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The Terminal State (Avery Cates #4)

by Jeff Somers (Goodreads Author)

4.03 of 5 stars 4.03 · rating details · 311 ratings · 24 reviews

Avery Cates is an army man. Between the army's new dental plan and a set of first class augments, he's been given a second chance - albeit a quick one.

When a corrupt officer decides to make some money on the side by selling new recruits, Cates finds himself in uncharted territory. Sold to the highest bidder, his visions of escape and revenge quickly come to an end when he...more

Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

Published August 1st 2010 by Orbit

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Mar 04, 2012 Christal rated it 3 of 5 stars

The further adventures of Avery Cates, gunner and survivor extraordinaire, in Somers' fun cyberpunk series. The world has gone from crappy, to shitty, to wtf suicidal at this point, and even the crappy existence Cates had back in The Electric Church seems like heaven compared to his time in Chengara and now his new tech jacked up body from the army.

Cates gets rounded up with his new bar crew he was hanging with, and forced into the army-- complete with a nano tech upgrade while he was passed ou...more The further adventures of Avery Cates, gunner and survivor extraordinaire, in Somers' fun cyberpunk series. The world has gone from crappy, to shitty, to wtf suicidal at this point, and even the crappy existence Cates had back in The Electric Church seems like heaven compared to his time in Chengara and now his new tech jacked up body from the army.

Cates gets rounded up with his new bar crew he was hanging with, and forced into the army-- complete with a nano tech upgrade while he was passed out. Only while he was being sliced and diced and put back together, the legendary Cainnic Orel, that elusive foe he can't wait to kill with his bare hands, buys him from the army and sets him on a mission. How? well his new tech upgrade that's all throughout his lovely innards is remote controlled, and through the remote he can be sent shocks of pain or even killed (his head would explode) so he has no other choice. Do the mission and possibly get to kill his arch nemesis at the end, or die at the touch of a button from the man he hates.

The mission is simple, with 2 others (Mara and The Poet) make their way into Hong Kong City to kill a techie name Lindholm and steal this 'God Augment' he has created, a piece of tech that gives a human all the abilities of the different Spooks as well as some new mutant powers. Orel wants it for himself, Cates sees that early on. Of course in his best Jeff Somers style, he blatantly hits the reader over the head time and time again with the fact that something isn't quite right about Mara, she's an avatar that seems 'so familiar but I can't put my finger on it' because lo and behold she is an avatar with Orel's brain digitized into her. Apparently the little tell tale signs and the use of 'boyo' didn't clue him in. And oh btw, The Poet is Belling as an avatar as well, one that Somers wrote a lot better and you didn't see at first.

We end our lovely hi-tech, high adrenaline story with a TBC as supposedly Cates gets recaptured by the Army and his old little sidekick Remy that he was forced to leave leads him out back to put him down like a dog. but we know that never happens, esp when the appendix is a story about how after he does that, Remy suddenly wanders off and goes missing from his unit.

Here's the thing about Somers' Avery Cates series, it isn't pretty prose or fine lit. It's the equivalent of the new Urban Fantasy Smut fad, except way cooler as it's nothing but violence, tech, swearing and drinking. Aside from the debut novel, the rest are only average in how good they are, and that is OK. They are fun, balls to the wall reads. Whereas some authors have their heroes able to do impossible feats without a scratch on em, shoot endlessly without needing more bullets, and always seem to be one step ahead... Cates is the anti of all that. Which I love but is also annoying at times. Cates is ALWAYS hurt, and yet seems to be able to keep going on. He runs out of ammo, so he makes sure he has refills (and uses them) and also keeps a wide variety of weapons at his disposal. And let's face it, Cates is not Einstein. He's brute force and a 'think outside the box' kind of person when he has a mission, but don't expect him to figure out the political machinations of those yanking his chains. He never figures out just what is going on, only pieces here and there but never solves the whole puzzle. In a way it's nice and refreshing. Lets be honest, most of us are the same way. The only thing that get's me is how he NEVER has Cates stay in good shape/full health status for more than about 3 chapters into the book. After that it's a free for all and chapter after chapter he gets beat up more and more. It gets to the point where you go 'ok we all know that about 20 pages ago a real person would have just died, the body can't take all of this' and yet apparently Avery Cates can and still keep walking the walk.

You know what these read like? A video game. If you had to take what you see playing a video game like Halo, Killzone, Doom... something somewhat futuristic with a dystopian outlook for earth with various weapons at your disposal and a mission to search and destroy... you would have these books. Only Cates is a fun character that you just love :)

So now I wait, as a fifth book, The Final Evolution, (our TBC of what happens to Cates and this God Augment) comes out this June. Oh yes, we will be staying tuned to see how this ends :)(less)

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Jul 01, 2012 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cyber-punk, sci-fi

This is guilty read book for me. The whole series is on the same level. It is NOT a cerbeal treatsie on the plight of man vs machine. It is a Stallone movie. Bad ass action teamed with sexy technology that makes any guy want to say "F' Yeah!" In no way is this the best series I have ever read, but it is one of the more entertaining series.

I picked up the "Electric Chruch" becuase the cover art drew me to it. I wasn't let down. I was looking for another Gibson and I got another Stallone (in book...more

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Jul 24, 2010 Barrett Brown rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror-noir-dark, science-fiction

7.12.10 - Fuck Yeah, It Finally came out! I had it on reserve and the bookstore just called me!

7.24.10 - Ok, I finally finished it. As an aside I must admit that Jeff Somers (the Author) is now on Goodreads and was awesome enough to even answer one of my questions (and offering to answer anyone's questions!)... this makes reviewing one of his books a little weirder for me than usual because I now know him to be a cool guy, so I can't totally tear him a new asshole. That means I must now use "con...more 7.12.10 - Fuck Yeah, It Finally came out! I had it on reserve and the bookstore just called me!

7.24.10 - Ok, I finally finished it. As an aside I must admit that Jeff Somers (the Author) is now on Goodreads and was awesome enough to even answer one of my questions (and offering to answer anyone's questions!)... this makes reviewing one of his books a little weirder for me than usual because I now know him to be a cool guy, so I can't totally tear him a new asshole. That means I must now use "constructive criticism," maybe something I should have been using all along for my reviews anyways. Damn the Internet is fucking things up! Ah well.

This is the only book that I have actually bought at the bookstore in the last five or so years (besides "The Eternal Prison" last year and "The Book of the Law" as a present). Usually I prefer the library but I could not wait that long to read this, so I am very biased because I'm a huge fan of the Avery Cates books. I think it's the best new Science Fiction I've discovered since Iain M. Banks and William Gibson, though very different.

Maybe because I've reread the other three books so many times my view is skewed and I just know how Somers' writing is now, maybe Cates has already been through so much it would be taxing on any author to put him through more, or maybe the pressure to put out another Cates book made Sommers sloppy; but I honestly think this is the least of the Cates series so far (The "Eternal Prison" being the best). Some of the "surprises" in this one I saw coming from a mile away, the repeated references to past adventures in the other three books irritated me (I mean I'm a Cates Junkie, I don't need reminders!), and a few technical/consistency details seemed wrong and irritated me as well. But overall it's still the genuine article and it entertained me a lot this month, though I don't see myself rereading it like I do with the other three. I even kept myself from reading it all in one night and paced myself to keep the joy last longer.

I'm still a fan and was totally enthused to find a few Avery Cates short stories on Somers' web site (how come nobody told me sooner?!) and will definitely be reading the next Cates book when it comes out. I just hope it's better than this one. I love Cates so much I'd rather have him die and read a spin-off series about the life of Wa Belling or something than to see his books get crappier and crappier until there's nothing cool left.(less)

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Sep 11, 2011 Andy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have to give props to Somers because the 4th book in the series of Cates was way more interesting than the 3rd. This part of the series had me guessing until the end, and sort of on the edge of my seat, which is a good thing. My only complaint, and it's a small one, is that there was just a little too much in between the action. A lot of examination of self, and surroundings. I would have been happy to have read a 200 page book while Avery just kicked ass the whole time, and continued to stay...more

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Aug 07, 2012 kingshearte rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fiction, fluff, post-apocalyptic-dystopian, sci-fi

I liked this book, but I don't have a lot to say about it that's different from anything I've already said about this series. It's very much more of the same, in the same way that every episode of a consistently written TV show is kind of similar, and if you like what you see, you keep watching week after week. Same idea here, really. There's crazy shit going on, Cates is trying to survive by doing whatever needs to be done, there are awesome gun fights, and Cates gets screwed at the end (Not th...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Veach Glines rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: not to be reduntant, but not one person on the planet

Mind candy. I still don't like the author's repetitive repeating of information (mentioned in earlier reviews) from one page to the next.

Example:

Page 1, paragraph 2: ...I'd tasted some terrible brew in my life, but the brew Bixon made out back routinely tasted like it had...

Page 5: ...one (door) in the rear of the room that led out to the back where Bixon created his horrible juice...

This kind of shite occurs throughout the entire series. Where is the editor? And where are the proofreaders? Does...more

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Jan 21, 2011 Patty Blount rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jeff Somers fourth installment in the Avery Cates series continues the dark,edgy misadventures of the legendary gunner. In this story, Cates has been drafted into the army, which involves surgical augmentation with a self-destruct mechanism that’s sold to the highest bidder – Cates’ old enemy. True to Jeff’s style, The Terminal State is non-stop action. These books remain the only stories I’ve read that get me rooting for a killer. They’ve become a guilty pleasure (evil grin).

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Feb 16, 2013 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really thought that being the fourth book in this series, it would be somewhat of a let-down. I'm so happy to be so wrong. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I really love this series. It's not the most intellectually stimulating scifi you'll come across, but it's one that is impossible to put down. This series is full of black comedy and non-stop action. Somers does wonders with the character of Avery Cates. I think I finished all of these books in three hours or under. If you like slick,...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Paul rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: scifi

The fourth book in a series set in a dark, gritty future. [return][return]Avery Cates, a gunner for hire, is feeling too darn old to keep to it. After his escape from too many near death experiences, including a stay in the infamous Chengara Penitentiary, Avery is holed up in a washed out town in the middle of nowhere. Here, he plots his revenge on two of the most infamous gunner ever. [return][return]As his luck seems to go, he finds himself 'recruited' by the new Army. Their gift: Cates is has...more

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Nov 08, 2010 Bruce Henderson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cyberpunk's not my usual cup of tea, but I got sucked into the series with The Electric Church. It's been a very interesting ride thus far. A blend of narcissism, technology and attitude leavened with a bit of humor and interesting if not very complex characters. I'm very much looking forward to the next book in this series.

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Aug 19, 2010 Willy James rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi

Avery Cates is at it again. Pulp action in a bleak futuristic setting. Funny like you'd expect from Somers. The last chapter almost made me mad but I understood all after I read it. Can't wait for the next one.

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Apr 23, 2013 Justin Melter rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am so glad that Mr. Somers has gotten back into the groove of Avery Cates' character. The last book was disappointing in comparison to the others but this just goes to show that Avery is still bad***.

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Dec 27, 2011 Paul K rated it 3 of 5 stars

Like the last three in the series its a non stop action ride, but the premise stays pretty much the same.

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Jan 09, 2011 Clay Tilton added it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 20, 2012 Rabkaman added it

crrrrrazy sci fi action wonderfully visceral post-apoclyptic blade runner of sorts..

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Jan 17, 2012 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: scfi

See Final Evolution for review

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Sep 18, 2010 Myk rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian

The first thing that I am unhappy about the mass market first edition of this book. I love the trade paperbacks that they put out for the first three books and the artwork on them. The artwork on this book is very generic.

Really good story. You do have to have read the first three books to know a lot of what is going on with Avery Cates. This is the type of Sci-Fi dystopian story that I like.

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Jan 30, 2012 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 27, 2010 Mconge rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: scifi

Wow!! Jeff continues to Make Avery Cates a legend. Best one yet and the ending blew me away, I never saw it coming. I can't wait until the Final Evolution comes out.

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May 13, 2013 Jason rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2013

This series has bounced between terrible and really fun, usually several times within each volume, but it seems to have finally bottomed out. Action was dull and often incoherent, story nonexistent, and the climax was a major let down.

I still enjoy the character, but this entire novel felt like filler.

I hate to be so hard on it, but it really wore thin.

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Feb 13, 2012 Derek rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian, science-fiction

Another healthy dose of Avery Cates!

I really enjoyed The Terminal State. The pace was crisp, the action sequences were top notch, and the introduction of new characters and multi-layered storylines kept things fresh and interesting. The ending was very entertaining, and it sets the stage perfectly for The Final Evolution.

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Nov 13, 2010 Alex Boothe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Once again, Jeff Somers does not disappoint! This completely satisfied the Avery Cates fix I needed! The only problem is that I will now have to wait a year for the next installment (sadly rumored to be the last) of the Avery Cates saga. If you're into the gritty, grimy nasty underbelly of the world, this is a series for you!

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May 24, 2013 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: scifi-dystopia-apocalypse, series

The Avery Cates I know and love! Filled with action and a twist I actually didn't suspect! Can't wait to read the final book in the series!

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Nov 11, 2010 Tawnya Smith added it

Awesome book, can't wait for the next one!

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Jun 19, 2013 Angelica Penteado marked it as to-read

Jun 18, 2013 Andrew Bernstein is currently reading it

Jun 17, 2013 Nick Sheridan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Jun 17, 2013 Doug rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jun 15, 2013 Zack marked it as to-read

Jun 15, 2013 Phillip rated it 5 of 5 stars

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About Jeff Somers

Born in Jersey City, NJ, Jeff has managed to migrate just five minutes away to nearby Hoboken, land of overpriced condominiums and a tavern on every corner. Between weekly drunks, Jeff manages to scrawl enough prose onto cocktail napkins and toilet paper to keep up a respectable fiction careeer."

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The Terminal State (Avery Cates #4)

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