Portlandtown by Robb De Borde
Portlandtown: A Tale of the Oregon Wyldes. By Robb De Borde. (New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2012. 375 pp.)
Recommendation by Carolyn Petersen, Assistant Program Manager, Library Development
What does a reader get when a writer combines gunfights, zombies, circus freaks, and a Portland pioneer family named the Wyldes? The reader is rewarded with a crackling good read—if the reader’s brain is able to blend westerns, steampunk, sci-fi and historical fiction. This story begins in 19th century Astoria when Joseph Wylde goes to bring his father-in-law, the town sheriff, back to Portland with him. Unfortunately the powers Joseph’s father-in-law had disturbed in Astoria by digging up their graves follow the Wyldes back to Portland—and all hell—well the zombie part of it anyway—breaks loose. Hopefully this is the start of a series.