DEATH DRAWS FIVE

So let's discuss John J. Miller's solo novel installment of the WILD CARDS series. Miller's novel titled DEATH DRAWS FIVE is the last book in this series put out by the sorely missed iBooks and I would suspect that this is the hardest of the series to find. The story revolves around John Fortune, son of Peregrine and Fortunato and his drawing of the wild card virus. The circumstances surrounding his emergence cause various religious groups to classify him as either the second coming or the anti-christ. As a result, they are all looking for him. The book reunites us with old friends such as Fortunato, Billy Ray, and Mr. Nobody while introducing new characters like Midnight Angel and John Nighthawk. Oustide of using the familiar characters and settings, there are few links to previous storylines such as the Rox, the jumpers, Typhoid Croyd or the Black Trump. The story reads like it is the end of the Wild Cards series because it puts so much into closure for the various characters past and present. And reading the press for the new novel, INSIDE STRAIGHT, this is the cap on the first series. The new book will take up in the present - 60 years after Jetboy's failure - and many old characters will be phased out or dead. We'll see what happens when I pick that one up.


On the whole, I liked this book despite a slow going at first. Once upon a time, I would hole myself up in my room when a new Wild Cards book came out and would not emerge until I was finished. Like the characters in the book, time changed for me as well. I have a small daughter now and must devote energies to my family and work instead of reading. But I read as much as I could on the train, at lunch and while walking around the building. It was a fun read and a welcome addition to the series. It brought back major characters and gave them the ending they deserved and it makes me look forward to the new book.


Currently reading:
CROWN OF SLAVES by David Weber and Eric Flint
KITTY AND THE SILVER BULLET by Carrie Vaughn
PLAGUE YEAR by Jeff Carlson
THE PRIVILEGE OF THE SWORD by Ellen Kushner