Jaine Fenn is a hot new talent, one of Gollancz's 2008 Debut Novelists. Female SF writers are a rarity; good ones are even scarcer! Superb characterisation and a fast-moving plot in a dark far-future world: Liz Williams meets Richard Morgan, with a heavy hint of Alastair Reynolds' world-building in this vivid action-and-intrigue adventure! Jaine's blog (http://www.jainefenn.com/) is already well-established and popular Jaine is enthusiastic and talented, and already known on the British SF scene; she's a real find for the Gollancz list Jaine's short stories have already won her a following in SF circles. There are more books planned in the same universe.
Jaine Fenn studied Linguistics and Astronomy at university before embarking on a career as an IT consultant. She is the author of the Hidden Empire books PRINCIPLES OF ANGELS, CONSORTS OF HEAVEN and GUARDIANS OF PARADISE. She lives with her husband in Hampshire.
Fenn sets her romance-heavy but passionless debut in a vast and ancient aerial city that inexplicably evokes very little sense of wonder. Nual is a sanctioned killer in Khesh City, where the very rich live Topside and the criminal classes lurk in the low-gravity Undertow. The reclusive and mysterious Nual is stalked by two reluctant hunters: Taro, a prostitute desperate for safety and forgiveness after he inadvertently aids in his aunt's murder, and singer Elarn Reem, an unwilling cat's paw for the mysterious Sidhe. Once the rulers of humanity, the Sidhe have a special and malevolent interest in Khesh City, whose founding was tied to their fall. The stronger parts of the story are undermined by a vague, cliched setting and a false-ringing romance, giving the reader little reason to care about the characters or their woes. (Jan.) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
In the floating city of Khesh, even minor crimes are punishable by death at the hands of government assassins known as "Angels." When a young male prostitute named Taro loses his Aunt Malia, an Angel living in the city's notorious "Undertow," he seeks revenge by offering his services as a spy. Fenn's debut creates a strange and eerily beautiful dystopia that simultaneously attracts and repulses with its hauntingly dark imagery. VERDICT Vividly depicted characters and an intriguing plot make this a standout purchase, especially for the postcyberpunk crowd. Highly recommended. Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
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