Thursday, October 1, 2015

Islands off the Coast of Capitola, 1978, by David Herter

Tor.com, July 8, 2015; 13,524 words
Rating: 2, Not recommended  Recommended By:  Locus

You are a lonely ten-year-old boy living in an old house with your mom when a man claiming to be your uncle arrives and strange things start to happen.

Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)

Pro: Up to the end, the book moves swiftly along with plenty of tension. The images are evocative without being overwhelming (or dull).

Con: The ending is incomprehensible. Supposedly it all makes more sense if you read Gene Wolfe's "Island of Doctor Death" (itself inspired by H.G. Wells's "The Island of Dr. Moreau.") Who died? Why? What are the three red spots? Why are they attacked by birds? Etc.

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