"Exciting SF"

In the twenty-fourth century, observing his government lie and condone atrocities, former Marine officer Jonat deVrai resigned his military commission; he became an expert on product advertising. The Centre for Societal Research hires Jonat to analyze the election campaign of Juan Carlisimo to become a Senator. Jonat quickly questions the ethics and perhaps the illegal use of "rez", resonant amplification of ﷯﷯﷯music﷯﷯﷯ to enhance the candidate's message through emotional manipulation. The simple case turns nasty when thugs try to drive Jonat off the investigation.

At the same time Abraham Vorhees, whose services were exposed as a sham by Jonat threatens to kill his adversary. Jonat also becomes involved in a dastardly plot to smuggle illicit weapons onto Mars to smother a revolt. So when four illegal cydroids attempt to kill Jonat; he has no idea who is behind the assault that has led to the homicide of his sister and her husband. No one even his clients is trustworthy, but he must rely on someone for help so he turns to cydroid law enforcement officer Paula Athene in hopes of staying alive to raise his deceased sibling's children.

Though all over the place, science fiction fans will full enjoy this wild futuristic crime thriller which condemns big government and big business as being an incestuous team interested in the furthering of their own personal needs at the cost of the masses. The story line is exciting with non-stop action as the ethical Jonat keeps landing in one deadly scene after another. Fans will appreciate this law-enforcement thriller peopled with terrific characters (A.I. included) while seeking the author's fabulous ARCHFORM: BEAUTY (same time, same place, same terrific writing)

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted September 24, 2004

Summary

Return to the future of Archform: Beauty. In the twenty- fourth century, Earth is vastly changed. Ecological and biological catastrophe have raged across the planet, but for the survivors, it is a world of plenty. Even the poorest live in abundance, and the upper class -- the ascendant -- command technological marvels. Ten years ago, Jonat deVrai was a rising star in the Marines. But he shocked his superiors by walking away from the Corps after witnessing atrocity and hypocrisy during the Reclamation of Guyana. Starting his life over, he established himself as the world's expert on the effectiveness of "prod"-- product placement, the only advertising which viewers will allow through the sophisticated filters they all use against unwanted intrusions on their electronic link networks. Prod, reinforced with sublims and the "res" -- resonant frequencies, a form of sonic branding -- is the wave of the future. Jonat now advises multinational corporations on their prod campaigns, his busy life only occasionally disturbed by vivid flashbacks to his military years. Then his comfortable world is upset when the Centre for Societal Research approaches him to study the effects of res and prod on political campaigns. After a res-heavy political rally for Laborite Republican Senatorial candidate Juan Carlismo, armed thugs jump deVrai in a parking garage. A day later, a sniper ambushes him. What looked like a safe, lucrative contract has suddenly turned dangerous. The stakes raise further when deVrai foils a remote-controlled cydroid assassination attempt on a Popular Democrat candidate. Cydroids built from deVrai's stolen DNA are turning up dead throughout NorAm. Suspicion and conspiracy race around Jonat. Who wants him dead? Candidate Juan Carlismo's use of prod is skirting the limits of legality. The Centre has its own obscure agenda and may want deVrai as a martyr. The terrorist group PAMD is targeting ascendents in deVrai's family. And one of his clients is known for holding legendary grudges - could he have gone over the edge? With his life on the line, deVrai must sort flash from fact before it's too late. Flash is a blend of all-out thriller and thoughtful social, political, and technological exploration that that gets into your mind in a way even res and prod could never match.