Evernight

Wild Cards #24.1

by Victor Milán

The Wild Cards universe has been thrilling readers for over 25 years. From the darkly brilliant imagination of Victor Milán, the novelette "Evernight" takes readers down to the depths of the Parisian catacombs.

Candace Sessou is known to be many things: the ace known as The Darkness, a skilled negotiator in the field of diplomacy, a refugee with neither home nor family after fleeing a war-torn Congo. When she hears that her brother Marcel also survived but is now on the run as a wanted terrorist, Candace tracks him to the Parisian underground . . . only to strike a deal with dangerous forces in order to save both their lives.

Edited by George R. R. Martin

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Superheroes, Short Stories

57 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 14, 2018

About the author

Victor Woodward Milán was an American writer known for libertarian science fiction and an interest in cybernetics. In 1986 he won the Prometheus Award for Cybernetic Samurai. He has also written several shared universe works for the Forgotten Realms, Star Trek, and Wild Cards Universes. He has also written books under the pseudonyms Keith Jarrod, Richard Austin (Jove Books The Guardians series), Robert Baron (Jove Books Stormrider series), and S. L. Hunter (Steele series with Simon Hawke, who used the pen name J. D. Masters). He also wrote at least 9 novels under the "house name" of James Axler for the Harlequin Press/Gold Eagle Books Deathlands series & Outlanders series.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

And so on to the next of the Wild Card short stories and this is another of the dark tales - here we have more references to previous events and characters but rather than feeling you are stepping in to the middle of something it instead adds volumes and depth to the events - if you like it gives them more gravity so what might seems a lesser crime (I am not dismissing what happens) it rather sets it in context and gives it even more jeopardy.

That said you have here a gallery of characters and a list of events and I have to say that I am curious about what happened before so if anything this is a perfect introduction and draw in to the Wild Cards universe to learn more as I feel there is a lot I am missing right now.

One thing about the darker note about this story - there is an undertone to this story and I feel that this will appear again in other stories as I have to admit this is something too big to raise now and not return to at a later date...

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evernight

By Victor Milan

Evernight looks into the darkness within the world and realm of Wild Card Virus and those who attempted first to eradicate and then weaponize the Virus and its victims. The story touches base on the corruption and power struggles in France. The first response in France to the outbreak was rounding up and exceling Wild Card Victims. This soon changed when the trial of the Four Aces made the corrupt American Policy the errorant opposition. France opened the door for victims. But as usual corruption in political spheres makes it ill advised to be afflicted and out in the open. Which opens the underground to those survivors.

This story looks into the original concept of the Takis-a virus. To quote Victor Milan, “They say that the wild card has a mischievous streak, that grants those whom it touches what they most desire.” The problem with the virus is that people can not control what they desire. Takis-a is a cruel mistress. What does not kill you outright may condemn you forever. And only the chosen few can find an Ace in their hand.

Evernight is a poignant soliloquy to Victor’s remarkable characters. It shows the depth of the Wild Card Mosaic world, and the levels of human concepts of corruption, reputation and betrayal.


This story looks into the original concept of the Takis-a virus. To quote Victor Milan, “They say that the wild card has a mischievous streak, that grants those whom it touches what they most desire.” What the problem with the virus is that people can not control what they desire. Takis-a is a cruel mistress. What does not kill you outright may condemn you forever. And only the chosen few can find an Ace in their hand.

Evernight is a poignant soliloquy to Victor’s remarkable characters. It shows the depth of the Wild Card Mosaic world, and the levels of human concepts of corruption, reputation and betrayal.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Candace Sessou is 'The Darkness', a highly rated negotiator. But this time, the stakes are at their highest. She must negotiate with Mama Evernight for her brother's life.

A very moody piece, descending into body horror in places, Milán treats his characters carefully, adding layers and dimensions to even the most grotesque beings.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The action takes place in the Paris catacombs, and Evernight is written by the late Victor Milan, who is sorely missed. I wonder if this is the last thing he finished before he passed? This is a fun little tale of intrigue and betrayal.

[Alex Sarll]

The ace known as the Darkness* hunts Mama Evernight through the bone-lined catacombs beneath Paris…I might normally make a glib comment about None More Goth, but when the author died the day before publication, it feels more like a presentiment. The author, at that, being Victor Milan, the man who first gave GRRM a superhero RPG, and thus birthed Wild Cards, and without the experience of structuring Wild Cards over so many years, who knows if the epic history of Westeros would ever have come about? The plot isn’t much; a Morlock Massacre replay which leans a bit too hard on the ruthlessness of the admittedly notorious French anti-terror police. But the mood, that’s handled well. And the theme, of the way a certain sort of man finds power and violence sufficient seduction that it overwhelms everything else? That’s done even better. So all in all, not a bad last note from a man who shaped far more than the direct fame or otherwise of his name might suggest.

*Not the best alias for a British reader of a certain age to take seriously, but don’t worry, it’s not the name by which she’s generally known in the story.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the ideas in this story - creepy Paris catacombs and dangerous mutants, wary alliances, and kickass fights! Unfortunately the writing (as in, the grammar and sentence structure) were often confusing and would disrupt my momentum as I paused to puzzle out meaning. So, all in all 3 stars, but well worth an hour or so of your time if you like the Wild Cards world.

[Zedsdead · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Wild Cards universe expands into the Parisian catacombs and wraps up the Leopard Men story from the Committee trilogy. Another child-soldier ace (Darkness) is introduced.

Serviceable. This (post-Committee fallout) is really good story space to explore, but the villains monologue way too much. It's painfully obvious they're talking to the reader rather than the protagonist.

[Annathea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think without knowing the series, this is a bit hard to understand. But it was interesting and dark and moving all the same.

[Jamie Revell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story features an African ace dealing with a sort of mini-Jokertown established in the sewers beneath Paris. The story concerns both terrorism and brutal government agents more than willing to put innocents in harm's way to reach their target. Plus quite a lot of gore in the sewers. So, no, it's not exactly a light-hearted one. That's not necessarily a weakness, but the early parts of the story are a little confusing (especially if you haven't read the earlier stories they reference) while the unfamiliar, gory, setting doesn't bring out Wild Cards' usual strengths. Having said that, it's a perfectly decent story for its length, with good action scenes and some neat ideas... it's just nothing special, either.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely done addition to the Wild Cards series. I was not familiar with the characters or situations in this one, but the setting in the Catacombs under Paris, controlled by not-exactly-human-or-alive wild card who incorporates other people into herself is deliciously spooky. The protagonist, Darkness, braves this underworld to try to rescue her brother, who she thought died as a child. She works for the Mafia and he is a terrorist; nobody in the story is strictly on the side of the light.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read, from the newly deceased Victor Milan, but, in its first half at least, difficult too follow - too many personalities, groups, places, I lost track. That said, an excellent stylistic nod to series curator George R.R. Martin.

[Strega · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting novella - family and loyalty and trust

[Tim Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story rather than a novel, but nicely realized with plenty of atmosphere & good continuity for the Wild Card universe.

[Charl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story. Even a terrorist can be a humanitarian.

[Eugenio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Ok but the main character felt all over the place.

[Andrew Wild-Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good short

A look at the Paris catacombs through the lens of the Wild Card virus. An entertaining story, well put together

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the longer Wild Cards stories in this series of shorts, but it's a good one. Once again, the series, by editorial or authorial design, extends the boundaries of the Wild Cards universe to far beyond the traditional cultures and politics of superhero stories. This time, the story takes us deep under the Parisian catacombs and inside terrorist cells. Very good.

[Jinx:The:Poet {the LiteraryWanderer & WordRoamer} · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Wild Cards universe has been thrilling readers for over 25 years. From the darkly brilliant imagination of Victor Milán, the novelette "Evernight" takes readers down to the depths of the Parisian catacombs.

Candace Sessou is known to be many things: the ace known as The Darkness, a skilled negotiator in the field of diplomacy, a refugee with neither home nor family after fleeing a war-torn Congo. When she hears that her brother Marcel also survived but is now on the run as a wanted terrorist, Candace tracks him to the Parisian underground . . . only to strike a deal with dangerous forces in order to save both their lives." -Book Blurb

Evernight was an interesting read, though I might not recommend to those who are not familiar with the source material, as I had been. I was only vaguely familiar with the Wild Card series, though could not call myself a reader as of yet. This novelette was decently written, intriguing, if a bit confusing. Still the creativity was definitely compelling enough to cause me to read the whole thing. It was enjoyable.

[OFFICIAL RATING: 3.5 STARS]

**Read Free at Tor.com**

Read here: https://www.tor.com/2018/02/14/wild-c...