Jack Pendarvis’s first novel resembles one of those epics in which the mighty warrior undertakes a series of episodic challenges and overcomes a number of obstacles in order to woo back his beloved or to return home or whatever. Our hero with a thousand faces, in this case, is a giant named Awesome. Apart from his size and strength, Awesome likes to think of himself as just another average joe like you or me. “Deep down I am just a regular guy,” he reminds us. Despite the fact that he can lift automobiles, build robots, and compose oratorios, he humbly admits that he’s “at ease with the lingo of the common folk, explaining complex truths in a down-to-earth slang accessible to all.” Out of the generosity of his enormous heart, he has dedicated his life to doing good deeds and helping others—but not everyone fully appreciates his kindness.

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—Andrew Ervin