Equimedian
- Alvaro Zinos-Amaro's debut novel where science fiction and the love
of science fiction play a central role. Oh, yes, dozens of science
fiction authors, science fiction novels, science fiction mags are
referenced throughout – among their number: The Lathe of Heaven, Crash, Moderan, The Stars My Destination, Behold the Man, More Than Human, The Iron Dream. This to say, if you're an avid fan of science fiction, Equimedian is your book, really and truly your book.
However,
even if you don't necessarily consider yourself a big science fiction
fan, don't be put off. There's a lot to like about Equimedian, especially if you're drawn to anything associated with a Philip K Dick-ish shifting of reality a la the neo-noir film, Memento.
And
since there's so much happening and the reality shifts are, well, best
discovered while turning the pages, I'll cut to a list of several Equimedian bullets in the hope you will be sufficiently enticed to give this fine novel a whirl.
Collector
Gone Crazy – Jason Velez, age thirty-eight and living in NYC in 1979
with roommate, Leon, is the tale's narrator and central character. Leon
urges Jason to deal with his science fiction collection that takes up
nearly all the space in Jason's bedroom. It appears to be a losing
proposition. Jason recognizes he should cut back but following just one
used bookstore visit, Jason counts his purchases: seventy-two
paperbacks, six hardcovers, along with forty-three back issues of rare
magazines.
Dreams - Jason has a night of bizarre dreams. “My
room evaporators and I float in a black space. I hover, suspended in
both time and free-fall. Then I tumble down and all the blood rushes to
my face....Dream gravity has temporarily overpowered real gravity, and
I'm completely in its grip....I've never experienced dreams this real
before. They were Lathe-of-Heaven intense.” I includes the last
part of this quote to underscore that Jason continually thinks in terms
of all the science fiction he has read, which gives this novel a
distinct charm.
Creepy Company – Very much like your local cable
guy, Jason installs EmuX units in people's homes and apartments for a
company named Codis. What exactly is an EmuX unit? It's not quite clear
but they seem to provide the user with a pleasurable virtual reality.
Since the year is 1979, we're talking alternate history here.
High-Tech
World – Although it's 1979, Jason reports on his day-to-day experiences
using and observing things like video phones and teleboxes which
facilitate mind-to-mind communication. At one point, Jason listens to an
old acquaintance telling him that “mutational narrative is the next big
thing. A whole new art form that will make novels obsolete.” Sound
fascinating? Actually, Equimedian will set your brain cells fizzing.
Alvaro
Zinos-Amaro creates memorable characters, both male and female, and a
science fiction story that is a whopper. Make that a super-whopper,
particularly as the tale reaches its crescendo toward the final pages.
Order a copy of Equimedian and get ready to strap up for adventure.
Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
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