Review | Crystal Rain by Tobias Buckell (Tor)

Crystal Rain is Tobias Buckell's debut novel and a very good one at that. Born and raised in the Caribbean he brings a strong flavour of that culture to this story.

The inhabitants of Nanagada and Aztlan are descendant from the Caribbean, now occupying lands each side of the Wicked Highs that are cut off from each other except for the Mafolie Pass. The alien Teotl that rule over the Aztecans as gods demand blood sacrifices, while the Nanagadans live in peace with the alien Loa. The Teotl and Loa have fought each other for a great time, and now the Aztecans are coming through the mountains under the direction of the Teotl to wage war on Nanagada.

John deBrun lost his memory 27 years ago and now passes his time in Brungstum with his wife and son. His past life is a blank to him, although he has come through situations that have killed all others around him. He is the only person to travel to the northlands and return alive, to travel over Hope's Loss and return healthy. Now the invasion of the Aztecans turns his life upside down. Travelling north with Oaxycytl, an Aztecan spy, he arrives in Capitol City wanting to join the Mongoose men and fight against the Aztecans to take revenge for the loss he has suffered.

With the discovery of old information, a crew is put together to travel to the northlands by ship to find the Ma Wi Jung, a mysterious object said to contain the power to defeat the Teotl. John is appointed the captain and given the things he needs to get to the location where the Ma Wi Jung should be. With the Aztecans marching on Capitol City their time is limited, but they are the only hope.

What Tobias Buckell has done here is pretty impressive. He's taken a culture that wouldn't usually be put in the same sentence as science fiction and created something that is both unique and familiar. Although not heavily science fiction related, the story has constant references to a time when humanity was technically advanced and flew between the stars. Although most of the story is told through the eyes of characters that just don't know or don't understand the technology, the times when we do get to see from the perspective of those with the knowledge doesn't give too much detail - enough to know there is more, just not quite what it is.

The characters are also really well presented. The handful who we spend the majority of the novel with are well developed, interesting and unique - of the five or so main characters, each was distinct and engrossing. I can honestly say that there were no characters that I disliked reading and no plot thread that didn't feel rewarding.

The only real point that I can say I struggled with was the dialect, but only early on in the book. Tobias has obviously used his background to create a great setting which is a refreshing change, but the dialect is difficult to get into. If I didn't know from reading his blog and doing a little research on this I would have struggled even more. Saying this, after getting to the quarter way mark I was barely noticing the difference simply because the book flows so well.

Crystal Rain is a great read - not too long, but with so many ideas and such a well told story I find it difficult to believe the length, I would have expected a longer book, although this is probably one of the strongest points: the pace of the book. I was never bored of reading and each chapter added something to the whole. I just can't wait to sink my teeth into Ragamuffin and see what Tobias can do with Space Opera.

Review | Cell by Stephen King (Hodder)

An event, the Pulse, hits the world and throws it into mayhem. Everyone using a mobile phone at the time (or afterwards) is affected and the majority of those attack each other and the normal people left behind. The streets aren't a safe place to wander and locking yourself up in a secure house might be the one thing that keeps you alive, at least in the beginning.

We pick up the story of Cell just before the Pulse with Clay, your average guy who has just hit lucky with his comic book art work. As he wanders through the streets he lets his mind wander until the cell's start ringing and people start going crazy. Horrified at what is going on he deals remarkably well with the situation and manages to help where he can. As things get worse he hopes that his son, left with his mother back home, is okay - after all, he does have his own little cell phone. With his mind set on this, Clay does the only thing a parent would do in this situation and make his way all that distance back to him, regardless of what he might find.

I quite enjoyed Cell with it's first few chapters of zombie like action and horror before it changes to a more science fiction based plot point that hovers just beneath the surface. The story takes us on a journey through the city before heading to the highways and roads strewn with abandoned cars and the 'normies' left over walking along them - King does a rather good job at presenting a realistic situation here.

The story is split into sections, each reading similar to a short story but using the previous information as it's basis. It was nice to read like this as it broke the book up into more managable sections. Although the story is told through Clay's eyes you can still see the bigger picture of the events going on, perhaps not quite as much as I would have liked though. The story is mostly told outside of the large towns and cities and the feeling of living in constant fear doesn't come across as well as it should in places.

The first section when the Pulse hits is misleading to an extent. I expected an apocalyptic zombie-like story where the main characters were doing their best to outrun and hide from the hoards of 'phoners' after them. What I got was a story that starts off rough and refines itself with the revelations that come throughout the book. You may ask why I'm not being more specific - well, I just don't want to give the story away. If I went into Cell knowing what to expect it would have taken half the fun out of it and I doubt I would have enjoyed it anywhere near as much as I did.

Stephen King has written a decent little story here, and although not to everyone's taste, it is enjoyable. I didn't expect too much from it and felt satisfied when it was over. It's not going to be up there with my best reads, but I don't feel like I wasted my time in reading it. If it's on your shelf and you've nothing better to read, then pick it up, but if you've something better sitting there...

Interview | Peter F Hamilton

Peter F Hamilton very kindly took some time out from his busy schedule to answer a few questions from me, mainly very general but I tried where possible to not ask the usual ones (except the future novels question, that seems almost mandatory) and wanted to focus only on the Void trilogy. Thankfully Peter agreed and below is the result. I hope you enjoy, there a few tidbits for the Temporal Void and hints at what to expect in volume three.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Firstly, many thanks for taking time out of your schedule for this, no doubt you're very busy! So, on with the questions...

With the recent releases of The Dreaming Void in the US and the mass market paperback and audio CD in the UK, could you tell everyone that is not familiar with your work a little about The Dreaming Void and the Void trilogy as a whole?

The concept at the centre of the Void trilogy is about belief, and the conflict that can generate. It’s set nearly two thousand years in the future, where there is a multi-layered society called the Commonwealth, where human groups are categorized by the level of technology they use. At the centre of the galaxy is a strange zone called the Void, protected by an Event Horizon. Inside this is a very unusual universe which gives its occupants strong mental powers. The conflict arises when one man outside dreams the life of someone inside the Void. This starts a fanatical following which wants to pilgrimage into the Void so they too can live the dream. Unfortunately, the rest of the galaxy believes this pilgrimage will set off a catastrophic devourment, whereby the Void will engulf the rest of the stars n the galaxy.
What happens next charts the struggle by both sides to, the dreamers to get into the Void, and their opponents to stop them. Both sides believing their cause is the right one.

The audio CD release is a first for your books - how do think it will be received and what are your thoughts on it?

It’s all so new I have no idea how it will be received. I’ve heard Toby Longworth who has recorded it, and all I can say is that he’s done a great job.

You've recently been over in the US for your first visit in a good few years. With quite a few events going on you must have had a busy time travelling, but did you get the chance to enjoy your visit and the events?

The travelling side in a tour like that is never enjoyable. Fortunately the events and people I get to meet make the whole time rewarding, if not memorable. I didn’t have a lot of time for sightseeing, but thankfully the few times I did get to look round by myself included San Francisco and New York. I have to say ComicCon East was fantastic, if you ever get the opportunity then go.

When you first got the idea for the Void trilogy, did you plan to set it in the Commonwealth universe or did that come about later on? What were the reasons for coming back to this setting?

I set it there because I enjoyed extrapolating how the Commonwealth society would evolve after the end of Judas Unchained, after all it is 1200 years later. To me designing societies that are at least plausible, or have an internal consistency are all part of the fun.

Did you always plan on the Void sections being set in a more fantasy orientated world?

Absolutely. Half of the Dreaming Void takes place inside the Void, which is a seeming medieval type world. In the Temporal Void about two thirds of the book follows what happens to Edeard and his friends, and ultimately shows the true nature of the Void. Then part three, will switch back to everyone outside, and how they try to solve the crisis.

Readers of your blog will know how much you enjoy writing Paula, but what other characters could you not help bringing back this time around?

Well without doing spoilers… There are a few cameos and brief mentions of earlier characters. The SI is back for a small role in part two, and I think Paul Cramley will now be appearing in part three, oh, and Ozzie of course.

Speaking of characters: Aaron. I won't ask the obvious question, but how do you keep the balance of giving some clues to his identity but without giving too much information?

I can’t believe the amount of attention this has been getting in the forum. All I can say is if I’d know before I would have been a lot more careful what I say. There is a major clue as to what Aaron was involved in during Temporal Void, confirming his prior relationship with the Cat. Not that it tells you what/who he is. And I have to say, his original identity was never intended as a major revelation, nor ultimately does the whole plot revolve around that particular point.

What sort of direction can we expect the remaining volumes of the Void trilogy to go?

I think I answered that above.

I noticed in one of your recent interviews that you refer to volume three as the Evolutionary Void - is that a working title?

Yes. 90% certain.

I see many people ask if you'll ever return to the Confederation universe, although I wouldn't mind seeing something more from your Fallen Dragon setting. Any plans for future novels at all, in new or familiar places?

Never say never. The next four books after the Void trilogy are already starting to take on note form. But after that…

Are there any questions that you’d like to be asked, but never have been?

I think that covers it.

Many thanks again for taking time to answer the questions, I look forward to the conclusion of the Void trilogy!