Rating: 
Summary: Heavy Handed Plot
Review: The plot overwhelmed this story, turning some fine characters into unbelievable stick people, reducing them to comic book figures. One gets involved with the bisexual narrator, Teddy, only to see the rug pulled from beneath her as she is surreptitiously pulled into a conspiracy to destroy mankind (including her two young kids!). Give me a break. It doesn't rescue the story to call it a satire-satire of what? Doomsday prophets? I enjoyed the zany cast with their double personalities until they were forced to cope with the dystopian horror ending. I don't think anyone could remain sympathetic or interested in such a cast of characters. Yes, the Kelly/Kalki character took mental illness to new heights in believing himself to be a trinity of Hindu gods, creators, preservers and destroyers but all he really did was immolate himself to Vidal's rather ridiculous plot. Is Gore asking us here-look ma, no hands-see what a ludicrous story I can tell?
Rating: 
Summary: The best plot device ever . . . well, devised
Review: This book revolves around the most clever plot device I have ever encountered. It is stunning, twisted, diabolical, brilliant . . . well, you get the point.This book is also notable in my experience for the seeming inability of friends to whom I loan it to resist skipping to the end to learn what happens. They find the suspense unbearable. What else do you get when you read Kalki? So much. You get Vidal's elegant prose and his witty dialogue. In fact, spending an evening reading this book must be very similar to spending an evening with Vidal himself. His personality shines through on every page, without detracting from the story. I believe Vidal is America's greatest living writer. He has turned his hand to nearly every literary form, and aced them all. He should win the Nobel Prize (except he isn't boring enough to win the nod from the Swedish Academy). If you don't know his work, then it's time to get acquainted, and this is a good place to start.
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