Escapology

The first few pages of this just straight up blew me away. That's not so unusual - first pages are designed to do that - but what makes this book so special is that Ren Warom manages to keep this sensation going for pretty much the whole way.This whole book bears a lot of similarities to William Gibson's Neuromancer, but it could in no way be called derivative. Instead it takes inspiration from that classic and then runs with it, revitalizes it, makes it something new. It may even improves on Gibson. Of course, it can only do so because it came later, but that detracts nothing from how awesome this is in its own right.I also want to talk about the writing, which is densely packed, full of slang and pace and power, and simply brilliant throughout. The world Ren Warom creates feels very fully fleshed out and it's quite amazing how quickly concepts that are given no explanation whatsoever can be intuited from the world and situations of the characters. Characters who, by the way, are varied and interesting, ambiguous both morally and in other ways and feel, for the most part, very real and believable.My only criticisms would be, firstly, towards the end, the narrative runs out of steam a little - I think this is due partly to one of the main strands of the story becoming irrelevant rather than hiding the vital key to a final plot twist - and, secondly, despite the excellent and intuitive world building, the avis, which become so central to the whole story, are not given a little more time earlier on in the story. I'd have liked to have seen just a few more glimpses of other characters running in the Slip and felt the connection they have with their avis before they become pivotal (sorry, if you haven't read this, I'm sure none of that makes sense).Minor quibbles, though. Overall this is superb. I love finding new authors to follow and I'll be buying the next book as soon as I click submit on this review and waiting with baited breath for whatever Ren Warom does next.

For those who find cyberpunk a bit too punky, or needlessly techy, this is for you.A pure hit of metaphysical cyber-magnificence, dressed in a bleak, harsh reality, laced with clever (very clever) technical magic that is both complex but instantly comprehensible (think the DNA Helix model), and set against the menace of the crime underworld; Escapalogy is breathless and breathtaking (that's a thing, right?)If you've read other works by Ren (e.g. The Lonely Dark) - you'll see the adeptness of mixing psychological fear with science fiction, and by shaking up raw emotions with a fast-paced plot you end up with a taut, nerve-shredding read.There's a sequel, there must be a sequel?! I need more...

I adored this book. I don't have the words to explain just how much I adored it. It's a wild, breathless ride through a nightmarish city and even more nightmarish kind-of-but-not-really-internet. Shock Pao and Amiga are effectively orphans, fallen through the cracks of a society which cares very little for anyone who doesn't fit a very narrow set of parameters. Shock needs to steal something but he's being lied to and used and things pretty much go downhill for him from about page three onwards. But downhill like on a bobsled, you know? Faster-paced than a coked up trading floor, this book made me laugh and cry and gasp for breath, throwing me along with the characters into one disaster after another, scattering them across a spectacular, minutely detailed, dystopian landscape. Buckle up. It's one hell of a wild ride!

Haven't read a cyberpunk novel for so long but I really enjoyed this, good pace & interesting characters. Sometimes it seemed there was so much going on that random key plot points just needed to be dropped in without much development but I forgive that because the story was interesting and held my interest throughout.

Cyberpunk at its best. Baffling technological future world inhabited by characters you care about. For those who are pining for the next William Gibson novel.

I have not tried cyberpunk since uni when I read...oh that famous cyberpunk story! I can not remember the name now, but it's like super famous. You know...Anyway, do be warned, it is not for everyone. It is very hardcore cyberpunk. I am not even sure I understood how one thing happened, but then I went all hello, it's a book, do not think too much. It's the future. Stuff can happen in the future ;)But hey, take a chance.Shock is *step back, how to explain this* Well he goes into the internet and steals stuff. But then you can do that today too, so that was easy. The internet is also dead and now there is only something ruled by a big corporation and you have to go to certain rooms to get plugged in. The days of free internet is long gone.The world broke, continents fell into the ocean, others were lifted up way too high. And you can not even get free wifi on your phone, poor poor world.I am making a mess of things. Let's simplify.Shock needs to steal something. He is poor and needs cash. He is good at this.A woman is sent to hunt him down and take him out.Bigger things are happening.Stuff goes down!Conclusion:A cyberpunk thriller that is a whirlwind.