The Creation of the Night Sky

Nicholas Christopher's latest book of poems features some trademarks of his, including noir-ish portraits of cities, and a long poem (in 35 entries this time) that interweaves several characters and different events in unexpected ways. Though he's done this kind of thing before (5 Degrees, Desperate Characters, On Tour With Rita) this time it's more coherent and immediately accessible than those earlier works. It still takes a minute to bend your mind around some of the concepts he uses, but it's more immediately to your advantage this time around. A good read for those unfamiliar with his work, but offers extra goodies for those who know his poetry beforehand.