The reknown scientists, Finriddy and Carson, are exploring the backwater world of Bhoote with a multi-jointed native guide, Bult, who trusts them no further than he (or she) can fine them. As they cross the world exploring, mapping, bickering, naming, being fined, and cracking wise, the plot is thickened by the arrival of new scientist, a socioexozoologist specializing in sex.
At this point Murphys law takes over.
Connie Willis acomplishes rather a lot in this inexpensive paperback, giving you a full dose of alian intrigue, while leaving you rolling on the floor laughing.
There's a mystery associated with the Peteys and other Universes than our own are involved. By the time you get the Peteys figured out, though, you may be more concerned with Gun's obsession with the virtual courtesan, Tiffany, and with the exploits of Gun's oddball family that may just hold the fate of universes in their hands.
Bisson's whimsically surreal story keeps the suspense cranked up, and uses broad strokes of humor without ever losing that suspense or becoming a farce or losing track of the logical consequences of a truly weird and original vision of an alternative to quantum physics. Like a lot of the best Science Fiction, Pirates of the Universe is suitable for young adults without loosing anything thereby.
Pirates of the Universe is available in hardback first edition or paperback (advanced order - published March 1).
This is a re-issue of a CyberPunk classic featuring the subgenera at its best. Besides being a gripping read, this little tale immerses you in more inovative concepts than you can shake a rocket ship at. It will also sandbag you when you least expect it with visions of stark beauty. If this book doesn't alter your wetware, nothing will. Available in paperback and highly recommended.
This one is reluctantly recommended. If you are easily depressed by visions of the apocalyptic end of civilization then avoid this story like the plauge (no pun intended). Against a background of technological fix gone horribly wrong, a florocarbon replacement unexpectedly reacts with an unexpected release of methane gas into the atmosphere to form the basis of a solar flare charged plasma that alters the earths magnetic field, sheds most of the ozone layer and produces a world-wide psychodelic display that is the Glimmering of the title. The resulting failure of electric distrution systems combine with climatological and ecosystem colapse to produce a rapidly decaying world. A man dying of AIDS returns to his family home in a dying New York City (if you can imagine a version of Manhattan closer to hell than the real one) where he falls in with a drug hooked rock star, and behind it the strings are being pulled by a sociocultural pathologist. A company launches a project to save the world and an Elixir is developed in Tibet which can cure AIDs, but could the cure be worse than the disease?
I am a technophile and have little patience with the type of anti-technological bias that underlies this novel, but the writing is truly exceptional. It is exciting, lyrical, and above all haunting. You will not easily forget the images and characters she creates. Available in hardback.