Tim Powers is as incredible writer. I’m insanely jealous of his talent, particularly the way his mind works. It’s comforting, as a writer, to pick up a successful book and think to yourself, “Ah, I could have written that, on a good year.” Sometimes you’re lying to yourself more wildly than others. With Tim Powers’ novels, I don’t even bother trying. I could never have written Last Call, much as I’d wish to pretend otherwise, and I have no higher praise.
I’m always amazed that Powers isn’t more famous than he actually is. It seems extremely unjust, given that he’s quietly out there writing some of the best fiction on the market. Powers specialises in true Urban Fantasy — thrilling yet haunting stories where reality and true historical events are overlaid with magic, and the two become blended together in strange and unpredictable ways. No vampires, fairies or P.I. wizards here; instead, in Powers’ books, Albert Einstein’s time machine, poets who never were, and Russian double-agents chasing the secret of eternal life.
Last Call by Tim Powers
Last Call is set in the American west. The hero is a poker player, a man who spent his childhood being steeped in the curious superstitions of professional card-players, riding high by following the rules. Twenty years on, he’s still paying for having broken them when things long-dormant start to wake up and he finds himself the subject of some very unwelcome attention. It’s the end of a cycle, and his old debt is being called in.
The resulting journey weaves Fisher King legends, the Tarot, poker, and the glittering dream of Vegas into a dazzling mystic swirl, as dark and seedy as it is beautiful and engaging. It’s a very modern haunting of the American dream-scape, exciting, absorbing and wildly imaginative. Urban fantasy really doesn’t get much better.
Tim Powers is BRILLIANT! I’ve got to get this and read it. Aces and eights.
I have this book — in trade form and signed (does he always sign upside down?) A friend got him to sign it for me.. It’s a 1996 book and I’m ashamed to admit I have not yet read it. It was fun to find your mention of here and so recent! I know I’ll love it — poker, Vegas, Tarot. So, why haven’t I read it. I started writing fiction myself in 1996 and this was just one of the casualties of reading for research and not enough time for pure pleasure reading. I’ll have to google or check Amazon for some of your titles. I am not yet published, but I should finally have something out Spring 2010. I’ll let you know!