Busted Flush

I would suggest that you find some way to start at the beginning with the Wildcards it is a big and expansive set of anthologies this is #19 in a set if I remember correctly. Speaking for myself I always have one problem with the books the series is so large and the cast of characters so expansive I have trouble remembering who is who and where the action is going. Still they read very quickly and the read is entertaining. I think its great that the group of authors going Wildcards has managed to keep it going for so many years.

Delivers that old Martin magic with wild abilities and personal conflicts well-pooled in the "Wild Cards" tradition.

As a longtime WildCards fan (since 1987) this latest entry, the nineteenth in the series, is a pretty solid part two to the Committee trilogy and a decent introduction to the fictional world as a whole. If you're curious about the series and the other 17 books seem daunting, give this and Inside Straight a try. You don't have to know anything other than the background info about the wildcard virus (explained at length in other reviews here) and the fact that the idealistic 20-somethings that make up the Committee have to live in the shadow of aces past. Most compelling to me is the drive of these kids to use their abilities for the betterment of man and the exhausting realization they're coming to that you can't save the world from every disaster. It's a sacrifice that's beginning to take its toll on their united vision and I'm excited to see Suicide Kings follow this out to what feels like a catastrophic conclusion. As with all the other books in this series, the characters are strong, memorable and well-served by their respective authors. As I told a friend of mine, this is what Heroes wishes it was.

The first thing you should know is that this book is not written by George R. R. Martin. He is the editor, and the novel is made up of shorter pieces by several different writers. This is #19 in a series, and while it can be enjoyed on its own, you should at least read the previous book, "Inside Straight", as most of the characters are introduced in that volume and it can be hard to keep up. The other thing you should know is that this is completely different from GRRM's "A Song of Ice and Fire." This is superhero fiction, which owes a great deal to comic books, and is reminiscent of recent TV series such as "Heroes" and the "The 4400." If you like those shows, or have enjoyed X-Men or Justice League comic books, then Wild Cards will probably appeal to you. Finally, the Wild Cards books are far more creative and inventive than what you'll see on "Heroes." (And I am a "Heroes" fan.) In a parallel world, humanity has been infected by an alien virus that kills 90% of its victims, horribly disfigures another 9%, and gifts the remaining 1% with a useful super-ability. These people are called "aces." In this volume, which is a close sequel to "Inside Straight", a group of aces under U.N. auspices travels to three hotspots in the globe, where they learn how difficult it can be to solve problems, even with superpowers. The action takes a little while to build, but the story quickly builds to a breakneck pace and ultimately to a satisfying conclusion. For fans of the series, I have to recommend this one highly. I enjoyed this one more than any volume since "Black Trump" and look forward eagerly to the next book.

The pandemic disaster that changed the modern world occurred in 1946 leading to the establishment of the United Nation's Committee on Extraordinary Interventions. These wild cards have worked for years to solve global catastrophes and failures. Their current leader John Fortune is a former Ace operative so he knows how difficult field work is as there is never enough resourcing especially manpower to deal with all the calamities. Recruiting and training a new group of Aces who think 1946 is ancient history, he sends the squad out into the world though his gut questions whether they are ready. He knows they are out of time so they must do their best with the hand dealt them. He sends rookies with vets as much as possible. The crews go to the powerful Caliphate Islamic Empire whose leaders are causing economic havoc everywhere; they deal with genocide in Nigeria and its African neighbors; a hurricane in New Orleans leaves them to battle the aftermath of zombies attacking the survivors; and a nuclear explosion in Texas has led to a deadlier new arms race. This and much more including nasty lethal stuff inside the government is the normal world chaos for a new generation of Aces to contend with as best they can. The latest Aces interrelated anthology is held together by Melinda Snodgrass' delightful "Double Helix" whose depressed hero makes all the superheroes seem real. Each entry is strong and enhances the overall mythos. Fans of the saga will relish the latest calamities and superheroes contending with them; while newcomers will enjoy this entry that can be read by it self but also seek at least the previous compilation of the new generation of Wild Cards (see INSIDE STRAIGHT). Harriet Klausner