expiration Date; 2) a pretty thorough acquaintance with magic and esoteric societies of the last couple centuries; and 3) taken Crank Lit 101. On the other hand, if you've done none of the above, read it anyway. None of what Powers is telling you is incidental, or just showing off. Pay attention! If he tells you about Mammy Pleasants, it's for a reason. What's more, he usually gets it right. Each of these references makes the story deeper; none of it is just to show off. I discovered Powers back in the early '80s, which means I'm not one of the early true believers, but I've gotten every single thing he's written and kept it, even when it's had to be taped back together. Maybe Earthquake Weather isn't the hottest thing; maybe his characterizations are not that believable, but who cares? Just get out there and buy all his books, including Earthquake. You will not regret it.
|
