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Necrotic City
What would you do if you realized that the laws you enforce do little more than contribute to the suffering of the people you were created to protect? In a dying city wracked by corruption and civil unrest, Adrian is about to make a discovery that will test his allegiance and alter his life forever. It’s said that every broken world needs a hero. Will this hero wind up as broken as the dying city he’s sworn to protect?
394 pages, Paperback
Published November 24, 2017
14 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Leland Lydecker
3 books28 followersLeland Lydecker is a writer, professional driver, and former airline employee. No stranger to the ins and outs of government and corporate corruption, his preferred writing topics are crime, extra-judicial justice, and the future of society. His interests range from the natural world, to space exploration, to technology and medicine with an emphasis on genetic engineering, cybernetics, and artificial intelligence.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
July 20, 2018
My rating 4.7
The book Necrotic City by Leland Lydecker leads us to quite a dark vision of the future world. The city where the main character lives are in the company's full power. All residents are constantly monitored and everything is subordinated to the company. Residents depending on their credit power live in a large underground city and are deployed at different levels. Water and food are missing, especially in the poorest parts of the city. The natural environment is completely polluted so that most plants are destroyed by pollution. All that has to do with the past, the company has completely banned and all the people who oppose them are proclaimed to the anarchists. Now a little bit about the main story. Adrian is a Hero, modified and manufactured by the company; its main purpose is to save the inhabitants of the city. Even though among the best Heroes, Adrian will soon become an overrun because the company has completely different plans. His life will be in danger and he will have to save his life in Necrotic City, a town that is all but an ideal place for Hero. The writer has perfectly described the dystopian city and readers can feel his vibrations. The world and characters are well described and every fan of science fiction will enjoy in this novel. I would recommend a book to all fans of the Sci-Fi genre.
The book Necrotic City by Leland Lydecker leads us to quite a dark vision of the future world. The city where the main character lives are in the company's full power. All residents are constantly monitored and everything is subordinated to the company. Residents depending on their credit power live in a large underground city and are deployed at different levels. Water and food are missing, especially in the poorest parts of the city. The natural environment is completely polluted so that most plants are destroyed by pollution. All that has to do with the past, the company has completely banned and all the people who oppose them are proclaimed to the anarchists. Now a little bit about the main story. Adrian is a Hero, modified and manufactured by the company; its main purpose is to save the inhabitants of the city. Even though among the best Heroes, Adrian will soon become an overrun because the company has completely different plans. His life will be in danger and he will have to save his life in Necrotic City, a town that is all but an ideal place for Hero. The writer has perfectly described the dystopian city and readers can feel his vibrations. The world and characters are well described and every fan of science fiction will enjoy in this novel. I would recommend a book to all fans of the Sci-Fi genre.
January 22, 2018
A highly thought out and entertaining read!
The writing is gripping, the world building is engrossing and descriptive and the story itself is again gripping.
I was totally immersed into this book; the descriptions of the bleak dystopian future hell hole of a city sucked me straight into it as if I was there myself. The plot was familiar to other similar genre books I've read but yet, the writing made it feel different and set it apart from your average dystopian futuristic sci-fi book.
I would highly recommend and I look forward to any future releases by the author.
The writing is gripping, the world building is engrossing and descriptive and the story itself is again gripping.
I was totally immersed into this book; the descriptions of the bleak dystopian future hell hole of a city sucked me straight into it as if I was there myself. The plot was familiar to other similar genre books I've read but yet, the writing made it feel different and set it apart from your average dystopian futuristic sci-fi book.
I would highly recommend and I look forward to any future releases by the author.
January 18, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I liked the idea of heroes a lot, they reminded me of super-soldiers from a sci-fi game, I particularly liked that citizens could signal them for help with an alarm, like how we phone the police. The fact that the hero name is juxtaposed by how many of the citizens don’t want their help is a nice touch.
Necrotic City did begin with a lot of world-building, but it didn’t detract from how engaging the story was in my opinion, the only flaw is that I didn’t feel a connection to Adrian or any other characters until a couple of chapters in, due to all the other information there was to ingest.
Once we got to know him, Adrian was a likeable and sympathetic MC. The city itself was also fantastically realised, even in its grimness. I had to look up what maglev lines and a few other terms were, but that might just be a lack of knowledge on my part.
There was a little too much description at points, such as giving full descriptions of characters just as they’re introduced, instead of sprinkling in descriptors amongst the narrative. However, the writing itself was such a joy to read that it was easy to overlook.
The overall plot was certainly similar to other books in the genre, but the fantastic and unique world-building really made the story stand out.
I could easily visualize Necrotic city making for a great movie or tv series too.
I liked the idea of heroes a lot, they reminded me of super-soldiers from a sci-fi game, I particularly liked that citizens could signal them for help with an alarm, like how we phone the police. The fact that the hero name is juxtaposed by how many of the citizens don’t want their help is a nice touch.
Necrotic City did begin with a lot of world-building, but it didn’t detract from how engaging the story was in my opinion, the only flaw is that I didn’t feel a connection to Adrian or any other characters until a couple of chapters in, due to all the other information there was to ingest.
Once we got to know him, Adrian was a likeable and sympathetic MC. The city itself was also fantastically realised, even in its grimness. I had to look up what maglev lines and a few other terms were, but that might just be a lack of knowledge on my part.
There was a little too much description at points, such as giving full descriptions of characters just as they’re introduced, instead of sprinkling in descriptors amongst the narrative. However, the writing itself was such a joy to read that it was easy to overlook.
The overall plot was certainly similar to other books in the genre, but the fantastic and unique world-building really made the story stand out.
I could easily visualize Necrotic city making for a great movie or tv series too.
January 26, 2018
I know I shouldn't say this, but the place in which this book is set reminded me a little of the way Mega City One was set up. With its towering buildings and social discord attached to each area. The story follows Adrian, a synthetic being know as a hero. Heroes were placed to keep the people of the tiers safe. They were what you could call health and safety administers. Within the upper level tiers, Suicides and anarchy run wild, and Adrian find himself in some very awkward situations as the story progresses. I loved Adrian's character, and rooted for him all the way.
There was a strong secondary cast to this story. Most of them I rooted for, but there was one character I wanted to dismember myself. I shan't go any further.
Within the dark, depressing setting, where you're screwed if you're creditless, came a great, well written story that had me turning those pages as fast as time constraints would allow me. It also made me think about the fact that this could be a future reality.
I have no complaints about the way the story was written, and everything came together nicely. I recommend this to anyone who likes dark Dystopic tales that make you think.
There was a strong secondary cast to this story. Most of them I rooted for, but there was one character I wanted to dismember myself. I shan't go any further.
Within the dark, depressing setting, where you're screwed if you're creditless, came a great, well written story that had me turning those pages as fast as time constraints would allow me. It also made me think about the fact that this could be a future reality.
I have no complaints about the way the story was written, and everything came together nicely. I recommend this to anyone who likes dark Dystopic tales that make you think.
August 11, 2019
In Necrotic City there are two types of cybernetically enhanced "Police": Peace officers known as Heroes who go about saving lives often at their own peril and Enforcers who see the rule of law is followed, often brutally.
The city itself reminds me of a Towel of Babel or giant Pyramid extending from the heavens where all is wealth illusion and comfort to beyond 50 where squalor, poverty and death are unimaginable.
The "company" which created Heroes like Adrian has decided Heroes are no longer needed so Adrian is sent to work as a bodyguard for a family in the upper tier. When Adrian’s new boss gives him an order which goes against his programming, he realizes he must escape and does so.
This begins his journey all the way to the lowest and impoverished or credit-less tiers. As he journeys, he often trusts the wrong people and is betrayed at various points. Slowly he learns how to survive as well as the nature of true and trustworthy friends.
The book is well written and takes the right amount of time to build the world and the character. My only very slight quibble was that the final challenge at the end comes about rather quickly.
All in all a good book to read and to make you wonder if in future generations we will become like the inhabitants of Necrotic City.
The city itself reminds me of a Towel of Babel or giant Pyramid extending from the heavens where all is wealth illusion and comfort to beyond 50 where squalor, poverty and death are unimaginable.
The "company" which created Heroes like Adrian has decided Heroes are no longer needed so Adrian is sent to work as a bodyguard for a family in the upper tier. When Adrian’s new boss gives him an order which goes against his programming, he realizes he must escape and does so.
This begins his journey all the way to the lowest and impoverished or credit-less tiers. As he journeys, he often trusts the wrong people and is betrayed at various points. Slowly he learns how to survive as well as the nature of true and trustworthy friends.
The book is well written and takes the right amount of time to build the world and the character. My only very slight quibble was that the final challenge at the end comes about rather quickly.
All in all a good book to read and to make you wonder if in future generations we will become like the inhabitants of Necrotic City.
May 24, 2018
WOW!!!!
What a great read. I’m not typically a fan of dystopian fiction, but this author did such a brilliant job creating a rich world filled with tiny human intricacies, I couldn’t stop reading. The main character is a genetically modified, machine enriched sort of human whose entire purpose in life is to save everyone else. He is a little bit like Steinbeck’s Lennie in that he has a childlike trust in the world and he only wants to do good things. Regretfully, he learns hard and fast that the world isn’t what it seems.
The author’s style is neat and clean. A delight to read. His descriptions are just enough to immerse you, but not enough to bore you. His dialog is spot on and the details of his world will leave you smelling the fumes.
What a great read. I’m not typically a fan of dystopian fiction, but this author did such a brilliant job creating a rich world filled with tiny human intricacies, I couldn’t stop reading. The main character is a genetically modified, machine enriched sort of human whose entire purpose in life is to save everyone else. He is a little bit like Steinbeck’s Lennie in that he has a childlike trust in the world and he only wants to do good things. Regretfully, he learns hard and fast that the world isn’t what it seems.
The author’s style is neat and clean. A delight to read. His descriptions are just enough to immerse you, but not enough to bore you. His dialog is spot on and the details of his world will leave you smelling the fumes.
July 31, 2018
There is literally not enough good that I could say about this book! I could not put it down, the gritty scenery was believable and I felt so immersed in it. The rules of this world (twisted as they may be) th characters, it was just so magnificently done! The “Hero’s” of the book, and in their world were believable and the main character, Adrian was such a likable and believeable person, that it makes you wish you knew someone of his integrity and moral character in real life. His battles against his surroundings and the people in it are real. I was completely gripped by the story, and suggest this fantastic futuristic/semi apocalyptic alternate reality story to anyone who wants to escape. You will not be disappointed. It’s completely fantastic!
March 30, 2018
The eponymous city is rotting from the inside outwards and our hero, Adrian, who is coincidentally a genetically engineered Hero, is caught between the city bosses who own him and his own feeling for fairness and justice. It’s an allegory for our times, whose message about the evils of greed is well placed.
I liked: The whole concept, and the creeping claustrophobia engendered by the set-up. I also found the writing to be clear and lucid.
I didn’t like: The pacing seemed to me to be a bit peculiar, devoting a great deal of the early book to nothing much happening, then being a bit rushed at the end. Sadly, I didn’t much care for Adrian, he sort of bored me and I felt he could have done with a streak of mean or something - but that’s probably just me.
For whatever reason, I never felt I connected properly with this book, though I found much to commend in it.
Four stars and a recommendation to those who enjoy dystopian allegory.
I liked: The whole concept, and the creeping claustrophobia engendered by the set-up. I also found the writing to be clear and lucid.
I didn’t like: The pacing seemed to me to be a bit peculiar, devoting a great deal of the early book to nothing much happening, then being a bit rushed at the end. Sadly, I didn’t much care for Adrian, he sort of bored me and I felt he could have done with a streak of mean or something - but that’s probably just me.
For whatever reason, I never felt I connected properly with this book, though I found much to commend in it.
Four stars and a recommendation to those who enjoy dystopian allegory.
March 16, 2019
Adrian is a man who wasn’t born. He was produced, created to be a protector of the public (something similar to a police officer) in an sealed city-state with a deteriorating eco system all its own. Instead of a government, the city/state is run by the company that originally owned it, and the citizenry is tolerated according to the value they bring to the company. Adrian is a member of the city’s Hero Division. As such, he is a perfect physical specimen, infused with special nano-augments, and programmed to instinctively protect and serve the public. This altruistic function of serving the public is a hold-over from earlier times, and does not fit in with the Company’s current philosophy.
Lydecker uses Adrian’s Journey through the book to give us a tour of this enclosed world, and he uses the enclosed world to offer some hard summations of our own. There are plenty of action scenes in this book, plenty of moments of beautiful writing, and plenty of dazzling visual concepts, but there isn’t as much escapism as you might expect - these characters are all dealing with the nightmares we feel nipping at our heels even now - corrupt government, economic insecurity, citizenship in a society that feels more like a trap than a home. The moments of heroic violence in the book come across as a relief.
When Adrian’s Hero division is dissolved, most of its members move over to the city’s Enforcer class. Lydecker uses this moment to move Adrian to the top of this world - a great tiered structure with a literal social hierarchy - Company Executives live in the top tiers, the middle classes live in the middle, and the abandoned live at the bottom. Adrian becomes the bodyguard of one of the Corporate Executives at the top of the city, and takes to the assignment with little problem. The Executive, however, is not a moral person. He thinks he has hired a bodyguard who will also function as a goon. Adrian has no problem guarding the executive, but he won’t do the Executive’s dirty work - with Adrian’s ingrained programming, he might not even be CAPABLE of doing the Executive’s dirty work. Their relationship doesn’t exist long without conflict, and the Executive soon orders Adrian killed.
Lydecker does a great trick with the rest of the book, Adrian escapes, and his descent through all of the city’s layers is also his ascension. As Adrian escapes through the lower levels, we get a great tour of this dystopian world - from the pleasures of the affluent, to the miseries of the poor. But all the time Adrian is moving, his eyes are getting opened, his naivete is getting beaten off of him, and he is getting a truer vision of the world he lives in. This is a hard journey, full of violence and double-crosses. (Adrian has valuable augments all throughout his body, and plenty of people are willing to kill him for them).
This book is complete. It has a beginning, a middle and an end. Adrian has an arc. He does not end in the same place he started. That said, this is also a book that builds a fascinating world for its readers, with injustice at its top, and wild social Darwinism at its bottom (the lowest shadows are full of “Flesh Hackers”, serious body-modders, capable of offering ANY kind of character to the reader). Overthrowing this system is something the reader wants and expects, but it doesn’t turn out to be the point of the book, suggesting that we may return to this world in future publications.
Adrian may return as well -- but that isn’t guaranteed.
End notes: The writing in the book is very smooth. When I needed to, I listened to some of this book using text-to-speech, and it survived that difficulty very well. The Flesh Hackers are a fantastic concept, full of great invention, and despite the horrors of this world, there are still small touches of grace that find a way to push through - like when a character looks out a train window at a swirl of pollution - it’s existence is awful, but the character can still be captivated by its beauty.
A terrific novel. Five Stars. Let’s see more!
Lydecker uses Adrian’s Journey through the book to give us a tour of this enclosed world, and he uses the enclosed world to offer some hard summations of our own. There are plenty of action scenes in this book, plenty of moments of beautiful writing, and plenty of dazzling visual concepts, but there isn’t as much escapism as you might expect - these characters are all dealing with the nightmares we feel nipping at our heels even now - corrupt government, economic insecurity, citizenship in a society that feels more like a trap than a home. The moments of heroic violence in the book come across as a relief.
When Adrian’s Hero division is dissolved, most of its members move over to the city’s Enforcer class. Lydecker uses this moment to move Adrian to the top of this world - a great tiered structure with a literal social hierarchy - Company Executives live in the top tiers, the middle classes live in the middle, and the abandoned live at the bottom. Adrian becomes the bodyguard of one of the Corporate Executives at the top of the city, and takes to the assignment with little problem. The Executive, however, is not a moral person. He thinks he has hired a bodyguard who will also function as a goon. Adrian has no problem guarding the executive, but he won’t do the Executive’s dirty work - with Adrian’s ingrained programming, he might not even be CAPABLE of doing the Executive’s dirty work. Their relationship doesn’t exist long without conflict, and the Executive soon orders Adrian killed.
Lydecker does a great trick with the rest of the book, Adrian escapes, and his descent through all of the city’s layers is also his ascension. As Adrian escapes through the lower levels, we get a great tour of this dystopian world - from the pleasures of the affluent, to the miseries of the poor. But all the time Adrian is moving, his eyes are getting opened, his naivete is getting beaten off of him, and he is getting a truer vision of the world he lives in. This is a hard journey, full of violence and double-crosses. (Adrian has valuable augments all throughout his body, and plenty of people are willing to kill him for them).
This book is complete. It has a beginning, a middle and an end. Adrian has an arc. He does not end in the same place he started. That said, this is also a book that builds a fascinating world for its readers, with injustice at its top, and wild social Darwinism at its bottom (the lowest shadows are full of “Flesh Hackers”, serious body-modders, capable of offering ANY kind of character to the reader). Overthrowing this system is something the reader wants and expects, but it doesn’t turn out to be the point of the book, suggesting that we may return to this world in future publications.
Adrian may return as well -- but that isn’t guaranteed.
End notes: The writing in the book is very smooth. When I needed to, I listened to some of this book using text-to-speech, and it survived that difficulty very well. The Flesh Hackers are a fantastic concept, full of great invention, and despite the horrors of this world, there are still small touches of grace that find a way to push through - like when a character looks out a train window at a swirl of pollution - it’s existence is awful, but the character can still be captivated by its beauty.
A terrific novel. Five Stars. Let’s see more!
December 11, 2018
Adrian is one of the last heroes. People genetically enhanced by the company, in the city, humanity’s only safe haven from pollution, drought, and famine. Heroes will give their lives for any of the citizens, no matter if they are rich or poor. Except, the company who created the heroes and operates their group is drawing an ever tightening line around which citizens get protection. A system easy to enforce since the city is built on tiers with the wealthy on top and slums starting around the fortieth tier and turning to hell beyond tier fifty.
The story picks up with Adrian at the beginning of his awareness of the disparity and his own descent through the city.
I love a dystopia that can’t dull our hero’s optimism! Adrian gets kicked in the teeth plenty, but he doesn’t give up hope. Will he come out on top? I’m not spoiling, but you should definitely go in for the ride!
Since I run the Science Fantasy Hub and do bookish things all the time, I thought the perfect Christmas gift for my brother would be a book! I asked some author friends what they recommend and this one was highly recommended. Now it’s got my seal of approval as well. Yeah, on top of buying bro a paperback, I got the ebook. That way we could talk about it! Now if he would only get around to reading… lol!
The story picks up with Adrian at the beginning of his awareness of the disparity and his own descent through the city.
I love a dystopia that can’t dull our hero’s optimism! Adrian gets kicked in the teeth plenty, but he doesn’t give up hope. Will he come out on top? I’m not spoiling, but you should definitely go in for the ride!
Since I run the Science Fantasy Hub and do bookish things all the time, I thought the perfect Christmas gift for my brother would be a book! I asked some author friends what they recommend and this one was highly recommended. Now it’s got my seal of approval as well. Yeah, on top of buying bro a paperback, I got the ebook. That way we could talk about it! Now if he would only get around to reading… lol!
March 18, 2018
This is science fiction of the good sort: speculative, this-is-how-we-could-end-up-if-we-don’t-watch-out scenario, great relatable central character AND the science is solidly believable without being in-your-face-uber-detailed boring. And I hate rubbish science (was a scientist originally here, back in the dark ages before found my vocation) – many many many dystopians fall down for me because the science or even basic economics of human existence as imagined in the story just don’t work. Not that I can’t suspend disbelief, I really can, but not when it gets so you’re having to strain to hold onto said suspension. But the science in Necrotic City is both highly believable and skilfully interwoven/necessary to the plot.
The premise is instantly gripping to me, though the blurb doesn’t fully exploit that premise I don’t think. I wasn’t instantly hooked by the blurb, though I was once I started reading.
Adrian is a genetically engineered, vat-born and enhanced human being, a Hero, designed to protect and serve by the city founders, the “Company.” But he and his peers have become increasingly unpopular as they are now identified by a restless populace as part of the now corrupted and exploitative Company’s control network, which also includes a regiment of extremely brutal "Enforcers.” Adrian alone amongst his peers – he is an older Hero, with older modifications and a longer life span than they usually enjoy – blithely continues with his helping and protecting what is now an increasingly hostile, cynical and thankless public.
This first part of the novel moves along at a crisp pace and Adrian is a great central character: smart, connected (literally, through his implants and interface), and yet terminally kind and trusting. Against all experience, he persists in trying to be the good guy: then is fascinatingly told, by the daughter of the Company bigwig to whom he’s eventually sold off, that that’s because of his modded dog DNA: he craves to be loyal, to be close to people, to help others and be useful.
Poor Adrian for all his smarts is completely out of his depth against the cynicism and cruelty of the upper echelons and the Company’s machinations – and when he stands firm against the most brutal Enforcer of them all, naturally he becomes a target, as well as something of a folk hero. He’s a bit like Maximus: smart in some ways, a terrific fighter, but a lot of the time too honest in himself to see the bad guys for who they really are.
I should add in here that the city itself could stand as a character in this story: the different tiers, the transport systems, the social structure with its extreme inequities and lack of justice, the way in which the creditless poor are seen as trash, and the vital importance of water in a place of almost constant drought, is all fully realized. Terrific sense of place.
I don’t want to say too much about how Adrian comes to try and escape the city, as it involves spoilers, but his journey up to that point, and his various adventures, encounters and betrayals are all 100% gripping stuff.
Post that, it's still good reading, but I felt for me it could have been a bit tighter. Adrian journeys into the outer regions, which are also well-realized so far as the geography of the city is concerned, but I felt this became slightly repetitious. Lots of dust, pollution, collapsed concrete, bad air… Not to say that any of the actual encounters were unnecessary for the story, in fact the story hung together well with one nit-picky exception, but given that the physical terrain of these outer tiers was basically ruins, I think that the descriptions could be tighter and Adrian’s progress faster (tunnels, beam-balancing etc) so that the reader can get on with the story.
The nit-pick? A time issue. Loved it that Mel turned up when she did – but seems like only a few hours since the Major Incident when she disappeared – and a Very Great Deal has happened to her in that few hours. The continuity lost some plausibility, but not enough to spoil enjoyment of story.
Also - the bone patterns and glittery collections at intersections?? Interesting detail hinting at other people/life forms out there (the Creepers?) - but nothing came of that. Is there going to be a book two? It's a bit like real life - stuff happens that you never fully understand or that isn't fully explained. But in my fiction I want to know!!
I should mention the writing style, though I don't always and often take it for granted: if I read to the end, it works. But the style was interesting to me, quite formal and traditional in a way without contemporary slang or made-up future idioms – so out-of-period and therefore timeless. It worked very well and fit with Adrian's traditional old-style manners and ethics.
Finally: the plot is soundly resolved in an open-ended way that I liked (in terms of the future of Adrian and his little group) but in another way I felt could have had a bit more closure (re the fate of the City, esp. as he is a famous Hero by now with people looking to him. I enjoyed that part of the story very much and didn’t want it to disappear).
But on the whole: read at one sitting, highly entertaining, great and believable world-building, terrific hero. Five stars.
For more of Brin's reviews, go to:
http://www.brinmurray.com/review-blog...
The premise is instantly gripping to me, though the blurb doesn’t fully exploit that premise I don’t think. I wasn’t instantly hooked by the blurb, though I was once I started reading.
Adrian is a genetically engineered, vat-born and enhanced human being, a Hero, designed to protect and serve by the city founders, the “Company.” But he and his peers have become increasingly unpopular as they are now identified by a restless populace as part of the now corrupted and exploitative Company’s control network, which also includes a regiment of extremely brutal "Enforcers.” Adrian alone amongst his peers – he is an older Hero, with older modifications and a longer life span than they usually enjoy – blithely continues with his helping and protecting what is now an increasingly hostile, cynical and thankless public.
This first part of the novel moves along at a crisp pace and Adrian is a great central character: smart, connected (literally, through his implants and interface), and yet terminally kind and trusting. Against all experience, he persists in trying to be the good guy: then is fascinatingly told, by the daughter of the Company bigwig to whom he’s eventually sold off, that that’s because of his modded dog DNA: he craves to be loyal, to be close to people, to help others and be useful.
Poor Adrian for all his smarts is completely out of his depth against the cynicism and cruelty of the upper echelons and the Company’s machinations – and when he stands firm against the most brutal Enforcer of them all, naturally he becomes a target, as well as something of a folk hero. He’s a bit like Maximus: smart in some ways, a terrific fighter, but a lot of the time too honest in himself to see the bad guys for who they really are.
I should add in here that the city itself could stand as a character in this story: the different tiers, the transport systems, the social structure with its extreme inequities and lack of justice, the way in which the creditless poor are seen as trash, and the vital importance of water in a place of almost constant drought, is all fully realized. Terrific sense of place.
I don’t want to say too much about how Adrian comes to try and escape the city, as it involves spoilers, but his journey up to that point, and his various adventures, encounters and betrayals are all 100% gripping stuff.
Post that, it's still good reading, but I felt for me it could have been a bit tighter. Adrian journeys into the outer regions, which are also well-realized so far as the geography of the city is concerned, but I felt this became slightly repetitious. Lots of dust, pollution, collapsed concrete, bad air… Not to say that any of the actual encounters were unnecessary for the story, in fact the story hung together well with one nit-picky exception, but given that the physical terrain of these outer tiers was basically ruins, I think that the descriptions could be tighter and Adrian’s progress faster (tunnels, beam-balancing etc) so that the reader can get on with the story.
The nit-pick? A time issue. Loved it that Mel turned up when she did – but seems like only a few hours since the Major Incident when she disappeared – and a Very Great Deal has happened to her in that few hours. The continuity lost some plausibility, but not enough to spoil enjoyment of story.
Also - the bone patterns and glittery collections at intersections?? Interesting detail hinting at other people/life forms out there (the Creepers?) - but nothing came of that. Is there going to be a book two? It's a bit like real life - stuff happens that you never fully understand or that isn't fully explained. But in my fiction I want to know!!
I should mention the writing style, though I don't always and often take it for granted: if I read to the end, it works. But the style was interesting to me, quite formal and traditional in a way without contemporary slang or made-up future idioms – so out-of-period and therefore timeless. It worked very well and fit with Adrian's traditional old-style manners and ethics.
Finally: the plot is soundly resolved in an open-ended way that I liked (in terms of the future of Adrian and his little group) but in another way I felt could have had a bit more closure (re the fate of the City, esp. as he is a famous Hero by now with people looking to him. I enjoyed that part of the story very much and didn’t want it to disappear).
But on the whole: read at one sitting, highly entertaining, great and believable world-building, terrific hero. Five stars.
For more of Brin's reviews, go to:
http://www.brinmurray.com/review-blog...
November 6, 2017
I was presented with Necrotic City and was intrigued by the title right away! I immediately submerged into its futuristic world and simply could not tear myself from the book till the last page was turned! Greatly mastered, this novel possesses the main characteristics of a dystopian future: independent thinking and freedom are restricted, the natural world is distrusted, while citizens are under constant surveillance.
The author gives the reader a unique opportunity to enter the futuristic world of Necrotic City with numerous tiers, synthetic food, water shortage and a two-child limit, ruled by the Company and patrolled by Heroes from the Company’s safety division. The main character Adrian is very unique, even in his own group of vat-grown Heroes. He never doubted what he was doing, did not think about death or the correctness of what was happening until one day, a terrible explosion and severe trauma, as well as some uncovered secrets about his fellow Heroes, started the chain of events and thoughts that has changed everything radically for Adrian.
The plot of the novel is exciting and gripping, the narrative is descriptive, with greatly developed, full of life, characters. I enjoyed Adrian’s reasonableness, the emotional and brave Mel and even Griffith, full of indifference to human suffering, but depicted nicely, to evoke feelings and emotions, though they are negative! Also, the characters of Kara and Vey are so inspiring and image-bearing!
A world without birds and insects, dying inside its walled, overcrowded city, where people started to lose humanity under full corporate and technological control. Is there any way for Adrian and his friends to find the better place to live in? Is there any hope waiting for them beyond the walls of the City? Try this amazing sci-fi read to find out!
The author gives the reader a unique opportunity to enter the futuristic world of Necrotic City with numerous tiers, synthetic food, water shortage and a two-child limit, ruled by the Company and patrolled by Heroes from the Company’s safety division. The main character Adrian is very unique, even in his own group of vat-grown Heroes. He never doubted what he was doing, did not think about death or the correctness of what was happening until one day, a terrible explosion and severe trauma, as well as some uncovered secrets about his fellow Heroes, started the chain of events and thoughts that has changed everything radically for Adrian.
The plot of the novel is exciting and gripping, the narrative is descriptive, with greatly developed, full of life, characters. I enjoyed Adrian’s reasonableness, the emotional and brave Mel and even Griffith, full of indifference to human suffering, but depicted nicely, to evoke feelings and emotions, though they are negative! Also, the characters of Kara and Vey are so inspiring and image-bearing!
A world without birds and insects, dying inside its walled, overcrowded city, where people started to lose humanity under full corporate and technological control. Is there any way for Adrian and his friends to find the better place to live in? Is there any hope waiting for them beyond the walls of the City? Try this amazing sci-fi read to find out!
December 21, 2017
Amazing Tale Set in a Bleak World
Amazing tale set in a future, bleak world. As the Company controls the entire city and every aspect of daily life, the Hero Adrian emerges to help others and to find a better life.
I loved this book and can not recommend it enough! The author does a spectacular job of making the reader see and feel this ruthless and terrible city. The pace is fast and the characters are fleshed out.
Necrotic City is an entertaining read into a cautionary world we’d be best to avoid in real life.
Amazing tale set in a future, bleak world. As the Company controls the entire city and every aspect of daily life, the Hero Adrian emerges to help others and to find a better life.
I loved this book and can not recommend it enough! The author does a spectacular job of making the reader see and feel this ruthless and terrible city. The pace is fast and the characters are fleshed out.
Necrotic City is an entertaining read into a cautionary world we’d be best to avoid in real life.
July 11, 2018
Necrotic City is a reminiscent of some great older Science Fiction Classics. It has elements of Logan's Run, Blade Runner and one other that I won't mention due to potential spoiling. While the elements that reminded me of these other stories were there, this story is definitely in a class of its own. Leland Lydecker weaves a fascinating tale of dystopia that the "hero" isn't even aware of until his ordered life ends and a new chaos he doesn't understand begins.
The entire story is told from one point of view and the character of the hero remains true to himself throughout everything. He remains compassionate and empathetic even after he learns things about the "Company" and its executives that he finds insuperable. One of the aspects of this story that I liked is how it kept surprising me. I expected one thing to happen, but it didn't. Instead the story took a completely unexpected turn. Another aspect that I liked was the ending. This story comes to a definite conclusion. There is no cliff hanger. I don't know if there might or might not be another story in this line, but Necrotic City is a good stand alone story regardless.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dystopian stories that aren't completely riddled with despair. This story ends with hope.
The entire story is told from one point of view and the character of the hero remains true to himself throughout everything. He remains compassionate and empathetic even after he learns things about the "Company" and its executives that he finds insuperable. One of the aspects of this story that I liked is how it kept surprising me. I expected one thing to happen, but it didn't. Instead the story took a completely unexpected turn. Another aspect that I liked was the ending. This story comes to a definite conclusion. There is no cliff hanger. I don't know if there might or might not be another story in this line, but Necrotic City is a good stand alone story regardless.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dystopian stories that aren't completely riddled with despair. This story ends with hope.
October 31, 2017
Delightfully dark future:
I was impressed with authors Leland Lydecker’s “Necrotic City” Many times writers of science fiction put so much tech in it rolls readers eyes back trying to decipher the meaning, or they gloss over the details making the tech almost magical in their descriptions. You get none of that with Necrotic City. Set in a foreseeable future where your worth to the company sets your worth to the world, the book takes the reader on an exploration of what it means to be human.
I highly suggest this book.
I was impressed with authors Leland Lydecker’s “Necrotic City” Many times writers of science fiction put so much tech in it rolls readers eyes back trying to decipher the meaning, or they gloss over the details making the tech almost magical in their descriptions. You get none of that with Necrotic City. Set in a foreseeable future where your worth to the company sets your worth to the world, the book takes the reader on an exploration of what it means to be human.
I highly suggest this book.
August 31, 2018
Necrotic City is like Robocop meets Dante’s Inferno inside a corporate-owned collapsing city-scape. Unlike Robocop, the main character, Adrian, is not a police Enforcer (those are actually pretty much the bad guys), but a safety Hero—a genetically engineered human dedicated to serving the populace. He does his job so well he is twice nearly killed saving people in the first few pages of the book.
But then everything changes around Adrian. After a devastating altercation, the Hero division is dissolved, he is reassigned to a privileged, self-centered corporate executive, and then because of what he sees and reports, Adrian must flee to the lowest tiers of the city where only the most desperate of the credit-less must go.
What makes this book so very fascinating (besides the Dantean parallels) is the keenly observed social ills—which are clearly our very own in this day and age, taken to their natural conclusions. From social mores, to credit indenture, to social stratification, to the indifference of each level of society to any below it, to the complicit press, Lydecker has portrayed a world we can instantly identify as an offshoot of today’s trends. And it scared the hell out of me.
The ending leaves plenty of room for a sequel or series, and I am looking forward to Adrian’s further adventures!
But then everything changes around Adrian. After a devastating altercation, the Hero division is dissolved, he is reassigned to a privileged, self-centered corporate executive, and then because of what he sees and reports, Adrian must flee to the lowest tiers of the city where only the most desperate of the credit-less must go.
What makes this book so very fascinating (besides the Dantean parallels) is the keenly observed social ills—which are clearly our very own in this day and age, taken to their natural conclusions. From social mores, to credit indenture, to social stratification, to the indifference of each level of society to any below it, to the complicit press, Lydecker has portrayed a world we can instantly identify as an offshoot of today’s trends. And it scared the hell out of me.
The ending leaves plenty of room for a sequel or series, and I am looking forward to Adrian’s further adventures!
June 16, 2018
This was well written and engaging.
I've been reading a lot of dystopian fiction lately, but this one definitely stands out as one of the most intriguing. It was dark, gripping, and often times upsetting. This is because the characters felt very real and three dimensional. I really felt for Adrian.
I've always been a firm believer that good fiction stays in your mind long after you read it. And to that standard, I have to say this was very good indeed.
I've been reading a lot of dystopian fiction lately, but this one definitely stands out as one of the most intriguing. It was dark, gripping, and often times upsetting. This is because the characters felt very real and three dimensional. I really felt for Adrian.
I've always been a firm believer that good fiction stays in your mind long after you read it. And to that standard, I have to say this was very good indeed.
December 12, 2018
A daring, dark and dangerous descent into the end game of a world raped by climate change and stripped of all but the shadow of humanity, in a city with all its finest creations. When I finished this book, I felt totally wrong for eating a half a cinnamon roll and indulging in a five minute hot shower. For me, the ultimate reading experience is finishing the novel and realizing you aren't the same person anymore.
"To Kill a Mockingbird" did that to me.
"Necrotic City" did that to me.
Top 10 reasons why you should read this book:
1. You had a hot breakfast of real food and thought nothing of it.
2. You aren't scared enough of the future.
3. You are a sucker for well-done scifi that sucks you into a world that captures your imagination and won't let you out.
4. Your other option for this kind of experience is Dostoevsky's (grueling) masterpiece "The Idiot" or Dante's "Inferno".
5. Nanotech and cybernetics is used like a spice, not to excess, but expertly. So rare. So delicious. (I'm a physicist and if I can dig the tech, anyone can.)
6. You are not a kid--this book has interpersonal violence. If you are a kid read Aragon.
7. "Ready Player One" seemed too nice and shiny.
8. The bold shades in this story really put the pastels of typical post-apocalyptic stories in stark contrast. This depth of read is really refreshing.
9. Great characters. Adrian is little bit of us and lot of what we wish we were.
10. A chance to change yourself. A book like this is a mirror and you can see not just where society is headed, but yourself as well. Take a read. Look inside. Come out a different person.
Enjoy!
"To Kill a Mockingbird" did that to me.
"Necrotic City" did that to me.
Top 10 reasons why you should read this book:
1. You had a hot breakfast of real food and thought nothing of it.
2. You aren't scared enough of the future.
3. You are a sucker for well-done scifi that sucks you into a world that captures your imagination and won't let you out.
4. Your other option for this kind of experience is Dostoevsky's (grueling) masterpiece "The Idiot" or Dante's "Inferno".
5. Nanotech and cybernetics is used like a spice, not to excess, but expertly. So rare. So delicious. (I'm a physicist and if I can dig the tech, anyone can.)
6. You are not a kid--this book has interpersonal violence. If you are a kid read Aragon.
7. "Ready Player One" seemed too nice and shiny.
8. The bold shades in this story really put the pastels of typical post-apocalyptic stories in stark contrast. This depth of read is really refreshing.
9. Great characters. Adrian is little bit of us and lot of what we wish we were.
10. A chance to change yourself. A book like this is a mirror and you can see not just where society is headed, but yourself as well. Take a read. Look inside. Come out a different person.
Enjoy!
January 21, 2018
Just finished reading this, and all I can say is WOW!!! A dark but entertaining read that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. 10/10 loved this book and will read again!
Eerily reminiscent of things going on today, Necrotic City is about a vat-grown peacekeeper who gets put through the wringer for trying to do right by the people he was created to protect.
Adrian is more of a good guy than the dark, brooding antihero people might expect out of a cyberpunk novel, but he's tough and persistent. I found myself really liking him. Enforcer-Lieutenant Hardy reminds me of certain NCOs I've known: a miserable sadistic self-righteous bragger with an ego the size of Texas. I cheered out loud when (oops, redacted for spoilers)!!
There's a diverse cast of supporting characters comprised of Adrian's fellow heroes, young programmers and hackers, a stealthy sentient AI, subversive doctors, and a band of gritty rebels carving out a living on the abandoned tiers below the Company-controlled portion of the city.
Lydecker's characters and the city in which they live are richly detailed and chillingly believable. His depiction of corporate rule and widespread poverty is grim but extremely realistic. In addition to being an entertaining read, Necrotic City is a cautionary tale. This could be us in a few hundred years.
I haven't enjoyed a dystopian/hard SF novel this much in ages. If you haven't read Necrotic City, you really should!
Eerily reminiscent of things going on today, Necrotic City is about a vat-grown peacekeeper who gets put through the wringer for trying to do right by the people he was created to protect.
Adrian is more of a good guy than the dark, brooding antihero people might expect out of a cyberpunk novel, but he's tough and persistent. I found myself really liking him. Enforcer-Lieutenant Hardy reminds me of certain NCOs I've known: a miserable sadistic self-righteous bragger with an ego the size of Texas. I cheered out loud when (oops, redacted for spoilers)!!
There's a diverse cast of supporting characters comprised of Adrian's fellow heroes, young programmers and hackers, a stealthy sentient AI, subversive doctors, and a band of gritty rebels carving out a living on the abandoned tiers below the Company-controlled portion of the city.
Lydecker's characters and the city in which they live are richly detailed and chillingly believable. His depiction of corporate rule and widespread poverty is grim but extremely realistic. In addition to being an entertaining read, Necrotic City is a cautionary tale. This could be us in a few hundred years.
I haven't enjoyed a dystopian/hard SF novel this much in ages. If you haven't read Necrotic City, you really should!
January 29, 2018
In a contained city built to survive a long ago apocalypse humanity lives in a towering city with the haves on top and the have-nots down below, a genetically enhanced and technologically modified human bred to protect and serve tries to do the right thing while figuring his place in the world.
Early on it starts with the Corporation covertly bringing down an apartment complex to recycle the valuable resources and removing some lower class people in the process. Our hero-actually his job title-does what he can to rescue folks. But that incident is ignored because things are much, much worse. The is a good story about doing right set in a bleak environment, but it never gets too heavy with fantastic prose keeping things interesting.
"Outside the windows, the lights of the Fifth Tier twinkled through a pall of evening smog. The air pollution had aspirations of upward mobility much like the residents of the districts it hailed from, visiting the wealthier tiers by night to see the sights and wipe its grimy fingers on the walls."
A definitely good book for folks that like a dystopian future tale.
Early on it starts with the Corporation covertly bringing down an apartment complex to recycle the valuable resources and removing some lower class people in the process. Our hero-actually his job title-does what he can to rescue folks. But that incident is ignored because things are much, much worse. The is a good story about doing right set in a bleak environment, but it never gets too heavy with fantastic prose keeping things interesting.
"Outside the windows, the lights of the Fifth Tier twinkled through a pall of evening smog. The air pollution had aspirations of upward mobility much like the residents of the districts it hailed from, visiting the wealthier tiers by night to see the sights and wipe its grimy fingers on the walls."
A definitely good book for folks that like a dystopian future tale.
April 30, 2018
This dysopian novel is a combination of Animal Farm, Solyent Green and today’s headlines. The protagonist is an idealistic clone who very much believes in his role as a selfless helper of one and all. Of course, he gradually becomes disillusioned. Without making a spoiler, the story is how this man works to survive and find a place to live with good people.
I found this a most enjoyable read with very believable characters.
I found this a most enjoyable read with very believable characters.
November 24, 2017
Kudos to Lydecker for keeping me reading today when I had far more pressing projects that I needed to be working on.
Adrian, genetically enhanced, lab produced property of the Company, was designed for the sole purpose of helping people. But now he's becoming obsolete. It isn't cost-effective to help people any more, but the same genetics that make him a super-human also supply him with a Hero-worthy, almost Golden Retriever-worthy, dose of loyalty, friendliness, and the need to help people. And not only has his job been deemed obsolete, many people don't want help from company-owned human property any more. What's a good Hero to do? And how long will he allow his loyalty to drive him? Will it override his sense of self-preservation entirely?
I really liked Adrien's character as the story progress. At first, maybe not so much. He comes off as kind of bland in the beginning, and in a way he is a little bland. He's certainly not the fiery rebel or brooding anti-hero you find in a lot of dystopian books. He's just plain good. Loyal, happy to serve, loves people, puts his life on the line on a daily basis for people who often don't want his help. Sort of reminiscent of Captain America, only without the good captain's strong feelings toward individualism and freedom. How could he have any concept of individual freedom, having been born and raised by a hive of interconnectivity, property of a corporation that controls Every. Single. Thing. His bland character in the beginning softly gives way to a subtle complexity that his newer, more up-to-date Hero friends don't share. He's one of only a few left of a dying breed of Heroes, ones who were truly compassionate and kind and took their oaths seriously. He reminded me a lot of Sonny from "I, Robot." Just another faceless robot created to obey his programming. But like Sonny, there's more under the surface- an intriguing blend of genetic programming vs. free will, of mass production vs. uniqueness, of following orders but not being blind. Adrian, for me, was the best part of the book. Sure, I love a good anti-hero sometimes, but they're SO overused nowadays. Meekness isn't a good word in the English vocabulary any more. But Adrien embodies the true spirit of meekness: power under control. His good-natured, puppy-dog personality actually opens up room for more subtle complexity, I think, than a blunt, sarcastic rebel ever could. It's a more intelligent kind of appreciation, I guess, for a character like this, than it would be for the kind of blazing Hollywood showmanship we get bombarded with all the time. Love that.
The writing here is solid, engaging, and vivid, the world-building poignant and sickening and all too realistic. I'm not a huge fan of dystopian for this reason- that it's so depressing. And there's a lot of depressing, horrible, terrible, icky stuff here- but there's also a thread of hope. Adrian's dream of a river in a canyon he's never seen before, that subconsciously carries him through his many ordeals. The few acts of kindness from a handful of people who haven't succumbed to the soulless, selfish crowd. And of course Adrian's unwavering compassion. I like that.
My biggest complaint about the book is that the plot isn't very tight. It keeps moving with plenty of action, several disturbing reveals, and bone-crunching violence, which makes for an entertaining, can't-put-it-down read, but there doesn't seem to be a big, main goal that carries it, beyond, perhaps, Adrien's subconscious longing to find the river from his dreams. Mostly, it just seems to flow from one escapade into the next, gradually changing course over the length of the book, until it ends up a very different place than I thought it was going to. Not that it was bad, by any means. It just wasn't entirely the direction I saw the story going. Well... sort of. Maybe it wasn't so much that I couldn't see it going where it did, as I thought there would be a few other things that would have happened along the way. Several pretty major things were going on that never had a resolution that we're shown. Adrian's legendary status never really gets put to use the way I'd love to have seen. All in all, it just didn't seem to get fleshed out to its full, and very considerable potential. On the other hand, if there's going to be a sequel, then it's perfect as it is.
The ending is satisfying enough, even if it didn't tie up all the loose ends, or answer all the questions that were raised. But I really, really, want to see a sequel. That would make everything all better. Hint, hint. *smacks author upside the head* Hint.
Adrian, genetically enhanced, lab produced property of the Company, was designed for the sole purpose of helping people. But now he's becoming obsolete. It isn't cost-effective to help people any more, but the same genetics that make him a super-human also supply him with a Hero-worthy, almost Golden Retriever-worthy, dose of loyalty, friendliness, and the need to help people. And not only has his job been deemed obsolete, many people don't want help from company-owned human property any more. What's a good Hero to do? And how long will he allow his loyalty to drive him? Will it override his sense of self-preservation entirely?
I really liked Adrien's character as the story progress. At first, maybe not so much. He comes off as kind of bland in the beginning, and in a way he is a little bland. He's certainly not the fiery rebel or brooding anti-hero you find in a lot of dystopian books. He's just plain good. Loyal, happy to serve, loves people, puts his life on the line on a daily basis for people who often don't want his help. Sort of reminiscent of Captain America, only without the good captain's strong feelings toward individualism and freedom. How could he have any concept of individual freedom, having been born and raised by a hive of interconnectivity, property of a corporation that controls Every. Single. Thing. His bland character in the beginning softly gives way to a subtle complexity that his newer, more up-to-date Hero friends don't share. He's one of only a few left of a dying breed of Heroes, ones who were truly compassionate and kind and took their oaths seriously. He reminded me a lot of Sonny from "I, Robot." Just another faceless robot created to obey his programming. But like Sonny, there's more under the surface- an intriguing blend of genetic programming vs. free will, of mass production vs. uniqueness, of following orders but not being blind. Adrian, for me, was the best part of the book. Sure, I love a good anti-hero sometimes, but they're SO overused nowadays. Meekness isn't a good word in the English vocabulary any more. But Adrien embodies the true spirit of meekness: power under control. His good-natured, puppy-dog personality actually opens up room for more subtle complexity, I think, than a blunt, sarcastic rebel ever could. It's a more intelligent kind of appreciation, I guess, for a character like this, than it would be for the kind of blazing Hollywood showmanship we get bombarded with all the time. Love that.
The writing here is solid, engaging, and vivid, the world-building poignant and sickening and all too realistic. I'm not a huge fan of dystopian for this reason- that it's so depressing. And there's a lot of depressing, horrible, terrible, icky stuff here- but there's also a thread of hope. Adrian's dream of a river in a canyon he's never seen before, that subconsciously carries him through his many ordeals. The few acts of kindness from a handful of people who haven't succumbed to the soulless, selfish crowd. And of course Adrian's unwavering compassion. I like that.
My biggest complaint about the book is that the plot isn't very tight. It keeps moving with plenty of action, several disturbing reveals, and bone-crunching violence, which makes for an entertaining, can't-put-it-down read, but there doesn't seem to be a big, main goal that carries it, beyond, perhaps, Adrien's subconscious longing to find the river from his dreams. Mostly, it just seems to flow from one escapade into the next, gradually changing course over the length of the book, until it ends up a very different place than I thought it was going to. Not that it was bad, by any means. It just wasn't entirely the direction I saw the story going. Well... sort of. Maybe it wasn't so much that I couldn't see it going where it did, as I thought there would be a few other things that would have happened along the way. Several pretty major things were going on that never had a resolution that we're shown. Adrian's legendary status never really gets put to use the way I'd love to have seen. All in all, it just didn't seem to get fleshed out to its full, and very considerable potential. On the other hand, if there's going to be a sequel, then it's perfect as it is.
The ending is satisfying enough, even if it didn't tie up all the loose ends, or answer all the questions that were raised. But I really, really, want to see a sequel. That would make everything all better. Hint, hint. *smacks author upside the head* Hint.
April 2, 2018
Necrotic city plunges you straight into a detailed world where capitalism has been pushed to its limit. A world where society as we know it collapsed (you’ll read for yourself why) and out of the ashes, a city was built, run and ruled by “The Company”.
While most elements have already been seen in some form of others, the authors assembles them in a creative and never boring way. From the entertainment district of the 16th tier, passing by the lush garden on a skyscraper roof in the 5th to the overcrowded, bunkered down spires of the 47th and beyond, the world as build by the author was a pleasure to immerse myself in.
Sci-fi is at its best when it pushes/extrapolates modern concepts or elements to extremes and leaves us wondering whether we’re on the right tangent or not. Necrotic city does this well as we’re exposed to all sorts of things which exist in our current day and age (intrusive marketing displayed over average citizen’s sight, air pollution, corporate influence, subversion of law and justice with money, rich/poor disparity, birth privilege, water access, etc.) and then those occurrences are extrapolated upon in a sometimes disturbing way.
The characters are interesting and the cast diverse, though there are some clichés (rich obnoxious entrepreneur having multiple affairs being one) which supply the most foreseeable parts of this tale. Perhaps near the end when we’re introduced to a great many people without much time to get to know them I felt things were a little rushed compared to some other parts where we had a lot of time to soak in the book’s world and developing events.
The story also avoids a few tropes on which I will not elaborate to avoid spoilers, as seeing the story veer away from that path was part of the pleasure for me. Reading a tale where the main goal is not what we are normally used to is refreshing.
The main protagonist is a man with high morals, even amongst his kind, and while I normally prefer shades of gray characters, in this case, I liked the Hero. The clash between a man trying to hang on to his ethics while the world crumbles around him made for several interesting conflicts, some of those linked to the Hero coming to grips with the fact his own decisions, while right at the moment, had consequences which ended up making the day worse for everyone else.
If the book had gone on like the first 20-25%, I wouldn’t even mention these few hiccups, but unfortunately, they cropped up as the book progressed. I was head scratching as to the purpose of the inclusion of a few things since they play little to no role in evolving the characters (the circular trophy hunts monuments for one). They do provide for some tension, but their origins and makers are left so undefined that I wonder whether their inclusion in the story was required at all. Another part happening during tense travel has someone using a crowd control ability with drawbacks. This had me baffled as to why this was required in the story. Finally, while I’m used to reading a lot of genres heavy on the exposition, and the story told in
Necrotic City lends itself well to the main characters inner monologues or thoughts, there were still some parts where the story suffered from heavy telling-not-showing information dumps.
So, for excellent tale spun in a different direction than what I’d expect, a grim highlight of several shortcomings of the actual system, and immersing world building, I rate Necrotic City four (4) stars. Only a few hiccups prevented me from giving it a full five stars. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it not only to lovers of the adult dystopian genre, but for anyone who likes science-fiction reflecting about the modern world’s tendencies and where they might lead us.
Cons: A few cliché characters, Pacing drags a little in the middle and is perhaps too frantic by the end until a finale perhaps a tad underwhelming.
Pros: Incredible setting, great, diversified cast of characters, original story.
I received a free copy of Necrotic city. It hasn’t influenced my opinion of the book in any way.
While most elements have already been seen in some form of others, the authors assembles them in a creative and never boring way. From the entertainment district of the 16th tier, passing by the lush garden on a skyscraper roof in the 5th to the overcrowded, bunkered down spires of the 47th and beyond, the world as build by the author was a pleasure to immerse myself in.
Sci-fi is at its best when it pushes/extrapolates modern concepts or elements to extremes and leaves us wondering whether we’re on the right tangent or not. Necrotic city does this well as we’re exposed to all sorts of things which exist in our current day and age (intrusive marketing displayed over average citizen’s sight, air pollution, corporate influence, subversion of law and justice with money, rich/poor disparity, birth privilege, water access, etc.) and then those occurrences are extrapolated upon in a sometimes disturbing way.
The characters are interesting and the cast diverse, though there are some clichés (rich obnoxious entrepreneur having multiple affairs being one) which supply the most foreseeable parts of this tale. Perhaps near the end when we’re introduced to a great many people without much time to get to know them I felt things were a little rushed compared to some other parts where we had a lot of time to soak in the book’s world and developing events.
The story also avoids a few tropes on which I will not elaborate to avoid spoilers, as seeing the story veer away from that path was part of the pleasure for me. Reading a tale where the main goal is not what we are normally used to is refreshing.
The main protagonist is a man with high morals, even amongst his kind, and while I normally prefer shades of gray characters, in this case, I liked the Hero. The clash between a man trying to hang on to his ethics while the world crumbles around him made for several interesting conflicts, some of those linked to the Hero coming to grips with the fact his own decisions, while right at the moment, had consequences which ended up making the day worse for everyone else.
If the book had gone on like the first 20-25%, I wouldn’t even mention these few hiccups, but unfortunately, they cropped up as the book progressed. I was head scratching as to the purpose of the inclusion of a few things since they play little to no role in evolving the characters (the circular trophy hunts monuments for one). They do provide for some tension, but their origins and makers are left so undefined that I wonder whether their inclusion in the story was required at all. Another part happening during tense travel has someone using a crowd control ability with drawbacks. This had me baffled as to why this was required in the story. Finally, while I’m used to reading a lot of genres heavy on the exposition, and the story told in
Necrotic City lends itself well to the main characters inner monologues or thoughts, there were still some parts where the story suffered from heavy telling-not-showing information dumps.
So, for excellent tale spun in a different direction than what I’d expect, a grim highlight of several shortcomings of the actual system, and immersing world building, I rate Necrotic City four (4) stars. Only a few hiccups prevented me from giving it a full five stars. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it not only to lovers of the adult dystopian genre, but for anyone who likes science-fiction reflecting about the modern world’s tendencies and where they might lead us.
Cons: A few cliché characters, Pacing drags a little in the middle and is perhaps too frantic by the end until a finale perhaps a tad underwhelming.
Pros: Incredible setting, great, diversified cast of characters, original story.
I received a free copy of Necrotic city. It hasn’t influenced my opinion of the book in any way.
January 24, 2018
Make no mistake about it, Necrotic City is a very bleak dystopia novel in the classic sense. There is a very sharp economic class division, and lower class citizens aren’t even provided with basic health, welfare, or shelter services—they’re just dumped and ignored, or beaten up by roving cyber-technology humans called Enforcers. Each succeeding economic class of humans upwards toward the very rich, the distinctions improve somewhat, but to go down or up one tier brings about marked differences in lifestyle. For example, in a middle tier, you might have a job, but people are routinely dismissed at will and if dismissed, can succumb to despair and poverty. And by the way, the government officials know everything about you… your biometrics and your economic information and criminal records show up in a government agent’s personal database built inside whenever he approaches you close enough. So there’s no hiding anything, no secrets. It makes for a very difficult life indeed. At time when the main character, Adrian, goes about life in such a cursed society, I often wondered why he didn’t just commit suicide; life was so difficult for him even though he was on the inside, fully supported by government and provided with a comfortable level of needs. And when he falls out of favour, his life practically becomes a living hell.
At times the novel felt like an essay of a futuristic dystopian society, like it was meant to teach us. But the writing was excellent, flowing yet filled in with important detail and never veering into infodumps. All told through Adrian’s eyes, the story makes sure that it feels up close and personal.
Personally, I found the book depressing to read for almost all of it. Especially in the several chapters where Adrian is merely surviving, walking through the pits of wretched society, with garbage, rats, and corpses abandoned everywhere. Even at the beginning, when he visits seedy places in the entertainment district or checks on oppressed citizens, it feels hopeless and powerless to me. As a result, since I prefer my books to be escapes, perhaps with some important lessons, yes, but still a means for my ability to fantastize, I am giving this book a solid four stars. Plus, the overall impression of the book as part social science essay, but I imagine that can’t be avoided.
In fact, this book could be assigned to a university class. Among the questions: What are the dangers of unbridled capitalism? What does a facist society look like? What social pressures does a deteriorating natural environment bring upon society and how might that trigger a decline in living standards and in equality of man? What happens when society surrenders to the fears of each other and allows heavy-handed security to safeguard their lives? How democratic are we really? And I think the most pronounced in this book: what happens if we allow ourselves to turn our backs upon the oppressed, the poor, and the downtrodden?
There were some questions I had about the setup of the world. I imagine our hero, Adrian, may not have all the answers, but maybe the author could put them in an epilogue or essay at the end of the book. Why is it so difficult for citizens to leave this world? In a normal city, anyone can keep walking, out of downtown, past the suburbs, into wilderness. Why couldn’t they do this here? Is there a sealed gargantuan dome made of glass, or a force field, surrounding the city? Are there other cities, or have they been separated from one another because of environmental catastrophe?
I found the lip-reading subplot interesting. In this story, there is a visual perception software program to decipher lipreading. However, in reality, people enunciate with very different mouth movements, and several sounds such as “p,” “b,” and “m” look the same, so “pack” looks the same as “bag.” Far more superior, and used quite widely even today, is voice recognition technology, where speech is converted to words. Voice has far more clues than lipreading does.
At times the novel felt like an essay of a futuristic dystopian society, like it was meant to teach us. But the writing was excellent, flowing yet filled in with important detail and never veering into infodumps. All told through Adrian’s eyes, the story makes sure that it feels up close and personal.
Personally, I found the book depressing to read for almost all of it. Especially in the several chapters where Adrian is merely surviving, walking through the pits of wretched society, with garbage, rats, and corpses abandoned everywhere. Even at the beginning, when he visits seedy places in the entertainment district or checks on oppressed citizens, it feels hopeless and powerless to me. As a result, since I prefer my books to be escapes, perhaps with some important lessons, yes, but still a means for my ability to fantastize, I am giving this book a solid four stars. Plus, the overall impression of the book as part social science essay, but I imagine that can’t be avoided.
In fact, this book could be assigned to a university class. Among the questions: What are the dangers of unbridled capitalism? What does a facist society look like? What social pressures does a deteriorating natural environment bring upon society and how might that trigger a decline in living standards and in equality of man? What happens when society surrenders to the fears of each other and allows heavy-handed security to safeguard their lives? How democratic are we really? And I think the most pronounced in this book: what happens if we allow ourselves to turn our backs upon the oppressed, the poor, and the downtrodden?
There were some questions I had about the setup of the world. I imagine our hero, Adrian, may not have all the answers, but maybe the author could put them in an epilogue or essay at the end of the book. Why is it so difficult for citizens to leave this world? In a normal city, anyone can keep walking, out of downtown, past the suburbs, into wilderness. Why couldn’t they do this here? Is there a sealed gargantuan dome made of glass, or a force field, surrounding the city? Are there other cities, or have they been separated from one another because of environmental catastrophe?
I found the lip-reading subplot interesting. In this story, there is a visual perception software program to decipher lipreading. However, in reality, people enunciate with very different mouth movements, and several sounds such as “p,” “b,” and “m” look the same, so “pack” looks the same as “bag.” Far more superior, and used quite widely even today, is voice recognition technology, where speech is converted to words. Voice has far more clues than lipreading does.
July 11, 2018
Necrotic City is pretty hype, not gonna lie. It's one of those stories that I would honestly prefer on the big screen or in a video game. This isn't to distract from Lydecker's writing skill, which is adept, but his universe really would be tempting in a more interactive medium!
The story is in a sort of futuristic dystopian society where resources are scarce and there is little green left. So what hope do we have in a character placed in a such a world? Well we have Adrian, a genetically amplified Hero, manufactured by the Company, designed with the single purpose of helping others. He has superhuman traits and near supernatural characteristics of loyalty and compassion for others. The loyalty and other elements can sometimes tempt self-destructive tendencies which adds to the tension. Early in the story Adrian may seem a bit boring but his character grows beyond a simple moral paradigm and evolves into a fresh breath into a world of heroes that are all cynical. He sort of reminds me of superheroes, like Superman or Captain America - almost with that boy scout appeal. This is further juxtaposed when other newer Heroes are introduced. The Company works as this overarching faceless villain that controls every facet of the society. Lydecker is almost presenting a thought experiment on the dangers of capitalism or when liberty is sacrificed for convenience.
The writing is good, sharp, and engaging. The dialogue is servicable but I particularly liked his prose. He has descriptions that make it really easy to make the world come alive - thus my desire for it to be a movie.
I'd say my complaints match with most other reviewers: Pacing, lack of focus, predictability. This is where I wish the story was less like a lot of popular video games today. It felt like a string of missions or haphazard events as opposed to a beautiful weaving of threads into a satisfying quilt.
At the end of the day I enjoyed the novel. It's worth anyone's time and was a fun read.
The story is in a sort of futuristic dystopian society where resources are scarce and there is little green left. So what hope do we have in a character placed in a such a world? Well we have Adrian, a genetically amplified Hero, manufactured by the Company, designed with the single purpose of helping others. He has superhuman traits and near supernatural characteristics of loyalty and compassion for others. The loyalty and other elements can sometimes tempt self-destructive tendencies which adds to the tension. Early in the story Adrian may seem a bit boring but his character grows beyond a simple moral paradigm and evolves into a fresh breath into a world of heroes that are all cynical. He sort of reminds me of superheroes, like Superman or Captain America - almost with that boy scout appeal. This is further juxtaposed when other newer Heroes are introduced. The Company works as this overarching faceless villain that controls every facet of the society. Lydecker is almost presenting a thought experiment on the dangers of capitalism or when liberty is sacrificed for convenience.
The writing is good, sharp, and engaging. The dialogue is servicable but I particularly liked his prose. He has descriptions that make it really easy to make the world come alive - thus my desire for it to be a movie.
I'd say my complaints match with most other reviewers: Pacing, lack of focus, predictability. This is where I wish the story was less like a lot of popular video games today. It felt like a string of missions or haphazard events as opposed to a beautiful weaving of threads into a satisfying quilt.
At the end of the day I enjoyed the novel. It's worth anyone's time and was a fun read.
November 20, 2018
Necrotic City by Leland Lydecker is a dystopian novel with cyberpunk overtones combined with the classic mythology of the Hero’s Journey and Dante’s Inferno. The main character, Adrian, is a genetically modified human known as a Hero with DNA altered so he’s literally compelled to help people. As the story begins, Adrian is a veteran who has survived longer on the job than most of his kind. However, like the police of today, he finds that much of the population in the city doesn’t trust him, even when he’s trying to assist them. Everyone, including the Heroes, is dependent on The Company which built and owns the city and prevents anyone from leaving. As the story progresses, we see through Adrian’s eyes just how horrific the situation in the city has become.
In many ways, the plot of the novel revolves around Adrian’s long descent from a position of authority to an exile from the city in which he was born. Lydecker introduces us to a series of characters who Adrian meets during his fall, most of whom we never see again. By the end of the book, I was hoping for more novels in this world because several of these characters were quite interesting and I wanted to learn more about them.
On this journey with Adrian, we also see how he changes from a somewhat naïve peacekeeper to one who has learned a lot more about the inner guts (pun intended) of the Company and the city. It is enlightening and disheartening at the same time. I must say by the end of the book Adrian has not become as jaded as I would have expected, but on the other hand, he was grown from the genetic level to help people, even when they want him dead.
Overall, I thought Lydecker painted a detailed landscape of the city and the people who lived there seen through Adrian’s eyes. In the future, I’m hopeful the author will return to the city again, perhaps this time through a new character’s eyes.
In many ways, the plot of the novel revolves around Adrian’s long descent from a position of authority to an exile from the city in which he was born. Lydecker introduces us to a series of characters who Adrian meets during his fall, most of whom we never see again. By the end of the book, I was hoping for more novels in this world because several of these characters were quite interesting and I wanted to learn more about them.
On this journey with Adrian, we also see how he changes from a somewhat naïve peacekeeper to one who has learned a lot more about the inner guts (pun intended) of the Company and the city. It is enlightening and disheartening at the same time. I must say by the end of the book Adrian has not become as jaded as I would have expected, but on the other hand, he was grown from the genetic level to help people, even when they want him dead.
Overall, I thought Lydecker painted a detailed landscape of the city and the people who lived there seen through Adrian’s eyes. In the future, I’m hopeful the author will return to the city again, perhaps this time through a new character’s eyes.
March 3, 2019
I enjoyed this book immensely. The author creates a believable scenario in which a combination of higher Earth temperatures, loss of bees and other insects - which has an impact on food production - and a population increase that is out of control, leads to famine, severe pollution, and water shortages.
The city at the centre of the action, and its inhabitants, are controlled by the faceless ‘Company’ and the amount of credit it allows each citizen, based on their usefulness to the Company. Hundreds of thousands of people are forced into poverty when the all-important credit rating is withdrawn for whatever reason is given, even trivial events that would not merit such drastic action.
Into this mix steps the ironically-named Hero, real name Adrian, who is one of hundreds of Heroes employed by the Company to look after the citizens. His job is to use his augmented body and senses to rescue anyone requiring help, most of them people trying to jump to their deaths from the skyscrapers they inhabit or where they work.
The scene is set for a fast-paced, engrossing tale in which Adrian becomes ever more embattled and jaded by his dealings with the Company and the Enforcers it also employs, the privately-owned equivalent of a police force.
The book is one of the best I’ve read in the past two years. The world that the author has created draws the reader in. Characters are fleshed out and attract empathy, making me worried about their fates. The nightmarish world that Adrian inhabits feels as though it’s real. The use of upcoming and credible advances in technology and medicine is clever. The writing and descriptive passages are exceptional, and I can see this making an excellent film. The author is certainly one of the stars of the self-publishing world.
The city at the centre of the action, and its inhabitants, are controlled by the faceless ‘Company’ and the amount of credit it allows each citizen, based on their usefulness to the Company. Hundreds of thousands of people are forced into poverty when the all-important credit rating is withdrawn for whatever reason is given, even trivial events that would not merit such drastic action.
Into this mix steps the ironically-named Hero, real name Adrian, who is one of hundreds of Heroes employed by the Company to look after the citizens. His job is to use his augmented body and senses to rescue anyone requiring help, most of them people trying to jump to their deaths from the skyscrapers they inhabit or where they work.
The scene is set for a fast-paced, engrossing tale in which Adrian becomes ever more embattled and jaded by his dealings with the Company and the Enforcers it also employs, the privately-owned equivalent of a police force.
The book is one of the best I’ve read in the past two years. The world that the author has created draws the reader in. Characters are fleshed out and attract empathy, making me worried about their fates. The nightmarish world that Adrian inhabits feels as though it’s real. The use of upcoming and credible advances in technology and medicine is clever. The writing and descriptive passages are exceptional, and I can see this making an excellent film. The author is certainly one of the stars of the self-publishing world.
March 21, 2018
The Hero I always wanted to be! Who am I kidding? Adrian is the Hero I still aspire to be.
Adrian is a Hero, not just in the traditional sense, it is his job to be the good guy, to protect and serve, even if the price is his own life.
The dystopian world where he lives is one of tiers. The lower the tier, the more hopeless life is for its citizens.
Although he is synthetically engineered to see his job of law and order as black and white, Adrian, like his colleagues, suffers bouts of moral relativism.
The difference between his actions and the behavior of those around him is that he is guided by what is right, rather by convenience or personal gain.
The author did a fine job of immersing me in a very dark world that, at times seemed very much like our near future.
“The only good Hero is a dead one.” For Adrian, and all who cheer when the good guy wins every once in a while, I certainly hope not
Adrian is a Hero, not just in the traditional sense, it is his job to be the good guy, to protect and serve, even if the price is his own life.
The dystopian world where he lives is one of tiers. The lower the tier, the more hopeless life is for its citizens.
Although he is synthetically engineered to see his job of law and order as black and white, Adrian, like his colleagues, suffers bouts of moral relativism.
The difference between his actions and the behavior of those around him is that he is guided by what is right, rather by convenience or personal gain.
The author did a fine job of immersing me in a very dark world that, at times seemed very much like our near future.
“The only good Hero is a dead one.” For Adrian, and all who cheer when the good guy wins every once in a while, I certainly hope not
January 1, 2019
As you can probably tell from the title, Leland Lydecker’s Necrotic City is a dystopian novel. The hero of the story really is a hero; that is his job title. Heros are genetically engineered safety officers whose main job is to help people in need. But in this city there are way more people in need of help than there are Heros. The story is a cautionary tale about what happens when corporations control everything. When the bottom line is all that counts, humanity gets swept under the rug. A few people live in luxury, and everyone else lives in misery. It is an unsustainable society.
When the hero travels through the dysfunctional parts of the city the narrative becomes almost Dickensonian in its description of the squalid, disintegrating city. Don’t get me wrong, the story is an exciting adventure where our somewhat naïve hero has to learn the facts of life quickly if he is to survive. It was hard to put down.
When the hero travels through the dysfunctional parts of the city the narrative becomes almost Dickensonian in its description of the squalid, disintegrating city. Don’t get me wrong, the story is an exciting adventure where our somewhat naïve hero has to learn the facts of life quickly if he is to survive. It was hard to put down.
February 18, 2019
Will Adrian Survive the High-Tech World of the Future?
The high-tech future is highly polluted and law-abiding citizens (with enough credit) are kept safe inside a tiered-wall city. The more wealthy you are, the lower the tier, and the better your lifestyle.
"The Company" keeps everyone in check with "Heroes" and "Enforcers".
Adrian is a Company "Hero", genetically modified to be better than the average person in every way.
He loves his job and would do anything to help a citizen.
But the world is not all it seems to be and Adrian begins to lose his faith in the Company.
What's beyond the higher tiers? And will Adrian be able to get there?
===
This is a really good story. One of the better books I have read in a while.
The high-tech future is highly polluted and law-abiding citizens (with enough credit) are kept safe inside a tiered-wall city. The more wealthy you are, the lower the tier, and the better your lifestyle.
"The Company" keeps everyone in check with "Heroes" and "Enforcers".
Adrian is a Company "Hero", genetically modified to be better than the average person in every way.
He loves his job and would do anything to help a citizen.
But the world is not all it seems to be and Adrian begins to lose his faith in the Company.
What's beyond the higher tiers? And will Adrian be able to get there?
===
This is a really good story. One of the better books I have read in a while.
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