Rating: 
Summary: Eclipse
Review: "...a multinational corporation for hire by those nations who require extra policing power, is gaining prominence in Europe as NATO and the new Russian war machine approach the hard battle line drawn at the former USSR's borders. SA steps into the vacuum and gradually, through a campaign of media propaganda, misinformation, infiltration, and ultimately coup, plans to impose a New World Order. But the idea is an old one. Pure Fascism. For the SA is nothing less than a Racist Army, and their CEO, an evangelical Christian Fundamentalist, envisions a world of "genetic purity...." "...a brilliant political writer/speechmaker with memories of torture, an American student caught behind the lines in Amsterdam, a video editor who's mind has been "robbed" by SA agents, a young "Admin" daughter of FirStep's chief designer, a driven ex-Mossad agent, a rock'n'roll classicist caught in the dangerous pull of a synthetic designer drug and a loyal corvid named Richard Pryor. They are a band of rebels called the New Resistance (NR), and everybody is looking for them." "_Eclipse_ does not know the meaning of "slow." The book is a mélange of poetic language, vibrant description, and vivid characterization. Considered a crucial work in the nascence of cyberpunk fiction, _Eclipse_ is among the very best Earth-based speculations in science fiction history."
Rating:
Summary: Eclipse
Review: "...a multinational corporation for hire by those nations who require extra policing power, is gaining prominence in Europe as NATO and the new Russian war machine approach the hard battle line drawn at the former USSR's borders. SA steps into the vacuum and gradually, through a campaign of media propaganda, misinformation, infiltration, and ultimately coup, plans to impose a New World Order. But the idea is an old one. Pure Fascism. For the SA is nothing less than a Racist Army, and their CEO, an evangelical Christian Fundamentalist, envisions a world of "genetic purity...." "...a brilliant political writer/speechmaker with memories of torture, an American student caught behind the lines in Amsterdam, a video editor who's mind has been "robbed" by SA agents, a young "Admin" daughter of FirStep's chief designer, a driven ex-Mossad agent, a rock'n'roll classicist caught in the dangerous pull of a synthetic designer drug and a loyal corvid named Richard Pryor. They are a band of rebels called the New Resistance (NR), and everybody is looking for them." "_Eclipse_ does not know the meaning of "slow." The book is a mélange of poetic language, vibrant description, and vivid characterization. Considered a crucial work in the nascence of cyberpunk fiction, _Eclipse_ is among the very best Earth-based speculations in science fiction history."
Rating:
Summary: Gripping possible future novel
Review: After discovering John Shirley through his short horror fiction, I bought a copy of Eclipse and sat motionless for days to read it. In other words, I could not put it down. While this would be shelved in a store's science fiction section, it really is more than typical spaceships and lasergun fare. It falls more towards cyberpunk but exceeds it with a focus on characters instead of technology.The basic premise of the rise of a neo-fascist "security" corporation during the starts of a limited nuclear war between the USA and Russia sets the background for the very believable characters, each with distinct personalities and flaws that come to life from the printed page. Mr. Shirley weaves a complex and intertwined tale of guerilla mercenaries, fading rock stars, and fasicst powermongers that would stand proudly with the great works on science fiction. If not for any other reason, his interpretation of developing cultural trends is at the same time illuminating and frightening. Having only read the first book*, I am anticipating no less enjoyment from Penumbra and Corona, the second and third works in the series. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a complicated read where each page yields a small reward. * Sometimes I do need to spend a little time reading my college textbooks, too.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping possible future novel
Review: After discovering John Shirley through his short horror fiction, I bought a copy of Eclipse and sat motionless for days to read it. In other words, I could not put it down. While this would be shelved in a store's science fiction section, it really is more than typical spaceships and lasergun fare. It falls more towards cyberpunk but exceeds it with a focus on characters instead of technology. The basic premise of the rise of a neo-fascist "security" corporation during the starts of a limited nuclear war between the USA and Russia sets the background for the very believable characters, each with distinct personalities and flaws that come to life from the printed page. Mr. Shirley weaves a complex and intertwined tale of guerilla mercenaries, fading rock stars, and fasicst powermongers that would stand proudly with the great works on science fiction. If not for any other reason, his interpretation of developing cultural trends is at the same time illuminating and frightening. Having only read the first book*, I am anticipating no less enjoyment from Penumbra and Corona, the second and third works in the series. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a complicated read where each page yields a small reward. * Sometimes I do need to spend a little time reading my college textbooks, too.
Rating:
Summary: Cyberpunk was built on this!
Review: I was a street punk the first time I read eclipse, and it changed my life. Smart and hard edged the eclipse series is the ultimate dark future tale, but does contain hope, and gritty realism!
Rating: 
Summary: System shock in paperback
Review: I've bought the second part of this trilogy from a bookstand at a street market. I've hunted down the third in a dusty "second hand"-shelf in a forgotten bookstore. And currently I'm trying to seduce an old, ugly hag of a public library manager into selling me the first one, which started this hunt a couple of years ago. This one is a must-have for all who enjoy good sci-fi, and also a helluva read for everyone else. A mesmerizing dark future setting, a really coherent intrigue, heavy-duty warfare and lots of characters you care for (which the author doesn't really do, the way they get kicked around:-) will keep you awake at night. Agreeing with my precedessors: mail the publisher. Buy them, if you are Rockefeller, or intimidate them, if you are with the CIA. Help them if you're a brain surgeon- they need their heads fixed, for this one is a potential bestseller.
Rating:
Summary: Dated but enjoyable.
Review: I've not got the patience to write a long, coherent review, so I will state only that fond readers of cyberpunk will enjoy -Eclipse-. Although the World War III setting makes -Eclipse- seem very dated (as speculative fiction, this book fails completely), the story is always exciting and very enjoyable. Worth spending an afternoon reading, if only as a light amusement.
Rating:
Summary: Dated but enjoyable.
Review: I've not got the patience to write a long, coherent review, so I will state only that fond readers of cyberpunk will enjoy -Eclipse-. Although the World War III setting makes -Eclipse- seem very dated (as speculative fiction, this book fails completely), the story is always exciting and very enjoyable. Worth spending an afternoon reading, if only as a light amusement.
Rating:
Summary: One of the finest cyberpunk novels
Review: John Shirley belongs to the generation of science fiction writers led by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling who are known as cyberpunks. Shirley was one of the early proponents of cyberpunk fiction. "Eclipse", the first in his "A Song Called Youth" trilogy, is a vivid, stylistically hip mix of politics, rock and roll and computers. His lean prose is almost as elegant as Gibson's; here he depicts a near future in which Europe falls under the sway of a Neo-Nazi Christian fundamentalist tyranny, the Second Alliance (SA), in the aftermath of a limited nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. Opposing the SA are a motley band of rock musicians and socialist guerrillas known as the New Resistance. Those interested in reading some great cyberpunk fiction should acquire John Shirley's "A Song Called Youth" trilogy.
Rating:
Summary: One of the finest cyberpunk novels
Review: John Shirley belongs to the generation of science fiction writers led by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling who are known as cyberpunks. Shirley was one of the early proponents of cyberpunk fiction. "Eclipse", the first in his "A Song Called Youth" trilogy, is a vivid, stylistically hip mix of politics, rock and roll and computers. His lean prose is almost as elegant as Gibson's; here he depicts a near future in which Europe falls under the sway of a Neo-Nazi Christian fundamentalist tyranny, the Second Alliance (SA), in the aftermath of a limited nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. Opposing the SA are a motley band of rock musicians and socialist guerrillas known as the New Resistance. Those interested in reading some great cyberpunk fiction should acquire John Shirley's "A Song Called Youth" trilogy.
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