Review: Sex does not always sell
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 07 26, 2013
This is the second inexplicably explicit novel I've read recently, and just like "Good Intentions", the sex in "Steel Beneath the Skin" overpowers what was a strong story with potentially excellent characters. But I guess it's one hundred percent 'caveat emptor' when the cover art is a topless platinum blond with a big gun and tight leather pants!Despite that, I still liked the book because the bones are good and the energy levels high...or should that be stamina levels?...and I found myself forgiving/ignoring Teasdale's adolescent fantasy writing and focusing on the more interesting plot lines.But let's get the sex out of the way first, because it is adolescent and strangely, after the first couple of graphic encounters, Teasdale dials down the descriptions of wanton womanly parts - because it's mostly girl-on-girl action here - but significantly increases passing references to sex way beyond the point of believability. Because it's not just a few characters who are drawn to each other, pretty much any human character in the novel struts their stuff in expectation of an orgy or two. It was not titillating, it was not hot, and after awhile it was not even interesting, so hopefully Teasdale gets the point that sci-fi readers want plot more than porn.So, about that plot. Teasdale gives us a strong high-tech focus with the alien abduction of baseline human Aneka Jansen, a derelict alien space ship and an android emulation chassis, closing the Amazon Book Description with the enticing 'Is she really still the woman she thinks she is?'.There is a galaxy of really fundamental questions for Teasdale to explore just from that point alone, but for the most part the exploration is superficial and inconsistent. Aneka died a thousand years ago, yet a host of her alien-built technology is far superior to the human equivalent, which suggests that humanity has atrophied in the sciences department. And I was initially annoyed that Aneka could understand these thousand year older humans, and Teasdale gave a pat answer soon after, but it's not convincing. Also unconvincing is the fear of robots and embedded electronic devices. I can see how a strongly regulated society could maintain that, but this society seems anything but, so it's a taboo that felt particularly contrived.On the macro scale, we seem to maintain a large military presence with seriously expensive space hardware, but with no wars to fight, the economics of that don't make much sense. And people from the less developed rim planets can come work in the older, more established planets and earn enough in a couple of years to nicely retire back home. It's a lovely fable, but the economics don't stack up. And if there really is no crime to speak of, and peace across the universe, what would the future-CIA actually do? Finally, given the birth rate this society would have died off centuries ago, despite their casual promiscuity and glorification of sexual congress.There are positives of course. Aneka is well drawn, showing an excellent balance of resilience and concern. Her military background makes her actions generally convincing and she is good to have on your side in a fire-fight! And the Chief of the future-CIA is one of those shadowy background types that are fun to have around in this type of story.Still, it's slim pickings but perhaps Teasdale felt that trading off thoughtful, well reasoned sci-fi for page upon page of cunnilingus and screaming orgasms was what readers wanted. Perhaps they do? But for me, and apparently for many others, it is not an acceptable trade off.