Other Worlds

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Title:	Archangel Protocol
Author:	Lyda Morehouse
Copyright Date:	2001
Publisher:	Penguin Books Ltd.

Plot

Intelligent Web pages. Wire junkies. Cybernet angels. These are the inhabitants of an intricate, chilling, and daring near-future envisioned by first-time novelist, Lyda Morehouse. From the real-time streets of New York City to the virtual pathways of a universal Net, a former cop is subjected to the ultimate test of faith - in herself, in a new world order, and in powers far beyond anything she has ever imagined...

Archangel Protocol
First the LINK - an interactive, implanted computer - transformed society. Then came the angels - cybernetic manifestations that claimed to be working God's will...
But Deidre McMannus has had her LINK implant removed - for a crime she didn't commit. And she has never believed in the angels. All that will change when a man named Michael appears at her door and give Deidre the chance to right the wrongs that have been done to her - and the the entire world..."
Setting

This story is set in New York of the year 2046. It has been 21 years since the "big one" and the world governments are still reeling. One of the most important aspects of the future is the people's reembracing of religion. Non-secular governments are vilified for causing the war and using something called a Medusa Bomb. Unlike a simple nuclear bomb that vaporises it's target and renders it uninhabitable with radiation, the results of the Medusa are more insidious. The energy released by the Medusa actually converts all matter into translucent quartz and leaves a residual fallout that mutates DNA. How this is possible is never explained. In fact, information on the Medusa is not given directly but interspersed throughout the book when relevent. Other than full citizenship requiring a recognized religion, the rest of the setting is fairly typical. The Link, access to the internet through a brain implant, is an interesting idea but a common theme in future fiction.
Characters

The main character is Deidre McMannus, a former police detective excommunicated and fired for her part in the murder of the Pope.
Mouse (flesh), a super hacker and long time associate of Deidre.
Mouse (electronic), an intelligent AI created by Mouse (flesh) to run his illegal web service.
Michael, small town policeman with a mysterious past.
Morningstar, an old friend of Michael's with connections to the underworld.
Daniel, former police partner that was convicted of murdering the Pope.
Rebeckah, rebel leader and old friend of Deidre.
Letourneau, presidential canidate and real-time recluse that holds all business over the Link.
Link Angels, angelic personas that have mysteriously appeared only on the Link.
Overall

This is a decent story. The plot stalls once or twice but quickly starts up again. Antagonist ambiguity must be the craze for current writers. This is the third book I've read this month that has unexplainable bad-guys. This book's Antagonist is possible but unbelievable. We are never given a satisfactory explaination of their motivations. Also, I'm not sure but female writers must be flexing their liberated sexuality. Many current female author's have a need to add casual sex to the story. Now, I'm a man. I have no problem with casual sex, but it feels forced. It also feels wrong, because a male writer throwing about casual sex would be burnt at the cross by many women's groups. This book at least had a plot point to go along with the sex and she did not become graphic. And while I'm here, I must say that although the book does contain the word 'penis', it not does contain my required Detective-Penis Humor.

Plot
Intelligent Web pages. Wire junkies. Cybernet angels. These are the inhabitants of an intricate, chilling, and daring near-future envisioned by first-time novelist, Lyda Morehouse. From the real-time streets of New York City to the virtual pathways of a universal Net, a former cop is subjected to the ultimate test of faith - in herself, in a new world order, and in powers far beyond anything she has ever imagined... Archangel Protocol First the LINK - an interactive, implanted computer - transformed society. Then came the angels - cybernetic manifestations that claimed to be working God's will... But Deidre McMannus has had her LINK implant removed - for a crime she didn't commit. And she has never believed in the angels. All that will change when a man named Michael appears at her door and give Deidre the chance to right the wrongs that have been done to her - and the the entire world..."
Setting
This story is set in New York of the year 2046. It has been 21 years since the "big one" and the world governments are still reeling. One of the most important aspects of the future is the people's reembracing of religion. Non-secular governments are vilified for causing the war and using something called a Medusa Bomb. Unlike a simple nuclear bomb that vaporises it's target and renders it uninhabitable with radiation, the results of the Medusa are more insidious. The energy released by the Medusa actually converts all matter into translucent quartz and leaves a residual fallout that mutates DNA. How this is possible is never explained. In fact, information on the Medusa is not given directly but interspersed throughout the book when relevent. Other than full citizenship requiring a recognized religion, the rest of the setting is fairly typical. The Link, access to the internet through a brain implant, is an interesting idea but a common theme in future fiction.
Characters
The main character is Deidre McMannus, a former police detective excommunicated and fired for her part in the murder of the Pope. Mouse (flesh), a super hacker and long time associate of Deidre. Mouse (electronic), an intelligent AI created by Mouse (flesh) to run his illegal web service. Michael, small town policeman with a mysterious past. Morningstar, an old friend of Michael's with connections to the underworld. Daniel, former police partner that was convicted of murdering the Pope. Rebeckah, rebel leader and old friend of Deidre. Letourneau, presidential canidate and real-time recluse that holds all business over the Link. Link Angels, angelic personas that have mysteriously appeared only on the Link.
Overall
This is a decent story. The plot stalls once or twice but quickly starts up again. Antagonist ambiguity must be the craze for current writers. This is the third book I've read this month that has unexplainable bad-guys. This book's Antagonist is possible but unbelievable. We are never given a satisfactory explaination of their motivations. Also, I'm not sure but female writers must be flexing their liberated sexuality. Many current female author's have a need to add casual sex to the story. Now, I'm a man. I have no problem with casual sex, but it feels forced. It also feels wrong, because a male writer throwing about casual sex would be burnt at the cross by many women's groups. This book at least had a plot point to go along with the sex and she did not become graphic. And while I'm here, I must say that although the book does contain the word 'penis', it not does contain my required Detective-Penis Humor.