Zeroes
Chuck
Wendig
I
approached this book really wanting to like it from the description,
which promised a fun near-future adventure with a misfit band of
characters. By and large, Wendig's novel delivers exactly that, with
standard technology-driven science fiction tropes blending seamlessly
with the fast-paced plotting of a thriller and a touch of horror here
and there. The technical elements are handled well for a
non-specialist audience (of which I am most definitely a part) and
the action is relatively easy to follow without an extensive computer
background; the plot alone is twisty enough to keep most readers
hooked regardless. The more graphic elements of the story come
somewhat by surprise and stand out, and though they work in the
context of the story readers may want to be aware going in that they
do pop up. More conventionally, Wendig plays to his strengths with
his core group of characters, who are a nice mix of quirks and
identities. I suspect that much of his audience will see themselves
within this group, mostly for the better. Though the book focuses
more on its characters and plot twists, with its science fiction
aspects acting more as a vehicle than a core, Wendig does explore
some intriguing ideas about artificial intelligence and hacking as a
pursuit with shifting and indefinite moral codes. The book's main
stumble comes with its framing device, particularly at the end of the
novel, where it comes seemingly out of nowhere and fails to connect
the requisite dots. Even if it is the opening to a potential sequel,
it makes little sense in the context of this book. Overall, however,
Zeroes is a fun
science fiction thriller that offers a different twist on some
familiar tropes and a pleasant enough reading experience.
Grade:
B+
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