A mystery/FBI procedural set in the near future, Head On has agents Chris Shane and Leslie Vann investigating an incident in which a Hilketa player dies on the field. Talk about a violent sport! But the thing is...the players are actually robotic bodies called threeps controlled by people with Haden's Syndrome, a disease that paralyzes the body, but leaves the mind functional. So no one is really supposed to be physically injured.
Because I had not read Lock In, I had a little trouble initially understanding certain elements, but I caught up on the idea pretty quickly. I recommend reading Lock In first, but even without the previous book, Head On was an intriguing read-- sometimes amusing, sometimes feeling a bit too much like a conceivable future which added to the tension.
Read in April. Blog review scheduled for May 1.
NetGalley/McMillan/Tor
Science Fiction. April 17, 2018. Print length: 336 pages.
Set in the far future of space travel, Odysseus Ascendant (#7 in the Odyssey One series) continues the battles of survival against The Empire. I've read all of these and enjoy each new installment.This science fiction is known as Space Opera (Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes space warfare, melodramatic adventure, interplanetary battles, chivalric romance, and risk-taking.) Source
Think Star Wars, which is probably the best known space opera of all. The only thing missing is romance. Canadian author Evan Currie's characters are more concerned with friendship, duty, and allegiance.
The novels are full of adventure, suspenseful, and strangely believable. I look forward to each new offering!
Read in March; Blog review scheduled for May 1.
NetGalley/47 North
Science Fiction. May 8, 2018. Print length: 304 pages.
I’ve not read Locked In or Head On but I have read a few other Scalzi titles and I liked them quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteI’ve never heard of the Odysseus One series so thanks for the introduction!
I liked both books; such different examples of science fiction. :)
DeleteI haven't read anything by John Scalzi but I know he's a favorite for many. Sounds like a good series!
ReplyDeleteI really want to read Locked In. While Haden's Syndrome is fictional, there really is a Locked-in Syndrome in which the mind is functional, but the entire body is paralyzed except for blinking. Scalzi's idea of solving the problem with robotic bodies that can move and communicate is fascinating.
Deleteoh I had not heard of these books and they so sound very interesting! Thank you for bringing them to my attention!
ReplyDeleteI like science fiction. :) Both books were good, and I've been following Evan Currie's series for quite a while. Scali's series is proving interesting, too, in an entirely different way.
DeleteI've seen Scalzi's books around more and more, but he's an author I've never quite known what to make of. His books do have some intense premises
ReplyDeleteI've only read The Dispatcher by Scalzi, but I enjoyed it. It was a novella--short and intense.
DeleteHead On sounds interesting. I have only listened to one of his books (Redshirts) which I really enjoyed. I would like to try more by him. If I go for this one, I'll be sure and read Locked In first. Evan Currie's book sounds like pure fun! I am glad you enjoyed that one, Jenclair.
ReplyDeleteRedshirts has been on my list for so long, I just forget about it. I need to move it up!
DeleteI'll keep in mind to read Lock In first before reading Head On. :)
ReplyDeleteI think it would help to read Lock In first, and I plan on going back and picking up that one. :)
Deletewow what an interesting premise Lock in series has! I had not heard about it until now. for some reason it is extremely hard for me to read about people immobilized but I'll try it!
ReplyDelete