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The Savage Aether
Welcome to your Technofeudalist future...
As the sun rises it burns over the seawalls that holds the ocean from the remains of the city. Society runs on the Uplink, a global pseudotelepathic social network that interfaces directly with the brain, connecting people with a constant barrage of information. Those whose brains don't fit the mould of the Uplink's servers are left searching for scraps in the remains of the city, often fit with body modifications and doing demeaning work. They call them Augs.
Colin and his sister Cass are facing two sides of the same problem. It's suspected that a group of Augs are trying to hack the Uplink's systems, to gain access to the network that makes a normal life possible. Col is working in the datacentre, where parts have started going missing. His sister, a freelance journalist hunting rumours, has found a secretive Aug group that she suspects is responsible for the thefts.
But when the latest upgrade to the Uplink goes live, Colin passes out in sudden pain. When he comes to, he can't get access to the network, or to Cass. Alone but for another lost soul named Ariana, he begins to hunt for his sister. Along the way he learns more about the Augs, and discovers the savagery at the core of the system.
As the sun rises it burns over the seawalls that holds the ocean from the remains of the city. Society runs on the Uplink, a global pseudotelepathic social network that interfaces directly with the brain, connecting people with a constant barrage of information. Those whose brains don't fit the mould of the Uplink's servers are left searching for scraps in the remains of the city, often fit with body modifications and doing demeaning work. They call them Augs.
Colin and his sister Cass are facing two sides of the same problem. It's suspected that a group of Augs are trying to hack the Uplink's systems, to gain access to the network that makes a normal life possible. Col is working in the datacentre, where parts have started going missing. His sister, a freelance journalist hunting rumours, has found a secretive Aug group that she suspects is responsible for the thefts.
But when the latest upgrade to the Uplink goes live, Colin passes out in sudden pain. When he comes to, he can't get access to the network, or to Cass. Alone but for another lost soul named Ariana, he begins to hunt for his sister. Along the way he learns more about the Augs, and discovers the savagery at the core of the system.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 4, 2026
Full disclosure: I gave Henry a copy of one of my books in exchange for some of Henry's at a writers festival.
This is a fantastic but imperfect book that goes into some wonderful themes in a rich and thoughtful way, but doesn't quite nail the landing. I especially liked the book's exploration of homelessness - how society views homelessness and how easy it can be to slip into homelessness in modern society - and social fragmentation - the process by which we have lost a tangible connection with our neighbours and community (a connection that gives us bargaining power) but 'gained' the ability to form virtual communities (a connection that gives us almost none), and how the algorithm feeds us content we want to see so it can fragment us from the wider Internet community. These themes are given plenty of space to breathe in the middle of the book.
Overall, I think this is a book of uneven halves. The book gives us two protagonists: one doesn't do very much while the other bears most of the narrative's weight. Two stories are told at the same time, too, but one seems quite rooted in believable science-fiction while the other is more abstract, and the two don't mesh particularly well. The book also ends with a strong focus on the abstract storyline without doing much to conclude the other. These storylines are both enjoyable and interesting and efforts are made to unite them but they don't quite gel as strongly together as I would like.
This is a very detailed book and lavish descriptions are given to the various grungy settings the book takes us through. Sometimes this is to the book's detriment, because locations that we visit multiple times are given just as much detail as unimportant places, meaning it sometimes takes a little while to get to the meat of a scene. Sometimes, less is more. However, all of the descriptions are a pleasure to read if you enjoy that kind of thing and the whole book is a treasure trove of brand new words for even experienced readers. Big shout-out to 'swarf'.
Speaking of slow, I do love a slow read but this one might not be to everyone's pace. This is a small story in a big world which I think normally works really well: the stakes of the story can be really clear and relatable, and the rest of the book can be used to learn about the world. This one in particular has a lot of (upsettingly) believable world-building. However, some moments where characters lose all sense of urgency with seemingly little reason, combined with the detail-heavy prose I mentioned above, cause the book to drag in some places. The narrative takes a backseat for us to get more world-building when it should be the other way around.
Finally, there are a very, very small number of typos in the book, but most of them are right at the beginning so you soon forget about them.
In the end, this is a great read that does my favourite sci-fi thing ever, where it uses a
glimpse into the future to examine the concerns of today. There is some really solid character development from one of the main characters that makes a lot of narrative sense and helps us see the world from another angle, and the themes I mentioned above - as well as unchecked capitalism and the dangers of augmented reality within that system - are richly-explored and come from a place of great instinct and knowledge/research. The strange priorities of the characters and narrator hamstring the story a little but there is a lot to gain from reading this book even if it has its flaws.
This is a fantastic but imperfect book that goes into some wonderful themes in a rich and thoughtful way, but doesn't quite nail the landing. I especially liked the book's exploration of homelessness - how society views homelessness and how easy it can be to slip into homelessness in modern society - and social fragmentation - the process by which we have lost a tangible connection with our neighbours and community (a connection that gives us bargaining power) but 'gained' the ability to form virtual communities (a connection that gives us almost none), and how the algorithm feeds us content we want to see so it can fragment us from the wider Internet community. These themes are given plenty of space to breathe in the middle of the book.
Overall, I think this is a book of uneven halves. The book gives us two protagonists: one doesn't do very much while the other bears most of the narrative's weight. Two stories are told at the same time, too, but one seems quite rooted in believable science-fiction while the other is more abstract, and the two don't mesh particularly well. The book also ends with a strong focus on the abstract storyline without doing much to conclude the other. These storylines are both enjoyable and interesting and efforts are made to unite them but they don't quite gel as strongly together as I would like.
This is a very detailed book and lavish descriptions are given to the various grungy settings the book takes us through. Sometimes this is to the book's detriment, because locations that we visit multiple times are given just as much detail as unimportant places, meaning it sometimes takes a little while to get to the meat of a scene. Sometimes, less is more. However, all of the descriptions are a pleasure to read if you enjoy that kind of thing and the whole book is a treasure trove of brand new words for even experienced readers. Big shout-out to 'swarf'.
Speaking of slow, I do love a slow read but this one might not be to everyone's pace. This is a small story in a big world which I think normally works really well: the stakes of the story can be really clear and relatable, and the rest of the book can be used to learn about the world. This one in particular has a lot of (upsettingly) believable world-building. However, some moments where characters lose all sense of urgency with seemingly little reason, combined with the detail-heavy prose I mentioned above, cause the book to drag in some places. The narrative takes a backseat for us to get more world-building when it should be the other way around.
Finally, there are a very, very small number of typos in the book, but most of them are right at the beginning so you soon forget about them.
In the end, this is a great read that does my favourite sci-fi thing ever, where it uses a
glimpse into the future to examine the concerns of today. There is some really solid character development from one of the main characters that makes a lot of narrative sense and helps us see the world from another angle, and the themes I mentioned above - as well as unchecked capitalism and the dangers of augmented reality within that system - are richly-explored and come from a place of great instinct and knowledge/research. The strange priorities of the characters and narrator hamstring the story a little but there is a lot to gain from reading this book even if it has its flaws.
May 19, 2026
3.5
This is a truly unique story told about a topic that is becoming our reality. I really enjoyed the social commentary on the differences between Linkers, Aug, and Outcasts. As well as how humanity gets depended on technology so much that we are simply unable to function without it -- whether that is not being able to show proof of your identity to get access to your own home or even being able to recognize people.
I wish we could see a bit more of Sal (I'm aware she was just a side character) as I believed her 'addiction' to technology and her inability to stay in the reality was something I really wanted to explore a bit more. As in our daily life we see more and more people forming 'relationships' with AI and losing their ability to continue within the real world. I am fully aware the story didn't revolve around her but I believe there was so much to be explored there and wished we could see it more.
The pacing and the characters' mindsets were explained so well. I was hooked to the story from the start and the writing kept the tension up. The ending was perfect!
I would have to add the beginning said that this was a horror story - I would have to disagree. It read more like a sci-fi thriller to me. So if you are sci-fi fan but get scared of the horror label please don't and pick up this book!
This is a truly unique story told about a topic that is becoming our reality. I really enjoyed the social commentary on the differences between Linkers, Aug, and Outcasts. As well as how humanity gets depended on technology so much that we are simply unable to function without it -- whether that is not being able to show proof of your identity to get access to your own home or even being able to recognize people.
I wish we could see a bit more of Sal (I'm aware she was just a side character) as I believed her 'addiction' to technology and her inability to stay in the reality was something I really wanted to explore a bit more. As in our daily life we see more and more people forming 'relationships' with AI and losing their ability to continue within the real world. I am fully aware the story didn't revolve around her but I believe there was so much to be explored there and wished we could see it more.
The pacing and the characters' mindsets were explained so well. I was hooked to the story from the start and the writing kept the tension up. The ending was perfect!
I would have to add the beginning said that this was a horror story - I would have to disagree. It read more like a sci-fi thriller to me. So if you are sci-fi fan but get scared of the horror label please don't and pick up this book!
July 30, 2026
The Savage Aether by Henry Neilsen is a distinctive and imaginative narrative told about a topic that is becoming increasingly relevant in our own world. I especially enjoyed the social commentary surrounding the divide between Linkers, Augs, and Outcasts, and how deeply humanity's reliance on technology has become ingrained in everyday life. From needing technology to prove your identity to struggling to recognize the people around you without it, the novel raises some thought-provoking questions about the future we're heading toward.
One aspect I would have loved to see explored further was Sal's character. Although I understand she was a supporting character, her dependence on technology and inability to fully engage with reality felt especially compelling. As AI becomes more integrated into our daily lives and more people form emotional attachments to it, I found her storyline particularly relevant and wished it had received a little more attention.
The pacing was strong, the characters' perspectives felt authentic, and the writing kept the tension high from beginning to end. While I was invested from the opening chapters, the first half did feel quite slow, though the ending delivered a satisfying and fitting conclusion.
Thank you Henry Neilsen, Hunting Sunrise Publishing, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
One aspect I would have loved to see explored further was Sal's character. Although I understand she was a supporting character, her dependence on technology and inability to fully engage with reality felt especially compelling. As AI becomes more integrated into our daily lives and more people form emotional attachments to it, I found her storyline particularly relevant and wished it had received a little more attention.
The pacing was strong, the characters' perspectives felt authentic, and the writing kept the tension high from beginning to end. While I was invested from the opening chapters, the first half did feel quite slow, though the ending delivered a satisfying and fitting conclusion.
Thank you Henry Neilsen, Hunting Sunrise Publishing, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2026
* ARC review * The dystopian world Nielsen has created feels far more plausible today than it would have when I was younger. I've read that Elon Musk views the human race as a "biological boot loader for digital superintelligence". His ideas surrounding Neuralink have always given me the chills, and reading the "what-ifs" in this book served as confirmation that I never want that kind of technology in our future.
On the bright side, the book offers a fresh perspective by focusing solely on a brother trying to save his sister, free of the usual tacked-on love interests. In the end, though, the situation is so hopeless and stacked against humanity that I didn't see any way they could control the outcome; I almost found myself rooting for a nuclear bomb just to put an end to it.
Ultimately, I gave this 3 stars. Mostly for the original plot and concept. The first half dragged, making the pacing feel quite slow. Additionally, the writing felt a bit forced in places—it didn't flow as smoothly as I expected, and I could constantly feel the author's voice overpowering the narrative. Finally, I have to ask: was the Colin/COLin capitalization for the main male character just my imagination, or was that an intentional clue?
#TheSavageAether #NetGalley #ARC #dystopian
On the bright side, the book offers a fresh perspective by focusing solely on a brother trying to save his sister, free of the usual tacked-on love interests. In the end, though, the situation is so hopeless and stacked against humanity that I didn't see any way they could control the outcome; I almost found myself rooting for a nuclear bomb just to put an end to it.
Ultimately, I gave this 3 stars. Mostly for the original plot and concept. The first half dragged, making the pacing feel quite slow. Additionally, the writing felt a bit forced in places—it didn't flow as smoothly as I expected, and I could constantly feel the author's voice overpowering the narrative. Finally, I have to ask: was the Colin/COLin capitalization for the main male character just my imagination, or was that an intentional clue?
#TheSavageAether #NetGalley #ARC #dystopian
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews