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Asterion Noir #1
Exin Ex Machina
Cyberpunk and space opera collide in a thrilling new trilogy from the author of the acclaimed Aurora Rhapsody novels.
**Exin Ex Machina is a new entry point for the AMARANTHE series--newcomers are welcome**
When man and machine are one and the same, there are many crimes but only one sin: psyche-wipe. The secrets it has buried could lead to a civilization's salvation, or to its doom.
The Asterion Dominion is at peace with its neighbors and itself. Its citizens enjoy great freedoms and all the luxuries their biosynthetic minds can imagine, design and create. But beneath the idyllic veneer, something is going wrong. People are going wrong, driven to commit inexplicable crimes without motive or purpose. And once imprisoned for those crimes, they simply vanish.
Psyche-wiped and dumped in an alley 5 years ago, awakened into a culture where ancestral memories stretch back for millennia, Nika Tescarav's past is a blank canvas. But if whoever erased her did so in the hope of silencing her, they should have tried harder.
Someone must speak for the lost.
Someone must uncover how and why they became lost.
Someone must find the lost.
Nika is that someone.
ASTERION NOIR
700,000 years ago, the Asterions fled persecution for their pro-synthetic beliefs. In the safe harbor of a distant galaxy, they have evolved into a true biosynthetic race and built a thriving society upon the pillars of personal autonomy, mutual respect and boundless innovation.
Now that society is fracturing at the seams. Beneath lies built upon lies, the shocking truth as to why threatens the future of not merely the Asterions, but all life in the universe.
Enter a world of technological wonders, exotic alien life, enthralling characters, captivating worlds--and a terrifying evil lurking in the void that will shatter it all.
**Exin Ex Machina is a new entry point for the AMARANTHE series--newcomers are welcome**
When man and machine are one and the same, there are many crimes but only one sin: psyche-wipe. The secrets it has buried could lead to a civilization's salvation, or to its doom.
The Asterion Dominion is at peace with its neighbors and itself. Its citizens enjoy great freedoms and all the luxuries their biosynthetic minds can imagine, design and create. But beneath the idyllic veneer, something is going wrong. People are going wrong, driven to commit inexplicable crimes without motive or purpose. And once imprisoned for those crimes, they simply vanish.
Psyche-wiped and dumped in an alley 5 years ago, awakened into a culture where ancestral memories stretch back for millennia, Nika Tescarav's past is a blank canvas. But if whoever erased her did so in the hope of silencing her, they should have tried harder.
Someone must speak for the lost.
Someone must uncover how and why they became lost.
Someone must find the lost.
Nika is that someone.
ASTERION NOIR
700,000 years ago, the Asterions fled persecution for their pro-synthetic beliefs. In the safe harbor of a distant galaxy, they have evolved into a true biosynthetic race and built a thriving society upon the pillars of personal autonomy, mutual respect and boundless innovation.
Now that society is fracturing at the seams. Beneath lies built upon lies, the shocking truth as to why threatens the future of not merely the Asterions, but all life in the universe.
Enter a world of technological wonders, exotic alien life, enthralling characters, captivating worlds--and a terrifying evil lurking in the void that will shatter it all.
399 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2018
294 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
About the author
G.S. Jennsen
52 books515 followersG. S. Jennsen is a speculative and science fiction author, as well as a futurist, geek, gamer, programmer and editor. She has become an internationally bestselling author since her first novel, Starshine, was published in March 2014. She has chosen to continue writing under an independent publishing model to ensure the integrity of her series and her ability to execute on the vision she’s had for it since its genesis.
While she has been a lawyer, a software engineer and an editor, she’s found the life of a full-time author preferable by several orders of magnitude.
When she isn’t writing, she’s gaming or working out or getting lost in the mountains that loom large outside the windows in her home. Or she’s dealing with a flooded basement, or standing in a line at Walmart reading the tabloid headlines and wondering who all of those people are. Or sitting on her back porch with a glass of wine, looking up at the stars, trying to figure out what could be up there.
While she has been a lawyer, a software engineer and an editor, she’s found the life of a full-time author preferable by several orders of magnitude.
When she isn’t writing, she’s gaming or working out or getting lost in the mountains that loom large outside the windows in her home. Or she’s dealing with a flooded basement, or standing in a line at Walmart reading the tabloid headlines and wondering who all of those people are. Or sitting on her back porch with a glass of wine, looking up at the stars, trying to figure out what could be up there.
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July 25, 2019
Asterion Noir Book 2: OF A DARKER VOID
has been announced! It will be released on 12/3, but you can add it to your "Want To Read" shelf today: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
June 5, 2018
One of my biggest concerns as an author is eventually needing to move on to a new story with new characters, but ending up simply making it a recycled version of old material for fear of letting go.
G.S. Jennsen did no such thing with Exin Ex Machina, and it was encouraging to see.
This new Asterion Noir series is much more cyberpunk than what we've previously seen throughout the Aurora Rhapsody saga—in fact, there's very little space travel at all. But despite the difference in tone, I thought EEM still had a very familiar feel, and whether that's because I subconsciously knew it was taking place in the Aurora Rhapsody universe or because I've gotten to know G.S. Jennsen's method of storytelling so well, I'm not sure. Either way, readers old and new alike should feel perfectly at home here.
EEM introduces Nika and Dashiel as the two primary characters, though the focus is on Nika more often than not. I know I keep using the Aurora Rhapsody books as a comparison, but I think it's important to say that both of these characters have unique roles, personalities, and voices, completely different from a certain other pair of protagonists whom established readers have gotten to know. The skill with which that separation was created—and subsequently maintained—is impressive. And as usual, we are introduced to an entire cast of secondary characters who have unique voices and personalities of their own and will no doubt become even more interesting and likable as the series progresses.
In many ways, this book had kind of a "renegade" feel to it. Many of the characters are operating outside the law and are considered the bad guys by most of the people inhabiting their universe. This of course makes for lots of juicy intrigue, espionage, and action. There's combat, but it's got more of a rebellious-outlaw flare that I really enjoyed. There are investigations and inquests for information, but anything done by NOIR—the organization most of the main characters have formed—is kind of underhanded and on the sly. Then come to think of it, investigations conducted by actual law enforcement personnel have a little bit of a hard-boiled feel to them, which puts a whole new spin on the "noir" concept.
Some of my favorite parts of the book revolved around the technology in this world of Asterion Noir. I'll admit a lot of the scientific concepts in Aurora Rhapsody kind of flew over my head. The difference is that rather than follow the characters as they make new discoveries and learn new concepts like we did in AR, we just get thrown into this world of AN where all the tech already exists. It's no secret based on EEM's blurb that all the main Asterion characters are a half-organic, half-synthetic race, which of course opens the door for a lot of really intriguing personal augmentations. Other devices and tech available to them throughout their everyday lives are super awesome and I want ALL OF IT. Some of the ideas and concepts are really clever, and it's all very well done. (Side note: if you're a geek like me, you may get a kick out of the pet names given to a couple of those pieces of tech).
And what would a G.S. Jennsen series opener be without a devastating cliffhanger at the end?? Just kidding—it's actually not that devastating, simply because the book's actual final pages contain softer information that leaves us with more of a sense of focused anticipation. But then when I go back and think about how high the stakes now are for these new characters, I find myself very much looking forward to reading more.
G.S. Jennsen did no such thing with Exin Ex Machina, and it was encouraging to see.
This new Asterion Noir series is much more cyberpunk than what we've previously seen throughout the Aurora Rhapsody saga—in fact, there's very little space travel at all. But despite the difference in tone, I thought EEM still had a very familiar feel, and whether that's because I subconsciously knew it was taking place in the Aurora Rhapsody universe or because I've gotten to know G.S. Jennsen's method of storytelling so well, I'm not sure. Either way, readers old and new alike should feel perfectly at home here.
EEM introduces Nika and Dashiel as the two primary characters, though the focus is on Nika more often than not. I know I keep using the Aurora Rhapsody books as a comparison, but I think it's important to say that both of these characters have unique roles, personalities, and voices, completely different from a certain other pair of protagonists whom established readers have gotten to know. The skill with which that separation was created—and subsequently maintained—is impressive. And as usual, we are introduced to an entire cast of secondary characters who have unique voices and personalities of their own and will no doubt become even more interesting and likable as the series progresses.
In many ways, this book had kind of a "renegade" feel to it. Many of the characters are operating outside the law and are considered the bad guys by most of the people inhabiting their universe. This of course makes for lots of juicy intrigue, espionage, and action. There's combat, but it's got more of a rebellious-outlaw flare that I really enjoyed. There are investigations and inquests for information, but anything done by NOIR—the organization most of the main characters have formed—is kind of underhanded and on the sly. Then come to think of it, investigations conducted by actual law enforcement personnel have a little bit of a hard-boiled feel to them, which puts a whole new spin on the "noir" concept.
Some of my favorite parts of the book revolved around the technology in this world of Asterion Noir. I'll admit a lot of the scientific concepts in Aurora Rhapsody kind of flew over my head. The difference is that rather than follow the characters as they make new discoveries and learn new concepts like we did in AR, we just get thrown into this world of AN where all the tech already exists. It's no secret based on EEM's blurb that all the main Asterion characters are a half-organic, half-synthetic race, which of course opens the door for a lot of really intriguing personal augmentations. Other devices and tech available to them throughout their everyday lives are super awesome and I want ALL OF IT. Some of the ideas and concepts are really clever, and it's all very well done. (Side note: if you're a geek like me, you may get a kick out of the pet names given to a couple of those pieces of tech).
And what would a G.S. Jennsen series opener be without a devastating cliffhanger at the end?? Just kidding—it's actually not that devastating, simply because the book's actual final pages contain softer information that leaves us with more of a sense of focused anticipation. But then when I go back and think about how high the stakes now are for these new characters, I find myself very much looking forward to reading more.
May 20, 2021
This story surprised me, but with GS Jennsen at the helm I knew I was in good hands. Nika, along with her love interest, Dashiel, and the many side-characters inhabit a world of sentient artificial intelligence, and ultimately it wasn't what I expected. It was a rich and well-drawn experience and really made me think about the future of the human race. It's also a fast-paced and exciting tale. I'm hooked! Can't wait to read the next one!!
June 8, 2018
After reading G. S. Jennsen's epic 9-book space opera saga Aurora Rising, I was both very excited and a little nervous about what would come next. Jennsen is obviously a talented story-teller and has a gift for stringing words together in a way that puts you right in the story, but it's always a little strange when an author you've come to know and love for writing a particular set of characters in a particular universe moves on to doing something else. Exciting, but strange. I found myself wondering whether I would like the new characters, whether the story would fly over my head (I admit to not being the most scientifically-minded sci-fi reader), whether the plot would hold my interest, and so on. I shouldn't have worried. If anything, Exin Ex Machina proves that Asterion Noir promises to be a series just as captivating as its predecessor, if not more so.
I loved the cyberpunk setting of the story, and Jennsen does a great job of exploring all the important societal impacts the advanced technology of her setting has on its inhabitants. This ties directly into the conflict in exciting ways, and it gives the story a dark, gritty feel that makes the more light-hearted moments shine even brighter. That balance is important, I think. This is a story with some pretty bleak, overarching conflicts and some even bleaker personal ones for the story's characters. But there's a good sense of humor in some places that balances it out and reminds us what these characters are fighting for. There's also a strong mystery element to the story as little pieces and hints are laid out. We don't get all the answers by the end, but it was that distinct sense of just wanting to figure out what was going on that drove much of the story's conflict and really sucked me into the story.
As far as characters go, I seriously could not have asked for better characters. Sometimes in a series, I feel like it takes me a while to start to really get attached to the characters, but that wasn't the case here at all. I loved Nika, Dashiel, and many of the secondary characters almost from the moment they were introduced, and upon reaching the end of the story, all I wanted was to continue this journey with them. Jennsen does an excellent job of putting the reader right inside the character's head and really feeling what they're feeling and experiencing, whether that character is protagonist Nika or one of the minor characters. I have a giant soft spot in my heart for characters who are damaged, as I'm sure many readers do, and these are some seriously damaged characters. Despite all of that, they keep fighting, keep going, even when all the odds are stacked against them, and you can't help rooting for characters like that. I can't wait to see where their separate paths will lead them all next. I'm sure it's going to be quite the adventure.
I loved the cyberpunk setting of the story, and Jennsen does a great job of exploring all the important societal impacts the advanced technology of her setting has on its inhabitants. This ties directly into the conflict in exciting ways, and it gives the story a dark, gritty feel that makes the more light-hearted moments shine even brighter. That balance is important, I think. This is a story with some pretty bleak, overarching conflicts and some even bleaker personal ones for the story's characters. But there's a good sense of humor in some places that balances it out and reminds us what these characters are fighting for. There's also a strong mystery element to the story as little pieces and hints are laid out. We don't get all the answers by the end, but it was that distinct sense of just wanting to figure out what was going on that drove much of the story's conflict and really sucked me into the story.
As far as characters go, I seriously could not have asked for better characters. Sometimes in a series, I feel like it takes me a while to start to really get attached to the characters, but that wasn't the case here at all. I loved Nika, Dashiel, and many of the secondary characters almost from the moment they were introduced, and upon reaching the end of the story, all I wanted was to continue this journey with them. Jennsen does an excellent job of putting the reader right inside the character's head and really feeling what they're feeling and experiencing, whether that character is protagonist Nika or one of the minor characters. I have a giant soft spot in my heart for characters who are damaged, as I'm sure many readers do, and these are some seriously damaged characters. Despite all of that, they keep fighting, keep going, even when all the odds are stacked against them, and you can't help rooting for characters like that. I can't wait to see where their separate paths will lead them all next. I'm sure it's going to be quite the adventure.
June 8, 2018
There is something rotten in the Asterion Dominion. A hidden, terrible secret that threatens the existence of everyone in it. G. S. Jennsen has dropped us into this world and as with all her other books takes us on a wild ride of discovery where we uncover secrets and learn that not all is as it seems.
G. S. Jennsen builds worlds, astounding, amazing worlds that feel real, that have a depth to them that makes you want to peek into dark corners and see what’s behind that door. Into those worlds she places characters that come to life, that are fleshed out, multifaceted people with problems to solve and personal demons to overcome. She is a true storyteller.
Exin Ex Machina is the start of a new series and as the first book has a lot to live up to. Did it pull me in and make me want to read more – definitely. Nika leads us through a world where synthetics and organics are one, merged into something much more and able to live and relive their lives over and over. We see how that works as we follow Nika and it’s an interesting look at possibilities. But one psyche wipe can change all that, thus it’s illegal. Unfortunately for Nika someone broke that law.
Her journey to uncover her past leads to a much bigger, darker secret and along the way we meet the people she cares about and someone who holds the truth about who she is. We move through a world where control is everything and yet that control is slipping. Nika’s discovery uncovers why and it’s not good news.
G. S. Jennsen creates a big picture, astounding in its complexity, and yet never overwhelming. She has built a world that’s huge in scope but keeps it focussed on how it affects those living in it. There’s a nice balance of the large and small picture all the way through the book. Not once did I feel lost. This book is certainly futuristic, a look at one path of human evolution if we allow ourselves to embrace technology. But there’s a dark side to that too and it’s to be feared.
The Aurora Rhapsody series was the perfect example of her ability to write a fantastic story and create characters to fall in love with. That series was space opera at its finest, science fiction that sits on my shelf besides the classics. Exin Ex Machina is less of the space opera and more of cyberpunk and it’s a definite change of pace. There might not be spaceships but travel from planet to planet is still there, technology abounds and the blending of organic and synthetic feel entirely plausible. While you don’t need to have read Aurora Rhapsody the two are connected and seeing the universe from both sides is an added bonus.
I will be eagerly awaiting the next book in this series as once again G. S. Jennsen has left me wanting more. She’s awfully good at that.
G. S. Jennsen builds worlds, astounding, amazing worlds that feel real, that have a depth to them that makes you want to peek into dark corners and see what’s behind that door. Into those worlds she places characters that come to life, that are fleshed out, multifaceted people with problems to solve and personal demons to overcome. She is a true storyteller.
Exin Ex Machina is the start of a new series and as the first book has a lot to live up to. Did it pull me in and make me want to read more – definitely. Nika leads us through a world where synthetics and organics are one, merged into something much more and able to live and relive their lives over and over. We see how that works as we follow Nika and it’s an interesting look at possibilities. But one psyche wipe can change all that, thus it’s illegal. Unfortunately for Nika someone broke that law.
Her journey to uncover her past leads to a much bigger, darker secret and along the way we meet the people she cares about and someone who holds the truth about who she is. We move through a world where control is everything and yet that control is slipping. Nika’s discovery uncovers why and it’s not good news.
G. S. Jennsen creates a big picture, astounding in its complexity, and yet never overwhelming. She has built a world that’s huge in scope but keeps it focussed on how it affects those living in it. There’s a nice balance of the large and small picture all the way through the book. Not once did I feel lost. This book is certainly futuristic, a look at one path of human evolution if we allow ourselves to embrace technology. But there’s a dark side to that too and it’s to be feared.
The Aurora Rhapsody series was the perfect example of her ability to write a fantastic story and create characters to fall in love with. That series was space opera at its finest, science fiction that sits on my shelf besides the classics. Exin Ex Machina is less of the space opera and more of cyberpunk and it’s a definite change of pace. There might not be spaceships but travel from planet to planet is still there, technology abounds and the blending of organic and synthetic feel entirely plausible. While you don’t need to have read Aurora Rhapsody the two are connected and seeing the universe from both sides is an added bonus.
I will be eagerly awaiting the next book in this series as once again G. S. Jennsen has left me wanting more. She’s awfully good at that.
June 7, 2018
As a huge fan of the Aurora Rhapsody series, I was very excited when Ms. Jennsen announced her new series. I dove in to the ARC and was immediately drawn in to Nika's story. I mean, who wouldn't be? A woman wakes up in the rain, face down in an alley, her mind wiped, and all she really knows is her name.
I won't give away spoilers, but I will say that the characters are amazing, (everyone should have friends like Joaquim and Perrin).
The idea of merged humanoid/cybernetic beings who essentially have the best of both worlds is, to me at least, a refreshing change of character type. Being that I'm not well-versed in software/hardware creation and I did have to research some of the terms and ask the author for clarification, that still didn't take away from enjoyment of the novel once I got the hang of the technical stuff. In short, the storytelling is just that good that my ignorance of tech didn't kill the fun.
The action, pacing and worldbuilding were beyond stellar and, there were quite a few twists that you will not see coming. My husband kept asking what was wrong whenever I yelled out about something. I had to remind him that I was reading a really good novel.
I love the foreshadowing and anticipation that's generated for book 2. Oh, and the mysteries throughout this novel reel you in and don't let go.
You don't have to have read the Aurora Rhapsody series to read this, but as another reviewer already said, why wouldn't you?
I won't give away spoilers, but I will say that the characters are amazing, (everyone should have friends like Joaquim and Perrin).
The idea of merged humanoid/cybernetic beings who essentially have the best of both worlds is, to me at least, a refreshing change of character type. Being that I'm not well-versed in software/hardware creation and I did have to research some of the terms and ask the author for clarification, that still didn't take away from enjoyment of the novel once I got the hang of the technical stuff. In short, the storytelling is just that good that my ignorance of tech didn't kill the fun.
The action, pacing and worldbuilding were beyond stellar and, there were quite a few twists that you will not see coming. My husband kept asking what was wrong whenever I yelled out about something. I had to remind him that I was reading a really good novel.
I love the foreshadowing and anticipation that's generated for book 2. Oh, and the mysteries throughout this novel reel you in and don't let go.
You don't have to have read the Aurora Rhapsody series to read this, but as another reviewer already said, why wouldn't you?
June 24, 2018
I can't wait for Book 2!
June 18, 2018
This is, at its core a story about identity, memory loss and principles. Of a protagonist, of a people, of a rebellion. Of losing your way. Of betraying everything you ever stood for because you see no other way. Of keeping true to yourself, standing against that abyss of cowardice. Of wanting to pick up the torch of civilization, no, to rip it away from those butchering it to "save" it. Of trusting, against all reason, the "enemy" and of looking for the actual enemy to find them in the last place you wanted to look.
I love the Asterion and their society. They are a symbiosis of Anaden (humanish) and SAI (AI) in one flesh-mashine body, descendants of rebels who fled the Anaden Empire in generation ships some millennia ago. Memorys can be backed up, bodies can be replaced. They live for millennia.
Something is fishy in this world, has been for the last years. People keep disappearing, and the government, composed of the five guides and their advisors is suspiciously bad at investigating those missing people. Recently, people have been arrested en masse for uncharismatic bouts of criminal activity. Some advisors like Dashiel or Adlai are starting to wonder why the guides are not helping their investigations into this more...
Last but not least, there is NOIR, a small but effective underground movement of those in grief for the disappeared people and angry at the government for not investigating. Led by Nika, a woman who they found without memory five years ago and who turned out to be amazing at solving conflicts and mentoring people.
The more I read this, the less I wanted to do all the other day to day things I'm supposed to do. I can't wait for the next book! This has all the strengths of a G.S. Jennsen story: Complex, snarky characters. Well thought out, fascinatingly futuristic society. A big sinister antagonist/secret in the shadows, unknown to the protagonists and readers, slowly being revealed piece by piece. All of this fuelling wild speculation, as I am reading this, what the motives for inexplicable actions of people might be, what really happened to Nika, who the real enemy of the people Asterion is. Everyone, read it!
I love the Asterion and their society. They are a symbiosis of Anaden (humanish) and SAI (AI) in one flesh-mashine body, descendants of rebels who fled the Anaden Empire in generation ships some millennia ago. Memorys can be backed up, bodies can be replaced. They live for millennia.
Something is fishy in this world, has been for the last years. People keep disappearing, and the government, composed of the five guides and their advisors is suspiciously bad at investigating those missing people. Recently, people have been arrested en masse for uncharismatic bouts of criminal activity. Some advisors like Dashiel or Adlai are starting to wonder why the guides are not helping their investigations into this more...
Last but not least, there is NOIR, a small but effective underground movement of those in grief for the disappeared people and angry at the government for not investigating. Led by Nika, a woman who they found without memory five years ago and who turned out to be amazing at solving conflicts and mentoring people.
The more I read this, the less I wanted to do all the other day to day things I'm supposed to do. I can't wait for the next book! This has all the strengths of a G.S. Jennsen story: Complex, snarky characters. Well thought out, fascinatingly futuristic society. A big sinister antagonist/secret in the shadows, unknown to the protagonists and readers, slowly being revealed piece by piece. All of this fuelling wild speculation, as I am reading this, what the motives for inexplicable actions of people might be, what really happened to Nika, who the real enemy of the people Asterion is. Everyone, read it!
May 1, 2023
Exin Ex Machina, Asterion Noir (Amaranthe 11), oh boy what a title. It all checks out though. It basically means "departure from the machine" or "out of the machine" in Latin, which is fun. Asterion is, I believe, Greek ("the stars"), and noir is of course French ("black / darkness / night"). As for Amaranthe, "Amaranthe as a girl's name is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Amaranthe is "unfading"," according to Google. What can I tell you, I got lazy towards the end there. The rest was totally me edu-flexing, though. I actually thought Amaranth was a song by Nightwish. Now I think about it, they're probably referencing the same thing, although an amaranth is also a type of plant (still means "never-fading" though, and it's in the lyrics of the song too). And don't even get me started on armoranths from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
But I digress. Hugely.
Our story opens on a ... kid? A robot? Our main protagonist, coming to with amnesia in an alley. There's been some strange issue with her base programming, and she has no idea who she is. The fact that this prologue sort of coded Nika as a child made things all sorts of confusing for me for quite a long stretch of this book, but the simple fact is, there aren't that many kids in this world.
Five years later Nika is head of some kind of rebel gang causing trouble for the establishment. The world slowly reveals itself to the reader and it becomes clear that these aren't humans, not really. In this seven-hundred-thousand-years-in-the-future interstellar culture, the "Asterions" are considered robots by a lot of the alien species, and they habitually reload into new bodies / minds on the regular, every 300 years at the least-regular. Nika is one of the only newborn single-life people anywhere, and that's only because she's lost her past backups and so kind of acts like a kid, at least in terms of knowledge and experience. Not a newborn kid, or a five-year-old kid, but ... something else.
How does Asterion civilisation even function? It seems close enough to humanity to be jarring, but I found myself wanting more and more to just dive deep and explore the reality of a post-human synthetically enhanced culture where people were functionally immortal and could be backed up and renewed at will - and minds could be re-written, erased, or placed in storage by the shadowy Guides. It felt like there was a lot more to explore there and the ramifications of their way of life would be far greater than what we see ... but there are all sorts of other factors at play here as well.
The fossil fuel / whale oil of this civilisation is kyoseil, the fibres of which enable the density of data storage and transmission that is required for reincarnation. It comes from a planet, Chosek, inhabited by inconvenient "primitives" ... but this isn't the point of the story either, just more backdrop. Which I love. The tale is interspersed with technical code-fragments that I confess I skimmed, but I got the gist.
Where were we? While Nika is acclimating to her new life and seeking justice for those forgotten by the Guides' grand plans, some high muckety-mucks are looking for her. At first introduction - like I said, I was assuming Nika was a kid at this point - I thought Maris and Dashiel were her parents. When I later found out that Nika and Dashiel were damn-near-eternal lovers, it gave me a bit of whiplash but then I rolled with it.
It was a fascinating look at the possibilities of consciousness as entirely mutable data (although the phrase "maybe if you dialed down the autistic processes" made me splutter), and bodies as readily-renewable vessels. The fluid nature of identity and self, and how that search can be technology driven, all woven into a relatively simple story of amnesia-suffering protagonist up against a secret conspiracy that goes all the way to the top. Indeed, we just begin to blow the lid off the whole thing when the story ends. A cliffhanger, but a satisfying one.
Nika makes some pretty dumb calls, the "betrayal" towards the end in the central tower was all a bit forced and contrived for the purposes of plot drama, but all in all I liked the characterisation going on. it was an exciting story that said very cool things about the human ("human") condition. Speculative fiction at its most definitive.
Sex-o-meter
In a classic cyberpunk and (literally right there in the name) noir world reminiscent of Blade Runner and Altered Carbon, sexy times abound in theory, off-page, and our protagonist has a couple of sexes. One nice sex with a casual boyfriend, and one very good sex indeed with her thousands-of-years life partner who really knows where her g-circuit is. All rather pleasant and heart-warming, really. Three chrome-plated robo-boners with LED-lit tips out of a possible five.
Gore-o-meter
This one was a gory outing but the dismemberment and brutality was not necessarily permanent and therefore it all got a bit meaningless. As it explains in the story, people (Asterions) don't generally bother doing gross violent shit to each other because the victims just re-up to a new body. Still, there's some violence. Two quivering flesh-gobbets out of a possible five.
WTF-o-meter
The emergent story has a lot of weirdness. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and backdrop and history a lot more than I enjoyed the narrative vessel through which we explored said worldbuilding and backdrop and history - and that's saying something, because I was very happy with the surface plot as well. The extended lives and practices of the Asterions are strange, and - like I said - I concede defeat with the code stuff. I'm sure it means something but yeah, I sort of just sifted through it for some sign of a familiar clue. The Guides, and the plan they're executing for the purposes of the wider series narrative, is ... I mean, why aren't they building more generation ships and getting out of there? Huh. The WTF-o-meter is giving this one seventeen kilobruhs where the red line for mind-blowing is somewhere around the twenty-five kilobruh point.
My Final Verdict
I did refer to this story as "Altered Carbon copy" at the outset, and that didn't really go away - but I still liked it. More than I liked Altered Carbon, to be honest. The glimpses we get into the real story of the Asterions was fun - are they sentient robots (like the aliens called them) or post-humans? Where is the line, once technological and AI integration is complete? This was a well-written and very good story. I don't know if I want to face the angst of a next book with its potential for Dashiel finding out about the casual she-didn't-have-a-memory boyfriend, but this story in and of itself was fun to read. Four stars on the Amazon / Goodreads scale.
But I digress. Hugely.
Our story opens on a ... kid? A robot? Our main protagonist, coming to with amnesia in an alley. There's been some strange issue with her base programming, and she has no idea who she is. The fact that this prologue sort of coded Nika as a child made things all sorts of confusing for me for quite a long stretch of this book, but the simple fact is, there aren't that many kids in this world.
Five years later Nika is head of some kind of rebel gang causing trouble for the establishment. The world slowly reveals itself to the reader and it becomes clear that these aren't humans, not really. In this seven-hundred-thousand-years-in-the-future interstellar culture, the "Asterions" are considered robots by a lot of the alien species, and they habitually reload into new bodies / minds on the regular, every 300 years at the least-regular. Nika is one of the only newborn single-life people anywhere, and that's only because she's lost her past backups and so kind of acts like a kid, at least in terms of knowledge and experience. Not a newborn kid, or a five-year-old kid, but ... something else.
How does Asterion civilisation even function? It seems close enough to humanity to be jarring, but I found myself wanting more and more to just dive deep and explore the reality of a post-human synthetically enhanced culture where people were functionally immortal and could be backed up and renewed at will - and minds could be re-written, erased, or placed in storage by the shadowy Guides. It felt like there was a lot more to explore there and the ramifications of their way of life would be far greater than what we see ... but there are all sorts of other factors at play here as well.
The fossil fuel / whale oil of this civilisation is kyoseil, the fibres of which enable the density of data storage and transmission that is required for reincarnation. It comes from a planet, Chosek, inhabited by inconvenient "primitives" ... but this isn't the point of the story either, just more backdrop. Which I love. The tale is interspersed with technical code-fragments that I confess I skimmed, but I got the gist.
Where were we? While Nika is acclimating to her new life and seeking justice for those forgotten by the Guides' grand plans, some high muckety-mucks are looking for her. At first introduction - like I said, I was assuming Nika was a kid at this point - I thought Maris and Dashiel were her parents. When I later found out that Nika and Dashiel were damn-near-eternal lovers, it gave me a bit of whiplash but then I rolled with it.
It was a fascinating look at the possibilities of consciousness as entirely mutable data (although the phrase "maybe if you dialed down the autistic processes" made me splutter), and bodies as readily-renewable vessels. The fluid nature of identity and self, and how that search can be technology driven, all woven into a relatively simple story of amnesia-suffering protagonist up against a secret conspiracy that goes all the way to the top. Indeed, we just begin to blow the lid off the whole thing when the story ends. A cliffhanger, but a satisfying one.
Nika makes some pretty dumb calls, the "betrayal" towards the end in the central tower was all a bit forced and contrived for the purposes of plot drama, but all in all I liked the characterisation going on. it was an exciting story that said very cool things about the human ("human") condition. Speculative fiction at its most definitive.
Sex-o-meter
In a classic cyberpunk and (literally right there in the name) noir world reminiscent of Blade Runner and Altered Carbon, sexy times abound in theory, off-page, and our protagonist has a couple of sexes. One nice sex with a casual boyfriend, and one very good sex indeed with her thousands-of-years life partner who really knows where her g-circuit is. All rather pleasant and heart-warming, really. Three chrome-plated robo-boners with LED-lit tips out of a possible five.
Gore-o-meter
This one was a gory outing but the dismemberment and brutality was not necessarily permanent and therefore it all got a bit meaningless. As it explains in the story, people (Asterions) don't generally bother doing gross violent shit to each other because the victims just re-up to a new body. Still, there's some violence. Two quivering flesh-gobbets out of a possible five.
WTF-o-meter
The emergent story has a lot of weirdness. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and backdrop and history a lot more than I enjoyed the narrative vessel through which we explored said worldbuilding and backdrop and history - and that's saying something, because I was very happy with the surface plot as well. The extended lives and practices of the Asterions are strange, and - like I said - I concede defeat with the code stuff. I'm sure it means something but yeah, I sort of just sifted through it for some sign of a familiar clue. The Guides, and the plan they're executing for the purposes of the wider series narrative, is ... I mean, why aren't they building more generation ships and getting out of there? Huh. The WTF-o-meter is giving this one seventeen kilobruhs where the red line for mind-blowing is somewhere around the twenty-five kilobruh point.
My Final Verdict
I did refer to this story as "Altered Carbon copy" at the outset, and that didn't really go away - but I still liked it. More than I liked Altered Carbon, to be honest. The glimpses we get into the real story of the Asterions was fun - are they sentient robots (like the aliens called them) or post-humans? Where is the line, once technological and AI integration is complete? This was a well-written and very good story. I don't know if I want to face the angst of a next book with its potential for Dashiel finding out about the casual she-didn't-have-a-memory boyfriend, but this story in and of itself was fun to read. Four stars on the Amazon / Goodreads scale.
March 18, 2023
I really wasn't sure what to think going into this book.
Turns out, I didn't need to worry. She spins a different tale (not totally unconnected) from her previous series that is action-packed, full of thought, intrigue, and mayhem. As before, she continues to make me think, expand my view of the universe, and go new places. Cannot wait for this saga to continue.
Turns out, I didn't need to worry. She spins a different tale (not totally unconnected) from her previous series that is action-packed, full of thought, intrigue, and mayhem. As before, she continues to make me think, expand my view of the universe, and go new places. Cannot wait for this saga to continue.
August 8, 2018
Warning: very minor spoilers about general themes, setting, character details. Also some light spoilers about GS Jennsen's other series, Aurora Rhapsody.
When Exin Ex Machina was announced, I immediately assumed it would be a continuation of GS Jennsen’s Aurora Rhapsody (AR) series. I was surprised and excited when I learned that we would be meeting a new cast far away yet still connected to Alex & friends. This novel, the first in Asterion Noir (AN), contains many delightful references and parallel themes to AR but still stands on its own as the start of a series.
Whereas AR showed society going through contact with other alien races and rapid technological evolution, AN starts far after factions of humanity have merged with Sentient Artificial Intelligences (SAIs) and built relationships with different races. AR is heavier on Space Opera than Exin Ex Machina is, the latter being much more Cyberpunk. However I expect that AN as a while will be more of a balance of the two subgenres. I appreciate how Jennsen eases reders into her series. With AR, we started the story with very recognizable technology levels and then the technology evolved quickly over the series. In AN, the technology is already very advanced but Jennsen starts us of with a smaller scope, geographically centralized story. This makes taking in all of the technology much easier. I am excited to see more of the universe as the scope expands!
As always, Jennsen creates a large number of complex characters to root for and against. Individuals on all sides of the conflicts have understandable logic and motivation. The society depicted in AN, the Asterion Dominion, is a race of humans that have completely merged with SAIs. Every aspect of their society has been altered over time due to everyone basically having powerful computers as part of their brain. Individuals are able to swap out body parts and thought routines at will. Some individuals even have their larynx altered in order to better communicate with other races, showing how technology might help overcome xenophobia. Their lifespans seem unended barring the complete deletion or altering of a person and their backups. Jennsen shows how this constant evolution combined with complete “up-gen’s” being required at least every 300 years keeps individuals from becoming either stagnant or unbelievably omnipresent.
Nika is a great character to explore how merging with SAIs might change the way we function. She shows us how we may gain the ability to pick and choose routines and traits like we have access to our own Create a Sim. Her mathematical brain is able to assess situations and find the most logical and beneficial path to take in an instant. She is adept at managing interpersonal relations. It really shows when she is talking to her seconds-in-command when they have conflict. Nika is able to effectively explain the mistakes each of them made and how the consequences would impact group morale and authority.
I have really been enjoying the similarities and differences between Nika and Alex of AR. There was a point in AR where Alex was at a precipice with her merging with an AI. In a lot of ways, Nika is what I imagined Alex would have become if she had pursued fully merging her consciousness with AI.
Dashiel shows us what a society merged with SAI might look like in terms of economy. It was fun to read how he efficiently he was able to deal with an issue. When product is stolen from his company while in transport, he is able to issue a command to place trackers inside all shipments crates in all of his production lines by the end of the day. He has the ability to have such an undertaking done with ease because of how efficient the brains of the population and therefore the society itself is.
There are so many great aspects to this novel so I am just going to have to cut myself off before this gets much longer. I shall eagerly await the next installment! If it is not clear by now, I highly recommend this book (and the Aurora Rhapsody series)!
When Exin Ex Machina was announced, I immediately assumed it would be a continuation of GS Jennsen’s Aurora Rhapsody (AR) series. I was surprised and excited when I learned that we would be meeting a new cast far away yet still connected to Alex & friends. This novel, the first in Asterion Noir (AN), contains many delightful references and parallel themes to AR but still stands on its own as the start of a series.
Whereas AR showed society going through contact with other alien races and rapid technological evolution, AN starts far after factions of humanity have merged with Sentient Artificial Intelligences (SAIs) and built relationships with different races. AR is heavier on Space Opera than Exin Ex Machina is, the latter being much more Cyberpunk. However I expect that AN as a while will be more of a balance of the two subgenres. I appreciate how Jennsen eases reders into her series. With AR, we started the story with very recognizable technology levels and then the technology evolved quickly over the series. In AN, the technology is already very advanced but Jennsen starts us of with a smaller scope, geographically centralized story. This makes taking in all of the technology much easier. I am excited to see more of the universe as the scope expands!
As always, Jennsen creates a large number of complex characters to root for and against. Individuals on all sides of the conflicts have understandable logic and motivation. The society depicted in AN, the Asterion Dominion, is a race of humans that have completely merged with SAIs. Every aspect of their society has been altered over time due to everyone basically having powerful computers as part of their brain. Individuals are able to swap out body parts and thought routines at will. Some individuals even have their larynx altered in order to better communicate with other races, showing how technology might help overcome xenophobia. Their lifespans seem unended barring the complete deletion or altering of a person and their backups. Jennsen shows how this constant evolution combined with complete “up-gen’s” being required at least every 300 years keeps individuals from becoming either stagnant or unbelievably omnipresent.
Nika is a great character to explore how merging with SAIs might change the way we function. She shows us how we may gain the ability to pick and choose routines and traits like we have access to our own Create a Sim. Her mathematical brain is able to assess situations and find the most logical and beneficial path to take in an instant. She is adept at managing interpersonal relations. It really shows when she is talking to her seconds-in-command when they have conflict. Nika is able to effectively explain the mistakes each of them made and how the consequences would impact group morale and authority.
I have really been enjoying the similarities and differences between Nika and Alex of AR. There was a point in AR where Alex was at a precipice with her merging with an AI. In a lot of ways, Nika is what I imagined Alex would have become if she had pursued fully merging her consciousness with AI.
Dashiel shows us what a society merged with SAI might look like in terms of economy. It was fun to read how he efficiently he was able to deal with an issue. When product is stolen from his company while in transport, he is able to issue a command to place trackers inside all shipments crates in all of his production lines by the end of the day. He has the ability to have such an undertaking done with ease because of how efficient the brains of the population and therefore the society itself is.
There are so many great aspects to this novel so I am just going to have to cut myself off before this gets much longer. I shall eagerly await the next installment! If it is not clear by now, I highly recommend this book (and the Aurora Rhapsody series)!
April 4, 2023
Disclaimer - I received a free copy of this book to review for the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC).
In this first book of G. S. Jennsen’s trilogy we meet the main protagonist in the first three pages. She is known as Nika yet, as the story begins, just like the reader she has no idea who she is or how she got to her present location and situation. By the next page five years have passed and Nika is fully into her new identity as the leader of some type of rebel assault team. Jennsen’s story grabs your interest and attention immediately and holds you in its tight grip throughout the next three hundred pages.
I greatly enjoyed this book. Unfortunately, a lot of things started happening in my life just as I began the reading and, despite my desire to sit and read it cover to cover, it ended up taking me two weeks to finish it. Hopefully you will have the great pleasure of immersing yourself more fully and finishing the story in one or two sittings.
Many of the books I’ve read in this year’s Self-Published Science Fiction Competition have a heavy dose of fantasy. Fortunately, Exin Ex Machina is science fiction through and through. We have robots, brain implants, artificial intelligence, space travel, and much more.
The basic storyline; what should be an ideal world is suddenly drifting further and further from its founding principles. Discovering what is happening, who is behind it, and what do to do about it has a large dose of the rebel alliance fighting against the evil empire in Star Wars. Fortunately, Jennsen’s characters have far more depth and do their fighting more with wits and brains that with guns.
There is a lot to this storyline and, just when you think you know what is happening, Jennsen drops another layer of mystery on you. Of course, this sets up book two very nicely. Female protagonist, political intrigue, deep mysteries, aliens, enhanced humans, trust, betrayal, and a little sex and romance tick off quite a few boxes of what I demand of a good science fiction book. Jennsen’s writing abilities as definitely up to the task of gathering it all together into a very readable, and enjoyable, storyline.
In this first book of G. S. Jennsen’s trilogy we meet the main protagonist in the first three pages. She is known as Nika yet, as the story begins, just like the reader she has no idea who she is or how she got to her present location and situation. By the next page five years have passed and Nika is fully into her new identity as the leader of some type of rebel assault team. Jennsen’s story grabs your interest and attention immediately and holds you in its tight grip throughout the next three hundred pages.
I greatly enjoyed this book. Unfortunately, a lot of things started happening in my life just as I began the reading and, despite my desire to sit and read it cover to cover, it ended up taking me two weeks to finish it. Hopefully you will have the great pleasure of immersing yourself more fully and finishing the story in one or two sittings.
Many of the books I’ve read in this year’s Self-Published Science Fiction Competition have a heavy dose of fantasy. Fortunately, Exin Ex Machina is science fiction through and through. We have robots, brain implants, artificial intelligence, space travel, and much more.
The basic storyline; what should be an ideal world is suddenly drifting further and further from its founding principles. Discovering what is happening, who is behind it, and what do to do about it has a large dose of the rebel alliance fighting against the evil empire in Star Wars. Fortunately, Jennsen’s characters have far more depth and do their fighting more with wits and brains that with guns.
There is a lot to this storyline and, just when you think you know what is happening, Jennsen drops another layer of mystery on you. Of course, this sets up book two very nicely. Female protagonist, political intrigue, deep mysteries, aliens, enhanced humans, trust, betrayal, and a little sex and romance tick off quite a few boxes of what I demand of a good science fiction book. Jennsen’s writing abilities as definitely up to the task of gathering it all together into a very readable, and enjoyable, storyline.
November 10, 2018
Here we go again! Jennsen has set the stage for another grand adventure that will expand to encompass galaxies. This novel introduces us to Nika and Dashiel, bio-synthetic people who are distant descendants of the Anadens (from her Aurora Rhapsody series) and who now are called Asterions. Why am I not surprised that the main protagonists in this novel have traits similar to those of Alexis and Caleb? Not that I'm complaining.
This story takes place mostly, on one planet where Nika is taken in by members of a rebellious group (Noir) who are fighting against an oppressive government, after waking up lying in the street with no memory of her past. Nika soon becomes the group's leader. She later finds Dashiel, a high level government official, who remembers Nika from her past life but, is not sure of who she has become. A lot of soul searching goes on by both parties who are trying to figure out what their priorities are and to whom they have allegiance.
This book is as compelling as her past works with adventure and intrigue, both in the plot and in the development of her characters. As in her previous novels, there are numerous characters that the reader gets to know and relate to along the way. She has also created a society that bears all the complexity and virtues and foibles of any human society.
This novel introduces to the Asterions and promises to take us on a grand adventure that is certain to encompass galaxies and require more than one book . So hang on. Here we go again. And if this book and her past works are any indicator, it's going to be a great ride!
This story takes place mostly, on one planet where Nika is taken in by members of a rebellious group (Noir) who are fighting against an oppressive government, after waking up lying in the street with no memory of her past. Nika soon becomes the group's leader. She later finds Dashiel, a high level government official, who remembers Nika from her past life but, is not sure of who she has become. A lot of soul searching goes on by both parties who are trying to figure out what their priorities are and to whom they have allegiance.
This book is as compelling as her past works with adventure and intrigue, both in the plot and in the development of her characters. As in her previous novels, there are numerous characters that the reader gets to know and relate to along the way. She has also created a society that bears all the complexity and virtues and foibles of any human society.
This novel introduces to the Asterions and promises to take us on a grand adventure that is certain to encompass galaxies and require more than one book . So hang on. Here we go again. And if this book and her past works are any indicator, it's going to be a great ride!
June 18, 2018
While I am a fan of the Aurora Rising series, those books were not easy reads with so many characters, locations, and technologies to keep track of. This story is no less developed and nuanced, but, thankfully, is much more compact. The mysterious air is maintained throughout, with each new discovery leading to more questions and keeping up Jennsen’s consistently fast pace. She masterfully assembles the story, giving just enough answers to make a satisfying read, while leaving enough open questions to compel your interest in the next installment. I am thrilled to have been an early fan, and continue to marvel at the amazing talent continually displayed by this fabulous author!
June 18, 2019
Human machine singularity
A story suggesting the outcome of Kurzweil's theory of singularity, when humans transcend biology. The author has expressed it in a way that is both conceivable and believable. The characters are deep and complex. The story is a little hard to get into at first, but grows more engrossing as the storyline develops. I can't wait to see where the journey takes me.
A story suggesting the outcome of Kurzweil's theory of singularity, when humans transcend biology. The author has expressed it in a way that is both conceivable and believable. The characters are deep and complex. The story is a little hard to get into at first, but grows more engrossing as the storyline develops. I can't wait to see where the journey takes me.
June 19, 2018
After loving G S Jennsen’s Aurora series I had high hopes for Asterion which were both realized and exceeded. Beautifully paced, exciting, and intriguing - I can’t wait for the next instalment to hit my kindle 😁.
July 11, 2018
I’ll let other people talk about the very original storyline, the fantastic main character and the action packed page turner of a plot. I just want to say I loved the book and I’m disappointed that I have to wait for the next one in the series!
August 8, 2018
Great book!
Great original storyline, interesting characters and a dark looming threat, what more could you ask for? Fast paced and never boring, I stayed up way too late again to finish it.. I can't wait for the next book! Loved your Aurora series as well!!!
Great original storyline, interesting characters and a dark looming threat, what more could you ask for? Fast paced and never boring, I stayed up way too late again to finish it.. I can't wait for the next book! Loved your Aurora series as well!!!
July 2, 2018
Been a while since a book grabbed me!
Been reading some junk lately. This was definitely not junk! Grabbed my imagination immediately and never let go.
Great work!
Been reading some junk lately. This was definitely not junk! Grabbed my imagination immediately and never let go.
Great work!
March 20, 2019
I loved this book.
I can't quite convince myself it deserves a 5star, but it's as close as you can be in my book and not be a 5 star. Highly recommended.
I can't quite convince myself it deserves a 5star, but it's as close as you can be in my book and not be a 5 star. Highly recommended.
October 19, 2018
Great start to a fascinating story.
June 29, 2019
Excellent
Well... Of course I have to keep on reading... So I've bought the next in the series... Will I ever move on to another author? Hope so!
Well... Of course I have to keep on reading... So I've bought the next in the series... Will I ever move on to another author? Hope so!
September 2, 2018
A strong start for another fresh series. Quickly engages you as a reader; offers strong characters of diverse genders.
If you enjoyed Jennsen's richly innovative "Aurora" series, I hope you'll join me in embracing this one too!
If you enjoyed Jennsen's richly innovative "Aurora" series, I hope you'll join me in embracing this one too!
February 12, 2023
Took awhile before I got that we the main characters are not human, which is already an interesting point of view to start with.Took awhile before I realized that we the main characters are not human, which is already an interesting point of view to start with.
I'm such a Galactica fan, that after those fracking cylons, that at first I was suspicious of these so human like AIs running around. But seriously, A good angle for story beginning, and interesting characters. There is big story unravelling with action, twists, and yes, I got hooked.
I'm such a Galactica fan, that after those fracking cylons, that at first I was suspicious of these so human like AIs running around. But seriously, A good angle for story beginning, and interesting characters. There is big story unravelling with action, twists, and yes, I got hooked.
June 23, 2018
Mesmerising
A far future where the line between human and AI has all but vanished a group of rebels fight against an increasingly tyrannical government. Unfortunately that government is all that stands between the people and an alien threat that threatens to destroy everything.
A far future where the line between human and AI has all but vanished a group of rebels fight against an increasingly tyrannical government. Unfortunately that government is all that stands between the people and an alien threat that threatens to destroy everything.
November 15, 2018
Can't wait to read book 2!
September 2, 2022
I read Exin Ex Machina as a member of a judging team for the second Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC2), where it was assigned to my first-round allotment.
Exin Ex Machina has a quick hook and really doesn’t let up. Immediately, we find the main character has had her memory wiped by unknown adversaries and for unknown reasons. One brief time skip later, she’s working for a revolutionary group trying to fight the increasingly harsh government crackdown on petty crime, along with an alarming spate of mysterious disappearances. It’s enough to get the reader invested from the start, and with fluid prose and a fast pace, it doesn’t lose much momentum as it goes.
It isn’t a perfect book, and I have two chief complaints. One is perhaps a personal preference—things tend to move fast, and there are significant plot or interpersonal developments that happen a beat or two before I’m fully ready to believe them. The second is that the point-of-view characters vary widely enough that it’s easy to see who is acting in good faith and who has nefarious motives. There simply isn’t the space for shocking betrayals, which does tamp down the tension in a few key moments.
On the other hand, there’s plenty of action, a whole bunch of strange happenings expertly linked together, and no mustache-twirlers to be found. This does open a series, so there’s no final resolution here, but it drives hard toward an intermediate conclusion that delivers plenty of satisfaction and makes the final third of the book nearly impossible to put down.
First impression: 15/20. Full review to come at www.tarvolon.com. SPSFC2 status will be determined in conjunction with other team members, once everyone has had a chance to read their initial allotments.
Exin Ex Machina has a quick hook and really doesn’t let up. Immediately, we find the main character has had her memory wiped by unknown adversaries and for unknown reasons. One brief time skip later, she’s working for a revolutionary group trying to fight the increasingly harsh government crackdown on petty crime, along with an alarming spate of mysterious disappearances. It’s enough to get the reader invested from the start, and with fluid prose and a fast pace, it doesn’t lose much momentum as it goes.
It isn’t a perfect book, and I have two chief complaints. One is perhaps a personal preference—things tend to move fast, and there are significant plot or interpersonal developments that happen a beat or two before I’m fully ready to believe them. The second is that the point-of-view characters vary widely enough that it’s easy to see who is acting in good faith and who has nefarious motives. There simply isn’t the space for shocking betrayals, which does tamp down the tension in a few key moments.
On the other hand, there’s plenty of action, a whole bunch of strange happenings expertly linked together, and no mustache-twirlers to be found. This does open a series, so there’s no final resolution here, but it drives hard toward an intermediate conclusion that delivers plenty of satisfaction and makes the final third of the book nearly impossible to put down.
First impression: 15/20. Full review to come at www.tarvolon.com. SPSFC2 status will be determined in conjunction with other team members, once everyone has had a chance to read their initial allotments.
September 1, 2020
3.5 stars. As always, I enjoyed G.J.’s writing style and world building. The story moved at a good pace and was just engaging enough to keep reading. That said, I don’t feel like I ever became fully engrossed in the story to the point where I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. There is just way too much going on here: Nika’s past, people disappearing, a crime wave associated with a virus. Any one of these alone would make for a great plot of fleshed out properly. The way things stand here, none of these story arcs is sufficiently developed to really become intriguing. Except possibly for Nika’s last, nine get a lot of attention beyond more-or-less passing mentions despite clearly being important. Also, what exactly is NOIR’s mandate or goal aside from general “screw the government.” What do they want? Why do people join? What are they rebelling against? Seem like important questions that are never actually addressed. Finally, I feel like some elements of mystery were both predictable and revealed way too quickly, which really took away from the suspense that would have kept me on the edge of my seat. As with all G.J.’s books that have sequels, the ending was very unsatisfying: not a conclusion and not an obvious cliffhanger. Clearly, this trilogy is really just one book in 3 parts, so don’t expect a stand-alone novel.
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December 23, 2018Note: This is the first book in a series and the story ends without any real conclusion.
The plot is pretty good and moves along nicely. The "mystery" that drives the story doesn't get resolved at the end of the book, which is frustrating, but to be expected in volume one of a series.
The science fiction stuff is really horrible. Some kind of cyber-bionic-humans explained so vaguely as to be meaningless and lets the author get away with any kind of magic she wants. So the protagonists engage in these Mission Impossible-style operations with all kinds of magical technologies that give them superhero-like abilities, almost cartoonish, and definitely unbelievable. The author's bio claims she is a programmer, so she must know what an "algorithm" is, but the term is completely misused in the story. Any single one of the magician's hat full of technologies she employs, if explored in depth (ala Altered Carbon), could be an interesting novel. But with the over abundance of high tech gizmos deployed left and right it just becomes ridiculous. There is also a romance that seems to add needless drama, but I'm not a fan of romance anyway, especially when done in such a superficial manner.
The plot is pretty good and moves along nicely. The "mystery" that drives the story doesn't get resolved at the end of the book, which is frustrating, but to be expected in volume one of a series.
The science fiction stuff is really horrible. Some kind of cyber-bionic-humans explained so vaguely as to be meaningless and lets the author get away with any kind of magic she wants. So the protagonists engage in these Mission Impossible-style operations with all kinds of magical technologies that give them superhero-like abilities, almost cartoonish, and definitely unbelievable. The author's bio claims she is a programmer, so she must know what an "algorithm" is, but the term is completely misused in the story. Any single one of the magician's hat full of technologies she employs, if explored in depth (ala Altered Carbon), could be an interesting novel. But with the over abundance of high tech gizmos deployed left and right it just becomes ridiculous. There is also a romance that seems to add needless drama, but I'm not a fan of romance anyway, especially when done in such a superficial manner.
May 17, 2021
As much as I loved Jennsen's first series (or set of trilogies), I could tell right away that this one was going to be my new favorite. Jennsen's imagination astounds me. This one starts with a woman waking up having had her entire self erased (people are stored as data within bodies, and can therefore be wiped), and quickly moves on to a game of rebels, politicians, cops, criminals, black markets...a big twisty web of motivations and intrigue. Like all of Jennsen's writing, the characters are fantastic, but it's really the unique way Jennsen plays with scifi concepts here that drew me in. Couldn't put this one down while I noodled out what was going on, how the world worked, etc. I like that Jennsen often does this thing where the reader knows more than the main characters about what's really happening - it makes it less overwhelming to take in all the heavy scifi stuff when I'm getting just enough of the mystery clues to feel like I'm "in on it". Really can't wait for this series to continue. You don't have to have read her other work to enjoy this.
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