http://www.fascinationplace.org/2008/... ( )

Highly mediocre is probably the term that best sums up this book. For the most part its a bog-standard 'super-agent in space' type of story, with rather derivative ideas and plot elements and thoroughly uninteresting characters [one of the few things that does stand out is the psychotic android Mr. Crane, and I notice that the author has devoted an entire book to this character down the line which has my curiosity piqued].

The plot and worldbuilding is also mediocre - in the sense that things are not well thought out, there are logical inconsistencies, and can't help getting the feeling that the good guys are actually not very good at all. The whole idea of the Polity, [all-seeing state run by AIs for the good of mankind], its raison d'etre [bringing order to the universe], its gestapo-like secret police which goes about ruthlessly crushing separatist movements across the galaxies reeks of fascism.

But obviously that is over-thinking what is essentially a bloody sci-fi/james bond blend of popcorn. For what it is, its a reasonably fun read. ( )

The title of this book is somewhat misleading. The central character begins the novel ‘gridlinked’ that is, connected permanently and wirelessly to the Internet of the future. However for reasons of his own health he is advised to disconnect and does so. A fair amount of the book details his slow reintegration after spending such a long time hooked up... http://icantstopreading.blogspot.com/... ( )

at the time I thought: bit derivative, all action driven. But it sticks in my memory and doesn't go away. I need to read more in the series I think. ( )

I received this book as a swap. It was really good. Not the newest idea but a fun read and glad my swap partner chose this book for me. ( )

http://www.sfreader.com/read_review.a... ( )

Ian Cormac is a super agent of sorts. He works hand in hand with the Artificial Intelligence government. A cold, methodical man, he seduces and kills with aplomb, as necessary.

He is linked to the AI personally, and they tell him it is time for a break, to regain his humanity. He resists, but they have a job for him. He is to go and investigate a strange breakdown of an interstellar travel gate.

From earlier incidents, he has a serious enemy, a psychotic killer and his deranged android killing machine called Mr. Crane.

Cormac does gain allies, and there are androids on his side, but he discovers something even worse in his investigations.

http://superprose.blogspot.com/2007/0... ( )

Space opera cybersplatter! Maybe not great as "lierature" goes, and not in the vein I normlly like, but apparently good enough to make me go buy a few more of his books.
I guess that either you like him or not - the characters don't go that deep and the plotline's quite gory. More of pageturner than anything else. ( )

http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/jjones/ent... ( )

http://pling.livejournal.com/119158.h... ( )