Review: Coyote Run

Coyote Run by Lilith Saintcrow
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book harkens back to the older school of science fiction called "pulp"--plot and action heavy, characterization and worldbuilding light. To that end, the action hits in the first chapter and never lets up.

In a near future where the United States has apparently splintered into several small warring countries and Texas has seemingly turned into a fascistic state called "Lindyland," our protagonist, the shapeshifter Coyote, makes "runs" into Lindyland to free political prisoners and other people swept up in a dictatorial dragnet. This future also has varous kinds of animal shifters, called "the next stage of evolution," although in this case evolution has been helped along by various virulent viruses and genetic engineering. Lindyland's army consists of clones of the "Father," and one of the grosser elements of the plot involves prisoners in the various concentration camps being killed and their bodies and DNA being repurposed to develop the next wave of clones.

Coyote is hired by the badger shifter "large and in charge" Margery, who wants Coytoe to penetrate Lindyland and rescue Marge's sister from the camp Distarritz. Coyote herself was held at this camp once upon a time, experimented on by the camp commander "Dr Death" Deranian, and managed to escape. Because of this, she takes the job to clear up some unfinished business with Deranian (and also because she has a reputation of being "bugfuck crazy" and taking jobs no one else will).

Needless to say, Coyote's "run," and this story, is a wild ride indeed. The cover, as old-fashioned and pulpy as the story inside, accurately depicts the shoot-em-up bang-bang "antifascist action" to be found within. This book isn't terribly deep, but it is fun (if a bit gory in places). The novella length (130 pages) is perfect for the story; you can get through it in an afternoon if you want. I used this to follow a slow-paced, philosophy heavy, thick brick of a volume, and it was just the brain cleanser I needed.

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