Woken Furies / Richard Morgan

Woken Furies

category: science fiction, author:

Richard Morgan

book 3 of Takeshi Kovacs
original copyright 2005

read in September 2012

Agamedes' opinion: 8 out of 10, really quite good

Another take-no-prisoners action thriller! So I categorise it as "science fiction"... Sorry, it is science fiction and that's enough for me :-)

Third in a series. The plot is more complex than number two, Broken Angels. More sex scenes, too. There is some development from book two to three but Morgan has kept it all under control... That is:

If there is an overall plot across the entire series -- perhaps the slow battle of the oppressed underclass against those who have and who fight to keep power -- then it does not overwhelm this book. The characters do not grow new super-powers. They do not have to save an even larger area from an even more evil threat. Morgan has taken the same threats to freedom from a different perspective and written an equally gripping story.

There is strong violence. Is it truly violence, when death is followed by resurrection of the personality in a new body? Well, yes. There are strong sex scenes. Is it truly sex when half of it occurs within a virtual environment? Well, yes. This is not a book for the squeamish, not for the easily embarrassed.

And, once again, I am amazed at my own acceptance of a powerful political message... when it is wrapped up in a well written science fiction story. Message presented as fact: I have to believe everything said by the author. Message as fiction: I can apply part or all of the message to whatever situation I choose. My apologies to John Pilger and his fellow factual writers... I prefer the message as fiction.

And my apologies also to Morgan, but... The hero has chameleon hands and feet, they grow spines to help him climb vertical walls. So why oh why does he wear rubber boots when he climbs a vertical cliff?!

The rest of the (science fiction) story was, of course, totally believable:-)

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

PissWeakly: the Index

Awakening / Lara Morgan

Awakening

category: fantasy, author:

Lara Morgan

book 1 of The Saranthium Twins
original copyright 2008

read in August 2012

Agamedes' opinion: 7 out of 10, well worth reading

I like the idea that "serpents"... dragons... are an intelligent race sharing a world with humans. Living within the terms of an agreement, for each race to support the other. The two races work together but do not share any common understandings.

Other than that -- Awakening is a reasonably standard fantasy-with-dragons. I like the characters, enough to want to read more. The story itself hangs together well, with some excitement but little suspense. Which is fine by me: I rather like a book where characters have a fair chance of living past the end.

In reading the book I went through two distinct phases -- and it may well have been the book, rather than me. First, it is a developing story of two people -- the Twins -- and their journeys from an "ordinary" life to the life of fantasy hero and heroine. An interesting world, with several distinct (human) cultures.

Half way through the book I slowly began to feel the effect of the trilogy...

The book -- or my reading -- shifted, from, Will they win? to, How far will this book get them on the way to winning? That is, the feeling grew that this really is, book one of a trilogy. Not just the first book of a series of three.

Sure enough, the book ends with cliff-hangers.

Yet there is also a satisfactory ending!

The main characters are scattered, some are unaccounted for. Yet the ones that we care about, are safe. Clearly, that is safe -- for now. Which is what I like to see.

This book is the opening scene of a war. It ends, with the heroes resting between battles. Yes, there will be more. But for now, we are safe at home. With some mysteries resolved and others yet to settle. No conclusion, but a satisfying point at which to take a break.

Okay, I'd rather have a complete story. But Awakening is good enough to read on its own. And good enough to have me hoping to read the next instalment...

With an added bonus: The author is from Western Australia, from my part of the world!

There are several good fantasy writers in Australia. Morgan is now one of them. Enjoyable, imaginative, entertaining. If the next book is as good, I will be happy. If it is even better -- then I will be very, very pleased!  And then...

I searched the web... It would seem that book 2 is published but no longer available in Australia. Book 3 is still being written -- in German, for the German market!  Ah well, it's tough in the world of writing.

Good luck, hope it all works out -- and I'll keep an eye out for a copy of Saranthium 2 and -- eventually -- three.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

PissWeakly: the Index

Broken Angels / Richard Morgan

Broken Angels

category: science fiction, author:

Richard Morgan

book 2 of Takeshi Kovacs
original copyright 2003

read in July 2012

Agamedes' opinion: 8 out of 10, really quite good(*)

A few years ago I was given a book, as a present, written by John Pilger. Boring, I thought. Biassed. What a load of negativity, of unmitigated doom and gloom.

This month I read Broken Angels. One man against corporate greed. Against corrupt government. One man who deals out nasty death before it can be dealt out to him. A thoroughly enjoyable book and... the greed, corruption and violence is so believable.

In his acknowledgments, author Richard Morgan names John Pilger as an author who provided strong influence for Broken Angels. "These writers [Pilger and others] did not invent their subject matter as I did, because they did not need to. They have seen and experienced it for themselves at first hand, and we should be listening to them."

I ignored Pilger, who writes the truth as he sees it. I enjoyed -- and accepted the message of -- Morgan, who writes of the same truths but in a futuristic setting.

A friend asked me, Why do you read so much fiction?

The messages are so much more acceptable when they are dressed up as fiction. Pilger writes of the truth and I ignore it. Morgan wraps the same truth in a "fiction" -- and I accept it as being, the truth.

A book of "the truth" is too much to accept. Why should I believe what Pilger writes? And it must be an all-or-nothing acceptance: if I reject one assertion, why should I accept the rest? A book of fiction allows me to accept whatever underlying "truth" I am willing to accept. I can recognise exaggeration. I can selectively accept only parts of the story. The rest, I can dismiss without prejudice.

So a work of "fact" leaves my ignorance untouched. A work of "fiction" has had a far larger impact on my view of the world.

Or... perhaps it's just the accumulated cynicism of the years between books.

Either way, Broken Angels is far easier to read that Pilger. Action, excitement, violence, brutality and enough heroics and ethical behaviour to let me know that the hero is the good guy. No matter how many people he kills. And it all happens in a good science fiction universe.

Some words at the end, though, do remind me of another book, where a character mentioned various types of idealists. The worst, he said (if my memory serves me correctly!), the worst kind of idealist is the one who believes that his own life -- and your life -- are less important than his ideals. That is the most dangerous type of idealist. And, it seems, Morgan's hero is just that most dangerous kind of idealist.

Read and enjoy and gain insights into the corruption of humanity.

Or just read and enjoy.

----

(*) I have rated this book as 8, really quite good. Perhaps it is really 7, well worth reading? Perhaps I'm rating high because, after a couple of really boring books... Broken Angels did seem to be really quite good.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

PissWeakly: the Index