Radix (The Radix Tetrad) [Kindle Edition]

I got this for free on the Kindle eBooks store, and it had no reviews, so I figured what the heck?

The first part was hard for me, I didn't like the main character at all, but the writing still drew me on without any effort on my part.
Soon I was completely drawn in to this epic. I'm only 58% of the way through this four book collection, but this has, for once, earned the the title of EPIC.

I've never seen such intense evolution of a character, especially with such great pacing. The story changes, and yet reconnects with earlier parts believably.

This is one of those rare stories that sucks me in and makes me want to read through to the end, skipping sleep until I'm done.

The Radix Tetrad is deeply immersive and well worth reading.

I first read "Radix" in the 1980s, picking it randomly off the shelf at a bookstore on my way to catch a plane. It remains - along with its companion novels, particularly "The Last Legends of Earth" - the single most profound and mind-stretching reading experience that I have ever had. It has even inspired much of my own creative work (music). I occasionally meet other people who have read it, and all we can do is look at each other knowingly.

What can I possibly say about Radix? I first read it back in the 80s. I was about 17 at the time. At the time, I thought it was weird (and I still do), but it also blew my mind – in a good way.

Did I identify with the protagonist, Sumner Kagan? Yes I did. He was a bigger guy than me but we were both overweight. Life sucked. He was a murder who went by the moniker Sugarat. I was a murderer in mind only and only when someone really pissed me off. After almost 30 years, I still occasionally thought about that book. It was recently rereleased and I decided to pick up the ebook and re-read it. I’m glad I did.

The book is completely mental. Imagine Harry Potter mixed with Blade Runner on acid. Maybe Harry Potter is a bad mix but there is a kind of magic in this very sci-fi novel.

Sumner Kagan is having a bad life. His dad died. His mom is a fortune teller loony. He’s fat and has no friends. He does, however, have pure genes.

This is a world where galactic radiation has mutated the people of Earth. Psychic powers abound but most are outlawed. Showing sings of them can get you killed. There is some kind of disembodied mentalities that are reborn in a certain part of the populace.

Sumner mostly just wants to have sex and kill the people who don’t like him. He doesn’t start off as a likeable guy and, honestly, never really achieves that state. He is a sympathetic character, though,a nd by the end you will be rooting for him.

You can find more details on the web. The book and the author have their own wikipedia sites. What I do want to say is that this is an excellent book to read twice, seperated by 30 years. I have a much harder time identifying with this person. I certainly don’t find myself wishing I was him or that I could be like him. I think I have somewhat of a better understanding of my younger self by rereading it. As a teen, I was moved and affected by this book.

Do I recommend this bok? Heck yes. It’s an awesome read. You can get it as an ebook for just $2.99. That is way less than what it is worth. Will I read it again? I don’t think so. Maybe in 30 years but not any time sooner. I did however read the second book and I have the third. I’ll be posting reviews of those also.