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Description edit
From Daryl Gregory, whose Pandemonium was one of the most exciting debut novels in memory, comes an astonishing work of soaring imaginative power that breaks new ground in contemporary fantasy. Switchcreek was a normal town in eastern Tennessee until a mysterious disease killed a third of its... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Rhonda Mapes: a charlie woman and the self-elected mayor of the town (no one has questioned her position yet), she runs a home for older charlie men and prides herself on knowing all of the town's business.
- Deke: an argo man and Paxton's close friend, he runs Alpha Furniture, a company that builds giant argo-sized fittings. He is married to Donna, and hopes to have a child with her, resulting in frequent trips to a fertility clinic a few towns over.
- Paxton Martin: a normal human, Paxton works at a dead end job in Chicago until he comes back to Switchcreek for Jo Lynn's funeral. Although he only plans to stay for the weekend, he decides to live in his father's house for a while and watch some of Switchcreek's many mysteries unravel. He is called "P.K." (short for "Preacher's kid") by Deke.
- Clete: a charlie boy who sometimes works at Rhonda's nursing home.
- Sandra: one of Jo Lynn's twelve year old beta daughters, who was conceived after the Changes (i.e. through asexual reproduction). She lives at Reverend Hooke's beta compound.
- Rainy: (Lorraine) one of Jo Lynn's twelve year old beta daughters, who was conceived after the Changes (i.e. through asexual reproduction). She lives at Reverend Hooke's beta compound.
- Donna: Add a description of this character.
- Jo Lynn
- Tommy Shields
- Andrew Weygand
- Everett
- Doreen
- Harlan Martin
- Barron
- Dr. Fraelich
- Hooke
- Marla
- Elsa
- Donald
- Travis
- Mr. Sparks
- Deice
- Willie Flint
- Lorraine
- Mr. Teestall
- Agatha
- Duveen
- Preisswerk
- Amos
Setting & Locations edit
Organizations edit
- Switchcreek Orphan Society: The name of the club that Jo Lynn, Paxton and Deke made when they were teenagers shortly after the Changes happened (before Paxton left Switchcreek). It consisted of only those three members, although Paxton couldn't hold "office" because he was only a half-orphan (he still had his father Harlan).
First Sentence edit
Pax knew he was almost to Switchcreek when he saw his first Argo.
Glossary edit
- Transcription Divergence Syndrome (TDS): the mysterious condition that caused Switchcreek residents to mutate. All that scientists know about it is that it rewrites DNA and turns adult cells into stem cells, prompting unusual patterns of growth. There is no evidence as to what causes the condition.
- clade: Collins English Dictionary: "a group of organisms considered as having evolved from a common ancestor" here, a term that refers to either the argos, betas or charlies (or on occasion, humans).
- vintage: the thick liquid that is emitted from the boils that certain older charlies develop, it can have certain psychedelic or sexual properties for certain individuals.
Authors & Contributors edit
- Daryl Gregory (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Del Rey
Country: United States
Publication Date: November 24, 2009
ISBN: 978-0345501172
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Del Rey
Country: United States
Publication Date: November 24, 2009
ISBN: 978-0345501172
Page Count: 400
Awards edit
- Philip K. Dick Award (Finalist, 2009)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 813.6
Subjects edit
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