Kings (A Wild Cards novel book 29) edited by Melinda M. Snodgrass (book review).
The 29th mosaic of ‘Wild Cards,’ ‘Three Kings,’ looks a lot slimmer than the previous two books, but it is spread over 14 days in March 2020 and written by 5 authors. I believe it’s also the first to feature Melinda Snodgrass’s editorship on the cover. Each of the five authors focusses on their own characters in the events, which are listed at the back of the book, but it’s unclear who each character interacts with when they cross over.
The UK is experiencing rapid changes. Queen Margaret has died, but, before dying, she instructs the ace Alan Turing that her late sister’s son wasn’t a stillborn but a joker and told him to find him because he is the natural successor. There’s also a rivalry between her own sons, Henry and Richard, as to being king, let alone having someone out there who outranks them. As a result, we track various individuals’ journeys as they uncover the truth.
In Belfast, Ace Bahb is committed to maintaining a crime-free environment in her community before travelling to London. Noel Matthews, aka Double Helix, is doing so to appease the Silver Helix. The Green Man, head of the terrorist group Twisted Fists, also joins in. These characters all appeared in ‘Knaves Over Queens’ but a lot older than their first appearances. Someone must have shared similar thoughts with me regarding the functioning of democracy in the UK, as there are two indications that the royal family does not govern the country, albeit incorrectly, given that the royal family was founded in 1832, which is only a few generations ago.
How far can I go without revealing any spoilers? There’s a lot of misdirection, different alliances, and even some truth getting out. Occasionally, there is a tangle, and I’m still not sure what happened to Prince Richard. Five different writers adequately flesh out all the characters. Snodgrass has extensive experience in editing these mosaics, ensuring the blending and perspectives flow smoothly. Be cautious about who you support, as the number of casualties rises and you’re uncertain about who to trust. Don’t tear our cards up.
GF Willmetts
December 2024
(pub: TOR, 2022. 334 page enlarged paperback. Price: $18.99 (US). ISBN: 978-1-250-16794-1).
check out website: www.tor.com
