Infoquake

In Infoquake, the first novel in his Jump 225 Trilogy, David Louis Edelman perfectly combines shifting perspectives and timelines to keep you hooked. The first 60 or more pages of the book make you believe that the main protagonist is one character and then suddenly you find that this is not the case. The introductory section introduces many of the main characters, the setting, and some major concepts. Then suddenly just as things seem to be developing we are taken back into the past to learn more about the setting and the characters by seeing how the main character grew to adulthood.

Infoquake takes place many years in the future. Humans have developed programmable nanotech which both maintains the body and improves upon natural systems. This nanotech also allows people to essentially transport their minds all over the inhabited areas of the solar system, while keeping their bodies at home, but still allowing all five senses to be used fully.

The story revolves around a relatively new “fiefcorp” or company that develops new and better programs to fuel the nanotech. The fiefcorps’ master is Natch, a somewhat controversial and enigmatic figure, whose genius and ambition are both envied and reviled. As the plot develops it is Natch’s unique character and drive that fuel the story and the action.

Edelman has combined familiar concepts, ideas, and scenery then blended these with technological advances in a manner which seems highly plausible. This is a world where buildings can expand or collapse depending on occupancy and needed work space. Where cities like London have maintained their unique architecture and character and other cities have boomed and/or broken because of the changes to society and technology. Even though the time is many years hence much of the technology is rooted in familiar things, like the Internet, which tends to make the futuristic technologies feel more real and believable.

The actual time and space covered by the “present” in Infoquake is comparatively short. Large parts of the novel are spent building the back story, filling in history, and explaining technology. Neither of these factors lessen the novel, rather Infoquake is well blended and keeps your attention. While it is readily apparent that there is a much larger story to be told this novel can stand on its own.

I have never read anything else with this take on technology or the future. Edelman’s background as a computer programmer has very much informed his choice of setting and characters. Unlike some future scifi settings where the cool technology feels more like James Bond gizmos designed to add color and flash to the story the technology in Infoquake is the basis for the story. I enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading the next two entries. I give it a 4/5.