Roberts Adam 05

Reviews & Overviews by Rod Cameron

Gradisil – Adam Roberts

Adam Roberts has written a number of science fiction novels, such as Salt and Polystom. They are usually based on original ideas, and Gradisil is no exception. It is a story of murder, betrayal and revenge seen through the eyes of three generations of the same family. It is set in the near future, and based on the premise that it is possible for wealthy individuals to travel out of the atmosphere into near space, and live in “tin cans”. Space exploration having been largely rejected by the USA, etc. due to it being an unjustifiable expense. Gradisil describes the early history of this new country of the Uplands, as seen through the eyes of a young girl and her descendants.
The characters are deeply flawed, so that as well as a “future history”, we have a tale of murder and revenge. The occupants of the Uplands struggle to remain free of the countries scrapping on the earth’s surface. This is an excellent novel, exploring the politics of the individual claiming the Uplands for themselves, and thereby experiencing the wrath of a super-power.

Publisher: Gollancz (Orion)
Date: 2006
Pages: 457 Pages
Price: £18.99
ISBN: 0-575-07587-2
Format: Hardback
Reviewed by: Rod Cameron
Date Reviewed: July 2006

Gradisil – Adam Roberts
Adam Roberts has written a number of science fiction novels, such as Salt and Polystom. They are usually based on original ideas, and Gradisil is no exception. It is a story of murder, betrayal and revenge seen through the eyes of three generations of the same family. It is set in the near future, and based on the premise that it is possible for wealthy individuals to travel out of the atmosphere into near space, and live in “tin cans”. Space exploration having been largely rejected by the USA, etc. due to it being an unjustifiable expense. Gradisil describes the early history of this new country of the Uplands, as seen through the eyes of a young girl and her descendants. The characters are deeply flawed, so that as well as a “future history”, we have a tale of murder and revenge. The occupants of the Uplands struggle to remain free of the countries scrapping on the earth’s surface. This is an excellent novel, exploring the politics of the individual claiming the Uplands for themselves, and thereby experiencing the wrath of a super-power.
Publisher: Gollancz (Orion) Date: 2006 Pages: 457 Pages Price: £18.99 ISBN: 0-575-07587-2 Format: Hardback Reviewed by: Rod Cameron Date Reviewed: July 2006