Review: A tour-de-force of imagination.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 17, 2011
Note: This review contains minor spoilers."Symbiota Sapiens" [Amazon Digital Services, 2011] is the epic debut novel of author P.T. Dean. It is an ambitious work to cut one's teeth on, but Dean does a remarkable job of just that with only a few exceptions.The story line is a complex one, almost as if the author was challenging himself, but I never had a problem following it throughout. He also uses some literary devices I have never come across before, i.e. the use of italics, bold face and regular type, to differentiate between the various voices. It is an unorthodox method--at least it is to me--but it worked.The premise is that Jeremy has been chosen by a mysterious clan of `immortals', survivors of the lost city of Atlantis, who style themselves "Guardians." It is never made quite clear why Jeremy is chosen, but this is only a minor issue. Jeremy is then told that he must divest himself from all mortal connections, including his orphaned step-brother, Julian. However, having been Julian's de facto guardian for several years, Jeremy refuses to do this and they both run away to New York.The Guardians also have counterparts, known as the "Fallen", who possess the same powers as the Guardians but use it for cross purposes. Jeremy and Julian find this out when they encounter the leader of this faction, a smooth-talking but sinister character by the name of Damion, and only escape with the help of the Guardians. However, they are then pursued by Damion's minions, zombie-like characters called "autonoids", who are trying to get at Jeremy through Julian.P.T. Dean also unfolds a fantasmagorical array of technological gadgetry, including a super computer known as an "A1" that operates both internally and externally inside Jeremy's head. It is also assisted by a veritable host of microscopic "caretakers" known as "Esserons", that can cure any ailment or injury that befalls him.In that regard, this story challenges the 1970s all-time zany "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams. However, while Hitchhiker's Guide was written as a spoof, "Symbiota Sapiens is a serious adventure and love story with zany overtones.Journalistically the writing is solid throughout, and Dean's handling of some very complex scenarios is masterful. However, there are some continuity problems. For example, in one scene Julian is kidnapped by a pair of autonoids using a stun gun. At the time Julian had been using his laptop computer in a cyber-café, and when Jeremy finds him missing he immediately takes off in hot pursuit, rescuing Julian and running (at a record pace) until they are well away from the area. They then take a hotel room where Julian continues to work on his computer. However, as far as the reader knows it is still back at the cyber café.This oversight didn't interfere with the over all enjoyment of the story, but I can't call it perfect, either. I can recommend it as a highly original story, though, and if you are a sci-fi fan I think that you will enjoy this one. Four Gerry Bees.