Christopher Rowley

"Pleasure Model" is the first of three short novels in the Netherworld trilogy. They are all fantastic reads. The Netherworld is a future world where a tyrannical government governs with secret assassination squads, people live in big developed cities, and much of the country is uninsured territory. Similar to Asimov's Caves of Steel series, here's a science fiction world with a homicide detective, but it's not quite a PG- rated world. This world bristles with eroticism and is filled with dominatrixes on the run and pleasure mods, who are genetically bred perfectly formed persons with one task in mind and the IQ of a blueberry, that is, unless they get upgrades.

This book and all the books in this series are written in such an action- packed way that it feels like you are watching a movie. From start to finish, the story rushes along like a jet plane on steroids.
There are murders, bombings, killer robots, exploding messages, a vast government conspiracy, and a burgeoning network of people on the run.… (mehr)

"The Bloodstained Man" is the second book in the Netherworld trilogy. Reading this book is akin to watching an action-packed science fiction movie. It's a few decades into the future and much of the country is in ruins - or at least most of New Jersey. Other areas have protected, insured cities, but Jersey is run by cutthroat gangs and swamps there are filled with alligators. Most of it is utter wasteland.
The main characters of this series include a policeman-Rook Venner, a dominatrix- Julia, and a pleasure mod who is so fresh out of the box that she is merely called Plesur. A mod is a kind of genetically engineered, factory grown person who is designed for giving its owner pleasure. They are generally barely intellectually functioning but often can get upgrades and abilities. These three, in any event, are on the run from warring forces who will stop at nothing to get info embedded in Plesur somewhere.

The story is a crazy science fiction action sequence that is filled with caged death matches, robot monsters, armed militias, and a world much like that found in Gibson's Mad Max movies.
There are few books you will read that feel so much like a live action movie. And it is clearly an R-rated movie.

Although it was not necessary to read book one to enjoy this one, it appears book three is necessary to bring it all to a conclusion.… (mehr)