SOJALS rating:

Good (3/5)

I first read this in August 2010 and most recently on the 18th February 2015

The multiverse exists. Sheaves of universes grouped together, sometimes splitting off, sometimes merging back together. The discovery of the Turing Gate permitted travel across the multiverse. The sheaf where the Turing Gateway was first discovered is the "Real". America exists in most Universes and the Real America struggles to ensure a PanAmerica in its own image across all the America's. It does this as it always does, with the military and the CIA.

Adam Stone, one-time CIA Cowboy Angel, is out of that now. He lives quietly living in a small hamlet, farming and hunting. But then the Company comes for him. They need his help. His old partner, Tom Waverley, has gone rogue. Since Tom once saved Adam's live, Adam agrees and goes with them to the "Nixon" sheaf. Very quickly he finds himself up against the local agencies, the Real America CIA and the hidden enemy. His loved ones are slaughtered and now all he has left is his search for Tom Waverley and Tom's crazy conspiracy theories.

I have to admit this is a very good novel. I loved the concept and liked the eloquent writing. However, I did find it a little drawn-out. That's English understatment by the way. What sticks with me after reading the book a second time is the image of these two near-superhuman figures leaping between universes and wreaking havoc in their search for justice, loyalty and love.

On the back cover of the paperback, I spotted a link to unlikelyworlds.co.uk. This turns out to be Paul's website. It is chock full of interesting stuff, including a conversation between Paul and John Womack (author of "Heathern" and "Random Acts Of Senseless Violence" amongst many other great novels). Check out the site but be warned, if you're a superficial person, that the website layout is ancient. Made me feel quite smug about SF Reviews early 21st century formatting.