#michael carroll

‘Io Caldera’ by Michael Carroll (1983)

The most notable thing about the series to me is how precisely middle of the road it is. The prose is competent but not stellar, it wants to do more interesting rule-defined powersets than the average faire but nothing on the level of Worm or even The Reckoners. Characters with mildly compelling interiorities that can't truly blossom in the space provided, tons of compelling "would that be fucked up or what" superpower-enabled plot beats that can only shake out so far. Very obvious critical thoughts on American militarism, wealth inequality and prison politics that, you guessed it, are inevitably implemented in a very wham bam thank you ma'am drive-by way, beholden as the book is to the big climactic fight scenes. And the interesting thing is that I'm not even really frustrated by any of this because it's a perfectly competently executed action-adventure trilogy aimed at children, smart enough and enjoyable enough that my intelligence isn't insulted and my time doesn't feel wasted, but, ultimately, nothing more than what it is. Which is fine. It's fine. The odds are very low I'll ever discuss it a fourth time

Michael Carroll’s 1981 cover for They’d Rather Be Right, by Mark Clifton and Frank Riley

Occupation: Writer

An Underwater Art Scene Blossoms in the Ocean, by Michael Carroll