Mindkiller [Paperback]

From this beginning idea (which has also been the subject of treatments by authors such as Larry Niven), Spider goes not just one, but several steps further. Seeing that this technology is just the beginning of deep research into how the mind and memory really work, he envisions that it would eventually lead to knowledge of how to erase selective memories, how to index and store them, and eventually how to transfer them from one person to another.

The story is wrapped around this idea, beginning from Joe, a man missing some of his own memories and totally hidden from society's identification systems, finding Karen, nearly dead, hooked to one of these pleasure tasps, and his slow succoring of her back to health. When they go on a crusade to destroy the maker of such hideously addictive devices, they stumble across information leading them to believe there is one man who controls not just these devices, but has the power to erase a person's memories at will, a power so immense, and so impossible to trace, that he can do anything he desires. As a parallel track, we follow the story of Norman, an assistant professor whose life is falling apart, from his marriage to his job, whose older sister mysteriously disappears one day, and his search for her. Spider does a good job of tying together these disparate threads, with a conclusion that may seem a little over-dramatic but which drives home his thematic points.

His themes deal with just how absolute power may not corrupt, but instead ennoble, but with an under-text of 'end justifying the means'; of a possible goal of really being able to understand how someone else feels by actually 'reading' their thoughts; of identity and right to privacy; of when and to whom loyalty should be given; and 'Chinese' obligations. Some of his thoughts on these subjects seemed a little facile to me, not completely thought through or all consequences investigated, but they are all, within the context of this story, very thought provoking.

Joe, Karen, and Norman are all very well realized characters, in many ways very reminiscent of some of Robert Heinlein's character types, which is not surprising as Spider honors Heinlein as one of his main mentors. These characters have strength, intelligence, and inner integrity; character traits that are rarely seen in many modern novels.

A good read, a few surprising twists along the way, but perhaps not a deep enough delve into the ethical and philosophical questions he raises to really make this an outstanding novel.

--- Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)

The theme of the book is 'wireheading' which is an electronic substitute for ecstasy inducing drugs. There is a bit more to it than that but the plot plods along pretty slowly with lots of irrelevant details. A trend that I noticed was that the author couldn't sustain a dialogue for more than a few sentences - at which point a paragraph of 'detail' would be inserted. I actually gave up on this book after 160 pages but later decided to read the last 86 pages as I had got so far. It wasn't particularly worth the effort, but it did bring together the two strands of the story.

I can't recommend this novel but I suppose some-one must like it, e.g. the guy who wrote "If I didn't think it understated his achievement, I'd nominate Spider Robinson, on the basis of this book, as the new Robert Heinlein" on the back cover. I just can't see that point of view - I think he's nothing like Heinlein. Maybe someone 'into' Cyberpunk would like it?