Amanda M. (tapcat16) reviewed on 4/19/2011 + 150 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

Robin lives in the 27th century where what makes you a person is your consciousness that you can move into new bodies. Everyone is almost immortal as long as you can back yourself up frequently in an A-gate. Thus, some people choose to have some memories wiped. Robin wakes up in one of these facilities with more of a memory wipe than usual and finds himself signing up for a social experiment in which the members will live like the dark ages--the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

I really enjoyed the world Stross created in this book. His version of the future is clearly fully visioned and fleshed out in his own mind. This always makes for the best scifi books. I also really enjoyed that GLBTQ issues exist in this book without being the focus of the book. The focus is on war crimes, memory, and what makes you you, but there are definitely subplots involving GLBTQ issues in a world where people can choose their own external male/femaleness and sexuality then are suddenly plopped into an experiment where they can't do that. The plot is complex and engaging, although the ending was a bit of a let-down. I wish Stross had ensured his ending lived up to the world he created in the meat of the book.

I recommend this book to scifi fans and GLBTQ readers and advocates.

Check out my full review.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details