Following the events of THE ELECTRIC CHURCH, Jeff Somers has given us another look into his creation of the dystopian future where bizarre robots run rampant, in THE DIGITAL PLAGUE.
After years of living high on the hog, antihero Avery Cates stills lives and breathes with the criminal element. But it comes as no shock when groups of cops and soldier types try to bring him to a clandestine meeting, which of course, Cates wants nothing to do with — especially not on their terms. But something strange is also going on with Cates: Friends of his are dropping like flies from some mysterious disease.
What’s the cause of the outbreak is subject No. 1 in this book, leading Cates to make the meeting when it becomes quite apparent what is killing off his friends. It seems Cates was infected with some killer plague of nanobots that infect anyone he comes into contact with. The only way people can survive is to stay in his presence, since he has some sort of protective field keeping him alive.
Who infected Cates and why are the major questions, with all fingers being pointed at a former colleague, kicking the novel into high gear. As with the first book, this sequel is a grim look into the future with some truly great set pieces playing with the spaghetti Western vibe. Cates is treated as some sort of prize to be passed around between people who would love to just kill him, but can’t, since it would end their lives, too.
But for a character like Cates — so important to the plot with his actions in ELECTRIC CHURCH — some readers might be a little disappointed at how it feels like he sits on the sidelines, even though he is central to everything. But that’s a minor quibble in the grand plot that Somers has envisioned — it’s no sophomore slump. For anyone interested, you’d better read the first book beforehand, since it plays very heavily in this one. Where he takes it from here is anyone’s guess. –Bruce Grossman
OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS AUTHOR:
• THE ELECTRIC CHURCH by Jeff Somers
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Can’t wait for this one!