This book is a blast. It has all of the tropes you’d expect in cyberpunk: massive corporations that rule the world; clone armies; loyal AI retainers; and inscrutable robots on a morally ambiguous mission. Despite that, it remains a light and enjoyable read.
The story is simple: the president of a corporate conglomerate is lost in a crash, her head stored away in a cryogenic container. The good guys want her head back in one piece, while the baddies want to finish her off.
Although there’s lots of world building, there isn’t much depth: we get to know some of the characters, but the ins and outs of the future world aren’t explored too closely. Yeah, there’s overpopulation, a ban on unlicensed human reproduction, rampant nanotech terrorism, and rejuvenation treatments; but those are used as part of the setting.
The book contains a few inexplicable events and scenes that feel more like they’re there for atmosphere rather than moving the plot along. But they’re fun to read, so I can’t complain too loudly.
The writing is strong. The Marusek ties four or five plot lines together for a tight ending that is well paced and explicable. Most of the characters are well drawn, with interesting personalities and backgrounds.
Overall: it’s a great genre book. If you enjoy cyberpunk, or any near future SF, you’ll probably enjoy it. For what it is: highly recommended.
The story is simple: the president of a corporate conglomerate is lost in a crash, her head stored away in a cryogenic container. The good guys want her head back in one piece, while the baddies want to finish her off.
Although there’s lots of world building, there isn’t much depth: we get to know some of the characters, but the ins and outs of the future world aren’t explored too closely. Yeah, there’s overpopulation, a ban on unlicensed human reproduction, rampant nanotech terrorism, and rejuvenation treatments; but those are used as part of the setting.
The book contains a few inexplicable events and scenes that feel more like they’re there for atmosphere rather than moving the plot along. But they’re fun to read, so I can’t complain too loudly.
The writing is strong. The Marusek ties four or five plot lines together for a tight ending that is well paced and explicable. Most of the characters are well drawn, with interesting personalities and backgrounds.
Overall: it’s a great genre book. If you enjoy cyberpunk, or any near future SF, you’ll probably enjoy it. For what it is: highly recommended.