It seems okay so far, not particularly inspired but maybe book two will kick things into high gear. Feels kind of like an introduction to space operas. ( )

This was a surprisingly deep and interesting SF novel that is very rich in worldbuilding. The core plot is very much a traditional Noir mystery, but the inclusion of so many great alien elements including 15 gifted planets, a whole wide slew of problems related to invasive, unintentional cultural and biota contaminants, and the usual, normal human cussedness of trying to profit on the whole chaotic mess turns this into one hell of an interesting tale.

As I was reading it, I was thinking fondly of the movie, District 9, and as fondly of [b:Rosewater|38362809|Rosewater (The Wormwood Trilogy, #1)|Tade Thompson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1534300082l/38362809._SX50_.jpg|51884865] for much the same reasons.

It's rich, wildly creative, original, and not afraid to go all-out on the strange bits.

I miss this kind of novel. The kind that doesn't constantly re-use the same old plots, doing them all in the same kinds of ways. I like that this goes well beyond the first contact scenario and aims for an uneasy but vast collusion, infection, and contamination. :) And the kinds of aliens? Some made me giggle and others had me put my mind in high-gear trying to figure them out. The Jackaroo and the Eidolons in particular.

I think of John M. Harrison when I think of this novel. I also think of Daniel Suarez.

These are great writers to be compared to. :) ( )

An interesting take on what if the aliens arrived tomorrow bearing gifts. I liked the vision of a near future earth with global warming and alien solutions and infestations. The shuttles reminded me a bit of [b:Gateway|218427|Gateway (Heechee Saga, #1)|Frederik Pohl|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1441698400s/218427.jpg|1668837], A good read. 3.5* ( )

An interesting science fiction noir novel. It starts as a braided story; one strand set on Earth, the other set on the planet Mangala. The Earth strand is basically the backstory to the Mangala strand, and eventually both strands converge in the last few chapters. This makes for an interesting read as to begin with there seems to be no obvious connection between the two strands.

The story starts with a couple of cops investigating a murder on Mangala. Then the action moves to Earth where a girl is investigating an alien breakout on Earth; the company she works for is trying to understand alien technology (and psychology).

Earth has been contacted by a race called the Jackaroo, who have granted humanity 15 worlds and control access them to them by means of a shuttle. The Jackaroo are completely neutral observers; once they have made their gift, they don’t interfere any more. This is not the first time they have made the gift; it has happened multiple times and the remnants of previous races can be found on the various planets, both as ruins and fossilised races.

An interesting concept, and deftly handled in the way the story develops.

Recommended.

The Spasm devastated the Earth. Water wars, net wars, border wars culminating in a limited nuclear exchange, tactical nukes obliterating the heart of capital cities. Chloe Millar's heart was also obliterated. Her mother was vapourised, together with a square kilometre of central London...

Then the aliens came. The Jackaroo. They are here to help....

Fifteen "gift worlds" provide room for humanity to breathe, expand and recover. Under supervision of course...

In post Spasm London, Chloe seeks alien memes and eidolons which trickle in from the gift worlds infecting the minds of peoples who have encountered artefacts brought through the wormholes. These prizes can make you rich...or they can make you insane. She encounters an orphaned brother and sister who seem to be dreaming of the gift world Mangala. And Chloe is not the only one interested in these children....

On Mangala, Vic Gayle's newbie partner Skip Williams has been landed with the kind of murder case destined to keep him awake at night. Competing criminal gangs are on the trail of alien riches. There is a ray gun involved....

When these strands knot, everything changes.

The narrative zips along, the world building is strong from the familiar (grittily urban post-Spasm London, with it leavening of alien weird) , to the elegiac eeriness bestowed upon the desolate wastes of frontier Mangala. The characters, though cast in the beginning as archetypes, grow through the story. Enough that the sequel will be eagerly anticipated. And in the background, are unknown motives of the Jackaroo.

Eligible for the Best Novel in 2016, and at this time, likely to be on my nomination ballot ( )