River of Gods
Have you ever felt that everything that was happening was preordained, that every action, there, at that time was carefully thought out by an invisible mind in order to lead to a grand finale? I had not, until I read River of Gods by Ian McDonald and it upset me because I wished the book could do much more than fit back every piece of a jigsaw puzzle that was removed after numbering the assembled pieces.
River of Gods looks at what once was India, far in to the past (or is it?) when it has been divided into smaller countries in a world where water is the new precious commodity. Monsoon rained three years ago. The AIs have grown to such a level of sophistication that it has become difficult, if not impossible to distinguish them from humans. Countries, including USA are trying to pass Hamilton Acts, banning all AIs beyond a certain level of sophistication from being used. In return for their support of this bill USA is backing the move of one state Awadh to build a dam over Ganga, leaving the downstream neighbor Bharat gittery. And oh, something unusual has been discovered in the outer space that could be a message from the aliens.
Splendid setting for a great novel that Ian McDonald is almost able to pull off if not for the story lines that seem out of place, for example that of Mr. Nandha's wife and the gardener. A love story sure does lengthen the book and give it a more palatable texture but end up deflating the otherwise impressive setting. Sexless nutes, wild-west-styled aeis, evolutionary virtual worlds, antiparticle based power generation and of course the mysterious object in outer space - I would have settled for these.
This review might surprise some readers who have read glowing reviews of the book from other sources. They talk of how each and every character has a role to play, it developed to a good level and how it all comes together. I guess, what I am saying is, these are exactly the flaws I find in the novel. I know, an odd thing to say, but maybe you'll understand once you read it. Let not the negative tone of the review dissuade prospective readers from enjoying a mostly-great SF novel.
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