Heavy Metal Pulp: Money Shot

Netherworld #3

by Christopher Rowley

Detective Rook Venner was a successful investigating officer for the Hudson Valley Police Department€”until the General Sangacha murder case came across his desk and his world exploded.Now after being dragged through hell and back, Rook is on the run with Plesur, a Pleasure Model who is the one eyewitness to the murder. Plesur carries a secret in her brain that terrifies the powers-that-be. A secret that they will do anything to destroy€”even bring in a Tactical Robotic Regiment to track Rook and Plesur down and annihilate them.The only choice the two have is to locate the coordinates that were planted in the pleasure mod€™s head to the isolated mountain ridge where it all began. Deep underground, in a warren of machine halls and ice caves, something so horrific is happening that just knowing three code words is enough to get you Operation Taste Imperative.Rook and Plesur have no way back and no way out. If they want to su

Genres: Science Fiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published November 9, 2010

About the author

Christopher Rowley is a prolific writer of both science fiction and fantasy novels. He was born in 1948 in Lynn, Massachusetts to an American mother and an English father. Educated for the most part at Brentwood School, Essex, England, he became a London-based journalist in the 1970s. In 1977 he moved to New York City and began work on The War For Eternity, his first science fiction novel. He currently lives in upstate New York.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Money Shot" is the third book in the Netherworld trilogy. Reading this book, just like the first two, is akin to watching an action-packed science fiction movie. Only this time it is all/out battle with troops, bombs, robots, missiles and more. Great science fiction battle scenes featuring a small group of desperate battle-hardened warriors and "mods" against a while army battalion of soldiers and robots. The main characters of this series include a policeman-Rook Venner, a dominatrix- Julia, and a pleasure mod who is so fresh out of the box that she is merely called Pleasur. A mod is a kind of genetically engineered, factory grown person but in this case, the mod has crazy battle skills and has secrets embedded in her mind that can save what's left of the free world. This is a quick-reading, action-packed, futuristic story pitting a tiny band of freedom fighters against a despotic government. It's definitely a good read.

[Sheilah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the last installment of the Netherworld series by Rowley. It was a fast paced, action packed ride that takes the reader down an alternative reality that might not be too far off from our near future. A world where manufactured and natural born humans find love. And a place where rulers wish to suppress and control the populace, instead of embracing and representing.

The story is short and just continues from the first two installments. It wraps up nicely and is a good escape story where you don’t have to think too hard. It’s a fun read that never gets dull.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Money Shot: Netherworld 3
Author: Christopher Rowley
Publisher: Tor / Heavy Metal Unloaded LLC
Published In: New York City, NY
Date: 2010
Pgs: 272

REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Summary:
The Insured World and the Uninsured World, between them a hinterland of vice, corruption, and evil. Detective Rook of the Hudson Valley Police Department hadn’t realized where his life was going when he caught the case. A murdered General, a pleasure mod with a secret loaded in her head, a senator from Texas and master of a paramilitary mercenary company determined to keep that secret from going public, open warfare on American soil under cover of the drug war. Big enough that Tactical Robotic Regiments are being deployed on American soil. Drone war in the mountains. Finally on track to the mountain where the coordinates lead after being on the run for the first two books. Operation Taste Imperative is almost ready to go. Either Rook and Plesur stop it or all hell is going to wash over the world.

Genre:
Adventure
Androids
Corruption
Fiction
Intrigue
Mecha
Military
Robots
Science fiction
War

Why this book:
Cause I read Book 1 and Book 2 of the trilogy.
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Favorite Character:
Hudson Valley Police Department Detective SIO Rook Venner.

Character I Most Identified With:
We’re meant, I believe, to identify with Rook Venner, his square jawed all-Americanism in the face of people acting against the good of the country and the world, his growing love for the pleasure mod, Plesur who looks just like a television star from the old days, his willingness to help her complete her mission no matter the cost. But while he came more alive to me in the first two books, he feels more like a character on the page here. Instead of the living breathing presence that he was in the first two books.

The Feel:
This feels like it fits with the first two books narratively. But there’s something different in the tone. I can’t put my finger on it, but there is a difference between the first two and this one. The first two flowed together while this one stands a bit apart even though we jump, action-wise, practically directly from Book 2 to the opening pages of Book 3.

Pacing:
Great pacing. Starts off in the middle of a firefight and goes up from there.

The pace does wane a bit and wander around as we make it into the mountains and through Dr. Jim’s reserve and up to the aqueduct caverns. I expected “go for broke” when we hit the caverns and were this close to the climax, but we seem to be wandering and rudipooting a bit as the climax is aborning.

The pace and immersiveness of the story does kick back up at the climax.

Plot Holes/Out of Character:
There are some “lock and load”, Rambo-ish cliches here.

David and Angie/Julia having sex in the abandoned tunnel while being hunted by hunter/killer military squads. Stupidly, since those same squads knew that there were infiltrators in the local area who may be trying to get into the complex. But they love each other...good for them.

The earbacks are a bit overdone here.

Hmm Moments:
Some of the mechanized assault robots put you in fear of where drone technology could be going.

The pleasure mod mass grave in the tunnels of the aqueduct should have had much more impact, but it doesn’t. Horrifying, yes. This might be due to getting lost in the David-Angie/Julia B-plot immediately after the discovery.

Wow. When you find out what the Taste Imperative is and how ingenious and evil it is, it makes up for the shortcomings. Wow.
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Last Page Sound:
The bad guys didn’t lose. They didn’t win. But they didn’t lose. And this was a trilogy, so...Iiked the book, but I don’t know if I’d be back for a Book 4, maybe, but I don't know.

Author Assessment:
I would give other stuff by Rowley a look.

Editorial Assessment:
Wonder if the same editorial and readthrough team looked this one over? Wonder if they noticed what I did about the feel.

Knee Jerk Reaction:
it’s alright

Disposition of Book:
Salt Lake County Library Services
8030 South 1825 West
West Jordan, UT 84088

Dewey Decimal System:
F
Rowley

Would recommend to:
People who read Book 1 and Book 2.
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[AndrewP · Rating 2 out of 5]

The last book in the trilogy more or less wraps up the story. For me the ending was unrewarding and left me with a few questions. Not sure if there is the intent to create a sequel series but I there wouldn't be enough interest for me to read the.

Overall these books were half way decent and I enjoyed the semi-illustrated format. They are certainly all fast paced and the story was like a movie that goes from one action sequence to the next. My big complaint was that the overall story was very weak.

For the trilogy in total I would give them a 2.5 stars.

[Aaron Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An all-out explosive ending to the trilogy. Lots of battle scenes and the revealing of the big secret is interesting. I really think that this series can't be over because there is enough loose ends to allow for at least another novel. This is honestly an America that I can envision coming about. The only problem is that all three of these novels could of been put into one which isn't bad but you know. I was able to read all three in one night.

[David Salcido · Rating 5 out of 5]

Politics and survival become the only motivating factors in book three of the Heavy Metal Pulp Netherworld trilogy. SIO Venner, the gorgeous and resourceful pleasure mod Plesur and their rebellious friends battle their way toward an answer to the mystery that has been haunting them with a stifling, blood-soaked cloak of inevitability, until the savage, action-packed and satisfying conclusion. A thrilling, gut-churning finale, with a surprisingly relevant message.

[Alex Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a disappointing end to a fun pulp novel. Despite all the action going down it just felt slow and dragged out. Nothing felt like it was of any consequence to the characters and the big reveal was super disappointing. It might have been saved by some exploration of the ramifications of everything but by then I was out of pages.

Bummer.

[Maks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that I finished last book of the series, I can say it was one heck of a high-octane ride indeed! Easy flowing read, quick action, good plot - I found it very enjoyable. Would've made a great action flick back in 80s-early 90s. Had that feel of old school Heavy Metal/Metal Hurlant magazines I liked as a kid.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would love to see the movie - if they ever make one

[Kevin]

good finish to the 3 book series