The millionth disgrace is still a disgrace

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Keep up your annoyance at things like Mario Barrios vs Manny Pacquiao; it’s our only way out

I don’t love Max Gladstone’s Last Exit as much as I do his previous solo novel, Empress of Forever; as much as I’m a sucker for deep, intimate dives into characters’ psyches, too many such indulgences take a toll on the pacing, which feels inappropriate for a story whose heroes travel via muscle car.

That said, it’s got one hell of a hook: the protagonists...