Fourwar

by Nathan E. Simpson

In New Byanzt, Citizens go about their business, protected from age and injury by Medical Conversion technology that grants them practical immortality. The technology is coveted, and the secret of its production long-lost. Slumrats outside the city fight for the crumbs from the City's table while searching for the technology they believe the Citizens still hold, and the Funkar Enclave outside casts the disapproving glare of Gord's light over Citizen abomination and slumrat disbeliever alike.When a Citizen inadvertently stumbles on a natural analogue for the Medical Conversion technology, a centuries-old balance shifts. Suddenly New Byanzt and its surroundings are the battleground for Citizens desperate to maintain the status quo, slumrats who suddenly see a chance to do more than live and die in squalor, and the Funkar zealots who are determined to eradicate the unnatural heresy in whatever form they find it.

Genres: Science Fiction

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 22, 2011

About the author

I'm a writer, musician, programmer, artist, language fiend, and general student of life. I've been writing in various formats ever since I was a child, and have completed and published a variety of stories, poems, and novels.

I'm a fan of "big ideas" in the science fiction tradition, so much of my work falls into that category, but I have also written, edited, and blogged both formally and informally in categories ranging from sociological compilations to psychedelic fantasy and poetry.

I have an academic background in fine arts and sociology. I'm a firm believer in learning with the body as well as the mind, so I enjoy hiking, running, and studying martial arts when I'm not in front of a laptop creating something. I'm also a caffeine and chocolate addict, and a huge fan (and sometime producer) of trance and other electronica.

Reviews

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Using "Look Inside" at Amazon I found these notable quotes:

"Some bright person had figured out that a mirror could be used to show you what you looked like from behind if there was a delay in the mirror that gave you time to turn around. Antoin grimaced, then regretted it as the mirror image did the same. Sometimes the mirror was creepy."

"The night lenses on his eyes absorbed energy on a number of non-visible frequencies and interpreted the results to his brain - infrared, ultrasound, even ultraviolet. He could almost taste the outline of the terrain..."

"In his bedroom, he stretched once before dropping into the sarcophagus that was his bed."

"Antoin slipped into uneasy dreams and spent his night chased by a sausage alien who wanted to give him a haircut."

"He had no use for Funkars. 'Still don't understand why we don't just kill them all,' he muttered. He did, of course."

"Despite the awesome power of the nel-bombs, nobody really believed that using them would make more than a scratch in the Funkar population. There simply weren't enough of them."

"No Citizen actually needed glasses, but apparently Wendi thought of them as a fashion accessory. If looking like a mole can be considered fashionable, Antion thought with a straight face."

"The first clone was definitely dying - not the moaning, gasping death of an actor, digital or otherwise, but a real dying."

"The vehicle stopped its wild tumbling, coming to rest in a squeal of tortured metal to balance upside-down on a cushion of nothing."

"He felt himself enjoying the pain, but he preferred to stay alive. Being dead meant no pleasure or pain."

"The other Funkars hesitated for only a second, staring with eyes full of bloodlust at Antion - but discretion trumped valor and they sprinted back to the river, pulling automatic weapons from under their vests and laying down cover fire on the 'thoper."

"... and one of the Funkars fell as he dove into he water."

"He was looking Antoin over, checking for missing limbs."

[周婉蓮 차우 크리스티나 Cass · Rating 3 out of 5]

July 21, 2012

Being a close friend of the author, I first read this novel when it was in an early draft. At the time, I was focused on checking it for minor typos; thus, it was kind of hard to let myself get absorbed in the story. I remember some elements of the story that made it highly amusing. I think there is potential for world/universe-building here and for more stories. That being said, I plan on reading this story again since it's in its finalized version, and then spending some time on a proper review (and maybe come up with some more story ideas to throw the author's way; I'm working on writing my first novel now and would like to write one with Nathaniel). I gave this novel 3 out of 5 stars for now pending a proper review (the rating might go up; I gave this novel at least a 3 also to avoid accusations of being a biased reviewer because I personally know the author; hence my needing to do a proper review) and also as a way to let people know they just might want to read this story. :-)

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. It is told from many perspectives and you are immersed in a world where some people are near immortal and most are not. The story contrasts chaos and order on one level and fanaticism and reason on another. I would recommend this read to anyone interested in Science Fiction or Theoretical Societies. Great read.