The Anvil of the World by Kage Baker

Kage Baker’s Company series is one of my favorites. (Time travel, cyborgs, mysterious mysteries with hints and revelations doled out book-by-book. Not for everyone, but then that’s why they make chocolate and vanilla.)

My friend Barbara also likes the Company novels, and didn’t like The Anvil of the World, a fantasy number. On that poor recommendation, I put off reading it for a long time, even though I owned it. I recently did read it (I forget now when–probably after we returned from Canada.) I liked it ok, but it’s definitely on the juvenile side. (It’s not for juveniles, because it’s quite salacious in parts, but the humor is pretty juvenile.)

Baker has a knack for the bizarre, and she gives it free rein here. I’d say try her Company novels first (in order!), and if you like her check this one out of the library. (Same for her short story collections, some of which are hard to find.)