Shambling Towards Hiroshima [Paperback]

James Morrow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2009

In the tradition of Godzilla as both a playful romp and a parable of the dawn of the nuclear era, this original satire blends the destruction of World War II with the halcyon pleasure of monster movies. In the summer of 1945 war is reigning in the Pacific Rim, while in the U.S., Syms Thorley continues his life as a B-movie actor. But the U.S. Navy would like to use Thorley in their top-secret Knickerbocker Project, putting the finishing touches on the ultimate biological weapon: a breed of gigantic, fire-breathing, mutant iguanas. Thorley is to don a rubber suit that will transform him into the merciless Gorgantis and star in a film that simulates the destruction of a miniature Japan—if the demonstration succeeds, the Japanese will surrender, sparing thousands of lives; if it fails, the mutant lizards will be unleashed. Godzilla devotees and history buffs alike will be fascinated by this conspiratorial secret history of a war, a weapon, and an unlikely hero who will have to give the most convincing performance of his life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Witty and touching paean to the glory days of horror movies . . . The sheer insanity of the premise only makes the eventual payoff even more powerful."  —Publishers Weekly

"A stellar performance."  —Booklist

"Sharp-edged, delightfully batty . . . skillfully mingling real and imaginary characters with genuinely hilarious moments."  —Kirkus Reviews

"The most provocative satiric voice in science fiction."  —The Washington Post

"Amply displays [Morrow's] ability to juggle absurdity, tragedy, irony, and outrage."  —Locus magazine

"No book has captured the strange brew of jolly satire and moral indignity of vintage Kurt Vonnegut so well."  —Time Out Chicago

"Morrow understands theology like a theologian and psychology like a psychologist, but he writes like an angel."  —Richard Elliott Friedman, author, The Hidden Book in the Bible

"A ridiculously fun read. Pitch-perfect satire."  —Fantasy & Science Fiction

About the Author

James Morrow is a Nebula Award–winner and the author of Blameless in Abaddon, The Cat’s Pajamas, City of Truth, The Eternal Footman, The Last Witchfinder, Only Begotten Daughter, and Towing Jehovah. He lives in State College, Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Paperback: 170 pages
• Publisher: Tachyon Publications; 1St Edition edition (February 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892391848
• ISBN-13: 978-1892391841
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #511,612 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic nostalgic novel., April 20, 2009

By 

S. Duke "SMD" (Placerville, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Shambling Towards Hiroshima (Paperback)

Syms Thorley is a B-movie actor and writer renowned for his award-winning portrayals of monsters in 1940s Hollywood. Things are going well for Thorley: he's got the admiration of his fans, a steady work stream, and a brilliant script he and his girlfriend cooked up that could change the face of monster movies forever. But then the government shows up asking for his help: they need him for a top secret project to get the Japanese to surrender. What Thorley doesn't understand is why the need him. What good can a B-list monster movie actor do for the government? With this question looming overhead, Thorley soon discoveries that sometimes monsters aren't only in the movies...

Morrow's novel is a short one, but it sure packs a punch. A merger of the edginess of pulp fiction (the literary form, not the movie) and popular media drawn into reality, Shambling Towards Hiroshima sends us on what might be the ultimate top secret adventure. This isn't a novel that wants you to take it too seriously, though; it's a novel that is aware of the absurdity of its speculative claim and is all too prepared to capitalize on that in Morrow's writing style and characters. There is something both subtle and outrageous about the idea of the U.S. government using real-life monsters against the Japanese, particularly now that we think of Japan in terms of Godzilla jokes or production quality.

And I think this is Shambling Towards Hiroshima's strong point. Because it didn't take itself to seriously, I was able to set aside the little parts of me that wanted to call B.S. throughout the story. After all, this is an alternative history, of sorts, and it proposes something that is not only outlandish, but appropriately nostalgic. It works, too, because Thorley is an interesting character surrounded by a band of comical stereotypes who constantly add conflict to the main character's secret mission.

Morrow's style is clear and precise, with just enough comedic flare to keep things interesting. Even though Shambling Towards Hiroshima is a short novel, I found it incredibly enjoyable from start to finish, following the exploits of Thorley as he processed everything that was going on around him and attempted to put on a damn good show. There's something fascinating in being pulled back to the "good ole days" of science fiction television and film. From the start, I was immediately reminded on the Sci Fi Channel back when it used to run old Japanese monster movies practically on a loop. Those were the days, and being reminded of those nostalgic moments in childhood turned this novel into more than just another read, but something I could connect to my youth.

If you like the occasional pulp fiction novel, or even want to read about giant monsters tearing down cities and what not, then this is certainly a novel for you. You can find it at Tachyon Publications, a small press located in San Francisco, or pretty much anywhere you can order books from. Give it a look!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I-guana tell ya ...., February 27, 2009

By 

Dick Johnson (Oklahoma USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Shambling Towards Hiroshima (Paperback)

I enjoy Morrow's off-beat humor and his method of twisting reality. This book is a noir-ish, fantasy-ish take on the good old armed forces oxymoron ... (you've probably already said it to yourself - if not, think MI). It also spoofs Japanese monster movies. Lizards have a prominent role.

If you click on "See all Editorial Reviews" above you can read the description of the story. This is a very short/quick read (there are only 170 numbered pages) and in his acknowledgments Morrow calls it a novella. It's too short for me to give it five stars, but it was enjoyable.

If you like satire and tongue-in-cheek humor, give this book a try.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Giant Petri Dish of Fun, February 17, 2009

By 

Bill Ectric (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shambling Towards Hiroshima (Paperback)

If you like all those monster magazines and McFarland books and about B-movies, Lugosi, Chaney, King Kong, and Godzilla, you will love James Morrow's Shambling Toward Hiroshima. Maybe not as deep as the ethical dilemmas in The Philosopher's Apprentice or as dramatic as the clash between reason and superstition in The Last Witchfinder, but Shambling is a giant petri dish of fun and still has its poignant moments.