J Milligan's Jack Fishis a sci-fi noir that manages to be both hard-boiled and absurdly funny. It took me a couple of pages to swallow the novel's wacky premise, that the hero, Jack Fish, is indeed a kind of fish, or aquaman, sent to New York from the lost City of Atlantis (underwater somewhere off the coast of New England) to assassinate a rogue spy named Victor Sargasso. Wearing only his mankini, he comes ashore on a Coney Island beach where he immediately begins the first part of his mission, learning to breathe air. Once acclimated, Jack hits the streets in search of Sargasso, meeting along the way a varied cast of characters, among them a garrulous van driver named Dick who is obsessed with all things sharing his name; an all-knowing yo-yo rebbe devoted to the spiritual aspects of the yo-yo; and a villain "of indeterminate gender" named Gozo, a member of a rival ancient sect called The Maltese who are intent on harpooning Atlantean agents. Trying to fit into New York counter-culture is a challenge for Jack, but there are also distractionsÑburgers, good beer, women. Jack even falls victim to the charms of his target, Victor Sargasso, who, by introducing Jack to the absolute best sushi in New York City, persuades him not to go through with the assassinationÑa rather embarrassing setback for any killer.

Jack is no Marlowe or Spade. Indeed neither the characters nor the dialogue are as striking as Milligan's prose, which is kinetic, textured, and full of detail. His sentences have a list-like quality, but the details always add up to something interesting. Take in mind everything is seen through the eyes of a man who has never been on land. Jack is a true outsider, and Milligan is skilled at making the most commonplace pleasures, such as a pint of dark beer or a plate of sushi, seem new. For light reading, I must recommend Jack Fish. ItÕs a loony, stylish trip into a subterranean New York, and the best literary candy I've read in a while.