Goodreads: Helen and Troy's Epic Road Quest

[cyrano]

Helen and Troy's Epic Road Quest by A. Lee Martinez

The first Martinez book I read was Automatic Detective. And it was amazing. I've read a few of his books since, looking for that sweet perfect moment again. I have found good book, enjoyable reads. This is one of them. It takes the standard quest story and turns it sideways. Its humor is not puns or quick payoffs but subtle jabs at the subject matter. It's very meta. But there are still dragons and orcs, as there should be in any respectable quest. Our two main characters are often more interesting than the quest itself. Plus there's a very good dog.

Comments

[missroserose]

I've had similar experiences with Martinez. I would say Emperor Mollusk vs. the Sinister Brain is my other favorite by him; the others have been varying shades of enjoyable-but-forgettable, with I think only one in the batch that left me cold.

Also, I'd meant to thank you—Brian and I are reading This Is How You Lose The Time War to each other, and enjoying it immensely.

[cyrano]

I am delighted to hear you like it. It's always fraughting to recommend a book you love. What if? What if? What if?

Are you reading Red or Blue?

[missroserose]

Red, by sheer dint of having gone first.

(The whacked-seal joke from last night's letter had us both dying.)