Synopses & Reviews
Winner of a Prometheus and Sidewise Award, this science fiction novella is a comedic and biting commentary on capitalism and an exploration of technological singularity in a posthuman civilization. As a world war rages on without an emerging victor, the story follows John Matheson, an idealistic teenage Scottish guerilla warrior who must change his tactics and alliances with the arrival of an alien species. This alternate history and poignant political satire flips hero types and expectations, delivering a lively tale of adventure—as dramatic and thought provoking as it is funny. Also included is an interview with the author and two essays that relate his poignant views on social philosophies.
Review
"MacLeod is a fiercely intelligent, prodigiously well-read author who manages to fill his books with big issues without weighing them down." —Salon.com
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"MacLeod's novels are fast, funny, and sophisticated. There can never be enough books like these." —Kim Stanley Robinson, author, Mars trilogy
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"Scottish author Ken MacLeod bolsters his tight, brilliant, alternate-history novella with two supporting essays and a lengthy interview, combining revolutionary politics, flying-saucer lore, and family dynamics in a slender but potent volume." —Publishers Weekly
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"...an excellent tale, one that readers should be glad to see made readily available in the United States."—Publishers Weekly
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"Theres a ‘Plus ... on the cover and title page, indicating the inclusion of a pair of reflective essays by the author, an interview conducted by Terry Bisson, and an extensive bibliography of MacLeods fiction and non-fiction. The elements of the package interact nicely." —Russell Letson, Locus
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"Although the novella soars off into high science fiction for its end twist, its grounding in the Scotland and the Lewis of Macleods childhood gives it a sense of solidity, grounding it in real history and left wing arguments remembered." —Pik Smeet, World Socialism
Synopsis
Ken MacLeod is one of the brightest and most progressive of Britain's "Hard SF" stars who navigate exciting new futures to the delight of legions of fans around the world. His works combine cutting-edge scientific speculation, socialist and anarchist themes, and a deeply humanistic vision. Described by fans and adversaries alike as a "techno-utopian socialist," MacLeod thrusts his characters into uncanny encounters that have included AI singularities, divergent human evolution, and posthuman cyborg-resurrection.
In his novella The Human Front, a young Scottish guerrilla fighter is drawn into low-intensity sectarian war in a high-intensity dystopian future, and the arrival of an alien intruder (complete with saucer ) calls for new tactics and strange alliances. Its companion piece, "Other Deviations," first published in this edition, reveals the complex origins of MacLeod's alternate history.
Plus: "The Future Will Happen Here, Too," in which a Hebridean writer celebrates the landscapes that shaped his work, measures Scotland's past against humanity's future, and peers into the eyes of an eel.
And Featuring: our irreverent Outspoken Interview, a candid and often cantankerous conversation that showcases our author's deep erudition and mordant wit.
About the Author
Ken MacLeod is the author of The Night Sessions, The Restoration Game, and The Stone Canal.