Murder in the Solid State

Rating:
Summary: Makes You Think...
Review: Against a backdrop of scientific breakthroughs and political oppression McCarthy manages to create an imaginative, if paranoid, look at the near future. Nanotechnology is no longer just a buzz word but an everyday element of life, though not truly understood by the average citizen. This makes the perfect breeding ground for shadow conspiracies. All in all Solid State makes for good, fast paced read that really makes you think.

Rating:
Summary: Perhaps the most believable nanotechnology in SF today
Review: Although he doesn't prove completely immune in his other works (Fall of Sirius, and especially BLOOM), in this work Wil McCarthy proves himself one of the only writers in modern science fiction with the restraint and realism to tackle nanotechnology and not resort to deus ex machine. I've read most of the nanotech related stuff out there, and, as one of those people actually involved in the developing physics behind it, I've been horrified at the depth of ignorance and panic strewn fantasy rampant in the literature. I'm not sure if Linda Nagata or Kathleen Goonan is the worst offender, but I do know that all of the writers out there portray worlds that are not only unrealistic, but generally incoherent, once nanotechnology is involved. The only merciful exceptions I've found are Dave Wolverton, who is a good enough writer, but likes his overly dramatic flourishes, and, in this novel, Wil McCarthy. The story blends elements of conspiracy and intrigue with a believable technological and political world. The scientific community felt more real than any I've encountered in fiction before this. I could see people I knew in that crowd. But most importantly, I could see the mind and motives behind the protaganist, and believe in them. Sanger was a very real scientist. His world was equally real. The action was a little slower than is typical of the genre, and of the author. I did not find this a fault, but I hadn't expected a light romp to pass the time. The book was not overly preachy, but it did have a lot to make a reader think about. Most importantly, unlike the majority of books in the genre, it was science fiction, not thinly disguised surrealistic fantasy.

Rating:
Summary: A Thriller Set in Near-Future Philadelphia:
Review: At the dawn of the 21st century, the "molecular fabrication" industry is poised to remake the world in its image, as did the manufacturing and computer industries before it. But life on the cutting edge can be dangerous; against a backdrop of scientific breakthrough and political oppression, graduate researcher David Sanger is implicated in the death of a colleague, and quickly finds himself caught up in the machinations of those who would shape the future to their own ends.

"Exceptionally good. Besides being an excellent mystery, it is a convinving look at the near future of nanotechnology." -- Vernor Vinge

"McCarthy deftly blends the SF and mystery genres with a healthy dose of paranoia to create a fast, completely engrossing thriller." -- Monica Simmons, Locus

"On all counts, McCarthy shows considerable skill and energy, [and] complements the intelligent speculations on nanotech with some good old-fashioned dirty pool. The issues he raises are real, as is the excitement he offers." -- Gary K. Wolfe, Locus

"Breathless... Its striking quality is not so much the fascinating science as the canny use of hardboiled prose and keen sense of pacing. Any author with the knack for tight, vivid writing and good SF mystery in an often clueless field should be applauded." -- Charles DeLint, F&SF

For additional reviews and cover art, look up the hardcover edition of this book.

Rating:
Summary: Murder And Early Nano
Review: I have never read anything by Wil McCarthy previously, and he seems to be a decent writer. This novel is a combination murder mystery and science fiction tale. David Sanger is a nanotechnology researcher (the science of manipulating the ultra small, in case you don't know) and during a trade convention becomes entangled with a murder he did not commit, and it gets intense and complicated from that point on..........no more here, no spoilers!

Although it was not a page turner for me (it almost was) still it is one of only a handful of science fiction novels that portray the coming era of nanotechnology, in this novel it is in only the nascent beginnings. This is hard science fiction without any fantasy whatsoever, completely to my tastes. Character and plot development were acceptable, although the ending seemed to be a trifle rushed. Also, the novel could have been a bit longer to flesh out the nanotechnology ideas more thoroughly.

Rating:
Summary: Great combination of thriller and science fiction
Review: I loved this one-- it was, to me, the perfect combination of a thriller and a thought-provoking science fiction novel. The novel takes place in the research laboratories of the beginning days of nanotechnology (prefiguring the awesome nanotech of McCarthy's later novel BLOOM). There is some interesting speculation about the effects of longevity on society, and the effects of nanotechnology, but the science speculation is not overshadowed by the thriller plot and the realistic characterization. A definite rec if you like both thrillers and sf, as I do.

Rating:
Summary: Great combination of thriller and science fiction
Review: I loved this one-- it was, to me, the perfect combination of a thriller and a thought-provoking science fiction novel. The novel takes place in the research laboratories of the beginning days of nanotechnology (prefiguring the awesome nanotech of McCarthy's later novel BLOOM). There is some interesting speculation about the effects of longevity on society, and the effects of nanotechnology, but the science speculation is not overshadowed by the thriller plot and the realistic characterization. A definite rec if you like both thrillers and sf, as I do.

Rating:
Summary: Good for a vacation read
Review: I went on a trip down south this march and desired to get a couple of books that would not require a great deal of thinking and would keep me entertained. This book was one of them, and in that sense it did indeed fulfill the need I required. On the other hand, this does not say much for it as a book.

There is an interesting view of the future with the paranoid "Gray Party" seeking to control everything, the uncovering of a conspiracy and the cool gadgets that McCarthy comes up with. At the same time, I felt like the world he created made the mistake that many SF writers do...there is too much "Ooooh!Ahhh!" expected by the way it is written. It seems that it was to make us think it is all so neat. Now, if only I hadn't seen that in dozens of other books out there, not to say bad science fiction movies.

While I found the plot interesting, especially when our hero must hide from the authorities who wield their weapons of technology (hmmm...didn't I see that in Blade Runner?) it was too contrived and to unbelievable.

In terms of his writing style, McCarthy does seem to know some technical terms, but he throws them around and mixes it with "golly gee whiz" dialogue that makes for abrupt reading. His characters (especially Bowser) have some strange element about them that almost seems sinister - but I don't think he means them to have that.

It gets a three star because it did do the job *I* intended, but I doubt the job McCarthy intended.

Rating:
Summary: Good for a vacation read
Review: I went on a trip down south this march and desired to get a couple of books that would not require a great deal of thinking and would keep me entertained. This book was one of them, and in that sense it did indeed fulfill the need I required. On the other hand, this does not say much for it as a book.

There is an interesting view of the future with the paranoid "Gray Party" seeking to control everything, the uncovering of a conspiracy and the cool gadgets that McCarthy comes up with. At the same time, I felt like the world he created made the mistake that many SF writers do...there is too much "Ooooh!Ahhh!" expected by the way it is written. It seems that it was to make us think it is all so neat. Now, if only I hadn't seen that in dozens of other books out there, not to say bad science fiction movies.

While I found the plot interesting, especially when our hero must hide from the authorities who wield their weapons of technology (hmmm...didn't I see that in Blade Runner?) it was too contrived and to unbelievable.

In terms of his writing style, McCarthy does seem to know some technical terms, but he throws them around and mixes it with "golly gee whiz" dialogue that makes for abrupt reading. His characters (especially Bowser) have some strange element about them that almost seems sinister - but I don't think he means them to have that.

It gets a three star because it did do the job *I* intended, but I doubt the job McCarthy intended.

Rating:
Summary: adequate airport read.
Review: Not bad but gets 3 stars only by airport standards. The first part of the book is alright and Bowser is a rather appealing character. Unfortunately after Bowser leaves the stage the book simply plods along. If you want a cyber novel read Trouble and her Friends by Melissa Scott, it's a much better book.