- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Orbit (5 April 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1841493481
- ISBN-13: 978-1841493480
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.2 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 591,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Execution Channel: Novel
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Product Description
Review
'Ken MacLeod's The Execution Channel starts like a techno-thriller "ripped from tomorrow's headlines", a thrilling, fast-moving tale of suspense rife with paranoia and multiple conspiracy theories. However, it's deeper and more thoughtful than most thrillers. MacLeod vividly and economically portrays an all-too-plausible world in which war has spread across the Middle East and Central Asia; millions of Americans live in FEMA concentration camps due to climate change; the British Government is considering deporting all Muslims, and what's really happening is hidden in a blizzard of disinformation and propaganda. This is politically engaged, speculative fiction at its finest, with a conclusion that's absolutely mind-blowing.' THE TIMES 'Politically engaged, speculative fiction at its finest, with a conclusion that's absolutely mind-blowing' The Times 'Jaw-droppingly audacious' SFX 'A very good book, perhaps the best Ken MacLeod has written to date . . . The Execution Channel is an extraordinary novel' STRANGE HORIZONS 'The Execution Channel is a top-notch thriller . . . a darkly entertaining read. Macleod has great fun spinning and unspinning the fears and memes of our age. His perspective on blogging and its effect on the powerful will amuse bloggers and their readers. And his alternate reality version of 9/11, which serves (in my mind at least) as a thorough debunking of conspiracy theorists, is almost worth the price of the book alone.' 26Books.com
Review
Ken MacLeod's The Execution Channel starts like a techno-thriller "ripped from tomorrow's headlines", a thrilling, fast-moving tale of suspense rife with paranoia and multiple conspiracy theories. However, it's deeper and more thoughtful than most thrillers. MacLeod vividly and economically portrays an all-too-plausible world in which war has spread across the Middle East and Central Asia; millions of Americans live in FEMA concentration camps due to climate change; the British Government is considering deporting all Muslims, and what's really happening is hidden in a blizzard of disinformation and propaganda. This is politically engaged, speculative fiction at its finest, with a conclusion that's absolutely mind-blowing. (THE TIMES )
Politically engaged, speculative fiction at its finest, with a conclusion that's absolutely mind-blowing (The Times )
Jaw-droppingly audacious (SFX )
A very good book, perhaps the best Ken MacLeod has written to date . . . The Execution Channel is an extraordinary novel (STRANGE HORIZONS ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Politically engaged, speculative fiction at its finest, with a conclusion that's absolutely mind-blowing (The Times )
Jaw-droppingly audacious (SFX )
A very good book, perhaps the best Ken MacLeod has written to date . . . The Execution Channel is an extraordinary novel (STRANGE HORIZONS ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Macleod is back to the stuff that he does best - politics.
After his brilliant first book, he has been going down hill (slowly, but still down hill). This book has put him back on the top.
He does use a few too many TLAs (Tree Letter Acronyms) for my taste (hence the odd title - you'll come across MRE on the first page), but he does know his stuff (and for someone who hasn't been in the forces, his military characters aren't bad).
I felt the ending was a bit soft, but then that does seem to be his weakness.
All in all a VERY good read.
One point though, I notice that Amazon are suggesting that you buy this book and a Alastair Reynolds book. I can't think why, as I've found Reynolds work to be dreadfully disappointing.
Oh, and one last thing: don't ever try doing a handbrake turn in a Landrover. All you'll do is break half-shafts (the handbrake is really a transmission brake), you'll understand why I mention this when you read the book.
And I do recommend that you read this book.
After his brilliant first book, he has been going down hill (slowly, but still down hill). This book has put him back on the top.
He does use a few too many TLAs (Tree Letter Acronyms) for my taste (hence the odd title - you'll come across MRE on the first page), but he does know his stuff (and for someone who hasn't been in the forces, his military characters aren't bad).
I felt the ending was a bit soft, but then that does seem to be his weakness.
All in all a VERY good read.
One point though, I notice that Amazon are suggesting that you buy this book and a Alastair Reynolds book. I can't think why, as I've found Reynolds work to be dreadfully disappointing.
Oh, and one last thing: don't ever try doing a handbrake turn in a Landrover. All you'll do is break half-shafts (the handbrake is really a transmission brake), you'll understand why I mention this when you read the book.
And I do recommend that you read this book.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
First off, I really enjoyed this book. I read The Star Fraction a long time ago and got hooked on Ken Macleod, reading everything that he wrote subsequently for quite a while, but then slowly lost interest. The Star Fraction has a wonderful plot, insanely complicated politics which somehow seemed realistic, was not set too far into the future and was full of possibilities. But slowly the books that followed lost that fizz. But with The Execution Channel all that energy is back. And I'm sure more will follow.
I found it pretty difficult to get into at first; the writing seemed slightly stilted, the plot dark and rather unappealing. But it quickly picks up pace and starts to get more intricate, more engrossing and the possibilities start opening out. I can't help but compare it to The Star Fraction - in that, the main character is haunted by the legacy of his father. In The Execution Channel, there are similarities. Although the father character is there and (this time) alive and well, he still, in a sense, dominates the book, through the actions of his two adult children.
At times, it seems less a sci-fi novel and more a spy thriller, but the references to James Blish which, at first , seem totally out of place, slowly take on more relevance and importance. I won't say more as I don't want to give away the plot. Plot, ah yes, well there is one in there somewhere. But it's funny the way that several characters seem to feel responsible for what actually happens; it's funny because you get the feeling that ultimately none of them made the slightest difference. Still, somehow it's a gripping read.
One thing though - I wish it had been proof-read better.
I found it pretty difficult to get into at first; the writing seemed slightly stilted, the plot dark and rather unappealing. But it quickly picks up pace and starts to get more intricate, more engrossing and the possibilities start opening out. I can't help but compare it to The Star Fraction - in that, the main character is haunted by the legacy of his father. In The Execution Channel, there are similarities. Although the father character is there and (this time) alive and well, he still, in a sense, dominates the book, through the actions of his two adult children.
At times, it seems less a sci-fi novel and more a spy thriller, but the references to James Blish which, at first , seem totally out of place, slowly take on more relevance and importance. I won't say more as I don't want to give away the plot. Plot, ah yes, well there is one in there somewhere. But it's funny the way that several characters seem to feel responsible for what actually happens; it's funny because you get the feeling that ultimately none of them made the slightest difference. Still, somehow it's a gripping read.
One thing though - I wish it had been proof-read better.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is MacLeod's best book since "The Cassini Division". Everything he writes is worth reading, but with the exception of "Newton's Wake" his last few books have seemed a bit staid and lacking in the real passion of his earlier work.
No-one could accuse "The Execution Channel" of being a passionless work, it's filled with righteous anger at the amoral cynicism of the War Against Terror, and the corrosive effect this has on the morality of everyday life.
There is a splendidly complex conspiratorial plot and plenty of action to speed along the storyline, and the novel finishes with a terrifically uncompromising Hard SF finale, which has enough optimism and faith in the future of humanity to wipe out the sour taste of government corruption and brutality.
No-one could accuse "The Execution Channel" of being a passionless work, it's filled with righteous anger at the amoral cynicism of the War Against Terror, and the corrosive effect this has on the morality of everyday life.
There is a splendidly complex conspiratorial plot and plenty of action to speed along the storyline, and the novel finishes with a terrifically uncompromising Hard SF finale, which has enough optimism and faith in the future of humanity to wipe out the sour taste of government corruption and brutality.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent read, but a bit of a paradox overall
I've found it hard to sum up this book, and I'm slightly bothered that I can't rate it higher than 3 stars. Perhaps explaining the problem might be a way into a review... Read more
Published 19 months ago by D. Harris
nasty, grimy, grim: thoroughly enjoyable
Set in a near-future near-totalitarian dystopia, this spy caper is nasty, grimy, grim, almost plausible, and most enjoyable. Read more
Published 23 months ago by D. R. Cantrell
More techno thriller than scifi
I enjoy Ken Macleod novel both the cyberpunk The Star Fraction: A Fall Revolution Novel (Fall Revolutions Series) and the later more space opera orientated work. Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2010 by Mr. James P. Bailey
OK but not vintage Macleod
The novel starts off in cracking form as Ken Macleod builds up a credible complex dystopian world of the near future; extrapolating and extending the issues of today, terrorism... Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2009 by Feldyguy
Hyped
The Execution Channel never really delivers on its promises. The plot is convoluted, the characters not particularly likeable and the narrative style makes it hard work to read. Read more
Published on 19 April 2009 by Mr. G. Battle
Interesting?
Overall the atmosphere created in this book was fantastic; However I agree there were one or two places where the story goes wrong. Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2008 by Mr. Colin F. Bell
5* book with 3* ending
Really enjoyed this book up until final chapter.
The credibiltiy rating of the plot bubbled along throughout the book at a high level until the end. Read more
The credibiltiy rating of the plot bubbled along throughout the book at a high level until the end. Read more
Published on 22 Sep 2008 by R. W.
Great start, TERRIBLE ending
Let me start by saying I really enjoy Ken Macleod's writing. For the first 7/8ths of this book, I thought it would be up with his best. Read more
Published on 22 Sep 2008 by P. G. Harris
Won an award, it did...
The Execution Channel is set in an alternate near future ... one where terrorism and the war against it can often mean the same thing. Read more
Published on 6 Sep 2008 by Christopher Halo
Very, very good, but for the ending...
The Execution Channel is set in an alternate near future ... one where terrorism and the war against it can often mean the same thing. Read more
Published on 6 Sep 2008 by Christopher Halo
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