Title: Rocket Science
Author: Jay Lake
Genre: Science fiction
Most of the time, I think that “retro” is just another word for “leftovers.” It’s nice to be wrong about this particular visit back to the Golden Age of science fiction. The setting of Lake’s post-WWII novel is the key to its success. It brings together alien spacecraft, Nazis, Communists, the Kansas City mob, in a small Kansas town, with a slow enough buildup that by the time you realize how much disbelief you’ve suspended, you’re at the end of the novel. The ending is fairly open-ended, which makes me wonder if there’s supposed to be a sequel out there. I hope that there is, or will be, because otherwise the lack of closure would be a real disappointment.
I’d like to write more, because I did enjoy the novel and it’s a fun read. But honestly, I’m brainfried and it’s coming up on my bedtime.