An explanation of the title of this work provides the best introduction: The Baltimore Years. J. Tyler Blue never uses these words in this particular order in any of his works and indeed some might consider the words pleonastic (whatever that means), but the title hints of Baltimore and of Years. And also of The. In The Baltimore Years we find that Blue brushes the dust from Charm City and immerses himself in it. He never lets the dust settle, however, but freezes it in time around him with haunting and silent prose that allows him to explore his world as a lost astronaut floating amongst the stars might.