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The Bosch: A Novella
The Bosch is a short novella of 21,000 words, written after nightmares about a far future biotech world and subsequently leafing through a Hieronymus Bosch art book. Set in a far future after the Polity of my books has passed into history, The Bosch tells the story of how, when your biotechnology is sufficiently advanced, you can create the monsters others only imagined. When you are the ruler of a world, based on such tech, and have lived for thousands of years, perhaps you have become numb to mere human concerns. But a crime has been committed and restitution must be made, by raising the Bosch.
80 pages, Paperback
Published April 28, 2020
94 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
About the author
Neal Asher
145 books3,076 followersI’ve been an engineer, barman, skip lorry driver, coalman, boat window manufacturer, contract grass cutter and builder. Now I write science fiction books, and am slowly getting over the feeling that someone is going to find me out, and can call myself a writer without wincing and ducking my head. As professions go, I prefer this one: I don’t have to clock-in, change my clothes after work, nor scrub sensitive parts of my body with detergent. I think I’ll hang around.
Source: http://www.blogger.com/profile/139339...
Source: http://www.blogger.com/profile/139339...
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September 22, 2020Previously Unpublished.
August 2, 2020
Bosch was the artist who painted Garden of earthly delights on my favourite paintings of Hell he created creatures that have inspired meany books such as Lovecraft. Here long after The Poiity has gone is the world's left behind.
This only novella but like most Asher he has slammed into small space with to tecno hammers bloody crime of rape and horror that screams of Lovecraft. I recommend that you buy it before goes puff and ends up out of print costing lot
This only novella but like most Asher he has slammed into small space with to tecno hammers bloody crime of rape and horror that screams of Lovecraft. I recommend that you buy it before goes puff and ends up out of print costing lot
January 12, 2024
This is a Neal Asher novella, with all the welcome hallmarks of such.
If you've read Asher's work you know what to expect. Cool tech, some impressive firefights, some very nice 'splosions and his usual consummate worldbuilding. I've read a pile of Asher's books, and he always tells a solid yarn. In The Bosch he packs a hell of a lot into 21,000 words, spinning a compelling story with some very memorable set pieces.
Far in the future, far from Earth, some people have come to Yoon's world. She's been there a long time, so long in fact that she has kind of forgotten who she is, living among the sea creatures of her strange land.
When these people abduct her from the beach, then brutally assault her in the most vicious and calculating way, they kick off a process that will begin with Yoon rediscovering herself, and end with her seeking vengeance in the most terrible manner.
Her assailants have made a grave mistake, as Yoon is more than just a person - she is the founder and avatar of the world she lives on, possessed of enormous power over herself and the planet she calls her own.
And so we follow her on her mission of vengeance.
And what a vengeance it is. The titular Bosch are monstrous creations of hers, creatures of legend on her world, and with them and an off-world companion in tow we go on a tour of Yoon's strange world, catching glimpses of the strange galaxy beyond and the politics she has been drawn into.
This is a hell of a fun read, something you could knock off in an afternoon over a couple of pots of tea. If you're looking for something fun, pacey and bite-sized you can't go wrong with The Bosch.
Four monstrous bio-tech horrors out of five.
If you've read Asher's work you know what to expect. Cool tech, some impressive firefights, some very nice 'splosions and his usual consummate worldbuilding. I've read a pile of Asher's books, and he always tells a solid yarn. In The Bosch he packs a hell of a lot into 21,000 words, spinning a compelling story with some very memorable set pieces.
Far in the future, far from Earth, some people have come to Yoon's world. She's been there a long time, so long in fact that she has kind of forgotten who she is, living among the sea creatures of her strange land.
When these people abduct her from the beach, then brutally assault her in the most vicious and calculating way, they kick off a process that will begin with Yoon rediscovering herself, and end with her seeking vengeance in the most terrible manner.
Her assailants have made a grave mistake, as Yoon is more than just a person - she is the founder and avatar of the world she lives on, possessed of enormous power over herself and the planet she calls her own.
And so we follow her on her mission of vengeance.
And what a vengeance it is. The titular Bosch are monstrous creations of hers, creatures of legend on her world, and with them and an off-world companion in tow we go on a tour of Yoon's strange world, catching glimpses of the strange galaxy beyond and the politics she has been drawn into.
This is a hell of a fun read, something you could knock off in an afternoon over a couple of pots of tea. If you're looking for something fun, pacey and bite-sized you can't go wrong with The Bosch.
Four monstrous bio-tech horrors out of five.
May 1, 2020
This is a very gripping and entrancing story, and at 2€76 (e-book) for 59 pages it is well worth the purchase, and is so engrossing it invites binge-reading in one sitting.
In discussing science fiction stories about vastly superior alien intelligences or about far future civilisations it is customary to cite Clarke’s Third Law: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”. This law applies to the enunciative content of a story, and signals a tendency towards the convergence of SF and fantasy. One often forgets to state the corollary of this “law” at the level of enunciation: "Any story about a sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from myth, legend, fairy tale, or dream narrative".
THE BOSCH takes place in a far future, “post-Polity”, i.e. in the same universe as Asher’s Polity cycle, but long after the Polity itself has been and gone. It takes place on a planet with at least two moons, a Red Moon and a Green Moon. So not on Earth as we know it. The two moons Green and Red may symbolise two aspects of the Goddess of this planet, a “Nature” Goddess that corresponds to Gaia for Earth. Her name is “Yoon”. This is the first word of the novella: “Yoon swims towards the lake of the Progenitors”.
(Note on pronunciation: “Yoon” rhymes with “Moon”, but given the prominence of bio-technology, one could also pronounce “Yo-on”, to rhyme with the Greek “zo-on”).
Yoon, a seemingly beautiful young woman, then surfaces from the “pellucid waters” she is swimming in, onto a beautiful beach and all around is pristine and beautiful. However very rapidly this innocence (Green) is violated by a gang of of outworlders, and an inexorable, implacable quest for vengeance ensues (Red). These transgressors have violated a Goddess consubstantial with the planet itself, as we soon learn, but as we should have realised from from the realised first paragraph: “She encompasses the world and it lies within her”.
Yoon goes from mode Green to mode Red, and conjures up (i.e. biotechnically engineers) some very creepy monsters, called the “Bosch” as they resemble characters straight from a Hieronymous Bosch painting, and “Retribution” is sought. The Goddess is a scientific wonder but also an artistic masterpiece, and her retribution will be a scientific lesson in poetic justice, and also in diplomatic relations – for she is also the Sovereign political agent of the planet.
The plot plays out like a Greek myth embedded in a Tragedy embedded in a Lovecraftian horror embedded in a noir detective story embedded in a planetary opera embedded in a nightmare. On her quest for retribution Yoon is more like a Terminator than the naive Venus of the opening paragraphs.
The novella’s story is one of beauty, sex, love, and violence (in fact mostly violence), and the sense of wonder that far future world-building provides, when done well. It is full of ideas, embedded in striking images and teaseful twists. The waves of invention (Asher’s own Green) maintain the same frenetic cadence as the gusts of violence (Asher’s Red). Catharsis ensues.
In discussing science fiction stories about vastly superior alien intelligences or about far future civilisations it is customary to cite Clarke’s Third Law: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”. This law applies to the enunciative content of a story, and signals a tendency towards the convergence of SF and fantasy. One often forgets to state the corollary of this “law” at the level of enunciation: "Any story about a sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from myth, legend, fairy tale, or dream narrative".
THE BOSCH takes place in a far future, “post-Polity”, i.e. in the same universe as Asher’s Polity cycle, but long after the Polity itself has been and gone. It takes place on a planet with at least two moons, a Red Moon and a Green Moon. So not on Earth as we know it. The two moons Green and Red may symbolise two aspects of the Goddess of this planet, a “Nature” Goddess that corresponds to Gaia for Earth. Her name is “Yoon”. This is the first word of the novella: “Yoon swims towards the lake of the Progenitors”.
(Note on pronunciation: “Yoon” rhymes with “Moon”, but given the prominence of bio-technology, one could also pronounce “Yo-on”, to rhyme with the Greek “zo-on”).
Yoon, a seemingly beautiful young woman, then surfaces from the “pellucid waters” she is swimming in, onto a beautiful beach and all around is pristine and beautiful. However very rapidly this innocence (Green) is violated by a gang of of outworlders, and an inexorable, implacable quest for vengeance ensues (Red). These transgressors have violated a Goddess consubstantial with the planet itself, as we soon learn, but as we should have realised from from the realised first paragraph: “She encompasses the world and it lies within her”.
Yoon goes from mode Green to mode Red, and conjures up (i.e. biotechnically engineers) some very creepy monsters, called the “Bosch” as they resemble characters straight from a Hieronymous Bosch painting, and “Retribution” is sought. The Goddess is a scientific wonder but also an artistic masterpiece, and her retribution will be a scientific lesson in poetic justice, and also in diplomatic relations – for she is also the Sovereign political agent of the planet.
The plot plays out like a Greek myth embedded in a Tragedy embedded in a Lovecraftian horror embedded in a noir detective story embedded in a planetary opera embedded in a nightmare. On her quest for retribution Yoon is more like a Terminator than the naive Venus of the opening paragraphs.
The novella’s story is one of beauty, sex, love, and violence (in fact mostly violence), and the sense of wonder that far future world-building provides, when done well. It is full of ideas, embedded in striking images and teaseful twists. The waves of invention (Asher’s own Green) maintain the same frenetic cadence as the gusts of violence (Asher’s Red). Catharsis ensues.
October 1, 2020
I'm torn about this:
I liked reading it, was very well entertained. It's basically a far future genetics meets rape revenge story...
So from that perspective it's Asher at his best.
I felt though that the use of Hieronymus Bosch 'characters', I guess from his Garden of Delights triptych, was somehow a bit contrived. While it worked, in terms of 'character' building and gave great colour and flavour, I never understood 'why'. I.e. why not just some random 'monster'...
What really PISSED ME OFF is the non existent editing, typos and bad grammar. While I appreciate that authors need to earn money and it is good to cut publishers out of the pictures this feels like no-one, not even Asher, proof-read it or gave it a sense check.
I feel this reeks of contempt for the read :(
I liked reading it, was very well entertained. It's basically a far future genetics meets rape revenge story...
So from that perspective it's Asher at his best.
I felt though that the use of Hieronymus Bosch 'characters', I guess from his Garden of Delights triptych, was somehow a bit contrived. While it worked, in terms of 'character' building and gave great colour and flavour, I never understood 'why'. I.e. why not just some random 'monster'...
What really PISSED ME OFF is the non existent editing, typos and bad grammar. While I appreciate that authors need to earn money and it is good to cut publishers out of the pictures this feels like no-one, not even Asher, proof-read it or gave it a sense check.
I feel this reeks of contempt for the read :(
November 9, 2020
I like this cover. I would have elected for maybe a stroke, especially on the back cover for the white lettering only because it would make it easier to read. Overall, the cover does it’s job well and it does so with bifurcation of light in the form of art.
The Progenitor has arrived. Man, oh man. Let me start off by saying – If this is anything like the future, equip me with a gamma death ray, caliber 4 miles wide. This novella, titled The Bosch is really something else, let me tell you. I have read some other hard science fiction, namely Neuromancer by William Gibson, but that book didn’t sit too well with me. Thankfully, I didn’t let that fact set the stage in my mind for other works of hard science fiction because this little book knocked my socks off in a special kind of way.
I purchased this book in light of the fact that a couple of blogs I follow also posted favorable Asher reviews. Bookstooge’s Reviews on the Road and Re-enchantment Of The World. It was a test of the water from Asher for me and I will venture into his other works as well, at some point.
This book is like an advanced, R rated ( possibly NC-17 ) No Man’s Sky and also reminded me of the movie Blood Machines just because everything is so thick. Asher’s writing is concise and to the point; he makes a point not to dual complicate things seeing as we are set far, far into the future. The writing is pulpy, gritty, concise, omnipotent, thoughtful of the reader, occasionally humorous in a distant way and unique. In fact, sometimes things are stated in the most simple way possible.
Then, there is the advanced, biological life-form discovery channel content which was equally shocking as it was intriguing and goes into great detail ( with sexual organs ). Also, other parts of the book were very sexual, mentioning organs and everything in relations to what I assume are human characters.
Another thing that should be mentioned is that this book has been published by Asher himself in a series titled Far Future Polity ( currently only a one book series ). Most his other books have been picked up by publishing companies. And, although I really didn’t mind – there wasn’t a lot of effort or though put into the formatting of this book and the whole story takes place without chapters. The upside is that if I were eating sauced chicken wings while reading, there’s plenty of space in top, bottom and outside margins around the words that I wouldn’t have to worry about obfuscating the message in the book.
The only thing I can say that is negative is that I wish the author made more focus toward important parts of the story for emphasis, because if you aren’t paying 100 percent attention you could miss important details.
Recommendation:
If you like gritty, pulpy, wet, dripping, dark other-worldy hard science fiction and don’t mind topics surrounding sexual violation, then give this book a go. I found it an honor to read and the writing to be excellent; a breath of toxicity of a good kind. Very entertaining and I give this book ★★★★☆ four stars out of five.
Guys, until next time – may you find all the happiness that your life can fit in it’s happy spot – S.D. McKinley
The Progenitor has arrived. Man, oh man. Let me start off by saying – If this is anything like the future, equip me with a gamma death ray, caliber 4 miles wide. This novella, titled The Bosch is really something else, let me tell you. I have read some other hard science fiction, namely Neuromancer by William Gibson, but that book didn’t sit too well with me. Thankfully, I didn’t let that fact set the stage in my mind for other works of hard science fiction because this little book knocked my socks off in a special kind of way.
I purchased this book in light of the fact that a couple of blogs I follow also posted favorable Asher reviews. Bookstooge’s Reviews on the Road and Re-enchantment Of The World. It was a test of the water from Asher for me and I will venture into his other works as well, at some point.
This book is like an advanced, R rated ( possibly NC-17 ) No Man’s Sky and also reminded me of the movie Blood Machines just because everything is so thick. Asher’s writing is concise and to the point; he makes a point not to dual complicate things seeing as we are set far, far into the future. The writing is pulpy, gritty, concise, omnipotent, thoughtful of the reader, occasionally humorous in a distant way and unique. In fact, sometimes things are stated in the most simple way possible.
Then, there is the advanced, biological life-form discovery channel content which was equally shocking as it was intriguing and goes into great detail ( with sexual organs ). Also, other parts of the book were very sexual, mentioning organs and everything in relations to what I assume are human characters.
Another thing that should be mentioned is that this book has been published by Asher himself in a series titled Far Future Polity ( currently only a one book series ). Most his other books have been picked up by publishing companies. And, although I really didn’t mind – there wasn’t a lot of effort or though put into the formatting of this book and the whole story takes place without chapters. The upside is that if I were eating sauced chicken wings while reading, there’s plenty of space in top, bottom and outside margins around the words that I wouldn’t have to worry about obfuscating the message in the book.
The only thing I can say that is negative is that I wish the author made more focus toward important parts of the story for emphasis, because if you aren’t paying 100 percent attention you could miss important details.
Recommendation:
If you like gritty, pulpy, wet, dripping, dark other-worldy hard science fiction and don’t mind topics surrounding sexual violation, then give this book a go. I found it an honor to read and the writing to be excellent; a breath of toxicity of a good kind. Very entertaining and I give this book ★★★★☆ four stars out of five.
Guys, until next time – may you find all the happiness that your life can fit in it’s happy spot – S.D. McKinley
March 24, 2024
What a weird book. It's packed with dense verbiage, and graphic carnage. The sci-fi world is rich and confusing all at the same time. I'm a fan.
April 20, 2025
DAS BOSCH!! Actually... Not really. While this is a well done story addressing a major issue (for which I really dig his solution), the story didn't really meet expectations. The Bosch were not nearly as impressive as I've come to expect from Asher; the Gabbleduck for instance, was more menacing, though I don't think it was intended to be. Or if you want truly Nasty there's the forensic AI, the BROCKLE
December 23, 2020
Really interesting concepts - a bioengineered goddess, creatures of death designed to avenge their creation, etc - and some cool action and twists for such a short novella. I thought the sex scenes were essentially unnecessary and clumsily written though: "slides her arse up to his face and offers a wet slot" being a particularly cringe-worthy line that I found jarring (you're welcome). Additionally, I'm dubiously ambivalent about the way the rape was written - it seems too obviously written by a male author, making the perspective (female victim) rather awkward. With that said, the male character, Petod, was strangely 2D. Still, I'll be generous and give it four stars since some of the problems are endemic to the genre and the concepts were strong enough to make part of me wish the novella was longer. I'd hesitatingly recommend it as a quick sci-fi romp to those comfortable with (and aware of) the issues mentioned above.
Unfortunately, this edition seems to have some printing errors; nothing major, but occasional spelling and grammar mistakes that shouldn't have made it through the editing process.
Unfortunately, this edition seems to have some printing errors; nothing major, but occasional spelling and grammar mistakes that shouldn't have made it through the editing process.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2020
A story masquerading as a novella. It may be the prologue of a new fictional Universe by Asher. After pradors, gabbleducks, haimans, hoopers, the author cannot shock with his new chimeras. These biological horrors are dreamed up from the macabre creation of Hieronymus Bosch "The Garden of Earthly Delights"
The Plague Doctor squats by one wall holding a flat slab of rock it scribes with one claw with a sinister clicking and screeing. Cowfish and Bird stand face to face, heads pressing together as if communing, while Catape grooms itself, licking its fur and making a sawing sound like a purr, but like one from the darkness where a big cat is watching.For the creation of weird lifeforms Asher has no parallel.
January 27, 2022
Maybe it’s time we move past rape as a character motivator?
July 21, 2025
This is a very quick read. Ashers books are always well paced but putting this much story into so few words is quite remarkable. A terrible crime was committed on the forgotten and forgetful ruler of the world, and only after reclaiming her memory was Yoon able to find retribution and judgement.
Yoon is remote and inhuman but is paired with an everyman who reflects the readers emotions through much of the story. The tale tells that even near omniscience doesn't solve all problems but it does give you a way to find vengeance if that is needed. By reaching into her own history, Yoon, is able to create terrible monsters to aid her, things so forgotten that they are mere legends to the people who currently live there.
At the end the reader is left to make their own judgements of if it was worth it or not, and furthermore what will happen next. Will Yoon relapse into forgetfulness and let things take their course or will she return to engagement with the settlers on her world.
Anyway, I always enjoy visiting the Polity even in the super far future when the Polity has faded away. If you enjoy any other Asher books you will probably enjoy this one too. Just... bring a second book along with you on your trip because this one will go fast.
Yoon is remote and inhuman but is paired with an everyman who reflects the readers emotions through much of the story. The tale tells that even near omniscience doesn't solve all problems but it does give you a way to find vengeance if that is needed. By reaching into her own history, Yoon, is able to create terrible monsters to aid her, things so forgotten that they are mere legends to the people who currently live there.
At the end the reader is left to make their own judgements of if it was worth it or not, and furthermore what will happen next. Will Yoon relapse into forgetfulness and let things take their course or will she return to engagement with the settlers on her world.
Anyway, I always enjoy visiting the Polity even in the super far future when the Polity has faded away. If you enjoy any other Asher books you will probably enjoy this one too. Just... bring a second book along with you on your trip because this one will go fast.
November 29, 2020
Novella's don't get better than this in my opinion. Action, a good guy, a bad guy, a twist or two and a satisfactory ending, all wrapped up in Asher-vision sci fi. Bring it on!
The novella came together when looking at some Hieronymus Bosch artwork with the memory of a nightmare of a future biotech world still fresh in his mind (according to the blurb on the back of the book).
If you look at some of Bosch's artwork, particularly the 'Garden of Earthly Delights', then this makes it easy to imagine the nightmarish creatures that appear in this book.
You don't need to have read any of Asher's previous works to read this, it's a pretty much stand alone novella, with just brief mentions of the Polity (it is set in the far future after the Polity has passed into history).
The 'good guy' of the story is a planetary 'gaia' figure of a biotech world, just minding her own business and her own world. The villain is an outsider willing to commit any atrocity to serve political ends. It's basically a battle of advanced biotech against traditional (though advanced) tech.
Basically it's just a good old fashioned sci fi romp. And I loved it.
The novella came together when looking at some Hieronymus Bosch artwork with the memory of a nightmare of a future biotech world still fresh in his mind (according to the blurb on the back of the book).
If you look at some of Bosch's artwork, particularly the 'Garden of Earthly Delights', then this makes it easy to imagine the nightmarish creatures that appear in this book.
You don't need to have read any of Asher's previous works to read this, it's a pretty much stand alone novella, with just brief mentions of the Polity (it is set in the far future after the Polity has passed into history).
The 'good guy' of the story is a planetary 'gaia' figure of a biotech world, just minding her own business and her own world. The villain is an outsider willing to commit any atrocity to serve political ends. It's basically a battle of advanced biotech against traditional (though advanced) tech.
Basically it's just a good old fashioned sci fi romp. And I loved it.
March 21, 2025
Great story of the distant future
Science fiction writers rarely write about the rest ally different future. The tend to extrapolate present trends into the near or moderately far future, and there is nothing wrong with that. But setting a story in the really distant future takes great imagination. In this novella, Asher nails it. Set well after his Polity novel the story centers on a godlike being who is raped and battered, and must take revenge. She seeks her four assailants with the hep of four creatures out of a HeronymousBosch painting and uses semi a mystical powers. (or is it super advanced technology?) to pursue her quarry through a very odd world. First rate world-building.
Science fiction writers rarely write about the rest ally different future. The tend to extrapolate present trends into the near or moderately far future, and there is nothing wrong with that. But setting a story in the really distant future takes great imagination. In this novella, Asher nails it. Set well after his Polity novel the story centers on a godlike being who is raped and battered, and must take revenge. She seeks her four assailants with the hep of four creatures out of a HeronymousBosch painting and uses semi a mystical powers. (or is it super advanced technology?) to pursue her quarry through a very odd world. First rate world-building.
July 9, 2020
A great bit of vengeance
A great bit of vengeance from what is basically the god of her world. This she god is ancient. A Sleeping progenitor now awaken to do bad things with creatures made from nightmares. By the end she is somehow finding a freshed take on life. Reborn and maybe returning to the world with a fresh zeal.
Well worth the quick read.
Felt a little like a vengeful Alice waking from a very very very dark dream.
A great bit of vengeance from what is basically the god of her world. This she god is ancient. A Sleeping progenitor now awaken to do bad things with creatures made from nightmares. By the end she is somehow finding a freshed take on life. Reborn and maybe returning to the world with a fresh zeal.
Well worth the quick read.
Felt a little like a vengeful Alice waking from a very very very dark dream.
August 3, 2020
What the fuck is wrong with this guy?! The sentences seem like they were written (and edited!!) drunk. There are a lot of words that don’t belong like “is” and “his” mixed up and “of”’s where they shouldn’t be. But a lot of times the sentences are just incomprehensible, not clear whether a word is a noun or a verb. I don’t like this.
Also I don’t like thousand-year-old gods behaving like mere humans.
Also I don’t like thousand-year-old gods behaving like mere humans.
May 20, 2023
Neal is a great author.
I love how inventive he is.
The worlds he can build.
and the characters he creates.
This novella contains these elements.
There are fascinating technology, characters and a civilization.
Yet it feels like it was written on a cocaine marathon.
Uneven and in desperate need of an editor.
Certain passages are difficult to follow due to errors.
I am still glad I read it.
I love how inventive he is.
The worlds he can build.
and the characters he creates.
This novella contains these elements.
There are fascinating technology, characters and a civilization.
Yet it feels like it was written on a cocaine marathon.
Uneven and in desperate need of an editor.
Certain passages are difficult to follow due to errors.
I am still glad I read it.
May 2, 2024
Some interesting ideas, but hampered by Asher's continued use of stilted language for all of his dialogue. There's seldom even a contraction, much less any slang. Everyone speaks like machines speaking a programming language, precise and exact, but almost completely devoid of the way people actually speak. And it's just as true for the run of the mill mercs as it is for the god in human form, who at least might have had an excuse.
October 10, 2020
Great story
Neal, really looking forward to more “short” stories from you! I loved the Bosch (but maybe not quite as much as hooders and maybe I don’t want them as pets this time). As always great ideas and a slick story line. Another one I’d love to see in filmic form. Keep ‘em coming please!
Neal, really looking forward to more “short” stories from you! I loved the Bosch (but maybe not quite as much as hooders and maybe I don’t want them as pets this time). As always great ideas and a slick story line. Another one I’d love to see in filmic form. Keep ‘em coming please!
October 24, 2020
Yet ANOTHER exciting content rich novella!
Neals polity is the bomb! Everything he writes puts me into the scene and the stories never get boring. It's like your favorite show, the characters, new and old, are defined and made real. You're left eagerly waiting for the next episode.
Neals polity is the bomb! Everything he writes puts me into the scene and the stories never get boring. It's like your favorite show, the characters, new and old, are defined and made real. You're left eagerly waiting for the next episode.
December 22, 2020
It’s good. Not his best.
I like Asher a lot, and this book is good, but honestly not his best work. Even setting aside some typos, the plot and character development are lacking in some aspects.
I did enjoy the Plague Doctor immensely. Not so much some of the other characters. The imagery is his strong suite and Asher does not disappoint with this work.
I like Asher a lot, and this book is good, but honestly not his best work. Even setting aside some typos, the plot and character development are lacking in some aspects.
I did enjoy the Plague Doctor immensely. Not so much some of the other characters. The imagery is his strong suite and Asher does not disappoint with this work.
June 5, 2021
Badly needs copy editing. Reads like a sketch.
I’ll buy anything from Neal Asher to support him and thank him for all the great stories, but this just seems lazy and disrespectful to buyers and readers. How difficult can it be to proof a manuscript? Or spend a little effort developing some dialogue? A shame...
I’ll buy anything from Neal Asher to support him and thank him for all the great stories, but this just seems lazy and disrespectful to buyers and readers. How difficult can it be to proof a manuscript? Or spend a little effort developing some dialogue? A shame...
September 14, 2021
3.5⭐ I enjoyed the story and even after I made a friend read it he's suggestion was that it would make a really good movie, which I agree with. the only problem is that it felt like a thesaurus was used to find the most complicated words possible. I felt like I was taken out of the story just so I could look up the meaning of a word.
October 3, 2021
Not sure on this one.
This is set after the fall of the Polity.
A revenge driven plot with monsters and tech.
Good action set pieces with the obligatory blood and gore, the sex scenes not so sure about them or if they were truly necessary.
A bit meh for me but I'll read almost anything by Asher, within reason.
This is set after the fall of the Polity.
A revenge driven plot with monsters and tech.
Good action set pieces with the obligatory blood and gore, the sex scenes not so sure about them or if they were truly necessary.
A bit meh for me but I'll read almost anything by Asher, within reason.
March 15, 2022
This is something of a brief diversion within Asher's Polity universe. A novella inspired, apparently, by a dream Asher had and just couldn't leave alone. It is a classic Asher Polity story in miniature with all his usual massively inventive biology, fast paced action and slightly gothic creepiness. A brilliant little novella!
June 19, 2020
A tale of biotech and revenge
I’m not excessively familiar with Asher’s Polity books, as I’ve only read Gridlinked, and so I feel like I might be missing something, but this is a pleasantly weird story in an interesting setting.
I’m not excessively familiar with Asher’s Polity books, as I’ve only read Gridlinked, and so I feel like I might be missing something, but this is a pleasantly weird story in an interesting setting.
July 1, 2020
Set in the future after the Polity is gone (although there are traces of its technology and legacies around), this is set on a world dominated by biotechnology. The protagonist is part of that world, and sets off to avenge a brutal assault and rape upon her invoking all the powers that she can draw upon. This is classic Asher storytelling; sex, violence, technology and a plot that twists around as the hunt for the offenders continues. I enjoyed it, but the set up may not be to all tastes.
July 12, 2020
Set in the polity universe but when the polity no longer exists (not specified why). Frankly, this is not Neal Asher's finest work. It's a perfectly readable novella but the characters and plot did not engage me. I feel so much more could have been done with the main character of the "goddess"
October 10, 2020
A short but compelling revenge tale on a post-human world. The premise might put some folks off and I wouldn't blame them, but the story executes well enough to permit it. Even for such a short work, it's world is filled with great ideas and the Bosch creatures are just great.
November 19, 2020
A story set so far in the future that even the Polity of his other novels is a distant memory, The Bosch mixes science fiction and horror in a story of one woman's quest for vengeance, and how there might just be more to it than there appears.
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