In Absence of Fear

Bear with me for a moment...

Years ago, I read the debut novel of another local author, Brandon Sanderson (Elantris). I loved it, and would have given it five stars on the spot. But after reading more of his work as it was released, I saw how much he improved with each book, and I could more easily see the flaws in his first novel. Retroactively, I'd now give it four stars for its minor flaws and in comparison to later works.

I'm giving this book four stars, but I hate that Amazon labels that as having only "liked" it. I actually loved it. But it's not perfect, and I look forward to the author releasing more and even better books in the future.

The story is not a surprising one to anyone who has read Orwell or Huxley, but it feels far more relevant and immediate. Mass surveillance, state intrusion, and lack of privacy are real concerns, and they're handled very well here. The author doesn't just wring her hands, she submits a compelling case for why privacy, uncertainty, and even fear are necessary for innovation and societal progression. I think there's even more to explore there, and I hope she continues with this theme.

A lot of fine lines are walked in this book. Just a couple examples: First, where some authors get so wrapped up in their story that they forget to develop their characters, others spend so much time on the characters that they forget that those characters are part of a story that needs to be told. Neither extreme is a problem here. Second, it takes a deft hand to write a novel about hot-button political issues without becoming partisan, even petty. I suspected at various times in the book that the author was a Progressive, a Libertarian, or maybe a Burkean Conservative. But by the end, I was left wondering if she was all of the above. Your political persuasion will not be a limiting factor when reading this book, which is a real treat.

Pros: Utterly believable near-future situation; Relevant political discussion handled deftly and in a universal tone; Morally principled main character (this is no tiresome anti-hero).

Cons: Big moral, philosophical questions left unexplored, especially toward the end; The ending was tied up a bit too neatly and quickly.