MANKIND STRUGGLES FOR FREEDOM
Zero Point (Owner Trilogy 2)
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PRAISE FOR THE OWNER SERIES: ‘Playing like a turbo-charged mix of Total Recall and The Bourne Identity, The Departure moves at Asher’s usual bullet-speed pace’ SFX ‘I had an absolute blast with this book … his work really does get better and better’ FalcataTimes blog ‘I simply couldn’t stop reading until I reached the end’ WorldsInInk blog
--This text refers to the
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Book Description
Earth’s Zero Asset citizens no longer face extermination from orbit. Thanks to Alan Saul, the Committee’s network of control is a smoking ruin and its robotic enforcers lie dormant. But power abhors a vacuum and, scrambling from the wreckage, comes the ruthless Serene Galahad. She must act while the last vestiges of Committee infrastructure remain intact – and she has the means to ensure command is hers. On Mars, Var Delex fights for the survival of Antares Base, while the Argus Space Station hurls towards the red planet. And she knows whomever, or whatever, trashed Earth is still aboard. Var must save the base, while also dealing with the first signs of rebellion. And aboard Argus Station, Alan Saul’s mind has expanded into the local computer network. In the process, he uncovers the ghastly experiments of the Humanoid Unit Development, the possibility of eternal life, and a madman who may hold the keys to interstellar flight. But Earth’s agents are closer than Saul thinks, and the killing will soon begin.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Bascule
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I, like some others found a certain ambivalence towards the first "Owner" novel, "The Departure" Not down to Neal's writing, but the new universe we were in. I had become so comfortable with the polity that I initially couldn't settle into this new place and time. As the action increased along with the body count, I felt much happier. Now with the second book "Zero Point", it feels just right. Neal is on top form, the story flows along nicely, the body count is astronomical, the action good and gritty. The politics is once again going to offend certain people but Google "Agenda 21" and see if "Zero Point" doesn't seem a little less far fetched.
All in all a cracking read, possibly one of his best! If I could pre-order book 3 today I would.
All in all a cracking read, possibly one of his best! If I could pre-order book 3 today I would.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Damon Doyle
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Neil writes another sf stormer in a new universe. This second book continues on straight after the ending of the first "Owner" novel which is rare in itself and as usual with Neils books its a roller coaster ride of action, politics, personal relationships and a very interesting take on technology. It reads easily and the action never relents. Alan Saul the central character is an interesting mix of cold logic and human emotions. As said before in another review if part three was avalable now id buy it.
One notable subject in this book which is the most though provoking of all is Neils take on the future of Earth. You can see the extrapolation from these times of austerity to the dystopian future Neil paints so well in this series and its frightening. Highly reccomended!
One notable subject in this book which is the most though provoking of all is Neils take on the future of Earth. You can see the extrapolation from these times of austerity to the dystopian future Neil paints so well in this series and its frightening. Highly reccomended!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By DBfletcher
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The first owner novel was a massive change in scope for Asher. Being constrained to one solar system has not stifled his prowess however. The stakes get ever higher in this next book and if you like space warfare things ramp up very quickly. Looking forward to the next instalment and the direction it will take.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Gareth Simon
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Zero Point, Neal Asher, 564pp, 2013/2012
This is the second instalment of the `Owner' sequence of novels. These are set on a near-future Earth where the European Union bureaucracy has spread out and taken over the world, stifling creativity, allowing the population to grow to 18 billion, and establishing itself as the ruling elite in the worst possible Stalinist tradition (or the best possible Stalinist tradition, depending on your view of humanity and bureaucracy). Fortunately, thanks to advances in technology, the superman has appeared (as this is a Neal Asher novel) and cut off the head of the bureaucracy - the Committee, killed many millions of its senior staff, stolen a space station, and set off to Mars to look for his long-lost sister - see Departure.
In this volume, we meet a survivor of the bureaucratic leadership who immediately sets out to re-establish control of Earth, taking advantage of the chaos caused by the destruction of the rest of the hierarchy to unleash a manufactured plague that kills off eight or ten billion of the `zero asset' population - those at the bottom of the social ladder who contribute nothing to the system - while blaming it on our erstwhile hero, Adam Saul, and quickly demonises him in the best Big Brother tradition (the other one (though now you come to mention it...)). She quickly establishes her control by killing off her rivals, and anyone who knows about her control over the plague - the `Scourge' - and starts rebuilding the damaged ecosystems of the planet, which usually involves killing off a few hundred million people here and there when no-one is looking. Unfortunately, the world's gene bank was on board that stolen space station, and so has to be retrieved.... Read more ›
This is the second instalment of the `Owner' sequence of novels. These are set on a near-future Earth where the European Union bureaucracy has spread out and taken over the world, stifling creativity, allowing the population to grow to 18 billion, and establishing itself as the ruling elite in the worst possible Stalinist tradition (or the best possible Stalinist tradition, depending on your view of humanity and bureaucracy). Fortunately, thanks to advances in technology, the superman has appeared (as this is a Neal Asher novel) and cut off the head of the bureaucracy - the Committee, killed many millions of its senior staff, stolen a space station, and set off to Mars to look for his long-lost sister - see Departure.
In this volume, we meet a survivor of the bureaucratic leadership who immediately sets out to re-establish control of Earth, taking advantage of the chaos caused by the destruction of the rest of the hierarchy to unleash a manufactured plague that kills off eight or ten billion of the `zero asset' population - those at the bottom of the social ladder who contribute nothing to the system - while blaming it on our erstwhile hero, Adam Saul, and quickly demonises him in the best Big Brother tradition (the other one (though now you come to mention it...)). She quickly establishes her control by killing off her rivals, and anyone who knows about her control over the plague - the `Scourge' - and starts rebuilding the damaged ecosystems of the planet, which usually involves killing off a few hundred million people here and there when no-one is looking. Unfortunately, the world's gene bank was on board that stolen space station, and so has to be retrieved.... Read more ›
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am competely smitten with the new series and can't wait for number 3, I've been a fan of Neal's work for a while and have written everything thus far and I must say Alan Saul's development is absolutelt brilliant. I won't write any spoilers but the slow return to a more human outlook for the Owner is absolutely facsinating and sits nicely against the insight into Serene (a self analysing psychopath).
A genuine page turner and some excellently flawed characters....
A genuine page turner and some excellently flawed characters....
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Nick Green
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Since my favourite author (Asimov)died I struggled for sometime to find replacements Neal Asher is one of them. The key to good science fiction for me is story first, science second and Neal tells a good story but then backs it up with credible science. I look forward to the last in the series and wonder which of two directions the story will go.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I tend to regard Neal Asher as a frequent provider of dense brain candy. His writing and characterisations are technically poor (though much better technician onwards) - however his books are also tremendously fun - not good for you just nice and fun. I just devour them. I typically manage to finish one of his books in a day (and that includes work!) - this does involve being very antisocial for 24 hours and losing a bit of sleep!
Zero point carries on from the fantastically nihilistic first book in this series. Every terrible possible manifestation of centralised socialism and totalitarianism is carried onto the most extreme extent - and then some. What makes this so entertaining is the way in which you can see apply the prinicples behind these attrocities every day from the the way in which little hitlers are born and raised in meaningless beurocracies to the dumbing down of education systems.
It is still a little hard to identify with Alan Saul - there is very little to like about him other than his ability to 'kill the bad guys'. Of more interest in the novel is the slippery slide into insanity from the new rulers of earth and the ongoing martian plot. Newer characters on argus station have the potential to develop into something really quite cool in the third novel.
if you are expecting something substantial in the genre of scifi e.g. early (phlebus aside) iain m banks then you will be disapointed
However if what you want is trashy fun scifi then you can't get better than this.
Zero point carries on from the fantastically nihilistic first book in this series. Every terrible possible manifestation of centralised socialism and totalitarianism is carried onto the most extreme extent - and then some. What makes this so entertaining is the way in which you can see apply the prinicples behind these attrocities every day from the the way in which little hitlers are born and raised in meaningless beurocracies to the dumbing down of education systems.
It is still a little hard to identify with Alan Saul - there is very little to like about him other than his ability to 'kill the bad guys'. Of more interest in the novel is the slippery slide into insanity from the new rulers of earth and the ongoing martian plot. Newer characters on argus station have the potential to develop into something really quite cool in the third novel.
if you are expecting something substantial in the genre of scifi e.g. early (phlebus aside) iain m banks then you will be disapointed
However if what you want is trashy fun scifi then you can't get better than this.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Neal Asher never disappoints!
Neal Asher never disappoints! I just wish he would hurry up and write some more stuff. Each novel is epic.
Published 8 days ago by Tina Faulkner
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great follow up to the first book, leaves you hanging for the third...
Follows on from the first book directly, so you have to have read that, horrific in places, but a compelling read. Read more
Published 13 days ago by dargren
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great second part to this trilogy
I enjoyed this second book a little more than the first book as the Neal got more into his stride and the plot made a little more sense than the first book. Read more
Published 15 days ago by Mr. Mark A. Laborda
5.0 out of 5 stars
Man, Computer, Death and Infighting
The owner trilogy is about a ray of hope amidst the black cloth of troubled earth. I enjoyed the first in the series and looked forwards to this one. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Jim B
4.0 out of 5 stars
Neal Asher does it again
Neal Asher does it again with a 'believable' story full of intrigue and almost tongue in cheek dark humour. Read more
Published 22 days ago by Paulio
5.0 out of 5 stars
another great book from neal asher
thoroughly enjoyable continuation of the owner trilogy. If you liked the 1st then you wont be disappointed can't wait for the third!
Published 23 days ago by andrew kendry
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable
It seems some people are bothered by the dystopian aspects of these books, I amn't at all. I find the utopian books tend to be a bit childishly optimistic, which isn't to say they... Read more
Published 24 days ago by C. Jack
4.0 out of 5 stars
I actually liked the book though I didn't really want too
Im a fan of Asher especially the Polity books. I was worried he was going to go all politically correct which he has a bit which spoils the individualism of the books somewhat. Read more
Published 29 days ago by Malcolm Roy Ash
1.0 out of 5 stars
I'm sorry...I'm leaving you....
Oh Neal, I'm so sorry it should come to this. I've been one of your most devoted fans; giggling with glee as the next pre-ordered hardback is delivered... Read more
Published 1 month ago by JackieC
5.0 out of 5 stars
Riveting
I enjoyed the high tension and suspense created by Neal Asher, the utter depravity of some characters, the imaginative plot, and the plausibility of the story. Read more
Published 1 month ago by S. Lee Gazley
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