The International Writers Magazine:Young Fiction

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Cybernation by Erica Blaney Hachette Children's Books ISBN: 9780340950326 • Jack Clarkson Set in Clandoi, a permanently frozen wasteland constantly veiled in darkness, there are two races. The Appaloosian’s, the rich ruling caste of bi-tonal skinned people, and the Wayfarers, who appear much more like normal people and perform all the menial jobs for the Appaloosians.

Solly and Lalune have been friends almost from birth and have even talked about getting married when they grow up. The fact that there aren’t many other children around also seems to help matters. Unfortunately, Solly is a Wayfarer, and Lalune is an Appaloosian. Before either of them knows what’s going on, Lalune’s mother signs the entire family up to the "Cybernation Program" in which Appaloosians can choose to be put into some kind of cryogenic stasis, without the freezing, in order to be woken up when the ice and food shortage that is crippling the world of Clandoi is but an uncomfortable memory.

Unfortunately, the real intention behind the Cybernation Program turns out to be far more sinister! And it’s up to both of them to set things right. Each chapter alternates between what happens to Solly or Lalune, even though she’s now in a medically induced coma… Which becomes less of a hindrance and more of an advantage when her mind detaches from her body and finds it can navigate the computer network in the Cybernation clinic…

I had no idea what I was getting into when I started reading this book. And in a way I still have no idea after I’ve finished it. The experience hit me so fast I was still reeling by the end of the book, all I know is that I think it was probably a good idea in the end!

The setting Blaney paints is rich, weird and interesting. The characters are interesting and the action is well paced. That last one is important! There may be lulls in the action, but Blaney still manages to keep things happening. Cybernation is a book that has that certain something that I’ve always found lacking in many other books, Epic-ness! Throughout the whole book there is the feeling that some really big stuff is going down and you’re right in the middle of it! There aren’t many other books that can do that. And for that I have to congratulate Ms Blaney for managing to pull it off in her first book. It usually takes writers several attempts before they truly find their feet.

There were a worryingly large number of typos I found while reading the book, but that may just be because I’m a grammar fascist and would notice these things, and finding them was more a curiosity than an annoyance. I cared too much about what was going to happen next.

My only other complaint would be that the ending felt a bit too sudden, satisfying, but sudden and with no real closure… Just a glossary of terms I had already worked out the meaning of over the course of the book… and then "The story isn’t over for Solly and Lalune… Read on to find out more." Well thank god for that! ‘You win this round Ms Blaney!’ I shouted out loud… Unfortunately I was on a crowded train coming back from my other review (see IronMan) at the time and it got rather awkward!

If you’re into Sci-Fi or Fantasy or anything with a bit of imagination then this is the book for you. The story isn’t very complicated, but the way it is told more than makes up for it!
© Jack Clarkson May 2008
shl60522@port.ac.uk
Jack is studying for a Creative Degreee at the University of Portsmouth

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