The Departure
by Neal Asher
Owner (1)
science fiction
copyright 2011
read in July 2014
rated 7/10: well worth reading
Action, adventure, human and artificial intelligence... Conflict on Mars, big brother on Earth, low gravity battle in near space... Conflicted good versus power-mad (and mad) evil...
Enjoyable science fiction !
Asher has written several books. I've read a few. Without having any of the others available -- except in my memory -- there is something odd about this book...
The Departure shows some signs of being an "early" book. Signs of an author still refining his style. Of course, I make no claim that my interpretation is correct :-)
The action is frenetic. The writing style matches the action -- a little too closely. Short, snappy sentences. Almost staccato, in parts. Just a little bit too stylistically simple for an author with more than a dozen good books already written.
Then there's "the message" -- painted on far too thickly.
Big Brother is in control. Power has corrupted. Population has exploded. Democracy has been lost... Okay, so far, so good. But it's laid on with a trowel.
Society has problems. Some of the "solutions" are extreme -- and very similar to "solutions" from the past, from Nazi Germany. Good message, a timely warning... But do we have to be told, This is the same as was done in Nazi Germany !?
Heavy-handed delivery of the message to society. Over-simplified writing style in some action sequences. Weaknesses which I do not expect in a "mature" author.
Minor criticisms of a very enjoyable book !
The plot is very standard: amnesiac discovers his identity and finds that he has the power to rule the world. A standard plot which I always enjoy.
Extreme science fiction. Great escapist reading. Overall a very enjoyable book.
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