Fast Forward Book Review for August 2010
Geosynchron
by
David Louis Edelman
A review
by Colleen R. Cahill
All things must come to an end, and in the case of trilogies, sometimes it is even a good end. This is true with the finish of David Louis Edelman¡¯s Jump 225 series published by Pyr, as Geosynchron is a stunning climax to an absorbing set of books. The energy and intrigue of this far future story, so finely crafted in the first two volumes, still takes us to unexpected places while delivering a truly believable ending.
Life has given Natch many turns. From struggling through a lonely childhood, to forming a biologic company that reached the top of its field, and finally being given control of Multireal, a technology that allows users to select which outcome they prefer for an event, it has been a dizzying climb. And a equally dizzy fall, as Natch is now infected with black code viruses, on the run from the Len Borda¡¯s government and finds his archrival, Brone, not only has access to Multireal, but has altered the program to allow the user to experience all their possible choices, not just choose between them. To top it all off, Natch is having conversations with the ghost of Margaret Surina, ones he does not understand. One can see why, when given the chance, he flees to the decadent orbital colony 49th Heaven to try and piece his life and his mind back together.
Life is no calmer for Jara, now head of Natch¡¯s fiefcorp and supposed owner of Multireal, but that means nothing, as the minute Natch disappears, so did her ability to reach the program. This does not stop members of the Surina family from suing over Multireal, although the trial quickly becomes somewhat surreal, especially when the Margaret Surina¡¯s closest advisor Quell takes the stand. Last word on Quell was he was being held in a space prison and no one knows (except us readers) how he escaped. Quell is happy to turn the tables on his supposed rescuers by hiring Jara¡¯s firm to work for the Pacific Island government. Jara has to make some tough decisions on who she is going to trust.
There is little finer in a trilogy than to have a story that stays enthralling over all the books AND has a satisfying end; this Edelman has achieved. Geosynchron is as fascinating as the first two volumes, and one of the keys to this is the growth of the characters through the series. Natch is very much a different person in this book, not surprising after what he has gone through. The same can be said for Jara, Horvil, Quell and many of the other characters; these monumental events have left their mark. While the technology is cool and the plot still has plenty of new twists, it is the people in this story that kept me turning the pages.
You must read Infoquake and Multireal to appreciate this book, but I highly recommend them both. Geosynchron, the jewel in the crown of this series, is a splendid ending to an amazing story, one that will stay with me for many years.