Rocket Science

This tale is set just after World War II, a time when Nazis and spies, Commies and moonshiners and more are available bogeymen. It is told entirely from the point of view of a Boeing employee whose best friend comes home from Germany with a great story and a secret rocket that he acquired somehow.

Each chapter after that adds more layers onto the plot, as more and more people find out about the rocket and try to take it for themselves. It turns out the rocket has a point of view also, and it talks to the main character in a voice only he can hear. These situations give the novel a very pulp feel and also add a bit of humor.

When I read of Jay Lake's passing earlier this year, I noted he was a fairly prolific writer, and sought out this book to sample his work. The writing here is excellent, evoking the feel of the late forties and also providing excellent descriptions of the cars, trucks and planes that show up in the story.

This is not a long book, and is well worth seeking out. I understand that Audible has recently released a recording of this, and I may read that version soon, just for fun.