Review: Breathtaking
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 21, 2013
Ceri London has written, in "Shimmer In The Dark: Rogue Genesis" one of the most powerful science fiction novels I have read since "Dune". Well, actually, it is better than "Dune". More creative, with a wider range and depth of reality, that is approachable to all readers. This is, without doubt, a science fiction novel, but it also has strong ties to military-political intrigue in the present day which grounds the novel in a level of believability even when the "fiction" portion of the science asks you to stretch your mind into new levels of belief. Some, I suppose, would lean more towards calling it `fantasy' as there are no space ships and Earth colonies on other planets. If you are one of the `hard sci-fi geeks' that some of my friends are you might be disappointed by no space rockets blasting around, I suppose, but that should in no way deter you from reading this jewel of a book.Unlike many, and especially one of the reviewers of the book, I have no problem stretching credulity to new levels. I don't expect a science fiction or fantasy book to stay within the realm of `probability'. I expect to be taken to a new place, a new level of existence, while I expect that existence to still feel believable. I expect to be charmed into a new sense of reality for a short while. Something that Ms. London has done brilliantly in this, the first of a four-part series.Niall Kearey is a very special person, with a very special family. As has been described by the blurb on the book, he can, with is mind, reach out across galaxies to what he thinks is a `dream world' - a world "racing towards annihilation" - a world soon to align with Earth, with unknown outcome. Here on Earth, there are power-brokers and politicians, secret societies, power-hungry and amoral politicians, and a corrupt U.S. Military. A military and power structure that will do anything, including the destruction of Niall's beloved family, to bring him under their control and use him for world domination. Of this, and possibly other worlds . . .London, in my estimation, did a beautiful job of making me feel her characters. I actually understood, and admired, Niall. My admiration was not only for his special abilities, but also for his love of and deep commitment to his family. In the face of horrific circumstances, he stands by his family and continues to fight for them, when everyone around him is betraying his faith, his honour and his commitment to country. The very thing that Niall has fought for, and watched his friends die for, is pulled into the light, and that light shines upon a dark and venomous snarl of greed and xenophobia that would happily watch whole civilizations die, accepting only the technology and power that those cultures might provide. In all, humanity at it's slimiest, humanity who would sentence millions to death, while gobbling up their scientist to live as virtual prisoners, slaves to the military-industrial complex. Yep. Humans all right. Humans who would imprison a decorated military man under "correct supervision", using him as a lab rat to assure his "asset to this nation" status.Yes, a lot of the book made me sick. But sick in that everything that London writes is so very gut-wrenchingly believable in so many ways. So real within the fiction that she creates. Amidst the black holes, space-time jumps, dark matter universes and other fascinating and well researched portions of the book, London delves into the human psyche, and lays bare its soul. And proves, beyond a doubt, the very reasons that, for so many reasons, even if there are other civilizations out there, my view of how they would view us is "That trailer trash planet of vicious, dangerous creatures."  I can see the signs hanging in space now - "Danger!! Do not approach third planet from Sol! Local inhabitants RABID!!!! Do not pass within fifty billion klicks!!!!"Overall, if you are a lover of science fiction style fantasy, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It was on my back burner for a while, a lot longer than I had wished for it to be, but I am so very glad that I finally sat down and read it. It was well worth the time. More than worth it. This book needs a lot more attention than it is getting right now. Go out and buy it. I can guarantee you that you will be recommending it to your friends. It's very creativity of concept makes it a standout in the field. That should draw you in. What will keep you there is the writing, the characterizations, and her deep understanding of the human psyche will keep you reading, and watching for the next in the series.Highly recommended.