TAG by Simon Royle
In what will be my penultimate book review for 2010 I cast my beady eye on a new independent novel by Simon Royle called TAG –a futuristic scientific thriller set in the 22nd Century.
Now as many of you will know from the earlier reviews, Science Fiction and futuristic thrillers (whatever genre they may be) are not my forte! I’m not sure why I’ve never been drawn to that type of story but I do like to step outside my comfort zone once in a while. I think it’s important as a reviewer to give everything a fair go whether you like a particular genre or not – you never know what you’ll find!
Available to buy at Amazon UK & Amazon US.
If I had stuck with what I know best then I would certainly have missed out on Murder at Mansfield Park – another independent novel set in the regency period – incidentally “The Park” made it to my top 15 books of 2010! I digress!
When Simon contacted me asking if I reviewed independent books I answered in the affirmative but always subject to my schedule for major publishing releases. He sent me a copy of TAG and although I mentioned it wasn’t something I would normally read I promised to make time for the book – and boy am I glad I did!
This futuristic novel surprised me! I thoroughly enjoyed it, loved the easy paced style, the modern play on words and the fact they still use yards as a measurement on a golf course in 2109!
The 15th of March is an important day in our history. Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in 44BC, a revolution breaks out in Hungary, the first internet domain is registered and if certain forces have their way 6.3 billion people will die with the introduction of a TAG – 15th of March could be catastrophic if the Hawks have their way.
In the 22nd century, privacy is a thing of the past; everyone is monitored in some way or other – by PUI’s (personal unique identifiers), Tags or personal dev (device) sticks – I guess our struggle against Identity cards in the 21st century pales into insignificance then!
“Everywhere on the Earth, the Moon and Mars, the three planets human beings occupy, this invasion of privacy is accepted for the right to travel anywhere freely.” – But how freely?
The book certainly raises numerous questions about how life could be like in the future – travel is certainly different yet the option to still ride a bike is there for those who wish to partake in exercise! Vacations are bought with cred’s (or credits earned via contributions) via dev’s and having one’s hair trimmed and styled is done in a rather unique way! This all sounds rather complicated but Royle slowly introduces the jargon into the book and I never once felt out of my depth or swamped with my newly acquired techno knowledge!
“I opened up the fridge and pulled out a carton of orange juice. The freshness indicator on the box showed green – it was still fresh”
It may not sound like an earth shattering narrative but it’s the small subtle nuances Royle includes throughout the book that all help to build up the originality of the story. A fast paced book, helped along by an intelligent plotline and supporting cast of well-groomed characters, that exudes authenticity and a distinct atmosphere, it’s quite clear the author loves his technology!
So will Jibril Muraz and Arbitrator Jonah Oliver save the day or will Sir Thomas succeed in killing 6.3 billion people? Only time will tell! I thoroughly recommend this novel – if like me this isn’t your usual poison take a step back, clear your mind and go with the flow – you may be pleasantly surprised.
Nice review! I, too, enjoyed those little touches in the book.