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The Case of the Toxic Spell Dump
David Fisher, a humble but dedicated bureaucrat of the Environmental Perfection Agency finds that an evil ancient deity (the sort that likes human sacrifices) is about to take over L.A. -- unless he can stop it
Mass Market Paperback, 367 pages
Published
December 1st 1993
by Baen Books
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That was a disappointment. Turtledove, one of the SFF's most reliable story tellers, has not stood the test of time terribly well in the first place. However, if the voice is a little dated, the ideas are at least well developed and engaging. Usually.
Not this time though. Here Turtledove anticipates the Urban Paranormal movement with a story of an EPA inspector who is tasked with cleaning up the mess left behind by a society grown fat on spells and potions. It should be a successful premise, a p...more
Not this time though. Here Turtledove anticipates the Urban Paranormal movement with a story of an EPA inspector who is tasked with cleaning up the mess left behind by a society grown fat on spells and potions. It should be a successful premise, a p...more
This book is deceptively good. I originally picked it up based solely on the really cheesy illustration on the front. But the world is absolutely fascinating: a reality where EVERY SINGLE religion is correct and therefore is reflected in the world. It's an amazing interwoven tale that delves into theology as an everyday occurrence.
It's interesting to see how people relate in a world where one religion is not superior over another, and each religion impacts its members on a day to day basis. If...more
It's interesting to see how people relate in a world where one religion is not superior over another, and each religion impacts its members on a day to day basis. If...more
I really enjoyed this book. The first part is a bit slow-going, but it's fun to read about the differences between our world and the magic-centered world of the book. For example, phones exist, but voices are mimicked by the imps who live inside them. Magic carpets still get caught in traffic and investigating the potential hazards of introducing leprechauns into the California ecosystem requires research and reams of paperwork.
Things escalate as David Fisher, EPA (Environmental Perfection Agen...more
Things escalate as David Fisher, EPA (Environmental Perfection Agen...more
Още един роман, който се основава на идеята за общество, което е постигнало развитието си благодарение на магията, а не на технологията. Въпреки приликата си с „Операция „Хаос”, написаната през 1993 г. творба на Търтълдав не може да бъде определена като плагиатство.
Преди всичко, защото историята вече се развива в деветдесетте години на двайсети век в алтернативни САЩ. Проблемите там са съвсем същите като при нас – изострена външнополитическа ситуация, държавна бюрократщина и проблеми с индустриа...more
Преди всичко, защото историята вече се развива в деветдесетте години на двайсети век в алтернативни САЩ. Проблемите там са съвсем същите като при нас – изострена външнополитическа ситуация, държавна бюрократщина и проблеми с индустриа...more
Good alternate history, most things turn out the same, except magic and religion do everything that science does in our world. David Fisher is a EPA agent - environment perfection agency - covertly tasked with investigating a toxic spell dump. The investigation takes david to various parts of st. Ferdinand valley (Silicon Valley?) part of Angels City, to various magical suppliers who dump stuff at the toxic spell dump.
A good read, though the 'investigation' often seems to take a back seat to fle...more
A good read, though the 'investigation' often seems to take a back seat to fle...more
This book was fun to read. If I remember correctly, it was based on the idea that, just as with mundane energy use there are by-products and waste products, with magic use there are by-products and waste as well. And the story is about a particularly toxic dump of such waste products and the efforts of the main character to clean things up.
Sounds pretty dreary, I guess, but I remember it as quite enjoyable. A nice twist on the idea of magic requiring a price.
Sounds pretty dreary, I guess, but I remember it as quite enjoyable. A nice twist on the idea of magic requiring a price.
Like most of Turtledove, describing the story quickly ends up sounding cheesy. Well, it's modern times, but magic and religion are real. This is the story of an EPA guy trying to clean up a toxic mess. Sounds like a yawner, right? Nope. A well thought out world and decently paced story make this a fairly quick read. Only down side is the reader might need experience with the world of bureaucrats and pencil pushers to appreciate some of the story.
This is good vacation reading: a light, funny mystery set in an alternate world that looks a lot like ours -- except with magic in place of technology. About what you'd expect if you've read any of Turtledove's other alternate history books.
Warning. Do not go near this book unless you are a glutton for pun-ishment. It is simply efreetful. It really got my goetia. I hear the Infernal Affairs division is launching an investigation. Dr. Snappdove, you should be ashamed of yourelf!
Maybe more like 2.5. Another book I read when I was a teenager, and then tracked down again years later. Lots of good puns, though there are some right wing sociopolitical undertones that are a little twitch-inducing.
I've read this book before- it's funny, although I think I thought it was funnier the first time I read it when I was probably 16 or 17. Still amusing, and the first fiction book I've read since, oh, July, maybe.
Pretty good overall. Good puns and jokes on an alternate universe where most everything is powered by some form of magic and/or god.
A perfect stand alone novel I wish he would sequel. I keep rereading it
Fun read, it was really interesting.
Read when I was a kid, pretty funny.
My all time favorite in the genre of "Magic as Science (Fiction)." Way out of the norm for Turtledove. This is a book filled with religious and linguistic jokes that only a the rare few nerd will apreciate fully. Bone up on your Latin, Spanish, Hebrew, and world history before diving in. And just remember: nothing is ever what it seems. Except when it is.
I can't recommend it highly enough.
I can't recommend it highly enough.
Fun. Quite a change from his historical fiction.
May 12, 2013
Aaron Mcilhenny
marked it as to-read
May 03, 2013
Daniel Wolf
marked it as to-read
May 01, 2013
Josef
marked it as to-read
Apr 30, 2013
Elizabeth Barter
marked it as to-read
Apr 30, 2013
Sam
marked it as to-read
Apr 18, 2013
Theresa
marked it as to-read
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Dr Harry Norman Turtledove is an American novelist, who has produced a sizeable number of works in several genres including alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction.
Harry Turtledove attended UCLA, where he received a Ph.D. in Byzantine history in 1977.
Turtledove has been dubbed "The Master of Alternate History". Within this genre he is known both for creating original sce...more
More about Harry Turtledove...
Harry Turtledove attended UCLA, where he received a Ph.D. in Byzantine history in 1977.
Turtledove has been dubbed "The Master of Alternate History". Within this genre he is known both for creating original sce...more
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