Sunday, April 12, 2020

Review: Neon Leviathan

Neon Leviathan Neon Leviathan by T.R. Napper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a 5-star review only because a 6-star review isn't possible. Read this collection. It is fantastic.

The author takes on the future from an Asian/Australian perspective. China has risen and is slowly eating up the region. Social ratings are in play as are bio-warfare and computer warfare.

One of the stories is the novella-length "The Weight of the Air, The Weight of the World" that echoes George Orwell and Philip K Dick.  The story eventually revolves around the nature of memory when the government has the ability to change it, and how such a power might be abused.
 This novella is on my Hugo nomination shortlist for 2021.

The author takes on class issues, race, immigration, and concepts around individual liberty. The perspectives run a broad range as do the narratives. One story involves the difficulties around separating virtual reality from actual reality; lethal consequences ensue when one is mistaken for the other.

This collection is a tour-de-force for any sci-fi fan.

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