A good start for a new sci-fi world (Gridlinked - Neal Asher)

Member Name: scola_p

Product:	Gridlinked - Neal Asher
Date:	03/08/07 (52 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good pace and and interestign world

Disadvantages: Characters need a little more depth

Gridlinked is the first of Neal Asher’s novels I read, and I immediately fell in love with the his sci-fi world.

The story is set in the future, in a human empire called the Polity. The Polity is run by artificially intelligent machines who have intellects that are vastly more powerful than that of normal humans, and they are responsible for both running society and also operating the runcible network, which is this universe’s method of instantaneous space travel.

The plot follows a Polity Agent called Ian Cormac as he investigates the explosion of a runcible on a distant planet in the network. I do not want to go into too much detail and ruin the book, but it is a good story with aliens (both organic and robotic), androids and even an attempt at revenge from the criminal underworld.

This is well paced book, which has some very good ideas. The themes it touches on revolve mainly around the nature of the relationship between the humans in the Polity and their AI “masters”. One of the best ways this is demonstrated is by the removal of Agent Cormac’s Gridlink (hence the title), a device which allows him access to the AI information network. It seems that constant exposure to the world of the AIs has dehumanised him, which has reduced his effectiveness as an Agent.

My favourite thing about the book is the effort Neal Asher has put into developing the world his book are set in (the hallmark of good sci-fi, in my opinion) and there is a rich tapestry of concepts and ideas to enjoy. He has also obviously put a lot of thought into how advanced technology will impact on life in the future. These range from how insurgency happens in a world controlled by almost omniscient AIs, to how the advent of AI caused a whole re-classification of what constitutes intelligence and how this gave some pigs the right to vote, but took it away from some people.

All in all, if you enjoy well though out, action based sci-fi (similar to Consider Phlebeas by Ian M Banks) this would be a good book for you.

Summary: An enagaging plot, with lots of believable "science". Great for any fan of action based sci-fi.