I found this to be a very readable and interesting SF story and I don't know what all those other reviewers are whining about. So I gave it one more star that it really merits just to help raise the rating a bit. They're MY stars and I'll do what I want. ( )

The title led me to expect a more light hearted SF thriller than the fractured Europe series. I found it lighter but not particularly lighter hearted. There is a very long build up, interesting in itself but it takes up too much of the book. The sf bit is more pacy but quite short and the plot remains partly unresolved. On the other hand, Hutchinson's narrative skill and characterisation are as strong as ever. When I finished this, I was convinced it must be the first of a series and if it were, I'd certainly carry on reading. But there is no sign of that being the case. January 2021. ( )

Extremely well written, but odd: paced very strangely, and ultimately a too-close riff on Dr. Manhattan from [b:Watchmen|472331|Watchmen|Alan Moore|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442239711l/472331._SY75_.jpg|4358649]. Plus, the first 3/4 read as a (very good) pastiche of [a:William Gibson|9226|William Gibson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1373826214p2/9226.jpg].

Full review on Positron:
https://www.positronchicago.com/2019/09/the-return-of-incredible-exploding-man.h... ( )

http://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2020/07/202094-return-of-incredible-exploding.html ( )

Welcome to Pulp-Land! In more ways than one!

1. 3/4 of the novel is about a slow-simmering failed science-writer landing a cush job to write a book for a tech millionaire who bought a town. Add a bit of espionage and some funny interpersonal experiences with his new home and neighbors, and I still had a fun time wondering HOW THE HELL THE TITLE FIT IN. This is old-school SF technique, btw. Total pulp. :)

2. The last part is TOTAL freaky quantum superhero stuff with time travel, teleportation, and pretty awesome callbacks to the events in the first 3/4. I had a total blast with this particular pulp.

3. Pulpy! Like, literally. An explosion of biomass! PULP-LAND!


I had a good time. I didn't expect it to be like the Fractured Europe Sequence and I came into it expecting a light-hearted SF, and this is what I got. :)

Kinda like orange juice. Freshly squeezed. ( )