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Agent Cormac #2
The Line of Polity
The outlink station of Miranda has been completely destroyed by a nanomycelium. Nobody knows why, but all the signs of devastation point to Dragon, a gigantic bioconstructed creature.
In The Line of Polity , Agent Cormac is sent to the scene to investigate this disaster aboard the titanic Polity dreadnought, the Occam Razor. In his thrilling quest to seek the truth, Cormac navigates through the tolling and difficult remote world of Masada—ready to be subsumed as the Line of Polity is sketched across it.
Meanwhile in the dangerous world of Masada, the remote planet deals with the long-term rebellion from its slave population. There is no breathable air and monstrous predatorial hooders and siluroynes lurk the planet. If that’s not enough, the planet houses the weird and terrible gabbleducks. To make matters worse, the rebellion is trapped below-ground since the slave population is subjected to an arsenal of powerful laser arrays controlled by an elite group known only as the Theocracy hidden within cylinder worlds.
Roaming the planet is the mysterious and rogue biophysicist, Skellor, who possesses something so powerful that Polity AIs will stop at nothing to acquire it. But just how powerful is it? And how does everything connect? Only Agent Cormac can find out.
Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.
In The Line of Polity , Agent Cormac is sent to the scene to investigate this disaster aboard the titanic Polity dreadnought, the Occam Razor. In his thrilling quest to seek the truth, Cormac navigates through the tolling and difficult remote world of Masada—ready to be subsumed as the Line of Polity is sketched across it.
Meanwhile in the dangerous world of Masada, the remote planet deals with the long-term rebellion from its slave population. There is no breathable air and monstrous predatorial hooders and siluroynes lurk the planet. If that’s not enough, the planet houses the weird and terrible gabbleducks. To make matters worse, the rebellion is trapped below-ground since the slave population is subjected to an arsenal of powerful laser arrays controlled by an elite group known only as the Theocracy hidden within cylinder worlds.
Roaming the planet is the mysterious and rogue biophysicist, Skellor, who possesses something so powerful that Polity AIs will stop at nothing to acquire it. But just how powerful is it? And how does everything connect? Only Agent Cormac can find out.
Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.
676 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2003
255 people are currently reading
2333 people want to read
About the author
Neal Asher
148 books3,045 followersI’ve been an engineer, barman, skip lorry driver, coalman, boat window manufacturer, contract grass cutter and builder. Now I write science fiction books, and am slowly getting over the feeling that someone is going to find me out, and can call myself a writer without wincing and ducking my head. As professions go, I prefer this one: I don’t have to clock-in, change my clothes after work, nor scrub sensitive parts of my body with detergent. I think I’ll hang around.
Source: http://www.blogger.com/profile/139339...
Source: http://www.blogger.com/profile/139339...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
January 23, 2020
Asher is acceleration, getting better, faster and wittier and taking a place right next to the behemoths of Sci-Fi, especially space opera.
It´s how the old ideas are carved to new forms, how they are mixed, combined and confronted with each other and how much is condensed in this amazing novel.
And the man is funny, probably just Banks, Scalzi, Hamilton, and some authors mix quick laughs with cool, pointy wit and badass comments and deeper humor, build on the perfectly constructed scenes, plotlines, confrontations, and dialogues. I would call his work an amalgam of the epic world-building of Hamilton, Scalzi's wit and Banks´ innuendos without any, for some audiences, hard to digest Hard-Sci elements or lengths.
The mixture of settings integrates elements of horror, fantasy and a cyberpunk-dystopian-middle age world and contrasts it in clear detail, what is always the sense of such constellations, duh, and switches between hardcore primitive to high techie beyond all categories.
My absolute favorite are my highly appreciated, close to beloved, elements of grey and green goo and alien technology. Seen and described, written on hundreds of pages of all popular Sci-Fi authors, the very detailed description of how assimilation, evolution, symbioses, parasitism, conflicts, etc. may arise out of an inner and outer plot mix of one or all of those technologies going haywire is always a pleasure to read. Reminds me of the transformation of one of Iain M Banks´ characters infested with the Melding Plague and one of Alastair Reynolds´ grey goo scenarios.
How much is enough is a tricky question in Sci-Fi and especially other Hard-Sci authors tend to both infodump, bore and overexert a general audience with too complex and too detailed descriptions, but Asher finds the perfect balance of understandable descriptions in developing settings without ever being static or boring. All Sci-Fi fans united, read this man if you ran out of series, this is Sci-Fi worldbuilding at it´s best!
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
It´s how the old ideas are carved to new forms, how they are mixed, combined and confronted with each other and how much is condensed in this amazing novel.
And the man is funny, probably just Banks, Scalzi, Hamilton, and some authors mix quick laughs with cool, pointy wit and badass comments and deeper humor, build on the perfectly constructed scenes, plotlines, confrontations, and dialogues. I would call his work an amalgam of the epic world-building of Hamilton, Scalzi's wit and Banks´ innuendos without any, for some audiences, hard to digest Hard-Sci elements or lengths.
The mixture of settings integrates elements of horror, fantasy and a cyberpunk-dystopian-middle age world and contrasts it in clear detail, what is always the sense of such constellations, duh, and switches between hardcore primitive to high techie beyond all categories.
My absolute favorite are my highly appreciated, close to beloved, elements of grey and green goo and alien technology. Seen and described, written on hundreds of pages of all popular Sci-Fi authors, the very detailed description of how assimilation, evolution, symbioses, parasitism, conflicts, etc. may arise out of an inner and outer plot mix of one or all of those technologies going haywire is always a pleasure to read. Reminds me of the transformation of one of Iain M Banks´ characters infested with the Melding Plague and one of Alastair Reynolds´ grey goo scenarios.
How much is enough is a tricky question in Sci-Fi and especially other Hard-Sci authors tend to both infodump, bore and overexert a general audience with too complex and too detailed descriptions, but Asher finds the perfect balance of understandable descriptions in developing settings without ever being static or boring. All Sci-Fi fans united, read this man if you ran out of series, this is Sci-Fi worldbuilding at it´s best!
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...
November 25, 2021
Short Review vs Long Review
Dooble-ooble-caro-flock!
- Gabbleduck quote
(very) Short review
This book (and the Polity series so far) is friggin’ awesome, read it! The end.
(fairly) Long review
The Outlink stations were poised on the surface of the sometimes expanding and sometimes contracting sphere of the Human Polity. They marked the line beyond which AI governance and Polity law no longer applied. Most of this sphere’s border lay in intergalactic space, but on the edge of it facing towards the centre of the galaxy, the density of stars increased and the line was still shifting as worlds were subsumed by or seceded from the Polity. Here was a buffer zone of human occupation, beyond which lay numberless unexplored systems where people had ventured, but where hard fact blurred into strange tales and myth.
This is the second book in the Agent Cormac series (third if you count the prequel, which takes place in an earlier continuity) and the fourth in the general Polity chronology. The Line Of Polity kicks off not too long after the events of Gridlinked and there are quite a few recurring characters. The title of this book refers to the border of the Polity, where Polity influence (and protection) ends. One of the issues the story deals with is the moral, cultural and political dilemma: when should the Polity intervene?
“Grandma, what big motion sensors you’ve got.”
“All the better to follow you wherever you go.”
So, Masada. Insurrection. War. And some serious competition for Spatterjay (The Skinner) in the deadly environment stakes. Asher obviously delights in coming up with dangerous environments and exceedingly creepy (and super-deadly) critters.
It’s almost impossible not to draw a parallel with the Culture novels of Iain M. Banks. I suppose, if pressed, I would say the Polity novels are a more down and dirtier, grit under the fingernails, alternative revolving around the same main theme (benevolent (?) AI governance on a large scale).
“You discover, in such situations, that you still have the capacity for awe.”
Of all the edgy Space Operas out there, the Polity series is easily one of the best. It’s entertaining, action packed and well written. But even more important, it is consistent.
I haven’t read all that many of Asher’s novels, but I have yet to be disappointed.
“Let them tremble at my presence. Let them see!”
The Dragon / Behemoth angle was insanely cool. If you’ve read Gridlinked and think you know a thing or two, it’s time to reassess. I love how Asher subverts reader expectations of certain characters.
“That was Dragon,” he told them. “And my guess is that things are just about to start getting very complicated — and very deadly.”
With the spectacular array of gadgets and guns on display, not to mention the high-octane action sequences, the novel leans into Military SF territory. The critters that the author populates his world with play an active part in proceedings, which plays havoc with the attrition rate. Let’s just say, pitched combat becomes infinitely more complicated in these circumstances. There’s so much going on here it’s inconceivable to think anybody could get bored or lose interest. This novel really does have everything: space action, ground action, cyber warfare, kitchen sink. The impressive thing here is that Asher manages to keep everything somewhat coherent; this amount of mayhem too often amounts to nothing other than chaos and confusion.
Aaaand… Hooders.
The lights suddenly went out, but the firing and explosions did not quickly cease — nor did the screams. Something reared up into the night, and there came a sound as of a hundred glass scythes sharpening themselves against each other. Cormac saw something glittering, as of red light reflected from spilt mercury — etched against a background of something wide and black.
Yes, a lot of this could be construed as excess, or self-indulgence, on the author’s part: such as the over-the-top nature of the antagonist(s). One of the reasons that it works, is the way it is foreshadowed: throughout the novel we are prepared, and shown, how the antagonist is being changed into something, well, rather different. So that when he is finally revealed as an almost godlike entity, it isn’t such a big surprise. But, for me, it somehow never felt forced, and I always cared. Sometimes the biggest compliment you can give a book is to admit that you were invested in it. I cared about the characters. I got annoyed when they did silly things. I stressed when they got into bad situations. I cheered when they overcame. And even though I predicted the ending early on, it still thrilled.
“I should trust you?”
“I am Polity, and in the end that has always been your only choice. Tell me, what other options have you ever had, and what options do you have now?”
5 shuriken
June 9, 2018
I'm really impressed by what Neal Asher has done with the series. I've read a few of his other novels by now but this one, even more than Prador Moon, captured my imagination best. Gridlinked had some good moments, but Line of Polity, overall, is the superior read.
First thing I noticed was how deep and detailed the worldbuilding was. I loved the whole mixture of the Theocracy, all the huge amounts of biotech and symbiotes that allowed the benighted locals live on the planet, and the idea that there needed to be a real rebellious element established and kicking for the Polity to step in and knock the bad guys off the world.
Sound like America the Police Force, anyone? lol I kept expecting a nod or two to Central American nations, but no, Asher keeps it relatively clean. The idea that America is run by immense AIs is actually a sobering and enlightening idea compared to what we've got now. :)
SO, back to the story. It's all great action! Some intrigue, a lot of rebellious insurgents we want to root for, Cormac mostly on the outside trying to force the issue and free the peoples down below, and plenty of surprises in between. His friends are mightily interesting. And I might be able to swing a certain Dragon in that category as long as I use the term very broadly. :)
Overall, I see tones and shades of Iain M. Banks and a number of other Space Opera authors, but interestingly enough, Asher seems to have better overall action sequences and focus than all the others I've read.
Nice, huh? Space Opera for Space Opera enthusiasts. Fewer politics, more blaze, a ton more varied tech and nearly singularity-level situations, especially with a certain mycelium. :) That s*** is powerfully interesting. :) Much better villain this time around.
I can honestly say the stories are only getting better. :)
First thing I noticed was how deep and detailed the worldbuilding was. I loved the whole mixture of the Theocracy, all the huge amounts of biotech and symbiotes that allowed the benighted locals live on the planet, and the idea that there needed to be a real rebellious element established and kicking for the Polity to step in and knock the bad guys off the world.
Sound like America the Police Force, anyone? lol I kept expecting a nod or two to Central American nations, but no, Asher keeps it relatively clean. The idea that America is run by immense AIs is actually a sobering and enlightening idea compared to what we've got now. :)
SO, back to the story. It's all great action! Some intrigue, a lot of rebellious insurgents we want to root for, Cormac mostly on the outside trying to force the issue and free the peoples down below, and plenty of surprises in between. His friends are mightily interesting. And I might be able to swing a certain Dragon in that category as long as I use the term very broadly. :)
Overall, I see tones and shades of Iain M. Banks and a number of other Space Opera authors, but interestingly enough, Asher seems to have better overall action sequences and focus than all the others I've read.
Nice, huh? Space Opera for Space Opera enthusiasts. Fewer politics, more blaze, a ton more varied tech and nearly singularity-level situations, especially with a certain mycelium. :) That s*** is powerfully interesting. :) Much better villain this time around.
I can honestly say the stories are only getting better. :)
February 20, 2020
Crazy-big Weapons! Crazy-big tech! Crazy-big aliens! Crazy-big aliens fighting in a war that is not small!
Loosen your belt and brace yourself for a big meal from page one - The Line of Polity is supersize-me SF, with a dump-truck bucket of giant-warship fries and an Olympic swimming pool-sized alien-threat coke.
And - like the tastiest burger binge - you can’t help but keep going at it until every last bite is gone. I was up into the small hours with this book - I couldn’t resist one more page, one more chapter, one more hour in Asher’s universe, watching super-agent Ian Cormac juggle god-like alien entities, war and politics.
This is the second of Asher’s Ian Cormac novels, and his interstellar man of mystery is even better on his second outing, enforcing Polity (an AI-human society reminiscent of Bank’s Culture books) law, rooting out separatists, and beginning to feel out the beginnings of a threat that could destroy all of humanity.
As the story begins an alien fungus (yes really, an ET mushroom) has destroyed an important Polity space station, leaving a young outlinker (a human adapted for low gravity living) as its sole survivor. Meanwhile on the planet Masada, a fascistic theocracy runs a brutal rule, condemning most of its population to toil as slaves in a toxic atmosphere while the elite watch from orbital habitats above. We follow one of these slaves as she spends her days farming vicious aquatic creatures, only a parasitic symbiote attached to her chest allowing her to survive outside.
Unknown to our farmer, a group of rebels has been gathering, hoping to overthrow the orbital theocracy…
Meanwhile, Cormac himself is en-route on a moon-sized warship – the Occam Razor – but onboard this world-destroying vessel is a man whose manipulations of old alien technology could see him becoming the most dangerous man in Polity space.
As these four converge towards meeting on Masada the kilometre wide entity known as Dragon appears, and Cormac will once again have to figure out what the strange alien has been doing, and how he can best protect himself and the Polity from it.
Whew! As you can see, there’s a lot going on here, and to pack it all in Asher basically runs the novel at a constant sprint. Seriously, there so much action here, that a reader pretty much has a zinging laser/bullet sound effect loop running in his or her head for the duration of the book. Sometimes, I could barely imagine the dialogue for all the pew-pew/kabooms I had bouncing around in my skull.
Somehow though, all this excess works, and works damn well. Asher really hits his stride in The Line of Polity. While Gridlinked was a fun and entertaining read it was a little thin in parts, and lacked that something special that would really elevate it above the hoi-polloi of SF.
No so with The Line of Polity. Asher’s Polity universe approaches the awesomeness of Bank’s Culture series here, with the rich feeling of endless backstory and history that only the best fully-realised and wonderfully detailed fictional universes have. The whole way through the book I had the feeling that many more brilliant Polity stories await my reading pleasure (and a quick look at Goodreads shows me that another three Cormac novels lie ahead of me).
Sure, occasionally things in this novel veer a little into over-the-top territory, what with the giant alien menaces that slowly eat people alive and the badder-than-bad baddies doing bad things in bad ways, but it’s all part of the fun in a frenetic book that never takes its foot off the warp-factor pedal. This may be super-sized SF, but it's as satisfying, high-quality and carefully constructed as the best artisanal fare the genre has to offer.
Four GIANT GIGANTIC GARGANTUAN ALIEN MOON-SIZED PEW-PEW KABLOOEYS out of five.
Loosen your belt and brace yourself for a big meal from page one - The Line of Polity is supersize-me SF, with a dump-truck bucket of giant-warship fries and an Olympic swimming pool-sized alien-threat coke.
And - like the tastiest burger binge - you can’t help but keep going at it until every last bite is gone. I was up into the small hours with this book - I couldn’t resist one more page, one more chapter, one more hour in Asher’s universe, watching super-agent Ian Cormac juggle god-like alien entities, war and politics.
This is the second of Asher’s Ian Cormac novels, and his interstellar man of mystery is even better on his second outing, enforcing Polity (an AI-human society reminiscent of Bank’s Culture books) law, rooting out separatists, and beginning to feel out the beginnings of a threat that could destroy all of humanity.
As the story begins an alien fungus (yes really, an ET mushroom) has destroyed an important Polity space station, leaving a young outlinker (a human adapted for low gravity living) as its sole survivor. Meanwhile on the planet Masada, a fascistic theocracy runs a brutal rule, condemning most of its population to toil as slaves in a toxic atmosphere while the elite watch from orbital habitats above. We follow one of these slaves as she spends her days farming vicious aquatic creatures, only a parasitic symbiote attached to her chest allowing her to survive outside.
Unknown to our farmer, a group of rebels has been gathering, hoping to overthrow the orbital theocracy…
Meanwhile, Cormac himself is en-route on a moon-sized warship – the Occam Razor – but onboard this world-destroying vessel is a man whose manipulations of old alien technology could see him becoming the most dangerous man in Polity space.
As these four converge towards meeting on Masada the kilometre wide entity known as Dragon appears, and Cormac will once again have to figure out what the strange alien has been doing, and how he can best protect himself and the Polity from it.
Whew! As you can see, there’s a lot going on here, and to pack it all in Asher basically runs the novel at a constant sprint. Seriously, there so much action here, that a reader pretty much has a zinging laser/bullet sound effect loop running in his or her head for the duration of the book. Sometimes, I could barely imagine the dialogue for all the pew-pew/kabooms I had bouncing around in my skull.
Somehow though, all this excess works, and works damn well. Asher really hits his stride in The Line of Polity. While Gridlinked was a fun and entertaining read it was a little thin in parts, and lacked that something special that would really elevate it above the hoi-polloi of SF.
No so with The Line of Polity. Asher’s Polity universe approaches the awesomeness of Bank’s Culture series here, with the rich feeling of endless backstory and history that only the best fully-realised and wonderfully detailed fictional universes have. The whole way through the book I had the feeling that many more brilliant Polity stories await my reading pleasure (and a quick look at Goodreads shows me that another three Cormac novels lie ahead of me).
Sure, occasionally things in this novel veer a little into over-the-top territory, what with the giant alien menaces that slowly eat people alive and the badder-than-bad baddies doing bad things in bad ways, but it’s all part of the fun in a frenetic book that never takes its foot off the warp-factor pedal. This may be super-sized SF, but it's as satisfying, high-quality and carefully constructed as the best artisanal fare the genre has to offer.
Four GIANT GIGANTIC GARGANTUAN ALIEN MOON-SIZED PEW-PEW KABLOOEYS out of five.
January 17, 2012
4 Stars
This is a wildly frenetic, imaginative, and non stop pseudo hard science fiction action novel. I confess, that this type of sci fi is a guilty pleasure of mine, and as a result my review will probably be a bit biased.
This is the second Cormac novel, and also the second Neal Asher novel that I have read. It does not quite live up to the level of Gridlinked, as their is much less character development in this one. This book is extremely imaginative, in both the science involved, and the creatures and environment within. Not since I read the cheesy novel Fragment, by Warren Fahy, have I read such a vivid environment with incredible creatures, animals, and monsters, as well as fauna that is equally awesome and deadly. There are far too many really cool made up beasts to mention, but suffice it say that this book almost plays out as a creature feature first, and a science fiction second. I was blown away.
The really great stuff includes:
Polity hybrids, Dracomen, Golem, and Cyborgs!!!
Mad scientists, Angry agents, a Deadly Dragon, and a massive Dreadnought!
Explosive non stop action, shoot outs, and space chases!
Political strife, religious madness, and some with a god complex!
A grass plain that I would never want to cross!
And much more...
The stuff that was not so great:
Not nearly enough time with our main hero Cormac.
No further backstory on Cormac.
Too many alternative POV's, actually made it difficult to follow at times.
The book is so incredibly frenetic that you are left feeling strung out and exhausted.
A tad too long!
Well, with the dramatic changes between these first two Asher novels I can safely say that I am now a huge fan. Asher is not afraid to write big, and it pays off for those of us that are a fan of the genre. I had fun reading this book and look forward to the next.
This is a wildly frenetic, imaginative, and non stop pseudo hard science fiction action novel. I confess, that this type of sci fi is a guilty pleasure of mine, and as a result my review will probably be a bit biased.
This is the second Cormac novel, and also the second Neal Asher novel that I have read. It does not quite live up to the level of Gridlinked, as their is much less character development in this one. This book is extremely imaginative, in both the science involved, and the creatures and environment within. Not since I read the cheesy novel Fragment, by Warren Fahy, have I read such a vivid environment with incredible creatures, animals, and monsters, as well as fauna that is equally awesome and deadly. There are far too many really cool made up beasts to mention, but suffice it say that this book almost plays out as a creature feature first, and a science fiction second. I was blown away.
The really great stuff includes:
Polity hybrids, Dracomen, Golem, and Cyborgs!!!
Mad scientists, Angry agents, a Deadly Dragon, and a massive Dreadnought!
Explosive non stop action, shoot outs, and space chases!
Political strife, religious madness, and some with a god complex!
A grass plain that I would never want to cross!
And much more...
The stuff that was not so great:
Not nearly enough time with our main hero Cormac.
No further backstory on Cormac.
Too many alternative POV's, actually made it difficult to follow at times.
The book is so incredibly frenetic that you are left feeling strung out and exhausted.
A tad too long!
Well, with the dramatic changes between these first two Asher novels I can safely say that I am now a huge fan. Asher is not afraid to write big, and it pays off for those of us that are a fan of the genre. I had fun reading this book and look forward to the next.
July 28, 2017
(4.5 stars) Neal Asher is so damn good at action based Science Fiction. His Polity universe is an interesting take on AI controlled future where things are good enough that there is no real threat of uprising while at the same time people are aware the fate of humanity now rests with machine governance. He has familiar and excellent tech, novel weapons but his real strength is alien characters and alien biology.
The prequel to the polity series Prador Moon is my all time favourite action SF, an absolute tour de force of non stop pacing. The novella The Engineer Reconditioned is another great starting point with it's cinematic portrayal of the long dead race the Jain who will feature in this story. I definitely enjoyed this book more knowing all about the Jain.
I found the first novel in the Cormac series Gridlinked to be somewhat muddled and forgettable by comparison.
It has been a year since I read Gridlinked but The Line of Polity reminded me of what I needed to know and got me right back into this series. This book has it all, a variety of alien entities and monsters (Our first meetings with Gabbleducks and Hooders), an oppressed people struggling under a theocracy, future spy intrigue, interesting technology and biology - and lots and lots of carnage.
The only possible point of contention is that the character stuff is a little on the light side but I think that is more than made up for by the size of this story, frenetic pace and intriguing world Asher has created. Bring on the Brass Man!
The prequel to the polity series Prador Moon is my all time favourite action SF, an absolute tour de force of non stop pacing. The novella The Engineer Reconditioned is another great starting point with it's cinematic portrayal of the long dead race the Jain who will feature in this story. I definitely enjoyed this book more knowing all about the Jain.
I found the first novel in the Cormac series Gridlinked to be somewhat muddled and forgettable by comparison.
It has been a year since I read Gridlinked but The Line of Polity reminded me of what I needed to know and got me right back into this series. This book has it all, a variety of alien entities and monsters (Our first meetings with Gabbleducks and Hooders), an oppressed people struggling under a theocracy, future spy intrigue, interesting technology and biology - and lots and lots of carnage.
The only possible point of contention is that the character stuff is a little on the light side but I think that is more than made up for by the size of this story, frenetic pace and intriguing world Asher has created. Bring on the Brass Man!
March 21, 2025
The Cormac series is what pulled me into Asher's work and I have gone on to read most of his corpus. Asher's second novel contains the same 'controlled mayhem' as his first, Gridlinked and indeed, possesses many of the same characters. The cast is vast, however, and the POV rotates among them, but still, Agent Cormac retains the center stage.
Asher introduces Masada here, and out-Polity world ruled by religious fanatics. The theocracy lives in splendor within orbital stations, but the vast majority of the population live as virtual slaves on the planet itself, toiling for their masters. Masada is a great world: low oxygen, full of nasty predatory fauna, including hooders, and fascinating flora to boot. The slaves work raising bioengineered animals (something like shrimp but much more lethal to the farmers) and escaped slaves live in the 'underground', literally underneath a mountain chain, where they organize a resistance that the Polity supports covertly. The importance of Masada for the Polity AIs concerns how the leadership there works/supplies various separatists groups.
Well, an outlink station, e.g., one at the edge of the Polity domain, gets destroyed by some nanoware at the start of the novel, and the nano agent is the same as the one that sabotaged the runcible in the last novel, which points to Dragon. Hence, Cormac gets the nod to go check it out, as he is the leading agent with knowledge of Dragon. The fly in the ointment here is not Dragon, but a mad scientist who discovered some Jain tech years ago. The Polity tried to capture him, but he escaped in the same battle cruiser as Cormac and lets the Jain tech go wild...
All in all, a complexly plotted novel with Asher's trademark mayhem and action. I loved this series when I first read it years ago and it still feels fresh. I can see why Asher wrote so many novels in this universe, but I really wish he would apply his ample talents to something new. 4.5 rounding up for nostalgia!
Asher introduces Masada here, and out-Polity world ruled by religious fanatics. The theocracy lives in splendor within orbital stations, but the vast majority of the population live as virtual slaves on the planet itself, toiling for their masters. Masada is a great world: low oxygen, full of nasty predatory fauna, including hooders, and fascinating flora to boot. The slaves work raising bioengineered animals (something like shrimp but much more lethal to the farmers) and escaped slaves live in the 'underground', literally underneath a mountain chain, where they organize a resistance that the Polity supports covertly. The importance of Masada for the Polity AIs concerns how the leadership there works/supplies various separatists groups.
Well, an outlink station, e.g., one at the edge of the Polity domain, gets destroyed by some nanoware at the start of the novel, and the nano agent is the same as the one that sabotaged the runcible in the last novel, which points to Dragon. Hence, Cormac gets the nod to go check it out, as he is the leading agent with knowledge of Dragon. The fly in the ointment here is not Dragon, but a mad scientist who discovered some Jain tech years ago. The Polity tried to capture him, but he escaped in the same battle cruiser as Cormac and lets the Jain tech go wild...
All in all, a complexly plotted novel with Asher's trademark mayhem and action. I loved this series when I first read it years ago and it still feels fresh. I can see why Asher wrote so many novels in this universe, but I really wish he would apply his ample talents to something new. 4.5 rounding up for nostalgia!
January 17, 2021
I did not do this book the justice it deserved in the amount of time I was able to focus on it. It was definitely a good book and a good storyline, and I plan on continuing the series for sure.
November 18, 2015
I've got an idea for an Agent Ian Cormac novel. Let's introduce some super-powerful alien thing millions of years beyond our technology that presents an existential threat to humanity. It can putter around for 400-600 pages and then Agent Ian Cormac can .
Have you ever read epic fantasy or sci-fi, where the author sets up many seemingly independent characters and plot-lines that seem to just effortlessly merge and collide towards a final crescendo. This book attempts that, but nearly every step is painfully forced. All the characters from book one that have no reason to show up in this book do anyway. Because of coincidence, or ret-conned brain implants that can bring you back from death. It really makes you appreciate the books that get this right.
The other major problem is the gigantic cast of forgettable characters. They all have a gimmick, but it's like those super hero movies where they have four villians and 12 heroes crammed into one movie. Except you haven't been reading about these characters since you were a kid, so they are just vacuum boy, slave girl, traitor guy, spaceship girl, science lady, rebel lady, old android guy, young android guy, lizard guy, Agent Ian Cormac, ex-space marine guy, undead space marine guy, evil clergy 1-22, evil slaver 1-4, crazy Ayn Rand guy, tank guy, evil nano-guy, and evil nano-henchwoman.
Have you ever read epic fantasy or sci-fi, where the author sets up many seemingly independent characters and plot-lines that seem to just effortlessly merge and collide towards a final crescendo. This book attempts that, but nearly every step is painfully forced. All the characters from book one that have no reason to show up in this book do anyway. Because of coincidence, or ret-conned brain implants that can bring you back from death. It really makes you appreciate the books that get this right.
The other major problem is the gigantic cast of forgettable characters. They all have a gimmick, but it's like those super hero movies where they have four villians and 12 heroes crammed into one movie. Except you haven't been reading about these characters since you were a kid, so they are just vacuum boy, slave girl, traitor guy, spaceship girl, science lady, rebel lady, old android guy, young android guy, lizard guy, Agent Ian Cormac, ex-space marine guy, undead space marine guy, evil clergy 1-22, evil slaver 1-4, crazy Ayn Rand guy, tank guy, evil nano-guy, and evil nano-henchwoman.
October 30, 2023
The Line of Polity is, so far, my favorite Polity novel from Neal Asher. It's a noticeable improvement in pacing and plot from his other early work and, while his characters still seem robotic at times (literally), they are getting more fleshed out as the universe does. So far, I'm glad I decided to approach the Polity Universe novels from the in-world chronological order. It's made for a more coherent flow since you get little in the way of dates, time, or even passage of time in-novel. I mean, you would need a notepad to keep up with how long the underspace travel takes and how much time has passed from event to event. That being said, it's really not necessary for me since I know where this novel fits chronologically compared to what I've read. Plus, everyone seems to live for hundreds of years anyways, if they haven't been mauled to death by calliraptors or space crabs.
Anyways, The Line of Polity continues the Agent Cormac story as we follow this aged weapon of death employed by the ECS. You'll see other familiar characters from the first novel in this set, Gridlinked, as well as a surprising appearance. I was happy to see some recognizable names since, as mentioned before, the characters don't have much in the way of emotion or personality. For this space opera, it's not the focus and I don't expect it to be. What is the focus is plenty of action, mystery, alien creatures, and AI smashing goodness.
A new threat is at the center of this tale along with an old enemy repaying a visit. I loved the build up of rebellion on this messed up world where it seems every creature wants to eat humans and the oppressive government uses religion as it's means for justification and power. I'll admit, it was satisfying to watch how messed up the world gets as superior outside forces come to visit and reap havoc on the unsuspecting world. Multiple points of view abound too and a wider variety than before. This was nice as one of them is a slave girl who finally gets to see her world with new eyes of wonder. The climax in the last act of the novel was heart pounding good fun and would make for a fantastic action movie. Also, I'll not-so-humbly point out I had the ending pegged halfway through much like Prador Moon. Either Asher isn't as subtle with his foreshadowing as other authors I know or I'm getting better at picking it up. Still, it made for a satisfying conclusion and the new mysteriously powerful Jain technology I know is sure to make an appearance in the future. Game changer!
Polity Universe
Prador Moon - 7.5/10
Shadow of the Scorpion - 7.0/10
The Technician - 8.0/10
Agent Cormac
Gridlinked - 7.5/10
The Line of Polity - 8.0/10
Brass Man - 8.5/10
Polity Agent - 9.0/10
Line War - 10/10
Anyways, The Line of Polity continues the Agent Cormac story as we follow this aged weapon of death employed by the ECS. You'll see other familiar characters from the first novel in this set, Gridlinked, as well as a surprising appearance. I was happy to see some recognizable names since, as mentioned before, the characters don't have much in the way of emotion or personality. For this space opera, it's not the focus and I don't expect it to be. What is the focus is plenty of action, mystery, alien creatures, and AI smashing goodness.
A new threat is at the center of this tale along with an old enemy repaying a visit. I loved the build up of rebellion on this messed up world where it seems every creature wants to eat humans and the oppressive government uses religion as it's means for justification and power. I'll admit, it was satisfying to watch how messed up the world gets as superior outside forces come to visit and reap havoc on the unsuspecting world. Multiple points of view abound too and a wider variety than before. This was nice as one of them is a slave girl who finally gets to see her world with new eyes of wonder. The climax in the last act of the novel was heart pounding good fun and would make for a fantastic action movie. Also, I'll not-so-humbly point out I had the ending pegged halfway through much like Prador Moon. Either Asher isn't as subtle with his foreshadowing as other authors I know or I'm getting better at picking it up. Still, it made for a satisfying conclusion and the new mysteriously powerful Jain technology I know is sure to make an appearance in the future. Game changer!
Polity Universe
Prador Moon - 7.5/10
Shadow of the Scorpion - 7.0/10
The Technician - 8.0/10
Agent Cormac
Gridlinked - 7.5/10
The Line of Polity - 8.0/10
Brass Man - 8.5/10
Polity Agent - 9.0/10
Line War - 10/10
September 29, 2010
4.5 stars. Excellent sequel to the amazing Gridlinked and the second book in the Ian Cormac series. Set in the far future where an extremely advanced group of AIs "directs" (i.e., controls) most of the thousand worlds colonized by humans known as "The Polity." Most people are content but there is a large (and growing) movement of "separatists" that resent AI control and desire to govern themselves. Add to this a mysterious god-like alien bio-construct known only as "Dragon" and the remnants of a extremely powerful, highly advanced alien race (referred to by the Polity as the Jain) and you have the basic framework of Asher's Polity universe.
In this installment Ian Cormac, a special agent of Earth Central Security (ECS), is sent to a planet called Masada that is run by a brutal Theocracy in order to convince the poplulous to join the Polity (the Polity will only "take over" a planet if 80% of the population "votes" to request them to do so). At the same time, a genius "separatist" biophysicist has found a piece of Jain technology and has found a way to use it to devastating effect.
The story is excellent, the world-building (both the technology and alien lifeforms) is mind-boggling and the writing is top notch. The ONLY reason I do not give this installment a solid 5 stars (or more) is because at 675 pages there were a few times when I thought the story slowed and dragged. At 500 pages, this is easily 5 stars. As it is, this is still a must read for fans of high level space opera. Highly recommended!!
In this installment Ian Cormac, a special agent of Earth Central Security (ECS), is sent to a planet called Masada that is run by a brutal Theocracy in order to convince the poplulous to join the Polity (the Polity will only "take over" a planet if 80% of the population "votes" to request them to do so). At the same time, a genius "separatist" biophysicist has found a piece of Jain technology and has found a way to use it to devastating effect.
The story is excellent, the world-building (both the technology and alien lifeforms) is mind-boggling and the writing is top notch. The ONLY reason I do not give this installment a solid 5 stars (or more) is because at 675 pages there were a few times when I thought the story slowed and dragged. At 500 pages, this is easily 5 stars. As it is, this is still a must read for fans of high level space opera. Highly recommended!!
July 30, 2020
In 2003 this was my Top Crime Book of the year, although this is a sfx by technology blinding mind boom of information its so, so, much more than just a Polity but brilliant crime mystery
This was my first Asher but not my last, although this a sequal to a others I found it didn't really matter.
This was my first Asher but not my last, although this a sequal to a others I found it didn't really matter.
July 30, 2019
All done! It dragged a bit in the middle, but there wasn't a moment where I thought I wouldn't finish it. And here's the thing with all these Neal Asher novels: I always have way fonder memories of reading them than I feel when I finish them. Like, why did I give The Voyage of the Sable Keech only 3 stars? It's way better than 3 stars! Right? I guess I just forgot the middle part in that book that also dragged, and just remember the good bits.
Which is why, when finishing this, I thought "3.5" but I'm going to pre-empt my future rating of 4 stars today.
Full review on my podcast, SFBRP episode #404
http://www.sfbrp.com/archives/1599
Which is why, when finishing this, I thought "3.5" but I'm going to pre-empt my future rating of 4 stars today.
Full review on my podcast, SFBRP episode #404
http://www.sfbrp.com/archives/1599
May 27, 2016
Hi! Remember me? I’m that guy who drops into one of your favourite series without reading the first book, writes a lukewarm review, and then leaves! Because why should I have any sense of continuity or context before I go on about how the book was “confusing” or “didn’t explain any of its basic concepts??
Actually, I’m not that guy. It’s true I didn’t read Gridlinked, and while I’m wishing I had, it’s not because I found The Line of Polity hard to grok. Rather, I enjoyed this book so much I’m thinking I’ll become a good fan of Neal Asher’s Polity series. Over six years ago, I read Shadow of the Scorpion , but to be honest, I remember exactly nothing of it. My review indicates I thought it was a decent enough but (obviously) forgettable book. So when I found The Line of Polity in a used bookstore for $2 (yes, 2 whole Canadian dollars for a 600 page paperback in good condition!), I took the plunge. I was a little worried, it being the second book in a fairly intricate space opera series, that I would have some trouble. Although the beginning was fairly confusing, as the plot sprawled out into its many facets and Asher flitted between the viewpoints of his ensemble cast, I found myself coming to like the layers of storytelling he provides.
The Polity is a fascinating universe. The obvious comparison is Iain Banks’ Culture: both are posthuman societies where AIs take the role of benevolent dictators not because they conquered us but because they’re just better at it. With AIs running things more efficiently than humans ever could, we’re free to get on with the business of doing more interesting things. It doesn’t eliminate crime, hatred, jealousy, etc.—but it makes for a far more unified and stable government. I find this subtle shift in the role of AI in science fiction very interesting. Robots originated, of course, as slaves and workers who would help automate the boring or dangerous parts of human labour. As they became metaphors for slaves, and as computers became more and more capable, they took on more morally complex and, often, sinister roles in our stories. Now that pendulum is swinging back around: we already use very limited forms of AI to assist us in many areas of life; it’s much easier now to conceive of a future in which beneficent AI and humans work together.
Much of The Line of Polity focuses on what separates artificial intelligence from human intelligence. In addition to straightforward AIs like Earth Central or Cereb, there are straightforward, unaugmented humans like Ian Cormac. In between there is a dazzling array of entities that are not quite human, not quite AI: the AI/human pair Occam/Tomalon; the dead but memory-resurrected Gant within the chassis of a Golem; the cyborg Fethan; and various augmented humans, or humans like Apis Coolant, whose genome has been altered to help them survive in zero G and vacuum. Beyond that spectrum lies the realm of alien intelligences: Dragon, of course, and its progeny, Scar and the dracomen; the Maker (mentioned but unseen in this book); and the Jain (whoever or whatever they are). Through each of these characters, Asher can interrogate the various effects of technology and augmentation on their thoughts, actions, and beliefs.
Despite his sanguine disposition towards AIs, Asher often seems to come down harder on augmented humans. Cormac, our hero, having once been linked too closely to an AI, now prides himself in being totally unaugmented. Indeed, it’s both satisfying and ironic that Cormac, unaugmented and running on zero sleep, still manages to take down Skellor. Granted, he does this by appealing to that last inkling of humanity within the Skellor being—if Skellor had gone full-on alien, then perhaps he would no longer have the need for vengeance that Cormac exploits. Nevertheless, it’s an effective reminder that objective power is seldom the determining factor in these confrontations.
Any time humans start augmenting themselves, the results are questionable at best, disastrous at worst. In particular I’m talking about mental augmentation (Apis, Fethan, and Mika all seem fine so far). Skellor is the obvious example, as the Jain technology (or just the Jain?) corrupts him very quickly. He goes from absorbing the technology and using it to give himself new abilities to absorbing and integrating himself into a subverted Polity ship. Eventually even he becomes aware of the pitfalls of succumbing to its insatiable need for growth. By the end, though, Skellor creates the conditions for his own downfall: he tries to retain his human sensibilities, and his original human goals, even though he is no longer human.
I was intrigued when this seemed to happen on a smaller scale on Masada. Towards the end, just before Skellor approaches, it seems like the Hierarch has delusions of apotheosis. His ability to connect to the Dracocorp augs worn by his troops and issue direct commands gives him a rush; he starts imagining the Theocracy as a single mind—his—acting as one. Well, if that isn’t just the creepiest thing!
And all this reminds me of a recurring idea expressed throughout science fiction (and occasionally fantasy). I encountered it in The Magicians, when Penny explains why the gods are not what we might expect, and where magic comes from. Basically, the more power anyone has, the more obvious the next step becomes. We see that with Skellor: as an ordinary biophysicist with Separatist leanings, he has these grand plans but no way of realizing them. As the Jain corrupts him, Skellor becomes more capable … but increasingly he focuses on one goal, one outcome. He makes decisions almost automatically, because each action seems obvious at the time. Contrast this with Cormac, who has almost no power aside from what allies he brings to the table, and who must scramble to form plan after plan as the previous plan falls by the wayside. There is something about having power or ability, about being able to see on such a grand scale, that begins to compromise one’s sense of self and free will.
When the book is not ruminating on such heady philosophical ideas, it is a strong action story. I’m not sure it needed to be as long as it did—not that I’m complaining I get to spend so much time in Asher’s universe. While I enjoyed all the various perspectives, including a look through the eyes of the antagonists, there were moments during the ground battle on Masada that I had to wonder why we were following some of the minor characters. These quibbles aside, I really can’t fault Asher’s plotting here. There’s some masterful foreshadowing and a very balanced use of coincidence, humour, and twists to keep us entertained.
Actually, I’m not that guy. It’s true I didn’t read Gridlinked, and while I’m wishing I had, it’s not because I found The Line of Polity hard to grok. Rather, I enjoyed this book so much I’m thinking I’ll become a good fan of Neal Asher’s Polity series. Over six years ago, I read Shadow of the Scorpion , but to be honest, I remember exactly nothing of it. My review indicates I thought it was a decent enough but (obviously) forgettable book. So when I found The Line of Polity in a used bookstore for $2 (yes, 2 whole Canadian dollars for a 600 page paperback in good condition!), I took the plunge. I was a little worried, it being the second book in a fairly intricate space opera series, that I would have some trouble. Although the beginning was fairly confusing, as the plot sprawled out into its many facets and Asher flitted between the viewpoints of his ensemble cast, I found myself coming to like the layers of storytelling he provides.
The Polity is a fascinating universe. The obvious comparison is Iain Banks’ Culture: both are posthuman societies where AIs take the role of benevolent dictators not because they conquered us but because they’re just better at it. With AIs running things more efficiently than humans ever could, we’re free to get on with the business of doing more interesting things. It doesn’t eliminate crime, hatred, jealousy, etc.—but it makes for a far more unified and stable government. I find this subtle shift in the role of AI in science fiction very interesting. Robots originated, of course, as slaves and workers who would help automate the boring or dangerous parts of human labour. As they became metaphors for slaves, and as computers became more and more capable, they took on more morally complex and, often, sinister roles in our stories. Now that pendulum is swinging back around: we already use very limited forms of AI to assist us in many areas of life; it’s much easier now to conceive of a future in which beneficent AI and humans work together.
Much of The Line of Polity focuses on what separates artificial intelligence from human intelligence. In addition to straightforward AIs like Earth Central or Cereb, there are straightforward, unaugmented humans like Ian Cormac. In between there is a dazzling array of entities that are not quite human, not quite AI: the AI/human pair Occam/Tomalon; the dead but memory-resurrected Gant within the chassis of a Golem; the cyborg Fethan; and various augmented humans, or humans like Apis Coolant, whose genome has been altered to help them survive in zero G and vacuum. Beyond that spectrum lies the realm of alien intelligences: Dragon, of course, and its progeny, Scar and the dracomen; the Maker (mentioned but unseen in this book); and the Jain (whoever or whatever they are). Through each of these characters, Asher can interrogate the various effects of technology and augmentation on their thoughts, actions, and beliefs.
Despite his sanguine disposition towards AIs, Asher often seems to come down harder on augmented humans. Cormac, our hero, having once been linked too closely to an AI, now prides himself in being totally unaugmented. Indeed, it’s both satisfying and ironic that Cormac, unaugmented and running on zero sleep, still manages to take down Skellor. Granted, he does this by appealing to that last inkling of humanity within the Skellor being—if Skellor had gone full-on alien, then perhaps he would no longer have the need for vengeance that Cormac exploits. Nevertheless, it’s an effective reminder that objective power is seldom the determining factor in these confrontations.
Any time humans start augmenting themselves, the results are questionable at best, disastrous at worst. In particular I’m talking about mental augmentation (Apis, Fethan, and Mika all seem fine so far). Skellor is the obvious example, as the Jain technology (or just the Jain?) corrupts him very quickly. He goes from absorbing the technology and using it to give himself new abilities to absorbing and integrating himself into a subverted Polity ship. Eventually even he becomes aware of the pitfalls of succumbing to its insatiable need for growth. By the end, though, Skellor creates the conditions for his own downfall: he tries to retain his human sensibilities, and his original human goals, even though he is no longer human.
I was intrigued when this seemed to happen on a smaller scale on Masada. Towards the end, just before Skellor approaches, it seems like the Hierarch has delusions of apotheosis. His ability to connect to the Dracocorp augs worn by his troops and issue direct commands gives him a rush; he starts imagining the Theocracy as a single mind—his—acting as one. Well, if that isn’t just the creepiest thing!
And all this reminds me of a recurring idea expressed throughout science fiction (and occasionally fantasy). I encountered it in The Magicians, when Penny explains why the gods are not what we might expect, and where magic comes from. Basically, the more power anyone has, the more obvious the next step becomes. We see that with Skellor: as an ordinary biophysicist with Separatist leanings, he has these grand plans but no way of realizing them. As the Jain corrupts him, Skellor becomes more capable … but increasingly he focuses on one goal, one outcome. He makes decisions almost automatically, because each action seems obvious at the time. Contrast this with Cormac, who has almost no power aside from what allies he brings to the table, and who must scramble to form plan after plan as the previous plan falls by the wayside. There is something about having power or ability, about being able to see on such a grand scale, that begins to compromise one’s sense of self and free will.
When the book is not ruminating on such heady philosophical ideas, it is a strong action story. I’m not sure it needed to be as long as it did—not that I’m complaining I get to spend so much time in Asher’s universe. While I enjoyed all the various perspectives, including a look through the eyes of the antagonists, there were moments during the ground battle on Masada that I had to wonder why we were following some of the minor characters. These quibbles aside, I really can’t fault Asher’s plotting here. There’s some masterful foreshadowing and a very balanced use of coincidence, humour, and twists to keep us entertained.
February 17, 2015
Outlink station Miranda has been destroyed by a nanomycelium and the very nature of this sabotage suggests that the alien bioconstruct Dragon - a creature as untrustworthy as it is gigantic - is somehow involved.
The second Cormac book in the series takes us to a whole new level of 'other' entities. As you can see from the description above it is all a tad out there.
Whilst I did enjoy this one, it didn't grip me as much as book one, but I still would say that it was a throughly good read. We didn't learn too much more about Cormac himself, but we did learn a lot more about the time, technologies and other entities hanging around.
At times it was a little confusing and Asher does spend a lot of time with his descriptions, you certainly feel like you are in the story and can visualise what is happening. A lot like China Meiville but without over doing it. There is something about the style of writing that Asher has that makes me really like his character writing, which is interesting because he doesn't spend a particular long long time in development. I think that is something with the way he has the characters interact that makes it all the more real.
We get to see a lot more technology in this one, especially Golems which are AI built robots that are designed to look human and work with the ECS agents in protecting the human race from outside threats and internal strife. We learn a lot more about the Runcible gates that allow people to 'teleport' from one place to another and most of all, we learn that Cormac is badass and has attitude.
Well worth the read.
The second Cormac book in the series takes us to a whole new level of 'other' entities. As you can see from the description above it is all a tad out there.
Whilst I did enjoy this one, it didn't grip me as much as book one, but I still would say that it was a throughly good read. We didn't learn too much more about Cormac himself, but we did learn a lot more about the time, technologies and other entities hanging around.
At times it was a little confusing and Asher does spend a lot of time with his descriptions, you certainly feel like you are in the story and can visualise what is happening. A lot like China Meiville but without over doing it. There is something about the style of writing that Asher has that makes me really like his character writing, which is interesting because he doesn't spend a particular long long time in development. I think that is something with the way he has the characters interact that makes it all the more real.
We get to see a lot more technology in this one, especially Golems which are AI built robots that are designed to look human and work with the ECS agents in protecting the human race from outside threats and internal strife. We learn a lot more about the Runcible gates that allow people to 'teleport' from one place to another and most of all, we learn that Cormac is badass and has attitude.
Well worth the read.
May 27, 2015
In summary, this book sounds really similar to Gridlinked, the first Ian Cormac book. I noticed the blurb for the book after I'd already purchased it, and I had this fear that every book would end up being the same deal, with Cormac having to foil Dragon's newest wacky scheme, while an extremist group tries to hunt him down, and it all ending with Dragon howling, "I'll get you next time, Cormac! Next tiiiiiiime!"
Fortunately, it changes up the formula in some decent ways, and manages to improve on the first book by having an ending that actually makes sense (seriously, the Wiki page for Gridlinked provides a link to Asher's explanation of the ending).
The main thing that's silly in this books, and its silly in many macho guy books regardless of age or demographic, is how people respond to the protagonist. It's much more subdued here, but there are still bits to remind you that Cormac is a bad-ass known throughout the universe. It's one of the less distracting cases, since there are some where people go out of their way to remind you that the protagonist is awesome.
The other small issue comes from a somewhat shapeless stretch in the middle that's mostly composed of characters traveling to join up, and war scenes that feel a little overextended and self-indulgent. Fortunately, this arguing-in-the-woods portion isn't very long, and we get back to progress over movement soon enough for me to not get irritated.
For being essentially sci-fi James Bond, these books are a lot of fun.
Fortunately, it changes up the formula in some decent ways, and manages to improve on the first book by having an ending that actually makes sense (seriously, the Wiki page for Gridlinked provides a link to Asher's explanation of the ending).
The main thing that's silly in this books, and its silly in many macho guy books regardless of age or demographic, is how people respond to the protagonist. It's much more subdued here, but there are still bits to remind you that Cormac is a bad-ass known throughout the universe. It's one of the less distracting cases, since there are some where people go out of their way to remind you that the protagonist is awesome.
The other small issue comes from a somewhat shapeless stretch in the middle that's mostly composed of characters traveling to join up, and war scenes that feel a little overextended and self-indulgent. Fortunately, this arguing-in-the-woods portion isn't very long, and we get back to progress over movement soon enough for me to not get irritated.
For being essentially sci-fi James Bond, these books are a lot of fun.
November 29, 2010
I enjoyed this selection for several reasons: the story moved right along, with neither a huge amount of description, unnecessary background building, or grandiose space-physics explanations; the characters were predominantly interesting; the chapter beginnings, where a woman was reading to her child, were quite humorous; and the world Masada was a delight to read about.
Items I didn't care for: even though this was the protagonists vengeance against Cormac, Cormac really wasn't the main story. I would liked to have had him a bit more in the forefront. There were at least three story lines happening at the same time - which is good because it keeps things moving - but often the number of people in each story line became a bit confusing. More than once I found myself going, "Now who was so-and-so again? Oh yeah...that person..." By page 600, that becomes a bit annoying. I also struggled a bit with recalling what happened in book one - it's been over a years since I read Gridlinked, and while I thoroughly enjoyed it, again the whole who was who and who did what to whom became a bit of a blur.
Items I didn't care for: even though this was the protagonists vengeance against Cormac, Cormac really wasn't the main story. I would liked to have had him a bit more in the forefront. There were at least three story lines happening at the same time - which is good because it keeps things moving - but often the number of people in each story line became a bit confusing. More than once I found myself going, "Now who was so-and-so again? Oh yeah...that person..." By page 600, that becomes a bit annoying. I also struggled a bit with recalling what happened in book one - it's been over a years since I read Gridlinked, and while I thoroughly enjoyed it, again the whole who was who and who did what to whom became a bit of a blur.
October 20, 2019
A bit long and complicated, but eminently readable, as is typical of Neal Asher.
---Update:
Well, it makes a lot more sense now having read Prador Moon. I like how Asher doesn't talk down to his audience -- you either know what he's talking about or just go along for the ride. When you read them in order, you see a larger story arc emerging as well. Adding a star because things make more sense when you read them in order.
---Update:
Well, it makes a lot more sense now having read Prador Moon. I like how Asher doesn't talk down to his audience -- you either know what he's talking about or just go along for the ride. When you read them in order, you see a larger story arc emerging as well. Adding a star because things make more sense when you read them in order.
December 1, 2015
Predictable and cliched plot? Check.
Mentally-challenged, mustache-twirling villains? Check.
Boring two-dimensional characters? Check.
Bloated plot with irrelevant filler material? Check.
Detailed descriptions of 'cool' stuff that serves little purpose outside of being 'cool'? Check.
Worth my time? Nope.
This was my third and last Neal Asher novel. I'd rather read something that doesn't feel like a complete waste of time.
Mentally-challenged, mustache-twirling villains? Check.
Boring two-dimensional characters? Check.
Bloated plot with irrelevant filler material? Check.
Detailed descriptions of 'cool' stuff that serves little purpose outside of being 'cool'? Check.
Worth my time? Nope.
This was my third and last Neal Asher novel. I'd rather read something that doesn't feel like a complete waste of time.
June 10, 2011
I really loved this. It has everything a science fiction fan would want and more! It's action packed and I really like Neal Asher's writing style.
Full review here
Full review here
March 23, 2015
4.5 stars
This is, so far, the best Polity book I have read. Though it is part of the Agent Cormac series, Cormac himself is not featured as heavily as in the previous two books, but is just one of the main characters.
I feel that this is the first time Asher has a complete grip on his world and world-building as the stories of different characters (some of which we have met in Asher's previous books) converge on the planet Masada, ruled by the vicious Theocracy. The genius separatist scientist melded with the AI with the help of alien technology, one of surviving Dragons, leaders of the rebellion on the planet and, of course, Ian Cormac himself struggle for the survival of this world in the exciting, fast-paced, action-packed story. From the fiery world inhabited by deadly lizards to sentient Polity ship invaded by the alien technology, from the arms smugglers' ship to the stations orbiting the planet, from the surface of Masada to its underground, the story moves at astonishing pace as the tension and stakes rise and rise. Asher manages to capture what eluded him in the previous books, the stories of human interest, whether it is the story of the last surviving boy on the orbit station or a young woman who has spent her entire life enslaved.
This is indeed a very satisfying read. I think Asher has more stories to tell about Masada and these characters. I will certainly want to know more.
This is, so far, the best Polity book I have read. Though it is part of the Agent Cormac series, Cormac himself is not featured as heavily as in the previous two books, but is just one of the main characters.
I feel that this is the first time Asher has a complete grip on his world and world-building as the stories of different characters (some of which we have met in Asher's previous books) converge on the planet Masada, ruled by the vicious Theocracy. The genius separatist scientist melded with the AI with the help of alien technology, one of surviving Dragons, leaders of the rebellion on the planet and, of course, Ian Cormac himself struggle for the survival of this world in the exciting, fast-paced, action-packed story. From the fiery world inhabited by deadly lizards to sentient Polity ship invaded by the alien technology, from the arms smugglers' ship to the stations orbiting the planet, from the surface of Masada to its underground, the story moves at astonishing pace as the tension and stakes rise and rise. Asher manages to capture what eluded him in the previous books, the stories of human interest, whether it is the story of the last surviving boy on the orbit station or a young woman who has spent her entire life enslaved.
This is indeed a very satisfying read. I think Asher has more stories to tell about Masada and these characters. I will certainly want to know more.
March 23, 2013
There is a certain ineffable quality to Neal Asher's books. They are first and formost high tech, far future adventure stories. The rare scenes of an idyllic worldscape are usually shattered in moments by explosions, nanomanipulating alien technology, or the occasional AI trying to make the world a safer place. Line of Polity carries that burden well. Following shortly after the events of Gridlinked, Line of Polity continues to follow Ian Cormac, along with a small cast of characters working with and against him. Outlink station Miranda has been destroyed in a way that hints at Dragon, and if anyone is going to go after something related to the moonsized alien, it's Ian Cormac. Asher writes an action packed story well, and this book is no exception. There is a point about 3/4 of the way through that the action began to feel repetitive, but the last 1/4 of the book elevates the crescendo - and the stakes - bringing the book to a most satisfactory conclusion (read: couldn't put the book down for the last 100 pages, really dissapointed it was over).
Beware the gabbleduck, friends.
Beware the gabbleduck, friends.
March 15, 2013
I greatly enjoyed the first of Neal Asher's "Ian Cormac" books, and this, the second, is, if anything, an improvement. Cormac himself doesn't feature quite so much in this one, although he's still a major presence. But we also have a wider cast of supporting characters getting their moment in the spotlight in a plot concerning a religious dictatorship and a madman with access to planet-destroying technology. It's more explicitly military than the first novel, and manages to explore some different aspects of the universe in which it is set, with more focus here on the situation outside the Polity. There's also a sub-plot that follows on directly from the action of the first novel, but which still leaves that open for further development.
There's a good cast of varied characters, and an imaginative description of an alien and deadly planetary ecology. The action rarely lets up, and the story has more strands to it than the previous offering.
There's a good cast of varied characters, and an imaginative description of an alien and deadly planetary ecology. The action rarely lets up, and the story has more strands to it than the previous offering.
June 12, 2013
The second of the Ian Cormac novels, this one was replete with much of what I have come to expect of the author, lots of action, incredibly creepy and horrifying native fauna and a thoroughly satisfying space opera. Interesting characters. As usual, one of my favorites was the old cyborg, Fethan. Nobody's fool, he played a pivotal role in much of the twists and turns of events. Much like Sniper the ancient war drone in the Spatterjay series. The villains in the piece, Skellor the "mad scientist" and the brutal Theocracy were perhaps a tad over the top, but that made getting back at them that much more entertaining. Looking forward to getting reacquainted with Mr. Crane, the Brass Man in the next book of the series.
June 28, 2019
Aliens, technology, vast space ships, warfare and politics - this belongs in the guilty pleasure category for me. This is my second Asher novel I think - and while I enjoy the pacy action, multiple plot lines, impossibly cool gadgets and mind-bending extraterrestrial phenomena, it isn't quite up to Iain Banks' genius. In particular, the cast of thousands becomes very difficult to keep track of, and the technologies and concepts are sometimes introduced with little explanation or reminder. And I suppose I'm also starting to want a little more development and depth of character from Asher's hero, Agent Cormac - perhaps that comes in later books in the series. All minor complaints, but they add up to minus one star.
January 2, 2021
Strong 4.5 / Light 5
After searching for the right book to scratch that itch left over from Scalzi’s Old Man’s War series and waiting on the finale of Corey’s The Expanse, Neal Asher’s Agent Cormac series has really hit the spot.
Overall, I feel that The Line of Polity far surpasses its predecessor, Gridlinked. Which is all you really ask for in a sequel, right?
I found that Skellor was a far more interesting and nefarious villain, not to mention the H.R. Giger vibes.
My only really gripe would be a lack of Ian Cormac himself in the book. There were plenty of times where we were following less-than-important characters from the Theocracy or the Underground that I would have much preferred dedicated to the series’ eponymous character.
After searching for the right book to scratch that itch left over from Scalzi’s Old Man’s War series and waiting on the finale of Corey’s The Expanse, Neal Asher’s Agent Cormac series has really hit the spot.
Overall, I feel that The Line of Polity far surpasses its predecessor, Gridlinked. Which is all you really ask for in a sequel, right?
I found that Skellor was a far more interesting and nefarious villain, not to mention the H.R. Giger vibes.
My only really gripe would be a lack of Ian Cormac himself in the book. There were plenty of times where we were following less-than-important characters from the Theocracy or the Underground that I would have much preferred dedicated to the series’ eponymous character.
March 29, 2019
Much like with the preceding book, I'm frustrated by goodreads' 5 star system.
This book is a solid 3.5. Better than 60%, not good enough for 80%.
Not going to win any Pulitzers or Bookers but like the other Asher books I've read it was thoroughly entertaining, action packed escapism. I didn't want to put it down.
This book is a solid 3.5. Better than 60%, not good enough for 80%.
Not going to win any Pulitzers or Bookers but like the other Asher books I've read it was thoroughly entertaining, action packed escapism. I didn't want to put it down.
September 9, 2020
Super complicated story, but Asher knows how to put it all together so it's both understandable and gripping.
September 22, 2022
Human space is mostly run by the AI-controlled Polity but out near the periphery, where the line gets hazy between Polity and pirate governments, lies the planet Masada. Run by a brutal Theocracy whose leader, the Heirarch, runs a slave labour industry (from orbiting cylindrical colonies) of surface-based humans with symbiotic lifeforms which help them breathe the poisonous atmosphere. The planet is also inhabited by some of the most ferocious organisms ever found: gabbleducks, heroynes, siluroynes and the most terrible hooders. Meanwhile on the orbiting Outlink colony of Miranda, a young resident, Apis, escapes its destruction by Skellor, a human who has obtained incredible Jain technology and has used it on himself and has infected Miranda with nanomycelium which is restructuring everything on board in a weird alien form. The nanomycelium was provided by Dragon, an alien bioconstruct, which is incensed that it was used in such a blunt way and is now intent on killing Skellor. Apis and Agent Cormac of Earth Central Security, with some Polity Golem, head to Masada where an uprising of worker residents is trying desperately to get the numbers for an intervention by the Polity and overthrow the Theocracy. All roads end on Masada, where Dragon apparently suicides into the surface, the Theocracy threatens annihilation of the surface by mirrors and Skellor arrives to eliminate all who know of his illegal use of the Jain technology. Neal Asher has given us a weighty tome that neatly ties up the multifarious threads of this complex plot. A mix of space opera and military SF it is an easy and enjoyable read and leaves you wanting more Polity, (of which there is a sufficient amount in print!)
January 31, 2025
Not the best science fiction novel I've ever read, but it was good enough. Asher seems to be doing the same thing that Iain M. Banks was doing, re. space opera. But Asher is a better writer. That's a broad generalization based on too little data, and I may regret saying it at some point in the future. I'm sure to read more from him.
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