Jim Eaton profile

Usually when I write a review, I sit down with the book fresh in my mind and just respond. This time, however, I was compelled to check out what others thought about it. Seems like most of the major reviewers like the NY Times loved the book. Nothing but good things to say. Best thing since sliced bread. Felt a little bandwagonish, did those reviews.The reader reviews on Amazon, however, told a different story. Most of those were from hard-core Song of Ice and Fire fans, people who’ve been following this series (and waiting on this new book) for years – and they weren’t crazy about this offering. With almost 400 reviews in so far, the consensus gives ADWD three stars out of five. Reading through their comments, I was surprised that number wasn’t closer to a two.

What if, as Franklin Roosevelt once proposed, Alaska - and not Israel - had become the homeland for the Jews after World War II? In Michael Chabon's Yiddish-speaking 'Alyeska', Orthodox gangs in side-curls and knee breeches roam the streets of Sitka, where Detective Meyer Landsman discovers the corpse of a heroin-addled chess prodigy in the flophouse Meyer calls home. Marionette strings stretch back to the hands of charismatic Rebbe Gold, leader of a sect that seems to have drawn its mission statement from the Cosa Nostra - but behind Rebbe looms an even larger shadow. Despite sensible protests from Berko, his half-Tlingit, half-Jewish partner, Meyer is determined to unsnarl the meaning behind the murder. Even if that means surrendering his badge and his dignity to the chief of Sitka's homicide unit - also known as his fearsome ex-wife, Bina. 'The Yiddish Policemen's Union' interweaves a homage to the stylish menace of 1940s film noir with a bittersweet fable of identity, home and faith. It is a novel of colossal ambition and heart from one of the most important and beloved writers working today.

"I don’t have much else to say. There are no nits to pick. I salute Landsmann, his compatriots, and their creator. Clearly, this is a writer for the ages, a powerful wordsmith and a uniquely gifted mind at work. Envy him if you must (I do), but by all means read him. I can’t imagine you’ll read a finer book in the fantasy genre. He gives Philip Roth, William Kennedy, and even the venerable Mr. Fitzgerald a run for their money. Black hats off to him." Fantasy Book Review

So it sounds like I hated it. I didn’t. I am willing and able to forgive all because the book was explosively creative.. The ideas were gold. The Captain kicks some butt. Nixon meets a Tarantinoesque, offscreen end. Sex happens in motels (a solid case of the emperor’s new clothes). The potential is there. Still, the treatment of such compelling concepts shouldn’t be rushed; one should have such sheep braised slowly on a spit of reflection and insight, juices hissing, smell teasing. Flavor sells itself, but put kobe beef in chili, it’s just chili. Serve the beef and hold the beans.

The Shadow Year is not a science fiction novel. Neither is it a fantasy novel. What is it? Well, if that question means ‘what category does it fall into?’, my answer is: you got me. Don’t know. If the question is meant to be more general, as in ‘how is it?’ or ‘do it fly?’ then my answer is unequivocally ‘yes.’