Book Review: Pirates of the Electromagnetic Waves

Pirates of the Electromagnetic Waves, #1

Pirates of the Electromagnetic Waves, the first book in Fenton Wood's Yankee Republic series, is a quick, delightful read. There is also a full series omnibus edition, which you can order in Kindle format from Amazon or as a paperback direct from the author. I've seen the books compared to The Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, and the Mad Scientists Club.

For me, though, the most apt comparison is to the works of Ray Bradbury, particularly Dandelion Wine. Don't let the rather bland cover fool you; there's something wonderful inside.

The story

The story revolves around the boys' efforts to build a pirate radio station. And that's... well, honestly, that's pretty much it. There's almost no overt conflict; just a series of challenges--technical, physical, interpersonal, political, and logistical, that the two boys and their friends have to overcome. And yet, between the detailed descriptions of the process of setting up the radio station, the likeability of the protagonists, and the sweet-but-never-cloying sentimentality that infuses the book, it's just so much fun.

The characters

The main characters are two teenage boys, Philo Hergenschmidt and Randall Quinn. Randall is something of a raconteur (not to say fabulist...), while Philo is a bit more grounded (to make an appropriately electrical pun). 

The world 

Pirates is set in a small town on an alternate timeline where America's past, as well as a little of our future, intermingles with the present day. As one reviewer put it, the world of Pirates "went right everywhere we went wrong." Fenton Wood immerses the reader in his world, gradually and expertly revealing subtle differences from our own--and hinting at more. The result is a setting that is simultaneously comforting and unsettling.

The politics

There's no overt political angle, though Wood is clearly big on individual freedom, community, family and personal responsibility. Wood's depiction of the idyllic 1950s-esque town is subtly subversive (or rather, superversive). Pirates makes the reader wonder what our world might be like if we had managed to hold onto more of our freedom.

Content warning

None. This book is appropriate for all ages.

Why read it?

It's fun, fast, easy-to-read, and leaves you with a big smile on your face.

Who is it for?

Anyone who doesn't hate goodness and fun. If you're a fan of Ray Bradbury, particularly his more Earthbound work, you really should check it out.