Thursday, May 19, 2011

Web of Angels by John M. Ford

Review written March 2000
This book nearly made the "Couldn't Finish" list, I'm afraid, but it had been recommended to me by a friend, so I felt obligated to finish reading it. So far, Mr. Ford has two strikes on him. One more and he's out.
In Web of Angels, there are a lot of interesting ideas and bizarre characters, but I don't think the author knows exactly what to do with them. The book would occasionally aspire to moments of lucidity, but then by the end of the chapter, I'd be lost once more.
 
In brief, the story is about a young man who has a very rare talent for being able to manipulate the web of computer systems uniting the worlds of mankind. He is persecuted by the political leaders of that system merely for possessing that talent. After his lover is killed by watchdog programs within the web, he seeks answers and vengeance. Unfortunately, neither he nor we ever find any real answers - and his vengeance is Pyrrhic.

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