Osama

I am generally not a fan of noir. For this book, I tried hard to put that aside and be open to a new experience. It's touted as an alternate history tale, so I thought it would be different. Instead it was dull and confusing. In this universe, Osama bin Laden is character in a series of pulp novels and there is no terrorism. The protagonist is a gumshoe hired to find the books' author. Excerpts from the books are interspersed throughout the narrative. These excerpts are the actual terrorist actions instigated by al-Queda. They are still disturbing to read after twenty years. Despite these, the book is just one big snoozer. Somehow, this book beat out some really big names to win the 2012 World Fantasy Award.

Come visit my blog for the full review...