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esmedpk's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
4.0
There are many things I like about the science fiction genre. I think it has immense political potential, with the ability to communicate complex and traumatic themes at an incredibly impactful and resounding level. I think it is also home to some unimaginable creativity, and the lack of real creative boundaries makes the genre dynamic and ever-relevant that, with personal bias therefore recognized, makes it one of the best evolved genres. But, beyond all of the important and academic reasons to applaud science fiction, the reason it will always be my favorite genre will always be because it is fun. Cyber Mage is just that–so, so fun.
There’s magic and hackers and highschool bullies (?) and a whole lot of humor, and, really, no synopsis is going to be able to encapsulate all the stuff that goes down in this book. All I can tell you is to hold on tight, because Hossain drives you at full speed through that classic grimy and glitzy cyberpunk world, with enough twists to keep the story relevant and feeling original. While featuring some very classic archetypes of cyberpunk–there’s VR and a hacking hierarchy reminiscent of Snow Crash, which is, admittedly, one of my most favorites–Hossain’s world, influenced by Islam and taking place primarily in an apocalyptic future, corprotized Bangladesh, makes the classic feel fresh and unexpected.
Of course, it is more than fun, as science fiction often is. Hossain interweaves elements of anticapitalism, classism, and anti-corporation rhetoric that give the story depth to match it’s dazzle. It’s unique setting–an overpopulated Bangladesh where the overpopulation is fundamental for survival–also adds another layer of poignancy, because the somewhat overdone tropes Hossain relies on are ever so different because of the fresh location. Added to that is a magic system divorced from the typical Anglo-Saxon mythology the LotR knockoffs have clung to, and you end up with an incredibly fun book you don’t get bored of, because there’s just enough heart to keep you from rolling your eyes.
Was it flawless? No. The second climax (I would argue there are two, a red flag already) fell a little flat, and across the board I found the twists less shocking and more off-base and poorly integrated. Still, it returned me to why science fiction will always be my favorite, and I’ll be eagerly pushing this into the hands of anyone looking to break into the genre.
Thank you Edelweiss for the ARC, in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you Edelweiss for the ARC, in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Classism, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, and Violence
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