This is an interesting book and definately worth reading. Thought I will review it from three points: the premise/politics, the technology & society, and the storyline/characters.
For people unfamiliar with fundamental, dictatorial societies this would be a fascinating and scary read. For me, growing up in Communist Czechoslovakia, it was not so very shocking. Many things were like visiting my past. So for me the book was not so very "un-put-downable" as it would surely be for an American reader, or any person who has no experience just how far a "well meaning society control" can get out of hand. And how Orwellian future is actually one step behind us, everywhere, if we are willing to look. Though not many are brave to do so. And so we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of our ignorance, until we are willing to learn from our past.
Technology:
The re-discovery of basic science and technology, is an interesting premise. Challenging some ideas we hold true, can be risky not just to our own lives but also to our society. When Copernicus declared the Earth revolves around the sun, he was declared a heretic and almost burned at stake. The same idea is being presented here. On a bigger scale. because if you tear up the very fabric what society holds true, then nothing short of total chaos and destruction of said society will be guaranteed. A specially if it is given that only 80% of given population has been genetically modified by their ancestors to have the ability to "link" with the long lost central computer. This struggle however does not happen in the book. It is a shame the author did not capitalize on this great opportunity to enrich the story.
Now to the characters. There were some issues with some of them. The Female professor was obnoxious, but was meant to come across as defensive in a male/chauvinistic society. The Man/exMarine was interesting hero type, that pulled the book through out but at the end the author just lost him. Not knowing what to do with him/his narrative. The no legs/no arms hire me for odd jobs guy was great addition, that was great glue but had no story of his own. Kelbee was the only fully developed character with a plot twist that was unexpected. She redeemed the other flopping underdeveloped people. Her Evil husband was a paper cut villain military intelligence guy. He was well created, realistic, but at the same time, very much the same as thousands like him. He could have been made bit more fleshed out, with his own story, to make him more "human" so the reader understands how he got to where he was, in terms of his thought and indoctrination process. Because monsters like him are not born, they are made.
Over all, the book premises if Wonderfull. It is well executed 5*. The character development a bit less so 3.5* so over all I will give the book solid 4*
For people unfamiliar with fundamental, dictatorial societies this would be a fascinating and scary read. For me, growing up in Communist Czechoslovakia, it was not so very shocking. Many things were like visiting my past. So for me the book was not so very "un-put-downable" as it would surely be for an American reader, or any person who has no experience just how far a "well meaning society control" can get out of hand. And how Orwellian future is actually one step behind us, everywhere, if we are willing to look. Though not many are brave to do so. And so we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of our ignorance, until we are willing to learn from our past.
Technology:
The re-discovery of basic science and technology, is an interesting premise. Challenging some ideas we hold true, can be risky not just to our own lives but also to our society. When Copernicus declared the Earth revolves around the sun, he was declared a heretic and almost burned at stake. The same idea is being presented here. On a bigger scale. because if you tear up the very fabric what society holds true, then nothing short of total chaos and destruction of said society will be guaranteed. A specially if it is given that only 80% of given population has been genetically modified by their ancestors to have the ability to "link" with the long lost central computer. This struggle however does not happen in the book. It is a shame the author did not capitalize on this great opportunity to enrich the story.
Now to the characters. There were some issues with some of them. The Female professor was obnoxious, but was meant to come across as defensive in a male/chauvinistic society. The Man/exMarine was interesting hero type, that pulled the book through out but at the end the author just lost him. Not knowing what to do with him/his narrative. The no legs/no arms hire me for odd jobs guy was great addition, that was great glue but had no story of his own. Kelbee was the only fully developed character with a plot twist that was unexpected. She redeemed the other flopping underdeveloped people. Her Evil husband was a paper cut villain military intelligence guy. He was well created, realistic, but at the same time, very much the same as thousands like him. He could have been made bit more fleshed out, with his own story, to make him more "human" so the reader understands how he got to where he was, in terms of his thought and indoctrination process. Because monsters like him are not born, they are made.
Over all, the book premises if Wonderfull. It is well executed 5*. The character development a bit less so 3.5* so over all I will give the book solid 4*
