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Altered Carbon

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I was introduced to Richard Morgan by my boss, who is another Alistair Reynolds fan. Altered Carbon is part hard sci-fi and part detective novel.

I was initially quite surprised at the amount of graphic sex and violence and the crude style took some real getting used to. The story is entirely linear and entirely from the point of view of the main character, Kovacs. What makes it a real page turner is that there is so much going on and very little explained until the end where all the events are slotted together. If you hate not knowing things, this book will keep you going to find out.

The core sci-fi concept that the book relies on is the idea that a stack embedded in the back of your neck allows you to be downloaded into a new body, called a sleeve, if you die.

Once I did get used to the style I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would recommend it and I am intending to read other books by Richard Morgan, but not before I've reread some Alistair Reynolds.

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