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Wild Cards #18.5
American Hero
Soon to be a show on Hulu!Rights to develop Wild Cards have been acquired by Universal Cable Productions, the team behind The Magicians and Mr. Robot, with the co-editor of Wild Cards, Melinda Snodgrass, as executive producer. In this bitingly satirical companion novel to the Wild Cards title Inside Straight, American Hero combines two quintessentially pop culture superheroes and reality TV. American Hero, the nation’s most highly anticipated competition show, kicks off its first season! People with incredible powers – from possessing death-defying healing to transforming into an insect swarm to shifting the earth itself – have been selected from all walks of life. Their to win one million dollars and the admiration of millions more viewers by answering one question, “Do you have what it takes to be the next American Hero?” Contains week-by-week action-packed recaps and no-holds-bars contestant confessionals, all edited by New York Times #1 bestselling author George R. R. Martin. Features writing by Martin as well as Carrie Vaughn, Melinda M. Snodgrass, Walter Jon Williams, Victor Milan, Daniel Abraham, Stephen Leigh, and many more of the genre’s most innovative writers.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
231 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2020
57 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
George R.R. Martin
1,505 books120k followersGeorge Raymond Richard "R.R." Martin was born September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey. His father was Raymond Collins Martin, a longshoreman, and his mother was Margaret Brady Martin. He has two sisters, Darleen Martin Lapinski and Janet Martin Patten.
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 17, 2020
What do you think of this book? Hayyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
I fell sleepy, and I still don't know what I'm trying to prove if I finish the book. I guess I'm looking for an action, hehe!
Anyway, some may appreciate this kind of book but for me, let me sleep... 💤💤💤
I fell sleepy, and I still don't know what I'm trying to prove if I finish the book. I guess I'm looking for an action, hehe!
Anyway, some may appreciate this kind of book but for me, let me sleep... 💤💤💤
May 7, 2021
Well I have finally finished American Hero - the story referred to in varying degrees across a number of short stories that I have recently been reading.
As I reconnect with the Wild Card Universe I start to realise the significance of this book. Partly it is due to the fact that we have here a large number of new characters being introduced and the fact not only do you have a whole raft of new origin stories but you also have a whole new deck (sorry could not resist) of characters to play with - with all their likable and less than likeable traits.
But there is more - when you work through the novels you realise they are presented in sets with stories running across multiple books and stories - more often than not touching numerous characters along the way. This book feels like it is a declaration of a new world or at least a new sequence and I have to say if this is the foretaste of what is to come I am very interested indeed.
However it has also reminded me that I need to fill in the gaps before this book and catch up on what has been going on to get to this point. The style is not for everyone -written in an episodic style which reflects the reality tv show it is aimed at representing. However when you read it in conjunction with the short stories it all starts to fall in to place.
As I reconnect with the Wild Card Universe I start to realise the significance of this book. Partly it is due to the fact that we have here a large number of new characters being introduced and the fact not only do you have a whole raft of new origin stories but you also have a whole new deck (sorry could not resist) of characters to play with - with all their likable and less than likeable traits.
But there is more - when you work through the novels you realise they are presented in sets with stories running across multiple books and stories - more often than not touching numerous characters along the way. This book feels like it is a declaration of a new world or at least a new sequence and I have to say if this is the foretaste of what is to come I am very interested indeed.
However it has also reminded me that I need to fill in the gaps before this book and catch up on what has been going on to get to this point. The style is not for everyone -written in an episodic style which reflects the reality tv show it is aimed at representing. However when you read it in conjunction with the short stories it all starts to fall in to place.
April 17, 2022
I hate reality television. Loathe it with a passion. Make a point of never watching it. But if I could see a reality TV show in which super powered people competed against each other? I admit it I would watch the hell out of that. Which is why American Hero was so much fun to read. This is a novel in the Wild Cards series I totally missed-maybe because as far as I can tell it only exists electronically. I had forgotten some of these characters so it was neat to see them again plus there is a lot of action-this was the perfect popcorn for a lazy evening.
June 6, 2024
I am a fan of a few reality shows (survivor, traitors) so this book fits perfectly in a universe I already clearly love.
April 23, 2020
I love the Wild Cards books. I've been reading them since day one. This is the first time I've ever put one down without finishing it.
It's not the quality of the writing - far from it. It's just that I loathe realty tv, and the writers of this volume have done far too good a job of capturing the pettiness and vanity of the average reality show contestant. I read for pleasure, and this ain't it for me.
It's not the quality of the writing - far from it. It's just that I loathe realty tv, and the writers of this volume have done far too good a job of capturing the pettiness and vanity of the average reality show contestant. I read for pleasure, and this ain't it for me.
February 9, 2023
"Aces have enormous power and no support system. There are no schools for precocious demi-gods, no guidance counselors. No heroes to look up to--they either die like Fortunato, or worse, just disappear like Dr. Tachyon. We don't teach them how to use their powers, or how to be heroes, whatever that means."
"Ok, so here's what you should know about American Hero. It's just like mid-school. You've got the same cliques, and you've got the same drama queens, and just like in mid-school everything that happens is always somebody's else's fault. And just like in mid-school, none of the drama is about anything real. We fight fake villains in fake film sets in fake scenarios, and the fake villains shoot fake bullets. Then we have to vote to throw people off the team, and we all make up some fake feelings about how traumatic that is."
Tor Books relaunched the Wild Cards series in 2008. In the lead-up to the publication date of Inside Straight, they launched a now-defunct blog site with a novella's worth of original tie-in material to that book. That fiction has now been collected in American Hero (available as an e-book only).
Inside Straight is a mosaic novel comprised of short stories that deal largely with a group of superheroes competing in a reality tv show. American Hero is a series of character interviews that take place between the stories. It is easy to flip back and forth between the original novel and this 'companion novella'. This new material goes more in depth to explore the ace powers and perspectives of the minor characters.
This novella cannot be read on its own; it would make no sense. However, the ancillary material improves Inside Straight to a considerable degree. It adds texture and context. It completes arcs for several characters. Jetman is a good example of this: He idolizes Jetboy in every minute detail, but in the end he cannot conjure up a moral code. He fails to put himself in harm's way to save others, instead opting to rationalize his cowardice by claiming his honor demands he stick to a commitment to a shallow Hollywood project.
Also, I would love to read a full-length novel about Dragon Huntress when she grows up.
Next up: Busted Flush
"Ok, so here's what you should know about American Hero. It's just like mid-school. You've got the same cliques, and you've got the same drama queens, and just like in mid-school everything that happens is always somebody's else's fault. And just like in mid-school, none of the drama is about anything real. We fight fake villains in fake film sets in fake scenarios, and the fake villains shoot fake bullets. Then we have to vote to throw people off the team, and we all make up some fake feelings about how traumatic that is."
Tor Books relaunched the Wild Cards series in 2008. In the lead-up to the publication date of Inside Straight, they launched a now-defunct blog site with a novella's worth of original tie-in material to that book. That fiction has now been collected in American Hero (available as an e-book only).
Inside Straight is a mosaic novel comprised of short stories that deal largely with a group of superheroes competing in a reality tv show. American Hero is a series of character interviews that take place between the stories. It is easy to flip back and forth between the original novel and this 'companion novella'. This new material goes more in depth to explore the ace powers and perspectives of the minor characters.
This novella cannot be read on its own; it would make no sense. However, the ancillary material improves Inside Straight to a considerable degree. It adds texture and context. It completes arcs for several characters. Jetman is a good example of this: He idolizes Jetboy in every minute detail, but in the end he cannot conjure up a moral code. He fails to put himself in harm's way to save others, instead opting to rationalize his cowardice by claiming his honor demands he stick to a commitment to a shallow Hollywood project.
Also, I would love to read a full-length novel about Dragon Huntress when she grows up.
Next up: Busted Flush
Read
December 17, 2025Not so much a Wild Cards book proper as an archive of the supplementary material published on a faux in-world blog* to accompany the series' relaunch. The problem being that the relaunch book, Inside Straight, already did what it said on the tin and gave us the story behind the scenes of superpowered reality show American Hero, whereas this is supposedly the recaps and diary room material intended for public consumption. Meaning that a lot of the time it's either nearly as dull as real reality TV, or else breaks the conceit by having people get far too confessional in the confessional, actually outline their nasty schemes rather than continue playing a role for the viewing public. Still, if several of the also-ran characters don't become any more interesting from further examination, as is also true of many of their real-world equivalents, it is fun revisiting the early days of ones like Bubbles and Rustbelt who've developed into mainstays over the years since, looking with hindsight at sidelights on their debut. And also, of course, looking at how reality TV has changed; American Hero might have had all the mendacity and meanness of The X-Factor et al, but like them, at least it was in some debased sense about talent, whereas now you'd have a comeback book based around something even more wretched like Real Housewives Of Jokertown.
*I miss faked-up in-universe websites, one of the many things that were better about the noughties – though honourable mention to The Chair Company for reviving the tradition. Nowadays we seem to get bizarre alternate worlds presented as fact without the wit or the buried disclaimers, running as though they were actual papers or news channels or .gov sites, and that's a lot less fun.
*I miss faked-up in-universe websites, one of the many things that were better about the noughties – though honourable mention to The Chair Company for reviving the tradition. Nowadays we seem to get bizarre alternate worlds presented as fact without the wit or the buried disclaimers, running as though they were actual papers or news channels or .gov sites, and that's a lot less fun.
April 9, 2022
For the weird thing it was, it was pretty good. It was a companion set of vignettes for another book in the Wild Cards series, Inside Straight. That book covers "superheros + reality television, with a twist."
This ebook covers documentation of the reality TV part of it, with first-person narratives that would augment the older book. A bit like Balthazar to Justine (both by Lawrence Durrell.
Cute, fun, nothing smashing. Since Wild Cards generally proceeds in real-time, one wonders about the characters years later...
Wouldn't recommend reading it standalone, but a nice addition for hardcore fans.
This ebook covers documentation of the reality TV part of it, with first-person narratives that would augment the older book. A bit like Balthazar to Justine (both by Lawrence Durrell.
Cute, fun, nothing smashing. Since Wild Cards generally proceeds in real-time, one wonders about the characters years later...
Wouldn't recommend reading it standalone, but a nice addition for hardcore fans.
October 26, 2023
I liked this modest (I say modest because of the page count) installment in the series much more than I expected. It's not that I hate reality TV, or reality TV competition shows. I thought that taking the concept and transferring it to the written page would not work.
Wrong, it worked very well. From the summaries of what happened on each week's show, to the individual confessional pieces. Sure, we know who won because the show actually took place in an earlier book. In the earlier novel the show was much more in the background, whereas here it is in the forefront.
The confessionals were written well enough to give the reader a good look into the characters. Whether it was Stuntman or Dragon Huntress. The big surprise was for me, character wise, is that if it is executed as well as the confessionals I would read a Dragon Huntress standalone. She was written that well.
Wrong, it worked very well. From the summaries of what happened on each week's show, to the individual confessional pieces. Sure, we know who won because the show actually took place in an earlier book. In the earlier novel the show was much more in the background, whereas here it is in the forefront.
The confessionals were written well enough to give the reader a good look into the characters. Whether it was Stuntman or Dragon Huntress. The big surprise was for me, character wise, is that if it is executed as well as the confessionals I would read a Dragon Huntress standalone. She was written that well.
April 13, 2020
I love the Wild Cards universe. I've been reading it since book 1 and followed it as it grew and spread, and it went in directions both wonderful and not so wonderful.
But a reality show? I don't watch reality shows, why would I read about one? Still, it's Wild Cards, I'll give it a chance.
And it's JUST like watching a reality show. I made it a little over a quarter of the way through before I gave up. If you love Wild Cards and you love "reality" TV, you'll probably love this. But even it being Wild Cards isn't enough to get me past all the politicking and BS. JUST like a reality show.
But a reality show? I don't watch reality shows, why would I read about one? Still, it's Wild Cards, I'll give it a chance.
And it's JUST like watching a reality show. I made it a little over a quarter of the way through before I gave up. If you love Wild Cards and you love "reality" TV, you'll probably love this. But even it being Wild Cards isn't enough to get me past all the politicking and BS. JUST like a reality show.
May 22, 2024
DNF. Okay yeah I started with novel 18.5, so no judgment of series allowed.
But
1. did not really like anyone, maybe earthquake lady
2. did not care about anyone
3. Women were always connected to beauty standards or sexualty
4. Strange repetition of know facts due to different authors and bad job done by GRR Martin
5. No action arc (see 4)
6. Annoying cover giving 30% of space to GRR Martin who seems to have only chilled out here (see 4)
7. this egyth storyline made it even worse. Why mix this in? The Selection is no literature but at least stays true to what you expect...
So I only made to 2/3 of it. Will never start Wild Cards.
But
1. did not really like anyone, maybe earthquake lady
2. did not care about anyone
3. Women were always connected to beauty standards or sexualty
4. Strange repetition of know facts due to different authors and bad job done by GRR Martin
5. No action arc (see 4)
6. Annoying cover giving 30% of space to GRR Martin who seems to have only chilled out here (see 4)
7. this egyth storyline made it even worse. Why mix this in? The Selection is no literature but at least stays true to what you expect...
So I only made to 2/3 of it. Will never start Wild Cards.
January 16, 2026
A weird one. Originally a series of posts on a website that acted as a companion piece to Inside Straight, collected here after the website disappeared. I maintain that the reality show part of the original book was the stronger part, and that book may have been more successful if they leaned into it a bit more. This book adds some color, and gives some of the minor characters some time in the sun, but overall does not feel necessary in any way. Maybe of most interest was Martin’s essay on how the series started - as an offshoot to a role-playing game.
November 8, 2022
I was excited to see the confessionals available. They were on the American Hero website before the website went down. But I was disappointed that the whole thing was only those confessionals. For some reason I was under the impression that some additional material would have been included.
April 26, 2023
A different angle on the first series
A more complete look at the first American Hero series which was integral in bringing some big characters into the Wild Cards universe. As usual, this is a composite of different authors, but with an over-riding feel and story arc
A more complete look at the first American Hero series which was integral in bringing some big characters into the Wild Cards universe. As usual, this is a composite of different authors, but with an over-riding feel and story arc
March 9, 2020
A Great Companion Piece to Inside Straight!
This is a great companion piece to the first book in the Wild Card modern day setting, Inside Straight!
One
This is a great companion piece to the first book in the Wild Card modern day setting, Inside Straight!
One
July 10, 2020
Garbage
A foul and nasty waste of money and time never read a greater piece of a waste of time! Seriously a complete waste of your time
A foul and nasty waste of money and time never read a greater piece of a waste of time! Seriously a complete waste of your time
November 18, 2020
I would not stop give 1 star to all Martin books until winds of winter is done.
May 20, 2025
dnf, it's just the confessionals
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2024
Interesting. It's basically an episode summary of American Hero: Season One, the reality show that held such a large part over several of the last books. Also has character confessionals talking about the show, each other, and other things going on. As a result, the book's all character exploration with the action of the plot happening at a remove, be it summarized for the episode or talked about after the fact by one character of another. You, dear reader, may or may not care for that.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews