by

Ken MacLeod

5 out of 10

From the very beginning of this attempt at an epic space opera I was uncomfortable.

 "As soon as she stepped through the gate Lucinda Carlyle knew the planet had been taken and knew it would be worth taking back." How do you assess a planet in an instant? You can't of course and readers know that.

From the beginning the reader is assaulted with worm hole travel, faster than light space ships (flitters), nanotechnology, artificial intelligences that can store deceased humans for resurrection and a vast array of personal weaponry, battle suits and sentient technologies. It is as if the author set out to introduce every element of current, science fiction mythology.

This is all contained within a vast sociopolitical environment of competing cultures that appear to have evolved following a nuclear war intervened in by an artificial intelligence that scooped up the essence of the dying humans for virtual storage. Read it if you can't imagine it!

It is not a bad novel but it is a disappointing effort by a talented and experienced author. I don't know what his editorial advice was but they failed him in this effort. The novel is not without areas of brilliance and potential. There is a delightful piece of writing where a live dramatic performance is described with well crafted and evocative descriptions.

Some of the scenarios could have been developed into exciting and suspenseful episodes such as the exploration of the cavern while dying of radiation. Images of Raiders of The Lost Ark flashed to mind only to be lost with a too sudden jump to the next world.

I can't give it any more than 2.5 or 3 due mainly to my high levels of frustration and disappointment as well as confusing scene changes, difficult dialogue (pseudo Scottish) and simply too much material crammed in to let the story breath. There are at least a dozen stories interwoven through the novel but none get a chance to grow. Pity as each of them could have held their own.

MacLeod can do better and I am sure he will again - maybe he just needs to go back to basic story telling. He certainly has the ability but maybe hasn't given himself the time on this one.  

 © David K. Evans (2004)