When Gravity Fails
by George Alec Effinger
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Book Summary Information
Author: George Alec EffingerEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-11-01
ISBN: 0765313588
Number of pages: 288
Publisher: Orb Books
Book Reviews of When Gravity Fails
Book Review: 3.5 stars - mostly for the first half
Summary: 3 Stars
Marid Audran is an oddity in the middle-eastern, big-city region of the Budayeen. The futuristic city is populated mainly by criminals, crooked police, prostitutes, and other seedy characters. Brain modifications, known as moddies, are the norm. Audran is among the last hold-outs, determined to survive with the natural talents he was born with. He walks a line between legitimate business man and borderline criminal. He is quick thinking, and quick on his feet. And he will never undergo any brain modifications...
Someone or several someones have begun murdering and mutilating people in the city. When a friend of Audran becomes a victim, he is suddenly thrown into a mystery of political intrigue. The equivalent of the city's godfather, "Papa", enlists his aid. Papa is concerned about his business interests being affected, because the murderer has killed some of his associates. He basically makes Audran an offer he can't refuse, which includes the requirement that Audran undergo modifications, to give him a better chance for success in his hunt for the killer.
Many colorful characters appear in the story, but the freshness wears off far too soon. The mystery suffers dullness as it goes on, and the "surprises" hardly qualify as such. The abundant scenes of violence, drugs, prostitution, and modified people are interesting at first, and then become tedious. There are moments of quality writing, such as when Audran is in a reflective mood, but these are too few. I wanted Audran to succeed, but not because I was rooting for him. Rather, I ultimately was waiting for a reprieve from this hero-barren landscape.
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