Wild Cards II: Aces High

By: George R. R. Martin - editor

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

After the alien virus struck humanity in the wake of World War II, a handful of the survivors found they possessed superhuman powers. The Wild Cards shared-world volumes tell their story. Here in book two, we trace these heroes and villains through the tumultuous 1980s, in stories from SF and fantasy giants such as George R. R. Martin, Roger Zelazny, Pat Cadigan, Lewis Shiner, Walter Jon Williams, and others.

©2011 George R. R. Martin (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Better than the first one

This book was better than the first since it actually had a story to follow instead of a bunch of disjointed short stories. I don’t think I will continue this series. Might pick it back up later on.

Aw Man! I lost my buddy.

One of those rare books that entertains and becomes your friend. When it's over you're better for the encounter, but you've lost a buddy. Though written by many authors, it's cohesion and unified theme make it much more of a novel than an anthology. Great read!

Even better than the first book!

This book was fantastic! I love this anthology series. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Excellent

I really enjoy these anthologies. It's great how a story is told through so many voices, characters, and writers. It's a real treat.

Derailing Detail

I have now mostly enjoyed both volume 1 & 2 of Wild Cards. Great alternate universe anthologies that keep you going long past when you should be working or sleeping. But...

In book 2 the character "Fortunado" repeatedly uses a homophobic slur in an angry manner that doesn't fit the character from the first book at all. For the most part he seems like a completely different person, and has lost his worldly sense and ends up coming across as a bigoted ass, and not in a way that endears in any manner. It's jarring enough that it pulls you right out of the story as you question why he has changed so much. Too bad this detail sticks out so brightly, because it would have been a 5 star review otherwise. That character continuity just ruined large portions because of how he was written and my enjoyment. Maybe we'll be back to form in book 3.