132,956
edits
Changes
From TheBookbag
Jump to navigationJump to searchInflux by Daniel Suarez (view source)
Revision as of 15:39, 11 February 2015
, 15:39, 11 February 2015no edit summary
The entire world of ''Influx'' is an intriguing one. Set in an alternative contemporary America, it is just like today, but with hundreds of hidden advances locked away. What would happen to us if immortality became common, or food was no longer scarce? Would we become a ''Star Trek'' style universe of peace for all, or a dystopian planet overcrowded with billions of people refusing to die? It would appear that the apparent villains in ''Influx'' actually have a valid reason for intervening and this makes for a much more interesting dynamic than a straight forward black versus white conflict.
Despite the foundations that the shadowy government agency are built upon being grey, their actions are anything but. There is a streak of darkness in 'Influx' that raises it from a competent techno-thriller into the realms of a real page turner. A futuristic prison full of geniuses sound like a great idea and good fun, but Suarez does not play it for laughs. Instead, Grady and his fellow inmates are all housed separately from one another with only a cruel AI for companionship. The struggle that Grady has to go through parallels that of ‘The ''The Count of Monte Cristo’ Cristo'' and just like in that classic, you feel his later vengeance is just.
By adding much needed grit to his writing style, Suarez leaves the reader unsure what is going to happen next. Events do not always unfold as you would imagine and characters that you believe will be key towards the end may not even make it that far. This all combines to create a tension that only the best thrillers are able to achieve. Throw in several intelligent and interesting science fiction ideas into the mix and you have one of the best near future thrillers I have read in a long time – perhaps since ''Jurassic Park''?
