For those not familiar with the long-running superhero series, Wild Cards are all mosaic novels: multiple authors each contributing stories using a shared setting and characters to a larger overarching story. The core narrative of Inside Straight, the eighteenth book in the continuum, is maintained by Daniel Abraham through the perspective of his character Jonathan Hive: superpowered “ace,” blogger, amateur journalist, and reality TV show contestant. Yes, a reality TV show about superhumans trying to win a million dollars and win the title of “American Hero.” I know, it sounds like a horrible idea, but Martin, et al., really made it work. It instantly establishes the contemporary American setting within their alternate reality and provides an excellent vehicle for the introduction of previously unknown characters into the Wild Cards universe. It is also a set-up for the real story, an earth-shaking conflict in the Middle East.
It is entirely possible to bypass the first seventeen Wild Cards books, jump right into Inside Straight, and enjoy it. This book is tied directly into events from the prior volumes, but more than adequate background is provided for new readers to understand the world of the Wild Cards. Those who are familiar with the previous stories will definitely have a different perspective, especially in the case of one of the book’s central figures, John Fortune.
In my opinion the stand-out amongst the contributing authors was Carrie Vaughn, who sucked me in completely with her “Chosen Ones” chapters. You know how sometimes when you are reading something and the world just fades away? The outside world isn’t there anymore, you aren’t there anymore, there is only the book. Well, reading the chapters that came from Vaughn was like that. If this novel offered any disappointments, it was that she did not write more of it.
Not that the other contributors were duds. Caroline Spector and Ian Tregillis were both especially good, and Melinda Snodgrass – who prior to reading Inside Straight I didn’t think I even liked – surprised me with the high quality of the chapters she provided.
All in all, Inside Straight is as fine an addition to the Wild Cards series as one could hope for. It works as both a gateway book for the uninitiated and a fresh take on the setting for series veterans.
