A City Dreaming

By: Daniel Polansky

Narrated by: Eric Meyers

M is a magician of modest wit, dim ability, and few scruples, who would prefer to spend his easy immortality drinking artisanal beer and making eyes at smiling women. Alas, in the infinite nexus of the universe that is New York City, equilibrium is no easy thing to maintain. Canal pirates, drug-induced divinities, pocket steam-punk universes, hipster zombies, ex-girlfriends, and the devil are all taken in easy stride - but when the city's uneasy dual monarchy threatens to break into outright war, it will take all of M's cleverness to keep the capital of existence from going the way of Atlantis.

He might even have to get out of bed before noon.

Sharp, surreal, and hilarious, A City Dreaming is the postmodern fantasy adventure you never saw coming.

©2016 Daniel Polansky (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Magic well told

If you like characters doing fantastic fantasy stuff then you’ll love this one. Follow M on his travels in this urban escape.

One of the best books I have ever listened to

This is a fantastic book. Before I listened, I read one of the top reviews that was very negative. I tried it anyway and realized that the reviewer must have been uptight and conservative. This book is not shy about drug use or cursing, but it FITS the characters! It's not telling you to go use cocaine. It's also about magic and gods and multiple realities. This is a NOVEL. Also, several people mentioned that it is hard to follow. It's not at all. The gaps in the timeline are not explained. But they don't have to be! It is so well written AND acted. I am an instant fan of Daniel Polansky and will be searching out anything else he writes. If I could give it 6 stars, I would give it 7. If you are intelligent, you have to read this book.

Not really a novel

This book is a group of short stories set up by chapter. It is all about a super hipster magician who judges all the other hipsters in New York. The conclusion of these short stories is usually done with about one sentence. It reads like the author was called away and had to wrap things up quickly. Since the book is magic based the stories seam to be stream of conscious or as if they are a dream. There are some clever lines throughout the book.

loved it

gorgeous writing, kind of like an acid trip and if you've been lucky enough to live in NYC you can absolutely relate to all of it!

creative, orignal, fantastic story

What made the experience of listening to A City Dreaming the most enjoyable?

It was a little nonlinear, but once I got into the rythm of the story I found it to be fantastic. It is truly an original. Really loved this one.

What about Eric Meyers’s performance did you like?

He captured the characters and tension well without sounding campy.

Charming?

This is far more enjoyable than I expected, and I would’ve given it five stars but for the stark heteronormativity, the occasional gratuitous misogyny, and the slurs. They weren’t frequent, but also, just — heads up! They’re there. A lot of it can be attributed to M’s being one of those lovably terrible people types, I guess.

I still listened to the whole thing and parts were definitely really funny, plus some great worldbuilding!

Exquisite magical realism, rare in English

Some books are spells. The words weave over and through you. They wind up a bridge to carry you from the person who you were before and the person you are after reading. The differences may be subtle but they are significant. Once you have heard the words you cannot help but to feel and to see the world has been tilted to a different angle so long as the spell lasts. This is one such book: a book full of poignancy, humour, and illusion.

Hunter Thompson-esque Adventure

This needs to be a series! Funny and dark. I hope there's more otw. Love this author and well read too. If you like your urban fantasy gritty, snarky and noir get this now! The prose is entrancing. Definitely a master class by Author and Reader.

fun and engaging

lots of witty remarks and funny predicaments. tho can be serious at times.
the protag can be a bit frustrating tho. he can be a little too, idk what his character trait is. just that it can be a bit much sometimes. or it can be disappointing in others. which is why this book isn't 5 stars. that and now that I think about it. there is quite the pessimistic view on humanity that it kinda over shoved down my throat. I get it I get it. human=bad. sheeeeesh

Curious and fun

I don’t know what I expected so this was really fun. A collection of stories about the adventures of M - a middling god? It’ll set in New York City. Happily surprised.