Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America
Adam Hazzard is the would-be writer son of a working class family. His father is a preacher in a snake handling religion that is not supported by the Dominion (the religious hierarchy that aims to bring the US to a 100 year reign of Jesus Christ which will bring on the resurrection). But he has made friends with Julian Comstock, the nephew of the current President. Julian’s father was a war hero that was executed for treason by his brother, so Julian’s mom sent Julian away for protection (it was never made clear why Julian would be safer in a small western town other than “out-of-sight, out-of-mind”). But when recruiters come to the town, Adam, Julian and Julian’s protector Sam Godwin (a closet Jew who was a friend of Julian’s father) attempt to escape, but end up ensnared by the wily recruiters. To protect Julian, they alter their names while being drafted. Julian Comstock is now Julian Commongold.
After training and some battles, Julian, Sam and Adam find themselves in the right place to capture some important enemy weapon. Adam writes up a dramatic version of the events and sends it to a newspaperman who had offered to give him feedback on his writing. Out of nowhere, our three heroes are called back to the capital city of New York. The newspaperman has appropriated the story and published it under his own name. Now Captain Commongold is a war hero and the President wants to congratulate him. Upon arriving in New York, the secret is out and Captain Commongold is revealed to be Julian Comstock and the political battles start.
There are a few issues in the story that don’t make sense. The biggest one is the premise. the premise is that oil ran out and there was a great upheaval in society. What doesn’t make sense is that there is nary a mention of any alternative energy sources. What happened to all the coal, hydro, solar, wind or nuclear power? Did Niagra Falls and Hoover Dam stop making power from water because oil ran out? These issues are never addressed and leave a huge plot hole.
Another other big plot hole is the Dutch weapon (the Chinese Cannon) that Julian, Adam and Sam capture. The cannon is presented as a huge weaponry advantage for the Dutch and the US wanted one to recreate it. However, after our heroes capture it, it’s never mentioned again. It’s not used in any subsequent battles and the US seems to gain no edge from having it.
The characterizations are great, for the most part. The only character I could never quite understand was Adam’s wife Calyxa. I could never see why she wanted to marry him or what her motivations were for any of her actions.
Overall the book is mediocre. It’s worth a look if you’re a Robert Charles Wilson fan or like science fiction westerns.