Home » Reading & Literature » Crime Stories » Gun, with Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem

Gun, with Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem

© Catten Ely

What makes a great book? Plot alone won't do it. Intriguing characters help, but can't do it by themselves. Pacing counts, and so does good dialogue. Bring it all together and I believe you have the ingredients of a good book. Throw in good writing with a twist: original execution, a unique perspective, maybe a truly new idea, and that's a great book.

Jonathan Lethem's first novel, Gun, With Occasional Music , falls somewhere between good and great. The characters are an interesting variation of common detective fiction stock. The story is well paced, and the writing is tight.

Gun, With Occasional Music , isn't exactly a mystery. It isn't exactly science fiction, either. It isn't even exactly definable, as far as genre goes.

Let's call it a postmodern noir '50s detective story set in a disturbing future.

Private Inquisitor Conrad Metcalf has been hired to tail Celeste, the wife of a rich Oakland urologist. In this particular future, one is penalized for asking questions; karma points are taken away for each infraction. (When one 's karma reaches zero, he is put away in cold storage.) When Celeste's husband ends up dead in a seedy hotel room, Metcalf finds himself needing answers.

The public Inquisitors (the future's police, and the only group who can legally ask questions) are very interested in Metcalf's actions and send their genetically altered hit man, Joey Castle, to learn more. Castle is a dapper dresser, tall, cool-and a kangaroo.

You can see how this is not your typical detective novel. It's one part each of Philip K. Dick, Dashiel Hammett, and Raymond Chandler. Some victims, witnesses, and suspects are human, while others are evolved lambs, rabbits, cats... and babyheads -artificially rapid-maturing babies. (Creepy.) The daily news is delivered musically because there is a ban on radio speech before lunch. It's eerie, yes. Everyone has his own talking memory to consult on what he thinks of people and topics.

And there aren't really any good guys. The world is dark, cold, mean, and nobody has a nice day. Drugs are widely used, free, and custom made with ingredients such as Forgetol, Acceptol, and Regrettol. Interaction between people is generally very polite and proper. It's a bleak setting.

Lethem pulls it off brilliantly, though, despite using a tried-and-true plot. By using recognized archetypes, he avoids creating something as weird and confusing as Naked Lunch. The witty dialogue, strange characters, and colorful speech will keep most readers engaged.