The UnIncorporated Man - Book Review

"The UnIncorporated Man" [by Dani & Eytan Halin/Tor Books/479 pgs] gives an interesting view on the aspects of cryogenics being used to envision a "1984" future that works despite an unerving appoach of a relic from the past. Filled with elements of Shakespeare but populated with a grand sense of both the practical and the defined, the book seems to work on a primarily human level while making sure the ideals of the day are integrated. While this description might seem pedantic, the execution is anything but. The story centers around Justin Cord, an eccentric billionaire who brings to mind a Steve Jobs but with perhaps more approachability. After stricken with cancer, he has his technical wizards create a suspension unit and completely places his future in its possibility. The novel begins as he is discovered and waken up by a corporation known as GCI which is run by a mysterious figure called "The Chairman". The book functions very well on many different levels. One of the similar novels "Man" can be compared to without too much psychological prescience is Carl Sagan's "Contact" because it takes more of a personal journey and makes it global. This is helped by the character of Neela, who is Justin's reanimation specialist to helps assimilate him back into normal life.The view the book centers on after establishing the world is an aspect of political intrigue but done so more as a duel and a battle of inherent pride and ideals. Without giving too much away, Justin does not want to be "incorporated" which is the main stablizing point of society. After he went into stasis, the society we know now collapsed under the weight of a VR revolution (much like an all consuming TIVO) which turns everybody essentially into vegetables and causes the breakdown of society and eventually nuclear war in the Middle East. The description of this which is exposition in many points is done in an interesting way, not unlike Terry Gilliam's "Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnussus" which uses a similar theme. It isd one as a construct, not as a flashback which makes it fairly interesting in terms of engagement. There are tinges of "Blade Runner" to be sure but it is done from a more practical standpoint. There is also a tinge of "Futurama" simply in the basis of what it shows. But this book is not light. It is a thriller by nature which survives in many aspects because of its balance of levity both in the character of Justin as well as a geologist who original found him named "Omad" who in many ways functions as the sidekick at definitive moments. Another character of note that quite adds a bit is that of Manny Clark who is the counsel to Justin as he fights his legal battles to secure his "freedom". Granted many things go wrong along the way.However that said, this is a very cool, slightly derivative but extremely rich piece of writing which has a balance of great character turns as well as settings that are different from the nor. Reading the book on the way back from a conference in New Orleans made it especially vivid because of the inclusion of a Mardi Gras sequence and a later face-off in a house towards the end of the book. The inclusion also of very specifically crafted technology from the DijAssist (a thinking tablet in essence) and ninite-created visions including fluid walls (think nanotecnology on steroids) really sets the tone. The ending is not expected in any way and actually plays to the essence of tragedy despite a somewhat anticlimactic (but not too heavy handed) epilogue. In short, "Incorporated Man" really creates a definite world populated by characters that function in a real way in what we would consider an unreal world. That said though, it is engrossing piece of writing that makes you think but also keeps you entertained. Out of 5, I give it a 3.