|
[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
This is a thriller set in a slightly future theme park. It has all the characteristics of the other thrillers Child has written in conjunction with Douglas Preston. The action is fast-moving, the story is fascinating, and the suspense in nail-biting. In this one, Utopia is a theme park, the newest, most glossy park imaginable. It is set in the desert near Las Vegas under a dome. Inside the dome is an artificially chilled, well-watered atmosphere. There are actually four different sections of this park and a fifth one being built. One of the singular parts to this amusement area is the use of robots. The bots are all governed by a single network, the Metanet, which also analyzes the robotic behavior and allows them to improve. The Metanet is the brainchild of Dr. Andrew Warne, specialist in Artificial Intelligence. It is his contention, largely disputed by the other experts, that he AI can learn and develop and he designed this system with that theory in mind. The park is the vision of Eric Nightingale who was entranced by Warneıs foresight and believed in it implicitly. Nightingale was a magician, a dreamer, a visionary who gad died six months before the Park opening. When that happened the corporate funders took over control of the park and the bottom line became more important than the magic . Now individual robots are behaving in ways that may damage the park and perhaps even harm the customers. Sarah Boatwright, head of Park Operations, and the corporate board of directors are convinced that the Metanet is at fault and the vision of Dr. Warne is flawed. Warne is brought to Utopia to shut down the Metanet. The same day he arrives, however, there is a threat against the park, demands for new and innovative technology that has been developed in Utopia, and threats to destroy rides and harm customers if the technology is not handed over. Demonstrations of what the intruders can do convince Sarah to accede to the terrorists demands. But Warne and his counterpart at the park believe they can stop them by proving the Metanet works. They are joined by the head of Security and a civilian with unique skills. Together they challenge the offenders with both technology and physical resistance. The roller coaster rides of the park mirror the rapid and frantic action happening under the dome. The most fascinating part of this book is the description of the park and the various rides and shows. Gaslight, the first segment we see, re-creates Victorian England. The visitor sees Picadilly and Soho and rides the Notting Hill Chase among others. Jack the Ripper appears during a stage production and the pubs are open to those who wish to stop and have a pint before moving on. Callisto is the world of the future where patrons can ride a shuttle to a space ship and visit the Crab Nebula. Camelot is the world of King Arthurıs Courtyard, the Wizardıs Crown, and the Kingıs Highway, where interested people can watch the Battle of Griffin Tower. Finally the Boardwalk has all those components of a turn of the 19th century amusement park. Under construction is Atlantis, a world under water in the far past. These segments are all described and come to life, and the technology which creates often unbelievable effects is alluded to. The characters are cardboard as is often true in thrillers. The denouement is exciting, although the ³inside villain² will hardly come as a surprise. Haul out that old suspension of disbelief, activate it, and enjoy the ride. This is wonderful escape literature.
Reviewed by Sally A. Fellows, February 2003
This book has more than one review. Click here to show all.
[ Top ]
QUICK SEARCH:
Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]
| 
