What do you think?
Rate this book
Mercury's Son
Valko can see the last moments of a victim’s life.
It comes at a price - a scrap of flesh cut from his brain and replaced with an implant. Bound to a drug that lets him use his insight but brings with it the pain of synthetic emotion, he’s at war with himself.
Now a killer has found a way to hide from him and two people are dead. Someone wants to keep their secrets buried. The trail leads out into the wasteland where death flies on the wind as nanotech dust.
Manipulated and betrayed, Valko must get to the truth before his time runs out.
If he only knew who to trust maybe he'd have a chance, but a man with an artificial soul can’t even trust himself…
It comes at a price - a scrap of flesh cut from his brain and replaced with an implant. Bound to a drug that lets him use his insight but brings with it the pain of synthetic emotion, he’s at war with himself.
Now a killer has found a way to hide from him and two people are dead. Someone wants to keep their secrets buried. The trail leads out into the wasteland where death flies on the wind as nanotech dust.
Manipulated and betrayed, Valko must get to the truth before his time runs out.
If he only knew who to trust maybe he'd have a chance, but a man with an artificial soul can’t even trust himself…
- GenresCyberpunkScience Fiction
399 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 24, 2017
20 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
August 29, 2017
Very good tale of murder, espionage and double dealing. If you like Blade Runner you will love this book! Buy it, you won't regret it.
June 21, 2017
MERCURY'S SON is an interesting post-apocalypse science fiction story which strikes me as a bit like a combination of BLADE RUNNER and MEMENTO. The protagonists are people who can't necessarily trust their own memories and beliefs because it's a society where indoctrination as well as cybernetics means just about everyone has had their head screwed with.
The premise is Earth has been devastated in a nuclear/nanotechnology war which means that humanity is forced to survive in arcologies while the planet is slowly reclaimed. Unfortunately, the planet is now under the control of a insane Gaia-worshiping fundamentalist religion that hates science but uses it in very controlled amounts. Thousands of humans are sent to their death every year to try clean the Earth by hand, believing this is an appropriate atonement for humanity's sins.
The Temple of the Wounded Mother is just one of the elements of the complicated environmentally devastated hellhole which Luke E.T. Hindmarsh has created. It's very much a cyberpunk novel with humanity packed together in tightly cramped confines where human life is cheap both because and despite the fact mankind is run by a ruthless theocracy. Even if the government is, officially, secular. That's not even getting to the fact there's a drug which allows people to have their minds read as a major part of the story.
For the most part, Mercury's Son is "just" a murder mystery. A state-employed scientist was murdered along with someone else in a hotel room and our primary protagonist, Valko, is assigned to investigate. From there things get increasingly over-the-top with investigation in who destroyed the world, berserker states for cyborgs, false memories, and deciding who is actually a believer or not among the various protagonists.
This is a book with a lot of twists and turns and, to be fair in my review, not all of them are really necessary. I think this is a book which would have benefited from sticking with one protagonist throughout the work. It was easy to get lost at times with the betrayals, lies, and sudden shifts in what was true as well as what was false. Clones, mind-control, brainwashing, and more only add to it.
Despite this, I had to say I actually really liked the world and the obvious effort which went into creating its society. The Temple of the Wounded Mother is an entirely believable religion which is neither a caricature or something which has its crimes glossed over. The opponents to the religion in the Remnant and Whitecoats aren't exactly saints either.
I also liked how the author wasn't afraid to have the protagonists have some repellent beliefs, religious or otherwise, that confused how they would react to various events. The discovery of someone researching FTL travel, for example, is treated as equivalent to being a child sex-trafficker for how the Wounded Mother religion reviews the idea of humanity spreading.
The character of Fisher is a fascinating villain and one which holds a lot of the narrative together. There's also a lot of good moments spread throughout the book like how the detectives determine someone might escape from a machine which regularly "recycles" human bodies if a person were to be put into it alive (as the local thugs are wont to do), the various flashbacks to how the world "may" have been destroyed, scientists investigating God and coming up with different answers, and a poor martyr who shows the good side of the Wounded Mother religion only to get punished for trying to do the right thing.
In conclusion, I was torn between giving this book 4 or 5 stars. The narrative was a bit confusing and I occasionally got lost but I think it's overall, a very good book. So, because I want to see more in the series, 5 stars.
The premise is Earth has been devastated in a nuclear/nanotechnology war which means that humanity is forced to survive in arcologies while the planet is slowly reclaimed. Unfortunately, the planet is now under the control of a insane Gaia-worshiping fundamentalist religion that hates science but uses it in very controlled amounts. Thousands of humans are sent to their death every year to try clean the Earth by hand, believing this is an appropriate atonement for humanity's sins.
The Temple of the Wounded Mother is just one of the elements of the complicated environmentally devastated hellhole which Luke E.T. Hindmarsh has created. It's very much a cyberpunk novel with humanity packed together in tightly cramped confines where human life is cheap both because and despite the fact mankind is run by a ruthless theocracy. Even if the government is, officially, secular. That's not even getting to the fact there's a drug which allows people to have their minds read as a major part of the story.
For the most part, Mercury's Son is "just" a murder mystery. A state-employed scientist was murdered along with someone else in a hotel room and our primary protagonist, Valko, is assigned to investigate. From there things get increasingly over-the-top with investigation in who destroyed the world, berserker states for cyborgs, false memories, and deciding who is actually a believer or not among the various protagonists.
This is a book with a lot of twists and turns and, to be fair in my review, not all of them are really necessary. I think this is a book which would have benefited from sticking with one protagonist throughout the work. It was easy to get lost at times with the betrayals, lies, and sudden shifts in what was true as well as what was false. Clones, mind-control, brainwashing, and more only add to it.
Despite this, I had to say I actually really liked the world and the obvious effort which went into creating its society. The Temple of the Wounded Mother is an entirely believable religion which is neither a caricature or something which has its crimes glossed over. The opponents to the religion in the Remnant and Whitecoats aren't exactly saints either.
I also liked how the author wasn't afraid to have the protagonists have some repellent beliefs, religious or otherwise, that confused how they would react to various events. The discovery of someone researching FTL travel, for example, is treated as equivalent to being a child sex-trafficker for how the Wounded Mother religion reviews the idea of humanity spreading.
The character of Fisher is a fascinating villain and one which holds a lot of the narrative together. There's also a lot of good moments spread throughout the book like how the detectives determine someone might escape from a machine which regularly "recycles" human bodies if a person were to be put into it alive (as the local thugs are wont to do), the various flashbacks to how the world "may" have been destroyed, scientists investigating God and coming up with different answers, and a poor martyr who shows the good side of the Wounded Mother religion only to get punished for trying to do the right thing.
In conclusion, I was torn between giving this book 4 or 5 stars. The narrative was a bit confusing and I occasionally got lost but I think it's overall, a very good book. So, because I want to see more in the series, 5 stars.
July 3, 2017
Dystopic Directives, Deceit and Double-Crosses.
“You human, you are the problem. A miserable, short life is your just reward for your species treatment of this planet.”
The world has died, murdered by humanity and the Temple never lets those who still live on the Mother, crushed physically and psychologically into the crowded Plena to forget that and forget the guilt debt they owe to Her. Valko Gangleri is a Moderator, a sort of policeman but more along the lines of Judge Dredd, harsh, callous and uncaring - unless he is under the influence of the NOTT drug that unlocks his empathy. When a sequence of murders and the subsequent investigations lead Valko to some disturbing discoveries about himself, the phrase ‘all is not what it seems’ springs to mind in huge neon letters.
This is a dystopian sci-fi set in a post-apocalyptic world - but one in which there seem to have been numerous causes of the final apocalyptic event. It has all the classic hallmarks of the genre - enclosed humanity, uninhabitable world, oppression by a faceless elite that dominate all aspects of life. It also has something unique which only clicks in half-way through the book and from then on expands into strange and unpredictable pathways. Imagine Terry Gilliam’s ‘Brazil’ meeting ‘Logan’s Run’ and you have a good idea of what to expect.
‘The wind had become Death’s steed: on it rode humanity’s suicide machines, now registering at one part per billion.’
The strength of this book is in its worldbuilding. You get the impression that the author walked the streets and breathed the polluted air himself, making notes and mapping as he went. It is that good. However, sometimes it is also a bit overwhelming and it slows the opening of the book to a very turgid pace. There are frequent digressions to explain how something came about, which are usually handled well, but occasionally the reader is left with a sense of being lectured by an unseen authorial voice.
The characters are very well drawn and engaging, especially Valko and the transformation of his personality is crafted impeccably. The supporting cast is well written too, though I did feel Davidson in his deeds did not live up to what we were continually being told about the man. The pace is never really full on action speed, even in the tensest moment and sometimes slipped to slow.
“Oshi, there have been too many lies - too much manipulation of both our minds.”
For me, the book was too long - and it is a long book. The story doesn’t really get into ‘meaningful’ until the half-way mark. Before that, there is an excessive - possibly obsessive - amount of set-up and world-building IMO. The story itself could have been better told in fewer words, IMO. Although I enjoyed the reading, I will admit to wanting to skip forwards quite often and undoubtedly I wound up skimming over parts where the plot was not being progressed, excessive flashbacks, which added nothing much I could find of value, for example.
Overall I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to anyone who loves detailed world-building and a different twist to the dystopian sci-fi genre.
“You human, you are the problem. A miserable, short life is your just reward for your species treatment of this planet.”
The world has died, murdered by humanity and the Temple never lets those who still live on the Mother, crushed physically and psychologically into the crowded Plena to forget that and forget the guilt debt they owe to Her. Valko Gangleri is a Moderator, a sort of policeman but more along the lines of Judge Dredd, harsh, callous and uncaring - unless he is under the influence of the NOTT drug that unlocks his empathy. When a sequence of murders and the subsequent investigations lead Valko to some disturbing discoveries about himself, the phrase ‘all is not what it seems’ springs to mind in huge neon letters.
This is a dystopian sci-fi set in a post-apocalyptic world - but one in which there seem to have been numerous causes of the final apocalyptic event. It has all the classic hallmarks of the genre - enclosed humanity, uninhabitable world, oppression by a faceless elite that dominate all aspects of life. It also has something unique which only clicks in half-way through the book and from then on expands into strange and unpredictable pathways. Imagine Terry Gilliam’s ‘Brazil’ meeting ‘Logan’s Run’ and you have a good idea of what to expect.
‘The wind had become Death’s steed: on it rode humanity’s suicide machines, now registering at one part per billion.’
The strength of this book is in its worldbuilding. You get the impression that the author walked the streets and breathed the polluted air himself, making notes and mapping as he went. It is that good. However, sometimes it is also a bit overwhelming and it slows the opening of the book to a very turgid pace. There are frequent digressions to explain how something came about, which are usually handled well, but occasionally the reader is left with a sense of being lectured by an unseen authorial voice.
The characters are very well drawn and engaging, especially Valko and the transformation of his personality is crafted impeccably. The supporting cast is well written too, though I did feel Davidson in his deeds did not live up to what we were continually being told about the man. The pace is never really full on action speed, even in the tensest moment and sometimes slipped to slow.
“Oshi, there have been too many lies - too much manipulation of both our minds.”
For me, the book was too long - and it is a long book. The story doesn’t really get into ‘meaningful’ until the half-way mark. Before that, there is an excessive - possibly obsessive - amount of set-up and world-building IMO. The story itself could have been better told in fewer words, IMO. Although I enjoyed the reading, I will admit to wanting to skip forwards quite often and undoubtedly I wound up skimming over parts where the plot was not being progressed, excessive flashbacks, which added nothing much I could find of value, for example.
Overall I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to anyone who loves detailed world-building and a different twist to the dystopian sci-fi genre.
December 5, 2019
MERCURY’S SON
“Dawn’s light - that ever-mendacious bringer of hope - could not sunder the damnable truth: only the blood of generations could redeem this poor earth.”
Society has been forced into enclosed micro-atmospheric cities called “Plena” since most areas were rendered uninhabitable by man. There are outliers, of course, Remnants and a special group of Martyrs sent out to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the dying planet. Everyone else is miserably packed in, heavily restricted in what they can do and how to live. The consequences of falling outside the society's expectations are deadly.
Valko Gangleri is a Moderator of Justeco Centro, a sort of detective who uses technology and an empathy-inducing drug to connect his mind to others, including recently murdered victims to see the last moments of their lives and bring their murderers to justice. On his latest case, someone has gone out of their way to make that impossible for him. He and his sergeant - who would be friends if cold, callused Moderators were capable of having those - must leave the Plena as the case grows more complex and find themselves unearthing even greater mysteries and dangers.
Hindmarsh does an excellent job of world building. His futuristic vision and technology are both logical and fantastic. Life in and out of the Plena is nearly palpable. The course of devastation - the cause of which is debatable - is entirely plausible and frightening.
His characters are well-developed and relatable. Some are lovable, despite dark and obvious flaws, others are despicable though their intentions are easy to understand, and some lie in between, but all are incredibly human - even the cyborgs. Particularly satisfying is Valko’s progression as his character changes throughout the story. I felt personally vested in his outcome as well as the others.
The plot is mysterious, tense, and enticing. It’s full of discovery and deceit. The story twists and turns and leaves the reader always eager for more.
I enjoyed reading this. Hindmarsh tells his story with elegant and masterful language. Based on a few chapters worth of material, this book is considered a “fairly difficult” read by the Flesch Reading Ease Score, which may turn off some readers, but I appreciated the challenge. There’s no time to get bored and it forces the reader to pay attention. Though some of the language is intimidating at times (thank you Kindle for definitions!), and I admit freely to rereading passages once new developments arose, the work pays off. This story is one of relatively few that will stick with me long after I've put it down.
There is room left for a sequel and, if it emerges, I plan to be one of the first to read it. If not, I'm quite pleased with the bigger questions this book leaves us to ponder.
“Dawn’s light - that ever-mendacious bringer of hope - could not sunder the damnable truth: only the blood of generations could redeem this poor earth.”
Society has been forced into enclosed micro-atmospheric cities called “Plena” since most areas were rendered uninhabitable by man. There are outliers, of course, Remnants and a special group of Martyrs sent out to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the dying planet. Everyone else is miserably packed in, heavily restricted in what they can do and how to live. The consequences of falling outside the society's expectations are deadly.
Valko Gangleri is a Moderator of Justeco Centro, a sort of detective who uses technology and an empathy-inducing drug to connect his mind to others, including recently murdered victims to see the last moments of their lives and bring their murderers to justice. On his latest case, someone has gone out of their way to make that impossible for him. He and his sergeant - who would be friends if cold, callused Moderators were capable of having those - must leave the Plena as the case grows more complex and find themselves unearthing even greater mysteries and dangers.
Hindmarsh does an excellent job of world building. His futuristic vision and technology are both logical and fantastic. Life in and out of the Plena is nearly palpable. The course of devastation - the cause of which is debatable - is entirely plausible and frightening.
His characters are well-developed and relatable. Some are lovable, despite dark and obvious flaws, others are despicable though their intentions are easy to understand, and some lie in between, but all are incredibly human - even the cyborgs. Particularly satisfying is Valko’s progression as his character changes throughout the story. I felt personally vested in his outcome as well as the others.
The plot is mysterious, tense, and enticing. It’s full of discovery and deceit. The story twists and turns and leaves the reader always eager for more.
I enjoyed reading this. Hindmarsh tells his story with elegant and masterful language. Based on a few chapters worth of material, this book is considered a “fairly difficult” read by the Flesch Reading Ease Score, which may turn off some readers, but I appreciated the challenge. There’s no time to get bored and it forces the reader to pay attention. Though some of the language is intimidating at times (thank you Kindle for definitions!), and I admit freely to rereading passages once new developments arose, the work pays off. This story is one of relatively few that will stick with me long after I've put it down.
There is room left for a sequel and, if it emerges, I plan to be one of the first to read it. If not, I'm quite pleased with the bigger questions this book leaves us to ponder.
November 18, 2017
Familiar...yet different.
I've read some very polished debut novels recently, and this one ranks right up there. Reading Mercury's Son evokes memories of pop culture from the last thirty years or so - Blade Runner, The Matrix, even hints of Universal Soldier and many more - but it is so much more than that.
Mercury's Son starts with a murder-mystery, but in the fashion of James Ellroy and other murder-mystery writers it's merely the beginning of a whole can of worms being opened, one that shakes the beliefs of the main characters. Speaking of which, the characters are likable, but suitably gritty and shady enough to make even the hardest cynic root for them. The setting is terrific. The Earth has been ravaged by war, and the majority of the populace live in enclosures and controlled by a single religion that postulates guilt at how humanity has ruined "The Mother" (Earth). There is more though. In parts a warning of the misuse of technology, in others a nod to its benefits. Throw in a philosophical look at existence and reality, and a gander at society, and you have a novel that is more than the sum of its parts.
So far so good.
Oh yeah, did I mention it's a murder-mystery? That part alone is a corker, with more twists and turns than a war-ravaged dystopian New York. Apparently the author has caught the eye of the powers-that-be, and Mercury's Son will go from self to traditionally published in the near future. Well deserved, I say.
I've read some very polished debut novels recently, and this one ranks right up there. Reading Mercury's Son evokes memories of pop culture from the last thirty years or so - Blade Runner, The Matrix, even hints of Universal Soldier and many more - but it is so much more than that.
Mercury's Son starts with a murder-mystery, but in the fashion of James Ellroy and other murder-mystery writers it's merely the beginning of a whole can of worms being opened, one that shakes the beliefs of the main characters. Speaking of which, the characters are likable, but suitably gritty and shady enough to make even the hardest cynic root for them. The setting is terrific. The Earth has been ravaged by war, and the majority of the populace live in enclosures and controlled by a single religion that postulates guilt at how humanity has ruined "The Mother" (Earth). There is more though. In parts a warning of the misuse of technology, in others a nod to its benefits. Throw in a philosophical look at existence and reality, and a gander at society, and you have a novel that is more than the sum of its parts.
So far so good.
Oh yeah, did I mention it's a murder-mystery? That part alone is a corker, with more twists and turns than a war-ravaged dystopian New York. Apparently the author has caught the eye of the powers-that-be, and Mercury's Son will go from self to traditionally published in the near future. Well deserved, I say.
December 1, 2018
I am only sorry it took me so long to get to this book, but once I started I didn't want to put it down It is a really unique post apocalypse story that is somehow perfectly mixed in with a first class detective tale. I will try to write a full review soon but my life is kind of in a big mess right now so all I can say is don't be like me and put off reading this book just do yourself a favor and pick up Mercury's Son now.
June 24, 2019
3,5*
This started off really good and quickly hooked me!
I especially like the main character who is mostly emotionless unless he takes specific drugs. As I am a rather pragmatic person myself I always enjoy characters who aren't overly emotional!
The plot is interesting and there's more than one mystery to solve. There were a few moments when it dragged a bit for my personal taste. It could have been a bit faster paced and leaner in some places.
I enjoyed the twists and turns as this story takes more than one detour that gives the whole book a new direction! You think you know what the book will be about - but no then it'll veer off the tracks and take you somewhere you didn't expect.
I'd definitely read something else by the author again!
This started off really good and quickly hooked me!
I especially like the main character who is mostly emotionless unless he takes specific drugs. As I am a rather pragmatic person myself I always enjoy characters who aren't overly emotional!
The plot is interesting and there's more than one mystery to solve. There were a few moments when it dragged a bit for my personal taste. It could have been a bit faster paced and leaner in some places.
I enjoyed the twists and turns as this story takes more than one detour that gives the whole book a new direction! You think you know what the book will be about - but no then it'll veer off the tracks and take you somewhere you didn't expect.
I'd definitely read something else by the author again!
June 4, 2017
I picked this up with a bunch of other ebooks that were on a promotion on Amazon before I went on holiday. I like self-published books but with most of them I don't get past page 4 or 5. This gripped me from the start and kept me gripped to the end. It was so good I forgot that I was reading an indie. There were none of the errors or amateur writing that sometimes puts me off with self-published books.
Story is complex, a detective story that ends up being more of a high stakes thriller. I also found it very thought provoking and almost philosophical at times without getting too bogged down in that side of the story. I liked the characters. There's a good range of well-developed characters who kept me engaged, even with the one's I didn't much like. The main character is particularly good. Valko is complex, and changes in a believable way through the story. His development is a key part of the story. I really liked the female characters. Jean was fascinating and I found Hamilton chilling.
About the only thing I wasn't wild about was the way that the 'Remnant' characters speak. The author's made up a kind of slang talk for them which is good but I found it a bit difficult to understand. It only really mattered for one of the characters who only appears for a few pages. I get what the author was doing but unlike his use of the odd word from Japanese, Russian or other language to name things (like the police are called 'kensakan') this made up accent/dialect was a bit too much for me, it didn't spoil things for me, but I did have to think about what was being said. Not enough for me to deduct a star because of how good I thought the rest of it was.
There's so much to recommend this. It's the best written science fiction novel I've read in a long time, and I include books by some big name authors in that. Action, believable dialogue and I left it still thinking about the thought-provoking elements. The world is really original and fascinating. Although the book has a definite ending I got the feeling that it was meant to be open to interpretation. So, not what actually happens but whether the characters really made the right choices. Some of them are obviously liars but I think some of this is left up to the reader to decide. I really liked this, it fit with the gritty world and the complex characters. There's so much depth here that I'm keeping this on my phone to read again sometime.
Anyway, two-thumbs up (in spite of the dialect thing).
Story is complex, a detective story that ends up being more of a high stakes thriller. I also found it very thought provoking and almost philosophical at times without getting too bogged down in that side of the story. I liked the characters. There's a good range of well-developed characters who kept me engaged, even with the one's I didn't much like. The main character is particularly good. Valko is complex, and changes in a believable way through the story. His development is a key part of the story. I really liked the female characters. Jean was fascinating and I found Hamilton chilling.
About the only thing I wasn't wild about was the way that the 'Remnant' characters speak. The author's made up a kind of slang talk for them which is good but I found it a bit difficult to understand. It only really mattered for one of the characters who only appears for a few pages. I get what the author was doing but unlike his use of the odd word from Japanese, Russian or other language to name things (like the police are called 'kensakan') this made up accent/dialect was a bit too much for me, it didn't spoil things for me, but I did have to think about what was being said. Not enough for me to deduct a star because of how good I thought the rest of it was.
There's so much to recommend this. It's the best written science fiction novel I've read in a long time, and I include books by some big name authors in that. Action, believable dialogue and I left it still thinking about the thought-provoking elements. The world is really original and fascinating. Although the book has a definite ending I got the feeling that it was meant to be open to interpretation. So, not what actually happens but whether the characters really made the right choices. Some of them are obviously liars but I think some of this is left up to the reader to decide. I really liked this, it fit with the gritty world and the complex characters. There's so much depth here that I'm keeping this on my phone to read again sometime.
Anyway, two-thumbs up (in spite of the dialect thing).
November 15, 2017
This book was difficult at first, and took me awhile to get "into" it but once I did I couldn't stop. The characters evolved throughout the book and the story/plot was never ending changes and twists that thrilled me. I loved the science fiction - not my current normal genre but it always has been one of my favorite and since mystery/crime is my current, it was just perfect. I'd love to read more like this.
“I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.”
“I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.”
July 30, 2017
Overall? Luke Hindmarsh proves himself a very good writer.
First, I like his choice of words that sent me scrambling to the dictionary, i.e., apotheosis and polymath. I love that in a writer. That author isn't writing down to readers, rather encouraging us to stretch our vocabulary.
In Hindmarsh’s case, being an English author, some spellings are British, some words British slang, i.e., fug. These sent me to ole Webster.
Second, Hindmarsh engineers some very interesting phrasing. How he creatively uses words to express a concept/idea…most of us wouldn’t think of.
Examples:
Stars and planets WHEELED past him …
The two Minds … now ALLOYED…
And then there are his descriptions. Absolutely YUK! on Plenum living and a lifestyle I only hope never materializes. His ability to put my senses into his scenes is enough!
Example:
Each rain drop … a nauseating tickle … a filthy cocktail of breath, sweat and pollution. His … breath drew in bitter air that left a greasy film on his tongue and filled his mouth with the tang of bile.
Show don’t Tell is the modern writers mantra. Readers with little time for reading are enthralled by on-the-spot technology. Show don’t Tell provides their fast paced story.
Mercury’s Son swims upstream of this cadence — but works very well. Hindmarsh's Show isn’t in dialogue/action, but in his narrative, a style most writers today avoid. He handles it well.
Chapters 1 — 3 left me puzzled by strange names, undefined terms and a slow lead into the plot. BUT, don’t let this dissuade you from reading Mercury’s Son. By chapter 4, I found my flow into the story’s rhythm and pace. After chapter 4, the story clicks, the plot thickens. With a second murder Hindmarsh is grabbing my attention, my curiosity peaks.
Set in a futuristic world where civilization has destroyed itself, the remnant living under Enclosures governed through the UN World Government; Martyr’s living outside Enclosures to bring agriculture back to a “dead earth.” Eventually, the martyr dies from radiation poisoning or nano-destroyers. Yep, nano's — in 2017, a developing technology.
Then there is the distant colony on the Moon whose scientists may or may not have instigated the catastrophic war that devastated Earth.
Within the Enclosure, society divides itself. There are chosen middle-zone breeders, upper-zone drudges and the wei-zhuce who “… prey off those who keep them safe” and are executed and recycled when discovered. And as always, the Elite who still live above any law, or speaking of the Plenum, Hindmarsh writes, “… the upper level. An attraction that led … to a spiral of excess until the former elite found themselves floating to the top of the Plenum like scum rising to the surface of dirty water.” Like I said, interesting phrasing.
Government rests in the jurisdiction of the Centra Autorita, Justeco Centro… and “fabricated charges were a kensakan [investigator’s] speciality.” “Criminal justice was not a high priority …”
And then there is the Temple, who appear to operate outside either jurisdiction, but are the indoctrination center. Hindmarsh tells us, “... people … accept the tenets of the Temple because it was pumped at them from every angle and indoctrination.” Their main teaching is that, “… humanity is a macro-virus… We destroy ourselves.”
Temple tentacles reach into the transpod stations with such messages as, “You, human — you are the problem. A miserable, short life is your just reward for your species treatment of this planet.”
Much like 1984, citizens in Hindmarsh’s world are restricted: “… told where to live, where to work, when to sleep, when to eat and how much to drink.”
Technology has peaked. Synthorganics is common. Human implants give feared Moderator’s insight into citizens’ minds and the ability to ‘read’ a mind after death.
UNWG retrogene former veterans as today’s soldier’s who are considered lucky if they don’t go “kill-crazy” from their “overload of flashbacks.”
The Naukara is more machine than human, a fate worse than death.
Everywhere, citizens plug headset-hub’s fitting the “grey metal band round [their] foreheads” and eyes pasted on datapads. And as Hindmarsh’s main character, Valko looks around the pod, he notices that, “Everyone was as good as blind … their eyes see but their attention was … shutting the world out with the screen of a datapad or … direct connection of a headset-hub.” Think subway and i-Everything.
Some great twists I never saw coming. Hindmarsh’s clues are so intellectual so subtle, that I missed them and I’m good at figuring out plots.
I hadn't thought too much about the title, Mercury’s Son. Where did that come from? And why Mercury? Readers must pay attention to the subtleties this author uses in his work that require us to participate in his story to fully understand Mercury’s Son.
Read shallow or read deep. Either way, Mercury's Son is worth your time and money.
I can see a Trilogy here — at least, a sequel. Hindmarsh leaves readers with questions allowing for the possibility of another book.
Kudos to Hindmarsh on his first published novel and I hope to see more forthcoming.
First, I like his choice of words that sent me scrambling to the dictionary, i.e., apotheosis and polymath. I love that in a writer. That author isn't writing down to readers, rather encouraging us to stretch our vocabulary.
In Hindmarsh’s case, being an English author, some spellings are British, some words British slang, i.e., fug. These sent me to ole Webster.
Second, Hindmarsh engineers some very interesting phrasing. How he creatively uses words to express a concept/idea…most of us wouldn’t think of.
Examples:
Stars and planets WHEELED past him …
The two Minds … now ALLOYED…
And then there are his descriptions. Absolutely YUK! on Plenum living and a lifestyle I only hope never materializes. His ability to put my senses into his scenes is enough!
Example:
Each rain drop … a nauseating tickle … a filthy cocktail of breath, sweat and pollution. His … breath drew in bitter air that left a greasy film on his tongue and filled his mouth with the tang of bile.
Show don’t Tell is the modern writers mantra. Readers with little time for reading are enthralled by on-the-spot technology. Show don’t Tell provides their fast paced story.
Mercury’s Son swims upstream of this cadence — but works very well. Hindmarsh's Show isn’t in dialogue/action, but in his narrative, a style most writers today avoid. He handles it well.
Chapters 1 — 3 left me puzzled by strange names, undefined terms and a slow lead into the plot. BUT, don’t let this dissuade you from reading Mercury’s Son. By chapter 4, I found my flow into the story’s rhythm and pace. After chapter 4, the story clicks, the plot thickens. With a second murder Hindmarsh is grabbing my attention, my curiosity peaks.
Set in a futuristic world where civilization has destroyed itself, the remnant living under Enclosures governed through the UN World Government; Martyr’s living outside Enclosures to bring agriculture back to a “dead earth.” Eventually, the martyr dies from radiation poisoning or nano-destroyers. Yep, nano's — in 2017, a developing technology.
Then there is the distant colony on the Moon whose scientists may or may not have instigated the catastrophic war that devastated Earth.
Within the Enclosure, society divides itself. There are chosen middle-zone breeders, upper-zone drudges and the wei-zhuce who “… prey off those who keep them safe” and are executed and recycled when discovered. And as always, the Elite who still live above any law, or speaking of the Plenum, Hindmarsh writes, “… the upper level. An attraction that led … to a spiral of excess until the former elite found themselves floating to the top of the Plenum like scum rising to the surface of dirty water.” Like I said, interesting phrasing.
Government rests in the jurisdiction of the Centra Autorita, Justeco Centro… and “fabricated charges were a kensakan [investigator’s] speciality.” “Criminal justice was not a high priority …”
And then there is the Temple, who appear to operate outside either jurisdiction, but are the indoctrination center. Hindmarsh tells us, “... people … accept the tenets of the Temple because it was pumped at them from every angle and indoctrination.” Their main teaching is that, “… humanity is a macro-virus… We destroy ourselves.”
Temple tentacles reach into the transpod stations with such messages as, “You, human — you are the problem. A miserable, short life is your just reward for your species treatment of this planet.”
Much like 1984, citizens in Hindmarsh’s world are restricted: “… told where to live, where to work, when to sleep, when to eat and how much to drink.”
Technology has peaked. Synthorganics is common. Human implants give feared Moderator’s insight into citizens’ minds and the ability to ‘read’ a mind after death.
UNWG retrogene former veterans as today’s soldier’s who are considered lucky if they don’t go “kill-crazy” from their “overload of flashbacks.”
The Naukara is more machine than human, a fate worse than death.
Everywhere, citizens plug headset-hub’s fitting the “grey metal band round [their] foreheads” and eyes pasted on datapads. And as Hindmarsh’s main character, Valko looks around the pod, he notices that, “Everyone was as good as blind … their eyes see but their attention was … shutting the world out with the screen of a datapad or … direct connection of a headset-hub.” Think subway and i-Everything.
Some great twists I never saw coming. Hindmarsh’s clues are so intellectual so subtle, that I missed them and I’m good at figuring out plots.
I hadn't thought too much about the title, Mercury’s Son. Where did that come from? And why Mercury? Readers must pay attention to the subtleties this author uses in his work that require us to participate in his story to fully understand Mercury’s Son.
Read shallow or read deep. Either way, Mercury's Son is worth your time and money.
I can see a Trilogy here — at least, a sequel. Hindmarsh leaves readers with questions allowing for the possibility of another book.
Kudos to Hindmarsh on his first published novel and I hope to see more forthcoming.
August 7, 2017
Clever, immersive and deeply satisfying
Mercury’s Son is a long, thoroughly detailed and meticulously fleshed out crime mystery story set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic future.
I could directly outline the book’s virtues, especially as to it’s non-stop plot twists and exceptional character development, but that would mean spoiling the story for other readers.
Instead, I will tell you what I thought and how I felt.
Setting:
The author has developed a vivid, exceptionally detailed world in which his story takes place. The setting, though exotic, is believable, and the more unusual aspects are supported by engaging descriptions and plausible sci-fi technology.
Themes:
The book deals with several heavy themes and complex moral questions, all interwoven in a thrilling crime mystery case with deep implications.
This is a dystopian story with a lot of action and gratuitous violence, which nonetheless serves a storytelling purpose. The book features several long passages of mostly philosophical discussions and analysis, which serve to further flesh out the world, deepen the story, and give readers a breather in-between the furious action.
Despite its seemingly dark theme and pervading hopelessness, this is a positive story.
Characters:
In my opinion, the book has exactly as many named characters as it should, and focuses enough on each of them to make the reader care. Some characters are Dickensian in their flawed charm and hopeless social condition, while others remind more of archetypical heroes pitted against hopeless odds.
Plot:
Consistent enough to be believable and dotted with creative twists to remain interesting throughout almost 400 pages, the plot was equal to many top-tier crime novels. I could not identify a single plot hole, and I’ve been looking out for them.
Writing:
A writing style that respects the reader’s intelligence and shows the author’s confidence in his writing skills.
I particularly enjoyed the creative terminology and colorful jargon. The author interweaves titles, terms and concepts from multiple cultures, which makes the story more believable.
Overall, this was one of the books I enjoyed reading most in 2017. It was unexpected, fresh, deep and ultimately satisfying.
Mercury’s Son is a long, thoroughly detailed and meticulously fleshed out crime mystery story set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic future.
I could directly outline the book’s virtues, especially as to it’s non-stop plot twists and exceptional character development, but that would mean spoiling the story for other readers.
Instead, I will tell you what I thought and how I felt.
Setting:
The author has developed a vivid, exceptionally detailed world in which his story takes place. The setting, though exotic, is believable, and the more unusual aspects are supported by engaging descriptions and plausible sci-fi technology.
Themes:
The book deals with several heavy themes and complex moral questions, all interwoven in a thrilling crime mystery case with deep implications.
This is a dystopian story with a lot of action and gratuitous violence, which nonetheless serves a storytelling purpose. The book features several long passages of mostly philosophical discussions and analysis, which serve to further flesh out the world, deepen the story, and give readers a breather in-between the furious action.
Despite its seemingly dark theme and pervading hopelessness, this is a positive story.
Characters:
In my opinion, the book has exactly as many named characters as it should, and focuses enough on each of them to make the reader care. Some characters are Dickensian in their flawed charm and hopeless social condition, while others remind more of archetypical heroes pitted against hopeless odds.
Plot:
Consistent enough to be believable and dotted with creative twists to remain interesting throughout almost 400 pages, the plot was equal to many top-tier crime novels. I could not identify a single plot hole, and I’ve been looking out for them.
Writing:
A writing style that respects the reader’s intelligence and shows the author’s confidence in his writing skills.
I particularly enjoyed the creative terminology and colorful jargon. The author interweaves titles, terms and concepts from multiple cultures, which makes the story more believable.
Overall, this was one of the books I enjoyed reading most in 2017. It was unexpected, fresh, deep and ultimately satisfying.
December 21, 2017
If you’ve ever wondered what a book would be like if you took a post-apocalyptic dystopian SCI-FI cyberpunk crime caper and infused it with all the over-ripe wordiness and legalese of an End User License Agreement (has anyone ever read one of those?) then Luke Hindmarsh’s Mercury’s Son would be it and you should rush out to read it. If, however, you prefer a 4 hour story to be only 4 hours rather than the 10 it takes to read this lengthy, lengthy book, then you will not be pleased with the experience.
I really wanted to like this book. It’s got a great cover, great characterization, great world-building, and a decent story that sticks to the safe ground of its genre (think Blade Runner or Total Recall, with hints of Jason Bourne).
Mercury’s Son follows Valko, a moderator in a physically sheltered society after nanotech went out of control and destroyed most of the world as we know it. Moderators investigate crimes (what little there are, considering the Fascist-like control of each shelter, or plena) and they have a special ability to connect with the electrical impulses of the recently deceased to see what they saw in their last moments. When two murders occur that are done in a way that prevents this link-up, Valko is set on a journey with fellow Jason Bourne soldier Satoshi to discover a far greater conspiracy that asks hard questions about life, morality, and the eternal quest for enlightenment.
While all this sounds extremely promising and compelling (there’s even a mention of Benedict Arnold in the book, which caught my eye and I really enjoyed) and indeed many people will enjoy this book, the story’s largest problem is pacing. Because every sentence is lengthy. Every passage burdened by exposition and world-building, every page winding in caveats and clauses to ensure the reader knows precisely the intent of each word, the wonderful story crafted diminishes within the page count. One more revision with an eye to killing those darlings which slow our journey with Valko, and Mercury could rise to new heights. Until then, I can only give it 3.5 stars, rounded to 4. If you don’t mind lengthy exposition, it’s a solid 4.5.
I really wanted to like this book. It’s got a great cover, great characterization, great world-building, and a decent story that sticks to the safe ground of its genre (think Blade Runner or Total Recall, with hints of Jason Bourne).
Mercury’s Son follows Valko, a moderator in a physically sheltered society after nanotech went out of control and destroyed most of the world as we know it. Moderators investigate crimes (what little there are, considering the Fascist-like control of each shelter, or plena) and they have a special ability to connect with the electrical impulses of the recently deceased to see what they saw in their last moments. When two murders occur that are done in a way that prevents this link-up, Valko is set on a journey with fellow Jason Bourne soldier Satoshi to discover a far greater conspiracy that asks hard questions about life, morality, and the eternal quest for enlightenment.
While all this sounds extremely promising and compelling (there’s even a mention of Benedict Arnold in the book, which caught my eye and I really enjoyed) and indeed many people will enjoy this book, the story’s largest problem is pacing. Because every sentence is lengthy. Every passage burdened by exposition and world-building, every page winding in caveats and clauses to ensure the reader knows precisely the intent of each word, the wonderful story crafted diminishes within the page count. One more revision with an eye to killing those darlings which slow our journey with Valko, and Mercury could rise to new heights. Until then, I can only give it 3.5 stars, rounded to 4. If you don’t mind lengthy exposition, it’s a solid 4.5.
December 13, 2017
I liked this book, it's an excellent read! It's a post apocalyptic book and the Earth is basically unhabitable except in the cities, which aren't called cities, but plena (I think). The police aren't called police, and etc. The main character, Valko, is investigating a serial killer and trying to find out who it is which leads him to discover that there's more and more things behind the murders and things aren't what they seem. Some quotes from the book I enjoyed were:
"Humanity is a macro-virus, and like all viral clades, the harm that it does to its host diminishes that host's ability to provide an environment that will sustain the virus. We destroy ourselves."
"Their truth isn't the only truth. Don't close your mind to other possibilities."
"I just want him to be and do what he wants. Why is that so hard to understand? Life's not predictable."
"Do not let your passion be consumed and burnt out all in a rush but hoard it so you may embrace the long years of suffering to come."
"If he could get close enough to fire it point-blank into the head of one of those things, he could take one of them with him into the abyss of death."
"Humanity is a macro-virus, and like all viral clades, the harm that it does to its host diminishes that host's ability to provide an environment that will sustain the virus. We destroy ourselves."
"Their truth isn't the only truth. Don't close your mind to other possibilities."
"I just want him to be and do what he wants. Why is that so hard to understand? Life's not predictable."
"Do not let your passion be consumed and burnt out all in a rush but hoard it so you may embrace the long years of suffering to come."
"If he could get close enough to fire it point-blank into the head of one of those things, he could take one of them with him into the abyss of death."
July 2, 2017
Not what I expected but really good
Really liked this but when I finished it something kept bugging me. The prologue makes out that scientist is a good guy but then thru the book he's something else. I didn't get this. It's like the whole time the hero was being lied to. It made me a bit uncomfortable cuz I like endings where I know if the good guys won or not.
I love cyberpunk stuff but with like Neuromancer there's computers and cyberspace. I kept waiting for some of that but it was all about hacking memories. Not what I expected.
Really liked this but when I finished it something kept bugging me. The prologue makes out that scientist is a good guy but then thru the book he's something else. I didn't get this. It's like the whole time the hero was being lied to. It made me a bit uncomfortable cuz I like endings where I know if the good guys won or not.
I love cyberpunk stuff but with like Neuromancer there's computers and cyberspace. I kept waiting for some of that but it was all about hacking memories. Not what I expected.
July 13, 2019
3.5 Stars. Hindmarsh has created a very unique dystopian sci-fi world full of murder and intrigue. Unfortunately, too much of the book revolves around depicting this setting and makes the pace sluggish. The characters aren't very relatable (I expect it has a lot to do with an inability to tap into emotions) but the plot picked up about halfway in. There were plenty of twists and turns that made it easy to get lost or confused, but overall a good book. Thank you to Booktasters for the opportunity to read and review!
December 16, 2020
I was given a free copy of this book for an honest review.
It's a post-apocalyptic future and survivors live in Plena, contained arcologies that protect people from radiation and rogue nanodestroyers that were unleashed during the Lunar War decades earlier. Valko Gangleri is a tantei (Moderator) a sort of mind-reading detective working for Centra Autorita. When Eugene Fisher (grandson of Erasmus Fisher, the scientist who invented Enclosure technology) and whitecoat (scientist) are murdered using banned war-tech, Valko goes on a murder-investigation-turned-journey-of-self-discovery. I really liked this book. Not only was the rich worldbuilding carefully woven into the narrative, but the story itself was well paced. I liked Valko's character growth from an overconfident emotionless drone to an empathetic and humble person on a spiritual journey and I liked the ways his growth helped his sergeant-turned-friend go on his own journey of self-discovery. I'd say the weakest point of the book is the sex scene, which also turns into a spiritual consciousness-bending experience for Valko, but plays out in a vague, corny way. I also appreciated the love of language built into the world, with terms derived from languages around the world, which is what you might expect with Enclosure.
It's a post-apocalyptic future and survivors live in Plena, contained arcologies that protect people from radiation and rogue nanodestroyers that were unleashed during the Lunar War decades earlier. Valko Gangleri is a tantei (Moderator) a sort of mind-reading detective working for Centra Autorita. When Eugene Fisher (grandson of Erasmus Fisher, the scientist who invented Enclosure technology) and whitecoat (scientist) are murdered using banned war-tech, Valko goes on a murder-investigation-turned-journey-of-self-discovery. I really liked this book. Not only was the rich worldbuilding carefully woven into the narrative, but the story itself was well paced. I liked Valko's character growth from an overconfident emotionless drone to an empathetic and humble person on a spiritual journey and I liked the ways his growth helped his sergeant-turned-friend go on his own journey of self-discovery. I'd say the weakest point of the book is the sex scene, which also turns into a spiritual consciousness-bending experience for Valko, but plays out in a vague, corny way. I also appreciated the love of language built into the world, with terms derived from languages around the world, which is what you might expect with Enclosure.
May 29, 2017
Loved it!!!
This book was the first sci fi I've ever read, it was great!! I had the hardest time putting it down. Non-stop twists and turns!! A really wonderful read, I'm sad it's over, but it also ended great, I would love to see more from this author!
This book was the first sci fi I've ever read, it was great!! I had the hardest time putting it down. Non-stop twists and turns!! A really wonderful read, I'm sad it's over, but it also ended great, I would love to see more from this author!
January 21, 2019
This novel made me think quite a bit, while it was an interesting read I have to put the book down several times to think about it. It was that good. The post apocalyptic novel deals with murder, double dealing, and definitely cloak and dagger type of activities. Definitely check this one out!
January 31, 2018
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
A stunning high tech futuristic thriller that delves deep into the human psyche and shows what can happen when it is twisted and moulded by an outside influence. A novel that the late Phillip K Dick would have been in awe to read.
A stunning high tech futuristic thriller that delves deep into the human psyche and shows what can happen when it is twisted and moulded by an outside influence. A novel that the late Phillip K Dick would have been in awe to read.
October 16, 2017
The Earth has been destroyed and civilizations are living in small, over crowded cities while the Earth repairs itself. The Temple of the Wounded Mother is the religion that has risen to try and save the world. The believers hate humanity and kill numerous people yearly to try to help the Earth heal faster. Valko Gangleri is a Moderator in this world. He has an implant that lets him read minds and is basically a judge, jury, and executioner unless he is on the drugs that opens his empathy.
Valko is sent to investigate the death of a scientist and finds something strange, someone is hiding information from him which should be impossible. Valko starts to dig deeper and starts uncovering some unspoken truths. It’s easy enough to create truths as it is to create lies. It’s also very easy to brainwash people, create mind control, and have clones mucking everything up.
With the release of Blade Runner 2049, Mercury’s Son fits into this genre. Although Valko is struggling with his emotions and trying to determine truth from lies, he is supposed to look into the death of a scientist and another person. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much happening in this world. Religious cults, mass slaughter, government control, a ruined and desecrated Earth.
This is a very involved yet not over whelming story. I was kept guessing at who the killer was and why until the very end. I loved how dark and dirty this world is, the description if moving. If you like the dirty, futuristic thrillers I think you need to check this one out.
I received Mercury’s Son from Sage’s Reading Room for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
Valko is sent to investigate the death of a scientist and finds something strange, someone is hiding information from him which should be impossible. Valko starts to dig deeper and starts uncovering some unspoken truths. It’s easy enough to create truths as it is to create lies. It’s also very easy to brainwash people, create mind control, and have clones mucking everything up.
With the release of Blade Runner 2049, Mercury’s Son fits into this genre. Although Valko is struggling with his emotions and trying to determine truth from lies, he is supposed to look into the death of a scientist and another person. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much happening in this world. Religious cults, mass slaughter, government control, a ruined and desecrated Earth.
This is a very involved yet not over whelming story. I was kept guessing at who the killer was and why until the very end. I loved how dark and dirty this world is, the description if moving. If you like the dirty, futuristic thrillers I think you need to check this one out.
I received Mercury’s Son from Sage’s Reading Room for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
November 18, 2017
This is a long book, which at times proceeds very slowly, giving a lot of detail about the world the characters now inhabit, but this at times makes you want to flip through to get to what is really happening
Valko and Oshi are part of the new world police force - Valko is a Moderator who goes to crime scenes and can use a head set and a drug called NOTT to gather the last memories of a victim or to interrogate criminals and witnesses - he is cold, unfeeling and driven by evidence. His sargeant, Oshi, is an ex soldier, who was frozen, when all the enhanced soldiers were hacked during the war,for many years and then awoke to a new world, so had no memories as these were wiped - of his old life - but has feelings for those around him unless in fight mode !
They are sent to investigate a murder and then another which has the same M.O. but get dragged into a conspiracy where others are pulling the strings and their lives may be in danger
I was a bit disappointed at the ending which seemed far too brief after building up to it so long
A good, if long read, commenting on what man has (and can) do to the world - called Mother in the story - a cautionary tale of following the Temples indoctrination or face ‘recycling’ !
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily reviewed this book and this is my honest review.
Valko and Oshi are part of the new world police force - Valko is a Moderator who goes to crime scenes and can use a head set and a drug called NOTT to gather the last memories of a victim or to interrogate criminals and witnesses - he is cold, unfeeling and driven by evidence. His sargeant, Oshi, is an ex soldier, who was frozen, when all the enhanced soldiers were hacked during the war,for many years and then awoke to a new world, so had no memories as these were wiped - of his old life - but has feelings for those around him unless in fight mode !
They are sent to investigate a murder and then another which has the same M.O. but get dragged into a conspiracy where others are pulling the strings and their lives may be in danger
I was a bit disappointed at the ending which seemed far too brief after building up to it so long
A good, if long read, commenting on what man has (and can) do to the world - called Mother in the story - a cautionary tale of following the Temples indoctrination or face ‘recycling’ !
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily reviewed this book and this is my honest review.
July 27, 2022
Mercury’s Son is a sci-fi novel set in a dystopian future with an intriguing premise. I was excited for this book as I hadn’t read anything like it before.
I’m going to start with the positives first:
First off, the world building was extensive. The author obviously put a lot of time and effort planning this book and you could feel that in the descriptions and unique wording that were including in the narrative. The setup was well done and at times I felt like I was with the characters as they traversed across the cramped world.
This story was also very well edited and set up. The e-copy I received had no awkward spaces or any spelling errors that I noticed.
Now onto the negatives:
Unfortunately, despite the exciting summary, I found this story...boring. I hate to say that, because I wanted to love it, but I couldn’t immerse myself at all into the plot or the characters.
Everything fell flat for me. It was as if the author created this fantastic world then didn’t bother to flesh out the characters at all while letting the plot stagnate. I understand that these future people had a lack of emotions and were supposed to be more machine than human but still...I found them to be bland and all of them ran together for me.
Overall, I was unable to enjoy this story. Perhaps someone more interested in the minute semantics of a post apocalyptic word would find more joy in this, but for me, the narrative was too slow and I struggled to get through it.
*I was given a free copy from Booktasters and this is my honest, voluntary review.*
I’m going to start with the positives first:
First off, the world building was extensive. The author obviously put a lot of time and effort planning this book and you could feel that in the descriptions and unique wording that were including in the narrative. The setup was well done and at times I felt like I was with the characters as they traversed across the cramped world.
This story was also very well edited and set up. The e-copy I received had no awkward spaces or any spelling errors that I noticed.
Now onto the negatives:
Unfortunately, despite the exciting summary, I found this story...boring. I hate to say that, because I wanted to love it, but I couldn’t immerse myself at all into the plot or the characters.
Everything fell flat for me. It was as if the author created this fantastic world then didn’t bother to flesh out the characters at all while letting the plot stagnate. I understand that these future people had a lack of emotions and were supposed to be more machine than human but still...I found them to be bland and all of them ran together for me.
Overall, I was unable to enjoy this story. Perhaps someone more interested in the minute semantics of a post apocalyptic word would find more joy in this, but for me, the narrative was too slow and I struggled to get through it.
*I was given a free copy from Booktasters and this is my honest, voluntary review.*
January 9, 2019
Mercury's Son by Luke E T Hindmarsh is a dystopian/post-apocalyptic novel where sci-fiction meets murder mystery/detective novel. Though science fiction is not my favourite genre but still this book intrigued me.
Its a complex murder story where search for the murder leads to many twists and turns and the moderator (detective cum monitor) solving the murder gets caught in deceit, lies and and betrayal where he questions his whole life and beliefs. Along with him caught in this cycle is his sergeant cum assistant (a kind of robocop) and the readers get caught up as to who are the actual villains who devastated the earth.
Though the first half feels like science fiction mumbo-jumbo and a little convoluted and too long, the story makes sense and picks up speed in the second half.Though some places and some incidents look unnecessary and forced but still the books binds with its central plot and you feel eager to know the end.
Got this book from the author through @BookTasters
The narrative was a bit confusing and I sometimes could not relate to the events and had to read the portion again but I think it's overall, a very good book. Even I a non science-fiction fan could love it. Its a must read for all Asimov fans
Its a complex murder story where search for the murder leads to many twists and turns and the moderator (detective cum monitor) solving the murder gets caught in deceit, lies and and betrayal where he questions his whole life and beliefs. Along with him caught in this cycle is his sergeant cum assistant (a kind of robocop) and the readers get caught up as to who are the actual villains who devastated the earth.
Though the first half feels like science fiction mumbo-jumbo and a little convoluted and too long, the story makes sense and picks up speed in the second half.Though some places and some incidents look unnecessary and forced but still the books binds with its central plot and you feel eager to know the end.
Got this book from the author through @BookTasters
The narrative was a bit confusing and I sometimes could not relate to the events and had to read the portion again but I think it's overall, a very good book. Even I a non science-fiction fan could love it. Its a must read for all Asimov fans
May 26, 2018
a nice blend of a dective mystery and a scifi thriller.
well drawn and fascinating Characters in a world putting itself back together after a war and an environmental disaster with some success, except, that man is the same. we still prey on others. I loved the idea of the sociopathic detective. There will be no burnout here. but what will his job and the drugs do to him?
well drawn and fascinating Characters in a world putting itself back together after a war and an environmental disaster with some success, except, that man is the same. we still prey on others. I loved the idea of the sociopathic detective. There will be no burnout here. but what will his job and the drugs do to him?
May 3, 2019
[English review + Reseña en español]
Mercury's Son, by Luke E.T. Hindmarsh. Published by Mystique Press / Crossroad Press, 1st. edition, 2018. 400 pages (printed edition). Genre: Science Fiction / Cyberpunk.
Valko, a survivor of the great Lunar War whose memories have been lost along with part of his humanity, solves crimes recovering the last memories of the dead with the help of an empathy drug and an implant that has replaced part of his brain. The grandson of a key man in the new world and a woman have been murdered and someone with a lot of power is eganged on hiding the truth. Among the nanotechnological and sintorganic dangers of the postwar period, the manipulation of evidence and history itself and a confusing awakening to a new consciousness, Valko and his sergeant, Satoshi, must solve the crimes and confront everything they have believed as absolute.
Mercury's Son is developed in an Earth devastated by a terrible war and dominated by a dogmatic system of guilt and expiation. The enclosure, the invariable hierarchy, the overcrowding and a sense of resignation permeate the environment. But despite the fact that the philosophy of despair that sustains the postwar society in Mercury's Son is asphyxiating and the class division of the internal program of eugenics add to the sensation, the characters manage to feel human an vivid. Perception, introspection and the discovery of forgotten or hidden truths will make even the systematically logical protagonist grow in an unsuspected direction, endowing him with facets that at first seemed impossible, while the rest of the characters will help to give more dimensions to his story. The plot keeps some interesting encounters and turns, although the rhythm remains constant and always moving in the expected direction, making the 400 pages of this book be read quite easily.
----------
Mercury’s Son, por Luke E.T. Hindmarsh. Publicada por Mystique Press/Crossroad Press, 1ª. edición, 2018. 400 páginas (edición impresa). Género: Ciencia Ficción / Cyberpunk.
Valko, un sobreviviente de la gran Guerra Lunar cuyas memorias se han perdido junto con parte de su humanidad, resuelve crímenes recuperando las últimas memorias de los muertos con ayuda de una droga de empatía y un implante que ha reemplazado parte de su cerebro. El nieto de un hombre clave en el nuevo mundo y una mujer han sido asesinados y alguien con mucho poder está empeñado en ocultar la verdad. Entre los peligros nanotecnológicos y sintorgánicos propios de la posguerra, la manipulación de las evidencias y de la historia misma y un confuso despertar a una nueva conciencia, Valko y su sargento, Satoshi, deberán resolver los crímenes y enfrentarse a todo lo que han creído como absoluto.
Mercury’s Son se desarrolla en una Tierra devastada por una terrible guerra y dominada por un sistema dogmático de culpa y expiación. El encierro, la jerarquía invariable, el hacinamiento y una sensación de resignación impregnan el ambiente. Pero a pesar de que la filosofía de la desesperanza que sostiene a la sociedad posguerra en Mercury’s Son es asfixiante y la división clasista del programa interno de eugenesia lo es otro tanto, los personajes logran sentirse humanos y vivos. La percepción, la introspección y el descubrimiento de verdades olvidadas u ocultas harán que incluso el sistemáticamente lógico protagonista crezca en una dirección insospechada, dotándolo de facetas que al principio parecían imposibles, mientras que el resto de los personajes ayudarán a dar más dimensiones a su historia. El argumento guarda algunos encuentros y giros interesantes, aunque el ritmo se mantiene constante y avanzando siempre en la dirección esperada, haciendo que las 400 páginas de este libro se lean con bastante facilidad.
Mercury's Son, by Luke E.T. Hindmarsh. Published by Mystique Press / Crossroad Press, 1st. edition, 2018. 400 pages (printed edition). Genre: Science Fiction / Cyberpunk.
Valko, a survivor of the great Lunar War whose memories have been lost along with part of his humanity, solves crimes recovering the last memories of the dead with the help of an empathy drug and an implant that has replaced part of his brain. The grandson of a key man in the new world and a woman have been murdered and someone with a lot of power is eganged on hiding the truth. Among the nanotechnological and sintorganic dangers of the postwar period, the manipulation of evidence and history itself and a confusing awakening to a new consciousness, Valko and his sergeant, Satoshi, must solve the crimes and confront everything they have believed as absolute.
Mercury's Son is developed in an Earth devastated by a terrible war and dominated by a dogmatic system of guilt and expiation. The enclosure, the invariable hierarchy, the overcrowding and a sense of resignation permeate the environment. But despite the fact that the philosophy of despair that sustains the postwar society in Mercury's Son is asphyxiating and the class division of the internal program of eugenics add to the sensation, the characters manage to feel human an vivid. Perception, introspection and the discovery of forgotten or hidden truths will make even the systematically logical protagonist grow in an unsuspected direction, endowing him with facets that at first seemed impossible, while the rest of the characters will help to give more dimensions to his story. The plot keeps some interesting encounters and turns, although the rhythm remains constant and always moving in the expected direction, making the 400 pages of this book be read quite easily.
----------
Mercury’s Son, por Luke E.T. Hindmarsh. Publicada por Mystique Press/Crossroad Press, 1ª. edición, 2018. 400 páginas (edición impresa). Género: Ciencia Ficción / Cyberpunk.
Valko, un sobreviviente de la gran Guerra Lunar cuyas memorias se han perdido junto con parte de su humanidad, resuelve crímenes recuperando las últimas memorias de los muertos con ayuda de una droga de empatía y un implante que ha reemplazado parte de su cerebro. El nieto de un hombre clave en el nuevo mundo y una mujer han sido asesinados y alguien con mucho poder está empeñado en ocultar la verdad. Entre los peligros nanotecnológicos y sintorgánicos propios de la posguerra, la manipulación de las evidencias y de la historia misma y un confuso despertar a una nueva conciencia, Valko y su sargento, Satoshi, deberán resolver los crímenes y enfrentarse a todo lo que han creído como absoluto.
Mercury’s Son se desarrolla en una Tierra devastada por una terrible guerra y dominada por un sistema dogmático de culpa y expiación. El encierro, la jerarquía invariable, el hacinamiento y una sensación de resignación impregnan el ambiente. Pero a pesar de que la filosofía de la desesperanza que sostiene a la sociedad posguerra en Mercury’s Son es asfixiante y la división clasista del programa interno de eugenesia lo es otro tanto, los personajes logran sentirse humanos y vivos. La percepción, la introspección y el descubrimiento de verdades olvidadas u ocultas harán que incluso el sistemáticamente lógico protagonista crezca en una dirección insospechada, dotándolo de facetas que al principio parecían imposibles, mientras que el resto de los personajes ayudarán a dar más dimensiones a su historia. El argumento guarda algunos encuentros y giros interesantes, aunque el ritmo se mantiene constante y avanzando siempre en la dirección esperada, haciendo que las 400 páginas de este libro se lean con bastante facilidad.
September 4, 2021
I am truly grateful to receive this book from the author Luke E.T. Hindmarsh in exchange for honest review. Thank you Booktasters for giving me this opportunity!
Genre:
Dystopian sci-fi thriller.
Plot:
Cold and logical Valko can see the last moments of a victim’s life. A power bestowed on him at a terrible cost. What begins as an investigation into a murder quickly escalates into something huge, sinister, and unbelievable chain of events. How can he get to the bottom of it all when he can’t trust his own self?
Review:
A novel which started off as just as any other detective novel, soon completely transformed into a completely different world. Spread across four parts, the author has created a huge universe which sucks you in. Set in backdrop of The Mother (Earth) having destroyed by a huge war involving nanotech, the human life is struggling to live under changed circumstances. The Temple which firmly believes that the humans are the reason for this devastation, has strict control over the entire planet.
The protagonist Valko is a Moderator who along with his teammates solve cases involving unnatural death. Cold, logical, and harsh, Valko needs synthetic drugs to make him empathetic to the victims to understand their emotions and memories... He and his sergeant, are required to handle a murder of scientist, find the culprit, and bring them to justice. Soon there’s one more murder with similar MO. With obstacles at every step, the case gets convoluted quickly.
The author has created much believable futuristic world. He uses unique words to give the book quite a realistic feel. At first, the book feels slightly heavy. But, once we reach around middle of the book, we feel comfortable with the author’s world. There are enough characters to make the story interesting and gripping. The character development, the decisions they make, the bond – everything makes us feel connected. The twists and turns, the impending doom keeps us on the edge. The fact that nobody can be trusted makes the reading more enjoyable. There were moments which made me emotional. The description about how the life was post war gave feeling of how need to be careful about our planet Earth or it could be a reality. The ending was sudden yet poignant.
However, there are certain drawbacks. There is so much packed in terms of technology and the science behind everything. There were certain portions which required rereading to grasp the concept. Also, the past and background of the “villain” could have been dealt better.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book! Do not be fazed by the number of pages, this book is quite a sci-fi adventure!
Genre:
Dystopian sci-fi thriller.
Plot:
Cold and logical Valko can see the last moments of a victim’s life. A power bestowed on him at a terrible cost. What begins as an investigation into a murder quickly escalates into something huge, sinister, and unbelievable chain of events. How can he get to the bottom of it all when he can’t trust his own self?
Review:
A novel which started off as just as any other detective novel, soon completely transformed into a completely different world. Spread across four parts, the author has created a huge universe which sucks you in. Set in backdrop of The Mother (Earth) having destroyed by a huge war involving nanotech, the human life is struggling to live under changed circumstances. The Temple which firmly believes that the humans are the reason for this devastation, has strict control over the entire planet.
The protagonist Valko is a Moderator who along with his teammates solve cases involving unnatural death. Cold, logical, and harsh, Valko needs synthetic drugs to make him empathetic to the victims to understand their emotions and memories... He and his sergeant, are required to handle a murder of scientist, find the culprit, and bring them to justice. Soon there’s one more murder with similar MO. With obstacles at every step, the case gets convoluted quickly.
The author has created much believable futuristic world. He uses unique words to give the book quite a realistic feel. At first, the book feels slightly heavy. But, once we reach around middle of the book, we feel comfortable with the author’s world. There are enough characters to make the story interesting and gripping. The character development, the decisions they make, the bond – everything makes us feel connected. The twists and turns, the impending doom keeps us on the edge. The fact that nobody can be trusted makes the reading more enjoyable. There were moments which made me emotional. The description about how the life was post war gave feeling of how need to be careful about our planet Earth or it could be a reality. The ending was sudden yet poignant.
However, there are certain drawbacks. There is so much packed in terms of technology and the science behind everything. There were certain portions which required rereading to grasp the concept. Also, the past and background of the “villain” could have been dealt better.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book! Do not be fazed by the number of pages, this book is quite a sci-fi adventure!
April 8, 2019
I received
in exchange for an honest review.
On the surface 'Mercury's Son' by Luke E.T. Hindmarsh is an apocalyptic sci-fi with murder, crime, and secrets. Alternatively, that is what I gathered from most of the reviews I read before selecting this book. In my opinion, there is a lot more to this attention-grabbing novel. For me, it was a character study that just happened to have a lot of science fiction.
The futuristic theme puts the main character Valko Gangleri front and center. His job is to uphold the law in whatever investigations come his way. Earth has pretty much been destroyed, so options are limited. The Moderator's past, what he can recall, and his training have conditioned him to see the world a certain way. People have two options. Live within the cramped Enclosure where everything you do, is tracked via an implant. The alternative is to suffer as an outlaw in the harsh environment beyond the Enclosure. Suddenly Valko is deeply connected to a case, and, he is not sure why. Dark plans were set in motion years before and abruptly the Moderator can't trust anyone but his subordinate Sergeant Satoshi.
Just like any living society, this one has a constant set of issues. Several of Hindmarsh's characters go through a personal journey. None of them get to the other side without a good or bad transformation.
I found layers of social reality that I did not expect. Lately, I have noticed similarities between the current political weather and the books that I read. Feels like I don't choose books, books choose me.
Anyone who is searching for political and social injustice spun into the world of science fiction will love this. From the beginning, I was intrigued. Generally, I set all my expectations aside when it comes to this theme. Even without them, I still did not have certain elements figured out till the end. It also took me longer than expected to finish. 'Mercury's Son' is a lengthy book. Plus, Hindmarsh's characters and the context that they live in is a bit intense. They made me think to the point that I could see some current public figures seamlessly fit into the narrative.
As with any book, a little light editing would not hurt. There is some slight, not graphic, sexual content. It's more emotional than physical. So if you are looking for clean fiction this is a good choice.
I hope this review was useful. Have a great day.
**** SPOILER ALERT *** SPOILER ALERT*** SPOILER ALERT *** SPOILER ALERT ***
Valko, as mentioned above is the main character. At first glance, he's a bossy man on a circular mission — kind of like a hamster. The unfortunate thing has direction but is not going anywhere good on that wheel. A tricky case, people who want to hide the truth, and people who want him dead; change everything. Valko discovers himself, who he wants to be and how he wants to be remembered should anything happen to him.
Satoshi is second in command. He and Valko spend lots of time together, and, it is evident that Valko's subordinate respects him. In some ways, Satoshi sees him as a friend. His past, his family, and what he wants for them are essential to him. The coworkers go through a lot and help each other as their friendship solidifies. He's a great guy. I would love to see more of him
Davidson, who is also a part of Valko's team, annoyed me consistently. I found him to be immature and self-absorbed. For a short amount of time, I thought that he would turn out to be the villain. Satoshi and Valko are overbearing obstacles to Davidson. Only the man is lazy and somewhat short-sighted. He didn't know that he was]]] being manipulated until it was too late.
I like Valko's love interest, Jean. Some of the things that she did weren't very likable. It was her strength and how sure she was of herself and her skills; that got me. Further into 'Mercury's Son' Valko and Satoshi have no choice but to trust her. It is what happens afterward that shows her character and intent.
Satoshi's wife is a small character that brings a lot to the table. The dynamics between Satoshi and Iona is tense. Partially because she is his assigned mate and does not want to lose control of herself or her emotions. It would have been nice to see a little more of Iona. I would have enjoyed learning more about her and their son Sadiq.
Every story needs a good villain. The kind of bad guy or gal that is worth hating. With all its twists and turns, this one could be almost anyone. Since I don't want to give too much away, I'll say this. The villain in 'Mercury's Son' has a very intense hold on the world that almost everyone exists in.
in exchange for an honest review.On the surface 'Mercury's Son' by Luke E.T. Hindmarsh is an apocalyptic sci-fi with murder, crime, and secrets. Alternatively, that is what I gathered from most of the reviews I read before selecting this book. In my opinion, there is a lot more to this attention-grabbing novel. For me, it was a character study that just happened to have a lot of science fiction.
The futuristic theme puts the main character Valko Gangleri front and center. His job is to uphold the law in whatever investigations come his way. Earth has pretty much been destroyed, so options are limited. The Moderator's past, what he can recall, and his training have conditioned him to see the world a certain way. People have two options. Live within the cramped Enclosure where everything you do, is tracked via an implant. The alternative is to suffer as an outlaw in the harsh environment beyond the Enclosure. Suddenly Valko is deeply connected to a case, and, he is not sure why. Dark plans were set in motion years before and abruptly the Moderator can't trust anyone but his subordinate Sergeant Satoshi.
Just like any living society, this one has a constant set of issues. Several of Hindmarsh's characters go through a personal journey. None of them get to the other side without a good or bad transformation.
I found layers of social reality that I did not expect. Lately, I have noticed similarities between the current political weather and the books that I read. Feels like I don't choose books, books choose me.
Anyone who is searching for political and social injustice spun into the world of science fiction will love this. From the beginning, I was intrigued. Generally, I set all my expectations aside when it comes to this theme. Even without them, I still did not have certain elements figured out till the end. It also took me longer than expected to finish. 'Mercury's Son' is a lengthy book. Plus, Hindmarsh's characters and the context that they live in is a bit intense. They made me think to the point that I could see some current public figures seamlessly fit into the narrative.
As with any book, a little light editing would not hurt. There is some slight, not graphic, sexual content. It's more emotional than physical. So if you are looking for clean fiction this is a good choice.
I hope this review was useful. Have a great day.
**** SPOILER ALERT *** SPOILER ALERT*** SPOILER ALERT *** SPOILER ALERT ***
Valko, as mentioned above is the main character. At first glance, he's a bossy man on a circular mission — kind of like a hamster. The unfortunate thing has direction but is not going anywhere good on that wheel. A tricky case, people who want to hide the truth, and people who want him dead; change everything. Valko discovers himself, who he wants to be and how he wants to be remembered should anything happen to him.
Satoshi is second in command. He and Valko spend lots of time together, and, it is evident that Valko's subordinate respects him. In some ways, Satoshi sees him as a friend. His past, his family, and what he wants for them are essential to him. The coworkers go through a lot and help each other as their friendship solidifies. He's a great guy. I would love to see more of him
Davidson, who is also a part of Valko's team, annoyed me consistently. I found him to be immature and self-absorbed. For a short amount of time, I thought that he would turn out to be the villain. Satoshi and Valko are overbearing obstacles to Davidson. Only the man is lazy and somewhat short-sighted. He didn't know that he was]]] being manipulated until it was too late.
I like Valko's love interest, Jean. Some of the things that she did weren't very likable. It was her strength and how sure she was of herself and her skills; that got me. Further into 'Mercury's Son' Valko and Satoshi have no choice but to trust her. It is what happens afterward that shows her character and intent.
Satoshi's wife is a small character that brings a lot to the table. The dynamics between Satoshi and Iona is tense. Partially because she is his assigned mate and does not want to lose control of herself or her emotions. It would have been nice to see a little more of Iona. I would have enjoyed learning more about her and their son Sadiq.
Every story needs a good villain. The kind of bad guy or gal that is worth hating. With all its twists and turns, this one could be almost anyone. Since I don't want to give too much away, I'll say this. The villain in 'Mercury's Son' has a very intense hold on the world that almost everyone exists in.
May 30, 2020
I was provided a copy of Mercury’s Son in return for an honest review.
Mercury’s Son attracted me because it is a combination some of my favorite genres: crime/mystery and science fiction/dystopian. More than a lifetime ago earth was destroyed during a war between people on earth (between each other) and settlements on Mars. The main character is an investigator (Moderator) who, with the help of a drug and technology, can see the thoughts of a dead person. In doing this, he can see if someone committed suicide or was murdered. If murdered, it is hoped he can see the face of the murderer, making trials unneeded before a death sentence is decided. He is one of the best of his ilk, and he knows it.
While checking on recent murders, he notices some similarities. His efforts to connect the dots bring him further and further into a deep, deep conspiracy that leads him to doubting whom to trust or whom to love. And as he gathers more information about the initial murders, he runs into knowledge that makes him question just about everything he has been taught about how the earth ended up the way it was. The main influence is the Temple of the Mother, which indoctrinates people with the belief that humans are a virus and are the reason why the Mother (Earth) has died, and the only thing humans have to offer is being recycled at the end of life and used to try to heal the Mother. The people of the Temple co-reign with the oppressive, all-controlling government.
The author, Luke E. T. Hindmarsh, did an excellent job creating a detailed world(s) and characters. Each character of any import was developed enough that when they reappeared I had no difficulty remembering who they were. Thrown in with the featured characters are clones; humans who live inside the bubble but at the margins of society; beings that are a bit human and a lot robot; people who seem to have been alive for a very long time; and martyrs (from the Temple) and remnants trying to live outside the bubbles of safety on a lifeless planet.
The story is long and involved, but worth the read. I look forward to other titles by Hindmarsh.
Mercury’s Son attracted me because it is a combination some of my favorite genres: crime/mystery and science fiction/dystopian. More than a lifetime ago earth was destroyed during a war between people on earth (between each other) and settlements on Mars. The main character is an investigator (Moderator) who, with the help of a drug and technology, can see the thoughts of a dead person. In doing this, he can see if someone committed suicide or was murdered. If murdered, it is hoped he can see the face of the murderer, making trials unneeded before a death sentence is decided. He is one of the best of his ilk, and he knows it.
While checking on recent murders, he notices some similarities. His efforts to connect the dots bring him further and further into a deep, deep conspiracy that leads him to doubting whom to trust or whom to love. And as he gathers more information about the initial murders, he runs into knowledge that makes him question just about everything he has been taught about how the earth ended up the way it was. The main influence is the Temple of the Mother, which indoctrinates people with the belief that humans are a virus and are the reason why the Mother (Earth) has died, and the only thing humans have to offer is being recycled at the end of life and used to try to heal the Mother. The people of the Temple co-reign with the oppressive, all-controlling government.
The author, Luke E. T. Hindmarsh, did an excellent job creating a detailed world(s) and characters. Each character of any import was developed enough that when they reappeared I had no difficulty remembering who they were. Thrown in with the featured characters are clones; humans who live inside the bubble but at the margins of society; beings that are a bit human and a lot robot; people who seem to have been alive for a very long time; and martyrs (from the Temple) and remnants trying to live outside the bubbles of safety on a lifeless planet.
The story is long and involved, but worth the read. I look forward to other titles by Hindmarsh.
December 3, 2020
Valko Gangleri is a Moderator in a world destroyed by a Lunar War. He lives on what used to be Earth, but is now called the Mother. The planet has been ravaged and is only habitable in small enclosed areas in which every bit of matter must be accounted for and recycled. Humans too are recycled and that is a common punishment for those who do not follow the strict rules of the Temple or the Centro Autorita.
Valko’s job is that of a criminal investigator who through the use of futuristic equipment and a drug called NOTT can sift through and relive the last few moments of a victim’s life. Valko is known for being thoroughly cold, logical, with no desire to step outside the law. He has no pity or remorse for those he orders recycled, but he is also dedicated to truth and will not stop until the full story is known.
This book starts much like a police procedural, with new technologies to lend the sci-fi aroma. As you learn about Valko and his latest case, you meet a cast of characters that feel real and act in a way that feels true to this world. Satoshi is a subordinate of Valko and is his right hand man who desires to Valko to also be his friend. Satoshi is a veteran of the Lunar War, but has no memories of his role in the war or the lives he took or spared. His memories have been removed ostensibly to protect him from going killcrazy. He is unnaturally strong and dangerous due to the synthorganics and physical “improvements” he has been given.
As the story develops, Valko begins to have odd hallucinations and Satoshi starts gaining memories that cause both to question what is real and what is not. There are some some serious twists in what all of this has to do with the case they are trying to solve. As their understanding of the case improves, their beliefs about the world they inhabit unravel.
If you like murder mysteries and sci-fi involving future tech that augments humans, this is definitely a book for you. The author has done a good job of world-building and there are plenty of twists and turns before the end. Highly recommended
Valko’s job is that of a criminal investigator who through the use of futuristic equipment and a drug called NOTT can sift through and relive the last few moments of a victim’s life. Valko is known for being thoroughly cold, logical, with no desire to step outside the law. He has no pity or remorse for those he orders recycled, but he is also dedicated to truth and will not stop until the full story is known.
This book starts much like a police procedural, with new technologies to lend the sci-fi aroma. As you learn about Valko and his latest case, you meet a cast of characters that feel real and act in a way that feels true to this world. Satoshi is a subordinate of Valko and is his right hand man who desires to Valko to also be his friend. Satoshi is a veteran of the Lunar War, but has no memories of his role in the war or the lives he took or spared. His memories have been removed ostensibly to protect him from going killcrazy. He is unnaturally strong and dangerous due to the synthorganics and physical “improvements” he has been given.
As the story develops, Valko begins to have odd hallucinations and Satoshi starts gaining memories that cause both to question what is real and what is not. There are some some serious twists in what all of this has to do with the case they are trying to solve. As their understanding of the case improves, their beliefs about the world they inhabit unravel.
If you like murder mysteries and sci-fi involving future tech that augments humans, this is definitely a book for you. The author has done a good job of world-building and there are plenty of twists and turns before the end. Highly recommended
December 22, 2017
The middle of the book gets mired in navel-gazing on Valko’s part as his mental abilities grow and his consciousness expands. It also gets bogged down by huge historical info-dumps that delve into minutiae of the war, some weird scientific research, and so forth. The beginning held me with its structure wrapped around an interesting murder plot, but the middle got very abstract and strange. While (in general) it’s good that some of the info-dumps come out in dialogue, Hindmarsh’s dialogue isn’t as good as his narrative, so some of it felt awkward and weird. I’ve never said this before that I can remember, but I actually feel that this book would have benefited from more flashbacks, as long as those flashbacks had clear purpose and were used to tighten up the prose.
The totalitarian regime didn’t entirely hold up for me. It’s gotten to a point where people have beacons implanted in them and can be tracked at any time, yet it’s hugely easy for the main characters to slip in and out of all sorts of places without raising alarms. Frankly I feel as though it’s already easier today for many of the things they did to be tracked and figured out. Perhaps it would have been better to make the government a little less one-sidedly harsh and evil, both to keep things fresh and to allow better reasons for why things might get overlooked.
In general I enjoy this book, but make sure you aren’t looking for a fast-paced novel.
NOTE: Free book provided by author for review
Original review on my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2017/12/r...
The totalitarian regime didn’t entirely hold up for me. It’s gotten to a point where people have beacons implanted in them and can be tracked at any time, yet it’s hugely easy for the main characters to slip in and out of all sorts of places without raising alarms. Frankly I feel as though it’s already easier today for many of the things they did to be tracked and figured out. Perhaps it would have been better to make the government a little less one-sidedly harsh and evil, both to keep things fresh and to allow better reasons for why things might get overlooked.
In general I enjoy this book, but make sure you aren’t looking for a fast-paced novel.
NOTE: Free book provided by author for review
Original review on my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2017/12/r...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews