Men of Khyber
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Jawar Dil is the influential and charismatic leader of a powerful Hindu clan in Khyber. His skill in...
historical fiction
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Universe: Awakening (Terra Nova #1) in Books
Nov 27, 2019
Fast forward 100 years. The probes sent out by DEUS have gone dark one by one, sending potentially troubling data before they do so. Ja'el is showing signs of improvement to his counsellor Auberon. With the real danger that the perceived success of DEUS - the basis of her power - may unravel Odessa brings Auberon under her control to manage Ja'el's recovery.
The rest of the book follows Auberon's (and his assigned Guardians, Mich'ael and Gab'riel) as they realise that there may be a personal motive in Odessa's desire to see Ja'el rehabilited, and that they may be 'surplus to requirements' once he is.
Overttun aims high with this book; there are a lot of concepts around not only technology but future society and political attitudes. There is also a subplot around the more advanced ruling class and the far more numerous worker humans which is used to good effect to highlight social injustices of all kinds. On whole the premise is delivered well, although there are a few lengthy exposition passages, particularly early in the book, which do spoil the flow and are probably not actually required.
What is striking is the character development. All the main characters learn some lessons along the way, Auberon in particular discovering that far from being a meek and unassuming mid-rank civil servant is capable of far more, both mentally and physically, than he ever thought possible. His metaphorical awakening mirrors nicely Ja'el's rather more literal awakening.
As the first part of an intended series of books, this volume necessarily does a lot of work setting up the characters and situations and leaves a lot of threads hanging to be picked up later but there is closure around the main plots and character arcs within this part of the story.
Although this is going to be labelled as a science fiction novel because of the post-human, technological and space exploration aspects at its heart it is a political thriller. Given this and that it is chock full of interesting ideas it bears careful reading without any preconceived expectations. But above all this is an interesting read following a set of well-designed characters in a fully developed world.
With its length and depth this is not a light read but the writing style is straighforward and clear whilst still being fully descriptive and immersive which makes it a pleasure to pick it up and see what Auberon and associates will do next.
The characters and the world they inhabit are something the author is clearly proud of - and he is right to be. This first instalment bodes well for the rest of the series.
SMART Futures for a Flourishing World
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We know we have to change but the question is how. Many of us feel powerless to solve the looming...
Adam Colclough (3 KP) rated Harry's Game in Books
Mar 6, 2018
For the most part thrillers are the literary equivalent of Danish pastry, enjoyable but not made to last. A few, and ‘Harry’s Game’ is one, are more substantial fare, food for the mind that may give you indigestion.
On one level it is a book in the tradition established by Frederick Forsythe, fiction played out as fact allowing the author to draw on his journalistic background. Seymour goes beyond this by creating characters who aren’t simply stock heroes and villains. Instead they are human beings engaged in a struggle that is squalid and futile rather than heroic and purposeful.
This combines to give a grimly believable picture of daily life in Northern Ireland at a time when a single word or action out of place could have deadly consequences. He also writes well about the machinations behind the scenes on both sides, with the British political and military establishment struggling to fight an undeclared war they don’t understand; and the IRA high command masking the brutality of their actions behind misty eyed romanticism.
Brutal, believable and still relevant more than forty years after it was first published this is a novel that is very much worth reading, even if doing so can be unsettling.
The Flood Year 1927: A Cultural History
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The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, which covered nearly thirty thousand square miles across seven...
The Novice (Summoner Book 1)
8.5
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Demons, magic and epic adventure - introducing the first book in the New York Times bestselling...
young adult fantasy magic fiction magic
Conversations: Volume 2
Jorge Luis Borges and Osvaldo Ferrari
Book
Recorded during Jorge Luis Borges's final years, this second volume of his conversations with...
Between East and West: Across the Borderlands of Europe
Book
A vivid and human glimpse into Europe's borderlands as they emerged from Soviet rule - back in print...
Munich: A Novel
6.5
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September 1938. Hitler is determined to start a war. Chamberlain is desperate to preserve the...
Thriller politics
Void Star: A Novel
Book
A riveting, beautifully written, fugue-like novel of AIs, memory, violence, and mortality Not far...
Science fiction