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Description edit
For sixty years, Jewish refugees and their descendants have prospered in the Federal District of Sitka, a "temporary" safe haven created in the wake of revelations of the Holocaust and the shocking 1948 collapse of the fledgling state of Israel. Proud, grateful, and longing to be American, the... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Meyer Landsman: The primary protagonist of the novel. Landsman is a resident of Sitka and homicide detective on the district's police force. After a murder happens in the hotel where he lives, Landsman begins the investigation along with his cousin and partner, Berko. He is haunted by the death of his sister and his failed marriage.
- Berko Shemets: Also known as Johnny Bear, the illegitimate son of Hertz Shemets and a Tligit mother. Landsman's partner in the Sitka District police homicide division. His Native-American background makes him a unique individual in the district, but despite this, he adheres to the Jewish culture. Berko's stable home life with his wife and family contrast with the fragmented and strained life of his partner, Landsman.
- Bina Gelbfish: Landsman's ex-wife.
- Alter Litvak: An older gentleman who plays chess at the Hotel Einstein's Einstein Chess Club.
- Professor Itzik Zimbalist: The boundary maven for the Verbovers.
- Mendel Shpilman: Brilliant son of Heskel and Batsheva Shpilman, the Rebbe and matron of the Verbover clan in Sitka.
- Wilfred Dick: Tlingit detective inspector who owes Meyer a favor, he is a former childhood friend and rival of Berko.
- Naomi Landsman: Sister of Meyer Landsman, she was a bush pilot before her plane crashed, killing her.
- Dr. Rudolf Buchbinder: A dentist who creates miniature replicas of Solomon's temple.
- Emanuel Lasker: A brilliant chess pro. Meyer is investigating the murder of a man in his hotel who is using this name.
- Frank: Mendel Shpilman's alias.
- Aryeh Baronshteyn: Son-in-law of Haskel Shpilman.
- Dennis J. Brennan: Sitka journalist
- Benito Taganes: The Filipino baker who makes delicious donuts in Sitka
- Tenenboym: Porter of the shabby Hotel where it all begins.
- Mrs. Kalushiner: Mean owner of The Vorsht, a skanky, local jazz club that Landsman frequents
- Harkavy: Add a description of this character.
- Friend Fligler: Moshe Fligler, skinny bad guy at the rehab center on Peril Strait, cohort of Dr. Roboy.
- Menashe Shpringer
- Velvel
- Saltiel Lapidus
- Black
- Isidor Landsman: Father of Meyer and uncle of Berko, Isidor was a nervous man who loved to play chess.
- Dr. Max Roboy: The "doctor" working at the Peril Strait rehab center, alongside Moshe Fligler.
- Larry Spiro
- Rocky Kitka
- Batsheva Shpilman: The rebbe's wife and Mendel's mother.
- Melekh Gaystik
- Fishkin
- Heskel Shpilman
- Micky Vayner
- Mr. Cashdollar: A Gentile American federal agent
- Django Landsman
- Felsenfeld
- Hertz Shemets: Father of Berko, uncle of Meyer, brother to Isildur. Hertz was a first wave Jewish settler in Alaska and eventually rose to the position of district director for the FBI and head of their counterintelligence program.
- Lubavitcher
- Isaac
- Ester-Malke Taytsh
- Kohn
- Grandpa
- Laurie Jo Bear
- Mrs. Nemintziner
- Netsky
- Rafi Zilberblat
- Goldy
- Elijah
- Vassily Shitnovitzer
- Shprintzl Rudashevsky
- Dr. Rau
- Dov-Ber Gursky
- Hershel
- Kathy Sweeney
- Mrs. Brukh
- Siegbert Tarrasch
- Savielly Tartakower
- Reb Litvak
- Betty
- Anthony Dimond
- Podolsky
- Hyman Tsharny
- Freydl Shemets
- Shmerl
- Albert Einstein
- Karpas
- Yossele Rudashevsky
- Mr. Spade
- Frum
- Miss Olivia Lagdameo
- Mrs. Pullman
- Bella
- Viktor Zilberblat
- Hebrew
- Harold Ickes
- Dovid Sussman
- Messiah
- Raúl Capablanca
- Nathan Kalushiner
- Vayngartner
Quotes edit
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“I'm like a cash gift. I'm always appropriate.”
First Sentence edit
Nine months Landsman's been flopping at the Hotel Zamenhof without any of his fellow residents managing to get themselves murdered.
Series & Lists edit
This is book 44 of 159 in Fantasy Book Review Top 100 fantasy books of all time. (community list)
This book is in Amazon Book Club Picks. (authoritative list)
This book is in Significant Speculative Fiction (Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror). (community list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Michael Chabon (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: HarperCollins
Country: USA
Publication Date: 2007
ISBN: 978-0-00-714982-7
Page Count: 414
Publisher: HarperCollins
Country: USA
Publication Date: 2007
ISBN: 978-0-00-714982-7
Page Count: 414
Awards edit
- Locus Science Fiction Award (2008, Winner)
- Hugo (2008: Best science fiction novel)
- Nebula (2007: Best Novel, #1)
- Sidewise Award for Alternate History (2007: Long Form)
- John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (2008: Science Fiction, #2)
- Dashiell Hammett Award (Finalist, 2007: Crime)
- BSFA (British Science Fiction Association) (Finalist, 2007: Best Novel)
- Edgar Award (Finalist, 2008: Best Novel)
- Geffen Award (Finalist, 2008: Best Translated Science Fiction Book)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 813.54
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