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I like science fiction and fantasy novels, but in those genres it's often hard to find standalone novels or serials; it's far more common to see stories that span a trilogy or more. Several weeks ago, while perusing a local secondhand book shop, I came across just such a book: Peter F. Hamilton's debut novel "Mindstar Rising".
Set in a near-future dystopian Britain, Mindstar Rising tells the story of Greg Mandel, a ex-military freelance detective equipped with a "gland" in his brain that allows him to sense the thoughts and emotions of those near him. He is hired by a mega-corporation Event Horizon, whose elderly CEO and his ambitious granddaughter are beset by an unknown force sabotaging some o f his most profitable operations. The investigation sets off a chain reaction that entangles Greg with a street gang, a seductive but ruthless business executive, and the very fate of Event Horizon and the country he fought to protect.
Mindstar Rising is technically the first in the Greg Mandel trilogy by Hamilton, but I was quite satisfied with the ending on this story without feeling that I was being baited for a sequel or that loose ends had been left behind.
The world of Mindstar Rising is extremely rich and detailed. Most of it is not laid out in explicit terms at the beginning: Hamilton drops many hints and implications in dialogue, only expanding on certain elements of the universe when necessitated by the story. There is a lot to piece together, but as more of the pieces are revealed, the characters' perspectives and motivations are understood more and more clearly. The effect is that of a classic detective story: the reader gradually comes to understand facts as they become relevant, with plenty of time to try to piece it together on the way.
Aiding in the richness of the world is a vast glossary of terminology that is not directly explained but inferred by the context. For example, much of the intrigue involves computer crime perpetrated by "tekmercs"--technological mercenaries--that perform "squirts" to exfiltrate data from companies and governments. This makes for an extremely dense read in the first few pages, feeling almost opaque at times, but as the actions and concepts become clearer I found the book to be quite accessible.
Before the events of the story, a communist government led by a group called the "People's Socialist Party" rules over England. The regime is depicted as brutal, inefficient, power-hungry and puritanical. Greg and other characters have no sympathy for the PSP or their lackeys. However, the book is not explicitly political in nature. I did not find it preachy or felt that it was trying to advocate for any particular political position.
I must give a warning for this book: sex and sexual overtones are quite prevalent in the story. Many characters are depicted having sex, others are described in overtly sexual terms, and part of the story involves rape. Most of the time these have at least some bearing on the plot, but there were a few times I found it completely unnecessary, and I rolled my eyes a few times. If you are sensitive to such topics, I would not recommend this book to you.
Overall, I recommend Mindstar Rising. For a debut novel, I really enjoyed it--I tore through the book's 400 pages in just a few hours of total reading time. If you're looking for a science fiction yarn that mixes detective mysteries, political intrigue and high-concept technology, you'll enjoy it too.
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Information on my copy of the book is listed below.
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[Last updated: 2023-07-18]