Mar
19

Playing for Keeps by Mur Lafferty

By Tori McDonough//  Fiction  //  2 Comments

Playing for Keeps by Mur Lafferty is an interesting new take on the superhero genre. Just like in real life, you’re not entirely sure who the “good” guy is, because everyone in charge has their own agenda – the only difference is that these politicians have superpowers. Actually, almost everyone has powers, but the only people who get to have the “super” prefix to their names are the ones who have really good ones like flight and invisibility. Everyone else gets stuck with things like summoning elevators and perfect balance of bar trays.

Lafferty introduces Keepsie, who’s special power is the no one can steal from her. If they try, they stuck in a frozen stasis until she lets them go. Naturally, her and the patrons of the bar she owns (aptly named Keepsie’s bar) get caught in a whirlwind of adventure, wrong place at wrong time, epic showdown of good vs evil, etc. A tried and true method, sure, but it works well for this story, and Lafferty makes sure it packs enough punch to unleash a literal shit storm. Highly recommended for fans of Soon I Will Be Invincible and The Venture Brothers, Playing for Keeps is hits the superhero spoof nail on the head.


Not-so-super heroes try to find out who the real ‘Good guys’ are.

  • Paperback: 260 pages
  • Publisher: Swarm Press (July 14, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1934861162
  • Amazon Link

About The Author

Tori McDonough is a full time student in Seattle, Washington, but doesn’t let that interfere with her reading. On the rare occasion that she tears herself away from the latest vampire novel, she might be out running, playing computer games, or searching for the perfect piece of chocolate, but ALWAYS has a book (or three) in her purse. Follow Tori on Twitter @Havokchild

Tori McDonough has written 6 articles on iEATbooks.

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2 Comments to “Playing for Keeps by Mur Lafferty”

  • Mike Lawson March 19, 2010 at 10:02 am

    When I read this review I was kind of thinking that it has a WATCHMEN sort of vibe. It feels like it’d be the behind-the-scenes of the SuperHero world. Am I close?

    I haven’t read either of the two books you’ve compared this to, so I’m not sure if I should put it on my overwhelmingly long Amazon wishlist.

  • Tori March 24, 2010 at 1:25 pm

    Yes, there is a Watchmen vibe to the book, but it’s a comedy, so it doesn’t have the heavy heart that Watchmen does. It’s definitely a behind the scenes for the superhero world, but in this world EVERYONE is a superhero.

    And yes, you should definitely add it to your Amazon. It’s ok, mine is really long too.

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