I found myself out and about this weekend without a book (something that never happens) and a friend tossed me this book saying he knew nothing about it, but that it might keep me busy, and I really enjoyed this very strange science-fiction novel with super-evolved dogs, self-aware bombs who fall in love, alcoholic mathematicians and the like. I know Holt has other novels out there, but how do they compare to this one?
I don’t recall ever reading anything by this guy, but I admit I’m intrigued by the description offered in the OP.
I’ve liked Holt – Expecting Someone Taller was a hoot. But, for some reason, he’s nowhere near as good as A. Lee Martinez, Jasper fforde, or Christopher Moore, who go over similar ground.
His stuff is all funny, in a P.G. Wodehouse sort of way
Early Holt is better than later Holt, IMO. Expecting Someone Taller, Flying Dutch and Who’s Afraid of Beowulf are all pretty good, for example. After that I find him erratic but always worth a read.
I’m a big fan of Tom Holt. He can get carried away with this ideas and try to cram too much into a given book, but he’s got a good turn of phrase and a knack for using fantasy to highlight the minor aggravations of modern life.
I agree with Silenus that early is best, but he hit a strong streak with the Portable Door series set at J W Wells, Sorcerers. Barking is another recent one well worth a read.
He also writes historical fiction set in the ancient world. These are much more realistic and serious, and interesting, well-researched and well-written to boot. (I think he did Classics at Oxford.) The Walled Orchard introduces the Eupolis family, although if you want to be chronological about it Olympiad comes “first”.