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Fox Meridian #7
Eden Burning
Artificial life is a hot-button topic in the summer of 2061. BioTek Microtechnologies have revealed Eve, the first real bioroid, and the rights of AIs and other infomorphs are on everyone’s mind, at least partially because MarTech now has the capability to digitise the human brain. Fox Meridian, the first human ever to become an infomorph, hates politics, but she’s right in the middle of with only a small case of apocalypse to keep her from getting bored. Around the world, people are being infected by a meme which suggests that Halley’s Comet has appeared in the sky to mark the end of the world. There are mass suicides and shootings. Protestors are claiming that bioroids are here to save the world, or destroy humanity. Up in space, rumours abound of aliens who have followed the comet and are watching from invisible ghost ships. Behind it all, it seems like someone is spreading dangerous memetic packages. Someone, somewhere is manufacturing Armageddon.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2017
38 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Niall Teasdale
73 books292 followersI was born in the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall so perhaps a bit of history rubbed off. Ancient history obviously, and border history, right on the edge of the Empire. I always preferred the Dark Ages anyway; there’s so much more room for imagination when people aren’t writing down every last detail. So my idea of a good fantasy novel involved dirt and leather, not shining plate armour and Hollywood-medieval manners. The same applies to my sci-fi, really; I prefer gritty over shiny.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 29, 2018
I haven’t read one of these books for well over a year partly because I couldn’t really see where the series was going. I didn’t particularly like the way Fox has developed since becoming an infomorph and I found some aspects of the World illogical e.g. if Kit is sentient how can she run 9 copies, some of which are independent for long periods, yet still be a single entity. Why don’t the separate copies become sentient in their own right?
This book starts quite slowly with much of the early dialogue turning out to be fairly inconsequential. However, once Fox discovers who the enemy is, the action starts and the story really livens up. I quite enjoyed the second half of the book although I still have some doubts about the way AIs, Gynoids, Infomorphs etc are incorporated in the story.
Finally I’m not sure why the author has become infatuated with the word Meme but if I ever come cross the word again it will be too soon.
This book starts quite slowly with much of the early dialogue turning out to be fairly inconsequential. However, once Fox discovers who the enemy is, the action starts and the story really livens up. I quite enjoyed the second half of the book although I still have some doubts about the way AIs, Gynoids, Infomorphs etc are incorporated in the story.
Finally I’m not sure why the author has become infatuated with the word Meme but if I ever come cross the word again it will be too soon.
September 9, 2017
Yes for another
Again a very interesting plot and book about Fox and Kit. I have to say though that I found this book more ..tedious(?) to read. More slow assimilating as it was crammed . It started one way and went into something completely different. Not bad, but not what I was expecting either. The end was a bit hushed I thought. Nevertheless I will continue to read the books as they still do what I hope a book *should* do, which is to take the reader unto a journey.
The only huge criticism I have is the wrong gender in the French sentences. And frankly nobody I know says "Mon chèr" to its loving ones. Apart Morticia telling it to Gomez. It could be translated into uppercut British "my dear". And as maddeningly in love as Fox seemed to be, a better word would have been "Mon amour" which means "my love".
The gender thing is "Mon", which is the French male prefix (in this case). Thus Fox should say "Mon chèr" to Jason. As Fox is definitely female, Jason should have said "ma chère" or better "ma chèrie" which is the female counterpart. And "chèrie" is an endearment. I kept struggling with Jason saying "Mon chèr"/my dear, to Fox.
Ah well. I'll miss some of the characters. No you go on and grab the book. It's again worth to read.
Again a very interesting plot and book about Fox and Kit. I have to say though that I found this book more ..tedious(?) to read. More slow assimilating as it was crammed . It started one way and went into something completely different. Not bad, but not what I was expecting either. The end was a bit hushed I thought. Nevertheless I will continue to read the books as they still do what I hope a book *should* do, which is to take the reader unto a journey.
The only huge criticism I have is the wrong gender in the French sentences. And frankly nobody I know says "Mon chèr" to its loving ones. Apart Morticia telling it to Gomez. It could be translated into uppercut British "my dear". And as maddeningly in love as Fox seemed to be, a better word would have been "Mon amour" which means "my love".
The gender thing is "Mon", which is the French male prefix (in this case). Thus Fox should say "Mon chèr" to Jason. As Fox is definitely female, Jason should have said "ma chère" or better "ma chèrie" which is the female counterpart. And "chèrie" is an endearment. I kept struggling with Jason saying "Mon chèr"/my dear, to Fox.
Ah well. I'll miss some of the characters. No you go on and grab the book. It's again worth to read.
February 1, 2018
I usually like Teasdale's stuff, but this one was too slow for me. Even by his standards, there was very little action (really, basically none until the end).
With a lot of his work the characters make up for this, and while the infomorph subject matter in this case was interesting, too much of the story focused on Fox's investigation. Unfortunately, neither the procedural aspect nor the nature of the underlying crimes were interesting to me.
With a lot of his work the characters make up for this, and while the infomorph subject matter in this case was interesting, too much of the story focused on Fox's investigation. Unfortunately, neither the procedural aspect nor the nature of the underlying crimes were interesting to me.
April 17, 2023
In which Fox quits her job (Again)
Just remember. This is one excellent writer. And just noticed her blog is called rayguns and magic.
Yes, she managed to write good solid science fiction. And magic. Sometimes even in the same book!
I don't give out 5 stars to anything but nebula and Hugo award winners.
Enjoy.
Just remember. This is one excellent writer. And just noticed her blog is called rayguns and magic.
Yes, she managed to write good solid science fiction. And magic. Sometimes even in the same book!
I don't give out 5 stars to anything but nebula and Hugo award winners.
Enjoy.
November 11, 2017
Different twist
This was a rather different twist than Fox's normal story and not all in a good way for her. I like the way Fox is now, I think it is a rather intriguing twist and think for some people would definitely be a preferred choice.
This was a rather different twist than Fox's normal story and not all in a good way for her. I like the way Fox is now, I think it is a rather intriguing twist and think for some people would definitely be a preferred choice.
September 2, 2017
Best Fox book so far
October 2, 2017
Rocky road
In the latest outing for our dear Fox, she faces loss and nut jobs. As people twist the meaning of everything in strange and terrible ways.
In the latest outing for our dear Fox, she faces loss and nut jobs. As people twist the meaning of everything in strange and terrible ways.
November 20, 2017
Great as always!
Another great Fox Meridian book by Niall Teasdale, great plot, same characters we all love, interesting technology behind this great world.
Another great Fox Meridian book by Niall Teasdale, great plot, same characters we all love, interesting technology behind this great world.
January 8, 2018
A bit slow this one. Too much chat and description and not enough action.
March 2, 2019
The worst book in the series. Too many things just don't work for me.
December 11, 2017
Book seven and 3.5 stars.
Fox is now the first digitized human, just at a moment when infomorps, AI's and artificial lifeforms are The Hot-button Item on the mind of everyone. With the introduction of the first bioroid, her new digital self and a meme that instigates religious terror-attacks, Fox has a lot on her plate.
This was differently on the on the better end of this series. Fox struggles with her new existence, her ideas for the future. Slowly however she picks back up the reins and kicks some ass. I really liked this installment. Things are a bit different, and shake things up a bit, but overall this was af fun romp through the near future.
Fox is now the first digitized human, just at a moment when infomorps, AI's and artificial lifeforms are The Hot-button Item on the mind of everyone. With the introduction of the first bioroid, her new digital self and a meme that instigates religious terror-attacks, Fox has a lot on her plate.
This was differently on the on the better end of this series. Fox struggles with her new existence, her ideas for the future. Slowly however she picks back up the reins and kicks some ass. I really liked this installment. Things are a bit different, and shake things up a bit, but overall this was af fun romp through the near future.
November 22, 2017
Like Teasdale
Enjoying the series. Sad ending . I dont usually write a review because i hhte typing with my thumbs. Kindle made me this time.
Enjoying the series. Sad ending . I dont usually write a review because i hhte typing with my thumbs. Kindle made me this time.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews