Viccar
05-17-2003, 03:06 AM
When I first picked up this book, I was hesitant about it, but had to read it since FPW is my favorite author. My fear was that this book would turn into a Sci-Fi type story, but those fears were soon set aside.
The story takes place approximately ten years from now. Not very much has changed, except for the introduction of a new race called Sims. A company named SimGen has manipulated the chimp DNA by using human genes to produce a whole new race that is almost human but not quite human (they have also been altered so they are incapable of breeding). Since these sims aren't human, they don't have the same rights as humans and SimGen is allowed to lease the sims to anyone who wants. Sims have found their way into many aspects of life, from hard labor to the sick underworld of prostitution, but they are all slaves and are owned by SimGen.
The story takes off with Patrick Sullivan, a labor lawyer who is trying to work his way into a membership at an exclusive country club. While there he is approached by an older sim by the name of Tome, who has taught himself to read. Tome approaches Patrick to ask if he will represent the sims at the country club to help them form an union. Since there is a huge debate whether sims should be treated as humans or animals, Patrick sees this as possibly being a huge case since sims have never been allowed to form anything like an union before.
After he takes the case, his house is burnt down and there are attempts on his life. He also meets Romy Cadman. Romy works for a government organization that oversees animal rights. She also introduces Patrick to a mysterious man that only goes by the name of Zero. Zero is the head of a movement that has set it's sights on bringing down SimGen.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this book and the Sim labor union is only a front to the real storyline to the book. One of the biggest twists takes place just five pages from the end of the book.
Overall, it's not my favorite book from FPW but all the twists made the book an enjoyable read and kept me turning the pages. The cloning in the book will open your eyes a bit about what may be possible in the near future as science moves farther along in this field, just as long as it doesn't move in the direction that Sims deals about.
The story takes place approximately ten years from now. Not very much has changed, except for the introduction of a new race called Sims. A company named SimGen has manipulated the chimp DNA by using human genes to produce a whole new race that is almost human but not quite human (they have also been altered so they are incapable of breeding). Since these sims aren't human, they don't have the same rights as humans and SimGen is allowed to lease the sims to anyone who wants. Sims have found their way into many aspects of life, from hard labor to the sick underworld of prostitution, but they are all slaves and are owned by SimGen.
The story takes off with Patrick Sullivan, a labor lawyer who is trying to work his way into a membership at an exclusive country club. While there he is approached by an older sim by the name of Tome, who has taught himself to read. Tome approaches Patrick to ask if he will represent the sims at the country club to help them form an union. Since there is a huge debate whether sims should be treated as humans or animals, Patrick sees this as possibly being a huge case since sims have never been allowed to form anything like an union before.
After he takes the case, his house is burnt down and there are attempts on his life. He also meets Romy Cadman. Romy works for a government organization that oversees animal rights. She also introduces Patrick to a mysterious man that only goes by the name of Zero. Zero is the head of a movement that has set it's sights on bringing down SimGen.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this book and the Sim labor union is only a front to the real storyline to the book. One of the biggest twists takes place just five pages from the end of the book.
Overall, it's not my favorite book from FPW but all the twists made the book an enjoyable read and kept me turning the pages. The cloning in the book will open your eyes a bit about what may be possible in the near future as science moves farther along in this field, just as long as it doesn't move in the direction that Sims deals about.