Assembly Code

Synopsis: Picking up where Artificial Evil concludes, Gerry returns to Earth and discovers that problems have only escalated in spite of everything previously achieved while saving City Earth. Petal’s story unfolds as the mysteries of her past unveil the complexity of our dystopian Earth. Gerry, now upgraded and more powerful than before, posses the skills to give what remains of humanity a fighting chance against the Family and new evil force that has emerged from the West, the Red Widows. High Action! More Violence! Assembly Code packs everything great from Artificial Evil while delivering a new story arc that adds depth and believability to the world inhabited by Gerry, Petal, Sasha, and Gabe.

Critique: I have enjoyed experiencing the broken, abused future-Earth that our protagonists Gerry and Sasha inhabit. I appreciate how the politics of the Family, Red Widows, and General Vickers never muddy the storyline. As a reader, I am impressed with Barnes’ descriptions and usage of technology to give not just atmosphere to the story but also in creating it as a secondary character in itself. The Servers act more as characters than tools, possessing humanlike proficiency in assisting Gerry and Petal to solve their impending doomsday problems. There is so much to be said of the story, but most will only act as a spoiler, which I’ll avoid in this review. There isn’t much else to say other than, if you enjoyed Artificial Evil, then pick up Assembly Code and continue to story. I look forward to book three with the same eagerness that I had with book two.