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Proxy
When Ray Thomas is hired to find the daughter of his sworn enemy, the private detective soon learns there's more to the illegal bio-implant technology known as proxy than body-swapping.
Proxy dealer Elijah wants to know who's trying to kill him, and how it's connected to a new kind of proxy that's hit the streets.
What they each discover on the streets of a near-future London crippled by multiple pandemics has the potential to change the course of civilisation...so long as they can stop the wrong people getting their hands on it first.
Proxy dealer Elijah wants to know who's trying to kill him, and how it's connected to a new kind of proxy that's hit the streets.
What they each discover on the streets of a near-future London crippled by multiple pandemics has the potential to change the course of civilisation...so long as they can stop the wrong people getting their hands on it first.
- GenresScience Fiction
340 pages, Hardcover
Published July 24, 2022
56 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Gary Gibson
52 books421 followersGary Gibson's first novel, Angel Stations, was published in 2004. Interzone called it "dense and involving, puzzling and perplexing. It's unabashed science fiction, with an almost "Golden Age" feel to it ..."
His second novel was Against Gravity in 2005; the Guardian described it as "building on current trends to produce a convincing picture of the world in 2096."
Stealing Light was first published in 2007, and garnered a wide range of positive reviews. The London Times called it: "A violent, inventive, relentlessly gripping adventure ... intelligently written and thought-provoking".
Stealing Light is the first volume in a four-book space opera, the final volume of which, Marauder, was published in 2013.
To date, Gary has written ten novels, most recently Extinction Game and its sequel, Survival Game.
His second novel was Against Gravity in 2005; the Guardian described it as "building on current trends to produce a convincing picture of the world in 2096."
Stealing Light was first published in 2007, and garnered a wide range of positive reviews. The London Times called it: "A violent, inventive, relentlessly gripping adventure ... intelligently written and thought-provoking".
Stealing Light is the first volume in a four-book space opera, the final volume of which, Marauder, was published in 2013.
To date, Gary has written ten novels, most recently Extinction Game and its sequel, Survival Game.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 5, 2022
Book Blog | Storygraph
Plot
Proxy follows a host of characters in a near-future London that has been ravaged by pandemics and a new druglike technology known as Proxy. Ray, a disgraced police officer turned private detective, is hired to look into the disappearance of a wealthy woman’s daughter but soon realises there is a lot more to the story than the disappearance. Proxy, and its new variant Hopscotch, is at the centre of this multi-POV story and brings this cast of questionable characters together in ways that intersect perfectly.
Characters
I do love a book that incorporates multiple POVs as you get to see events from different perspectives. Gary Gibson does a great job at using this technique in Proxy, albeit it being a little overwhelming to begin with as there are so many characters. This is one of those books where while some of the characters are pretty morally grey, there is a clear-cut good vs. evil vibe that I enjoyed seeing play out.
It took me a little while to realise that Ray is the main character as we aren’t introduced to him right away which I actually really liked. I found him to be a reliable narrator and I enjoyed him as the story’s protagonist. I found all of the characters to be realistic and very easy to connect with.
Isaac and Zero’s storyline was probably my favourite. I was slightly gutted that there wasn’t more of them as I found them to be incredibly interesting to get to know. I can find books with multiple storylines sometimes to be a little confusing and overly complicated but this author found a balance between characters with separate lives and having their lives and stories intersect in various ways.
Thoughts
I was contacted by Gary Gibson and sent a copy of Proxy and one of his other books, Echogenesis, so I didn’t really know what to expect going in as it wasn’t something I’d heard anything about before but I’m so happy I had that opportunity as Proxy is a fantastic work of science fiction. I found that it fits multiple science fiction sub-genres too so there is something in there for everyone. It has dystopian vibes and has a definite cyberpunk feel with the new technology.
I’m very impressed with the author’s storytelling ability. The first chapter intrigued me immediately. The author creates this wonderful sense of mystery almost straight away that continues throughout the book. I found myself constantly wanting to know what would happen next and how these characters would all eventually link up. The twists and turns definitely caught me off guard too which is always fun.
Even if you’re someone who isn’t into the very science-y type writing (don’t worry, I’m not either!), it’s very easy to skim those parts and not miss anything majorly important. That said, I found the science in this book to be very interesting. The premise of this book is so so interesting and I think Gary did a brilliant job.
Plot
Proxy follows a host of characters in a near-future London that has been ravaged by pandemics and a new druglike technology known as Proxy. Ray, a disgraced police officer turned private detective, is hired to look into the disappearance of a wealthy woman’s daughter but soon realises there is a lot more to the story than the disappearance. Proxy, and its new variant Hopscotch, is at the centre of this multi-POV story and brings this cast of questionable characters together in ways that intersect perfectly.
Characters
I do love a book that incorporates multiple POVs as you get to see events from different perspectives. Gary Gibson does a great job at using this technique in Proxy, albeit it being a little overwhelming to begin with as there are so many characters. This is one of those books where while some of the characters are pretty morally grey, there is a clear-cut good vs. evil vibe that I enjoyed seeing play out.
It took me a little while to realise that Ray is the main character as we aren’t introduced to him right away which I actually really liked. I found him to be a reliable narrator and I enjoyed him as the story’s protagonist. I found all of the characters to be realistic and very easy to connect with.
Isaac and Zero’s storyline was probably my favourite. I was slightly gutted that there wasn’t more of them as I found them to be incredibly interesting to get to know. I can find books with multiple storylines sometimes to be a little confusing and overly complicated but this author found a balance between characters with separate lives and having their lives and stories intersect in various ways.
Thoughts
I was contacted by Gary Gibson and sent a copy of Proxy and one of his other books, Echogenesis, so I didn’t really know what to expect going in as it wasn’t something I’d heard anything about before but I’m so happy I had that opportunity as Proxy is a fantastic work of science fiction. I found that it fits multiple science fiction sub-genres too so there is something in there for everyone. It has dystopian vibes and has a definite cyberpunk feel with the new technology.
I’m very impressed with the author’s storytelling ability. The first chapter intrigued me immediately. The author creates this wonderful sense of mystery almost straight away that continues throughout the book. I found myself constantly wanting to know what would happen next and how these characters would all eventually link up. The twists and turns definitely caught me off guard too which is always fun.
Even if you’re someone who isn’t into the very science-y type writing (don’t worry, I’m not either!), it’s very easy to skim those parts and not miss anything majorly important. That said, I found the science in this book to be very interesting. The premise of this book is so so interesting and I think Gary did a brilliant job.
September 19, 2022
I received an advance reader copy of Proxy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It’s difficult to read Proxy without the thought of COVID-19 and the spectre that lingers over the world. While the author's note at the beginning of the book mentions the crazy coincidence that it was written in the months leading to the outbreak, it’s not difficult to imagine ot being the first of the three pandemics leading to the near future Gibson presents.
But this isn’t a novel about a pandemic, it’s about a future world where a succession of pandemics has much of the world living in fear. One where corporations wield an ever-increasing amount of power, and one where a new technology named Proxy is used by people to transplant their consciousness into others' bodies, hijacking them for their own use. Proxy's future is a frightening one, but plausible, should we ever make similar technological discoveries.
The author presents a noir cyberpunk world where former police officer/current private investigator Ray Thomas follows the trail of the missing Stacy. As he follows the trail, he ends up deep in the world of these so-called proxies. Fans of cyberpunk or noir stories will love the book's world, its styling, and its engrossing plot. It hits all the hallmarks of its genres, and does so in a way that keeps the reader enthralled.
The book’s setting, a near-future version of London, is evocative, and the author treats the reader to a grimy world that feels lived in, and the narrative transports the reader there. The city is a character of its own, and it feels like the author knows the city intimately. I felt like I was part of this world, being able to see, hear and smell it all.
A large part of me feeling like I was part of the world was thanks to the characters. Its seven POV characters, each with their own threads, and its variety of other characters is a lot to keep track of. Proxy rewards a close reading.
With the number of characters, it's a testament to the author’s writing that they're all so memorable. Ray may be the book’s protagonist, but each character is wonderfully written. All the POV characters are rich enough that they could have been the book’s protagonist, or even its sole point of view character.
The book's dialogue is strong, and each character having sounds unique. Their differing characteristics complement each other, adding depth to the world. Each character sounds true to themselves, and they do so while also sounding true not only to Proxy’s world but also to its noir trappings.
As great as the dialogue is, the book's prose does the heavy lifting. Not only is it clear, concise, and easy to follow, it sets the book’s atmosphere and doesn’t let up. The descriptions of the world and its characters are thoroughly engaging, and it presents the sci-fi technology in a way that feels natural: as an extension of the world without drawing away from the story.
At the heart of any detective noir story is its mystery. The mystery is beautifully told, unfurling steadily over the course of the story. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, and the threads coalesce beautifully as it reaches its conclusion.
Proxy is a wonderful sci-fi story with a great hook, presented in a frighteningly realistic manner. But more than that, it is a great mystery that will have the reader eagerly turning the page. With a deep world and a cast of interesting characters, it comes together in a spectacular whole.
My full review will be available on my website from 7 October 2022. To read it, as well as my thoughts about the author's Echogenesis and a host of other reviews, click here.
It’s difficult to read Proxy without the thought of COVID-19 and the spectre that lingers over the world. While the author's note at the beginning of the book mentions the crazy coincidence that it was written in the months leading to the outbreak, it’s not difficult to imagine ot being the first of the three pandemics leading to the near future Gibson presents.
But this isn’t a novel about a pandemic, it’s about a future world where a succession of pandemics has much of the world living in fear. One where corporations wield an ever-increasing amount of power, and one where a new technology named Proxy is used by people to transplant their consciousness into others' bodies, hijacking them for their own use. Proxy's future is a frightening one, but plausible, should we ever make similar technological discoveries.
The author presents a noir cyberpunk world where former police officer/current private investigator Ray Thomas follows the trail of the missing Stacy. As he follows the trail, he ends up deep in the world of these so-called proxies. Fans of cyberpunk or noir stories will love the book's world, its styling, and its engrossing plot. It hits all the hallmarks of its genres, and does so in a way that keeps the reader enthralled.
The book’s setting, a near-future version of London, is evocative, and the author treats the reader to a grimy world that feels lived in, and the narrative transports the reader there. The city is a character of its own, and it feels like the author knows the city intimately. I felt like I was part of this world, being able to see, hear and smell it all.
A large part of me feeling like I was part of the world was thanks to the characters. Its seven POV characters, each with their own threads, and its variety of other characters is a lot to keep track of. Proxy rewards a close reading.
With the number of characters, it's a testament to the author’s writing that they're all so memorable. Ray may be the book’s protagonist, but each character is wonderfully written. All the POV characters are rich enough that they could have been the book’s protagonist, or even its sole point of view character.
The book's dialogue is strong, and each character having sounds unique. Their differing characteristics complement each other, adding depth to the world. Each character sounds true to themselves, and they do so while also sounding true not only to Proxy’s world but also to its noir trappings.
As great as the dialogue is, the book's prose does the heavy lifting. Not only is it clear, concise, and easy to follow, it sets the book’s atmosphere and doesn’t let up. The descriptions of the world and its characters are thoroughly engaging, and it presents the sci-fi technology in a way that feels natural: as an extension of the world without drawing away from the story.
At the heart of any detective noir story is its mystery. The mystery is beautifully told, unfurling steadily over the course of the story. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, and the threads coalesce beautifully as it reaches its conclusion.
Proxy is a wonderful sci-fi story with a great hook, presented in a frighteningly realistic manner. But more than that, it is a great mystery that will have the reader eagerly turning the page. With a deep world and a cast of interesting characters, it comes together in a spectacular whole.
My full review will be available on my website from 7 October 2022. To read it, as well as my thoughts about the author's Echogenesis and a host of other reviews, click here.
June 6, 2024
Very creative, but I got bored.
This is a very cleverly written book. I had trouble with the initial concept. It really didn’t have any science behind it, and it was hard to completely buy into.
There seemed to be so many problems with proxy and it felt too easy. Maybe if the author had sold us on the science of the idea or even the science fiction of the idea, maybe I would have made it through the beginning.
But even going along with the premise, I kind of just got bored of the characters. The plot is very interesting, the way that Gibson handles the various different people and various different bodies is clever enough that I was able to keep up. But there were so many people that I t was hard for me to invest in any of them.
Probably the people I would most likely have been interested in are the least prominent during the first 20 chapters of the book which is where I finally gave up and skipped to the end.
Character is super important in a book and I just couldn’t ever get super interested in any of them. The writing style is fairly smooth, the plot is interesting, but ultimately I gave up.
This is a very cleverly written book. I had trouble with the initial concept. It really didn’t have any science behind it, and it was hard to completely buy into.
There seemed to be so many problems with proxy and it felt too easy. Maybe if the author had sold us on the science of the idea or even the science fiction of the idea, maybe I would have made it through the beginning.
But even going along with the premise, I kind of just got bored of the characters. The plot is very interesting, the way that Gibson handles the various different people and various different bodies is clever enough that I was able to keep up. But there were so many people that I t was hard for me to invest in any of them.
Probably the people I would most likely have been interested in are the least prominent during the first 20 chapters of the book which is where I finally gave up and skipped to the end.
Character is super important in a book and I just couldn’t ever get super interested in any of them. The writing style is fairly smooth, the plot is interesting, but ultimately I gave up.
January 2, 2025
a thrilling and macabre tale
Well-written techno-thriller set in near future Great Britain. I find the basic premise of proxying rather disturbing. Also called “skin-swapping”, where you can literally walk around in another person’s skin, it can be hard to know if the person you are looking in the eye is really that person inside. Initially proxy was illegal but eventually became legitimate, however, the abuses of this technology are still rampant among all levels of society.
The conclusion, (caution- small spoiler ahead) of both the book and a couple of principal characters, is also disturbing, suggesting that proxying may be a necessary step in human evolution. That one of the main characters is a sentient AI is a central component of the story and leads to a conclusion that speculates on the evolution of AI and humanity.
The story took a while for me to be fully engaged, but eventually I couldn’t wait to find out how it all turned out.
Well-written techno-thriller set in near future Great Britain. I find the basic premise of proxying rather disturbing. Also called “skin-swapping”, where you can literally walk around in another person’s skin, it can be hard to know if the person you are looking in the eye is really that person inside. Initially proxy was illegal but eventually became legitimate, however, the abuses of this technology are still rampant among all levels of society.
The conclusion, (caution- small spoiler ahead) of both the book and a couple of principal characters, is also disturbing, suggesting that proxying may be a necessary step in human evolution. That one of the main characters is a sentient AI is a central component of the story and leads to a conclusion that speculates on the evolution of AI and humanity.
The story took a while for me to be fully engaged, but eventually I couldn’t wait to find out how it all turned out.
September 19, 2024
Smart Original Hard SF
Gary Gibson writes, as Golden Age SF writers like Arthur C. Clarke wrote, by extrapolating existing tendencies and technologies into an imagined future. The basic premise is similar to that of the Altered Carbon series in that an electronic chip containing an entire personality can be inserted into and direct a human body. Entwine that with an evolving AI, an involving detective/thriller plot, a post-multiple pandemic world that has recently survived a horrific unifying Korean War, and a psychotic trillionaire's plans to take over the planet, and Gibson has a pretty good mix to run with. Prior to Proxy, I had read his Echogenesis at a sitting. I did the same with this one. I'm now going to take a short break from Gary Gibson so that I can drag myself out of the house to enjoy the sunshine. However, I shall return!
Gary Gibson writes, as Golden Age SF writers like Arthur C. Clarke wrote, by extrapolating existing tendencies and technologies into an imagined future. The basic premise is similar to that of the Altered Carbon series in that an electronic chip containing an entire personality can be inserted into and direct a human body. Entwine that with an evolving AI, an involving detective/thriller plot, a post-multiple pandemic world that has recently survived a horrific unifying Korean War, and a psychotic trillionaire's plans to take over the planet, and Gibson has a pretty good mix to run with. Prior to Proxy, I had read his Echogenesis at a sitting. I did the same with this one. I'm now going to take a short break from Gary Gibson so that I can drag myself out of the house to enjoy the sunshine. However, I shall return!
May 27, 2024
I've been reading Mr. Gibsons books since 2004. And I have not been disappointed yet.
Some books are clearly better than others (my fav is Against Gravity), but I am Always having a great time.
And I was hugely entertained reading Proxy. This is proper Future Noir (Cyberpunk doen't fit the bill here), and I would like to know more!
Some books are clearly better than others (my fav is Against Gravity), but I am Always having a great time.
And I was hugely entertained reading Proxy. This is proper Future Noir (Cyberpunk doen't fit the bill here), and I would like to know more!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews