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Yiddish Policemen's Union

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The Yiddish Policemen's Union original book coverFirst edition, 2007
By Michael Chabon
Publication details ▽ Publication details △

First publication
2007

Literature form
Novel

Genres
Literary, science fiction, crime, mystery, alternative history, satire

Writing language
English

Author's country
United States

Length
Approx. 116,000 words

Another not-so-different world

What is this?

You could waste a lot of time trying to figure out what kind of novel The Yiddish Policemen's Union is.

Some people have clearly decided. The science fiction community has claimed Michael Chabon's 2007 novel as one of its own, conferring on it a slew of accolades, including the prestigious Hugo and the Nebula awards.

Yet the narrative of a Jewish detective trying to solve the murder of a former chess whiz does not involve aliens, spaceships, time travel, zippy technology or other features most commonly associated with that genre. And Chabon's writing, appealing as it is, doesn't read like what most people probably think of as scifi. It's far too richly character-based.

What does qualify The Yiddish Policemen's Union for its acceptance as speculative fiction is its premise, placing it firmly in the alternative history subgenre. In the novel's universe, a refuge for European Jews was established in Alaska during the Second World War, saving millions from ending up in the death camps.

Disappointing for hardcore fans

Decades later, hard-drinking detective Meyer Landsman operates in the sprawling settlement of Sitka, Alaska, navigating among factions of militant Zionists, mobsters, evangelical Christians, resentful native peoples and American intelligence agents. As we follow him, a detailed picture of this fictionally developed setting arises.

Other variations on world history are referred to. The only one that affects the course of this story though is the destruction of Israel in 1948. The larger alternative history theme seems to matter to Chabon only to provide backdrop for his local people and story. Which is fine and good for a work of literature, but perhaps disappointing for hardcore science fiction fans. A reader just doesn't get the sense of a world being built and explored as in the genre's most beloved works.

Similar reservations may be held about the notion The Yiddish Policemen's Union belongs in the crime and mystery genre. Yes, there is that murder. There are detectives working at various cross purposes. There are criminals being hunted down. And matters are semi-resolved as satisfyingly as in any modern whodunit. But along the way, so much more is taking place with the characters—personal, political, sociological—that readers don't necessarily feel like they're tracking a murder mystery.

Who's the target?

The writing is also very funny. I laughed aloud and told other people about several of the uniquely colourful turns of phrase. At times the humour may be a little blunted by unexplained Yiddish terms but it never sinks into the stereotype of expecting people to laugh just because some foreign words were thrown in. The characters, good and evil, each have their entertaining styles without turning into cartoons.

So is it satire? Interesting question. For the politically minded, the big question might be whether the satire is directed for or against Zionism. Is the novel saying Jews would face similar opposition regardless of where in the world their state may be founded? The observation that it's a "strange time to be a Jew" is repeated by characters so often, it gives the idea any time or place is difficult for them. Or is the novel ridiculing zealots wherever they are? Or making fun of the idea of a religious saviour (the prospect of a messiah is fraised repeatedly)? Or mocking American motivations (bearing in mind such a Jewish refuge was in reality proposed and dismissed in the United States). Or just centring out diverse individual character traits as suitable for satirizing.

Yes to all these targets and probably several more. Despite its sometimes seemingly broad brush, this is a very nuanced human comedy.

Of course, there's no real need for this or any novel to fit neatly into any one category of genre or style. It's enough for The Yiddish Policemen's Union to be as engrossing and enlightening as it is.

Whatever it is.

— Eric

 

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