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Fox Meridian #3
DeathWeb
A serial killer has murdered eleven people over the last four years, the link between the crimes unnoticed until Fox Meridian’s AI personal assistant, Kit, makes the connection. The only thing which seems to connect the victims is LifeFit, a plug-in application which allows users to find virtual exercise companions over the most popular social network in the world, LifeWeb. All the victims vanished while out running, their bodies turning up days later. Every one of them has been tortured to death. The killer is back in New York after visiting Cape Town and Berlin, and the bodies are piling up.But as the investigation stalls with no clues to the mad man’s identity, Fox finds herself called upon by her estranged parents who want her to find a missing teenage girl who may have been kidnapped and taken into the wastelands of the Southern Protectorate.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 10, 2015
22 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Niall Teasdale
73 books293 followersI was born in the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall so perhaps a bit of history rubbed off. Ancient history obviously, and border history, right on the edge of the Empire. I always preferred the Dark Ages anyway; there’s so much more room for imagination when people aren’t writing down every last detail. So my idea of a good fantasy novel involved dirt and leather, not shining plate armour and Hollywood-medieval manners. The same applies to my sci-fi, really; I prefer gritty over shiny.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 4, 2016
I generally like Teasdale's books, despite the fact that they aren't especially realistic. Unfortunately, in this particular volume the problems become too large to ignore.
First, there is a major political subplot that's completely nonsensical if you actually know anything about America. We're supposed to believe that a move to allow localities to operate their own police forces is some kind of radical new initiative worthy of intense suspicion, when in fact that's exactly how policing has worked in the US since before the Revolution. Sorry, Teasdale, but you've got everything exactly backwards here.
Then we have Fox's parents. I still can't figure out if they're supposed to be classic liberal anarchists, or conservative small-government types, or libertarian anarcho-capitalists - because as far as I can tell Teasdale thinks these radically different movements are all the same group. A word of advice, Mr. Teasdale: if you're going to make American politics a topic in your stories, find a consultant who actually knows something about the subject.
But it isn't just the politics. We also have Fox's visit to a small rural community, in which she inevitably discovers that everyone she disapproves of is a criminal. We have the typical bible-thumping farmer who beats his wife and rapes his daughter, because why not use a lazy and inaccurate stereotype as a subplot? Of course the local watch group turns out to be a bunch of thugs and criminals, and the fact that their leader has a trophy wife tells us in advance that he's secretly a pedophile. It's all incredibly lazy. Anyone who disagrees with the protagonist's politics must be a criminal or a dupe, and the author can't even be bothered to come up with interesting crimes for them to be guilty of.
(I'm going to pass over the laughable bit about global warming magically turning the Midwest into a superdesert where unmodified humans can't survive and all permanent construction gets torn apart by tornadoes. That level of silliness is par for the course with Teasdale, and I've learned to ignore it the same way you don't question an action movie's plot too closely.)
Then we finally get to the main plot, a murder 'mystery' where the key clue is given away on the dust jacket and the identity of the murderer is obvious from the moment he's first mentioned. But Fox manages to spend half her scenes during the final manhunt sexing up her new beau while her AIs do all the detective work, so we're left wondering if she even cares about the result. Ho hum, another serial killer brought to justice.
...say, Fox? Why exactly do you think it's ok for you to keep a bunch of obviously sentient AIs as your personal slaves, anyway? Is this one of those 'it's legal, so it must be moral' things? Does treating them well make it alright? Or is it because their programmer gave them to you as a gift? Doesn't sound so cool when you think of it like that, does it?
Anyway, I have to recommend giving this one a pass. Hopefully the next book in the series will be better, and nothing happens in this book that will take you more than two pages to figure out if you skip it.
First, there is a major political subplot that's completely nonsensical if you actually know anything about America. We're supposed to believe that a move to allow localities to operate their own police forces is some kind of radical new initiative worthy of intense suspicion, when in fact that's exactly how policing has worked in the US since before the Revolution. Sorry, Teasdale, but you've got everything exactly backwards here.
Then we have Fox's parents. I still can't figure out if they're supposed to be classic liberal anarchists, or conservative small-government types, or libertarian anarcho-capitalists - because as far as I can tell Teasdale thinks these radically different movements are all the same group. A word of advice, Mr. Teasdale: if you're going to make American politics a topic in your stories, find a consultant who actually knows something about the subject.
But it isn't just the politics. We also have Fox's visit to a small rural community, in which she inevitably discovers that everyone she disapproves of is a criminal. We have the typical bible-thumping farmer who beats his wife and rapes his daughter, because why not use a lazy and inaccurate stereotype as a subplot? Of course the local watch group turns out to be a bunch of thugs and criminals, and the fact that their leader has a trophy wife tells us in advance that he's secretly a pedophile. It's all incredibly lazy. Anyone who disagrees with the protagonist's politics must be a criminal or a dupe, and the author can't even be bothered to come up with interesting crimes for them to be guilty of.
(I'm going to pass over the laughable bit about global warming magically turning the Midwest into a superdesert where unmodified humans can't survive and all permanent construction gets torn apart by tornadoes. That level of silliness is par for the course with Teasdale, and I've learned to ignore it the same way you don't question an action movie's plot too closely.)
Then we finally get to the main plot, a murder 'mystery' where the key clue is given away on the dust jacket and the identity of the murderer is obvious from the moment he's first mentioned. But Fox manages to spend half her scenes during the final manhunt sexing up her new beau while her AIs do all the detective work, so we're left wondering if she even cares about the result. Ho hum, another serial killer brought to justice.
...say, Fox? Why exactly do you think it's ok for you to keep a bunch of obviously sentient AIs as your personal slaves, anyway? Is this one of those 'it's legal, so it must be moral' things? Does treating them well make it alright? Or is it because their programmer gave them to you as a gift? Doesn't sound so cool when you think of it like that, does it?
Anyway, I have to recommend giving this one a pass. Hopefully the next book in the series will be better, and nothing happens in this book that will take you more than two pages to figure out if you skip it.
May 9, 2017
Solid SF pulp detective.
Things ge a bit obscure in this one. An unknown and will hidden serial killer is on the loos, but no-one really knows how he pics his victims. All Fox really knows is that all the victims went out for a run and that several days later their mangled corpses were found dumped and abandoned. Add a fair bit of politics, strained relations with law-enforcement and a new proposal to privatize policing in the US this will get interesting.
Oke this was a fun novel. I thought that the politics were quite interesting and well woven into the story. Combined with learning some of Fox's backstory this was an enjoyable novel.
Things ge a bit obscure in this one. An unknown and will hidden serial killer is on the loos, but no-one really knows how he pics his victims. All Fox really knows is that all the victims went out for a run and that several days later their mangled corpses were found dumped and abandoned. Add a fair bit of politics, strained relations with law-enforcement and a new proposal to privatize policing in the US this will get interesting.
Oke this was a fun novel. I thought that the politics were quite interesting and well woven into the story. Combined with learning some of Fox's backstory this was an enjoyable novel.
October 31, 2016
I had difficulty to understand the politic landscape, but it was ok when I took in count the world building the author did in the previous book. Always take account of the history, or else you won't understand a thing. The book visited problems classical to rural town and ambitious people, hmm but I didn't like how the romance shifted in this one. Too abrupt, too fast. that's why it doesn't get a five star lol. Passing to number 4!
February 10, 2016
Niall Teasdale completes the third as a winner.
Deathweb continues the story of Fox Meridian, her friends, and AI assistant, Kit. The fox jokes have all been done by now, and it feels like we're headed for the end of an arc. This may even be it.
Readers, if you like the writing, if you like techno-thillers, mysteries, sexy science fiction, or blue sky transhumanism of the 70s, then you'll like this series. Get the first two and dig in. Deathweb can stand by itself, but it's much better with all of the full build-up.
Not everything is sunshine and flowers but enough is: the murder mystery of the book has several twists, several characters get some plot closure, even one of the Jerk Cops gets to metaphorically pet a dog. Some of the bit characters have their time in the limelight, as well.
Honestly, Fox's rant at the end of the debate is a bookmarked moment of awesome. Fox's dislike of politics is mostly an informed ability throughout the series — we never really see her jump up and put her foot in her mouth. This is a case where she does so in a smart way, and justifies her feeling on the matter while still proving her competency.
All of this comes at some costs, however. Wrapping up this many plot threads feels hyperactive, where just enough to deliver the story is done, and that's it. Scenes jump between location and perspective frequently, and the third quarter of the book seems rushed. Several interesting plot arcs and threads could have used more development: Kit's increasingly human worry, the political situation with delegated voting, why the southerners are the way they are and who's responsible for their biomods, what's happening with Sam and Alice… well, the list could go on. I'm sure some of these will be covered in the next book.
The other possible concern, while potentially valid, I feel is much less of an issue. The Fox Meridian series is speculative near future fantasy, in the same vein as Shadowrun and TekWar. It's an alternate history that name drops real-life places and events. Remember, this is just a name collision — the New York and Topeka of Fox Meridian have about as much in common with those places now, as Seattle and Boston in Shadowrun have with their namesakes.
If you're looking for a fun read that's smart without being too deep, sexy without being raunchy, and transhuman without being inhuman, that read is here for you.
Deathweb continues the story of Fox Meridian, her friends, and AI assistant, Kit. The fox jokes have all been done by now, and it feels like we're headed for the end of an arc. This may even be it.
Readers, if you like the writing, if you like techno-thillers, mysteries, sexy science fiction, or blue sky transhumanism of the 70s, then you'll like this series. Get the first two and dig in. Deathweb can stand by itself, but it's much better with all of the full build-up.
Not everything is sunshine and flowers but enough is: the murder mystery of the book has several twists, several characters get some plot closure, even one of the Jerk Cops gets to metaphorically pet a dog. Some of the bit characters have their time in the limelight, as well.
Honestly, Fox's rant at the end of the debate is a bookmarked moment of awesome. Fox's dislike of politics is mostly an informed ability throughout the series — we never really see her jump up and put her foot in her mouth. This is a case where she does so in a smart way, and justifies her feeling on the matter while still proving her competency.
All of this comes at some costs, however. Wrapping up this many plot threads feels hyperactive, where just enough to deliver the story is done, and that's it. Scenes jump between location and perspective frequently, and the third quarter of the book seems rushed. Several interesting plot arcs and threads could have used more development: Kit's increasingly human worry, the political situation with delegated voting, why the southerners are the way they are and who's responsible for their biomods, what's happening with Sam and Alice… well, the list could go on. I'm sure some of these will be covered in the next book.
The other possible concern, while potentially valid, I feel is much less of an issue. The Fox Meridian series is speculative near future fantasy, in the same vein as Shadowrun and TekWar. It's an alternate history that name drops real-life places and events. Remember, this is just a name collision — the New York and Topeka of Fox Meridian have about as much in common with those places now, as Seattle and Boston in Shadowrun have with their namesakes.
If you're looking for a fun read that's smart without being too deep, sexy without being raunchy, and transhuman without being inhuman, that read is here for you.
April 2, 2016
The idea of people being selected as victims over an all-encompassing social network is good. The fact that we again have to deal with a serial killer, not too thrilling.
I still don't like the over-humanness of the AI Kit. In the Aneka Jansen series AIs were created by an alien race which was far more developed that humankind and thus their high level of development was believable. In Fox Meridian they are created by humans less than half a century from now. That makes the whole background difficult to believe.
I still don't like the over-humanness of the AI Kit. In the Aneka Jansen series AIs were created by an alien race which was far more developed that humankind and thus their high level of development was believable. In Fox Meridian they are created by humans less than half a century from now. That makes the whole background difficult to believe.
January 7, 2016
Just another amazing story for Fox. Really enjoyed the story.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews