Wesley Snipes has done a lot of things in his life.
Most famously an action film star, he’s also a martial artist excelling in hapkido and karate. He has also earned an honorary doctorate, hence “Dr. Wesley Snipes” as he’s put in his author’s blurb.
Now, he has put all his experience together for a new venture: author.
Talon of God, co-written with another first-time author Ray Norman, is the story of Lauryn, a newly graduated ER doctor, and her efforts to rid Chicago of a dangerous new street drug that turns its users into evil murderous monsters.
Literally, they grow to enormous size, claws sprout from their fingers, and their skin shrivels and turns blue. Lauryn, her detective ex-boyfriend, and a mysterious sword-wielding stranger named Talon attempt to unravel the plot by a local drug kingpin and his corrupt supporters to save Chicago from the forces of evil.
Talon of Godsets itself as a story about faith in God, though it does mention in passing that faith in any god (or gods) is all the same: humanity’s spirituality is key to “saving” themselves.
However, in the context of this book it’s all window dressing. It’s really just a pure action story with very clear lines drawn between good and evil.
Yet, despite the grand premise, it’s an oddly small, self-contained story.
Chicago is a city of millions of people, but only eight characters do anything at all.
If you’ve ever seen an ’80s action movie, Talon of God is a perfect example of what they might look like in novel form.
Like those movies, it isn’t concerned about motivation or resolution. It’s all about getting from one set piece to another.
Evil characters are evil simply because they want to be; there’s no deep back story. The story’s pace comes at the cost of getting to know the characters, particularly the title character, Talon.
Who is he? Why did he come to save Lauryn? Why does he carry a sword in the middle of Chicago? We don’t get many clear answers to these questions.
If you are a fan of this kind of movie, go for it. Otherwise, it’s probably not worth your time. Check out Kevin Hearne or Jim Butcher for urban world-in-crisis fantasy instead.
Steven is a library technician II at the Cambie branch. Next on his reading list is Iain M. Bank’s Culture series
