I was in new territory on almost every page. Science fiction readers might find it a comfortable one. The story is both a revealing whodunit, and a surreal journey into the supernatural. Thomas may be little more than a resentful clerk beholden to his older brother, but he’s smart enough to witness the corruption and incompetence of Walter, even as his older brother corners him into an unwanted marriage of convenience that ends up serving to help Thomas expose fraud, even as he steadily succumbs to supernatural forces.įrom there, readers can discover for themselves where Liss takes his characters and their peculiarities. The Peculiarities are widely denied, officially, but nonetheless envelope the city in a strange, otherwordly fog. This is a manifestation, we learn, of the strange and inexplicable “peculiarities” plaguing London, and they only grow in dimension as zoomorphism descends upon the city. But matter turns strange when Thomas notices leaves growing on his appendages. Thomas’ older brother Walter, however, is a bullying bank boss, not so surprising in this or any other family-controlled enterprise. Thomas Thresher is forced by his father’s untimely death to set aside his studies at Cambridge to join the family bank as a junior clerk. My wife, Monika, who read the book alongside me, has taken to calling our bathroom “the necessary.” Does anyone capture it better than Liss? Well, yes, but Dickens is long gone. The book is difficult to describe without tripping into spoiler alerts, but longtime Liss readers will turn the first few pages and once again find themselves in the the distinct times and vocabulary of Victorian London.

He’s published 14 books and counting, including a fantastical sharp turn into the world of comic book superheroes. Liss has ventured far beyond traditional historical fiction over the course of his prolific writing life. The Peculiarities, it turns out, is truly a flight of fancy and imagination.

Tachyon specializes in science fiction, fantasy, and horror, as well as young adult literature. Liss will be talking about his intriguing new novel, The Peculiarities, which his publisher, Tachyon Publications, describes as “alternate history.” That phrase may be a bit tongue-in-cheek, one intended to trip up Liss’ loyal audience. This Zoom event, originally scheduled for Friday, Sept. I will engage Liss in a virtual conversation, Monday at 6 pm, presented by San Antonio’s newest independent book store, Nowhere Bookshop. Our friendship, or association, if I can borrow a more appropriate Victorian term, happens to be a welcome geographical coincidence.

The peculiarities by david liss