This is a book review of Cowboy Angels by Paul McAuley. This book started off at a good pace and along the way filled in important aspects of the back story. Set in an alternate reality similar to our own, they’ve opened the door or to correctly phrase ‘turing gates’ to other realities. Oh and the storyline involves their version of America’s CIA agency, aka ‘the company’ . Okay this review could be difficult to write!
Essentially for every decision that takes place, the alternative happens. They discover America’s in other realities not too dissimilar to their own. The U.S. administration wanting to preserve the ‘America’ way of life, whatever the reality and ‘the company’ roll up their sleeves to assist. Blimey! Though the ‘actually reality’ is this book wasn’t a sci-fi romp, but was a character driven story. Love, betrayal, death and at times a who dunnit!
The first to enter these gates and operate in the alternate realities were ‘the company’ operatives called ‘Cowboy Angels’ and this book primarily follows Adam Stones, an ex-cowboy angel. Without giving away serious spoilers, he is asked to stop an ex-colleague Tom Waverly from committing further murders and receives assistance from Tom’s daughter Linda, now also working for ‘the company’.
This book, unsurprisingly was another well written Paul McAuley book. The writing style and Adam’s character helping keep the book grounded, whereas many authors could of gotten carried away with the sci-fi aspect. Okay there are a few sci-fi twists and turns, but wasn’t overwritten.
So did I find any negatives? Personally I wish the book had shown more divergent American realities. Plus it had me questioning how lucky or fortunate a person can be over time, given x number of dangerous situations.
Minor personal negative views aside, this book firmly has cemented Paul’s writing skills and ability to work with different subject matters in the sci-fi world.
A good read.
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