|
||
Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand |
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
 |
Equations Of Life by Simon Morden Orbit Supplied for review by Hachette New Zealand |
Reviewed By: Simon Litten |
| Equations of Life is Simon Morden’s first
novel length foray in to the publishing world (previous credits have been for short
fiction), and introduces the reader to Samuil Petrovitch: escapee from low rent
dysfunctional St Petersburg and now habitué of a seriously over-crowded but barely
functional London. Equations of Life starts with Samuil Petrovitch making a gargantuan mistake of conscience and almost dying, through failure of a radiation diseased heart, to regret it. And then his life gets very, very complicated. I liked this book. I had a vision of London ten to fifteen years hence, if eco-terrorists and economic autarkists had got their way. Where Britain was still the place where the dispossessed and homeless of Europe drifted in their hundreds of thousands. And where science and technology have delivered a few (not all, just a few) of their promised break throughs. In other words, Mr Morden has delivered science fiction of the old school: speculation, projection and visualisation delivered through fully formed characters, living in a brave/bizarre new world. Yes, Equations of Life is a throwback to SF of the sixties and seventies but it works as a novel and a story and I enjoyed it. There was nothing "brash and meaningful" in its exposition, instead the message was there on the surface of the story (no, I’m not going to tell you what that message was read the book), which made it so much fun to read. Escapism pure and simple: try it, you may like it. |
||
 |
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
SFFANZ is a non-profit organisation
and registered charity designed to bring together fans of the fantastic in New Zealand |
|
Contact us by email at: enquiries@sffanz.org.nz |
|