06-08-2023, 08:31 AM
The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal
It's The Thin Man in Space. Yes, that Thin Man. Nick and Nora Charles Thin Man. Right down to the dog and the obsession with drinking. Except we are on a passenger cruise from the Earth to Mars with Tesla Crane and her husband, Shal and Tesla Crane's service dog, Gimlet. There is a strong Death on the Nile feel, too. Tesla does most of the investigating after the Security Chief arrests Shal as the main suspect in the murder. If you know the films or books, you know the banter and the drinking. Plenty of screwball comedy moments, too.
The book is a strong advocate for LGBTQ representation. You can only use the correct pronouns for someone if they are given to you. People introduce themselves followed by their pronouns in every situation. My intellectual side liked how Kowal did show how proper representation could be used in society without anyone caring too much about it. My Neanderthal side sighed many times and felt it was just a big gimmick.
I did wish several times they would hurry up and solve the mystery already. The book has the feel of the start of a series. Can't let all that world building and back story go to waste.
It's The Thin Man in Space. Yes, that Thin Man. Nick and Nora Charles Thin Man. Right down to the dog and the obsession with drinking. Except we are on a passenger cruise from the Earth to Mars with Tesla Crane and her husband, Shal and Tesla Crane's service dog, Gimlet. There is a strong Death on the Nile feel, too. Tesla does most of the investigating after the Security Chief arrests Shal as the main suspect in the murder. If you know the films or books, you know the banter and the drinking. Plenty of screwball comedy moments, too.
The book is a strong advocate for LGBTQ representation. You can only use the correct pronouns for someone if they are given to you. People introduce themselves followed by their pronouns in every situation. My intellectual side liked how Kowal did show how proper representation could be used in society without anyone caring too much about it. My Neanderthal side sighed many times and felt it was just a big gimmick.
I did wish several times they would hurry up and solve the mystery already. The book has the feel of the start of a series. Can't let all that world building and back story go to waste.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm