A deadpan “Call Me Zits” opens the first novel in 10 years from Alexie (Smoke Signals, etc.), narrated by a self-described “time-traveling mass murderer” whose name and deeds unravel as this captivating bildungsroman progresses.
March 22, 2007
Alexie the time traveler
FLIGHT by Sherman AlexieToday Sherman's new book called Flight hits the shelves. Here is the first review of his novel by Publisher's Weekly:
A deadpan “Call Me Zits” opens the first novel in 10 years from Alexie (Smoke Signals, etc.), narrated by a self-described “time-traveling mass murderer” whose name and deeds unravel as this captivating bildungsroman progresses. Comment: For another book with a similar theme, check out The Time Traveler's Wife. No Indians, but a husband who jumps through time. Rob's rating: 8.5 of 10.
A deadpan “Call Me Zits” opens the first novel in 10 years from Alexie (Smoke Signals, etc.), narrated by a self-described “time-traveling mass murderer” whose name and deeds unravel as this captivating bildungsroman progresses.
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Writerfella here --
Six or seven years ago, writerfella ran across an interview with Sherman Alexie in a literary magazine, in which Alexie mightily wished that there were Native American science fiction writers. Aware that writerfella might be inviting accusations of hubris, he STILL contacted Alexie because the remark left him feeling much scandalized. And Sherman Alexie said in response that he well was aware of writerfella and the fact that Russell Bates had long been a name in science fiction circles. "What I meant when I said that was, I was wishing mightily that there were young, modern Native American science fiction writers." Was writerfella assuaged by such words? No, no, and HELL NO! It was the death of a thousand cuts and rubbed-in sea salt combined!
As of such a time, writerfella's opinion of the USS Sherman Alexie fell worlds and galaxies, even though Alexie sent writerfella an autographed copy of THE LONE RANGER AND TONTO FIST FIGHT IN HEAVEN as a sort of apology. It does not mean that Alexie will fail to be represented in writerfella's forthcoming HORSEMAN, STARMAN: The Native American In Science Fiction. It simply means that Alexie little is differing from the industry forces that have resisted and discouraged writerfella's writings in the past, almost forty years he has been published and has sold material to the film industry.
Remember the line from Khalil Gibran, "Death most resembles a prophet who is without honor in his own land or a poet who is a stranger among his own people." writerfella has come a way long enough to where he knows that line is just a line, but Alexie has not. Give it time, young sir; give it time...
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'
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