Reviews & Overviews by Rod Cameron
| Iron Sunrise – Charles Stross | |
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This is Charles Stross’s follow-up novel to Singularity Sky that I reviewed last issue. It too is set in the universe where the Eschaton, a mysterious sentient AI tries to prevent causality violations that will prevent it from being created in the far future. At the start of Iron Sunrise, the planet and most of the occupants of New Moscow have been destroyed by their sun being maliciously exploded as a supernova. Unfortunately, this act of destruction has triggered a revenge attack against the most obvious culprit, a trading rival, the neighbouring system of New Dresden. Rachel Mansour, the heroine from the previous story of Singularity Sky has been tasked with finding out who caused the supernova, and to defuse the revenging missiles before they destroy New Dresden. There are a number of new characters who are described vividly – a rebellious teenage loner called Wednesday who has an invisible friend, who helps her get into and out of a number of dangerous scrapes. In one of these adventures she acquires knowledge of who caused the supernova, and her life becomes endangered. There is also a jaded journalist who likes a drink, has seen it all too many times. He is so incensed by what is going on that he gets involved against his better judgement. This is a much darker story than Singularity Sky, probably because the cruelty of the baddies is sadly in this day and age completely plausible, whereas the Festival in Singularity Sky is less accessible. This story is also more tightly written, making it more enjoyable, if that’s possible. And it is still full of big, novel SF concepts; and also the dark humour that was so notable in the first book. Iron Sunrise could be read on its own, but what is the point? If you haven’t read Singularity Sky, then go and read it first, happy in the knowledge that when you have finished it there is the sequel, Iron Sun to read that is even better. In my review of Singularity Sky I inferred that Charles Stross was Scottish. Apologies! Whilst he does now live in Edinburgh, he is a Yorkshire lad who was born in Leeds. |
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Publisher:
Orbit |
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