Publisher's Weekly
Shiner begins this novel realistically in a contemporary Mexico where Rolling Stone reporter John Carmichael has been drawn in his search for news, and anthropologist Thomas Yates has come to search for his missing brother, rock musician Eddie. Eventually, they meet among the ancient Mayan ruins where Eddie has gone on a pilgrimage with the Mayan descendants among whom he now lives. There, while trapped between Cuban backed insurgents and a clandestine American force, Eddie pursues his experiments with mushrooms. He claims that instead of psychedelic visions, they actually transport him back in time to his own past and to the great days of Mayan culture. Although well written and occasionally thoughtful, the narrative, whose opening reminds one of warmed-over Robert Stone, moves to fulfill the cliched apocalyptic aspirations of the title. (August)
Library Journal
An anthropologist and his alienated brother reunite in a Mexico torn apart by earthquakes and revolution to reenact an ancient Mayan myth of the end of the world in this surrealistic fantasy by the author of Frontera . Shiner captures the complexities of both modern and ancient reality in a story that should appeal to general as well as fantasy audiences. Recommended. JC
Shiner begins this novel realistically in a contemporary Mexico where Rolling Stone reporter John Carmichael has been drawn in his search for news, and anthropologist Thomas Yates has come to search for his missing brother, rock musician Eddie. Eventually, they meet among the ancient Mayan ruins where Eddie has gone on a pilgrimage with the Mayan descendants among whom he now lives. There, while trapped between Cuban backed insurgents and a clandestine American force, Eddie pursues his experiments with mushrooms. He claims that instead of psychedelic visions, they actually transport him back in time to his own past and to the great days of Mayan culture. Although well written and occasionally thoughtful, the narrative, whose opening reminds one of warmed-over Robert Stone, moves to fulfill the cliched apocalyptic aspirations of the title. (August)
Library Journal
An anthropologist and his alienated brother reunite in a Mexico torn apart by earthquakes and revolution to reenact an ancient Mayan myth of the end of the world in this surrealistic fantasy by the author of Frontera . Shiner captures the complexities of both modern and ancient reality in a story that should appeal to general as well as fantasy audiences. Recommended. JC
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Used availability for Lewis Shiner's Deserted Cities of the Heart
See all available used copies of this book at: Abebooks UK or Abebooks US
Hardback Editions
January 1991 : Hardback
| Title: A FIRST CLASS MURDER Author(s): Elliott Roosevelt Publisher: Unknown Availability: Amazon More details... |
May 1988 : Hardback
| Title: Deserted Cities of the Heart Author(s): Lewis Shiner ISBN: 0-385-24637-4 / 978-0-385-24637-8 (USA edition) Publisher: Doubleday Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
Paperback Editions
November 2009 : Paperback
| Title: Deserted Cities of the Heart Author(s): Lewis Shiner ISBN: 1-59606-304-1 / 9781596063044 (USA edition) Publisher: Subterranean Press Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
January 1995 : Paperback
| Title: Deserted Cities of the Heart Author(s): Lewis Shiner Publisher: Victor Books Availability: Amazon More details... |
October 1991 : Paperback
| Title: Deserted Cities of the Heart Author(s): Lewis Shiner ISBN: 0-553-35457-4 / 978-0-553-35457-7 (USA edition) Publisher: Bantam Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
February 1989 : Mass Market Paperback
| Title: DESERT/CITIES/HEART Author(s): Lewis Shiner ISBN: 0-553-27975-0 / 978-0-553-27975-7 (USA edition) Publisher: Spectra Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
December 1988 : Paperback
| Title: Deserted Cities of the Heart (Abacus Books) Author(s): Lewis Shiner ISBN: 0-349-10001-2 / 978-0-349-10001-2 (UK edition) Publisher: Abacus Books (Sphere) Availability: Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
Other Editions
January 1989 : Unknown
| Title: Deserted Cities of the Heart Author(s): Publisher: Spectra Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
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