Where the Axe Is Buried by Ray Nayler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nayler has earned my respect as a serious SF author. You know, not one that just panders to trends, but one that seriously explores issues, often philosophically and, better, to a sharp point.

This new one is no different, except that it is faster-paced and quite a bit more angry. I mean, what else can we expect when showing a different kind of dystopia, one that goes beyond robot overlords or ham-fisted dictators, but a seriously smart and even reasonable tragic end.

Wait... a reasonable tragic end?

Well, yeah, if security is what you want and when authoritarian governments have learned from the past mistakes of other authoritarian governments, it's only reasonable that they do EVERYTHING in their power to retain absolute control. The point? Don't half-ass it. Use those AIs to go whole-hog on the ideological vice-grip. You know, like what has just been happening in our world, now. Don't let anyone have a single inch. It's not just China that has social scores and micro-managed restrictions anymore.

This novel shines a pretty bright light on an extreme future that seems almost exactly like our own. Updated. Sharp. Scary. But with a little hope. There always has to be a little hope.


My synesthesia tastes the sweet scent of tulips and acetylene torches.


Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.

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