Neal Asher was born in Billericay, Essex, and divides his time between the UK and Crete. The majority of his novels are set within one future history, known as the Polity universe which encompasses many classic science fiction tropes including world-ruling artificial intelligences, androids, hive minds and aliens. His full-length novels include Gridlinked, The Skinner, The Line of Polity, Cowl, Brass Man, The Voyage of the Sable Keech, Hilldiggers, Prador Moon, Line War, Shadow of the Scorpion, Orbus and The Technician. His Owner series novels include The Departure, Zero Point and Jupiter War.
In a distant future in which humans have colonized the galaxy, Earth Central Security Agent Ian Cormac hunts an interstellar dragon on the primitive world of Cull. Far away, a rival has reawakened a psychotic artificial man known as Mr. Crane, housed him in a new metal body, and sent him after the same target, placing him on a collision course with Cormac. Set in the same world as Gridlinked, Asher's latest novel features fast-paced action, spy vs. spy intrigue, and the guilty pleasure of watching two exceptional and opposed individuals move inexorably toward an inevitable showdown. A good addition to most sf collections, this novel will have particular appeal to fans of science-oriented, far-future sf. Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
A satisfyingly baroque plot and strong action sequences make up for a lack of character development and moral complexity in this gory space opera from British SF author Asher. Human beings have considerable freedom in Polity Space, a mostly civilized place, but enormously powerful AIs make all the important decisions. Three monstrous creatures threaten the Polity: Dragon, a gigantic being of unknown origin; Skellor, an evil, once human scientist transformed by the nanotechnology of the extinct Jain race; and Mr. Crane, the monstrous killing machine who does Skellor's bidding. Aided by several AIs, supercompetent Earth Central Security agent Ian Cormac must deal with all these dangers before civilization is plunged into chaos. Unbeknownst to him, however, several powerful AIs are plotting to gain Jain technology, even if it means the destruction of the human race. This violent, fast-moving novel is lots of fun, but makes no concessions to readers unfamiliar with Gridlinked and Line of Polity, the earlier books in the series. (Jan.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
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