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Halfhead
Terrifying serial killer thriller set in the gritty Glasgow of the near future, from the bestselling author of the Logan McRae series.
There are worse things than the death penalty…
They call them halfheads: convicted criminals, surgically mutilated and lobotomized by the State, then sent out to do menial jobs in the community so everyone will know what happens when you break the law. There are no appeals, no reprieves, and no one ever comes back. Until now.
Dr Fiona Westfield, one of the most prolific serial killers Glasgow has ever seen, is waking up. Surrounded by blood and death and darkness.
William Hunter has risen through the ranks since putting Westfield away; now he’s Assistant Network Director, in charge of police actions. But a routine murder investigation is about to embroil him in an appalling conspiracy.
The vast connurb blocks on Glasgow’s deprived south side are ready to explode. Eleven years ago the VR riots killed millions – now someone wants to start them all over again. And Will is being dragged back into a past he desperately wants to forget…
There are worse things than the death penalty…
They call them halfheads: convicted criminals, surgically mutilated and lobotomized by the State, then sent out to do menial jobs in the community so everyone will know what happens when you break the law. There are no appeals, no reprieves, and no one ever comes back. Until now.
Dr Fiona Westfield, one of the most prolific serial killers Glasgow has ever seen, is waking up. Surrounded by blood and death and darkness.
William Hunter has risen through the ranks since putting Westfield away; now he’s Assistant Network Director, in charge of police actions. But a routine murder investigation is about to embroil him in an appalling conspiracy.
The vast connurb blocks on Glasgow’s deprived south side are ready to explode. Eleven years ago the VR riots killed millions – now someone wants to start them all over again. And Will is being dragged back into a past he desperately wants to forget…
387 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2009
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1641 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
October 5, 2015
"Halfhead" marks the first venture of Scottish author Stuart MacBride into what his publishers seem to want to call science fiction, but is probably more properly classed as science fantasy, or rather future-world thriller -- something of a major departure for an author best known for his Logan McRae series of crime novels, all based in contemporary Aberdeen, a gritty crime series set in the Granite City.
Regardless of its classification, this book is written in MacBride's trademark no-holds barred mix of blunt prose and colloquial brogue, which makes for a fast and riveting read with the action fairly spinning off the page. It is also a gruesome and gory read, with graphic depictions of gratuitous violence from the opening sentence, right up until the final climactic shoot-out.
The story is set in a Glasgow "not too far in the future", although not a Glasgow that many would recognise as having much in common with the current city, except for the dialect, the appearance of current district and street names, and the ubiquitous presence of Irn Bru - just one of numerous Scottish in-jokes which pepper the prose. The plot is well worked out and with sufficient threads to sustain interest through the violence and blood-shed, and to keep most readers on the edge of their seats throughout, although it is obvious from early in the book that there are only two possible endings for the book. It is to MacBride's credit that he manages to conceal until almost the very last page just which he'll finally opt for. The end is somewhat abrupt, anti-climactic, and ambiguous.
There will undoubtedly be a sequel. MacBride's characters are too likeable and reusable not to reappear. The villain of the piece, like Thomas Harris' Hannibal Lectern series, is altogether too grotesquely fascinating to be allowed to feature in only one book.
If you're into light and frothy prose recounting grim and gruesome events at a break-neck pace in a bleak and unpleasant future, give this book a try.
Regardless of its classification, this book is written in MacBride's trademark no-holds barred mix of blunt prose and colloquial brogue, which makes for a fast and riveting read with the action fairly spinning off the page. It is also a gruesome and gory read, with graphic depictions of gratuitous violence from the opening sentence, right up until the final climactic shoot-out.
The story is set in a Glasgow "not too far in the future", although not a Glasgow that many would recognise as having much in common with the current city, except for the dialect, the appearance of current district and street names, and the ubiquitous presence of Irn Bru - just one of numerous Scottish in-jokes which pepper the prose. The plot is well worked out and with sufficient threads to sustain interest through the violence and blood-shed, and to keep most readers on the edge of their seats throughout, although it is obvious from early in the book that there are only two possible endings for the book. It is to MacBride's credit that he manages to conceal until almost the very last page just which he'll finally opt for. The end is somewhat abrupt, anti-climactic, and ambiguous.
There will undoubtedly be a sequel. MacBride's characters are too likeable and reusable not to reappear. The villain of the piece, like Thomas Harris' Hannibal Lectern series, is altogether too grotesquely fascinating to be allowed to feature in only one book.
If you're into light and frothy prose recounting grim and gruesome events at a break-neck pace in a bleak and unpleasant future, give this book a try.
February 11, 2021
I think I may have chosen (well actually a friend loaned it to me) the wrong book by Stuart MacBride as a first.
This book is a sort of dystopian, futuristic look at Glasgow. I don't like this particular genre of book so not off to a good start.
In this future, people who commit serious crimes are punished by a procedure in which they are lobotomized, have their lower jaw removed and all their orifices stitched up! They are then employed as zombie like figures who are used to perform menial cleaning duties for the government.
The story then follows William Hunter who is in some sort of elite task force that tries to restore law and order in a society gone feral. There is so much violence, killing, butchery, rape, abuse..you name it, it's in there that I dreaded what each new page may bring.
2 stars because the plot was engaging and kept me going despite constant graphic scenes being painted for me, but overall YUCK!!
This book is a sort of dystopian, futuristic look at Glasgow. I don't like this particular genre of book so not off to a good start.
In this future, people who commit serious crimes are punished by a procedure in which they are lobotomized, have their lower jaw removed and all their orifices stitched up! They are then employed as zombie like figures who are used to perform menial cleaning duties for the government.
The story then follows William Hunter who is in some sort of elite task force that tries to restore law and order in a society gone feral. There is so much violence, killing, butchery, rape, abuse..you name it, it's in there that I dreaded what each new page may bring.
2 stars because the plot was engaging and kept me going despite constant graphic scenes being painted for me, but overall YUCK!!
October 12, 2022
Even the third time I read this book, I was impressed by it. For readers who think sciencefiction is not for them: try this! It's a great thriller with very interesting characters.
August 15, 2018
Stuart MacBride is one of my favourite crime writes – in fact, I often imagine Stuart MacBride and Sharon Bolton engaging in fisticuffs for the number one spot – and I gladly dive into any new book he releases. The Logan McRae series is my favourite – partly because I live in Aberdeen and I love going around the city and being able to say ‘that is where it happened’, but mostly because my addiction to the series grows stronger and stronger – but I do not shy away from his other releases. For quite some time, Halfhead intrigued me. It was something outside the Stuart MacBride norm, and I was curious for more.
Although Halfhead has a sci-fi theme to it, it’s still very much a Stuart MacBride read. The classic Stuart MacBride elements shine through in this one, giving us a futuristic crime novel that brings his fans something outside his norm. While I did enjoy Halfhead – it certainly had me turning the pages and curious to see what came next – I did not enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed Stuart MacBride’s other work (both the Logan McRae books and the Ash Henderson novels).
Personally, I found Halfhead did not hold the attention in the way a usual Stuart MacBride book does. As I mentioned, I was turning the pages through curiosity; however, I was not as desperate for my answers as I would have liked to be. In fact, I found it was possible to put this one down and do other things, whereas I usually find myself powering through a Stuart MacBride novel with no cares for the world around me.
With plenty going on throughout this story, you do find yourself engaged. I simply wish there had been a little bit more with this one – with some of the things being a bit too obvious from the start, and other things never really reaching the full potential.
I’m glad I finally gave Halfhead a read, but it wasn’t all I had hoped for.
Although Halfhead has a sci-fi theme to it, it’s still very much a Stuart MacBride read. The classic Stuart MacBride elements shine through in this one, giving us a futuristic crime novel that brings his fans something outside his norm. While I did enjoy Halfhead – it certainly had me turning the pages and curious to see what came next – I did not enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed Stuart MacBride’s other work (both the Logan McRae books and the Ash Henderson novels).
Personally, I found Halfhead did not hold the attention in the way a usual Stuart MacBride book does. As I mentioned, I was turning the pages through curiosity; however, I was not as desperate for my answers as I would have liked to be. In fact, I found it was possible to put this one down and do other things, whereas I usually find myself powering through a Stuart MacBride novel with no cares for the world around me.
With plenty going on throughout this story, you do find yourself engaged. I simply wish there had been a little bit more with this one – with some of the things being a bit too obvious from the start, and other things never really reaching the full potential.
I’m glad I finally gave Halfhead a read, but it wasn’t all I had hoped for.
September 7, 2009
First published in 2009, ‘Halfhead’ is the seventh novel to be published for the Scottish author Stuart MacBride. Set in the not too distant future, MacBride’s brutally dark vision of Glasgow throws together echoes of Ridley Scott’s classic sci-fi vision of the future - ‘Blade Runner’ with an even more gritty and home-grown edge.
Glasgow has been separated in two with the poor and under privileged, who are now crammed into large high-rise blocks, whilst the other wealthier citizens of Glasgow live away from these deprived and crime ridden pockets of the city. The majority of those who live their lives in relative poverty have taken on an addiction to submerging themselves in virtual reality consoles for the sheer escapism. For those that deviate drastically from the law have their liberties permanently removed by way of a surgical punishment. This is; they are lobotomised, their lower jaw is removed, as are all of their sex organs. What is left is a mindless body capable of performing only menial day-to-day cleaning tasks around the city. These working zombies are known as by all as ‘halfheads’.
Assistant Section Director William Hunter of ‘The Network’ (an elite police force) is on the trail of a potential serial killer that has begun to strike the under-privileged areas of Glasgow. Hunter is called in to investigate one such murder in the unsafe building known as Sherman House. Upon arriving, Hunter is met by Detective Sergeant Jo Cameron, a member of the Blue Coats (a lower ranking and under funded secondary police force). Their first meeting is somewhat frosty to say the least, however, after Cameron is put on a secondment with the Network, Hunter and herself soon begin to form a very tight relationship.
Meanwhile, more horrific murders are taking place in Sherman House, and after some further investigations into these, it becomes apparent that there is far more to this sudden civil unrest than first meets the eye. Hunter takes it upon himself to fully investigate these recent savage murders that bring back haunting memories of the atrocities caused at the hands of a Dr Fiona Westfield. However, Westfield was caught and halfheaded six years ago. So there can surely be no way in which she could be responsible for any of these murders...
From the very beginning, MacBride pulls the reader into this disorientating future Glasgow, allowing them to discover all of the subtle developments and changes that have now become the norm. Males and females are now treated one-hundred percent equally within the workplace. Homosexuality is now as commonplace as a heterosexual relationship. Weaponry is standard issue for the police forces, with an array of weapons that seem to have been born form the principals of the modern day stun-gun. MacBride manages to paint a truly vivid and uncompromisingly bleak vision of this urban future that screams eerily of a potentially close prediction.
MacBride utilises a number of carefully developed characters, each fulfilling their own unique role within the tale. As the plot moves further along, so these characters begin to play out their individual parts, drawing together a close knit collection of characters, who bring the gloomy premise of the tale to life.
MacBride doesn’t hold back on the strength of the mutilations involved in the story. Instead he drives home a barrage of disturbingly intense passages detailing some very strong and graphic depictions of murder and mutilation. This no-holds-barred approach comes to a peak halfway through the novel, when MacBride confronts the reader with the crème de la crème of sexual depravation that is set to sicken even the most hardcore of readers.
With the plot becoming more and more involved, so the storyline becomes more gripping. MacBride’s constant switching to the first person perspective for a select number of characters keeps the reader feeling totally engaged with each development in to tale. Disorientating at times, this careful use of the first person perspective keeps the reader on their toes at the beginning of each and every chapter.
As the novel draws towards its monstrous finale, MacBride throws in an abundance of over-the-top action for our principal characters as they jump from one dramatic situation to the next, with barely a breather in between. The novel ends with a totally unforeseen twist ending that will make the reader scan back a chapter or two in their head, as the pieces all fall together. The conclusion is far from an all encompassing one, but rather a Thomas Harris style of open ending, with just enough closure to certain aspects of the tale to allow the novel to have a satisfying ending.
MacBride leaves a number of small and relatively trivial aspects of the novel totally unexplained, such as why DS Cameron wears such intensely colourful clothing as part of her job. The explanation for this never comes for some reason. Although this open feel to many small parts of the novel seems to somehow give it a much richer life.
All in all, this is 376 pages of gritty futuristic action that delivers a rollercoaster of tension interspersed with scenes of graphic violence and mutilation. This is a Scottish Blade Runner gone nasty.
Glasgow has been separated in two with the poor and under privileged, who are now crammed into large high-rise blocks, whilst the other wealthier citizens of Glasgow live away from these deprived and crime ridden pockets of the city. The majority of those who live their lives in relative poverty have taken on an addiction to submerging themselves in virtual reality consoles for the sheer escapism. For those that deviate drastically from the law have their liberties permanently removed by way of a surgical punishment. This is; they are lobotomised, their lower jaw is removed, as are all of their sex organs. What is left is a mindless body capable of performing only menial day-to-day cleaning tasks around the city. These working zombies are known as by all as ‘halfheads’.
Assistant Section Director William Hunter of ‘The Network’ (an elite police force) is on the trail of a potential serial killer that has begun to strike the under-privileged areas of Glasgow. Hunter is called in to investigate one such murder in the unsafe building known as Sherman House. Upon arriving, Hunter is met by Detective Sergeant Jo Cameron, a member of the Blue Coats (a lower ranking and under funded secondary police force). Their first meeting is somewhat frosty to say the least, however, after Cameron is put on a secondment with the Network, Hunter and herself soon begin to form a very tight relationship.
Meanwhile, more horrific murders are taking place in Sherman House, and after some further investigations into these, it becomes apparent that there is far more to this sudden civil unrest than first meets the eye. Hunter takes it upon himself to fully investigate these recent savage murders that bring back haunting memories of the atrocities caused at the hands of a Dr Fiona Westfield. However, Westfield was caught and halfheaded six years ago. So there can surely be no way in which she could be responsible for any of these murders...
From the very beginning, MacBride pulls the reader into this disorientating future Glasgow, allowing them to discover all of the subtle developments and changes that have now become the norm. Males and females are now treated one-hundred percent equally within the workplace. Homosexuality is now as commonplace as a heterosexual relationship. Weaponry is standard issue for the police forces, with an array of weapons that seem to have been born form the principals of the modern day stun-gun. MacBride manages to paint a truly vivid and uncompromisingly bleak vision of this urban future that screams eerily of a potentially close prediction.
MacBride utilises a number of carefully developed characters, each fulfilling their own unique role within the tale. As the plot moves further along, so these characters begin to play out their individual parts, drawing together a close knit collection of characters, who bring the gloomy premise of the tale to life.
MacBride doesn’t hold back on the strength of the mutilations involved in the story. Instead he drives home a barrage of disturbingly intense passages detailing some very strong and graphic depictions of murder and mutilation. This no-holds-barred approach comes to a peak halfway through the novel, when MacBride confronts the reader with the crème de la crème of sexual depravation that is set to sicken even the most hardcore of readers.
With the plot becoming more and more involved, so the storyline becomes more gripping. MacBride’s constant switching to the first person perspective for a select number of characters keeps the reader feeling totally engaged with each development in to tale. Disorientating at times, this careful use of the first person perspective keeps the reader on their toes at the beginning of each and every chapter.
As the novel draws towards its monstrous finale, MacBride throws in an abundance of over-the-top action for our principal characters as they jump from one dramatic situation to the next, with barely a breather in between. The novel ends with a totally unforeseen twist ending that will make the reader scan back a chapter or two in their head, as the pieces all fall together. The conclusion is far from an all encompassing one, but rather a Thomas Harris style of open ending, with just enough closure to certain aspects of the tale to allow the novel to have a satisfying ending.
MacBride leaves a number of small and relatively trivial aspects of the novel totally unexplained, such as why DS Cameron wears such intensely colourful clothing as part of her job. The explanation for this never comes for some reason. Although this open feel to many small parts of the novel seems to somehow give it a much richer life.
All in all, this is 376 pages of gritty futuristic action that delivers a rollercoaster of tension interspersed with scenes of graphic violence and mutilation. This is a Scottish Blade Runner gone nasty.
May 20, 2012
Oodles of violence, tons of gougings, beheadings, mutilations, boiled hearts, burnings, eviscerations. Lobotomies, necrophilia, brain removals, child murders. Hardly any character comes through this without Tom and Jerry levels of violence inflicted on them. I didn't find this shocking or gripping, just a bit dull. The characters didn't come into focus and the apocalyptic setting – in which criminals were turned into lobotomised, slaves with their jaws removed – was not convincingly developed, with so much of the narrative given over to gougings, beheadings…
June 21, 2018
Definitely not my kind of book. The constant despair lept from the pages so I closed the covers and that was that.
October 22, 2022
Interesting concept, poorly executed with an over convoluted story line
August 21, 2011
What would happen in a world where virtual reality is such a vital escape for people that they occasionally lose their minds and become out of control cannibals if it goes offline for a moment? According to Stuart MacBride, the new punishment for criminals would be to have half of their face removed, get a lobotomy, and sent to work menial labor as an example to society at large about what happens when you break the law.
But what if one of these procedures goes wrong? Then you have a serial killer, rapist, murderer, or other heinous criminal walking among a group of people whom no one even looks at twice. Because they can't do anything right? They can't even feed themselves, their brain is mush....right?
While I did have some minor problems with this book, namely that they don't really explain much of anything about how the world got this way, it was a good read. The main protagonist is an interesting character with his own set of problems, which are thankfully not the usual woes of law enforcement (you know drinking problems, too many ex-wives, alimony, and a problem with unruly junior officers who can't follow the rules). The antagonist is chilling, she sent a shiver up my spine several times and was very well written. Not one of the most fantastic dystopian novels I've ever read but good enough that I want to know what happens next.
But what if one of these procedures goes wrong? Then you have a serial killer, rapist, murderer, or other heinous criminal walking among a group of people whom no one even looks at twice. Because they can't do anything right? They can't even feed themselves, their brain is mush....right?
While I did have some minor problems with this book, namely that they don't really explain much of anything about how the world got this way, it was a good read. The main protagonist is an interesting character with his own set of problems, which are thankfully not the usual woes of law enforcement (you know drinking problems, too many ex-wives, alimony, and a problem with unruly junior officers who can't follow the rules). The antagonist is chilling, she sent a shiver up my spine several times and was very well written. Not one of the most fantastic dystopian novels I've ever read but good enough that I want to know what happens next.
August 23, 2011
Crime thrillers can quickly become overly repetitive as well as predictable, since they almost always feature a serial killer of some sort, and a detective, ex-military or journalist on their trail. Sometimes it's personal, sometimes not - either way, at the end of the day, what keeps me coming back is a new fresh twist on the old formula.
Which is why I was delighted to stumble upon Halfhead - an action packed crime thriller set in the near future - thus many giving it the sci-fi tag in the process.
Sure, it's nothing groundbreaking, but if you've had enough of the usual serial killer story lines and like your bit of sci-fi mixed with brutal action and graphic violence, strong characters and a cracking story, then I don't see how anyone will like this any less than I did.
I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish. In fact, I was sad it ended. A sequel would be much appreciated, however, the author's publishers have him tied to releasing more of his bestselling crime series than venturing into new grounds, as was the case with this novel.
Which is why I was delighted to stumble upon Halfhead - an action packed crime thriller set in the near future - thus many giving it the sci-fi tag in the process.
Sure, it's nothing groundbreaking, but if you've had enough of the usual serial killer story lines and like your bit of sci-fi mixed with brutal action and graphic violence, strong characters and a cracking story, then I don't see how anyone will like this any less than I did.
I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish. In fact, I was sad it ended. A sequel would be much appreciated, however, the author's publishers have him tied to releasing more of his bestselling crime series than venturing into new grounds, as was the case with this novel.
January 4, 2018
I just finished this half an hour ago.
LOVED IT!!!!
Macbride's Logan Macrae series is dark and gritty but Logan absolutely plays by the rules and is treated like a dogsbody. His other work really takes the handcuffs off and cranks up the violence tenfold. This was a perfect example of this. Some of the violence was incredibly graphic, it wasn't always told as it was happening but we were still "treated" to a description of what had transpired. At times I questioned how his mind came up with some of the things he was writing. Some of it grossed me out or made me shudder but I still found myself liking the fact it was included.
This is a crime / thriller but it's set in the "near future" where futuristic weaponry is commonplace and serious crime is severely punished.
I'll not go into the plot but I recommend this to anyone who wants a brutal thriller with some Sci Fi elements added. The fact it never got a sequel (because of backlash about it not being the next in his Logan series allegedly) is a crying shame. An excellent book that I honestly couldn't put down.
LOVED IT!!!!
Macbride's Logan Macrae series is dark and gritty but Logan absolutely plays by the rules and is treated like a dogsbody. His other work really takes the handcuffs off and cranks up the violence tenfold. This was a perfect example of this. Some of the violence was incredibly graphic, it wasn't always told as it was happening but we were still "treated" to a description of what had transpired. At times I questioned how his mind came up with some of the things he was writing. Some of it grossed me out or made me shudder but I still found myself liking the fact it was included.
This is a crime / thriller but it's set in the "near future" where futuristic weaponry is commonplace and serious crime is severely punished.
I'll not go into the plot but I recommend this to anyone who wants a brutal thriller with some Sci Fi elements added. The fact it never got a sequel (because of backlash about it not being the next in his Logan series allegedly) is a crying shame. An excellent book that I honestly couldn't put down.
February 12, 2015
I have to admit that Sci-Fi is not really my thing but given the author I thought that I would give it a go. The book is set in Glasgow in the near future where the population are housed in huge tower blocks. Where there are people there is crime, and the serious criminals are dealt with harshly. They are lobotomised, and their lower jaws removed (hence the term halfheads) and are then set to complete menial tasks. Throw in a shadowy organisation experimenting on residents, and it all starts to become a bit predictable. There's plenty of blood and gore for those interested in that kind of thing, but the speech idioms and mannerisms didn't seem to sit quite right for me, and only my stubbornness kept me reading through to the end.
October 17, 2021
3.4 stars. An interesting hardboiled thriller set in a dystopian future. It's fairly violent but after a while, because it seems like barely a page goes by before someone gets hurt (again), it becomes a bit cartoonish (I kept expecting them to start using acme products). I also deducted a star and a bit because I have so many unanswered questions and that ending left me hanging. I'm not sure if Stuart Macbride will continue with this because his other series seem to be more popular.
November 2, 2017
Review to come.
February 18, 2025
Parts of this were great and some were unnecessary, like an entire romantic side quest I found uninteresting.
March 14, 2017
Pros: interesting mystery, varied characters, good pacing
Cons: lots of gore & disturbing descriptions
In a future where convicted criminals are lobotomized and have half their jaw removed a convicted serial killer halfhead has regained a sense of herself, over the mutilated body of the man she’s just killed. Assistant Network Director William Hunter has nightmares about the last time he visited Sherman House, the multi-storied residence where he fought during the VR riots. He’s not happy returning to Sherman House now, to investigate the second gruesome murder in the building that week. Something’s not right with Sherman House, and Hunter’s digging threatens to expose something that powerful people want kept quiet. Something involving the work done by a certain halfhead killer.
If you’re squeamish, this is not the book for you. In many ways it reminded me of the original Robocop film, only without the black humour. There’s a lot of blood, guts, and some truly disturbing descriptions of violence. Though, I will say that you don’t get much graphic violence (ie, most of it is descriptions after the events have happened, rather than first person views of the violence itself). The characters all take quite a number of literal beatings. There’s also mention of torture, but no descriptions.
The mystery is interesting. The halfhead’s story is terrifying. William’s a great character, and I enjoyed seeing him break the rules to get to the bottom of what was going on. I really liked Jo as well. She’s spunky with a crazy fashion sense. Emily kept making me think of Emily Blunt, partly because of her name and partly because of her military kickass character in Edge of Tomorrow. Brian’s accent caused me some issues, but I liked seeing him helping William out as a friend.
While I enjoyed aspects of the book, I don’t think I’d reread it, simply because I had to work hard not to let any of the visual imagery give me nightmares. A few scenes were quite disturbing and I wouldn’t want to revisit them. The ending alone was kind of terrifying. While this isn’t technically a military SF book, there’s enough military style action to please lovers of that sub-genre. Similarly if you like mysteries or serial killers, this might be for you.
Cons: lots of gore & disturbing descriptions
In a future where convicted criminals are lobotomized and have half their jaw removed a convicted serial killer halfhead has regained a sense of herself, over the mutilated body of the man she’s just killed. Assistant Network Director William Hunter has nightmares about the last time he visited Sherman House, the multi-storied residence where he fought during the VR riots. He’s not happy returning to Sherman House now, to investigate the second gruesome murder in the building that week. Something’s not right with Sherman House, and Hunter’s digging threatens to expose something that powerful people want kept quiet. Something involving the work done by a certain halfhead killer.
If you’re squeamish, this is not the book for you. In many ways it reminded me of the original Robocop film, only without the black humour. There’s a lot of blood, guts, and some truly disturbing descriptions of violence. Though, I will say that you don’t get much graphic violence (ie, most of it is descriptions after the events have happened, rather than first person views of the violence itself). The characters all take quite a number of literal beatings. There’s also mention of torture, but no descriptions.
The mystery is interesting. The halfhead’s story is terrifying. William’s a great character, and I enjoyed seeing him break the rules to get to the bottom of what was going on. I really liked Jo as well. She’s spunky with a crazy fashion sense. Emily kept making me think of Emily Blunt, partly because of her name and partly because of her military kickass character in Edge of Tomorrow. Brian’s accent caused me some issues, but I liked seeing him helping William out as a friend.
While I enjoyed aspects of the book, I don’t think I’d reread it, simply because I had to work hard not to let any of the visual imagery give me nightmares. A few scenes were quite disturbing and I wouldn’t want to revisit them. The ending alone was kind of terrifying. While this isn’t technically a military SF book, there’s enough military style action to please lovers of that sub-genre. Similarly if you like mysteries or serial killers, this might be for you.
October 6, 2018
It's been a while that I wrote a review for this site. Hopefully, this will help me get back in the flow.
Halfhead is a book that does some things very well, but remains mediocre or bad the rest of the time. It does a great job conveying a sense of location, the characters are vivid enough (but also quite uninspired), and some action scenes are written very, very well. Best of all, perhaps, the setting seems lively and the book does quite a good job portraying a future with new technologies and unique social problems. All in all, everything is integrated very well. For that, MacBride deserves praise.
On the other hand, the violence and bleakness are self-indulging. Besides the half-heading procedure, they neither serve the narrative or worldbuilding nor did they seem realistic to me. Unlike Refugee, the violence does not teach us anything about how the world works. It tells us nothing about the many faces of evil, how it's expressed, or about the effects it has on its victims. Interestingly, Refugees worldbuilding was lackluster, and the opposite of what I meant when I said MacBride integrated everything very well.
There are many books out there that are much better than Halfhead, so I would not recommend it further. That said, I also don't regret reading it. It's a mediocre book with a few good sides.
Halfhead is a book that does some things very well, but remains mediocre or bad the rest of the time. It does a great job conveying a sense of location, the characters are vivid enough (but also quite uninspired), and some action scenes are written very, very well. Best of all, perhaps, the setting seems lively and the book does quite a good job portraying a future with new technologies and unique social problems. All in all, everything is integrated very well. For that, MacBride deserves praise.
On the other hand, the violence and bleakness are self-indulging. Besides the half-heading procedure, they neither serve the narrative or worldbuilding nor did they seem realistic to me. Unlike Refugee, the violence does not teach us anything about how the world works. It tells us nothing about the many faces of evil, how it's expressed, or about the effects it has on its victims. Interestingly, Refugees worldbuilding was lackluster, and the opposite of what I meant when I said MacBride integrated everything very well.
There are many books out there that are much better than Halfhead, so I would not recommend it further. That said, I also don't regret reading it. It's a mediocre book with a few good sides.
January 12, 2011
[There's a small spoiler in the last paragraph - so stop reading when you get to the ellipsis!]
For a science fiction crime novel, written by a crime writer, I found the science fictional elements far more interesting than the crime element (serial killer psychopath blood violence - the usual). The story is set in a futuristic Glasgow struggling against increasingly mindless violence (attributed to "VR syndrome"), where the underprivileged are crowded into high-rise slums (connurbs), and where convicted violent criminals are punished by being "halfheaded": so called because as well as being lobotomised, they have their their lower jaw surgically removed. Females also have their breasts cut off. These people are dehumanised to the point where they are no longer gendered - they are referred to as "it", and they work as free labour for the community cleaning toilets, offices, and hospitals
There's rather intriguing story line that concerns secret government-sanctioned drug experiments on the public, and I would have loved the whole novel to have been about that and the halfheads, rather than the serial-killer-returns-to-wreak-revenge theme that ostensibly drives the plot.
For a science fiction crime novel, written by a crime writer, I found the science fictional elements far more interesting than the crime element (serial killer psychopath blood violence - the usual). The story is set in a futuristic Glasgow struggling against increasingly mindless violence (attributed to "VR syndrome"), where the underprivileged are crowded into high-rise slums (connurbs), and where convicted violent criminals are punished by being "halfheaded": so called because as well as being lobotomised, they have their their lower jaw surgically removed. Females also have their breasts cut off. These people are dehumanised to the point where they are no longer gendered - they are referred to as "it", and they work as free labour for the community cleaning toilets, offices, and hospitals
There's rather intriguing story line that concerns secret government-sanctioned drug experiments on the public, and I would have loved the whole novel to have been about that and the halfheads, rather than the serial-killer-returns-to-wreak-revenge theme that ostensibly drives the plot.
September 27, 2009
It took me a while to get into this book but when I did it was great. The whole concept of it being set in the future was a bit weird, as where the changes that have taken place because of the future.
The book is about a "halfhead" - someone who has had the lowe part of their face removed and their brain lobotomised due to them being convicted of a violent crime and trained to do menial tasks such as cleaning - who has not been lobotomised properly and manages to get her life back and to continue her violent murdering ways. She seeks revenge on the police man who caught her and who continues to try and solve crimes relating to her and those who she has trained to be violent.
The book is about a "halfhead" - someone who has had the lowe part of their face removed and their brain lobotomised due to them being convicted of a violent crime and trained to do menial tasks such as cleaning - who has not been lobotomised properly and manages to get her life back and to continue her violent murdering ways. She seeks revenge on the police man who caught her and who continues to try and solve crimes relating to her and those who she has trained to be violent.
February 7, 2014
Though set in the future, isn't isn't so far out that there are no similarities to today. It's just like taking a couple of steps into the future and recognizing everything, which is great, because it makes it so much more real.
Police procedure, thriller, futuristic touches, villains to turn your stomach, a society that is a little worrying LOL.
The story is awesome, if a little... let's put it this way, Stuart McBride has a way of making you cringe a little inside when nasty things happen LOL. All the scarier when his writing makes you visualize it so clearly that you feel as though you're in the room watching it unfold.
Great book!
Police procedure, thriller, futuristic touches, villains to turn your stomach, a society that is a little worrying LOL.
The story is awesome, if a little... let's put it this way, Stuart McBride has a way of making you cringe a little inside when nasty things happen LOL. All the scarier when his writing makes you visualize it so clearly that you feel as though you're in the room watching it unfold.
Great book!
December 15, 2020
Set in the future, Macbride takes us into a world of a punishment for law breakers that is quite drastic but in some cases seems just. But in one offender things go horribly wrong. This tale was very good and he left it in such a way that there could be a second one. I hope so...
September 21, 2024
Struggled with this at first, but love MacBride's writing and was won over. Realistic Glasgow setting and vocabulary!
August 30, 2017
„Ubezwłasnogłowieni” – czyż ten tytuł już sam w sobie nie brzmi zachęcająco i nie wzbudza ciekawości?
Mnie od razu ta pozycja zaintrygowała, a jej opis tylko bardziej podsycił chęć jej przeczytania.
Czy było warto?
W budynku Sherman House (Glasgow) zostają znalezione zmasakrowane zwłoki mężczyzny. Na miejsce zbrodni zostaje wezwany wicedyrektor sekcji z Centrum Przeciwdziałania Zagrożenia – Will Hunter i to właśnie on musi wyjaśnić tę sprawę, ku swemu wielkiemu niezadowoleniu, ponieważ miejsce zbrodni jest jego koszmarem z przeszłości, od którego starał się trzymać jak najdalej. Wszystko utrudnia fakt, że świat nie jest taki jakim my go znamy, teraz dzieli się na „normalnych” ludzi takich jak np. Will, na ludzi odizolowanych od społeczeństwa i faszerowanych wirtualnym życiem oraz tytułowych ubezwłasnogłowionych, czyli byłych przestępców, którzy dokonali strasznych rzeczy i zostali za to ukarani poprzez usunięcie połowy twarzy – żuchwy, poddaniu lobotomii oraz wytatuowaniu kodu na czole. Właśnie jedna z takich osób jakimś cudem biega po mieście i zabija z zimną krwią.
Czy Will Hunter zdoła pokonać demony przeszłości, przezwycięży strach i złapie mordercę? Czemu jeden z ubezwłasnogłowionych stał się nieposłuszny i znów zaczyna zabijać?
Chyba nigdy nie myślałam, że książka łącząca w sobie tak wiele gatunków może być dobra. Ta pozycja udowodniła mi, że bez najmniejszych problemów jest to możliwe.
Kryminał, thriller, horror oraz sci-fi w jednym, lecz co najważniejsze wszystko to współgra ze sobą idealnie.
Podczas czytania tej lektury miałam wrażenie, że oglądam dobry film akcji i powiem szczerze, że chciałabym bardzo aby powstała ekranizacja tej książki, jednak i bez tego podczas czytania moja wyobraźnia pracowała nieprzerwanie na najwyższych obrotach. Całe szczęście autor potrafi tak lekko, lecz precyzyjnie i ciekawie pisać, że chyba nikt z czytelników nie jest w stanie powstrzymać się od projekcji obrazów w swojej głowie.
Co najbardziej podobało mi się w tej książce?
Zdecydowanie wykreowany świat i zasady w nim panujące, chociaż wcale nie należą one do kolorowych. Jest to brudny, pełen podziałów i brutalności świat, w którym technologia (jakiej jeszcze nie znamy) odgrywa dużą rolę.
Na uwagę zasługują również główne postacie: Hunter oraz seryjny morderca, to właśnie z ich perspektywy poznajemy całą historię. Te dwie postacie są naprawdę świetnie stworzone, obie wzbudzają ogromne zainteresowanie.
„Ubezwłasnogłowieni”to książka, od której ciężko się oderwać, w dodatku już od pierwszych stron wciąga i trzyma w napięciu oraz niepewności. Ciągła akcja, ciągłe zaskakiwanie czytelnika i świetne zakończenie, które daje nadzieję na następną część, to kolejne mocne strony tej książki.
Nie stroni ona również od brutalności – trupy, wnętrzności, odcięte głowy, krew, to tylko kilka przykładów, ale co ważne autor opisał wszystko w tak doby sposób, że wyczekuje się kolejnych mocnych fragmentów, a zapewniam, że jest ich sporo.
Uważam, że książka jest idealna dla mężczyzn, szczególnie tych, którzy lubią mocne kino lecz w papierowym wydaniu. Kobiety takie jak ja, czyli lubiące równie mocne i wyraziste klimaty, i którym brutalność oraz technologie pokroju telefonu w palcu nie są straszne, również odnajdą się w tej lekturze.
Ja serdecznie polecam tę książkę i mam wielką nadzieję, że zrobi się o niej znacznie głośniej.
Mnie od razu ta pozycja zaintrygowała, a jej opis tylko bardziej podsycił chęć jej przeczytania.
Czy było warto?
W budynku Sherman House (Glasgow) zostają znalezione zmasakrowane zwłoki mężczyzny. Na miejsce zbrodni zostaje wezwany wicedyrektor sekcji z Centrum Przeciwdziałania Zagrożenia – Will Hunter i to właśnie on musi wyjaśnić tę sprawę, ku swemu wielkiemu niezadowoleniu, ponieważ miejsce zbrodni jest jego koszmarem z przeszłości, od którego starał się trzymać jak najdalej. Wszystko utrudnia fakt, że świat nie jest taki jakim my go znamy, teraz dzieli się na „normalnych” ludzi takich jak np. Will, na ludzi odizolowanych od społeczeństwa i faszerowanych wirtualnym życiem oraz tytułowych ubezwłasnogłowionych, czyli byłych przestępców, którzy dokonali strasznych rzeczy i zostali za to ukarani poprzez usunięcie połowy twarzy – żuchwy, poddaniu lobotomii oraz wytatuowaniu kodu na czole. Właśnie jedna z takich osób jakimś cudem biega po mieście i zabija z zimną krwią.
Czy Will Hunter zdoła pokonać demony przeszłości, przezwycięży strach i złapie mordercę? Czemu jeden z ubezwłasnogłowionych stał się nieposłuszny i znów zaczyna zabijać?
Chyba nigdy nie myślałam, że książka łącząca w sobie tak wiele gatunków może być dobra. Ta pozycja udowodniła mi, że bez najmniejszych problemów jest to możliwe.
Kryminał, thriller, horror oraz sci-fi w jednym, lecz co najważniejsze wszystko to współgra ze sobą idealnie.
Podczas czytania tej lektury miałam wrażenie, że oglądam dobry film akcji i powiem szczerze, że chciałabym bardzo aby powstała ekranizacja tej książki, jednak i bez tego podczas czytania moja wyobraźnia pracowała nieprzerwanie na najwyższych obrotach. Całe szczęście autor potrafi tak lekko, lecz precyzyjnie i ciekawie pisać, że chyba nikt z czytelników nie jest w stanie powstrzymać się od projekcji obrazów w swojej głowie.
Co najbardziej podobało mi się w tej książce?
Zdecydowanie wykreowany świat i zasady w nim panujące, chociaż wcale nie należą one do kolorowych. Jest to brudny, pełen podziałów i brutalności świat, w którym technologia (jakiej jeszcze nie znamy) odgrywa dużą rolę.
Na uwagę zasługują również główne postacie: Hunter oraz seryjny morderca, to właśnie z ich perspektywy poznajemy całą historię. Te dwie postacie są naprawdę świetnie stworzone, obie wzbudzają ogromne zainteresowanie.
„Ubezwłasnogłowieni”to książka, od której ciężko się oderwać, w dodatku już od pierwszych stron wciąga i trzyma w napięciu oraz niepewności. Ciągła akcja, ciągłe zaskakiwanie czytelnika i świetne zakończenie, które daje nadzieję na następną część, to kolejne mocne strony tej książki.
Nie stroni ona również od brutalności – trupy, wnętrzności, odcięte głowy, krew, to tylko kilka przykładów, ale co ważne autor opisał wszystko w tak doby sposób, że wyczekuje się kolejnych mocnych fragmentów, a zapewniam, że jest ich sporo.
Uważam, że książka jest idealna dla mężczyzn, szczególnie tych, którzy lubią mocne kino lecz w papierowym wydaniu. Kobiety takie jak ja, czyli lubiące równie mocne i wyraziste klimaty, i którym brutalność oraz technologie pokroju telefonu w palcu nie są straszne, również odnajdą się w tej lekturze.
Ja serdecznie polecam tę książkę i mam wielką nadzieję, że zrobi się o niej znacznie głośniej.
May 14, 2020
Stuart MacBride has previously had five Aberdonian police procedural novels published and done well from them. They tend to be a bit lurid, a bit gory and to require an element of suspension of disbelief. I understand that Halfhead was written before his previous books but had languished unpublished. One can see why: although Halfhead is eminently readable and shows enormous promise, it also betrays some immaturity.
Basically, Halfhead is a futuristic police procedural set in a Glasgow "not too far in the future". There are nods to the future that we expect: climate change; immense population growth; rising sea levels. There are the obligatory sci-fi changes for changes sake - people wear cloats; the polis become bluecoats; guns become whompers, zammers or thrummers. And the big technological changes seem to be the ability to work miracles with medical science, curing all manner or injuries in a quick and painless way - and the painless cures seem to offer enough hope to the injured to let them carry on with whatever they are doing without the inconvenience of writhing around in agony or losing consciousness. Except when the plot demands writhing agony or unconsciousness.
But despite all these sci-fi tricks, the basic premise of over-achieving policeman thwarted by his bureaucratic boss; warned off the case; and a no-hoper rookie partner are all familiar. There are immature tics - did we need all the Network staff to be named after famous cooks? - were all police staff really named after 20th century leaders of the Conservative Party? The amount of gore, too, feels somewhat immature, although I guess a teenage audience would lap it up. The setting in Glasgow, too, seems to be applied inconsistently. Sometimes people talk in broad Weegie accents and drink Irn Bru as they step over junkies in Kelvingrove Park, but at other times the setting seems like anywhere and the Glaswegian reference point evaporate.
Then we have the halfheading process itself. It sounds like a warped teenage fantasy - mutilating and de-sexing people, ostensibly as a punishment for heinous crimes that seem to vary from chapter to chapter. Some of MacBride's other works suggest a fascination with mutilation and Halfhead may display more of MacBride's inner thinking than he had intended.
But, for all that, as a thriller the novel is well paced, gripping and mercifully not dominated by its futuristic setting. The narrative sections following one particular halfhead are written in a rather accomplished, insistent and distinctive voice. The general narrative, too, has a mordant wit running through it. These touches help to lift Halfhead above other police procedurals. So this does demonstrate some real promise which was handsomely realized in Cold Granite and subsequent novels. I still wonder, though, whether publishing Halfhead will have done MacBride any favours in the long run.
A generous four stars for being fun, but perhaps with a total rewrite this could have been more.
Basically, Halfhead is a futuristic police procedural set in a Glasgow "not too far in the future". There are nods to the future that we expect: climate change; immense population growth; rising sea levels. There are the obligatory sci-fi changes for changes sake - people wear cloats; the polis become bluecoats; guns become whompers, zammers or thrummers. And the big technological changes seem to be the ability to work miracles with medical science, curing all manner or injuries in a quick and painless way - and the painless cures seem to offer enough hope to the injured to let them carry on with whatever they are doing without the inconvenience of writhing around in agony or losing consciousness. Except when the plot demands writhing agony or unconsciousness.
But despite all these sci-fi tricks, the basic premise of over-achieving policeman thwarted by his bureaucratic boss; warned off the case; and a no-hoper rookie partner are all familiar. There are immature tics - did we need all the Network staff to be named after famous cooks? - were all police staff really named after 20th century leaders of the Conservative Party? The amount of gore, too, feels somewhat immature, although I guess a teenage audience would lap it up. The setting in Glasgow, too, seems to be applied inconsistently. Sometimes people talk in broad Weegie accents and drink Irn Bru as they step over junkies in Kelvingrove Park, but at other times the setting seems like anywhere and the Glaswegian reference point evaporate.
Then we have the halfheading process itself. It sounds like a warped teenage fantasy - mutilating and de-sexing people, ostensibly as a punishment for heinous crimes that seem to vary from chapter to chapter. Some of MacBride's other works suggest a fascination with mutilation and Halfhead may display more of MacBride's inner thinking than he had intended.
But, for all that, as a thriller the novel is well paced, gripping and mercifully not dominated by its futuristic setting. The narrative sections following one particular halfhead are written in a rather accomplished, insistent and distinctive voice. The general narrative, too, has a mordant wit running through it. These touches help to lift Halfhead above other police procedurals. So this does demonstrate some real promise which was handsomely realized in Cold Granite and subsequent novels. I still wonder, though, whether publishing Halfhead will have done MacBride any favours in the long run.
A generous four stars for being fun, but perhaps with a total rewrite this could have been more.
December 8, 2017
Czasami człowiek myśli o tym, że jeśli egzystuje głównie w powieściach jednego gatunku, to kolejnym razem ciężko będzie go czymkolwiek zaskoczyć. Sama byłam tego pewna – do czasu. Czy coś się zmieniło?
Przestępcy, którzy zostali poddani lobotomii, skazani na wieczne cierpienie poprzez okaleczenie oraz oddelegowani do wykonywania prac społecznych to właśnie ubezwłasnogłowieni. Bez możliwości powrotu do normalności. Jednak jedna z nich, doktor Fiona Westfield trafia do rzekomej rzeczywistości, a Will Hunter, śledczy Organizacji musi odnaleźć sprawcę brutalnego mordu dokonanego w miejscu, które na co dzień spędza mu noc z powiek. „Uświadomiła wszystkim, że jeśli zrozumieją, jak wygląda umysł przestępcy, będą mogli przebadać całą populację, wyławiając jednostki pasujące do profilu. Ludzi, którzy być może nie zrobili jeszcze nic złego, ale mieli odchyły predysponujące ich do takich czynów w przyszłości.” Powieść, którą zaserwował nam na tacy Stuart MacBride, jest jedną z tych powieści osobliwych, która w każdym czytelniku wywrze zupełnie inne odczucia. Jest ona przede wszystkim brutalna i odrażająca. Czy mi to przeszkadzało w pochłonięciu całej historii od deski do deski? Absolutnie nie, a to dlatego, iż przyzwyczajona jestem do książek, w których aż roi się od mocnych opisów. Weźmy na tapet autorów takich jak, chociażby Chris Carter czy Maxime Chattam. Według mnie Stuart MacBride spokojnie może należeć do autorów, którzy potrafią zaserwować nam niemałą dawkę emocji, siląc się na ukazanie brutalnych mordów, bestialskich zachowań w swojej powieści. Z początku nie potrafiłam się odnaleźć w świecie, który przedstawił nam autor i choć łatwo wciągnęłam się w fabułę, to jednak ciężko było mi się w niej odnaleźć. Miałam wrażenie, że za dużo się tutaj dzieje i nie bardzo wiedziałam o co chodzi. „To takie słodkie, jak ludzie przywiązują się do różnych rzeczy. Zapach żony. Kawałek skóry. Kończyna. Ich życie.” Ze względu na to, jak ostra jest to książka, stanowczo nie polecam jej osobom wrażliwym. Do przeczytania tej powieści trzeba mieć naprawdę mocne nerwy, bo choć uważam siebie za osobę odporną na makabryczne opisy, tutaj momentami ciarki przeszywały moje ciało, a i pojawił się moment, który naprawdę mnie odrzucił. Reasumując, według mnie powieść Stuarta MacBride’a wykracza poza ramy standardowego kryminału. Urzeka nas ona skomplikowaną siecią przeróżnych informacji wplątanych w fabułę, jak i nierealnością ukazanych wydarzeń. I choć wiemy, że jest to jedynie wizja niedalekiej przyszłości, to wszystko, co nas otacza na łamach tej powieści, wydaje się być wyśmienicie wykreowanym i przekoloryzowanym materiałem na jedną z moich ulubionych książek. Jednak powtórzę, to powieść dla naprawdę wytrwałych czytelników.
Przestępcy, którzy zostali poddani lobotomii, skazani na wieczne cierpienie poprzez okaleczenie oraz oddelegowani do wykonywania prac społecznych to właśnie ubezwłasnogłowieni. Bez możliwości powrotu do normalności. Jednak jedna z nich, doktor Fiona Westfield trafia do rzekomej rzeczywistości, a Will Hunter, śledczy Organizacji musi odnaleźć sprawcę brutalnego mordu dokonanego w miejscu, które na co dzień spędza mu noc z powiek. „Uświadomiła wszystkim, że jeśli zrozumieją, jak wygląda umysł przestępcy, będą mogli przebadać całą populację, wyławiając jednostki pasujące do profilu. Ludzi, którzy być może nie zrobili jeszcze nic złego, ale mieli odchyły predysponujące ich do takich czynów w przyszłości.” Powieść, którą zaserwował nam na tacy Stuart MacBride, jest jedną z tych powieści osobliwych, która w każdym czytelniku wywrze zupełnie inne odczucia. Jest ona przede wszystkim brutalna i odrażająca. Czy mi to przeszkadzało w pochłonięciu całej historii od deski do deski? Absolutnie nie, a to dlatego, iż przyzwyczajona jestem do książek, w których aż roi się od mocnych opisów. Weźmy na tapet autorów takich jak, chociażby Chris Carter czy Maxime Chattam. Według mnie Stuart MacBride spokojnie może należeć do autorów, którzy potrafią zaserwować nam niemałą dawkę emocji, siląc się na ukazanie brutalnych mordów, bestialskich zachowań w swojej powieści. Z początku nie potrafiłam się odnaleźć w świecie, który przedstawił nam autor i choć łatwo wciągnęłam się w fabułę, to jednak ciężko było mi się w niej odnaleźć. Miałam wrażenie, że za dużo się tutaj dzieje i nie bardzo wiedziałam o co chodzi. „To takie słodkie, jak ludzie przywiązują się do różnych rzeczy. Zapach żony. Kawałek skóry. Kończyna. Ich życie.” Ze względu na to, jak ostra jest to książka, stanowczo nie polecam jej osobom wrażliwym. Do przeczytania tej powieści trzeba mieć naprawdę mocne nerwy, bo choć uważam siebie za osobę odporną na makabryczne opisy, tutaj momentami ciarki przeszywały moje ciało, a i pojawił się moment, który naprawdę mnie odrzucił. Reasumując, według mnie powieść Stuarta MacBride’a wykracza poza ramy standardowego kryminału. Urzeka nas ona skomplikowaną siecią przeróżnych informacji wplątanych w fabułę, jak i nierealnością ukazanych wydarzeń. I choć wiemy, że jest to jedynie wizja niedalekiej przyszłości, to wszystko, co nas otacza na łamach tej powieści, wydaje się być wyśmienicie wykreowanym i przekoloryzowanym materiałem na jedną z moich ulubionych książek. Jednak powtórzę, to powieść dla naprawdę wytrwałych czytelników.
April 19, 2022
Two really good SF concepts that shouldn't have been in the same book.
MacBride's prose is excellent. The actual story - of specialist future-police investigating a series of grisly murders - is really well written; the action scenes are great, the characters are well-rounded, and it's all nice and intense.
But I went in expecting a story about the titular 'halfheads' - criminals punished by being lobotomised and forced to work as essentially slaves. I expected these poor souls to be the heart of the story, for there to be some acknowledgement of how incredibly messed up this concept is - especially given that But instead... there's nothing. The halfheads are ultimately just background dressing. They cause no real conflict and are secondary to the main plot.
The main plot instead half-focuses on another interesting idea - that of 'VR syndrome', i.e. psychosis induced by spending too much time in virtual reality. It's a good idea. But because the main plot is ultimately just a serial killer hunt, and because of the aforementioned half-baked halfhead plot, this concept doesn't get properly fleshed-out either.
It's a real shame, because I was genuinely interested in both concepts. But it's too much for one book, and neither is handled properly. The point of good sci-fi is to take the crazy ideas that set a world apart from reality and examine what changes because of their existence. Halfhead, unfortunately, just has those crazy ideas... exist, and tells an ordinary crime story instead.
MacBride's prose is excellent. The actual story - of specialist future-police investigating a series of grisly murders - is really well written; the action scenes are great, the characters are well-rounded, and it's all nice and intense.
But I went in expecting a story about the titular 'halfheads' - criminals punished by being lobotomised and forced to work as essentially slaves. I expected these poor souls to be the heart of the story, for there to be some acknowledgement of how incredibly messed up this concept is - especially given that But instead... there's nothing. The halfheads are ultimately just background dressing. They cause no real conflict and are secondary to the main plot.
The main plot instead half-focuses on another interesting idea - that of 'VR syndrome', i.e. psychosis induced by spending too much time in virtual reality. It's a good idea. But because the main plot is ultimately just a serial killer hunt, and because of the aforementioned half-baked halfhead plot, this concept doesn't get properly fleshed-out either.
It's a real shame, because I was genuinely interested in both concepts. But it's too much for one book, and neither is handled properly. The point of good sci-fi is to take the crazy ideas that set a world apart from reality and examine what changes because of their existence. Halfhead, unfortunately, just has those crazy ideas... exist, and tells an ordinary crime story instead.
October 23, 2017
Man, S. MacBride can really knock these darker novels out of the park. Halfhead is a classic crime novel with a twist, it is set in a futuristic society. The book isn't post apoctalyptic, but there has been noticeable society degradation.
A lot of the reviews focus on the concept of the 'Halfhead', they claim that this practice isn't realistic - but in this context I had no issue with it. Halfhead's are former criminals. Instead of being put in prison for life, or executed, they are lobotomized and assigned to menial workforces (such as toilet cleaning).
The concept of lobotomizing isn't new, over 50000 people in the US received lobotomies in the 40's-50's. Indeed, Rosemary Kennedy's ;'failed' lobotomy left her with the mental capacity of an child. So, in this futuristic, but degraded society that has workforce issues, the idea of lobotomizing criminals wasn't a shocker. The further modifications to halfheads basically de-sex them to prevent abuse.
The main 'villain' in this novel is a psychotic-psychologist. While this isn't ground breaking, it was still carried out well.
Positives:
+ Interesting landscape. Talks about futuristic warfare, virtual reality, energy weapons, and ships. The concepts are blended seamlessly into the novel. I never felt caught off guard or confused by a futuristic concept.
+ Characters. I felt each of the main characters was fleshed out well. We don't get any reasons behind the doctor's actions, but room is left for a sequel.
+ Writing. Easy to read, hard to put down. I am generally not a fan of flashbacks, but they worked well in this novel.
A lot of the reviews focus on the concept of the 'Halfhead', they claim that this practice isn't realistic - but in this context I had no issue with it. Halfhead's are former criminals. Instead of being put in prison for life, or executed, they are lobotomized and assigned to menial workforces (such as toilet cleaning).
The concept of lobotomizing isn't new, over 50000 people in the US received lobotomies in the 40's-50's. Indeed, Rosemary Kennedy's ;'failed' lobotomy left her with the mental capacity of an child. So, in this futuristic, but degraded society that has workforce issues, the idea of lobotomizing criminals wasn't a shocker. The further modifications to halfheads basically de-sex them to prevent abuse.
The main 'villain' in this novel is a psychotic-psychologist. While this isn't ground breaking, it was still carried out well.
Positives:
+ Interesting landscape. Talks about futuristic warfare, virtual reality, energy weapons, and ships. The concepts are blended seamlessly into the novel. I never felt caught off guard or confused by a futuristic concept.
+ Characters. I felt each of the main characters was fleshed out well. We don't get any reasons behind the doctor's actions, but room is left for a sequel.
+ Writing. Easy to read, hard to put down. I am generally not a fan of flashbacks, but they worked well in this novel.
June 30, 2019
I really wanted to give 4.5 stars and I nearly nudged it to 5.
This book is incredible. I really enjoyed it. It is hard to describe exactly but I guess the best I can come up with is a serial killer conspiracy thriller set in a near future dystopian Glasgow.
It develops characters effortlessly and the story sucks you in to keep turning the pages like all good thrillers.
What elevated this for me was the originality of the story. It is dark, intelligent, brutal, gruesome and at times outright disturbing. I wouldn’t have expected to like it so much with that background but the story is SO good and the prose so well written (and sometimes extremely funny) that I loved every page. Highly recommend but definitely not for the squeamish.
This book is incredible. I really enjoyed it. It is hard to describe exactly but I guess the best I can come up with is a serial killer conspiracy thriller set in a near future dystopian Glasgow.
It develops characters effortlessly and the story sucks you in to keep turning the pages like all good thrillers.
What elevated this for me was the originality of the story. It is dark, intelligent, brutal, gruesome and at times outright disturbing. I wouldn’t have expected to like it so much with that background but the story is SO good and the prose so well written (and sometimes extremely funny) that I loved every page. Highly recommend but definitely not for the squeamish.
January 7, 2020
Stuart B MacBride and a murder mystery set in a futuristic Glasgow. Take away the futuristic part and you have a typical Stuart MacBride book.....solid. I did however like his take on how to deal with the worst of the worst in the future, but I wasn’t quite clear on what people did for a living if they didn’t work for the Bluecoats or the Network. The characters were likable and while they didn’t quite the same level of banter between them what they did have was good. I’m sorry there isn’t a second book as it had some legs I think.
There was some quality Glaswegian in it too. I knock a 1/2 a star off for the text, I kept finding little text mistakes which always made me re-read the word.
4.5
There was some quality Glaswegian in it too. I knock a 1/2 a star off for the text, I kept finding little text mistakes which always made me re-read the word.
4.5
January 30, 2018
My 2 favorite genres - crime and sf - should be a win/win but didn't quite make it. As an avid reader of sf this just didn't feel right. Some things seemed a long way in the future (the weather, halfheading, society, international politics). Some things seemed not advanced enough (internal procedures and professional standards). Somethings seemed just wrong - like the clumsiness, unreliability and overkill of the weapons.
In the end it felt like a good crime novel with some futuristic trimmings, apart from the main premise of halfheading which felt like a typical MacBride gory detail.
The worldbuilding is what let this down.
In the end it felt like a good crime novel with some futuristic trimmings, apart from the main premise of halfheading which felt like a typical MacBride gory detail.
The worldbuilding is what let this down.
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