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A review by jasonswrench
The Grand Dark by Richard Kadrey
4.0
As someone who is a fan of Richard Kadrey and has had read all of the Sandman Slim novels, I was excited that Kadrey was introducing a new world with his new book The Grad Dark.
The Grand Dark takes its name from a theater known for its violent and rather bloody stage shows. The story itself centers on a young bicycle courier named Largo. Largo didn't grow up in the best parts of Lower Proszawa, but he has used his knowledge of all parts of the city to make himself very efficient. At the beginning of the story, Largo receives a promotion to head courier after the previous one was arrested on sedition and going against the government. Largo is very proud of his promotion, but it doesn't take him long to realize that certain things about his promotion are not as good as they seem. In addition to the wonders of Largo's job, he's also involved with an actress named Remy, who works at The Grand Dark. Remy, like many characters in the book, may or may not be all that she seems.
The world of Lower Proszawa is one ravaged by war. The vestiges of this war from the Dandy's, veterans who wear metal masks to cover up missing parts of their faces, to an economy that is just starting to pull itself out of the war years slump. In many ways, Kadrey's depiction of Lower Proszawa reminds me of the images of post-World War II. City blocks have been decimated, unexploded ordinances are a problem, and the world ravaged by the worst of the war, Upper Proszawa, can be seen on the horizon as a ghostland where plague bombs and other military weapons have demolished the world. Personally, it's in the depiction of this world that I think Kadrey's narrative truly soars.
I also think Kadrey does a really interesting job of discussing the pros and cons of the modern military-industrial complex. In this world, He talks quite a lot about the importance of keeping the citizenry in their place and the use of propaganda as a tool of the government to keep citizens uninformed. One of the central figures of the establishment is Baron Rudolf Hellswarth, the head of Schöne Maschinen, the primary organization that does research and development on a range of military technologies. Hellswarth to some is an industrious old man who has saved Lower Proszawa, but others see him in a much more sinister light, known as The Beast.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. Although a few plot twists were somewhat predictable. I wasn't quite sure where the story was going most of the book. I found it fast paced and easy to read, which is a hallmark of Kadrey's writing.
My review is based on a pre-publication ebook provided me by the publisher.
The Grand Dark takes its name from a theater known for its violent and rather bloody stage shows. The story itself centers on a young bicycle courier named Largo. Largo didn't grow up in the best parts of Lower Proszawa, but he has used his knowledge of all parts of the city to make himself very efficient. At the beginning of the story, Largo receives a promotion to head courier after the previous one was arrested on sedition and going against the government. Largo is very proud of his promotion, but it doesn't take him long to realize that certain things about his promotion are not as good as they seem. In addition to the wonders of Largo's job, he's also involved with an actress named Remy, who works at The Grand Dark. Remy, like many characters in the book, may or may not be all that she seems.
The world of Lower Proszawa is one ravaged by war. The vestiges of this war from the Dandy's, veterans who wear metal masks to cover up missing parts of their faces, to an economy that is just starting to pull itself out of the war years slump. In many ways, Kadrey's depiction of Lower Proszawa reminds me of the images of post-World War II. City blocks have been decimated, unexploded ordinances are a problem, and the world ravaged by the worst of the war, Upper Proszawa, can be seen on the horizon as a ghostland where plague bombs and other military weapons have demolished the world. Personally, it's in the depiction of this world that I think Kadrey's narrative truly soars.
I also think Kadrey does a really interesting job of discussing the pros and cons of the modern military-industrial complex. In this world, He talks quite a lot about the importance of keeping the citizenry in their place and the use of propaganda as a tool of the government to keep citizens uninformed. One of the central figures of the establishment is Baron Rudolf Hellswarth, the head of Schöne Maschinen, the primary organization that does research and development on a range of military technologies. Hellswarth to some is an industrious old man who has saved Lower Proszawa, but others see him in a much more sinister light, known as The Beast.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. Although a few plot twists were somewhat predictable. I wasn't quite sure where the story was going most of the book. I found it fast paced and easy to read, which is a hallmark of Kadrey's writing.
My review is based on a pre-publication ebook provided me by the publisher.