Review: Great collection for readers new or old.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 23, 2012
Whether you are like me, wanting to catch up on the latest short stories from Noir master Dave Zeltserman, or a new reader wanting to familiarize yourself with his work prior to launching into one of the many excellent full-length novels, One Angry Julius is a rewarding collection. The stories here run the gamut, and I'm glad to see that Dave continues to work his craft here with the short story form despite the many longer novels currently under his belt. Many of these tales, including the lead story, originate from the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, of which I am grateful to find collected here in one volume. I'm also always happy for another installment of the "Julius Katz and Archie" series, a very entertaining nod to Nero Wolfe but with a twist: Julius' sidekick Archie is actually an AI unit that the protagonist successfully conceals as a microchip implanted and worn with his tie. If longer works are more your preference, this collection can serve as an introduction to the also available full-length Julius novel; a guide at the end also will recommend additional Zeltserman works based on your preferences. Last but not least, the first chapter of the upcoming Monster is provided to additionally whet your appetite. One way or another, you can't go wrong with this latest anthology.