Fantasy/SF Book Reviews
Page Four of FourSignal to Noise by Eric S. Nylund
Avon Eos, June, 1999.Paperback, 371 pages.
ISBN: 0380792923.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
In 2070 Earth, life is tough if you're not brilliant.
Children and grownups alike cheat lie and steal to
get into the best schools and the best jobs. Jack Potter
has made it to the top, and has been allowed by the
government to have one of the brain implants that
allows access to the bubbles -- virtual reality
capsules. Jack is a crack computer cryptographer.
But when he makes contact with an alien race and
begins to barter for, among other things, a cure
for cancer, things get sticky. Suddenly
everyone from the government to corporate
moguls wants a piece of the pie and the secrets that
alien technology can unleash. Soon Jack and his friends
Isabel and Zero find themselves in way over their
heads, with the very future of the Earth depending on
Jack's ability to negotiate a good business deal which
may end up destroying other sentient races as a side-effect. Will Jack
save the Earth? Will he lose what's left of his
soul in the process?
Eric Nylund has created a fast-paced, witty and wry cyberpunk novel with Signal to Noise. Although the storyline gets a bit complicated towards the end, the pace never flags. Jack is interesting and complex enough to hold the reader's interest, and the supporting players are very well-done. You may be panting to keep up with all the action, but you'll be glad you did. Fans of The Matrix and of hip cyberpunk should really love this one.
Subterranean by James Rollins
Avon, June 1999.Paperback, 410 pages.
ISBN: 0380792648.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
Paleoanthropoligist Ashley Carter is approached
by Dr. Peter Blakely, a renowned archaeologist, for a
top secret dig in Antarctica.
She grudgingly accepts due to a huge
financial offer and the fact that they are
willing to let her take Jason, her eleven year old
son along.
Dr. Blakely also gathers Ben Brust,
an expert Australian spelunker who is fetched
from prison, a biologist from Canada, a geologist
from Egypt and several others.
Once in Antarctica, Carter, Brust and the other
experts are taken miles down
into a deep Volcano where a fully-manned
U.S. research station has been constructed, and where
marines, scientists and government
heavies are living and working in secrecy. The team learns that there
are compelling reasons for the confidential nature of the expedition.
The caverns are full of new life forms, including
the cave dwellings of an ancient primitive society. Unfortunately,
the last team to explore the caverns disappeared
without a trace. In their search for the missing team and
exploration of the caves, the new team discovers
strange and prehistoric life, unusual rock
formations and some extremely dangerous predators.
With danger around every corner, the
team must learn to work together despite their differences
and the fact that someone is out to sabotage the mission.
Although unbelievable at times, this novel is for the most part deeply intriguing and exciting. The journey below Antarctica unveils a world filled with amazing flora and fauna, both deadly and delightful. Look for more from first-time novelist James Rollin, who is also an amateur spelunker and scuba enthusiast. Part fantasy and part science fiction, Subterranean will please adventure-loving fantasy and SF fans.
Return to the September 1999 issue of The IWJ.
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