Book Review: Embedded

So this is a bit off topic for this blog. It is not 40k or Warhammer Fantasy Battle, or miniaure related in any way, but I am going to post it any way. I just got done reading Dan Abnett's book Embedded.

So this is Dan Abnett's first non-40k sci-fi novel from what I understand. It takes place in the near-future where things are similar enough to what we have in the present day, but still strange enough to make this a sci-fi novel.

One of the strengths of this book is the way Abnett has created his own lingo for everything. It reminds me of Neuromancer or Blade Runner (or Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep if you feel better about it). For me this gives an intimate feeling to the universe. It makes me think a little bit about every day items or discussions, and gets me to buy into the story a bit more.

This story follows a journalist named Lex Falk. He seems pretty down on his luck, even though his is a pretty much a big shot journalist. He has spent too much time in "drivers" which appear to be space ships, and it has reduced his bone density so much that he is not in the best of health.

The story starts out slowly. Lex has been assigned to a Eighty-Six where a "conflict" is going on. I quote it because the powers that be are trying to down-play the violence that is occurring. Lex is led around by the military to what appear to be staged scenes that every reporter is shown and he is not very happy with that.

That is when he is offered the ultimate reporting opportunity. He is going to hitch a ride inside the mind of a combat soldier. He will be able to experience everything the soldier does and then he'll be able to report it.

I am not going to spoil it, but things don't go as planned it Lex finds himself fighting for his life.

I would say that the only downside to this book is that it seemed to end very abruptly. I was really getting into the end and BAM it's over. There is definately an opening for a sequel, but I think I would rather see more stories set in this universe rather than a direct sequel to it. I think Abnett has done a very good job of laying the groundwork for what could be a very interesting setting.

I give Embedded four Bloc Hostiles out of five.