Virtualife

Rating:
Summary: Intelligent and Entertaining
Review: I found this book to be one of the most surprising, "can't-put-it-down" reads that I've come across in a long time. I mean any book that begins with the main character howling at the universe is going to draw you in, right? The story is very entertaining (funny!) and slyly thought-provoking. It's "real" conflicts (what the novel is really about) sneak up on you until you suddenly realize that you've been sucked into the vortex of a remarkably authentic look at the many groups, clans, identities, belief-systems that are in constant negotiation with one another (and WITHIN many of us) today in America. Steve Kallaugher must have a very broad array of interests. I'm sure I'm going to miss some, but the tribes that meet within this book include: skinheads, cowboys, hippies, FBI, white supremacists, upper-class elite, street-walking male prostitutes, lesbians, liberals, conservatives, dogs (yes, we do share this planet with other species), high-powered attorneys, ambulance chasers, techies, Hollywood talent agents, and I'm sure I could go on. As a result of this amazing collection of characters, you also get an unbelievable series of references, cross-references and collisions of cultural icons. Horses named after Shakespearean characters, people planning the overthrow of society while watching professional wrestling, a character who borrows her identity form Sarah Connor in Terminator 2. With all of this converging in one place, there's some crazy, but perfect, allusion on almost every page.

If you enjoy biting social satire (without preachiness), then you'll love this book. To me, the most remarkable aspect of the whole novel is that while he negotiates his way between all these different value systems, the author manages to betray no allegiance or judgment. Even-perhaps especially-the villains seem truly human, as opposed to shallow, stereotypical caricatures.

I highly, highly recommend VirtuaLife.