Burn

Rating:
Summary: Funtastic Cyberpulp
Review: Lyons' first novel BURN is a fast-paced and immensely enjoyable read...gene-splicing the brass-knuckled, classy pulp fiction of Jack O'Connell and James Elroy with the wired and bleak urban future of William Gibson and BLADE RUNNER. Lyons is thorough in his construction of this not-so-far future environment, which is all too plausible in its technological and societal forecasts. If tomorrow is looking grim, though, we're consoled by the guts of the main characters like our protagonist Cage, and the stand-out character, Jonny Cache, a walking blow-up doll upgraded into a tough android who's more human than her enemies. One can only hope that Lyons has a long career as a novelist, if this is the first he has to offer. Just the scene where a computer virus in the guise of Godzilla lays waste to a virtual neighborhood is worth the price of admission alone!

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous
Review: Mr. Lyons has written an intricate and fascinating novel -- one which blends the genre of science fiction and (classic) detective novels in a cascading and intriguing blend of narrative structures, plot twists, and genre (and gender)-bending. As one who is not really prone to enjoy either run-of-the-mill detective or science fiction novels, I was fascinated by how well they work together with Lyons seemlessly intertwining the two in a way that supercedes "static" genre catagories. While on the one hand, genre distinctions should be "rules meant to be broken," few have the skill to attempt this (preferring the safer, more economical route of stand-by, tried-and-true methods of narrative). Lyons, on the other hand, blends these two genres remarkably well and shows that science fiction can be complicated, political, technological, and mature -- all at the same time. This book is both a thought-provoking political critique and a "page-turning thiller." I could not recommend it more highly.

Rating:
Summary: Death From Unknown Causes
Review: The setting is in the near future, in the same darkened, grim world that provides the background for Phillip Dick's 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" as well as the stories of William Gibson and Neil Stephenson. It is a place of cities soured in the poisons of their own creation, hidden from the sun by dark clouds of pollution and the effects of global warming. The food chain has been destroyed, and a single piece of natural wood costs a fortune. People who can escape run to artificial island communities in the oceans, where it is still possible to make reckless use of the remaining environment.

This is a world of haves and have nots, with only a frail shell of the middle class left. A single corporation, Expedite, has brought StellarNet, a virtual replacement for the Internet, into existence. By its control of this pervasive media, Expedite has become the dominant force in the world. A harsh and unyielding corporation ruled by clones, with connections everywhere, it is the Dark Tower of this age. In this bleak future four people suddenly and unexpectedly burst into flames. The diagnosis - spontaneous human combustion. The police rule them accidents and fail to investigate.

But Frank Cage, a freelance detective, does. Hired by the daughter of James Gild, one of the victims, he finds nothing but layers of deception. His first clash with Expedite, years ago, cost him his career and his fiancé. Now he grows more and more apprehensive as he finds one hint after another that points to his old nemesis. He is joined by Jonny Cache, who was originally an automated sex toy purchased by James Gild. A software genius, he reprogrammed and enhanced her until she achieved artificial intelligence. Jonny left Gild to take up a life as a net runner, but now she is back, seeking revenge. Helping Jonny and Cage out are the binary Yin and Yang Angelique and the NewSchool Grrls.

The story starts slowly as Lyons builds his world with obsessive detail, one environmental sin after another. Without doubt the author has a major environmentalist agenda, and for a time this takes over the writing. I am sympathetic to the issues, but the switch between normal narrative and sudden activist eloquence often comes without warning. Once this is past, Lyons shows a strong flair for narrative prose and proceeds almost non-stop to the end. Character development is better than it often is in this genre, but only Jonny, the android, is completely fleshed out. Others characters often seem barely fleshed in or are painted with quick, brittle brushstrokes.

While the book has a noir flavor, it is not really a noir book. It lacks the inexorable, negative vision that infects its peers. Or the shattering revelations that turn heroism into hopeless posturing. Lyons' sharp, staccato styling is reminiscent of Raymond Chandler, but his strong beliefs prevent him from taking the last steps into hopelessness. I find this a refreshing change. It would be very easy to give this book a five star rating. But, as a writer, Lyons needs to do some polishing to be completely effective. I hope he continues writing and I am reserving the 5th star for the story I believe is still to come. Without doubt this is a great first novel, and deserves to succeed.

Rating:
Summary: An involving, gripping experience
Review: This novel is described on the cover as 'A Science Fiction Noir' and it is certainly that, and a dystopia, as disgraced ex-cop, now low-ball private eye Cage, and android Artificial Intelligence-enhanced Jonny Cache (formerly Jennifer 4, programmed domestic and sex servant) join forces to solve the murder of her former owner/friend who died horribly by apparent`spontaneous human combustion [as do three seemingly unrelated others in swift`succession].

The ecological disaster of a world they live in is dominated by Expedite, a ruthless giant corporation which virtually owns governments and privatized police forces, by artificial, fake food and drink, by day-long continent-wide twilight gloom, and by constant acidic black rain. Not a pleasant prospect.

Lyons, a computer and Web expert, has projected a grisly and warped future American society suffused by the super internet and a caste system of the super wealthy vs. the vast underclasses subdivided by often illegal professions, bizarre cults and warped gender-personal social clusters.

"Burn" is Lyons' first novel, and it is an involving, gripping experience. He has created a convincing, detailed hell of a future and peopled it with sympathetic and grotesque denizens who are utterly true to their environments. The omnipresent StellarNet and the amazingly versatile and ubiquitous Personal (computer/phone/controler) is very impressive extrapolation.

I hope there will be more PI Cage and Jonny Cache adventures in this fascinating, ghastly future.