LAST CALL
A
Review of Terrence McCauley's PROHIBITION
by Andrew Salmon
(disclaimer: Andrew Salmon writes for Airship
27)
New Pulp has been around long enough that there
are literally 100s of new works that have come out in the last few years. So
many that a list of Essentials can now be compiled as fans debate their
favorites whenever and wherever they gather.
Well, you can add PROHIBITON to your
list. Terrence McCauley has given us a gem of a novel - the best New Pulp I've
had the pleasure to read in years. This one, folks, is required reading.
With absolute authenticity and compelling
narrative drive, McCauley guides us into the world of former boxer turned mob
enforcer Terry Quinn. The year is 1930, the Depression reigns and booze means
money to those who control it. There's always money for vice and Quinn's boss,
Archie Doyle, is raking it in. But there are challengers to Doyle's power out
there and the clock is ticking.
That's the set up. What follows is a truly
inspired reading experience. McCauley not only recreates the speech rhythms and
attitudes of Doyle and his crew but drops you in the middle of the action. PROHIBITION
is a time machine and you better have a Tommy gun close at hand before you
crack the cover.
Quinn leaps off the page - a fully
three-dimensional protagonist you can't help but root for as the bullets fly
and power plays are put in motion. The action is visceral, bloody, fast-paced
and realistic. The character dynamics amongst the cast are fleshed out and
interesting.
The end result is a must-read. It's as simple as
that. If you're a fan of gangster fiction from Little Caesar to the Godfather
and the Sopranos, then PROHIBITION is for you. If you love tough
guy/hardboiled fiction, then McCauley delivers. Fans of fast-paced action take
note as well. This novel delivers on all fronts.
Featuring a great cover and interior
illustrations by the incomparable Rob Moran, the book is rock solid from top to
bottom. Do not miss this one. You read that a lot in reviews, but it's never
been more true than it is for PROHIBITION. The novel is a stunning
achievement. Bravo!