Judging a book by its cover

I do judge a book by its cover, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I have a solid idea of what I will or won't like when it comes to fiction, and at first glance, I often make judgments. But every now and again, a book surprises me. Even rarer, a book surprises me pleasantly. "Sea Change" is just such a needle in a haystack.

I picked up "Sea Change" in a supermarket, which, normally, is the last place I'll shop for books. I find that supermarkets tend to carry three distinct types of books (and off I go, stereotyping again). First, there are the name-brand authors -- Stephen King, Danielle Steel, John Grisham. Look no further for their latest bestseller; your local Shop-Rite will have it. Secondly, there are the Harlequin and Silhouettes, those formulaic, change the names and change the locations, icons of romance smut. Finally, there is what I call Grade C Fiction.

So What Exactly is Grade C Fiction, and what does this have to do with "Sea Change"?

Grade C Fiction is purely my own concoction, and though I read it sometimes, it's not a complementary classification.

I see fiction in levels, or grades, and these grades will definitely differ for different people based on interest. Grade A fiction could range from a John Steinbeck classic, to the latest Arthur C. Clarke masterpiece. Grade B fiction comes from authors that I know and like, but who I don't consider masters of their genres. For me, Grade B fiction might consist of Dean Koontz or the writing team of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I know I'll enjoy it, but it's not going to leave me breathless or enraptured.

Grade C fiction falls at the bottom. Usually by an author I don't know, Grade C fiction often has a far-out premise and a leaves-something-to-be-desired writing style.

Though I immediately labeled "Sea Change" Grade C fiction based on its premise, its unknown author, and its cover and typeface, I purchased it. The bottom line was that I was away for the weekend, desperately craving something to read, and "Sea Change" based on its plot summary, seemed at least palatable, potential Grade C fiction, or not.

"Sea Change" was a wonderful surprise. Though he can't claim a Shakespearean mastery of the English language, James Powlik has an easy writing style to stay with. One mark of a good storyteller is that they don't sound like they're trying too hard. A good writer works very hard to make his novel sound like it came easy, and in this, Powlik succeeds.

What I mean by this is that often -- especially in first novels -- writers try so hard to write beautiful prose that the prose, during reading, becomes a stumbling block. The prose itself, especially in an action-based novel, should be all but invisible. The story is what should capture you. Dean Koontz was notorious in his early work, for terrible prose. His stories were wonderful -- if you could get past his writing style. He'd hit upon a description he liked, such as sodium vapor street lights, and subsequently throw it into the story two dozen times, until it jarred you out of the world he'd created every time you read the phrase.

Unlike Koontz in his early years, I never tripped or got hung up over Powlik's use of language. He concentrated on telling his story, and he told it well. At times, I found myself so caught up in the tale, that I'd be surprised to find myself sitting in my Rav4 on my lunch hour, book in hand. Surely, I'd been on the open ocean fighting an unknown assailant.

So what is "Sea Change" about?

"Sea Change" typifies what may well be a whole new genre of fiction: the ecothriller. People are dying, and something biological is causing it -- something heretofore unknown. Or maybe known to only a few...

"Sea Change" follows Brock Garner, a brilliant marine biologist with a black mark on his career. You see, Brock Garner once prepared the west coast for a deadly phytoplankton bloom. Costing coastal cities millions of dollars, Brock is -- quite literally -- the boy who cried wolf (or, in this case, the boy who cried phytoplankton. Now, years later, people are dying, and it's up to Brock Garner to find the answers

Dr. Ellie Bridges is also along for this boat trip. Having had the misfortune of being on duty when several victims of this biological nightmare are brought to the emergency room, Dr. Bridges is investigated for her role in their untimely deaths. Subsequently, she decides that she needs to find out some answers of her own.

Far From Perfect...

"Sea Change" turned out to be a pretty good read, even a real page-turner at times, and with the serious problems modern ecosystems face, it wasn't hard to suspend disbelief. This is something that could happen. Hey, we've all heard of red tide, haven't we?

Characterization could have been better in "Sea Change". Though Powlik managed to add some measure of depth and background Garner, Bridges, and an assortment of other characters, they were still too stereotypical to be real. Garner is typical in his brilliance, and in his fallibility. Ellie Bridges, the young female doctor, is also, easily seen as the thinly disguised heroine in distress. Hey -- it's the year 2000. Distress doesn't necessarily mean she needs rescuing.

The dialogue was also a bit stilted at times. Powlik needs to develop more of an ear for conversation. People don't tend to talk in neatly organized paragraphs.

It's main failing...

Unfortunately, the main obstacle "Sea Change" faces in its path to being a really good book is something that isn't easily remedied. You see, "Sea Change" in cover art and cover copy promotes itself as a novel of terror: There's a new terror under the sea with a mind and hunger of its own. The problem is simple. The villain in "Sea Change" just isn't scary enough. Let's face it. I'm not going to be quaking in my boots anytime soon over the idea of killer plankton.

Is it worth a read?

By all means, "Sea Change" is worth a read. As a representative of a growing genre of eco-thrillers, it's worth reading for that concept alone. As we're threatened with more and more biological trouble, both natural and of our own doing, this genre of fiction is going to be exploding.

It's also worth it for the story. It's no "Jaws," so don't expect to be terrified, and don't expect to have thoughtful, intellectual book-group conversations over this one. This one is for pure entertainment, and Powlik will be an author to watch.

** If you like the idea of eco-thrillers, another great read is "Dust" by James Pellegrino.