The first thing I noticed flipping through pages is that Mannie, the narrator, has a unique dialect. The only way to explain this is to say that he speaks more efficiently than what is generally accepted as grammatically correct. He does this by leaving out articles and really any word that is unnecessary in conveying a thought. At first this threw me off balance; I found myself rereading sentences so I didn't miss anything, but after the first few chapters I adjusted to it. The fact that the story and descriptions remain so vivid with so few words is really remarkable.
Although Mannie was the center of attention for most of the novel, it was hard to take my focus off of Mike. Mike aka HOLMES IV is a computer that had achieved sentience without anyone noticing. Mike was originally tasked with controlling all commerce in a lunar colony where the story is based. When the computer makes an error by writing a check for an absurd amount of money to an underling, Mannie is called in to repair him. Mannie soon discovers that the error reported was Mike experimenting with humor and it was through the computer's interest in writing effective jokes that a relationship between a computer and his technician grew.
From here the story explodes. Mannie becomes involved in a movement of revolution against a political conglomerate known as the Federated Nations. To explain why I'll have to describe a little history as it was described to me. A lunar colony was originally established as a penal colony that earth used to send its most dangerous prisoners. The story begins several generations after its establishment when the prisoners had made lives for themselves, started families, and evolved into regular citizens, working, living like citizens of earth. But the Federated Nations never recognized them as a sovereign nation and ruled them as if they were still the degenerates that were originally sent there. The tension of this tyrannical rule eventually reached a tipping point and Mannie as well as several other outspoken characters banded together as the leaders of a revolution, including Mike who was used to devise strategy and weigh the odds of every decision made to ensure their success.
All this makes for a great story, and a believable one, which is unique in the sci-fi genre.The only criticism I have is one that I have for most sci-fi and that is a coldness that left me feeling a little empty when reading scenes of war and loss. The characters didn't show quite as much emotion as I like, although this is nearly balanced by the last few pages, which I can't describe in case you want to pick this up, which you should. It's worth it.
5/5
