#sf

Toby usually writes this, but he's a little indisposed right now, so I am guessing that I should write this down before things get forgotten.

This morning Toby went off to work as usual and I started going through my emails. Yes, the witch can use email. And text, and social media. I can even drive a car, and do my own banking.

Anyway. So far so normal. Late in the afternoon I had a call out to a farm just south of the city where a bunch of fae had come through a weakpoint. They were making crop circles, and setting up fairy rings, and generally causing trouble. I got down there and sent them back Underhill quick smart. Closing up the weak point took a little more time, so I did not get home until well after dinner.

Which is when I found Tobes at the front door, stoned. There was also a young medusa there, with a pair of broken sunglasses, bawling her eyes out. It looked like she'd been crying for a good couple of hours.

She'd come by to ask some relationship advice, and dropped her glasses just as Toby opened the door. He looked down, she looked up, and stoned him.

For my part, I'd spotted her before she spotted me, so I had my sunnies on quick smart.

Now I do know the counter spell, and did cast it, but it takes time for that spell to sink in (as it were), so he's going to be out of it for a few hours yet.

I was also able to fix her glasses (hooray for super glue), and I recommended that she invest in some contacts while she and her beau get to know each other better.

I'm sure he'll get used to her snakes (they both work at the zoo - so he's got to be OK with animals, right?), and after a few bites he'll become immune to her gaze.

For now I'm stuck for things to do, so I'm writing this for Tobes. So he remembers to do things like use the peephole before answering the door.

Charlie signing off.

#SF #SFF #Tootfic #Microfiction #UrbanFantasy #IAmWriting #CharlieAndToby

‘The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton’ Reveals Niven’s Social Awareness

The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton (1976) by Larry Niven collects the first three stories about ARM agent Gil Hamilton. Niven’s attempt at SF detective stories is an interesting mix of ideas and world building. However, the mysteries are only part of the story. The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton is as much social commentary as compelling detective fiction.

Gil Hamilton is an agent of the UN Amalgamated Regional Militia, a very special one. His intuition is peerless and his psychic abilities priceless. Combined with his raw, natural courage Gil ‘the Arm’ Hamilton is one of the most formidible agents in the ARM orginization.

The world is a dangerous place and it is men and women like Gil that keep them safe. When rogue orginizations murder, when new technologies threaten it is Gil Hamilton and ARM that must shield the world. And a strange death makes the job personal Gil.

The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton is set in Larry Niven’s Known Space universe but in its very early days. There is no FTL space travel and the world has a population of 18 billion. Society is under terrible pressures and the cracks are showing. Thus need for ARM.

“Death By Ecstasy” is the first story of the collection and the most personal for Gil. When Belter Owen Jennison is found dead alone in his apartment, the local police are sure it must be suicide. However, Gil is the next of kin of the victim and receives a call. It turns out the victim is a friend of Gil’s from his days as a Belter. All the evidence points to suicide and even Gil must consider it, however, his gut is telling him that Owen would never commit suicide.

As an opening to the life and times of Gil Hamilton, “Death By Ecstasy” is a rather pedestrian mystery. On the surface it is a closed room mystery that would not be out of place in an Agatha Christie novel. What is truly compelling about “Death By Ecstasy” is the world Niven illuminates.

The Known Universe at this time is uncomfortably grim. Medical technology has advanced to a point where organs and limbs are replaceable almost indefinitely. The problem, however, is supply. The world has responded by making death row criminals involuntary donors. Yet this has its limits as well. To increase supply the death penalty becomes the punishment for many lesser crimes.

The Known Universe at this time looks good on the outside, however, it hides a very ugly secret. Niven’s extrapolation of the use of the death penalty paints a callous society easily manipulated by a political system trying to maintain its power. The organleggers are a symptom of the choices that society makes in the pursuit of eternal health.

In “The Defenseless Dead” Gil Hamilton is the target of an assassination attempt. Narrowly escaping with his life the attempt is puzzling. The assassin, a former organlegger, is even more confusing. G il doesn’t know him and he never investigated the man. The only lead Gil can come up with is a kidnapping case from a few years earlier, which is even more strange for organleggers.

“The Defenseless Dead” is a clever story that interweaves several mysteries together. Niven delves more deeply into the effects of the death penalty on society. The drive to keep organs available has caused the government to declare certain people legally dead. People in cryogenic sleep.

What makes “The Defenseless Dead” so gripping is the impersonal way that society will revoke people’s rights when they have no voice. Society creates new brand underclass is for persecution and exploitation for their own self-interests . This is a story with eerie relevance today.

The last story, “ARM” takes the focus away from the organleggers and into more speculative territory. When the developer of a new technology is found dead Gil and ARM are faced with two mysteries. The murder of the developer and how the new technology will affect the world at large.

Larry Niven

The technology is benign, however, like all technologies, it has harmful applications. When does the harm outweight the benefit? And who decides? Niven is not anti-technology but he does expect people to understand the risks and to act accordingly.

“The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton” is a good collection of SF dectective stories, however, they are a better examination of how society can oppress in the name of ‘good’. Gil Hamilton is an agent of oppression but an uneasy one. He feels he’s on the side of right but his definition ‘right’ is challenged.

Niven receives a lot of credit as a writer of well constructed SF of big ideas and adventures. He doesn’t receive enough credit for his social commentary. “The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton” shows just how well Niven understands society and how it evolves. This collection will appeal to a wide range of readers from fans to hard SF to people who enjoy social SF. “The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton” may surprise you.

#BookReview #LarryNiven #SF #TheLongArmOfGilHamilton

‘Land Of The Dead’ Pushes Deeper Into The Unknown Past

Land Of The Dead (2009) by Thomas Harlan grabs the reader from the first pages and never lets go. Weaving a complex story of intrigues, ancient mysteries, and empire shattering action, Harlan takes the space opera bar and throws it away. Land of the Dead thrills in a way few SF novels ever have and does so almost magically.

Months after the events on Jagan, Gretchen Anderssen is home and working for the local university when her past comes calling. Nauallis Green Hummingbird, agent of the Mirror Service, comes to her with an offer. He needs her talents to help identify and understand a possible First Sun artifact in the Rim. Gretchen knows Green Hummingbird is using her but she can’t figure out how… yet.

Accompanying Green Hummingbird, Gretchen embarks on an uncomfortable voyage to the Rim. To a place hiding something that cuts unsuspecting vessles to pieces with a power never before seen. Despite her concerns she is also keenly curious as to what this mysterious power holds.

Yet it is not just the Mirror Service that has an interest in the artefact. Forces from within and outside the Empire are converging on this point in space. The prize could be worth more than anyone could dream of, or it could be the destruction of the entire universe.

Land of the Dead picks up only months after the events of House of Reeds (2004). With the effects of the Jagan affair still swirling in the air, Harlan impresses new and urgent objectives upon his characters. It is this palpable urgency running through the story that drives the plot.

Just as in Wasteland of Flint (2003) and House of Reeds the world building of Land of the Dead is a thing of rare quality. Harlan continues to bring the Mexicá Empire to life with astonishing touches of subtlety and nuance. It’s almost like seeing the world in the mirror through your peripheral vision. You don’t take much notice of it but without it the world would be wrong. Brief passages that seem inconsequential at first later form the cement to lock blocks in place.

Harlan’s charaters, once again, blaze with life. The returning cast continue to grow and evolve naturally. Most especially the fallen Chu-sa Hedeishi. The sternly compassionate Captain of the IMN Henry R. Cornuelle faces his prospects with a courage and grace readers could only hope to emulate. The cooly competent Susan Koshō is now Chu-sa of the IMN Naniwa and forced to learn how to command under fire. Gretchen Anderssen is perhaps the most consistent in her behaviour but she also has some surprises for the reader.

What is a bit sad is the choice to not include Gretchen’s long suffering companions, Magdalena and David Parker. It’s perfectly logical that her companions wouldn’t necessarily follow Gretchen everywhere, however, I did miss their particular antics and humour. Not including them didn’t detract from the story in any way, I just think they would have added something.

Harlan’s plotting in Land of the Dead is nothing short of masterful. There are plans withing intrigues within mysteries. The number of threads to contend with would confound a less talented writer, however, Harlan never misses a beat. What is more telling is that the reader is never lost either. Harlan has the skill to draw the reader in these many plots and subplots without obscuring or blurring the lines to confuses either the plot or the reader.

Harlan also has a gift for action. There is plenty of action throughout the story to keep even the most ardent action SF fan happy, however, the last third of the book will leave the reader breathless. Yet, throughout this action Harlan still weaves his intrigues and mysteries which only makes their impact all the greater.

Thomas Harlan

The climax of Land of the Dead is suitably exciting and revealing. The inital mystery is revealed but there are still questions hanging in the air. This is not unexpected though. With the first two books there are several unresolved plotlines left hanging. This is most likely to allow Harlan to return to the universe for new stories. Unfortunately there haven’t been any since Land of the Dead.

Land of the Dead is a story for fans of the Sixth Sun series. While it is possible to read it without having read the previous two books, I think it would do a disservice to both the story and the reader. I would suggest taking the time to read Wasteland of Flint and House of Reeds first. It will only make Land of the Dead better.

I don’t know if Harlan will ever return to the Sixth Sun universe but if he does I will dive back in without hesitation. Few series have given me as much enjoyment in recent years as the Sixth Sun has. It balances pulpy SF action with modern SF sensibilities not often seen. Land of the Dead is at times sad, grim, overwhelming, and terrifying but it will leave a smile on your face.

#BookReview #LandOfTheDead #SF #ThomasHarlan