The water knife is a carefully constructed thriller, with elements of chinatown and the maltese falcon. Unlike the beautifully written windup girls prose, this novel is written much more as a gritty, crunchy crime drama. He is a hugo and nebula award winner, and a national book award finalist. I liked the water knife, but it doesnt quite reach the same heights as the older novel. The water knife book by paolo bacigalupi thriftbooks. The water knife is the dark, actionpacked story of a hired gun getting tangled up with a scrappy young girl and a semiidealistic journalist in the catastrophically waterstarved american. Paolo bacigalupi, new york times bestselling author of the windup girl and national book award finalist, delivers a nearfuture thriller that casts new light on how we live todayand what may be in store for us tomorrow.
The water knife on tour may 1, 2015 this is the near final schedule of where ill be reading, talking, and signing copies of the water knife as it goes out into the world. Npr book concierge, best books of 2015 kansas city star, best fiction of 2015 paste magazine, best fiction of 2015 a fresh, genrebending thriller. We personally assess every book s quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. The water knife takes place in a nearfuture united states, where the southwestern states compete with each other for access to a reliable water supply during a period of extended and disastrous drought. Last, we come upon maria villarosa, one of the proles struggling to make it from day to day. Apr 29, 2015 the water knife by paolo bacigalupi is the writers second science fiction novel for adults, after a slew of young adult novels, and his first since the hugo and nebula award winning debut the windup girl in 2009. Apr 05, 2016 i was eager to read this book, about a struggle for water in a droughtstruck arizona, and for the most part i enjoyed it very much. It is bacigalupis sixth novel, and is based on his short story, the tamarisk hunters, first published in the environmental journal high country news. Angel velasquez is one of the three central characters. May 26, 2015 in his sixth novel, bacigalupi the doubt factory, 2014, etc.
Scarcity and survival reign in the water knife a conversation with paolo bacigalupi about climate fiction, the power of water and his new novel. The water knife is the dark, actionpacked story of a hired gun getting tangled up with a scrappy young girl and a semiidealistic journalist in. The cover image of paolo bacigalupis book, the water knife. Scarcity and survival reign in the water knife high. Imagining a thirsty future in paolo bacigalupis the water knife. Angel velasquez, one of the book s three protagonists, is an exprison inmate smart, ruthless, a water knife who works for catherine case, cutting other peoples water supplies. About this book water is scarce in the american southwest. The water knife by paolo bacigalupi daniel suarez medium. Angel velasquez is a water knife, a sort of mercenary factotum, whose job is to secure as much water as possible for his las vegas boss, arcology developer catherine case. But the novel ultimately transcends its pulpier origins. Tc book clubs denver7 book club colorado book awards reading the west.
Paolo bacigalupis water knife carves a richly imagined, dystopian plot in a. Sep 07, 20 the new book, the water knife, is set in a lawless, waterstarved american southwest in the nottoodistant future. The water knife is a 2015 science fiction novel by paolo bacigalupi. His new book, a novel about a bonedry dystopia, arrives just weeks. Paolo bacigalupis second novel for adults takes us to a phoenix that is derelict. The water knife oscillates between nightmarish fantasy and. Cosmos and culture a new novel doesnt take the easy way out but, instead, asks questions about the mutations of human institutions. Bacigalupi, who writes for kids and adults in books such as the. If i could put my finger on the moment we genuinely fucked ourselves, it was the moment we decided that data was something you could use words like believe or disbelieve around.
Water is power paolo bacigalupi, new york times bestselling author of the windup girl and national book award finalist, delivers a nearfuture thriller that casts new light on how we live todayand what may be in store for us tomorrow. Jun 18, 2015 in phoenix, the chinese have built the taiyang arcology, but most people are out of water and out of luck. Reading paolo bacigalupis richly imagined novel the water knife brings to mind the movie chinatown. Knopf, the publisher of toni morrison, robert caro, stieg larsson and. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Knopf acquires new paolo bacigalupi novel the new york times. Paolo bacigalupis writing has appeared in high country news, the magazine of fantasy and science fiction, and asimovs science fiction magazine. This study guide refers to the kindle edition of the water knife, published may 26, 2015. Jan 21, 2016 for starters, this book is not about a magical knife made of water which is, yes, sadly, what i thought this book was about upon first glance. A fresh cautionary tale classic, depicting an america newly shaped by scarcity of our most vital resource. No book will ever make you thirstier than the water knife, paolo bacigalupis the windup girl actionpacked return to hard science fiction, in which the american southwest is ravaged by drought.
In an american southwest devastated by severe drought, angel velasquez is a water knife for one of the most powerful people in the region. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Buy the water knife digital original by bacigalupi, paolo isbn. May 01, 2015 this is the near final schedule of where ill be reading, talking, and signing copies of the water knife as it goes out into the world. It takes place in the near future, where drought brought on by climate change has devastated the southwestern united states.
Friends of tattered cover tc weekly bestsellers indie bestsellers book of the month cookbook of the month digital audio books gift cards tattered cover gear indienext list featured preorders. Amid a real drought, thriller water knife cuts to the quick. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. In the nottoodistant future, climate change has turned the colorado river basin into a dust bowl. Paolo bacigalupis second novel for adults takes us to a phoenix that is derelict, povertyridden and lawless, a place where most of the. May 28, 2015 imagining a thirsty future in paolo bacigalupis the water knife. Dammit, now im thinking about the whole puppygate thing again. Reviewer jason heller says bacigalupi keeps the plot taut. But his case is so dramatically compelling and so terrifyingly substantiated that the book never feels like a sermon. The water knife is climate science wrapped in pulpy goodness.
Imagining a thirsty future in paolo bacigalupis the water. The american southwest has been decimated by drought. It is a book ive been looking forward to for some time and one which does not disappoint, though it does defy expectations. Angel velasquez is a water knife, a sort of mercenary factotum, whose job is to secure as. His new book, a novel about a bonedry dystopia, arrives just weeks after gov. Sweat was a bodys history, compressed into jewels, beaded on the brow, staining shirts with salt. Buy a cheap copy of the water knife book by paolo bacigalupi. Into the fray steps las vegas water knife angel velasquez. The water knife book fraser valley regional library. Angel was born in mexico but had to flee with his father. A las vegas water knife, angel cuts water for his boss, catherine case. Theres a prescience about the water knife, and it doesnt bode well for the survival of the human race.
Just finished paolo bacigalupis the water knife and it was so good, it made me start thinking about next years hugos. Jun 15, 2015 the water knife is scary in how real it seems, especially with the news coverage of the drought out west and the more affluent california neighborhoods refusing to ration their water usage. The city of phoenix in the water knife is a grim place. May 28, 2015 buy the water knife digital original by bacigalupi, paolo isbn. Jun 01, 2015 the city of phoenix in the water knife is a grim place. This study guide consists of approximately 47 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the water knife. It told you everything about how a person had ended up in the right place at the wrong time, and. Several people recommended paolo bacigalupis the water knife to me, and im glad they did. For starters, this book is not about a magical knife made of water which is, yes, sadly, what i thought this book was about upon first glance. Imagining a thirsty future in paolo bacigalupis the. Jun 03, 2015 and then the water ran out, and they fell back, realizing too late that their prosperity was borrowed, and there would be no more coming. Next is lucy monroe, a freelance internet journalist chronicling the slow demise of phoenix, arizona. The water knife ebook epubpdfprcmobiazw3 paolo bacigalupi.
May 26, 2015 angel velasquez is the water knife of the title, a canny, deadly catspaw for catherine case, the queen of nevada water dealings. The water knife by paolo bacigalupi, paperback barnes. The new book, the water knife, is set in a lawless, waterstarved american southwest in the nottoodistant future. In his equally powerful sophomore novel, the water knife, he takes a similar. May 28, 2015 the water knife cuts deep equal parts thriller and alarm call, paolo bacigalupis new novel depicts a future america ravaged by drought. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. In the american southwest, nevada, arizona, and california skirmish for dwindling. Three very different charactersan orphaned texan teen marooned in phoenix. Oct 27, 2015 a las vegas water knife, angel cuts water for his boss, catherine case, ensuring that her lush, luxurious arcology developments can bloom in the desert, so the rich can stay wet while the poor. The depleted colorado river has become one of the last lifelines and the object of armed conflict among the residents of arizona, california, and nevada.
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