C Gockel Writes

Book Reviews: Mal Goes to War by Edward Ashton

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Available at Amazon US, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Australia

Nook, Kobo, GooglePlay, Apple

When I heard Edward Ashton, author of Mickey 7, had a new book out I rushed right out to pick it up from my local library. (What is with Trad pubbed ebook prices? The US price is the highest. In the UK, Canada, and Australia it is more reasonable. I would love to know the reason for the discrepancy. The audiobook version, if you have an Audible subscription, is more reasonable.)

It was my best read in a long while. If you’re looking for something poignant but funny and optimistic, I highly recommend it. “Mal” is short for Malware. Can you see already how it is awesome?

Here is the blurb:

The humans are fighting again. Go figure.

As a free A.I., Mal finds the war between the modded and augmented Federals and the puritanical Humanists about as interesting as a battle between rival anthills. He’s not above scouting the battlefield for salvage, though, and when the Humanists abruptly cut off access to infospace he finds himself trapped in the body of a cyborg mercenary, and responsible for the safety of the modded girl she died protecting.

A dark comedy** wrapped in a techno thriller’s skin, Mal Goes to War provides a satirical take on war, artificial intelligence, and what it really means to be human.

**My note: can a comedy really be dark if the ending isn’t one of abject despair?

Book Review: Antimatter Blues a Mickey 7 Novel by Edward Ashton

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Antimatter Blues is the follow up to Mickey 7. If anything, it was funnier and more poignant than the first–I laughed and cried in this one. It points out a danger of cloning that I rarely see articulated: people thinking that a clone is essentially the same person as a previous clone, making the clone “expendable” in the minds of the people around him or her.

Highly recommended, just like the first. You can purchase it at Amazon US, Canada, Australia, GooglePlay

Book Review: Mickey 7 by Edward Ashton

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Amazon US, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia

Apple, Kobo

Mickey7 is the only clone on a deep space colonization mission. He has a very important job–to die, whenever a suicidal mission presents itself. This happens a lot. Fortunately, for Mickey, he’s got his consciousness and body backed up on the colony mainframe. He doesn’t really die. Or does he?

Mickey 7 asks deep questions and explores the attitudes that non-clones might have towards him, but it does it with a light touch. At times Mickey 7 borders on satire, but never crosses so far over the line that you wind up not feeling for it’s main character.

Highly recommended.

Traditionally published and probably available at your public library.