Charles Stross' latest installment in his 'multiverse' series kicks of more than a decade after the events of the concluding volume of the 'Family Trade' series.
A strong beginning introduces us to Rita Douglas, surrendered daughter of Miriam Beckstein, the heroine of the earlier series. Rita is a struggling actor, in the paranoid and repressive USA of her timeline. She is being watched closely by the security services, who plan to 'coopt' her into service, trading on her resentment of her 'abandonment' to manipulate her loyalty. Their need is great. They have nuked the homeland of the Clan, whose factional war resulted in the destruction of the White House in 2003, but they fear that they might not have finished the job. And they have evidence of other, more advanced unknowns in the multiverse who may likewise threaten their future existence.
But it turns out the Rita's background story is just a little more complicated and byzantine than even the security apparatus of a Rumsfeld inspired USA could imagine.
This is a fast and easy read, flows along nicely despite getting slighly bogged down in the recap and update of events in the timeline into which the Clan's refugees, lead by Miriam Beckstein have escaped. But Miriam and her followers also have a plan. None less than to return the flame of democracy to the benighted USA.
If you are of the view that 'if you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear' then Stross' sceptical approach to the benefits of the security state may not be convincing. He is however, able to adroitly posit 'good' people, within a misguided or evil system, making the narrative more complex than just a simple good versus bad dichotomy. All is not sweetness and light in the world of the putative 'good guys' either. The political instability of a people who have just lately thrown off the yoke of the 'Ancien Regime' is both plausible, and deftly plotted.
This installment leads to a tantalising climax, promising more excitement in the next 2 volumes. 'Dark State' is scheduled in January 2018, and the concluding volume 'Invisible Sun' a year later.
A strong beginning introduces us to Rita Douglas, surrendered daughter of Miriam Beckstein, the heroine of the earlier series. Rita is a struggling actor, in the paranoid and repressive USA of her timeline. She is being watched closely by the security services, who plan to 'coopt' her into service, trading on her resentment of her 'abandonment' to manipulate her loyalty. Their need is great. They have nuked the homeland of the Clan, whose factional war resulted in the destruction of the White House in 2003, but they fear that they might not have finished the job. And they have evidence of other, more advanced unknowns in the multiverse who may likewise threaten their future existence.
But it turns out the Rita's background story is just a little more complicated and byzantine than even the security apparatus of a Rumsfeld inspired USA could imagine.
This is a fast and easy read, flows along nicely despite getting slighly bogged down in the recap and update of events in the timeline into which the Clan's refugees, lead by Miriam Beckstein have escaped. But Miriam and her followers also have a plan. None less than to return the flame of democracy to the benighted USA.
If you are of the view that 'if you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear' then Stross' sceptical approach to the benefits of the security state may not be convincing. He is however, able to adroitly posit 'good' people, within a misguided or evil system, making the narrative more complex than just a simple good versus bad dichotomy. All is not sweetness and light in the world of the putative 'good guys' either. The political instability of a people who have just lately thrown off the yoke of the 'Ancien Regime' is both plausible, and deftly plotted.
This installment leads to a tantalising climax, promising more excitement in the next 2 volumes. 'Dark State' is scheduled in January 2018, and the concluding volume 'Invisible Sun' a year later.