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Ack-Ack Macaque #3
Macaque Attack!
The Spitfire pilot monkey Ack-Ack Macaque faces a world on the brink in this adventure, the conclusion to his astonishing trilogy.
In the thrilling conclusion of the Macaque Trilogy, the dangerous but charismatic Ack-Ack Macaque finds himself leading a dimension-hopping army of angry monkeys, facing an invading horde of implacable killer androids, and confronting the one challenge for which he was never prepared: impending fatherhood! Meanwhile, former journalist Victoria Valois fights to save the electronic ghost of her dead husband and reclaim his stolen soul from the sands of Mars.
In the thrilling conclusion of the Macaque Trilogy, the dangerous but charismatic Ack-Ack Macaque finds himself leading a dimension-hopping army of angry monkeys, facing an invading horde of implacable killer androids, and confronting the one challenge for which he was never prepared: impending fatherhood! Meanwhile, former journalist Victoria Valois fights to save the electronic ghost of her dead husband and reclaim his stolen soul from the sands of Mars.
428 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 30, 2014
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October 30, 2014
In the wake of the Gestalt's defeat, Ack-Ack Macaque is now the leader of an army of uplifted monkeys and wandering the multiverse. When cyborgs from Mars launch an asteroid at earth, which foul-mouth cigar chomping primate are they going to call?
I got this from Netgalley and it was damn sweet!
Here we are, the thrilling conclusion to the Macaque Trilogy. When the backup consciousnesses of Celeste and her minions wake up on Mars, they send Earth a present in the form of a giant asteroid. Sure enough, Ack-Ack is up to the challenge of going Armageddon on its ass, once he finds his way back from a different reality, that it.
I find it amazing how Gareth Powell took a fairly ridiculous premise, that of a cigar-chomping macaque fighting in WWII and turned it into a three book cyberpunk epic featuring parallel worlds and things of that nature. What could have been a hilarious novella about an ass-kicking simian morphed into a fantastic trilogy featuring such heady topics as quantum physics, nanotechnology, virtual reality, and what it means to be alive.
For a book featuring an ape with a mouth like a sailor, this bastard is a pretty serious tale. Entire timelines are destroyed, lots of shit blows up, and a certain woman has to say goodbye to her husband. The increasingly world-weary Ack-Ack finds he'll be facing the most brutal battle of them all: Fatherhood.
It's hard not to like a series book that prominently features a super-intelligent, gun-toting, chain smoking macaque. Not only that, the Macaque trilogy also features such winning ingredients as clones, cyborgs, parallel universes, nanomachinery, personality backups, homages to pulp sf, hive minds, and uplifted primates, most of which have foul mouths. Even though it was left open-ended, this fuck-knuckle was a very satisfying conclusion to the tale of Ack_Ack Macaque. Four out of five stars.
I got this from Netgalley and it was damn sweet!
Here we are, the thrilling conclusion to the Macaque Trilogy. When the backup consciousnesses of Celeste and her minions wake up on Mars, they send Earth a present in the form of a giant asteroid. Sure enough, Ack-Ack is up to the challenge of going Armageddon on its ass, once he finds his way back from a different reality, that it.
I find it amazing how Gareth Powell took a fairly ridiculous premise, that of a cigar-chomping macaque fighting in WWII and turned it into a three book cyberpunk epic featuring parallel worlds and things of that nature. What could have been a hilarious novella about an ass-kicking simian morphed into a fantastic trilogy featuring such heady topics as quantum physics, nanotechnology, virtual reality, and what it means to be alive.
For a book featuring an ape with a mouth like a sailor, this bastard is a pretty serious tale. Entire timelines are destroyed, lots of shit blows up, and a certain woman has to say goodbye to her husband. The increasingly world-weary Ack-Ack finds he'll be facing the most brutal battle of them all: Fatherhood.
It's hard not to like a series book that prominently features a super-intelligent, gun-toting, chain smoking macaque. Not only that, the Macaque trilogy also features such winning ingredients as clones, cyborgs, parallel universes, nanomachinery, personality backups, homages to pulp sf, hive minds, and uplifted primates, most of which have foul mouths. Even though it was left open-ended, this fuck-knuckle was a very satisfying conclusion to the tale of Ack_Ack Macaque. Four out of five stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2014
The monkey Ack-Ack Macaque and former journalist Victoria Valois is out to save the world. Also, Victoria must finally face the fact that she has to say goodbye to Paul and Ack-Ack learns that he is to be a father...
This is the third and last book in the Ack-Ack Macaque series and even though I looked forward reading this book did I have some trepidation about reading the last book in a series without reading the first two. But it went well, surprisingly well actually. I mean sure there was stuff from the first two books like the mentioning of the hive mind Gestalt, but it was very good explained in this book so I never really felt left out of the story. I actually got more interested in reading the first two books.
It was an action-filled book, a fast read with great characters and I recommend this to everyone that likes monkeys...lol and people that like action and adventure and a really well-written story!
Thank to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
This is the third and last book in the Ack-Ack Macaque series and even though I looked forward reading this book did I have some trepidation about reading the last book in a series without reading the first two. But it went well, surprisingly well actually. I mean sure there was stuff from the first two books like the mentioning of the hive mind Gestalt, but it was very good explained in this book so I never really felt left out of the story. I actually got more interested in reading the first two books.
It was an action-filled book, a fast read with great characters and I recommend this to everyone that likes monkeys...lol and people that like action and adventure and a really well-written story!
Thank to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
February 18, 2018
It's now 2062 we come to the King & what is to happen on Mars .We find out if Charlton Heston 's dam you all to hell comes true or if The monkeys finally sing there Hay Hay with the Money's here we come
The return of Mama from Mars ,Escape from Planet of the Apes & Conquest of the Planet of the Apes the original 70s not ghastly new versions.
He has end it with a wild card crazy twist
The return of Mama from Mars ,Escape from Planet of the Apes & Conquest of the Planet of the Apes the original 70s not ghastly new versions.
He has end it with a wild card crazy twist
November 7, 2014
~3.5
But instead of slimy little aliens exterminating everything, we have the monkeys. Ack-Ack Macaque and his primate posse are all human-engineered hyperintelligent Haplorhini, altered in labs by mad scientists until they had human intelligence. The monkeys are a worthy substitute for daleks, combining hilarity with extreme destructiveness. As Ack-Ack puts it:
Even so, however, I don’t know how well it works as a standalone rather than the culmination of a series. Being me, I picked up the third book at random. While it wasn’t so hard to figure out what was going on, I sometimes had difficulty understanding where newly-introduced perspective characters fit into the continuing story. I wasn’t sufficiently invested in the characters or familiar with their conflicts. There were too many risks, too many reveals, too many threats, too many explosions, too many impending apocalypses for any of it to be particularly suspenseful.
Despite an attempt to wander into the profound, it never really made it out of a TV-show-level superficiality. All the same, even though I wasn't particularly invested in the characters or conflicts, it was an enjoyable read, a hectic, humorous read with a few interesting twists. Given my experiences with jumping into the series, I’d definitely suggest starting with the first book rather than the third, but if cyberpunk cigar-smoking monkeys, alternate universes, virtual worlds, and evil cyborgs sound like an interesting read, then you may want to take a look.
Excerpted from my review on BookLikes.
~~I received this ebook through Netgalley from the publisher, Solaris, in exchange for my honest review.~~
MONKEY VS MULTIVERSEMacaque Attack is rather like an episode of Doctor Who, if the Doctor happened to have regenerated into a foul-mouthed, cigar-smoking monkey and the audience level was upgraded from “general” to “mature.” It’s definitely channeling a certain amount of Russell T. Davies. Cybermen? Check. Invasions from other planets? Check. Jumping between parallel worlds and meeting one’s alternate selves? Checkity check check check. I just kept waiting for the daleks to show up.
But instead of slimy little aliens exterminating everything, we have the monkeys. Ack-Ack Macaque and his primate posse are all human-engineered hyperintelligent Haplorhini, altered in labs by mad scientists until they had human intelligence. The monkeys are a worthy substitute for daleks, combining hilarity with extreme destructiveness. As Ack-Ack puts it:
“I’m happy as long as I get to wreck stuff and hurt people.”Considering that the rest of the cast includes a bionic woman and the electronic projection of her dead husband, a techie girl still recovering from a mind-meld with the Gestalt, a talking computer, a mad scientist, a seriously evil megalomaniac, you know you’re definitely in for a ride. Add in a series of alternate universes-- including one where England and France joined together into a single kingdom and zepplins are the main form of transportation-- and it can’t help but be an entertaining read.
Even so, however, I don’t know how well it works as a standalone rather than the culmination of a series. Being me, I picked up the third book at random. While it wasn’t so hard to figure out what was going on, I sometimes had difficulty understanding where newly-introduced perspective characters fit into the continuing story. I wasn’t sufficiently invested in the characters or familiar with their conflicts. There were too many risks, too many reveals, too many threats, too many explosions, too many impending apocalypses for any of it to be particularly suspenseful.
Despite an attempt to wander into the profound, it never really made it out of a TV-show-level superficiality. All the same, even though I wasn't particularly invested in the characters or conflicts, it was an enjoyable read, a hectic, humorous read with a few interesting twists. Given my experiences with jumping into the series, I’d definitely suggest starting with the first book rather than the third, but if cyberpunk cigar-smoking monkeys, alternate universes, virtual worlds, and evil cyborgs sound like an interesting read, then you may want to take a look.
Excerpted from my review on BookLikes.
~~I received this ebook through Netgalley from the publisher, Solaris, in exchange for my honest review.~~
October 30, 2014
Ack-Ack Macaque is BACK! The third in Gareth Powell's Simian Sci Fiction series hits and once again it doesn't disappoint.
In fact much like the previous books this again manages to pull the rug out from under the reader's feet. All your preconceptions of this world as skewed and it'll be interesting to see if he does anything further set in this world.
What Powell does here is take his relatively cute concept of a mouthy, violent, anti-hero Monkey and turn it into a deep and rich scifi epic.
I don't want to spoil things for anyone so I'll say this, if you're a Gareth Powell fan there's a orange Smartie style reaction coming your way. You're chomping and enjoying the lovely chocolates, then suddenly you get a wonderful orangey surprise from nowhere. I was blown away.
My one (small) complaint, and this doesn't lose him any stars because the book is so strong, is that the ending is quite sudden. But I put that down to me not wanting the journey to end, rather than bad pacing.
If you've read and loved the other two books like I did, this won't disappoint. Highly recommended.
I was supplied the book by Solaris through Netgalley.
In fact much like the previous books this again manages to pull the rug out from under the reader's feet. All your preconceptions of this world as skewed and it'll be interesting to see if he does anything further set in this world.
What Powell does here is take his relatively cute concept of a mouthy, violent, anti-hero Monkey and turn it into a deep and rich scifi epic.
I don't want to spoil things for anyone so I'll say this, if you're a Gareth Powell fan there's a orange Smartie style reaction coming your way. You're chomping and enjoying the lovely chocolates, then suddenly you get a wonderful orangey surprise from nowhere. I was blown away.
My one (small) complaint, and this doesn't lose him any stars because the book is so strong, is that the ending is quite sudden. But I put that down to me not wanting the journey to end, rather than bad pacing.
If you've read and loved the other two books like I did, this won't disappoint. Highly recommended.
I was supplied the book by Solaris through Netgalley.
June 19, 2019
This is the best cheese in the world.
January 24, 2015
Neil Gaiman once wrote in an introduction to a book of short stories he was editing, that the 4 words authors want to hear from readers are "and then what happened?" This is a question I asked at the end of this, frankly wonderful book.
Macaque Attack is the end of the Ack-Ack Macaque trilogy, and also ties up some points from Gareth's earlier novel "the recollection" (you do not need to have read that 1st, as everything you need to know is in this book- but do go & read the recollection, simply because it's bloody good!). This is a really well-written work, with a complex yet cohesive plot & characters you will come to care about a lot.
The ending leaves the possibility of a return to this world open, with some questions still needing to be answered. I really hope Gareth L Powell writes a follow-up very soon.
Read this. It's brilliant,
Macaque Attack is the end of the Ack-Ack Macaque trilogy, and also ties up some points from Gareth's earlier novel "the recollection" (you do not need to have read that 1st, as everything you need to know is in this book- but do go & read the recollection, simply because it's bloody good!). This is a really well-written work, with a complex yet cohesive plot & characters you will come to care about a lot.
The ending leaves the possibility of a return to this world open, with some questions still needing to be answered. I really hope Gareth L Powell writes a follow-up very soon.
Read this. It's brilliant,
April 3, 2024
Macaque Attack was an exciting conclusion to the while ride that is this trilogy, full of the same humour and action contrasted with the same world-ending dangers and existentialism as the previous books. However, getting dropped in Gareth's cinematic multiverse halfway through was both completely unexpected but very welcome. To be honest, even from the beginning of this book, let alone earlier in the series, I could never have guessed the ending, but it was oddly satisfying. I can't recommend the Ack-Ack Macaque series enough.
February 21, 2018
The first of these books was a fun romp, but as the series went on, it got more serious and became something of a grind, until I reached the point where I honestly didn't care what happened to any of the characters.
November 5, 2014
We're coming to the end of the Macaque trilogy now, and our titular misanthropic hero monkey has saved the world from both nuclear annihilation (Ack Ack Macaque) and assimilation by a hive mind from another dimension (Hive Monkey). You'd think it would be time for him to put his feet up, bite the end off a cigar and knock back a well deserved tot of rum (or seven). But life just isn't that simple for the escapee from a computer game and his crew. Damaged journalist Victoria is struggling to deal with letting go of her decaying hologram husband Paul, while teenage hacker K8, given over to the gestalt mind and then separated from them, has lost her own personality and is longing to return to the comfort of the collective.
Ack-Ack has gathered his own army of rescued monkeys, saving them from their gruesome fates on a myriad of worlds as his airship, the Sun Wukong, hops from dimension to dimension. He must face down not only dissent within his own ranks, but the threat of invasion from another timeline, while an asteroid, hurled from the surface of Mars, makes its deadly and seemingly unstoppable way towards the earth. The way these events are linked becomes apparent in a surprise twist about halfway through the novel, one that will have GLP fans gasping and celebrating in equal measure.
There's much to enjoy here, on a number of levels. If you just want to see monkeys blow up giant tanks or shoot shit, then yes, there's no shortage of that, and it's all tremendous fun. But if you also want a book that touches on loneliness, on the fear of death and the difficulty of letting go of the past, while at the same time blowing shit up all around you, then Macaque Attack comes highly recommended. The whole Macaque Trilogy is a lot smarter, and deeper, than a casual glance might suggest, and so is Ack Ack Macaque himself. He might be battered and war-weary, he might lists his interests as smoking, drinking and making things explode, but there's a warm heart and the beginnings of a conscience beneath that furry chest. The grumpy old monkey really does love his troupe, even if he doesn't like to show it.
I'm not ashamed to say I loved these books, and the more I read them the more I enjoy them. Re-reading rewards you with all kinds of clever cultural references and in-jokes you may have missed the first time around. The whole trilogy will, I hope become a future classic. If it doesn't, there's no justice and I may have to send the monkeys round to sort things out...
Ack-Ack has gathered his own army of rescued monkeys, saving them from their gruesome fates on a myriad of worlds as his airship, the Sun Wukong, hops from dimension to dimension. He must face down not only dissent within his own ranks, but the threat of invasion from another timeline, while an asteroid, hurled from the surface of Mars, makes its deadly and seemingly unstoppable way towards the earth. The way these events are linked becomes apparent in a surprise twist about halfway through the novel, one that will have GLP fans gasping and celebrating in equal measure.
There's much to enjoy here, on a number of levels. If you just want to see monkeys blow up giant tanks or shoot shit, then yes, there's no shortage of that, and it's all tremendous fun. But if you also want a book that touches on loneliness, on the fear of death and the difficulty of letting go of the past, while at the same time blowing shit up all around you, then Macaque Attack comes highly recommended. The whole Macaque Trilogy is a lot smarter, and deeper, than a casual glance might suggest, and so is Ack Ack Macaque himself. He might be battered and war-weary, he might lists his interests as smoking, drinking and making things explode, but there's a warm heart and the beginnings of a conscience beneath that furry chest. The grumpy old monkey really does love his troupe, even if he doesn't like to show it.
I'm not ashamed to say I loved these books, and the more I read them the more I enjoy them. Re-reading rewards you with all kinds of clever cultural references and in-jokes you may have missed the first time around. The whole trilogy will, I hope become a future classic. If it doesn't, there's no justice and I may have to send the monkeys round to sort things out...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2014
Coming to Macaque Attack, I thought I knew what to expect. Monkey action: violence, mayhem, rum, cigars and explosions, I was not disappointed. In each installment Gareth L. Powell has expanded his vision and just when I thought he could not make this series anymore epic he changes the game in such a way that it left me punching the air and swearing. Yes that good.
What I love about this book is the questions that it poses. This book and indeed the whole trilogy have been about what it means to be human and the impact of choices made. Sometimes when reading novels that do this, it can feel like the reader is being lectured to, not with Macaque Attack.
What I would urge would be readers to do is go read this trilogy. Start with Ack Ack Macaque and then read Hive Mind before attempting this one they are a joy to read and I am now sad the journey is over.
I'm really looking forward to Gareth L. Powell's next book he really is a tremendous storyteller.
One final piece of advice go read The Recollection
What I love about this book is the questions that it poses. This book and indeed the whole trilogy have been about what it means to be human and the impact of choices made. Sometimes when reading novels that do this, it can feel like the reader is being lectured to, not with Macaque Attack.
What I would urge would be readers to do is go read this trilogy. Start with Ack Ack Macaque and then read Hive Mind before attempting this one they are a joy to read and I am now sad the journey is over.
I'm really looking forward to Gareth L. Powell's next book he really is a tremendous storyteller.
One final piece of advice go read The Recollection
July 6, 2015
I've enjoyed all three of the Ack Ack Macaque books.
At the helm of an airship capable of travelling to parallel versions of our world Ack Ack sets out to rescue all of the other monkeys experimented on. That's right - he's got an army. You can't help but love the gorilla who wears camouflage shorts and sunglasses called Cuddles.
As in the previous books it is also the French heroine Victoria Valois who is front and centre just as much as the monkey. She is a great character. Damaged, strong,passionate and determined.
Parallel worlds. Cyborgs attacking from Mars. Airships. Monkeys. Spaceships. What's not to like? Oh, and rum and swearing!
I cannot recommend all three books highly enough.
At the helm of an airship capable of travelling to parallel versions of our world Ack Ack sets out to rescue all of the other monkeys experimented on. That's right - he's got an army. You can't help but love the gorilla who wears camouflage shorts and sunglasses called Cuddles.
As in the previous books it is also the French heroine Victoria Valois who is front and centre just as much as the monkey. She is a great character. Damaged, strong,passionate and determined.
Parallel worlds. Cyborgs attacking from Mars. Airships. Monkeys. Spaceships. What's not to like? Oh, and rum and swearing!
I cannot recommend all three books highly enough.
December 23, 2019
I've compared the previous two instalments in this trilogy (Ack-Ack Macaque and Hive Monkey) to the TV show Doctor Who: they're fast-paced, campy romps with just the right balance of science fantasy absurdity and empathetic characters who convince you to soldier on with it. Continuing on with that metaphor, Macaque Attack is a fairly typical RTD-era series finale (or even the finale of your average two-parter)… it's where the showrunners have decided to just do everything, all at once, to the point that you can no longer follow what's meant to be happening and some overwrought emotional scenes can't really make up for the fact that the characters have long since been overwhelmed by “plot”.
Anyway, the good news is, . So I guess it doesn't really matter that I struggled to follow along. Sort of a disappointing way for it all to end really.
Anyway, the good news is, . So I guess it doesn't really matter that I struggled to follow along. Sort of a disappointing way for it all to end really.
August 28, 2022
This series started so strong, and then just completely lost me by the end. I understand the idea of jumping the shark, changing venue, shifting gears, whatever you've got to do to keep the story fresh, but this went too far.
If I had to count the sharks jumped (in a manner of speaking), you've got five or six plot points here that are just insane leaps. Add to that a hefty dose of Deus ex machina, and I'm just not here for it.
Don't get me wrong. The first two books are five stars. 100% would recommend (and have). Read them. If you like them, read this, too. I hope you like the close of the trilogy more than I did.
If I had to count the sharks jumped (in a manner of speaking), you've got five or six plot points here that are just insane leaps. Add to that a hefty dose of Deus ex machina, and I'm just not here for it.
Don't get me wrong. The first two books are five stars. 100% would recommend (and have). Read them. If you like them, read this, too. I hope you like the close of the trilogy more than I did.
September 6, 2025
Ack-Ack is back!!
Another rollercoaster of a read as the cigar chomping macaque and his motley crew of monkeys and apes find themselves out to save the world - again.
I wasn't sure Powell would be able to sustain the pure talent that makes this more than a pulp read. I was wrong, while the ludicrous dials up to 11 there is still time for reflection and empathy.
There's obviously hundreds of explosions, more alternate worlds and space! The wee chapters draw you in and keep you bowling along. It's sad to see it it ends but I'm sure that , somewhere in space or time, their adventures continue...
Another rollercoaster of a read as the cigar chomping macaque and his motley crew of monkeys and apes find themselves out to save the world - again.
I wasn't sure Powell would be able to sustain the pure talent that makes this more than a pulp read. I was wrong, while the ludicrous dials up to 11 there is still time for reflection and empathy.
There's obviously hundreds of explosions, more alternate worlds and space! The wee chapters draw you in and keep you bowling along. It's sad to see it it ends but I'm sure that , somewhere in space or time, their adventures continue...
January 15, 2019
A very worthy conclusion to Gareth L. Powell's Macaque Trilogy. It has all of the energy and verve of Ack Ack Macaque and Hive Monkey. Fast paced and comedic. However, the final third of the book is perhaps a little weaker. It introduces new information that shakes up the setting and characters in fundamental ways. While I loved the twists, they felt very abrupt and needed perhaps another 50 to 75 pages to really be given justice. Still, if you enjoyed the first two you'll love this one too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2022
3.5 ⭐ Books 2 and 3 didn't blow my mind as much as the first one (which was a solid 5⭐ for me) but they were still quite enjoyable.
It makes me sad that I haven't been able to successfully reccomend this series just because the premise is so bonkers (but I think that is part of why I love it).
If they ever make a movie (highly doubt it) Ack Ack must be voiced by Ron Pearlman, I would accept nothing else.
It makes me sad that I haven't been able to successfully reccomend this series just because the premise is so bonkers (but I think that is part of why I love it).
If they ever make a movie (highly doubt it) Ack Ack must be voiced by Ron Pearlman, I would accept nothing else.
June 11, 2017
This series has somewhat lost its way a little in my opinion. Had some great moments, but these were out weighed by a number of poorer areas. Hopefully it will stop there, but i doubt it as there are still areas of the story that have not been completed. If there is another book, i will wait for some reviews from people i trust before i proceed with the book.
June 10, 2020
Very enjoyable conclusion to a SF trilogy full of mad ideas and memorable characters. As the universe/multiverse of the series expands and expands, even the authors other books apparently get sucked in, but it just about works. Gonna miss that monkey!
January 17, 2025
The Law of Diminishing Returns flexes its muscles once again, but this is still a lot of fun, and to maintain any level of interest in such a wild three-book collection of concepts is incredibly impressive.
Be prepared for a lot of shark jumping at the end.
Be prepared for a lot of shark jumping at the end.
December 23, 2017
A brilliant conclusion to this brave, innovative and bonkers series. It drew me in from the very start and ended up in a place that I would never have guessed at! Like nothing I've ever read 💜💜💜
October 25, 2018
Lots of monkey!
November 2, 2018
Loved the entire Ack Ack series and book three was no different. Fun, fast, and a unique blend of steam-punk and sci-fi. That monkey is fantastic!
November 27, 2019
Really disappointed with this one - the story was disjointed and not half as fun as the original or sequel.
November 23, 2021
The epic conclusion of the trilogy
March 12, 2022
The mad ape rides again! Genius storytelling by Powell.
May 29, 2022
Excellent story I enjoyed the trilogy.
October 17, 2022
Well that didn't end how I thought it would!
The final chapter in the life and adventures of Ack-Ack Macaque. A fun, entertaining and surprising end to the tale.
The final chapter in the life and adventures of Ack-Ack Macaque. A fun, entertaining and surprising end to the tale.
March 7, 2025
Monkey's vs. multiversal killer robots, fascists, and sinister assassins! Other fiends and foes left and right! This final book kept the momentum going, added some new twists, and fulfilled some suspicions I had about where the characters may go, along with some other surprises. Our cigar chompin' badass Ack Ack kicked in the door and beat up the bad guys and there were also other sci fi ideas at play that kept the reader on their toes!
January 28, 2015
Originally published at SFFWorld.
Macaque Attack is the concluding volume in Gareth L Powell’s Macaque Trilogy. The first novel, Ack-Ack Macaque, was the joint recipient of the BSFA award for best novel in 2013, while its sequel, Hive Monkey, was released in 2014. I enjoyed the first two novels immensely, with Ack-Ack Macaque being a complete surprise when I read it early last year. Hive Monkey continued the adventures of Ack-Ack Macaque and the gang, introducing new elements that further expanded the setting. To say I was very eager to get to this final novel is an understatement!
From the publisher:
The Spitfire pilot monkey Ack-Ack Macaque faces a world on the brink in this adventure, the conclusion to his astonishing trilogy.
In the thrilling conclusion of the Macaque Trilogy, the dangerous but charismatic Ack-Ack Macaque finds himself leading a dimension-hopping army of angry monkeys, facing an invading horde of implacable killer androids, and confronting the one challenge for which he was never prepared: impending fatherhood!
Meanwhile, former journalist Victoria Valois fights to save the electronic ghost of her dead husband and reclaim his stolen soul from the sands of Mars.
It’s easy to think that, as book 3 of a series, Macaque Attack would be more of the same, especially when you’ve got a cigar-smoking, gun-toting, foul-mouthed monkey as the main protagonist. However, this is far from the case, and Powell manages to expand the world further while fitting elements from the previous novels easily into the narrative. The introduction inbook 2, Hive Monkey, of the multiverse particularly increases the opportunity for havoc and mayhem here, and Powell doesn’t let us down.
From the beginning Ack-Ack Macaque has been a unique character, from being raised to sentience with gel-ware implants and hooked into a World War 2 online game, to discovering his parallel universe alter-ego is the one behind the hive-mind cult of the universe-hopping Gestalt. From there Ack-Ack Macaque has been jumping from universe to universe, freeing other uplifted primates from slavery and setting up their own human-free settlement on an alternate Earth.
However, the supporting characters also deserve to share the success of these stories. Victoria Valois is reeling after the loss of her airship during the climax of Hive Monkey, and now has to deal with the steady loss of her husband, Paul, who has been living a doomed existence within the computers of the new flagship. K8, Ack-Ack’s closest friend and teenage computer whiz, is now part of the Gestalt, though the parallels they are on do not always have this cult, and the loneliness this causes her is present in her daily life.
Story-wise, Macaque Attack turns the action up to eleven, and then builds from there. Not only do our band of reluctant heroes have to face a threat from Mars in their original universe, but also the imminent invasion of forces from multiple other parallels. It’s really good stuff, the pages keep on turning, and the action barely letting up as it carries you along.
The second half of the novel takes an unexpected turn and introduces some very interesting information. This took me completely by surprise, and though it wasn’t at all how I thought things would go, it worked remarkably well. I won’t go into detail as I’d be venturing too deeply into spoiler territory. Suffice to say, it’s worth reading for this fact alone.
At the end of the day, and at the end of this trilogy, I can’t help but be impressed with all Powell has pulled off. He’s introduced so many tropes and genre staples that the result could easily have fallen into a terrible mess, but his skill as an author brings it all together masterfully. The main attraction here, however, is Ack-Ack Macaque himself, a character that I won’t forget, and one I’d read again in a flash.
Powell has delivered one of the most unique and exciting trilogies in recent years, and I applaud him for doing so.
Highly recommended.
Macaque Attack is the concluding volume in Gareth L Powell’s Macaque Trilogy. The first novel, Ack-Ack Macaque, was the joint recipient of the BSFA award for best novel in 2013, while its sequel, Hive Monkey, was released in 2014. I enjoyed the first two novels immensely, with Ack-Ack Macaque being a complete surprise when I read it early last year. Hive Monkey continued the adventures of Ack-Ack Macaque and the gang, introducing new elements that further expanded the setting. To say I was very eager to get to this final novel is an understatement!
From the publisher:
The Spitfire pilot monkey Ack-Ack Macaque faces a world on the brink in this adventure, the conclusion to his astonishing trilogy.
In the thrilling conclusion of the Macaque Trilogy, the dangerous but charismatic Ack-Ack Macaque finds himself leading a dimension-hopping army of angry monkeys, facing an invading horde of implacable killer androids, and confronting the one challenge for which he was never prepared: impending fatherhood!
Meanwhile, former journalist Victoria Valois fights to save the electronic ghost of her dead husband and reclaim his stolen soul from the sands of Mars.
It’s easy to think that, as book 3 of a series, Macaque Attack would be more of the same, especially when you’ve got a cigar-smoking, gun-toting, foul-mouthed monkey as the main protagonist. However, this is far from the case, and Powell manages to expand the world further while fitting elements from the previous novels easily into the narrative. The introduction inbook 2, Hive Monkey, of the multiverse particularly increases the opportunity for havoc and mayhem here, and Powell doesn’t let us down.
From the beginning Ack-Ack Macaque has been a unique character, from being raised to sentience with gel-ware implants and hooked into a World War 2 online game, to discovering his parallel universe alter-ego is the one behind the hive-mind cult of the universe-hopping Gestalt. From there Ack-Ack Macaque has been jumping from universe to universe, freeing other uplifted primates from slavery and setting up their own human-free settlement on an alternate Earth.
However, the supporting characters also deserve to share the success of these stories. Victoria Valois is reeling after the loss of her airship during the climax of Hive Monkey, and now has to deal with the steady loss of her husband, Paul, who has been living a doomed existence within the computers of the new flagship. K8, Ack-Ack’s closest friend and teenage computer whiz, is now part of the Gestalt, though the parallels they are on do not always have this cult, and the loneliness this causes her is present in her daily life.
Story-wise, Macaque Attack turns the action up to eleven, and then builds from there. Not only do our band of reluctant heroes have to face a threat from Mars in their original universe, but also the imminent invasion of forces from multiple other parallels. It’s really good stuff, the pages keep on turning, and the action barely letting up as it carries you along.
The second half of the novel takes an unexpected turn and introduces some very interesting information. This took me completely by surprise, and though it wasn’t at all how I thought things would go, it worked remarkably well. I won’t go into detail as I’d be venturing too deeply into spoiler territory. Suffice to say, it’s worth reading for this fact alone.
At the end of the day, and at the end of this trilogy, I can’t help but be impressed with all Powell has pulled off. He’s introduced so many tropes and genre staples that the result could easily have fallen into a terrible mess, but his skill as an author brings it all together masterfully. The main attraction here, however, is Ack-Ack Macaque himself, a character that I won’t forget, and one I’d read again in a flash.
Powell has delivered one of the most unique and exciting trilogies in recent years, and I applaud him for doing so.
Highly recommended.
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