Could one man tip the balance of
world power to set off the final wars? It’s possible. Bastien Lyons, once an
orphan in New Paris on Earth, finds himself back in his old stomping ground as
he escapes the colony on Mars, Port Sydney, where he was accused of a heinous
crime. Everyone seems to be after him because there’s a bounty on his head.
After World War 3, Earth is uninhabitable on the surface, and not much remains
anyway. Earth has the colony of New Paris; the Moon has Nippon One; and Mars
has Port Sydney. New Paris is the sewer-like habitat of the remnants of
humanity, ruled over by self-styled Queen Marie, part cyborg, and the rest of
her a drug-riddled, narcissistic egomaniac. But although he’s being hunted, New
Paris is Bastien’s best place of refuge since he knows it so well. But if only
he wasn’t so conspicuous with those yellow irises as well as being hunted by a
seven-foot robot…
This is a short read and serves
as a prelude for undoubtedly a much longer exposition by the author in the
subsequent books of this trilogy. I really enjoyed it! The Final Wars Begin by
S.A. is well written, with touches of unexpected humour. The author’s ability
to describe the fetid, stinking atmosphere of New Paris, then contrast that
with the sterility of Port Sydney makes for an excellent visual, almost
cinematic unfolding of events. The main characters are developed into real
people, although Bastien is by far the most realistic and charismatic.
Interestingly, I found the bounty hunter robot Cube to be very appealing, with
his penchant for the piano piece Fur Elise.
I enjoyed the various themes and
questions raised in this story: does the butterfly effect exist, and could
artificial intelligence become so self-aware that it takes over humanity? The
chapters move from one character’s perspective to another, which gives the
reader a very detailed look at the back history of the war, the colonies, and
past events, as well as clarifying just what everyone wants to get in the end –
all this without the proverbial info dump. The story starts with a bang, and
the pace continues at the same speed. The end is a cliff-hanger but
surprisingly, it works, and one closes the book not feeling dissatisfied but
eager to get the next instalment. This is the kind of story that sci fi and
dystopian fans will love. A hero with standards and a conscience, a believable
dystopian world, a complex plot driven by the main players’ needs and greed,
and the promise of more action and adventure.
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