The last time I reviewed a Delaney book, I said the writing was good but the story was too simple. This time, the writing is still good, and the story is too complicated. I guess I just need to find the Baby Bear of Delaney books.
It’s far in the future, and humanity has done away with themselves in a nuclear fashion. The beings that came after are strong and suited to the environment in different ways – some with gifts that seem downright magical. There are mutations that die off on their own or are killed. They all know to avoid the radioactive spots in the planet. Lo Lobey is a nominal shepherd, spending his days making music and watching goats with his friends. When his semi-girlfriend dies mysteriously, he sets out on a quest to track down Kid Death, the being who killed her. The stories say that Kid Death can bring back to life people he has killed.
The road trip/quest part is all cool, and he meets some dragon herders, fights giant bulls, sees cities for the first time, etc. But it all goes deeply philosophical in the middle and hella scientific at the end, and I admit I was lost. Lo Lobey compares himself to Odysseus a lot, and there is some confusion about who the real bad guy is, and I’m not even sure if he manages to save the girlfriend in the end.
So I guess I liked the beginning and the middle, but the actual “Einstein Intersection” piece of it made me remember why I got Cs in science classes.