Matt Ruff (1) (1965–)

Matt Ruff impresses me yet again. This time, he's written a lovecraftian, sci-fi story starring/from the perspective of a black family in the 50s. Racial tensions are extremely high, and Ruff manages to offer the black perspective without coming across as preachy. I was just very impressed with his character-building. The sci-fi/Lovecraft story is also interesting, with secret societies and evil intentions at its core. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone to whom that description appeals. I know some people hate sci-fi/Lovecraft type books... you are probably not the intended audience. But for everyone else, quite an impressive feat.… (mere)

Ruff imagines an alternate history where North America is a collection of small rogue nations run by warring factions of Christianity, and the Middle East united as a single Muslim superpower. On November 9, 2001 (11/9 - get it?), Christian fundamentalists attack the Twin Towers in Baghdad, causing the United Arab States to start the Gulf War in the Gulf of Mexico in retaliation against Texan warlords who support Christian terrorists. However, a lot of people suffer from Gulf War Syndrome - a weird feeling of surreal vertigo triggered. It turns out that Gulf War Syndrome is an indicator that the world is on the wrong timeline. When people are exposed to images/events that are similar to the correct timeline, they get dizzy. Artifacts from the correct timeline, such as a copy of the New York Times showing the Twin Towers on fire, leak into this alternate reality, and the main characters are trying to figure out what is happening.

This book has a great premise and some thorough world-building, but ultimately falls flat and probably won't be of any interest to anyone who wasn't alive and following the news in 2001 (if the names Lee Atwater, Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, and David Koresh don't mean anything to you, the satire will be lost on you). It seems like Ruff wasn't entirely sure how to end the book, so the end has a lot of deus ex machina stuff that stretches the level of suspension of disbelief that he has established earlier in the book.

Some 9/11 literature is going to stand the test of time, but I don't think this one will.… (mere)