Insidious

By Michael McCloskey

Leaked stories of strange new rules and codes of behavior indicate something's gone sour in the deep space retreats of the superrich corporate execs. Some say that it's only the eccentricities of the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1440192529
• ISBN13: 9781440192524
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: Iuniverse Inc
• Length: 324 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.8" x 5.0"

Customer Reviews

Can't wait for the sequel!

Insidious is a real page-turner: it has a fascinating central mystery whose resolution really took me by surprise and, if that's not enough to keep you reading, plenty of suspense. I just *had* to find out how it all turned out. The book has an interesting angle on A.I.s with super-human intelligence. It expertly portrays the visceral fear of A.I.s taking over, the dilemma of the protaganists who feel like they have no choice but to use them, and how they feel like they were walking a tightrope when they did so. The battle sequences are taught and compelling, and do a good job of conveying the "fog or war." Like I said, I really liked the book and look forward to more work from the author. Still there were a few things I didn't like.... - The prologue. I don't think it really added anything, and the writing there felt less accomplished than the rest of the book. It felt like he was trying too hard to impress with flowery language. I would rather he had led off with his strong foot--action or mystery--and use flashbacks to cover anything important that got skipped. - Explanations or insights into Aldriena's psychology. The flashbacks to her youth seemed to encourage a too-simple interpretation of her use of her own sexuality. I'd rather the book had just presented her as a fact, without trying to explain her. Better to leave her mysterious and let the reader fill in the missing details. - Descriptions of sexual positions and acts, which felt like they detracted from the main story arc. It's enough to know the characters had sex, without going into the details. Of course a lot of sci fi is guilty of this. - The occasional clunky turn of phrase, such as the use of "incarnate" to mean "in person." Given how much importance the characters give to the difference between virtual and real meetings, it would have made sense if they'd developed slang for the distinction. For example "meat space." Still these complaints pale compared to the overall experience of the book, which was a real pleasure. If I could, I would give it 4.5 stars.

Fast paced science fiction with just the right twists

Insidious is a big step up from Slave of Chu Kutall, McCloskey's first novel. Slave of Chu Kutall was readable, but it often limited itself to accurate descriptions of fights between heroes and fantasy creatures. This book is a lot more than that: its universe has properly defined constraints, a background that makes sense in a human way, and a plot that makes you hunger for more. The novel has the expected structure, but diversions are only used to serve the plot, and not as artificial literary devices. The characters may be one dimensional, but they can all be appreciated by the reader. I was pleasantly surprised by this novel, it has just the right amount of mental challenge and ease of reading, and, although it copies many ideas from past science fiction, some things are presented in a new, enticing context that makes you think of other possibilities.

When's the sequel?

(Spoilers ahead) Who/what are the spinners and what do they want with the humans, that's what I want to know. The story is fast-paced, told through the eyes of characters whose paths are destined to intersect. Along their way they encounter spies, artificial intelligence on the verge of going rogue, aliens, and a UN government at war with the Chinese bloc, and it's never easy to tell the good guys from the bad. I like visions of the future that are dark, and Insidious fits that bill -- I loved the ending. There are lots of unanswered questions at the end, and I don't really buy the idea that in the future corporations are as powerful as the government *and* in conflict with it, though. If history proves anything, it's that big business doesn't want to fight government, they want to own it or at least corrupt it to bend it to its own purposes. Maybe in the sequel that is sorely needed it'll turn out that the UN is actually bought off by one of the corporations -- that would be sweet. Hope that sequel is coming soon.

Fresh, creative Sci-Fi about AI

A fascinating sci-fi story based on a novel premise of links--circuitry that allows the brain to interact with computers and AI cores which almost seem... human. The plot revolves around some strange happenings on corporate space stations. The various characters, Aldriana, a crack secret operative, Bren, an AI handler, Chris, an ambitious exec, an Meridian, an AI robot that are drawn together to find exactly what is happening out in space. It was an enjoyable read that built to an unexpected ending where you find out that there's something more than deep space corporate shenanigans going on. I look forward to more from this new writer.