Michael's review

Galveston Galveston
by Sean Stewart
155411
Michael's review
rating: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
bookshelves: slipstream

What a great book - the best of 2008 so far.

The basic idea: Galveston, Texas experiences a magical disaster and is cut off from the rest of the world. The city itself is divided into the mundane and real, and the never-ending twilight world of Mardi Gras.

Stewart illustrates his ideas so vividly throughout the novel; I would call his illustrative skill his greatest strength. There's so much going on, and so many facets - poker, apocalypse, Southern Gothic, gentle magic, and the flawed characters. A rich and rewarding read.
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comments (showing 1-7 of 7)

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message 1: by Kim
02/02/2008 02:23PM

Nophoto-f-25x33 This looks really fun - I just added it to my list of to-reads. :-)

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message 2: by Michael
02/08/2008 03:54PM

155411 It's great even after 40 pages!

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message 3: by Mike
02/08/2008 06:15PM

165395 And it gets better and better. Such a fun, rich novel, like a Southern "Little, Big." It deserves a huge audience and I'm glad it's grown by one!

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message 4: by Donald
02/08/2008 06:25PM

537046 I've liked some Sean Stewart i've read but when I hear things like `Southern Little, Big' I am on board...

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message 5: by Mike
02/08/2008 06:29PM

165395 I don't want to lead anyone astray--Stewart's not nearly as elegant a stylist as Crowley, but then again who is? Galveston to me is one of the great contemporary genre fantasy novels, up there with Little, Big, Karen Joy Fowler's Sarah Canary, Geoff Ryman's Was and one or two others.

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message 6: by Nancy
02/27/2008 03:46AM

763271 I was disappointed in Stewart's Passion Play, but Galveston sounds great! I wonder if I'll be able to read all the books I own this lifetime...

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message 7: by Naomi
02/27/2008 05:56AM

388132 Hey, I'm with Tracy -- since joining Goodreads, my book bill has jumped considerably. But that's about the best thing in the world to spend money on, in my estimation. THANKS, all, for the great suggestions!

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