This is an email from my publicist in New York. I'm rather delighted, warts and all. The original mail contained massive give-aways to the ending of the book - so I've "XXXX'd" these out.
From: Floyd XXXXX [mailto:floydXXXXX@mac.com]
Sent: 23 October 2008 10:08
To: David Rodger
Subject: Edge Finsihed
Hello David
Well. I finished 'Edge' as I often finish your books. Sitting in a bar gently supping something. I'm massively late for meeting someone. My phone is off. The rest of the world is off. Engrossed, reading too quickly in a bid to see what the hell can happen next.
Edge was wonderful. I always say this, but the latest book is my fave to date. There is a lot I liked about this one. The tight, intriguing location. The characters felt real. The banter was natural, funny and sharp. The 'cyber' was there but not a central component, more like another character. Deep Space was there, in the background as a reminder of the power held by the forces represented in the book. The "monster" was there but not dialed up to an unbelievable degree. The face Ethan had a "scientific" theory on the XXXXXXXX was a genius stroke. Clearly it was a lot more than XXXXXXXXX but "what" was left to the imagination of the reader. It was genuine horror. Fucking nasty in places. Fantastic!
I made a note last night, smiling, I wrote: "Dave's psycho neighbor has no idea of the silent horror in the mind of his "everyday" working neigbor, David." lol. Then I remembered you actually do have a two handled axe. He'd better behave no? ha ha.
A few observations, in no order:
You mention 'horror show' 3 times towards the end (sorry made no note of page numbers). That's 2 too many times. By the 3rd time, it's lost it's power (at the chalet).
There seems to be too many shrinking balls references. It's this books new 'power suit" - lol. What is it with you and character's balls?
2nd paragraph on page 405, you mean "stopped" not "stopping."
I loved the twist about the XFG being used XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. I thought this was a deep thought. Tools being used as XXXXXXXXXX and whether, ultimately, if that's a good thing or not. Thinking of the Bomb on Japan here. Would the Japanese really have continued if the Bomb hadn't been dropped (twice for fucksake)? As I write there is some concern about India's space mission (and by extension it's missile power). Great area to have explored and explored so intelligently.
Halo was a fine character. Complex. I wasn't sure how to take him, very multi-dimensional. He was a greedy self-centered twat (but can't we all be like that at times?) He XXXXXXXXXX
****
That's it for now. Thank you for an exhilarating piece of entertainment.
F.
DJR NOTE: you can preview the first few pages of EDGE here