The Escher Man

Calling your book The Escher Man is a bold move, but a move that T. R. Napper made. The name conjures up imagery from the artist of staircases to nowhere that lead back to the start. How does that effect the man eternally made to walk these steps? Throw in some Cyberpunk future and memory manipulation and you are in for some classic science fiction mind-messing in a subgenre known for it. 

Endel ‘Endgame’ Ebbinghaus is an enforcer for a leading criminal gang in future Macau, or at least he thinks he is. After every assassination he returns to his boss and hands over a chip that contains his memory. Any reference to the recent killing is wiped, but some residual memories still linger. Memories of executions, but also memories of a wife, of a daughter, perhaps two. Endgame is a man trapped in his own mind; can he find the exit before he forgets everything about himself? 

Napper is fast becoming my favourite writer of modern Cyberpunk. The author takes the feel of the classic bleak techofuture, rain and all, but also layers in great science fiction concepts. In this case there are a few, mostly about how memory works and what role it plays in making us the people we are. Is memory the soul of a person? What would you sell your soul for? 

Escher sets a wonderful balance between the story, action, and exposition. Exposition can be an ugly word in science fiction as it evokes thoughts of pages full of technobabble or characters talking to one another like simpletons because the author is talking to the reader. Napper never falls into this trap, but still allows for moments of clarity and explanation. The exposition feels natural, Endgame is a character void of memories, so he needs telling. It works brilliantly and some of the concepts that Napper focuses on are delightful thought exercises for the type of sci fi reader who likes to noddle on the ideas within a book like I do. 

Napper states that this book was ten years in the making and you can get the sense why, not because it is confusing and bloated, but because it is the opposite. Napper is dealing with large concepts about memory manipulation, or reality not being real. A poorly written book would be confused within pages. Napper has spent time editing and enhancing the book, creating a clear narrative that keeps the reader onboard throughout. This is impressive, as a reader I have been lost many times in books like this, but in this case, Napper found a solution.  

This is a book of ideas, but it is also a book of action and characters. Endgame is a cold-hearted killer, not even an anti-hero, more a villain that we are following. Napper still manages to bring a sympathetic edge to the character as there seems to be a morality somewhere in the centre of Endgame, it is just hidden under layers of psychopath. The combination of action and ideas means that it is a book that would appeal to fans of either. Only the moments of violence would turn off the more squeamish reader.