Kristin K. (escapeartistk) -
Helpful Score: 1
This novel is more successful as science fiction than as a mystery/detective story because the actual "detective" part is sort of missing. Although Marid, the protagonist, follows various clues, he sort of stumbles onto the answers rather than actually figuring anything out. In spite of that (or perhaps because I'm not much of a mystery reader anyway), I really enjoyed this book; it was engaging, suspenseful and well written. Effinger has created an interesting, unique world (that isn't too "science-y") and I intend, at some point, to check out the second book in the series.
I really loved this book and I'm not parting with my copy!
Book Description
In a decadent world of cheap pleasures and easy death, Marid Audrian has kept his independence the hard way. Still, like everything else in the Budayeen, he's available....for a price. For a new kind of killer roams the streets of the Arab ghetto, a madman whose bootlegged personality cartridges range from a sinister James Bond to a sadistic disemboweler named Khan. And Marid Audrian has been made an offer he cant refuse. The two hundred-year-old godfather of the Budayeens underworld has enlisted Marid as his instrument of vengeance. But first Marid must undergo the most sophisticated of surgical implants before he dares to confront a killer who carries the power of every psychopath since the beginning of time. Wry, savage, and not to be ignored, When Gravity Fails was hailed as a classic by Effingers fellow SF writers on its original publication in 1987, and the sequence of Marid Audrian novels it began were the culmination of his career.
Book Description
In a decadent world of cheap pleasures and easy death, Marid Audrian has kept his independence the hard way. Still, like everything else in the Budayeen, he's available....for a price. For a new kind of killer roams the streets of the Arab ghetto, a madman whose bootlegged personality cartridges range from a sinister James Bond to a sadistic disemboweler named Khan. And Marid Audrian has been made an offer he cant refuse. The two hundred-year-old godfather of the Budayeens underworld has enlisted Marid as his instrument of vengeance. But first Marid must undergo the most sophisticated of surgical implants before he dares to confront a killer who carries the power of every psychopath since the beginning of time. Wry, savage, and not to be ignored, When Gravity Fails was hailed as a classic by Effingers fellow SF writers on its original publication in 1987, and the sequence of Marid Audrian novels it began were the culmination of his career.
When Gravity Fails is set in a world where the great nations have collapsed back into smaller kingdoms and holdings. There's technology - implants that give you knowledge while they're, like how to speak a language, others that give you the personality of the person the implant is copied from. Medical technology is advanced as well. There are a lot of post-op transgender people in the book. The feel is dark and gritty - almost noir. It's made clear that the part of the world we're seeing is a slum. I love that this book is set in the Middle East somewhere. It's nice to see books writing from a non-European culture viewpoint.
That said, the feel of the book was really all that was going on. At 25% into the book I couldn't really tell you what the plot was. There were various people dead, but as I said, this book is set in a slum, and the deaths are presented as business as usual. The main character certainly doesn't have any goal in mind beyond paying his rent. He seemed a somewhat decent guy, but I wasn't given anything that made me interested in knowing more about him, and with nothing in the plot drawing me in, I put it down and moved onto something that did catch my interest.
That said, the feel of the book was really all that was going on. At 25% into the book I couldn't really tell you what the plot was. There were various people dead, but as I said, this book is set in a slum, and the deaths are presented as business as usual. The main character certainly doesn't have any goal in mind beyond paying his rent. He seemed a somewhat decent guy, but I wasn't given anything that made me interested in knowing more about him, and with nothing in the plot drawing me in, I put it down and moved onto something that did catch my interest.
Excellent Cyberpunk - only reason I'm putting it up here is that is an extra copy. This cyberpunk is an alternative to Gibson's asian flavored worlds as Effinger's stories are set in an arabic environment.
Hugo Nebula award winning author's cyberpunk in future arab ghetto
Overall I found this book to be a little strange. I am not used to reading sci-fi and upon a friends request, I read it. It is a pretty good mystery that takes awhile to evolve, but I think it is because the author is trying to build up the character for the sequels that follow. If you like sci-fi mysteries, you would enjoy this book.
Good read, several unnecessary plot twists but I guess it sets up the later books.
