Tim Powers' Forced Perspectives is one of those rare instances where the second book in the series surpasses its excellent predecessor.
This time, instead of facing off against a minotaur and closing an interdimensional gateway powered by souls moving through Los Angeles' freeway system like electrons through a coil, the team is reunited to stop cultists in Topanga Canyon. Delving deep into today's self and selflessness and the selfish search for selflessness in a city known for an obsession with that crap for decades, Powers has a lot of fun.
The story is wonderful fun and if you love Powers' lessons in California history you will not be disappointed.
