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Julian Comstock

A Story of 22nd-Century America

Robert Charles Wilson

Tor Science Fiction

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From the Hugo-winning author of Spin, an exuberant adventure in a post-climate-change America

In the reign of President Deklan Comstock, a reborn United States is struggling back to prosperity. Over a century after the Efflorescence of Oil, after the Fall of the Cities, after the False Tribulation, after the days of the Pious Presidents, the sixty stars and thirteen stripes wave from the plains of Athabaska to the national capital in New York. In Colorado Springs, the Dominion sees to the nation's spiritual needs. In Labrador, the Army wages war on the Dutch. America, unified, is rising once again.

Then out of Labrador come tales of the war hero “Captain Commongold.” The masses follow his adventures in the popular press. The Army adores him. The President is...troubled. Especially when the dashing Captain turns out to be his nephew Julian, son of the President’s late brother Bryce--a popular general who challenged the President’s power, and paid the ultimate price.

As Julian ascends to the pinnacle of power, his admiration for the works of the Secular Ancients sets him at fatal odds with the Dominion. Treachery and intrigue will dog him as he closes in on the accomplishment of his lifelong ambition: to make a film about the life of Charles Darwin.

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Robert Charles Wilson

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Chapter One

In October of 2172—the year the Election show came to town—Julian Comstock and I, along with his mentor Sam Godwin, rode to the Tip east of Williams Ford, where I came to possess a book, and Julian tutored me in one of his heresies.

There was a certain resolute promptness to the seasons in Athabaska in those days. Summers were long and hot, December brought snow and sudden freezes, and most years the River Pine ran freely by the first of March.

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Julian Comstock by Robert Charles Wilson--Audiobook Excerpt

Listen to this audiobook excerpt from Robert Charles Wilson's science fiction novel Julian Comstock, an exuberant adventure in a post-climate-change America, from the Hugo-winning author of Spin. In the reign of President Deklan Comstock, a reborn United States is struggling back to prosperity. Over a century after the Efflorescence of Oil, after the Fall of the Cities, after the False Tribulation, after the days of the Pious Presidents, the sixty stars and thirteen stripes wave from the plains of Athabaska

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Chinook rated it

May 5, 2012

I don't know if it's just because I read this while travelling solo, so it was my constant companion for 2 days, or if it really is worth the 4.5 stars I would give it if I could, but I loved this look at what the world might be like after oil. I laughed my ass off when I realized the author was... ...more

Eric rated it

Feb 17, 2012

I loved this book. Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America by Robert Charles Wilson (Spin) is set in a dystopian future that resembles the Victorian age. Cory Doctorow wrote a great review for it which you can read in full here. I'll let him set the stage:

Julian is the story of a world...

...more

Robert rated it

Dec 22, 2011

Wow, this book is long. Er, I mean sprawling. This is one hell of a sprawling book. It's like 600 pages sprawling.

OK, the good: Wilson's prose is impeccable. I wish I could write sentences like this. Also, he presents a very believable 22nd century America, as it might be after several major cala... ...more

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About the Author

Robert Charles Wilson

ROBERT CHARLES WILSON was born in California and lives in Toronto. His novel Spin won the Hugo Award in 2006. He won the Philip K. Dick Award for his debut novel A Hidden Place; Canada’s Aurora Award for Darwinia; and the John W. Campbell Award for The Chronoliths.

Robert Charles Wilson