This is a character study through and through, a breakdown of what drives men, of what inspires men, and ultimately of what destroys them. He goes to the research lab in the hope of having his bio-chemical electrical discharge dealt with-a nice nod to the events of the previous book-and instead finds himself at the heart of a postmodern Frankenstein project.Ĭould we say that the plot is a trifle derivative? Sure, but good god, that seems petty, especially when one considers that the plot really is secondary here. He is initially repulsed by what Roger is trying to do, but then becomes caught up in the illusion and responds the way most people would. Moreover, Ben's response to the project his brother-in-law Roger is working on is about as human a response as is possible. Often, especially in the first few chapters, characters begin talking about something and we know, just as Ben knows, that there is something they are not saying, something they know but we do not, and this works beautifully to keep us empathizing with Ben's predicament. This is the story of a man who has no idea what is going on pretty much the entire book. But it's sci-fi for us pedestrians, for those who don't want epic space dramas or overly complicated mythologies. Instead, The Wishing Stone is pure sci-fi, unapologetic, balls-to-the-walls sci-fi. Gone is the slightly wonky genre-mashup of Book 1. It simply wasn't as good as I've come to know Maus can be.īook 2, The Wishing Stone, blows the hell out of Book 1.
In short, I enjoyed the book, but it felt like Maus-lite. I said it was a solid story and a great way of passing a few hours, but it was a trifle confusing and lacking in the humor department. I said it was good, but not as good as the other works by Maus I've read. A few months ago, I reviewed Machines of the Little People, Book 1 of The Eve Project. Maus is a gifted storyteller, a go-for-broke storyteller. He can take something as common as UFOs, as in Bob, and put such a spin on it that the reader has no choice but to be delighted by every page. Maus can take a seemingly banal setup, such as the handyman service of Service Before Self, and fashion it into a compelling, comedic character study. A few months ago, I reviewed Machines of the Little Pe A Tegon Maus novel is a celebration, not only of storytelling but of the very act of creation. A Tegon Maus novel is a celebration, not only of storytelling but of the very act of creation.