“When New York breaks, I fix it.” So says the strange and enigmatic Dr. Spencer Brownfield. He’s designated himself the organizer of New York’s seemingly infinite chaos. He sees things that others don’t even notice. And then he molds those things like clay.

New York becomes a living, breathing character in Strange Attractors, which builds on math and science so eloquently that it grips the reader from its very first panel. The artwork --- gorgeously rendered by Greg Scott --- helps; he gives the city and its inhabitants a wonderfully realistic and believable edge. (The complexity maps shown inside the book are by artist Robert Saywitz; he deserves credit for his excellent work as well.)

Columbia graduate student Heller Wilson first encounters Dr. Brownfield at a New York City diner. Wilson is studying complexity theory --- the science of patterns that emerge from the chaos of multiple interactions in a system --- and needs Brownfield’s help. Brownfield agrees, but only in exchange for Wilson’s help with a project he’s working on. Thus is born a partnership that takes readers inside the inner workings of a complex system like a city of 8 million people…and how Brownfield keeps it all running efficiently.

It’s a scary, engrossing, utterly compelling story. Soule has full control of the story from the beginning until the very end --- something that is remarkably difficult to do for a plot that involves such mind-boggling elements.

Strange Attractorsis a book that shows just how good graphic novels can be --- how the quality of the artwork and the intelligence of the story can combine perfectly and make a book that is rewarding and gripping simultaneously. It appeals not only to science fiction fans but also to readers who seek a compelling yarn told well. It’s a treat to see such a beautifully executed book unfold.