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cmcwhite_357 's review for:
Alive
by Scott Sigler
No Spoilers here:
It is not often that an established author with a firm command of a particular genre of writing and a rabid fan base in that genre attempts a new venture. To my knowledge, it's ever more rare to see that author take on a new publisher AND a new genre simultaneously. But Scott Sigler is not unfamiliar with trying new things and this time I'd say it's done with great success.
Fans of Scott Sigler will already know that his books tend to follow common themes and also know that much of his work exists in what he calls the Siglerverse. I'm already scratching my head trying to envision where this intended trilogy will fit into the world of Sigler. Science fiction, monstrous enemies, uncommon heroes, and antiheroes as well as inexplicable symbology is just some of the hallmarks of his writings. This book is not a departure from those comfort foods.
What is a departure is the usual shock and awe that comes with a steady helping of horror and plot-furthering gore. This story has that gore and shocking images for sure. It wouldn't be a Sigler book without that. But what is new is the first person voice he chooses to write in. I consider first person to be the most challenging form of writing for two reasons: one, the reader literarily has no more knowledge of what's going on than the griot and two, the mystery of whether that character survives or not is removed. That means the author MUST make the surprises happen from other sources and in a convincing way. Not. Easy. At. All. But once again, Scott defies the odds.
This first person narrative immediately places the reader in panic mode because the main character is also in a panic. And for good reason. Soon we learn that this will not be the last moment of panic. I saw, as the story went on, discovery of self and of surroundings, exploration of others, of the past and the future all from a single characters point of view. Most interestingly this character sees this same kind of development occurring in others and that is what I liked the most in this story. It's not something I normally have a chance to see. I also loved seeing the dawning wisdom we see or hope to see in others we interact with was used as a means of learning about and caring about other. No character just appeared to be a red shirt (Star Trek) but instead we come to care about them as people. Dare I say a certain level of affection for them when the craziness comes.
I am going to recommend this book to fans of Wall-E, Quarantine #1 The Loners, Stargate and your better written dystopian future genre novels. This book is said to be about teenagers in a dystopian situation. It's not that simple. This book is said to be about said teenagers being trapped. That too is too simplistic a nutshell to describe who is trapped and who is trying to be free. This book will ask you how far would you go if mortality was an option? I can only imagine how far the main characters will go in book two to find out.
It is not often that an established author with a firm command of a particular genre of writing and a rabid fan base in that genre attempts a new venture. To my knowledge, it's ever more rare to see that author take on a new publisher AND a new genre simultaneously. But Scott Sigler is not unfamiliar with trying new things and this time I'd say it's done with great success.
Fans of Scott Sigler will already know that his books tend to follow common themes and also know that much of his work exists in what he calls the Siglerverse. I'm already scratching my head trying to envision where this intended trilogy will fit into the world of Sigler. Science fiction, monstrous enemies, uncommon heroes, and antiheroes as well as inexplicable symbology is just some of the hallmarks of his writings. This book is not a departure from those comfort foods.
What is a departure is the usual shock and awe that comes with a steady helping of horror and plot-furthering gore. This story has that gore and shocking images for sure. It wouldn't be a Sigler book without that. But what is new is the first person voice he chooses to write in. I consider first person to be the most challenging form of writing for two reasons: one, the reader literarily has no more knowledge of what's going on than the griot and two, the mystery of whether that character survives or not is removed. That means the author MUST make the surprises happen from other sources and in a convincing way. Not. Easy. At. All. But once again, Scott defies the odds.
This first person narrative immediately places the reader in panic mode because the main character is also in a panic. And for good reason. Soon we learn that this will not be the last moment of panic. I saw, as the story went on, discovery of self and of surroundings, exploration of others, of the past and the future all from a single characters point of view. Most interestingly this character sees this same kind of development occurring in others and that is what I liked the most in this story. It's not something I normally have a chance to see. I also loved seeing the dawning wisdom we see or hope to see in others we interact with was used as a means of learning about and caring about other. No character just appeared to be a red shirt (Star Trek) but instead we come to care about them as people. Dare I say a certain level of affection for them when the craziness comes.
I am going to recommend this book to fans of Wall-E, Quarantine #1 The Loners, Stargate and your better written dystopian future genre novels. This book is said to be about teenagers in a dystopian situation. It's not that simple. This book is said to be about said teenagers being trapped. That too is too simplistic a nutshell to describe who is trapped and who is trying to be free. This book will ask you how far would you go if mortality was an option? I can only imagine how far the main characters will go in book two to find out.