Richard K. Morgan -- A Damn Good Read

Over the last few months I've read the three mainstream copies of Richard Morgan's novels (ones I don't have to special order on Amazon):

• Altered Carbon
• Broken Angels
• Market Forces

These three novels are put together as if Phillip K. Dick and William Gibson collaborated on a novel or two--a great mix of technology, corporate intrigue, and action. It's all blended together in a believable future landscape reminiscent of Blade Runner.

Altered Carbon makes the most of Morgan's “sleeving” concept--where (for a price) folks of the future can have their personality, memory, etc downloaded into a new body. This grants immortality, unique perspective journeys, and more. The storyline is very CSI--a billionaire is suspected of committing suicide and hard nosed, ex-spec ops investigator Takeshi Kovacs tries to uncover the truth, digging up dirt pervading even the most high of society.

Broken Angels follows Kovacs into the middle of a war, behind enemy lines, trying to find a warp gate leading to an ancient Martian space craft. High deception and heavy action mark almost every page of this one.

Market Forces is outside the Kovacs universe--but takes place where corporate executives have gone the route of the Samurai, victory (and the corner office) goes to the fastest gun/car. The stakes are especially high in the business of Conflict Investment--where commodities are traded based on which third world dictator will deliver the highest payback.

If you are a Sci Fi fan, I highly recommend any of the Kovacs novels, including Woken Furies which I haven't read yet. Market Forces is good on it's own merits, but for reasons outside of Sci Fi.

Enjoy.