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"Bimbos" and "Zombies" - Sharyn McCrumb's "Jay Omega" series
Earlier this week, I finished reading Sharyn McCrumb's "Zombies of the Gene Pool," the second book Professor James Owen Mega (a.k.a. "Jay Omega") as the investigator in a sci-fi-related murder.
"Bimbos of the Death Sun" revolves around Rubicon, a science fiction/fantasy convention packed to the gills with Trekkies, STAR WARS fans, and the like. The main attraction is Appin Dungannon, a fantasy author who doesn't keep his disdain towards his fans and the fantasy genre in general a secret. But during the convention, he's found dead, and Mega, at Rubicon to reluctantly promote his own book "Bimbos of the Death Sun," finds himself trying to find not who killed Dungannon but rather who didn't want to kill him.
"Zombies of the Gene Pool" takes a more serious approach to the "get a life" message of the books. The story revolves around the Lanthanides, a group of sci-fi fans who buried a time capsule years ago. Forty years later, when the members of the group have either moved on, succeeded in their fields, or died, a reunion and an auction of the manuscripts inside the capsule are planned. But a Lanthanide thought dead appears to return, and a murder that takes place later on forces Mega to figure out what in the hell is really going on.
Both books have a great, satirical edge and in-depth knowledge of fandom. They aren't for everybody (the average person will pick it up and get lost by Page 2), but they do contain a wide variety of colorful characters, memorable dialogue, and clear messages. Has anyone else ever read McCrumb's Jay Omega books?
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11-20-2003, 09:17 AM
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