Zia Summer [Paperback]

Rudolfo Anaya (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 16, 2008

p>"[Rudolfo Anaya] continues to shine brightest with his trademark alchemy: blending Spanish, Mexican and Indian cultures to evoke the distinctively fecund spiritual terrain of his part of the Southwest. Here Sonny Baca, a 30-year-old fledgling PI, investigates the murder of his . . . cousin [Gloria] who many years before had introduced him to love. Gloria's husband is worried most about the effect of the gruesome death (Gloria's body is found drained of blood, with a zia sun sign carved on her stomach) on his mayoral campaign in Albuquerque. Sonny believes Gloria's spirit calls to him for vengeance and pursues the case throughout New Mexico's South Valley, from the cocktail-party circuit of the arts community and the company of monied business developers to an assemblage of witches in an environmentalist commune in the mountains. . . ."--Publisher's Weekly

". . . a compelling thriller. . . . Though satisfying purely as a mystery, the novel sacrifices none of Anaya's trademark spirituality--a connectedness to the earth and a deep-seated respect for the traditions of a people and a culture. . . . Read this multidimensional novel for its rich language and full-bodied characters. Anaya is one of our greatest storytellers, and Zia Summer is muy caliente!"--Booklist

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Called a founding father of Chicano literature in English, the author of Bless Me, Ultima and Alburquerque tries his hand at detective fiction but continues to shine brightest with his trademark alchemy: blending Spanish, Mexican and Indian cultures to evoke the distinctively fecund spiritual terrain of his part of the Southwest. Here Sonny Baca, a 30-year-old fledgling PI, investigates the murder of his prima, Gloria Dominic, the cousin who many years before had introduced him to love. Gloria's husband is worried most about the effect of the gruesome death (Gloria's body is found drained of blood, with a zia sun sign carved on her stomach) on his mayoral campaign in Albuquerque. Sonny believes Gloria's spirit calls to him for vengeance and pursues the case throughout New Mexico's South Valley, from the cocktail-party circuit of the arts community and the company of monied business developers to an assemblage of witches in an environmentalist commune in the mountains. Although the narrative pace is often bumbling, Anaya blends elements of nuclear waste-management and ancient tradition with considerable credibility and offers a memorable cast of locals. But best here is Sonny's convincing attachment to the land and the traditions that have shaped him.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The first in a new mystery series by the author of the classic Bless Me, Ultima.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 342 pages
• Publisher: University of New Mexico Press (May 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826344879
• ISBN-13: 978-0826344878
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,128,610 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rudolfo Anaya is professor emeritus of English at the University of New Mexico. He was one of the first winners of the Premio Quinto Sol National Chicano literary award. Winner of the PEN Center USA West Award for Fiction for his novel Alburquerque, he is best-loved for his classic bestseller Bless Me, Ultima. His other works include Zia Summer, Rio Grande Fall, Jalamanta, Tortuga, Heart of Aztlan , and The Anaya Reader. He has also written numerous short stories, essays, and children's books, including The Farolitos of Christmas and Maya's Children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars exellent murder mystery, October 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Zia Summer (Mass Market Paperback)

"Zia Summer," by Rudalfo Anaya, is about a small-timepersonal investigator from Albuquerque, New Mexico, named Sonny Baca,the great-grandson of famed lawman Elfego Baca. Sonny's cousin, Gloria Dominic, who is married to Frank Dominic, a very high political figure in the town, turns up dead. She was killed with surgical precision as all of her blood was drained and not a drop was spilled. Sonny, who is trained to find missing people, is hired by his aunt to find the murderer. He finds out that Gloria had many ties with a cult from the Sandia pueblo, and this cult worshipped the sun. He also finds out that this group is planning to blow up a truck that is going to the nuclear waste site in southern New Mexico. The truck is filled with nuclear waste and if it is blown up the contamination would kill the whole state.

This book was very good. The book was not only a great murder mystery, but it also had a lot of old Hispanic tales within the story. It is a great novel for anybody who likes a great book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars So-So, October 24, 2006

By 

R. B. Udnik "akmommy" (AK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zia Summer (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm not sure what I was expecting with this book.

I read Anaya's "Bless Me Ultima" and enjoyed it. I figured "Zia Summer" would be no different.

But it was. The flow was a bit choppy. Anaya fluctuates from spending pages discussing Chicano/Hispanic culture to the actual murder mystery plot. It came across as forced to me.

"Bless Me Ultima" was literature. "Zia Summer" was pulp fiction trying to be literature. Sadly it didn't even succeed (for me) as a sordid-page-turner-can't-put-it-down-whodunnit. I had no problem setting this book down from time to time.

Overall enjoyable, but a letdown for Anaya readers used to his more intelligent writings.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A solid southwestern mystery that kept me guessing, June 19, 1998

By 

Jayson (Rancho Santa Margarita, ca, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zia Summer (Mass Market Paperback)

Zia Summer started off with a classic gruesome murder, and kept the reader guessing the whole time on who was behind it right alongside the main character, Sonny Baca.

Though the book had a few slow points from time to time, I always looked forward to the next chapter.

The story is also peppered with an unusual and highly identifiable cast of characters; each one to the readers liking.

My only complaints were to make the book more 'authentic' the author sprinkled the dialouge with Spanish slang that may confuse readers on what the characters are talking about.

Also the end was a bit anti-climatic, but all around very good.