Mitchell, Syne. The last mortal man.MITCHELL, Syne syne Scots adv. 1. Before now; ago. 2. Afterward; since then; since. 3. Thereupon; next. conj. Since. prep. Since. . The last mortal man. (Book One of the Deathless.). Penguin, Roc. 435p. c2006. 0-451-46094-4. $6.99. SA It started innocently enough--just trying to kill a nano-biology capitalist, Lucius. Revolutionist Clay had convinced Alexa that the violence would be a good thing. But at the point of contact, Alexa has second thoughts, and ends up saving the life of the multi-millionaire instead. For her troubles, Alexa is "converted" into a deathless nano-body and becomes indentured in·den·ture n. 1. A contract binding one party into the service of another for a specified term. Often used in the plural. 2. a. A document in duplicate having indented edges. b. to Lucius for over two centuries. Lucius's great-grandson Jack ironically is allergic al·ler·gic adj. 1. Of, caused, or characterized by an allergy. 2. Having an allergy or exhibiting an allergic reaction to a substance. allergic pertaining to or caused by allergy. to nano-biology, so he is one of the people in the world who are NOT nano-enhanced. Happy as a low-profile rancher in Montana alongside Mennonites, Jack is called back to Lucius's hideaway as disassemblers are destroying nano-built cities. Lucius is dying, but he wants his children, now numbering 70, and his corporation saved. It is up to Jack and Alexa to figure out a way. Featuring a complex and nuanced plot with a range of unique characters, this first book in the Deathless series offers a suspenseful sus·pense n. 1. The condition of being physically suspended. 2. a. The state or quality of being undecided, uncertain, or doubtful. b. read. The writing is seamless. The deaths are surprisingly sanitized san·i·tize tr.v. san·i·tized, san·i·tiz·ing, san·i·tiz·es 1. To make sanitary, as by cleaning or disinfecting. 2. , and the sex is pretty minimal. Children are the highest value. Though the story is aimed at older readers, this book would be rated PG- 13 at the most. Dr. Lesley Farmer, Lib. Svcs., CSULB CSULB California State University at Long Beach , Long Beach, CA S--Recommended for senior high school students. A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries. 
Considering this novel was to be the first of a series, it went on and on and on....It's the only novel I've read by Syne Mitchell but the pacing and plot development is poorly done. Reads more like a novel based on a movie, action scene after action scene. In fact with the strenghts of the main female character, Alexa - it's more superhero than science-fiction.
I was get tired of similar chapters over and over but what bothered me the most were some poor inconsistancies in the plotline. Things a good editor should have picked up. For example there is a major battle between Alexa and Hu-Dong, both modified humans, that ends up with a huge statue being dropped on Hu-Dong. Alexa and another character race to a drone to escape and make it just in time as Hu-Dong has freed himself and given chase. "Hu-Dong skidded to a halt...the left side of Hu-Dong face was crushed, his arm a shattered ruin, and intestines leaked out of the cavity that had once been his cheast...". But 60 pages later she runs into Hu-Dong again who says "It took me eight hours to dig out from under that statue. I lost a leg and the better part of my pelvis." It's not just that the actual story elements are different but Hu-Dong and Alexa are protagionists in only three parts of the novel. Important parts. This is not the spot to make this type of mistake. There are other smaller problems such as Alexa damaging the flimsy environmental suit she is wearing so she slips one on that a soldier had been wearing. The only problem is that soldier had been "used as a shield..." while his fellow soldiers retreated but kept shooting "making him dance with the impact". His suit would have been shredded much more than Alexa's original one. I did force myself to finish the book and of course it leaves several story threads unanswered to be resolved in future books - which the author herself on her own webpage says have not been commissioned and will not be written. |
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