Today’s post is on Stalking
the Zombie: Fables of Tonight by Mike Resnick. It is published by American
Fantasy Press and 222 pages long. The cover has John Justin in his fedora with
Felina behind looking very fierce. The intended reader is someone who has read
the John Justin novels, loves urban fantasy and humor. This is a series of
short stories written in-between the novels so it adds favor but nothing much
to the core of the John Justin mythos. The stories are told from third person
close of John Justin. There is no language, no sex, and all the violence is
fun. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the dust jacket- Stalking the Zombie collects all of Resnick’s short stories
featuring his hard-boiled detective John Justin Mallory, a quick-witted, honest
private investigator caught up in the intrigues of dangerous Manhattan, but
it’s not our Manhattan (or his).
Mallory is stranded in an alternate reality populated with leprechauns, a Blue-Nosed Reindeer, frightened goblins, The Chinese Sandman, pink elephants (no, not that kind), Card Sharks, lamia eggs as well as the odd Zombie. If that wasn’t harrowing enough, there’s the powerful demon who rules the whole East Coast underworld, the Grundy, who has become Mallory’s sworn mortal enemy. Although that doesn’t stop the demon from helping the P.I. solve a case now and then when it’s in his interests, much to the chagrin of Mallory’s partner big game hunter Col. Winnifred Caruthers. And when Mallory needs some “muscle”, he enlists the help the his “office cat”, the irrepressible cat-woman Felina with the Very Sharp Claws.
Mike Resnick’s delight in writing these mysteries is infectious. His Mallory skewers classic fantasy menaces with a cool modern-day logic, all the while indulging in a long string of hilarious, biting retorts the resulting “fables of tonight” are quite addictive.
Mallory is stranded in an alternate reality populated with leprechauns, a Blue-Nosed Reindeer, frightened goblins, The Chinese Sandman, pink elephants (no, not that kind), Card Sharks, lamia eggs as well as the odd Zombie. If that wasn’t harrowing enough, there’s the powerful demon who rules the whole East Coast underworld, the Grundy, who has become Mallory’s sworn mortal enemy. Although that doesn’t stop the demon from helping the P.I. solve a case now and then when it’s in his interests, much to the chagrin of Mallory’s partner big game hunter Col. Winnifred Caruthers. And when Mallory needs some “muscle”, he enlists the help the his “office cat”, the irrepressible cat-woman Felina with the Very Sharp Claws.
Mike Resnick’s delight in writing these mysteries is infectious. His Mallory skewers classic fantasy menaces with a cool modern-day logic, all the while indulging in a long string of hilarious, biting retorts the resulting “fables of tonight” are quite addictive.
Review- I love John Justin Mallory stories. They are
funny, witty, and just plain good. Some of the stories I have read before but
most where new to me. Resnick give me what I wanted in this collection. More snarky
dialog, more weird mysteries, and more Grundy. The stories go from right after
John Justin is stuck in the other
Manhattan to just after the last novel. So if you have read all the novels like I
have then you will get all the jokes but if you are just starting in the John
Justin world do not worry. You will get most of the jokes because Resnick is
just poking fun at the urban fantasy genre. Another thing that I love about
Resnick is how consistent he is with his characters. I love knowing that Felina
is just waiting to abandon John Justin and that Winnifred will have her guns
and hunting trolls to find whatever in that
Manhattan. If you have never read Resnick that you need to start now.
I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for
my review and I was given this book for a birthday present, Thanks Mom!
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