John Meany: Paradox, Context, Resolution Read them! or has anyone read them yet?

[ScottSF]

I was checking in the books and lit postings for any mention of John Meany. I didn’t find one so if there is already a thread forgive me.

I was wondering if anybody else has read this freak’s stuff. I mean freak in the best possible way. He’s quite a mind bender yet maintains a solid well developed future world. I was noticing a lot of fantasy readers in the forums and I think Meany would appeal to readers of both Sci-fi and fantasy. So dig it:

Paradox, Context and Resolution take place on a planet that is not suitable for humans on the surface but they have hollowed out vast tunnels underground that are divided into strata. The strata level mirror the social strata with the rich living closer to the surface and the territories are divided into ‘dimenses’ which are ruled by lords. So you have class struggle, duels, and the aristocrats even get a heads up from oracles that can forecast disasters so the rich can evacuate in advance.

The main character is from the lower class and pretty much has no rights in relation to the lords. He is visited early on from a being out of legend known as ‘pilots’ (the only people capable of interstellar travel) and is given an info-crystal that sort of tells part of the history of the Pilots via one of their founder’s POV starting way back on Earth. So the books have two parallel stories, the pilots past and Tom’s present with the chapter titles letting you know what year and which world we’re going to hear about.

So without going too deep into the plot, I found these books, entertaining, challenging, brutal and most of all inspiring. I read plenty of books for leasure, but this is the first sci-fi character that seems to have impacted my life. I find myself asking “What would Tom do?” Paradox is somewhat thematically reminiscent of Enders Game in the first half but the direction the story takes very clever and mind blowing turns.

He also has a book out called “To Hold Infinity” which is a stand-alone but is related to the timelines in the trilogy. I will definitely be watching for more stuff from this cat. I find him a refreshing change of pace from other fiction I have read.

[ScottSF]

out of respect for the author, I actually proofread this post. Sadly I didn't check the spelling of his last name so if you're lookin on Amazon it's Meaney

[ericf]

For me, Paradox was too "complex". Too much going on and too much strange "technobabble" between the wellwritten parts. I haven't read the other two books in the series but To Hold Infinity, his first novel, is a favourite of mine. Truly decadent but updated cyberpunk with a clearer look into the Pilots and their doings. If you liked Walter John Williams' Aristoi you will probably like this one.

Get it when it's released in hardback for the first time in September by Pyr.
ericf