The Jungles of Alabama – E. William Brown

One morning RPG-fantasy becomes a reality. The ‘System’ has changed the laws of nature - and several other laws as well. Wildlife mutates into monsters. Killing the monsters gives people experience points that can be cashed in for buffs and skills. And magic. Killing people makes the monsters stronger.

Brown is also the author of the Daniel Black fantasy novels, and of Perilous Waif - a science fiction novel. He has a knack for logical world-building - and for protagonists who can be logical about climbing their respective power curves.

This book is similar in flavor, and was a moderately-enjoyable read - whereas the other books were a lot more fun. The RPG-like theme is a disadvantage: Too much of the book writes itself, which doesn’t give Brown’s strengths much opportunity to shine. The main protagonist is an engineer who brings an engineer’s understanding to the System’s system, but the RPGish theme undermines the character’s potential strength. The system is so extensive and flexible that peoples’ actions and understanding will never be as important as random benefits or prizes that they stumble into.

The sexual backdrop is also a disadvantage: The protagonists got together for a hypnosis-themed S&M gathering. The protagonists’ proclivities do not occupy central stage, thankfully, but they yield a stream of annoying interruptions and distractions.

Brown can and has done better. But even on a slow day, he writes books worth reading.