River of Teeth - Sarah Gailey

River of Teeth

By Sarah Gailey

  • Release Date: 2017-05-23
  • Genre: Fiction & Literature
Score: 4
4
From 25 Ratings

Description

A Finalist for the 2017 Nebula Award for Best Novella

Sarah Gailey's wildfire debut River of Teeth is a rollicking alternate history adventure that Charlie Jane Anders calls "preposterously fun."


In the early 20th Century, the United States government concocted a plan to import hippopotamuses into the marshlands of Louisiana to be bred and slaughtered as an alternative meat source. This is true.

Other true things about hippos: they are savage, they are fast, and their jaws can snap a man in two.

This was a terrible plan.

Contained within this volume is an 1890s America that might have been: a bayou overrun by feral hippos and mercenary hippo wranglers from around the globe. It is the story of Winslow Houndstooth and his crew. It is the story of their fortunes. It is the story of his revenge.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Reviews

  • Miserable, boring

    1
    By jkp1187
    Boring political screed, give it a pass.
  • Hippo Hoppers of the Southern Swamps!

    4
    By Prairie_Dog
    This is a work of alternate history by Sarah Gailey, and the first novella in the River of Teeth Series. It should be noted that this was a finalist for both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. The main difference in this alternative world, is that in 1857 the Hippo Act is passed. This results in hippopotami being imported into the United States in an attempt to solve the nationwide meat shortage. The swampy areas of the southern United States become a breeding ground for riding hippos as well as meat hippos. Hoppers are hippo-riding cowboy-like characters. Into this interesting alternate world we find our story set in the swamps of Louisiana. Ms. Gailey admits playing a little with some technological timelines. She also plays a little loosely with geographic areas as well as the characters cross impressive distances overnight. However, with a bit of suspension of disbelief, there is still a good story in this novella. It’s sort of like a western, but with modern and diverse characters. The story is interesting , and you find yourself caring about these colorful and larger than life individuals. I’m in for the next novella at least…
  • 10/10 Inclusive Fantasy

    5
    By ChristiSpeaks
    It is so tastefully inclusive while never needing to address that characters are all parts of the rainbow. Extremely refreshing settings and storylines, and the culture that immerses you immediately will make you wish you lived in this world.
  • Too much cliche in first third so...

    1
    By Toohey2
    I stopped reading.