Will Sargent reviewed Eutopia by David Nickle
Review of 'Eutopia' on 'Storygraph'
3 stars
So, David Nickle wrote a set of short stories called Monstrous Affections, which are chilly and brilliant and disturbingly rendered. So when I saw Eutopia, I picked it up. Didn't have to think twice about it.
Eutopia is... well, it's set in 1911, in a small town in Idaho, with a cast of characters and only a couple of different locations. There's Andrew Waggoner, a black doctor (and no-one ever lets him forget about it), the Harpers, the family that bought the sawmill and essentially co-opted the town. There's the Pinkerton boys, especially Sam Greene, who are providing security and running all over the place... and there's the hicks up in the mountains. Then finally, there's Jason and his aunt who just showed up in town.
And then there's Mr Juke, who also shows up in the first few pages. He doesn't say much. He just whistles.
So. There are …
So, David Nickle wrote a set of short stories called Monstrous Affections, which are chilly and brilliant and disturbingly rendered. So when I saw Eutopia, I picked it up. Didn't have to think twice about it.
Eutopia is... well, it's set in 1911, in a small town in Idaho, with a cast of characters and only a couple of different locations. There's Andrew Waggoner, a black doctor (and no-one ever lets him forget about it), the Harpers, the family that bought the sawmill and essentially co-opted the town. There's the Pinkerton boys, especially Sam Greene, who are providing security and running all over the place... and there's the hicks up in the mountains. Then finally, there's Jason and his aunt who just showed up in town.
And then there's Mr Juke, who also shows up in the first few pages. He doesn't say much. He just whistles.
So. There are parts of this book which are very creepy and effective, and I can see how putting everything together in a small town in 1911 would enhance it. For me, though, it ended up making it far less understandable. I grew up in London, and so the thread of hellfire religion and blurring of lines between community and cult didn't emotionally connect. What I could see were the bones of one of the stories from Monstrous Affections, The Sloan Men. Given the connection, I couldn't help thinking that the short story was far more effective and efficient than Eutopia.
Which brings me to the issue I have with Eutopia. There is drama and intrigue in Eutopia, but so much of it is trope driven. So, onto the detailed criticism.
Jason's aunt obviously ISN'T, and just happens to be carrying a "solve all your problems" disease in her bag. Jason is a big dumb protagonist action hero brought in from elsewhere who hits and shoots people, while Andrew is the intellectual who deciphers the mystery. Sam Greene is the Gandalf who shows up when all is hopeless. So far, so gravy. But there's a lack of ability to put things together that seems contrived. Mr Harper -- the man who starts the community and carries a creature that makes you worship it -- is carrying an IdiotBall almost through the entire book, even hiring a doctor who has clearly been subverted from day 1. Jason is dumb enough not to wonder how Ruth got away after the town is invaded, when it's obvious that in fact she didn't and is carrying jukespawn. Even after people come up with countermeasures (the tea, physical pain), it's not used as a sanity test to check against compromised individuals. The Thing, this book is not.
Having said all of that, it's a cut above most books and it makes a point of going for more than the Scary Thing With Teeth That is Right Behind You. So.