It’s a reasonable topic for discussion and this author has spent a lot of careful thought on the subject. Much of the action takes place in the virtual world. The main character’s job is in the control of that world, so a lot of the conflict involves the narration of complicated programming, which is problematic for developing suspense. It is impossible to show the problems and their solution, so the author is reduced to telling readers what is happening.

On the other hand, the live action sequences are conceived and laid out in meticulous detail, and here the book has its appeal: sympathetic characters facing comprehensible problems and solving them through their own talent and ingenuity. Plenty of action, some of it gory, some with macabre humour.

The characters are varied and believable, although I found the point-of-view switches in the early part of the book to be disorienting. The last half of the book takes a more restricted POV, and everything flows along smoothly

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention some editing problems, especially with sentence structure, which distract us from our connection with the story.

“She turns back to Hux when the loud clack of the container latch being undone cuts through the noise isolation of her helmet and watches as he swings the door open.”

And on top of its other creative touches, this book is written in present tense. Unfortunately, there is a lot of past tense narrative in the dialogue, and the constant switches are distracting.

The bottom line in all this is a hint for creative novelists. For each new kink you introduce, ask yourself if this particular adaptation will aid in the communication of emotions and ideas to the reader, or if it is a gimmick put in to prove the author’s creativity. This novel could use the assistance of a good editor to help answer that question.

A good story with sympathetic characters and thoughtful ideas, in need of polishing. Recommended for fans of computer Sci-Fi who like their plotlines complicated.

Four stars.