A SCANNER DARKLY By Philip K Dick

Published : 1977
Pages : 217
Overall Mark : 8/10

Bob Arctor has been sent deep undercover to infiltrate a small group of drug dealers so that he can find the source of their product, but soon he finds himself addicted to Substance D, a drug that causes disorientation and irreversible brain damage, and his odd behaviour leads his bosses, who aren't actually aware of which of the group is their agent, to think that Arctor himself may be the brains behind the operation.

This is a great novel, and the movie didn't really do it justice. There are some great ideas embedded in the plot, and the characters are lively and full of humour and imagination. Clearly this is something of an important story for Dick to tell, and this was written shortly after he discovered that he himself had done his body serious damage through drug abuse and he dedicates it to the memory of many of his dead friends. This book is a must, which although it doesn't really have an actual ending, it does end on a note that indicates that the makers of Substance D will soon meet with their comeuppance.

EMPHYRIO By Jack Vance

Published : 1969
Pages : 208
Overall Mark : 6/10

In the distant future it has become illegal on the planet Halma to mass produce any object, and to do so is punishable by death. When his father Amiante is executed for using a camera to process ancient documents detailing the legend of Emphyrio, Ghyl Tarvoke decides to find out the full story about the legend and try to use it to bring down the elite of his planet and bring an end to the oppressive system that controls everyone's lives.

This is a nice idea, but the execution is a little sketchy. The first half of the book seems quite confused, but thankfully everything seems to come together at the end with some much needed explanation. Once you can see passed the confusing start, and the habit of leaping about in the anrrative, this is an enjoyable novel which could easily be used as Communist propoganda.

DEADLY DECISIONS By Kathy Reichs

Published : 2000
Pages : 382
Overall Mark : 8/10

Dr Temperance Brennan, an expert on identifying bones, is brought in to investigate the deaths of a set of twins whose murder may be connected to a local biker gang. She discovers that the deaths are related to the death of a young girl, a death she investigated years before. Things take a turn for the worse when her nephew Kit comes to visit and becomes obsessed with the world of biking gangs and put his own life in danger by befriending members of the gangs.

Kathy Reichs has the uncanny ability of writing what is essentially a soap opera like story and giving it a forensic twist that makes it twice as entertaining. She gives us insights into the life of Tempe that prevent her from turning into a lifeless character and instead make her all the more real, and her situation all the more dangerous. This series of novels seems to be going from strength to strength, and I hope that they get even better over time.