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The Line Of Polity by Neal Asher check out website: www.tor.com
Polity agent and near-mythical James Bond figure Ian Cormac is on the trail of rogue bio-physicist and all round nasty guy Skellor when word comes that Gradon has been spotted near the planet of Masada. Dragon, an alien consisting of four nanotech spheres (one of which Cormac destroyed in 'Gridlinked') is the enigmatic nemesis of Cormac's life.
Cormac heads towards Masada in a Polity dreadnought to meet Dragon. On the planet, a downtrodden slave population is kept in check by the religious ruling classes and their orbital lasers but now rebellion is stirring. Skellor had stowed aboard Cormac's ship, massively enhanced but AI and ancient alien nanotechnology, that make him into a near-god with a human hatred of Cormac... It's a compelling story. I've reviewed two other Asher novels recently and praised his innovation and writing technique but the plot of 'Line of Polity' easily surpasses the previous books I've read. The circumstances build gradually and intriguingly in the first half of the book, culminating in a fascinating and exciting planetary war in the second half as the rebellion reaches boiling point. I've always been partial to a bit of good space opera and this is right up there with Banks or ‘Star Wars’. The events of 'Gridlinked' were more low-key and the larger scale of things here add a sense of importance to events. I read this quickly and passionately and put it down at the end very satisfied. I look forward to Asher's next offering. Tomas L. Martin
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OTHER REVIEWS - May 2004
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Weighing
in at three pages short of the devil's number, 'Line Of Polity'
is a lengthy but satisfying third novel from emerging British cyperpunk
writer Neal Asher. Following on a few years after the events of
Asher's debut full length, 'Gridlinked', it sees both characters
and author returning to hit their strides.
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