I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed. 'Empire State' has been on my to read list for three years, as the combination of detective noir and superheroes seemed highly promising. I was expecting a standard thriller plot with some interesting world-building, rather than anything special in terms of writing or characterisation. Yet I was sad to find that none of the above were really achieved. At first I thought the problem was very similar to that of [b:Aurorarama|8089555|Aurorarama (The Mysteries of New Venice, #1)|Jean-Christophe Valtat|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320559915s/8089555.jpg|12832601], which has a fantastic setting but frustratingly terrible, reactive protagonists. ‘Empire State’ does indeed have two awful protagonists, who have no idea what’s happening and exhibit no notable personality traces other than alcoholism (Rex and Rad) and psychopathic disregard for deadly violence (Rex). However, [b:Aurorarama|8089555|Aurorarama (The Mysteries of New Venice, #1)|Jean-Christophe Valtat|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320559915s/8089555.jpg|12832601] built a beguiling, fascinating alternate world. The Empire State, a pocket dimension connected to 1930 New York, has none of that vividness. It feels like a derivative film noir remake that has been recorded onto old videotape and is fuzzy at the edges. The noir element is thus underwhelming, but not as much so as the superhero theme. The two superheroes, Skyguard and the Science Pirate, get practically no explanation. Why are there only two of them? Why did they team up originally? Why did they subsequently argue and start fighting each other? The reader never finds out any of this, as the novel is narrated by a clueless, ineffectual private investigator who complains constantly and doesn’t even have the saving grace of being funny.

Now that I think about it, much of narrative is taken up with matters irrelevant to the plot, as Rad wanders about being baffled and wanting a drink. It’s just very disappointing, as is the rather horrifying depiction of women. Female characters are extremely marginal to the story and when they do turn up get few lines, appear vulnerable & upset, are hit in the face for standing up for themselves, and never have their motivations properly explained. Actually, this novel contains the most shockingly offhand murder of a woman that I’ve ever read. It is presented as a trivial accident - the woman was so little and fragile, he snapped her neck accidentally with his clumsy man hands! The murderer remains astoundingly blasé about this; when reminded of it the adjective used is 'petulant'. You know, I’ve changed my mind. I am angry. Is this depiction of women meant to be a satire on detective noir? Because Raymond Chandler was a lot less misogynistic than this. Is the twist that two female characters are a lesbian couple supposed to make the horrible things that happen to them OK? The two of them never even have a scene together!

While writing this I’ve talked myself down from giving this book two stars to one. There is potential for great interest in the setting, but this is not capitalised upon. The plot is confused and frustrating. None of the characters feel sympathetic or interesting and their dialogue is flat. The writing failed to engage me and the ending is unsatisfactory in the extreme. I kept reading, hoping there would be some saving grace, but it didn’t turn up. Maybe I ask for a lot from novels, but the vast majority manage to give me more than this one did. ( )

I loved this book. Superheroes, noir, mystery, robots, blimps, the kitchen sink. One of my favorite books of the yer. ( )

This was not the book I thought I was going to get. The reviews and cover blurb advertised alternate history, dimensional rifts, super heroes, gangsters and detectives. It had all those, but the story felt like they'd all been put into a food-processor and roughly chopped together. Nothing fit. There was very little cause and effect and zero character motivation (other than simple survival). It felt a lot like an old comic book or television show where stuff happens because the story needs it to happen. There is no 'why'. Disappointing. ( )

This is a debut novel for this Author, and despite what the cover may lead the reader to believe this book is about, once they start reading they will discover it is something more. Unfortunately, despite this book having a lot going for it, it didn’t quite reach the spot with me.

The reason for its shortcomings for me, all lie with the characters; right from the beginning they seem to be lacking something. The initial character we are introduced to is gone before the reader really has a chance to get to know him, he is replaced by the main protagonist, who is marginally more interesting, but not enough to make the reader connect with him or grab their attention fully. Many of the characters that appear in the book are never written with any real depth and, even though this is explained about halfway through the book, the reader spends much of their time surrounded by shallow characters. The characters have very little substance, not enough to carry a whole book, which is a shame in this particular novel.

Fortunately the setting of the book and the mystery contained in its pages were engrossing enough to keep me reading to the end. The setting is a parallel universe and brings a very steampunk feel to the pseudo-New York 1930’s written there with robots, prohibition, super heroes, unseen enemies and robots. This fictional universe is well written and the Author leaves it wide open to the reader’s imagination to explore and populate as they will. The overall feeling that the reader will gain from the atmosphere created in the book may well remind them of a Philip K. Dick novel, but which one will depend on how they interpret this novel.

I would recommend this book to readers of the time travel and fantasy genres.

Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2013/10/22/review-empire-state-empire-state-1-adam-ch...




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This is the first book I've abandoned in ages, but I just couldn't get into it at all. I'll try again another time but for now it was just too much of a slog.