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Necropath (Bengal Station #1)
by
Eric Brown
Science fiction meets crime noir, as Jeff Vaughan, jaded telepath, employed by the spaceport authorities on Bengal Station, discovers a sinister cult that worships a mysterious alien god. We follow Vaughan as he attempts to solve the murders and save himself from the psichopath out to kill him. This is Eric Brown's triumphant return to hard SF.
Kindle Edition
Published
(first published January 1st 2008)
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Book Review: ‘Necropath’ by Eric Brown
Solaris, 2008
ISBN-13: 978 1 84416 602 2
414 pages
Have you ever wondered what it would really be like if we had telepathy? Unfortunately I can now recall neither the author nor the title, but a short story I read long ago dealt with that question. The lone telepath loathed all the human sewers he was forced to drink from. All the minds he met seemed nasty and dirty. He longed for another of his kind, a fellow telepath who might understand his pain and loneline...more
Solaris, 2008
ISBN-13: 978 1 84416 602 2
414 pages
Have you ever wondered what it would really be like if we had telepathy? Unfortunately I can now recall neither the author nor the title, but a short story I read long ago dealt with that question. The lone telepath loathed all the human sewers he was forced to drink from. All the minds he met seemed nasty and dirty. He longed for another of his kind, a fellow telepath who might understand his pain and loneline...more
My gut instinct told me to just put down the book about a chapter or two into this, but no no, I had to keep going, feeling bad that I'd started and cast aside too many books lately. This is definitely not worth the read, no matter how cool the title sounds. Also, I most certainly do not give a flying hoot what else happens on the Bengal Station to continue the "trilogy."
It's hard to put into words why I didn't like the book, but I think it might just come down to the lack of finesse in the writ...more
It's hard to put into words why I didn't like the book, but I think it might just come down to the lack of finesse in the writ...more
Aug 04, 2009
Jason
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-oct-2008-to-oct-2009,
favorites
Because I'm slightly obsessive, I researched a lot of different sites where people can write a review about books. I did this becuase the reviews here about Necropath were somewhat negative. I found that overall, most people at these other sites, Amazon, Chapters, etc, do not like this book much either.
I am confused as to why this is.
Necropath is a good book. It is not only good, it's close to great. What keeps it from being great are a few flaws here and there, but otherwise, Necropath has al...more
I am confused as to why this is.
Necropath is a good book. It is not only good, it's close to great. What keeps it from being great are a few flaws here and there, but otherwise, Necropath has al...more
Aug 31, 2010
Mark Zieg
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of B5's Garibaldi
Recommended to Mark by:
my kids
Necropath was, while simplistic and unchallenging, a fun little detective thriller set in a believably grim, dystopian future. If you were a fan of Babylon-5 and its cynically world-weary security chief Garibaldi, you'd feel right at home digging for clues among the back-alleys and criminal lowlife of Bengal Station's impoverished lower decks.
As much of the novel occurs in brothels and bars, with addicts and alcoholics mutually exploiting defenseless refugees in a Dickensian cycle of debt-slaver...more
As much of the novel occurs in brothels and bars, with addicts and alcoholics mutually exploiting defenseless refugees in a Dickensian cycle of debt-slaver...more
I like Eric Brown. His writing style is easy and enjoyable. NECROPATH is a good read but its not HELIX and its far from being as thought provoking as KETHANI, but also its just the first part of a trilogy, so it takes a lot of the book on setting what the next two parts would be based on, but thats only my guessing.
I have to say that while the main character is very cynical due to his ability [and understandably so] he is in a way very sympathetic, as well asmany of the other peripheral characte...more
I have to say that while the main character is very cynical due to his ability [and understandably so] he is in a way very sympathetic, as well asmany of the other peripheral characte...more
I had trouble rating this book. As a science fiction story, I give it a four. The world created was interesting and I found the characters compelling. As a mystery, it was about a two. At best. The plot was simplistic, and the b-plot just wasn't fleshed out enough to be believable.
I did find the pigdin of the street kids overdone, to the point of making me uncomfortable. And the cover is highly misleading. It took about a third of the book to realize that Bengal station was on Earth, not a space...more
I did find the pigdin of the street kids overdone, to the point of making me uncomfortable. And the cover is highly misleading. It took about a third of the book to realize that Bengal station was on Earth, not a space...more
The title of the book is a little misleading. Because of the name, it's not giving away anything to say that yes, there is a character who can speak to the "dead," but very little of the book actually deals with this activity. It's a murder-mystery whose riddle is best solved by someone with this uncommon ability. A very good, very quick read, and one in which I found myself becoming emotionally attached more to the ancillary characters than the protagonist. I'll definitely pick up others in thi...more
Necropath is Eric Brown's new SF novel from Solaris Books, billed as his triumphant return to hard SF. I'm not sure how to take that, but regardless of the sub-genre of his last book (Kethani), Necropath is certainly triumphant and well worth investing your time in!
Jeff Vaughan is a telepath working for a security company in Bengal Station, an interstellar port based near India and Thailand. A man with a dark and disturbing past, he thinks very little of his fellow humans due to his ability to r...more
Jeff Vaughan is a telepath working for a security company in Bengal Station, an interstellar port based near India and Thailand. A man with a dark and disturbing past, he thinks very little of his fellow humans due to his ability to r...more
I would call this book a mystery with a science fiction background. Jeff Vaughn is a telepath who works at Bengal Station, a spaceport in the Pacific Ocean. He is haunted by a tragedy in his past that is not revealed until the end of the book. He gets involved in a case involving a religious cult, smuggled drugs and murder. I really like the book, it was a good mystery with an interesting protagonist. I was definitely reminded of Blade Runner in the descriptions of the world.
Science fiction is a genre that I am almost wholly unfamiliar with (save for some major staples like Star Trek). As such I began this book not knowing what to expect. I must say that I found myself in a pleasantly familiar environment. The book played out like a mystery/fantasy, but in place of magic there existed machines, and fantastical environments were not found crossing dimensions but rather in moving to new galaxies. I enjoyed this book and I certainly do feel as though I shall look to br...more
I quite liked the premise of this originally but it all plays out in a very straightforward fashion. There are no real surprises or anything to lift this from the mundane. The only thing that makes this book in any way notable is the annoying central character who spends the entire book wallowing in self pity for some past crime over which he feels guilty.
Boring
Boring
Dec 29, 2011
edifanob
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
my-books,
2011-reads
Christmas gift from my daughter ...
When I look at the date I'm pretty sure that this was the last sf book I read and 2011 and it was a good one. I was not sure what to expect. I liked the mix of sf and crime noir a lot. This is definitely a character driven story. I did not matter for me that the story line was particularly predictable.
I look forward to read the rest of the trilogy
When I look at the date I'm pretty sure that this was the last sf book I read and 2011 and it was a good one. I was not sure what to expect. I liked the mix of sf and crime noir a lot. This is definitely a character driven story. I did not matter for me that the story line was particularly predictable.
I look forward to read the rest of the trilogy
I thought this book was a good sci-fi mystery. I did get a little confused (although that could be me!) with all the descriptions of the station and Bangkok and at one point, I thought Bangkok was another part of the station!!
I liked the characters and I'm looking forward to reading the next one just to see how he develops the character of Vaughn now.
I liked the characters and I'm looking forward to reading the next one just to see how he develops the character of Vaughn now.
Just finished this one. Has a very decent Richard K. Morgan (Altered Carbon) feel to it. Good Sci-Fi. Maybe a little Stephen Woodward too (Through Violet Eyes). Still processing it, and wondering how it turns into a trilogy, but then I wondered the same thing about the Morgan books too.
Jeff Vaughan is a telepath, one who has had his ability augmented, and now he uses it as a kind of freelance customs official, until one of his friends dies, and another is in danger, plus a weird cult has arrived...more
Jeff Vaughan is a telepath, one who has had his ability augmented, and now he uses it as a kind of freelance customs official, until one of his friends dies, and another is in danger, plus a weird cult has arrived...more
a sci-fi about the seedy underbelly of Indian (dot, not feather) society in the future. it's about the people and well done, but theres just too much nasty. too many details on the hardships of a 'working girls' life. i would rather be uplifted.
I won't be moving on in this series. The mystery was spelled out in such a way to make it pretty dull, and the protagonist was unlikable enough that I was actually hoping he might get killed along the way. Unfortunately, even in the climactic scene, there was never a real sense of peril.
this book was just ok, not great. the characters are well defined and the story line is good but for some reason it just didn't match up to grab my attention.
Good luck and have fun.
Good luck and have fun.
decent enough novel. enjoyed it and will probably get the others in the series.
a decent shout out form neal asher on this book thanks for the heads up. few problems with it, firstly the characters seemed a bit cardboard-ey so it took a bit of an effort to get tot like them, apart from that, it was decent enough, going to be interesting to see where this storyline takes them
a decent shout out form neal asher on this book thanks for the heads up. few problems with it, firstly the characters seemed a bit cardboard-ey so it took a bit of an effort to get tot like them, apart from that, it was decent enough, going to be interesting to see where this storyline takes them
I though this was a truly excellent novel. It had characters and situations I cared about, it moved me emotionally, it lured me in with a complex plot, it had a very interesting vision of the future, and it had a resolution that worked on multiple levels, it had tension, stress, I literally found myself reacting to the narrative verbally as I walked along the street, it basically had it all.
I don't usually use the full five stars, reserving that for true gems, but I loved this book, it was a tru...more
I don't usually use the full five stars, reserving that for true gems, but I loved this book, it was a tru...more
(audiobook) entertaining sci-fi. Felt like a space detective story. All 3 books kept me entertained.
Took a while to connect with the main character. Almost "put the book down" a couple of times, but in the end, there was some additional insight if not closure.
I liked it. Read all 3: Necropath, Xenopath and Cosmopath. You won't regret it. Nice ride.
Good Read -But really a whodunit
I have to say this was a fairly boring book. There were some moments that it was enjoyable, but, overall, I could not wait for it to end. I do not think I will be getting the other books in the Bengal Station series.
Some interesting ideas. I'm not convinced I liked the ending, but it suited.
Review forthcoming.
An interesting sci-fi detective novel that blended in a sweaty mix of Bangkok prostitutes, religion, drugs, the meaning of death, telepaths, space travel and aliens.
Some very good characters, although the great 'reveal' about the not very likeable main character Vaughan was a bit of a disappointment but perhaps there's more to find out in the later books, which I intend to read.
Some very good characters, although the great 'reveal' about the not very likeable main character Vaughan was a bit of a disappointment but perhaps there's more to find out in the later books, which I intend to read.
Dec 23, 2008
Scott
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
abandoned-due-to-boredom
I felt like I was missing some crucial background information as this book started. As I read further in, The main character was thoroughly unlikeable and the setting was depressing. The book had an atm,osphere of depression and desperation that I just could not hang with...it had to go.
I started this book, put it down when I got distracted by something shiny and only just picked it back up. Pretty good book; not a life changing event, but pretty darn good. I found at the end there are two sequels, but this book can stand on it own perfectly well.
Acceptable sf novel but I expected better. Set in the same universe with the earlier novel Penumbra there is nothing special about Necropath - just a competent mystery/sf
I am still on board for book 2 of the series but I expect a better book
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Eric Brown's first short story was published in _Interzone_ in 1987, and he sold his first novel, _Meridian Days_, in 1992. He has won the British Science Fiction Award twice for his short stories and has published forty books: SF novels, collections, books for teenagers and younger children, and he writes a monthly SF review column for the _Guardian_.
He is married to the writer and medievalist Fi...more
More about Eric Brown...
He is married to the writer and medievalist Fi...more
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Feb 10, 2011 07:21pm