Neal Asher's brand of SF is not for the squeamish. Prador Moon is set within his Polity universe. The Polity is the collective group of worlds which is run by AI and policed by Earth Central Security agents. Unlike the first Polity novel, Gridlinked (which I've read), this one does not feature ECS agent Ian Cormac. Prador Moon is a standalone novel which details the first contact with emissaries of the Prador Second Kingdom. The alien race known as the Prador are huge crab-like beasts who give new meaning to the world hostile. For instance they enjoy dining on humans and occasionally will eat their own young. (I found much to admire in their parenting skills.) This tale has two main characters: Jebel Krong and Moria Salem. Jebel Krong becomes a revenge-driven leader of the defensive forces; Moria Salem is getting used to having a new aug implanted on her skull. Think of an aug as like a small super-computing wi-fi connected interface to universe-spanning data bank. That would take some getting used to. Anyway, Prador Moon is a short book that moves quickly. It occasionally gets lost in head-scratching technobabble but only for a paragraph here and there. It's a nice diversion for Asher fans. But if you're interested, I'd suggest checking out Gridlinked first. That said, The Skinner is my favorite Asher tale and one I plan on revisiting some day. The Skinner also features some Prador characters. They are nasty! ( )

Silly, but good fun. Entertainingly hideous aliens, but pretty shallow characterisation. ( )

“Prador Moon” is sort of a prequel (same like “Shadow of Scorpion” by the same author) to the Ian Cormac series.

Novel starts with Prador battleships attacking Polity Avalon space station under disguise of diplomatic mission. Soon entire border worlds are under attack by ruthless invaders and Polity’s AI’s begin to plan how to deal with the new threat – they know that Prador hold advantage in certain areas of weapons technology and are also aware that invaders must not be allowed access to runcible technology (teleporter like mechanisms).

Entire novel is non-stop action, from first to the last page. Maybe that is the reason why it feels somewhat unfinished – I guess there will be novels in the future following the storyline.

If you like Polity universe and you are interested in background elements (Jebel up-close-and-personal and his Avalonians for one) then give this one a try – I think you’ll like it.

Recommended. ( )

Monster aliens vs men.

Diplomatic contact with the Prador is not smooth:

"Not good. Not good at all." Urbanus was suddenly beside him, tying a piece of wire above his arm stump then hauling him to his feet. Golem hurtled towards Vortex and the remaining smaller Prador. Few humans remained in the chamber—living ones, anyway. Vortex seemed to ponder the situation for a second, then its claw snicked and the Ambassador fell in two halves to the floor. The Prador now held out that bloody claw. A flash of turquoise cut the air—some kind of particle cannon actually concealed in the claw. Three of the Golem were down, their ceramal bones fused or shattered. A missile struck the big Prador's shell and ricocheted into the wall above, exploding there. As the smoke cleared Jebel saw Vortex pushing forwards, firing that cannon again and again into the weapons ports, and from out behind the creature, those smaller Prador surged, some scrambling over each other in their eagerness. As Urbanus dragged him through the crack in the armoured wall, Jebel glimpsed one of the new arrivals picking up a severed human leg and tearing the flesh from the bone with its mandibles, eating it.

Right, thought Jebel, big hostile aliens with a taste for human flesh. It was the kind of scenario that would have been laughed out of the door by a modern holofiction producer."

So, after that, you absolutely know where this book is going. It is of the blowing stuff up, shooting, spaceships and slaughter variety. Plus a bit of alien politics.

The Prador are a type of monarchy that believes in more animal like breeding. Have plenty of offspring, use them as cannon fodder, and the ones that survive might be good for something.

Despite a bit of a surprise, the humans may have some chance:

"Would I appear too naive if I asked what that was?" asked Nelson.

"That, my boy, was a Polity war drone. And if you ever thought AIs were sane and sensible, think again."

"But a useful lunatic to have on your side?" suggested Genesh.

Lithgow grimaced. "Yes, of course."

The runcible and local AI become crucial to the conflict, especially when not all the humans in the area get along.

With that, it may be a case of which group gets eaten first.

Zero messing around or padding in this one, so if you want a short sf adventure space opera type story with ugly aliens like they used to do, here's your 21st century variety.

Or, here, action, thy name is Asher.

I have been tossing up as to whether this is a 3 or a 3.5, so consider it 3.25ish, peraps, but I think I'd go a bit higher than that as it might deserve another look.

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2008/06... ( )

This book is pretty much as advertised, in that it's a rip-roaring space opera where Humanity finds itself fighting gloriously B-movie aliens; aliens who find Man tasty with or without ketchup. While Asher's main characters, security guard turned commando Jebel Krong and scientist Moria Salem are reasonable enough, characterization isn't really what you're reading this novel for; you're reading it for plot, for techno-babble, and for sheer wackiness. As has been observed, Asher has a future writing screenplays for the most grusome sort of horror movies if he ever tires of space opera. ( )