Book Review: Of All the Gin Joints in the Universe, by Richard Paolinelli
The Dane Curse IN SPAACCEEE.
Richard Paolinelli has written some great little books. My personal favorite is Escaping Infinity. It started out like David Weber, continued as written by Rod Serling, and ended with the epic scope of John C. Wright.
Here, Paolinelli has taken one of Dashiell Hammett’s most complex (maybe convoluted) novel, moved it into space, and and decided “Nah. This was too easy. Let’s up the stakes.
The Story
In the 25th Century, in a world molded by the Musk family, Private Investigator Samuel Archer Spade used to work as a cop for Galactic Justice. After one experience too many, he hid in the back end of the galaxy at Space Station 1964, with a robot secretary he calls Angel. Until a woman in red walks into The Galaxy’s Edge bar and drops her problem in his lap. She’s being hounded by a man about a dingus, a black bird that is supposed to hold a treasure.
The man shows up who is supposed to be harassing her shows up, and then the bodies start dropping.
In trying to find the truth, Spade is about to run into a massive intergalactic conspiracy, with more corrupt cops than a New Orleans police convention. And these men are willing to kill Sam, his client, and anyone else who gets in their way.
Of All the Gin Joints in the Universe has been one of the better science fiction novels I’ve read in quite some time. It’s been a long while since I read a book that knew how to keep ratcheting up the stakes as events went along. It really is one of the best mash ups of noir mysteries and science fiction I’ve seen since Lori Janeski’s Carter Files.
It looks like we’re going to get a science fiction rehash of The Maltese Falcon. Instead what we get is more akin to The Dane Curse— the problem we think we get is only the beginning. And just when you think everything is wrapped up all nice and neat … things just keep getting worse. We go from a simple, straightforward science fiction noir novel, to espionage, to trying to keep the world from falling apart.
We also have jokes. Spade runs into a Carter, on Mars. Spade’s aliases include a Mister Thornhill (See: North by Northwest). There’s at least one DOGE joke.
And let’s say that there’s also a bit of Dollhouse in the book. You’ll probably notice it when you see it.
Of All the Gin Joints in the Universe is a great book. How good. I’m definitely considering nominating it for the Dragon Awards this year.
The Characters
Sam Spade is a boy scout. Not that he’s the most virtuous character, but that he definitely believes in being prepared. I would say he’s almost too prepared, but any less, I’m not sure anyone would have survived this novel.
Natasha Carter is our femme fatale, and makes a good sidekick for Spade.
The World
This is very much a world shaped by the legacy of Elon Musk, and his family. The technology looks almost like magic.
In this world, we have the mind wipe technology I first saw in Babylon 5, and if you think “that could be abused,” you have no idea how bad that can get.
Politics
No modern politics are applicable to this story.
Content Warning
Sam Spade sleeps with about two or three women through this book, but none of it is on screen. It’s less fade to black and more “completely cut away between sentences.”
Who is it for?
Do you like the puzzle and detective work, as well as the thrills in a Harry Dresden novel? Perhaps you like noir in space, like Lori Janeski’s Phoenix. Either way, I think you’ll like this one.
Why buy it?
It’s an enjoyable sci-fi thriller ride that’s good enough for a Dragon Award. Give it a try, you’ll agree.