RANTS AND RAMBLES

• • DISCLAIMER: When I review books, weaknesses and inconsistencies tend to dominate my discussion; therefore, I will emphasize that any particular rant (and, yes, they can be long-winded) does not have special bearing on my unified opinion of the book. For this, please refer to my overall star rating. Additionally, this review is my personal opinion, intended to help like-minded readers navigate the plethora of available options. Use it as a tool but do not assign undue importance to it (i.e. feel free to disagree with me).
  • There is a character who begins as a samurai in Japan in 1490, is killed, and reincarnates, in a manner of speaking, to share a body with one of the main characters (this is not a spoiler since this all happens early on). This storyline also includes topics like universal consciousness, destiny, etc. What makes the inclusion of this pseudo-spiritual content so jarring is that the rest of the book is a science-driven possible future for earth. Mark’s failure to pick a lane or more skillfully marry the science and spiritual elements makes the samurai storyline feel like a fish out of water. It also doesn’t help that this whole storyline barely affects the main narrative. It feels like a randomly placed Easter egg of one man’s understanding of Japanese culture.
  • Very Minor Spoilers: There is a subplot which involves a person who does not fit the mold of the world and corporation he is in and so is assigned for reconditioning. As with much of this book, there are interesting concepts here like how people can be manipulated or conditioned (much of this is out of the cult handbook), sci-fi concepts of using technology to manipulate people’s minds, and more. This story is told via mandatory journal entries which is a unique perspective. This idea is cool and could have been a book of its own, but for a few things. First, I am very confused as to how corporations operate. They are actively warring with and killing each other now (in simulations)? Why would actively warring corporations cooperate in training war games? Or is everything here fake? It is very confusing and not in a good way. Second, the amount of sexual content here is gratuitous. It is all alluded to or described, not actually depicted, but some of it is pretty disturbing. I am generally not for this type of content and doubly so when it appears to have no purpose but eroticism, as is the case here. Finally, this whole subplot has basically nothing to do with the main storyline meaning it is unnecessary and confusing bloat.
  • Mild Spoilers: As with several fantasy and sci-fi novels I have read recently, this one seems to have an overemphasized fascination with non-traditional sexual behavior. For example, there exists a subterranean civilization organized around a pecking order where anyone in it can freely solicit sexual favors from those below their status. Also, there is a freewheeling acceptance of using sexual acts, including violence, to shame, humiliate, and torture. Thankfully, none of the scenes were described in overt detail but still provided disturbing mental imagery. Perhaps this was the point. In a well-organized and developed story, awful things can be used to good purpose if they are used to drive home important concepts; however, in this case, story theme is unclear so there is no real point to what happens, making the sexual content feel gratuitous. I don’t believe this to be Mark’s intent, but his lack of finesse in dealing with these topics highlights the danger of including such sensitive material in a story.
  • Mild Spoilers: There is a nomadic gang whose members have the unique ability to blend into their surroundings. This practice, called fading, is far from mere camouflage or stealth. These people practically become invisible. This skillset is more at home in a fantasy setting (it is not explained in any scientific way) and is out of place in this science-heavy book. This skill is also insignificant, barely factoring into the climactic fight scene. It seems like another idea Mark thought was cool but never fully committed to.
  • Massive Spoilers: By the end of the book, a bioweapon capable of destroying all humanity is in the hands of guardians who are not the sharpest knives in the drawer. This should make me wonder about the next book, worry for the characters, and excite me for the continuation of the story. Unfortunately, all the characters save two, one of whom I really don’t care about, are dead. As a nerd, I would say the story and world-ending possibility are in an unstable equilibrium, possible to topple though not likely at this point. I can safely discontinue this series, because though not over, the story is in a holding pattern. I also simply do not care about any of the storylines, the world, or the characters. And this sums up the book. Creative ideas but bad execution means I ultimately do not care.