Fantasy Book Critic: New York Minute by Stephen Aryan (reviewed by Mihir Wanchoo)

AUTHOR INFO: Stephen Aryan is the author of The Coward and The Warrior (the Quest for Heroes Duology), as well as the Age of Darkness and Age of Dread trilogies. His first novel, Battlemage, was a finalist for the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for best debut fantasy novel. It also won the inaugural Hellfest Inferno Award in France. He has previously written a comic book column and reviews for Tor.com. In addition, he has self-published and kickstarted his own comics.

OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB: A noir story, set in an alternate New York City.

After years of being a cop, and now a private investigator, there’s little that surprises Cole Blackstone. But when someone working for Karl Dolman, the most notorious crime boss in the city asks for his help, Cole is caught off guard, and more than a little afraid.

Dolman’s daughter, Selina, has gone missing. To prevent a gang war that will tear the city apart, Cole must find her. But the job is being made more difficult as everyone is interfering, cops and criminals, and no one wants him to succeed.

Together with his childhood friend, Bracken Hart, the two men must navigate the depths of the city’s underworld for answers.In a race against the clock, Cole needs to find out what happened to Selina, and who is responsible, before the streets run red.

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Stephen Aryan’s New York Minute is a call back to the detective noir stories of the 70s & 80s era and it is a glorious story for those fantasy fans who haven’t dipped their toes in that fascinating genre.

The story is in first person (as is characteristic of the genre) and is from Cole Blackstone’s POV. He’s a retired copy (though the story about the retirement seems to be a sore one and only hinted at). Cole gets pulled into a case as he gets an offer which he can’t refuse. Karl Dolman, often referred to as the Butcher of New York (but never to his face) wants Cole to locate his missing daughter Selina. Before his rivals & his own gang members start getting any funny ideas about Karl’s power & boss position. Thus begins New York Minute, a curious mix of PI noir, Gaslamp settings and a weird SF world.

This isn’t my first Stephen Aryan rodeo but it is one that surprised me the most because of how much fun the story is. The author mixes PI Noir with an alien-esque world that is surprising with its mix of strange diseases & stranger wild life of both the flora & fauna kinds. The story keeps dropping hints that this world is not our own & it is fun to keep trying to connect all of them.

The main story is a straightforward mystery and the author keeps it tightly focused on our heroic protagonist duo of Cole Blackstone & Bracken Hart. They remind the reader of other charismatic duos and share a deep brotherly bond. The plot expands in a straightforward manner and while there are a couple of solid twists, most noir readers will be able to spot them. For new readers, this will be a good introduction to PI fiction albeit in a slightly alien world. Also kudos to the author for giving us a protagonist who is more emotionally sensitive (a La Lew Archer) rather just a stoic gumshoe (like Marlowe). Cole’s observations and prowess remind the readers that amidst this alien world, humans are still human. They can be kind, evil, funny & all in all exactly as our sordid species is on our world. A flawed being capable of both good & evil and remaining in the grey morass of morality.

New York Minute is a novella and as such very fast paced. From the first chapter, the reader will be sucked into this world. Stephen Aryan showcases a new flair to this story style and it is one which he seems to be very comfortable. Give this Gaslamp mystery novella a shot, you will be thrilled & get your feet wet in a new genre as well. That’s double the fun for less than half of a full size novel. A pretty good deal if you ask Cole Blackstone.