John Christopher seems to have wanted to soften the impact of this book by leaving a somewhat hopeful ending. This is uncharacteristic of his more post-apocalyptic fiction which is definitely downbeat. The protagonist rings false, however...how could anybody be so complacent?

There is an incident in which the protagonist protects some gypsies from a few thugs which seems to have no point but may constitute foreshadowing or illustrate his character. Perhaps we are shown that he will decisively do the right thing in intimate situations, even when there is no appeal to sentiment or loyalty. ( )

Part one of three in Spectrum SF 4: November 2000: No date is given but the setting is near future. The main technological development involved is 'Virtual', helmets and other kit which create personal dream worlds for users, which is addictive. The main character is Michael Frodsham, an international rugby star for England with a stunning black American girlfriend Lucy who works for the US State Department. Rather prosaically, his day job is a hospital administrator. His father re-married a German, so Michael is related to Deiter von Frohsteig, a rich German manufacturer of 'Virtual', who wants to employ Michael in an ad campaign. Life is idyllic for Michael. But things start to fray. Britain Awake! activists burn down the European Union HQ in London. Michael's sister Anna's son, Adam, is a BA activist. Things escalate and there are rumours about EU treatment of BA members. Also Michael hears about plans to outsource wards of those hooked on Virtual.

Part two of three in Spectrum SF 5: February 2001: Things darken. Anna undergoes treatment for depression using a total immersion version of Virtual called Total. There are more BA stunts, and the political scene polarises further. Michael's father gets reported for making a mug featuring the German Chancellor looking like Hitler, while Michael himself is tricked in a television interview into revealing a innocent past meeting with BA members. Michael breaks up with Lucy after he thinks she is using him for political purposes.

Part three of three in Spectrum SF: July 2001: Everything boils over. The anti-EU theme, although topical (see the recent results in EU elections), becomes unrealistic: would the EU ever use force? Likewise, Total is hinted at having a 'dark' potential 'but it is never used in this novel to any great effect. All in all, rather disappointing: the themes in the novel are weak individually and never come together. ( )

I was very excited for a new John Christopher book to come out, as I am a huge fan of his, but this book was a total disappointment. It is nothing like his science fiction books, even though those are touted on the cover, and it's not nearly as good as his earlier fiction. ( )