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From: jherbers@dip.eecs.umich.edu (Joseph Edward Herbers)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf-lovers
Subject: Liege-Killer (review)
Keywords: Christopher Hinz
Message-ID: <2424@zipeecs.umich.edu>
Date: 25 May 90 03:50:14 GMT
Sender: news@zip.eecs.umich.edu
Organization: University of Michigan EECS Dept, Ann Arbor, MI
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Well, since summer has arrived I've more time to read all the books
I've been buying.  Many of my new books were recommended over the net,
so I'll tell you what I think of them so that others have suggestions
for things they might want to check out.  I think that this is a great
way to try reading stuff by authors you don't know about.  SO I will
post what I think about the books I read and you all can say what you
think, and maybe get ideas for new purchases.  Now I've not done any
real reviewing before, so you'll have to excuse the format, etc.  I
will avoid real spoilers as much as possible (I hate 'em!)

This week's book...LIEGE KILLER by Christopher Hinz.

Summary:  Excellent sci-fi with political themes and plenty of action.
Kind of a thriller with mystery elements in the year 2307.
(Not suitable for young readers...how's that for a warning)

This book has a lot of different elements that combine for a refreshingly
different novel in a possible post-apocalyptic future.  Technology has 
become a major problem for the world which now resides somewhat off planet.
With this idea, the book takes a political/sociological look at the human
race and what has become of it.

But don't think this book is too abstract to be exciting.  There is plenty
of violence, both historical and personal to go around.  Most of the story
is told from the perspectives of the various characters.  This approach is
effective in giving us a good picture of the influences that shape the
character's actions, while keeping story developments a suprise.

There's kind of  a mystery to much of the book.  We gradually learn more and
more about the bad guys AND the good guys as they move closer toward the
climactic confrontation.  Kind of a thriller and it certainly kept me
interested.

The character development was kind of erratic at times, sometimes being
forsaken for plot.  This didn't really distract me though, and with the
many aspects of the story, some facets are bound to be slighted.  The
characters are quite 3-dimensional, just not fully explored.

The book does have some suprisingly gruesome scenes, however.  There is
both graphic violence and sexual themes (some of which are VERY gruesome.)
Therefore I would suggest that the book is not intended for younger audiences.
The graphic scenes do serve to intensify certain parts of the story and are
not gratuitous.  I found them suprising given the relative tameness of most
sci-fi in these areas.  A most interesting book.

So, I liked it a lot.  If you want a good mix of sci-fi, political intrigue,
societal analysis and plenty of action, check it out.  Kinda graphic though.

Well...what will I read next...


		Joe "read Liege-Killer" Herbers