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A review by songwind
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
4.0
Morgan has created a compelling blend of traditional cyberpunk tropes with far future, interstellar sci-fi.
Many familiar cyperpunk elements are present - criminal and/or underclass protagonists, manipulation by the wealthy and corporate, technological body modification, and VR.
At the same time, this book gives us a vision of a highly advanced terran sphere, rather than the "day after tomorrow" feeling from much of cyberpunk. Interstellar colonization, flying cars, extreme anti-aging medicine, and others.
The story premise itself is classic cyberpunk - Takeshi Kovachs, former soldier turned criminal, is given a furlough from storage (more or less jail) at the request of a wealthy patron. He's supposed to find out who killed this man's body (but not his data back ups or clones). The police have already investigated, and pronounced it suicide.
It doesn't take long for Kovachs to realize he's gotten in a lot deeper than he realized.
Many familiar cyperpunk elements are present - criminal and/or underclass protagonists, manipulation by the wealthy and corporate, technological body modification, and VR.
At the same time, this book gives us a vision of a highly advanced terran sphere, rather than the "day after tomorrow" feeling from much of cyberpunk. Interstellar colonization, flying cars, extreme anti-aging medicine, and others.
The story premise itself is classic cyberpunk - Takeshi Kovachs, former soldier turned criminal, is given a furlough from storage (more or less jail) at the request of a wealthy patron. He's supposed to find out who killed this man's body (but not his data back ups or clones). The police have already investigated, and pronounced it suicide.
It doesn't take long for Kovachs to realize he's gotten in a lot deeper than he realized.