2007 Book Log #76: Snake Agent, by Liz Williams

[annathepiper]

There are any number of reasons why Liz Williams' Snake Agent, the first book of her Detective Inspector Chen novels, is worth your time. The setting is refreshingly different for a supernatural mystery/thriller: futuristic China, where there's a blend of high tech and magic, but wherein the magic and the mythos are pulled out of Chinese sources. There's the hero, neither young nor particularly handsome or dashing, but certainly decent, and adamant about standing up for what he believes in--such as, for example, his demon bride. There's the setup of Heaven and Hell existing as quite distinct realms right alongside Earth, each with their own politics and regulations governing who can travel between the realms and when. And since we're talking futuristic high tech in the setting as well, there's a dash of Minority Report with glimpses of the so-called nexi who provide the living hubs for the bioweb that now spans the earth, a neat contrast to the supernatural goings-on.

But most of all there's a highly entertaining story here. What starts off for Detective Inspector Chen as a missing spirit case--the question of a deceased young girl's spirit showing up in Hell rather than in Heaven where she belonged--rapidly escalates into a tangled web of complications. Chen must soon deal with a demon detective assigned to investigate the case from Hell's end, rivalries between Hell's Ministries, and his demon wife's own history coming back to haunt them both. Through it all, he has to figure out how to avoid angering his patron goddess, Kuan Yin. It's a thoroughly engaging and unusual tale, with elements both epic and comic, and a very strong start for what promises to be a fantastic series.

And I have to admit, I was totally sold on the teakettle that turns into a badger. Four stars.

Comments

[cafiorello.livejournal.com]

Yours is the second strong recommendation I've gotten on this one, so I guess it's on the list!

Cathy

[annathepiper]

Woot! Hope you enjoy it. I'll be picking up the second one at my earliest opportunity.

[neutronjockey.livejournal.com]

You forgot the major number one reason: Liz Williams is just plain cool.

[annathepiper]

Heh, there's that too. ^_^

[motherofpearl51.livejournal.com]

I met Liz Williams a few years ago. Both she and I were flying home from the WorldCon in Philly I think it was. Both of our flights home routed through New Jersey. She sat beside me on the flight there. We talked about her novels, her boyfriend and his writing. She left the plane to very quickly (she had 2 or 3 hours until her next flight) run into New York for a bite to eat. More guts then me. I have 2 of her books, but didn't take them to Glasgow for her to autograph. I bet Mike is really glad I didn't. :)

[annathepiper]

Cool beans! I've been following her LJ for a while now--she's mevennen--and I've previously read Nine Layers of Sky and Banner of Souls by her. I'm keeping an eye out for more of her older novels.