The billions of Zero Asset citizens of Earth are free from their sectors, free from the prospect of extermination from orbit, for Alan Saul has all but annihilated the Committee by dropping the Argus satellite laser network on it. The shepherds, spiderguns and razorbirds are somnolent, govnet is down and Inspectorate HQs are smoking craters. But power abhors a vacuum and, scrambling from the ruins, comes Serene Galahad. She must act before the remnants of Committee power are overrun by the masses. And she has the means.Zero Point is the sequel to The Departure, the first Owner novel from Neal Asher that hits the shelves last year. This cover is once again done by Jon Sullivan, and it keeps to the style that Tor UK have used on the new covers of Asher's novels.
Var Delex knows that Earth will eventually reach out to Antares Base and, because of her position under Chairman Messina, knows that the warship the Alexander is still available. An even more immediate problem is Argus Station hurtling towards the red planet, with whomever, or whatever trashed Earth still aboard. Var must maintain her grip on power and find a way for them all to survive.
As he firmly establishes his rule, Alan Saul delves into the secrets of Argus Station: the results of ghastly experiments in Humanoid Unit Development, a madman who may hold the keys to interstellar flight and research that might unlock eternity. But the agents of Earth are still determined to exact their vengeance, and the killing is not over...
Now, I'm not too sure about this one. I want to say I like it, but something about it just doesn't quite do the business for me. It's strange because I'm a huge fan of Sullivan's previous art for Asher's books (you can see some of them here). I'd like to see the full wrap-around dust jacket though...
Admittedly, I haven't even read The Departure yet, but Zero Point is a book I'll be buying on release without doubt.
Thoughts on this anyone?
EDIT: The full dust jacket is now up on Neal's blog, here. It certainly widens the perspective of the cover, and IMO adds a little something that was much needed. Still not my favourite of his covers, but the more I look at it the more i like it.
2 comments:
Sadly, I was one of the Asher fans that was horrified to find they hated The Departure. I thought it was loud, boring, one-note nonsense populated by utterly unsympathetic characters.
As a massive fan of all his previous work, the whole thing seems inexplicable!
Have to agree somewhat. Basic idea is OK but the plot lacks a bit of originality after the 1st 3rd of the book. (Unless we're being set up for something big later!) hope the series doesn't go the same route as Hamilton's ones where a few good ideas get stretched into too many books and the whole thing becomes a bit over-cooked. The Agent Cormac series had the best buildup and finale I've ever seen in longer SF series. Tough for the author if he sets such high standards.... Nils
Post a Comment