Titanic 2012

Nothing dates like a fad, and this entertaining but gushy valentine to James Cameron's film Titanic already reads like yesterday's news. Set in the centenary of the ""Night to Remember,"" Walker's first novel (after the collection Dystopia) recapitulates the basic premise of Cameron's tale of star-crossed lovers on a doomed voyage. Novelist Trevor Hughes is on the rebound from a derailed romance when he takes up the offer of Harlan Astor--great-grandson of Titanic victim John Jacob Astor--to sail on the maiden voyage of a scrupulously rebuilt replica of the legendary ocean liner. Trev's plans to turn the voyage into book fodder bring him into contact with spunky Maddy Regehr and a well-drawn cast of crew and passengers, all eager to relate their life stories. Like Trev, all were inspired to make the voyage by their love of Cameron's film, ""the greatest movie of all time."" Unlike him, as Trev discovers through private interviews, all are facing medical death sentences. There's a bit of Katherine Anne Porter's Ship of Fools, and quite a bit of Charles Beaumont's Twilight Zone classic ""Requiem for a Lady,"" in the climax. One would have to have an iceberg for a heart not to be touched by Trev and Maddy's romance and the tragic plight Walker plots for them. But his fidelity to history and to the Titanic mythos robs this thriller of any mystery and reminds readers that they have made this trip before. (Dec.)