by
Linda Nagata
ISBN: 0-553-57629-1 Order from: Amazon.com
A tense coming-of-age science fiction novel in a future teeming with nano-technology, AI's, politics and alien influences. A slightly muddled plot mars this otherwise interesting book.
Reviewed by David on May 05, 1998
Genre: Science Fiction (Cyberpunk)
Synopsis: A son of a charismatic rebel who vanished during an aborted attempt to storm an alien planet is growing up in a human colony struggling with resource conflicts, generational conflicts and fears of alien contamination. The protagonist must navigate a treacherous path between suspicion and faith, revenge and reconciliation, safety and freedom.
Full Review: Lot was a child when his father led a small army in an attempt to reach a mysterious planet infested with the mechanisms of an alien culture, reputed to bring healing and peace by some; corruption and death by others. The attempt failed, and the leader vanished.
Ten years later, Lot is growing as a semi-prisoner of the city whose oligarchy stopped the desperate attempt. The powers-that-be fear everything unknown, including the heavy dose of charisma that young Lot has inherited from his father. To be sure, there are many things to fear: intelligent weapons of a long-deceased race roam the universe seeking to destroy all potential enemies (a la Saberhagen's Berserkers); the city is balancing on the edge of resource starvation; man and alien-created plagues lie dormant. If that were not enough, the young Lot is a hero of the rebellious youth of the city.
The hero is pulled by many forces: the memory of his father, almost strong enough to be a compulsion; the expectations of the prisoners who once followed his father; the council of the city, whose only desire is to preserve the status quo; and the disenfranchised youth, frustrated with the restrictions and the fears of the nearly immortal council. Add to this the mechanical and biologic Artificial Intelligences, self-aware ships, a shadowy suggestion of a world-spanning consciousness on the planet below and malevolent weapons left by an extinct race, and Deception Well becomes a truly heady brew.
The novel is interesting for the haunting sense of paranoia, as well as suggestions of social mechanisms as weapons. However, the sense of boosted intelligence and insidious plans reminded me of Vinge's books, especially The Fire Upon the Deep. Vernor Vinge has done it better. I also found the pheramonal commnunication a bit unlikely: too low a bandwidth, and too likely to misfire in an environment full of enclosed spaces and autonomous air supplies. In addition, I though the plot was a bit muddled, with some actions being taken without sufficient explanation. It felt like the build-up took too long, and too many new elements were introduced in the second half to force the plot through.
The book is also full of botanical terms, which actually is a nice change: it is refreshing to see a lexicon not wholly derived from pseudo computer science or bogus space technology.
Overall: 5; Plot: 4; Characters: 5; Style: 4; World-building: 5; Originality: 6;
Bantam Books, February 1997, Mass-market, 358 pages
ISBN: 0-553-57629-1 Order from: Amazon.com