Aussie Bloggers

I don’t much go in for Australian authors, it isn’t really a rule more of an observation. There isn’t a huge selection in my favourite genres to choose from, actually that’s not true, there aren’t a lot of authors in my favourite genres from Australia that I’m drawn towards, so it was with pleasant surprise that I found myself reading Nylon Angel.

Nylon Angel is a post apocalyptic cyberpunk science fiction action novel by Australian author Marianne de Pierres. It and the two sequels: Code Noir and Crash Deluxe have two things that differentiate them from a lot of the other science fiction that I read, a woman is the main character for one and it’s also set in Australia. Neither occurrence is unique, however together nor amongst my normal sphere of reading are they common.

But are they any good?

Well that’s the real question about anything we read or watch no matter its origin or setting. I think often I personally can be a little more critical of something produced in Australia, for reasons that I have no idea of. I am beyond happy to write that in this case they are indeed good, if not awesome (please forgive my fanboy’ish enthusiasm).

The characters are well written, especially the heroine of the piece: Parrish Plessis (or would that be anti-heroine?). Punches are not pulled by the character or the author. De Perres describes an awful world with great attention to detail and graphically takes us through the underbelly of this post apocalyptic Australia where the media govern and gangs rule the “Tert” (the wasteland ghetto we find our heroine in).

I love the fact that there are an abundance of Australian references throughout the novels, but even-handedly enough so they don’t become distracting or too clichéd. This isn’t a town that could be based anywhere, it’s most definitely Australian but I can’t see non-Australians not being able to relate. In Australia we’re certainly used to reading about foreign places!

If you want to support an Australian artist, you like a bit of post apocalyptic cyberpunk science fiction action and you’re not too squeamish when it comes to violence and the unpleasantness that life can throw at a woman just trying to forge a life for herself in the burnt out ruins of Australia then run, don’t walk to your local library or bookstore and grab a copy of Nylon Angel.

Tell them Lee sent you, they will stare at you blankly as they have no idea who I am but what do you care?