Null States

Centenal Cycle #2

by Malka Ann Older

The future of democracy is about to implode.

After the last controversial global election, the global infomocracy that has ensured thirty years of world peace is fraying at the edges. As the new Supermajority government struggles to establish its legitimacy, agents of Information across the globe strive to keep the peace and maintain the flows of data that feed the new world order.

In the newly-incorporated DarFur, a governor dies in a fiery explosion. In Geneva, a superpower hatches plans to bring microdemocracy to its knees. In Central Asia, a sprawling war among archaic states threatens to explode into a global crisis. And across the world, a shadowy plot is growing, threatening to strangle Information with the reins of power.

"

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Cyberpunk, Speculative Fiction, Politics, Audiobook, Dystopia

432 pages, Hardcover

First published September 19, 2017

Reviews

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc!

When I read the first book in the series, Infomocracy, I loved it for the hardcore idea-based SF couched in a technothriller base, and Null States continues on in the same tradition.

Only, this next novel isn't all about a high-tech election based on micro-democracy with a mix of intrigue and corruption. Rather, it's about population areas outside of the Infomocracy and an assassination that grows ever more complicated as the novel progresses.

In a lot of ways, it's better than the first. I had some issues with the original in that we were steeped in political information and states and parties that meant very little to me until much later. This one was much more focused on specific and interesting locations. Plenty of mystery, plenty of interesting character development, and plenty of good futuristic technothriller.

The science isn't as interesting as the politics, however. There's plenty to say about possible modes of thinking and action and communication, all of which use hands-free instant communication technologies that veer deep into total computer tech, widely used across the board except for certain locations or differences of use. And that's where we get some of the most interesting sequences, in my opinion.

I love idea novels. :) This one should give us a lot of interesting avenues. Perhaps even some real dialogue on the intersections between emerging tech and how people will eventually get things done.

As for world-building, this is also top-notch. It's far enough away from us to have full freedom and near enough to us that we recognize everything. I can't complain at all. :)

I suppose my only complaint might be the fact that I sometimes got lost in locations and names, not being 100% conversant in all places or languages, but it wasn't bad at all. It just took some more effort.

Overall, though, I'm very happy to say this is continuing the story (and the original MC) in high form.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad I read this book, versus listened to it. I listened to book one, and struggled to understand what was happening for part of it. With this book, it didn't take me long to remember some of the parties/companies and individuals. This time, we spend lots of time with Roz as she investigates an assassination in a micro-democracy in Darfur that is slowly getting used to Information and its many feeds and ways of working. Mishima's back being amazing and undercover. Roz and Mishima end up uncovering a potentially huge problem, as they deal with elections and other events.
I find the micro-democracy idea and the difficulties of transitioning to one fascinating, as well as the ethical and privacy concerns surrounding Information's potentially intrusive monitoring and myriad feeds. This is definitely a second book, so you can't start the story here, and a number of points are waiting for their resolution in book three.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike the slow build of the first book, this one kicks off right away. Definitely going to read book three.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually finished this book about a week ago- so this review is long overdue.

Null States follows Roz primarily into Darfur. Darfur is a previously Null State (where there were no Information feeds and no microdemocracy existed). They need help getting some of their feeds set up and ensuring the microdemocratic process is running smoothly. On the first day, their head of state is killed and explosion as Roz and her team are looking on. Roz stays to investigate and assist with a second election for a new head of state.

Meanwhile- Heritage is still reeling from the after effects of their naughty behavior in the previous election. They threaten to secede from the system, at which point the centenals they did win would all become Null States. Mishima, who is doing freelance work, independent of Information, is pulled back in to spy on Heritage.

There is so much more going on in this plot! I don’t want to give everything away so I’ve focused on what I felt were the two primary points.

The feel of this book was much different from Infomocracy. I liked that Older did not stop to rehash the details of her world building (and for that reason I also recommend reading them as closely together as you can).

The action was fairly non-stop. Personally- this detracted a bit from the book for me, and that isn’t something I say often about action oriented books. I will say I think a lot of my feelings about the plot had to do with my mood and the chaos of my work life right now. My wonderful buddy read group absolutely loved this one, but for me it felt like too much to include in a single book. Sometimes the plot threads and the clues were difficult to keep track of.

The characters were excellent. Mishima is the “consummate badass” and her parts were definitely my favorite to follow. We don’t see much of Ken this time around- but I also enjoyed his parts towards the end. He’s presented as almost the exact opposite of Mishima. He doesn’t know any martial arts. He doesn’t carry weapons- but he’s still valuable. He can see things where others might not.

But Roz is the character we spend the most time with. I liked her from book one and was happy to see her in book two. All of these voices feel distinctly different. They all have their own unique personalities and quirks. Where Mishima is cool and confident- Roz often puts on a cool confident face but seems unsure of herself on the inside. I’m excited to see how they come together in State Tectonics.

For the setting- this is less of a world hopping adventure than the first one- but we were taken to places we didn’t get to see in the first book and I liked that we were given the opportunity to see what the world looked like without Information feeds everywhere.

I highly recommend this series for anyone looking for something that feels new and original.

[Michael Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

To-do full review:
+++ The idea of the Centenal series, of exploring the impact of a new political system through a sci-fi setting.
++/- The centenal political model, despite its flaws (so many!), allows for an investigation of a truly global system. The role played in the global political system by non-affiliated (null states) or recently affiliated states, such as China, Russia, and the Sub-Saharan states, leads to the current installment in the series: Null States.
--- Where did the story go?! The story includes two major parts, narrated at different granularity: the local story of the DarFur state with its few centenals about to be added to the mass of centenals managed by Information, which is micro-narrated with attention to personal relationships, and the story of the global interaction between Information and the null states, plus a shady information player, macro-narrated with little character interference. Unfortunately, both stories have important gaps, little tension, and timid endings. More importantly for this reviewer, there is none of the careful macro/micro interplay that characterizes the first book in the series (Infomocracy).
--- What happened to technology? The technology described in Infomocracy and in this book indicate a high level of sophistication, and Mishima is clear Information's technology has advanced considerably since the first book in the series. Yet Information does not even count how much data it collects, a feat commonplace even in today's routing infrastructure, does not deploy intrusion detectors, which is routine today in datacenters, and thus misses out on a global operator snooping massive amounts of private data. (In plain English: no way!) There is even the sci-fi bane, the mysterious device offering superpowers in the core technology of the story: the secret communication channels of Heritage, which remain unexplained but allow Heritage to exchange highly classified political information freely.
--- Why are we waiting for the barbarians? The world is also surprisingly hinged on a few hundred border-centenals, whereas the economic impetus of joining a super-democracy should have made the world impervious to null-state winds. The democratic world is depicted here as if waiting powerless for an external invasion, ready to collapse at any point. Better read John Coetzee's masterpiece Waiting for the Barbarians, or a history of Rome in the 4th-6th centuries.
--- Who watches the watchers? It is difficult to root anymore for the main organization in the series. In Infomocracy, Information acts clearly for the good, and its leaders are well intended and conscious of their responsibility. In this installment, Information has become corrupt, incompetent, and callous. The head of the watchers is openly in a relationship with the head of the Supermajority the Information system is supposed to watch; opening up the non-private information for the public does not contain the conflict of interest and perceived influence. The money paid by Information to its new centenals (isn't that a conflict of interest?!) are not watched over, and for long periods of time nobody checks who else is snooping on the information feeds meant to be private; this allows a shady organization to infiltrate. Information feeds everywhere can be stepped aside anytime one wishes to do so; operatives of the shady organization remain invisible, with some mishaps, in many situations and places around the world. Mishima, and by extension any operative of Information, can impersonate anyone and abuse power without impunity; Ken does the same. Minzhe and Mishima hack at will into private information streams. People like Roz can work for years without a vacation, and nobody cares or asks. Etc. Etc. Etc.
--- What happened to character building? The characters, some of which also appear in Infomocracy, reveal themselves here as having little depth or humanity. Roz is somewhat complex, but also occupies almost the entire book without a psychological epiphany or personal development. Ken disappears in the background. Mishima could easily be replaced by a fighting AI; she has the psychological complexity of a student's rule-based expert system. Minzhe is complex only because there is barely motive for anything he does. Nougaz, Suleyman, the mighty Vs, and Amran and Maria are all stick figures. Etc.
--- Roz seems to be engaging in text-book sexual harassment at work, from a position of considerable power. Is this acceptable, if the victim in the end accepts and even responds in kind?

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This is what we do - we deal with the dangerous, sociopathic, power hungry individuals the people elect."

Another winner from Malka Older! These might be near future political thrillers but it feels like she’s ripping the headlines while entertaining and challenging you.

...for the most part refugees are recognized as a good bargain - treat them well and they will vote for you more loyally than citizens who were born in your Centenal.

Mishima and Ken are back but Roz, another operative for Information, is the MC. The plot centers around the bumpy transition of the area that was once Sudan into Centenals.

I’d like to take a moment to thank Ms. Older for her diverse cast of women. Usually when you say diverse you just mean different skin color, but here the woman are good guys/bad guys, power hungry/clever/unconfident, young/old, straight/gay, and yes, of many colors. It’s dope.

Keep writing Malka Older because I’m going to keep reading.

Side note: I feel my audible version was missing chunks. ☹️

[Miquel Codony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Null States, de Malka Older
Valoración: 2,5/5

Si “Infomocracy” nos presentaba la idea de microdemocracia a través de un thriller que servía de excusa para construir un escenario en el que construir una especulación francamente interesante, “Null States” lleva las cosas un paso más allá y profundiza en las limitaciones y contradicciones de este sistema. El problema, para mi, es que como novela es un texto menos eficaz que su predecesora: a nivel puramente argumental, su capacidad para atrapar al lector es inconsistente. ¿Es una buena lectura? Sí. ¿Es una buena novela? No del todo.

El problema es Roz, un personaje que ya nos habían presentado en el libro anterior y protagonista de uno de los dos arcos principales (del más importante de ellos, en realidad). No es un personaje carismático, su trama tarda en despegar y el componente romántico parece más una concesión a alguna fórmula comercial que algo surgido de forma orgánica de las necesidades del texto. Eso, combinado con el peso de ese arco en buena parte del tramo inicial del libro ha reducido en buena medida mi entusiasmo inicial, aunque luego este haya remontado. Entiéndaseme: el escenario está bien construido y repleto de detalles sugerentes (¡esa pared con graffitis informativos!), y siembra semillas de desarrollos importantes más avanzada la historia, pero le cuesta cautivar.

Y sin embargo, de repente se amplia el foco, reaparecen Mishima (¡grande!) y Ken, y la narración empieza a saltar de un punto a otro imprimiendo ritmo y emoción: el invento se pone en marcha y todo funciona. Un poco a trompicones, sí, pero con dirección, sentido de la trama y habilidad para darle profundidad al escenario aumentando la variedad de contextos. La segunda mitad del libro la he disfrutado mucho más, en definitiva, y sigue siendo tan estimulante en sus propuestas como lo era “Infomocracy”.

También como “Infomocracy”, el texto idealiza ligeramente (solo tal vez) algunas de las propuestas y de los personajes, aunque la autora parece consciente de ello y lo contextualiza —No solo eso, sino que sospecho que va a ser esa la línea que siga la futura siguiente entrega). Aunque mi contacto inicial ha sido problemático, al final estoy contento de haberlo leído y me ha reclutado como lector del siguiente libro. Es una lectura dispar pero interesante, sobre todo si te interesa el tema.

[Book Riot Community]

You can breathe that sigh of relief you’ve been holding: this follow-up to Infomocracy is just as delightful and interesting as the original. Indeed, Null States retains the charms of its predecessor (a fascinating concept, a thrilling pace, a richly imagined political fantasy, etc.) without being just a dull extension of it. So we get to see what microdemocracy looks like in new places (e.g., a just-barely-post-dictator Darfur) and under new threats (e.g., wars with holdout nation-states or the threatened withdrawal of a major world government). And Older has gotten even better at balancing the specificities of particular people and places with the big-picture political science that shapes the books. Basically, if you loved Infomocracy, get ready to love Null States. And if you haven’t yet gotten around to Infomocracy, do yourself a favor and get on it before September.

-Derek Attig

from The Best Books We Read In May 2017: https://bookriot.com/2017/06/02/riot-...
____________________


Earlier this year, I urged Book Riot readers to follow Kaveh Akbar (and a few other poets) on Twitter, in part on the power of his chapbook, Portrait of the Alcoholic, which was published in January. I had high hopes for this one (especially since the first of this series, Infomocracy, was my favorite book of 2016). Those hopes were fulfilled when I first read and loved Null States back in May. Diving back into a world with a microdemocratic political system, unstable conflicts at the margins, and a total absence of cable news was especially disorienting in 2017, but that only made the book even more fascinating and enjoyable. And in the months since I first read it, as I’ve toyed with it in my mind, that estimation has only grown. Null States is clever fun and a useful tool for thinking through the present and imagining the future. As such, it’s a worthy follow-up to Infomocracy. And it has something its predecessor didn’t: an impounded camel.

–Derek Attig

from Buy, Borrow, Bypass: Second Book Edition: https://bookriot.com/2017/08/21/secon...

[Francesca Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

(This review duplicates the Dreamwidth entry I just posted.)

Null States is the second book in Malka Older’s Centenal cycle, following on Infomocracy and preceding State Tectonics. The trilogy takes place some 60 years in the future, when much of the world has embraced micro-democracy, a system of sovereign states of 100,000 people each (called centenals), with a multitude of amusingly named and affiliated political parties vying to lead them—USA!USA!, for example, a party described as

a tiny government popular mainly in Europe that claims to emulate the culture and values of the former superpower. (No one has ever been able to figure out whether they’re being ironic; even the citizens seem confused.)

Aiding and monitoring this system is a supranational organization, Information—think Google on steroids. Infomocracy centered on an election, and part of the delight of that story was enjoying Older’s sharp wit and keen observations around election theater and the contrast between an ideal of democracy and the reality. In that story you more or less accept Information as a given because the focus in on electoral dirty dealings.

In Null States, the merits and problems of Information are front and center. People struggle to circumvent, co-opt, or neutralize Information, both at the top of the micro-democratic power structure and at the bottom, in states new to the system in parts of the world with a history of turmoil and struggle. Our viewpoint characters are all affiliated with Information in one way or another and are varying degrees of supportive of it, a narrative choice that I heartily endorse (which will surprise no one who knows my Tales of the Polity), in part because I think it puts readers in a mildly uncomfortable position that’s thought-provoking in a beneficial way.

The story also highlights the fact that although much of the world has adopted micro-democracy, not all of it has. Among the holdouts are Switzerland, a rump-state China, and Russia (aggressing on its neighbors in a very recognizable way). These states are called “null states” not because they’re nothing but because there’s no Information there—although Switzerland and China, the two null states we visit in the course of the novel, do have equivalents to Information:

China has its own version of Information,见闻网. It is more top-down than Information while also oddly gossipy. Yes, there are topics that don't show up at all or deviate from the more broadly accepted definition (looking up micro-democracy, for example, triggers an impressive academic barrage of snark and shade).

I like this storytelling decision because it acknowledges the fact that no human system is total. There are always places beyond the long arm of whatever your power is, and those places-beyond are always interacting with the places-within, and so it is during this story, both in the highest echelons of power and in the newly formed state governed by the DarFur party in, you guessed it, the Darfur region.

The happenings in the DarFur centenal are a great critique of real-world humanitarian organizations. You get a strong inkling of how things are going to go from the initial encounter of Roz, an Information operative, with Suleyman, the deputy governor of the centenal. Suleyman speaks first.

”And what are you here to do?”

Roz looks at him in surprise. “We were asked to support your new government in relations with neighboring centenals.” Her words trail off … The sheikh’s expression hasn’t changed, but somehow she knows he’s not asking about the official job description …

“You are checking up on us? Policing us?” The question is hostile, but his tone is level, courteous even …

“We’re here to provide support,” Roz repeats. “You can request for us to leave if you don’t want us here.” …

“Of course we won’t ask you to leave. You are our guests. But we like to know what our guests are looking for here, so we can be sure that they are satisfied.”

“Very hospitable,” Roz says.

As you can see from that verbal sparring, the leaders in this new DarFur centenal are going to do their very best to preserve their autonomy. They’re capable and discerning—the only things they lack are resources and power—just like people in regions in our present world that rely on/are subject to humanitarian intervention.

Roz has a few missteps that seem a little unlikely for someone with her field experience (but maybe not! What would I know: I’ve never been an NGO field worker) that let readers see more clearly the kinds of cosmopolitan-centric mistakes aid workers can make (like wishing she could supply every child in the centenal with translator devices—she needs to be reminded that that’s not actually high on local people’s list of priorities) but in the main she’s an adroit, thoughtful, respectful representative of Information truly intent on both being of service and supporting her organization.

At the high end of the power spectrum, Older brings back her Information agent extraordinaire, Mishima, for sleuthing. It’s always fun to watch a nearly unstoppable force at work. Mishima is undercover several times and manages to accomplish some very tricky, very important negotiations—at a uniquely terrible cost for a secret agent. I won’t say more, but believe me; it’s highly satisfying.

“You didn't take any injuries directly to your torso, and you seem to have avoided any stress spikes throughout the encounter.”

For a brief moment, Mishima feels like the consummate badass she is.

Yes, Mishima, you so are.

The story wraps up pleasingly (including an understated romance that had me DYING when it reached the declaration stage) and introduces an ominous new direction for the concluding novel. With regard to Information’s panopticon role, a character from a centenal that puts strict limitations on it has the final word, here in conversation with Roz. Roz speaks first:

“Do people think Information threatens their autonomy? I mean, I can understand privacy as a concern, but autonomy? Governments can do whatever they want with their centenals.”

There’s a long pause, and when Maria answers, it’s with a patient tone … “Privacy is part of autonomy.

Muse upon it, friends!

[Rachel (Kalanadi) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The conclusion was such a fantastic rush - I can't wait for the third novel!

(Thank you to Tor.com for providing me with an e-arc)

[Kenan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second entry in Malka Older's Centenal Cycle continues right in the vein of the first, delivering a sharp-witted and richly-detailed take on an imminently possible, not-too-distant future, just as set out by her debut. We pick back off shortly after the election shenanigans of the preceding volume and venture into the territory of a recent adopter of the microdemocracy system; meanwhile, halfway around the world, tensions grow between the edges of microdemocracy and the eponymous "null states", those jurisdictions around the world which still hold on to other, older forms of government. This three way contrast between non-, fledgling, and established microdemocratic states is a centerpiece of the novel, and it propels the series' further exploration of information-gathering, decision-making, and so many other fiddly-bits of the political and personal and intersection thereof, all in the unique way that distinguishes Older's work and makes it one of speculative fiction's most grounded, concrete, and simultaneously exploratory-yet-educational reads.

Should any of that sound overly serious, I should reiterate that this novel is not only policy smart, but also witty all around, full of many a moment which elicit a good chuckle alongside others of laugh-out-loud mirth. Much of the humor derives from the contrast between the things that we take for granted in the present day and the ways future developments make them irrelevant: the way in which an always-connected, always-recorded, replayed-in-live-time world transforms the ask—indeed, even the mere notion—of checking one's blind spot; the extent to which democratized globalization renders the very precepts of patriotism quaint and parochial; the fun with acronyms that arises, among other things, from the reimagining of the nature of emergency response. And yet other moments are fueled by the things that remain the same, not least of which is the sure impossibility of ever subduing the monsters of videoconferencing. Regardless, the net effect makes for a read that balances quite nicely between the weight of its exploratory ideas and the room for levity they allow.

The fluidity of it all is truly top-notch: we get those major overarching themes, the humourous situational observations, and then on top of that a plethora of intertwined commentary on the related issues of life in the twenty-first century and beyond. One character notes the continued importance of human connection even in a data-first world: "You may not learn everything you need to know to fix the problem through interviews alone, but often people only listen to your other data because you listened to them first." Another notes how the power that our communication platforms, the very ones who so often style themselves as purely impartial carriers of content created elsewhere, have in shaping the literal worldview of their consumers: "Buying into the fantasy that Information is a neutral, transparent facilitator is so naïve." We touch on the discrepancy between the ease of collecting data and the difficulty of making sense of it: "Probably all of it available on Information, if only they knew where to look." And in a world where entire livelihoods are spent trying to do just that comes the critical discussion between Roz and Maria as they dig into the seesaw between privacy and transparency, or whether that's even a meaningful analogy in the first place. All of these form recurring subthemes across the series, and their applicability to the present day is clear. No less important, however, are the number of little touches on small changes in perspective that would have a big impact on society, such as widespread rejection of a certain common naming pattern, included as a salient detail in passing.

Amongst all this, which was either equally stellar or reasonably strong in the preceding volume as well, I'll call out with satisfaction that whereas I noted some frustration with the stylistic delivery of the conceptual footings in my review of the debut, the goodness I've described above comes across much more cleanly realized here in the second, consistently improved in prose and character and pacing. For character, that may have something to do with the fact Domaine, who I now see I had mentioned being unimpressed with in the first book, was conspicuously absent here. I honestly don't remember if there's a reason for that, like e could have died at the end of the first one and I wouldn't have remembered a thing about it, which really tells you everything you need to know about how I felt about em. In any case, by the back half of this second volume things start to hit a stride that approaches unputdownable: Roz and Mishima as the principal characters fully captured my attention, even more so with cast around them as likeable as Maria and Suleyman ❤

So the tl;dr here? An Excellent Read; and as you can see from the fact that there are no Information annotations refuting it, it must be objectively true. What's more, the direction it's set for its characters, for Roz's and Mishima's future and that of the world around them, makes me excited as can be for State Tectonics this fall.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am always wary about second books in series, especially trilogies. Too frequently they serve as place holders between the first book, which introduces the reader to the world and the conflict which will drive the series, and the final book, which brings all the series's threads together in a final confrontation of some sort. This doesn't always happen, but it happens frequently enough that I refer to such sequels as suffering from Secondbookitis.

Sadly Null States falls into this hole. As much as I enjoyed Infomocracy it did have some shortcomings. The sequel did little to fix them, even as it did a wonderful job of expanding the fascinating world Older created. And the world is, in my opinion, the strongest part of this series. Sadly there is also a story that takes place in this world which was lacking.

The problem with Null States is that it was too much Middle and not enough Ending. What I mean by this is the sort of story beats and plot developments that you would expect to occur in the middle of a story take up roughly 90% of the story. These story points would have been fine properly proportioned within the book, but they were not. I kept waiting for the proverbial "other shoe" to fall and had to wait until nearly the end for the End to happen. And the End itself was remarkably underwhelming with many important events happening or resolving off page. There was just too much character work and not enough story development.

I will continue with the series because the world and the issues it raises intrigues me, I just hope the final installment can get itself back on track.

[Brook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dang

Seriously love this series so far. Technopolitical thriller AF. Read this if you’re a weird sci-fi wonk or something. Recommended.

[Kavya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars. In Null States, Malka Older continues to explore the near future laid out in Infomocracy, where the world is experimenting with micro democracy as a form of government and Information is the omnipresent internet/search engine/bureaucracy that founded the system. In the first book we explored elections and democracy as a concept.

Here, the author continues to lay out the pros and cons of the seemingly Utopian setup, this time focusing on new centennials being brought into the fold out of homogeneous, even nationalistic former states, as well as the titular null states or countries that do not participate in micro democracy. There is once again mystery, political tension, world hopping and a wide variety of cultures. Plus, we're already familiar with the cast of characters, so this novel also takes the time to develop the world and set it up for exciting things to come. The writing is confident as ever, and makes for a smooth fast read.

This series is a near future techno-political thriller that discusses extremely relevant issues about privacy, democracy, political relations, culture and the internet, without imposing any one conclusion. It's smart, absorbing and stimulating. Greatly looking forward to the next installment.

[Wiebke (1book1review) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't into this as much as Infomocracy, which I actually thought was a standalone.
Part was I think that was much harder to follow on audio and might be better in another format.
Another part was that I couldn't get really invested into the main characters of this one.
What it does though is dive much more deeper into the politic side of the story and micro democracies and the role of information in the system.
So I guess if that is what interested you already most in the first you will get along much better with this than I did.

[Aliette]

Scarily prescient look at micro democracy, the challenges of social media and curated information. Fair warning though that it's a middle book and leaves threads hanging for book 3.

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Man, I don't know if there's been a book that tormented me the way that one did. There's an assassination in the first few chapters and you're like, OK, we're off! And then the rest of the book is about describing food and locales and love lives and hey a bombing! but we don't care after a couple pages and then another assassination! but actually we don't care about that one either, even though it was carried out by the head of a rival government literally in front of people and cameras but lets not talk about that anymore, ok? And then you find out one of the characters is pregnant almost as an afterthought and the story is wrapped up (maybe?) in the last chapter or two and then it's over. I guess it's effective as a middle book in that the story moved forward only in the sense that it's really just setting up book three* but really it was just poorly done. I stopped knowing who was talking to whom after awhile and just went with it.

The biggest complaint: there's a fake disorder in the book that was approached as if you already knew all about it and how there's a prejudice against people with it because they could be faking it for attention. It wasn't until I was well and truly pissed off about it and did a Google search that I found out there's a 25-page short story written by the author that explains what it is and how it affects people. What? It's not even listed in the Goodreads section for the book series, it's just something I happened to find. Christ this whole thing made me so mad.

And here I am writing more than I've written about a book in ages.

*If I have this same problem with book three I'm just giving up. I can't re-read series every time a new book comes out, it just doesn't work that way.

[Maria Haskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Older's first instalment in this series, Infomocracy, because of it's smart worldbuilding, and the fact that it takes place in a future that is neither dystopia or utopia - simply a flawed world with dangers and potential, just like our present day.

Null States has all of that, but it's even better than Infomocracy - it's still smart, it still moves at a thriller pace, and this time around, the characters came alive even more for me. There's international intrigue, a political murder mystery to solve, romance, even... An absolute page-turner. I also love how this book introduces the "edges" of the Information-world - the Null States, that exist outside of Information's data-sharing system.

Great characters, terrific action, all set in a thought-provoking future version of our own world. This one is a must-read for every reason imaginable.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Null States is the second book in the Centenal Cycle series written by Malka Ann Older. It is a near-future series in which most of the world is governed by microdemocracy – in which groups of 100,000 people, or centenals, vote for their government according to policy – not location.

Former Information Operative Mishima is caught up in two political intrigues: the assassination of a local leader in the former Darfur and the continued shenanigans of the Heritage Political Party, whose waning fortunes lead to more desperate actions. Furthermore, the titular null states: Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, who are outside the microdemocracy, are preparing to go to war, threatening nearby centenals.

Null States is written rather well. It is the quintessential middle-volume book, which has the two plotlines intertwine somewhat, but the ultimate revelations are decidedly unsatisfying, feeling mostly like the set-up for the next volume. However, there are great character moments and the narrative flowed well with less of a technical verbiage.

All in all, Null States is written rather well and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.

[Pearl · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 rounded up)

The hook for me with these books so far is probably the variety in the food, the locations most of the events take place and Mishima.

Malka Ann Older’s books in the “Centinal Cycle” take place in a futuristic yet recognizable world, she manages to cleverly show you how one event affects the entire political-sphere that her characters are in. Reading someones imagination of a plausible future that is also majorly inclusive of non-western countries is always fun for me to read.

This book switches up many things; the main character, for one, from Mishima to Roz. I think this is the main change that kind of threw me off initially when I started reading it. I had gotten quite fond of the eccentric spy with narrative disorder that once stabbed her significant other (just remembering that scene always makes me internally chuckle). I thought the story would continue focusing heavily on her so I was quite resistant to accepting Roz’s point-of-view. Fortunately, the assassination plot-line, the political machinations of the Darfur government (in relation to the other centinal governments) and eventually getting to know Roz, got me hooked. Also, as the book progressed, we got to see more of Mishima, a definite plus for me!

One other thing I appreciate from Malka Ann Older’s writing is how fully fleshed out her female characters are. After reading the book, I can name most of the ladies in the book and jot down their different personalities without any hesitation. I enjoyed the whole female-centric tone of the book.
The ending chapters of the book were such good fun that I wish the earlier parts were like that, less of Roz’s love life and more of the other stuff, that’s my only other gripe I guess.

The first book definitely topped this one but with the way this ended, it got me psyched for the next one!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up because the ideas about primacy vs free access to information are fascinating. It took me quite a while to get into the book but I'm glad I didn't give up.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series Review: https://youtu.be/NfM5PUVtpmw

Initially I was disappointed in this one because I had heard we would follow one of my favorite supporting characters from the first book but once we are with her she felt like a different person. This just really solidified for me that character work in this trilogy is just not my favorite, but that said I was invested in the interpersonal relationship we focused on, the mystery was engaging and exploring this world from the perspective of those newly joining micro-democracy was fascinating.

[Wealhtheow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sequel to Infomacracy. In this version of our future, a good portion of the world is now run by micro-democracies voted for by 100,000 people apiece. Some of these governments have only one centenal in the world; other governments are made up of centenals that span continents. Stitching all of these democracies together is Information, a non-partisan organization that functions like a combination of a the internet and a UN.

Information officer Roz is deployed to a centenal in DarFur that just joined the micro-democracy system. Just after her arrival, the governor is assassinated and what seemed to have been a straightforward, safe assignment becomes an investigation complicated by cultural differences, secret loyalties, and distrust. Meanwhile one of Roz's colleagues, Mishima (MY QUEEN) is sent to a quick succession of centenals, each facing their own problems. Mishima is a fascinating mix of spy and narrative analyst. I love whenever she turns up in this series, because it's a real pleasure to watch someone so exceedingly clever and competent maneuver her way through dangerous situations. That said, I think the subtler, less-action oriented aspects of Roz's experiences in a newly-connected backwater are the best parts of this novel. One of the things that I appreciate the most about this series is how seriously and thoughtfully it examines (without ever turning into infodumps, monologues, or preaching) the strengths and weaknesses of various forms of governance and surveillance.

[Jamesboggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Null States really disappointed me. I loved its predecessor, Infomocracy. In fact, I first joined Goodreads to review Infomocracy. Unfortunately, I do not think the sequel lives up to the first book.

Null States is an example of two of my most hated trends in genre fiction: every concept is now stretched into at least a trilogy, and the lengths of books are inflated.

This book drags badly. It is inflated to over 4oo pages by a slow A plot and a bad romance story. Malka Older includes several other plots that never fully mesh. None of the various plots have clear stakes either, so I could not emotionally invest in any of them. Her characters strain credulity when they make any more impact than a cardboard cutout. Older should have focused on a smaller number of plots, fully fleshed them out, and made the stakes clear.

The worst part is the way Older undermines the concept of micro-democracy. The central focus of the trilogy is this system of government, and she suddenly says it has to change to something closer to our current global system. It really makes the whole proceeding seem pointless.

Due to all of these flaws, a concept that fully engaged me in the first book fails utterly in this one.

[Dr. T Loves Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as I enjoyed Infomacracy, but it was not a bad book. It started a lot slower than the first installment, but it picked up as it went along. Mostly, it seems to be a bridge and some filler to get from the ideas of the first book to the ideas of the next book, which isn't out yet, but which I'm curious to check out.

Older can write, and her real-life experiences in countries around the world seem to be on display in this book in some interesting ways. I'm very curious to see where she takes the next installment of this series. She does an excellent job of dancing between dystopic and utopic visions of the future, and recognizing that one person's "improvements" might be another person's nightmare.

[Ross Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

will try to write a longer review later but i can’t believe malka older can make me so invested in heterosexuals... love this series

[Francesco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romanzo davvero molto interessante, anche più di Infomocracy: per il semplice motivo che stavolta non c'è bisogno di spiegare cosa sia Information, cosa siano i centenals e così via ma si può subito entrare nel vivo dell'azione.
E in effetti dopo pochissime pagine abbiamo già l'omicidio del governatore di un centenal da poco costituito, una guerra tra Null States (cioé Stati al di fuori del terrtorio di Information) che minaccia di coinvolgere anche la Cina e i centenals indirettamente controllati dai cinesi, e - tanto per non farsi mancare proprio nulla - la minaccia di una secessione da parte del partito sconfitto nelle ultime elezioni.

Se il precedente romanzo era focalizzato nel mostrare i benefici e i vantaggi dell'adesione a Information, Null States ci mostra tutta una serie di "svantaggi" o meglio di "problematiche" che l'utilizzo massiccio e pervasivo di Information può comportare.
In primis il rischio di perdere una propria identità socio-culturale (del resto i protagonisti sono persone "di etnia africana"* che si trovano del tutto a loro agio a vivere a Shanghai e a spostarsi per lavoro in Europa - negli USA no, evidentemente anche se non viene detto esplicitamente se ne stanno fuori da Information), in favore di una democrazia nominalmente più efficace ma non necessariamente tale visto che non riesce a declinarsi del tutto a livello locale.

Avendo letto Infomocracy tre anni fa ricordavo solo alcuni aspetti, e probabilmente non ho colto parecchi rimandi alla sottotrama di Domaine, l'anarchico anti-Information.
Conto quindi di non commettere lo stesso errore e di leggere quanto prima State Tectonics, anche in considerazione del fatto che il finale di questo romanzo è sostanzialmente un sequel hook per nulla dissimulato.



* non voglio essere accusato di razzismo, ma se dicono di essere nati tutti intorno al Darfur quello sono

[Zedsdead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ye gods I love this complex, riveting series. Not thrilled about the cliffhanger-ish nature of a couple of the plot threads though. Older can't write book three fast enough.

Plot points:
--Roz and her SVAT team visit a new centenal in the former Sudan and witness the assassination of its young, popular leader.
--Mishima goes undercover inside the government of the disgraced former supermajority Heritage.
--Heritage threatens to secede from microdemocracy.
--Roz uncovers a plot to systematically hijack intel from Information and assassinate young populist new microdemocracy leaders.
--Minzhe is arrested and beaten for suspicion of espionage.
--Mishima loses her anonymity in negotiating the end of the K-stan war with China.
--After failing to assassinate the head of Information, the Heritage president flees to exile in the no-extradition single-centenal government Guantanamo.
--Roz begins an impossible romance with a Darcy-esque African sheikh.
--Mishima dramatically survives an assassination attempt.

[Bridget Mckinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a long time to read Malka Older’s Infomocracy. I couldn’t get into it right away when it came out last summer, and then the 2016 election happened and it was, perhaps understandably, just far too painful, upsetting and infuriating for me to even think about reading a book centered around election shenanigans for a good while. After a couple of false starts earlier this year, I picked up the paperback of Infomocracy and couldn’t put it down. Luckily, I had an ARC of Null States waiting for me when I finished it. The downside, of course, is that I have to wait another full year for the next installment of the series. The Centenal Cycle so far is a brilliantly clever, deeply entertaining, and extremely timely series full of great characters and smart insights into the back-end business of politics and governance.

Read the full review at SF Bluestocking.

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Audiobook***

I liked this one more than the first book in the series (Infomocracy) and I'm not sure if that's simply because I didn't need to figure out the world building (which took a long time in the first book) or if it's genuinely a better plot. I think it's the latter.

Null States focuses on the interaction between microdemocracy and the nations that have stayed out of that system. Most of the plot takes place in Darfur which has very recently joined microdemocracy and is definitely suffering some adjustment pains.

There's a scene in the book where a team from Information (sort of the central hub of microdemocracy) that has been working with the Darfur government on several important issues is instructed to leave immediately to go handle a separate issue in China. The pain of leaving a job unfinished and knowing that people will suffer for it hit me particularly hard (thanks personal life).

Overall, really interesting sci fi on a strange but somewhat believable government with near-future technology.