Title: Sly Mongoose
Author: Tobias Buckell
Publisher: Tor
Format: Hardback
Pages: 320
Release Date: August 19 2008
Welcome to Chilo, a planet with corrosive rain, crushing pressure, and deadly heat. Fortunately, fourteen-year-old Timas lives in one of the domed cities that float 100,000 feet above the surface, circling near the edge of a monstrous perpetual storm. Above the acidic clouds the temperature and pressure are normal. But to make a living, Timas like many other young men, is lowered to the surface in an armored suit to scavenge what he can.
Timas’s life is turned upside down when a strange man crash-lands on the city. The newcomer is fleeing an alien intelligence intent on invading the planet and discovering the secret hidden deep inside the perpetual storm — a secret that could lead to interplanetary war.
As the invaded cities fall silent one by one, Chilo’s citizens must race against time to stop the enemy. And Timas will find out what kind of man he has become in the harsh conditions of Chilo’s surface.
If you've read Buckell's previous two novels, Crystal Rain (review) and Ragamuffin (review), then you'll know what to expect from a third book in the same setting. If you're new to Buckell and wondering what you'll get between the pages then the answer is simple: an action packed, well plotted and delivered story with interesting and likable characters. Of course, that can describe many books nowadays, so why is this any different? Well, the whole setting is based on the descendants of the Caribbean Islands and the culture that comes along with it is fascinating and enjoyable. You've also got kick-ass characters. Oh, and space zombies.
Chilo is a great setting for this story. It brings both the space opera element of Ragamuffin and the steampunk feeling from Crystal Rain to create a distinct novel in its own right. The difference between the floating cities shows the separation in wealth and technology, with the poorer cities relying on outdated and constantly repaired equipment while the richer societies are augmented and connect through the lamina all around them.
These differences bring an interesting point to the novel. While the poorer aspects give a familiar feeling, it's the rich society that I found myself drawn to. The society acts be majority decision by a voting system that all resident are included in. This essential gives a perfect society that will always be in the interests of the majority of the population. It also comes into play when delegates visit the other cities on Chilo with the delegate being the eyes and ears for those watching and listening at home. Through this system the delegates decisions are always based on what the majority of citizens want, giving some interesting situations.
The characters carry this story well and aside from the ever enjoyable Pepper there are no returning ones. Timas, one of the main focal points of the story, is a very good character to follow. Timas is one who must travel down to the surface in aging pressure suits to search and mine for the resources that the city needs - it is a dangerous job done in equipment designed for his enhanced ancestors. The ride he is taken on is much our as it is his. We find out more about his city and that of the relationship with others and the views each share. In all honesty, the whole set up was believable and enjoyable with a set of characters that bought it to life effectively.
Now for the part of the novel I was looking forward to the most: space zombies! But seriously, I was very interested to see how this could be a realistic and believable part of the story. It works great, something that I was very pleased about, but it just wasn't featured enough. We get the excellent action scenes between the zombies and Pepper early on and the feeling of dread as their plans come to light, but the threat then shifts into the background and it never feels quite as exciting as I hoped for. It still works, don't get me wrong, I only wish that we focused on them a little more throughout the story.
Apart from that one little personal niggle I found Sly Mongoose to be highly enjoyable. It's certainly the best book to date in this setting and shows just how versatile a writer Tobias Buckell is. Although this is a stand alone book I would recommend reading the first two before heading into this one - and it won't be a chore either, they're both great!
Overall rating: 9/10
Buy from: Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, The Book Depository
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