Wild Cards I (Wild Cards Novel) [Paperback]

George R.R. Martin (Author), Wild Cards Trust (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 23, 2010 | Series: Wild Cards Novel (Book 1)

Back in print after a decade, expanded with new original material, this is the first volume of George R. R. Martin’s Wild cards shared-world series

There is a secret history of the world—a history in which an alien virus struck the Earth in the aftermath of World War II, endowing a handful of survivors with extraordinary powers. Some were called Aces—those with superhuman mental and physical abilities. Others were termed Jokers—cursed with bizarre mental or physical disabilities. Some turned their talents to the service of humanity. Others used their powers for evil. Wild Cards is their story.

Originally published in 1987, Wild Cards I includes powerful tales by Roger Zelazny, Walter Jon Williams, Howard Waldrop, Lewis Shiner, and George R. R. Martin himself. And this new, expanded edition contains further original tales set at the beginning of the Wild Cards universe, by eminent new writers like Hugo–winner David Levine, noted screenwriter and novelist Michael Cassutt, and New York Times bestseller Carrie Vaughn.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This volume in the Wild Cards shared-world saga is an expanded edition of the first in the series, containing all the stories and pseudodocuments of the alternate time line launched when the Wild Card virus hit during WWII that were in the 1987 original edition. Some of the stories have been expanded, and to them are added a batch of new stories that, by and large, fit well with the old. Among the best of the oldies are Walter Jon Williams’ “Witness” and Melinda Snodgrass’ “Degradation Rites.” Carrie Vaughn has done the new “Ghost Girl Takes Manhattan,” and David Levine, “Powers.” Old faithfuls among Wild Cards fans may really revel, but even newbies should enjoy this solid volume of intelligent entertainment. --Roland Green

Review

“Delicious…. Everything I’d hoped for in a new Wild cards book. The character interactions and plot twists have exactly the complexity, surprise, and unsentimental realism I’d expect out of a George R. R. Martin project.” —Austin Grossman, author of Soon I Will Be Invincible, on Inside Straight

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; Expanded edition (November 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765326159
• ISBN-13: 978-0765326157
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #306,860 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A golden oldie February 6, 2002

By Killer Shrike

Format:Paperback

I read this series when it was originally released. I wasnt happy with where the series eventually ended up late in the series, but the earlier works are fond favorites.

People buying this book (or others in the series) because they are fans of GRRMartins Song of Ice and Fire series are likely to be disapointed due to misaligned expectations.

The only thing this series has in common with the Song of Ice and Fire is a gritty certainty that favorite characters will get killed....or worse, and the use of widely scattered often disconnected characters and plotlines that sometimes may cross but also might never. Further, as this is a 'mosaic' novel, GRRMartin isnt the sole proprietor of the stories.

Treated as a seperate entity from GRRMartin's more recent series, the Wild Cards series is a fairly unique and often brilliant body of work. Due to its nature, not all of the short stories will appeal to everyone; to be sure there are stories and story arcs that dont appeal to me either.

Regardless, taken as a whole the series is really something special. Its similar to a massive wall mural which cant be appreciated from up close; you have to pull back abit and look at it in its entirety to fully appreciate the overall effect.

The strength of the series lays in its deft characterizations. Some of my favorite fictional characters are from this series; the Turtle, Croyd Crenson (the Sleeper), Golden Boy, Mackie Messer, Carnifex, Mr Nobody, Jumpin Jack Flash (et al), Kid Dinosaur.....the list goes on and on.

The series really picks up in the second book, but the 1st is where all of the necessary background resides.

Unfortunately, the books are being released in a grossly overpriced large softbound edition; my advice it to find the original paperbacks in a used book store.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read If Any Part of You Is a Superhero Fan November 28, 2011

By Art

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

There are a *lot* of non-comic character based super-hero books, but the Wildcards series has an impresive list of authors and edittors (its editted by George R.R. Martin, author of the currrent best selling A Song of Fire and Ice series) and spans around 20 volumes. Please note that Wildcards is NOT similar to A Song of Ice and Fire, and the people trashing this book because they bought it because of Martin's involvement just didnt do their homework before buying the book. More on that later. These are full length books, and take themselves fairly seriously -- they are not necessarily rigidly realistic, but are not "pulpy" in comparison with most super-hero books.

The format of book 1 is that most of the chapters tell mostly self-contained stories, with the chapters written by different authors. A few chapters provide backstory on the origins of the wildcard virus (which gives the super powers, mutations and afflications), but most are generally centered around the origin and story of a particular person affected by the wildcard virus, whether as an "ace" or "joker" (super-powered character or individual afflicted with random disfigurement or other problems.) Certain individuals appear in more than one chapter, and some of them have continuing relevance throughout the series, while others are one chapter characters that either die or return to obscurity. There is fairly little over-arching story in this introductory volume -- rather, you get a slice of time in the alternate history of the world where the wildcards virus causes the emergence of super-heroes and jokers (i.e. mutants) in the 40s. In addition to a bit of the history and backstory, you get a bunch of origin/introduction type stories.

As a result of this format, you dont get deep plot or character development, but at its best, Wildcards I introduces some of the most creative and memorable super-heroes you'll ever read about. The first non-backstory chapter, for example, tells the origin story of "The Sleeper" whose highly memorable and imaginative origin story ends in amazing chaos that just completely and naturally flows out of his story. It feels real(ish), and not "comic booky" the way that many super-hero books (even those not based on comic books) do.

At its worst, there are certain chapters that may not click for you at all, arent overly imaginative and/or and do little to advance the overall history of the Wildcards world. For example, "Ghost Girl" is about a college student with a very familiar power that has a one night misadventure. I dont recall if she appears in subsequent books, but her little misadventure -- while perfectly pleasant to read -- wont stay with you long.

Verdict: People looking for a traditionally coherent fantasy with deep plot and character development should avoid this book. You do get more of an overarching plot in some of the subsequent books, but these books are by no means similar to A Song of Ice and Fire in that they lack that kind of depth of plot, character development and flow. Buying Wildcards just because you liked A Song of Ice and Fire is a bad idea. What they are is tremendous fun, highly imaginative super-hero based fantasy. Folks that to any extent, even in some buried part of themselves not seen since childhood, are superhero fans owe it to themselves to read the book, because of the sheer depth of imagination and creativity of the universe and characters (some of them anyway). I still remember The Sleeper, The Turtle and many others (not all of whom appear in this first book) 20 years after reading many of the Wildcards books.

*Superhero fans should be sure to check out my other reviews, as I've reviewed 5 or so non-comic based super-hero stories.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars a hit, a palpable hit... July 14, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

There are those who have complained that the stories in this book aren't complete, but seem like they're just beginning. This complaint is valid, but the reasoning is inaccurate. Look at the Wild Cards series as comics books told in narrative rather than picture form. A regular comic book series doesn't usually have a complete tale, without clues to the future, and neither does this book. Some of these stories are setups to larger stories, and believe me, that ain't bad. I have read all sixteen books, and in my opinion, while some of the stories ARE weaker than others, the whole is much bigger than the sum of its parts.

The fact is that I grew to care about these characters. I wanted to know more about them, and that need to know drew me deeper and deeper as the series progressed. Now that the series is being re-released, I can honestly say that if you are comic book fan in search of more serious fare, where even the so-called "good guys" can have some unpalatable personality traits, than the wild cards series is for you. If you don't want to blow the bucks for a brand spanking new one, than get one used. I will say that if you dismiss this series without at least trying ONE book, you are missing out on the next level of superheroics.

Try Vol.1 out. If you don't end up loving Croyd (the Sleeper), I'll eat my hat!