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The Cassini Division

Book 3 in the series:The Fall Revolution

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The Cassini Division by Ken MacLeod is a sci-fi novel set in a future where 30 billion people live in an anarcho-communist society protected by a group called the Cassini Division. The story follows the leader of the division, Ellen May Ngwethu, as she faces a threat from post-humans and navigates political complexities. The book explores themes of socialism, capitalism, post-humanism, and philosophical debates, all set against a backdrop of space adventures and futuristic technology.

The writing style of The Cassini Division is described as fast-paced, engaging, and imaginative. The book features a mix of action, humor, political commentary, and philosophical musings. The plot involves a diverse cast of characters, including a black female protagonist, and delves into complex ideas such as post-human existence, socialist anarchy, and the ethics of artificial intelligence.

Characters:

The characters are diverse and represent a range of political views, with the protagonist being well-developed, although some supporting characters may lack depth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is engaging, with a blend of action and philosophical discussion, characterized by concise chapters that keep the pace lively.

Plot/Storyline:

The story delves into humanity's evolution and survival amid conflicts, exploring themes of identity and moral philosophy while presenting a rich backdrop of political intrigue.

Setting:

The setting spans a futuristic Earth and the Solar System, featuring various locations from London to space, with a prominent focus on post-human influences.

Pacing:

The pacing is mostly effective, offering a fast-paced adventure, though some elements may feel rushed or underdeveloped.

Notes:

The book is part of Ken MacLeod's Fall Revolution series.
The main character is Ellen May Ngewthu, a black female protagonist.
The story takes place in a future where humans have evolved into 'Post Humans' living in Jupiter's atmosphere.
The conflict involves a Cassini Division that stands as Earth's defense against hostile Post Human AIs.
MacLeod explores themes of personhood, socialism, and the implications of human evolution.
The novel features a background where humanity survives various plagues and evolves politically and socially.
The reader is introduced to a mixture of anarcho-communism and the clashes with capitalist ideologies.
The pacing of the story is described as good, with plenty of action intertwined with philosophical debates.
One intriguing scene involves a protoplasmic, shape-changing space suit.
Ellen, the protagonist, challenges the moral implications of taking offensive action against sentient beings.
Despite being political in nature, the novel remains engaging and avoids dry academic tones.
The book touches on complex ideas surrounding human and machine intelligence, as well as the nature of being alive.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains themes of political violence, existential discussions about personhood, and ethical dilemmas surrounding life and death.

From The Publisher:

Ellen May Ngewthu is a soldier and leader of the Cassini Division, the elite defense force of the utopian Solar Union. Here in the twenty-fourth century, the forts of the Division, in orbit around Jupiter, are the front line in humanity's long standoff with the unknowable post-humans: godlike beings descended from the men and women who transformed themselves with high technology centuries ago.

The post-humans' capacities are unknown . . . but we know they disintegrated Ganymede, we know they punched a wormhole into Jovian space, and we know that the very surface of the solar system's largest planet has been altered by them. Worse, we know that they have been bombarding the inner solar system with powerful data viruses for generations.

Now Ellen has a plan to rid humanity of this threat once and for all. But she needs to convince others to mistrust the post-humans as much as she does. In the process, much will be revealed-about history, about power, and about what it is to be human.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

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About the Author:

Ken MacLeod holds a degree in zoology and has worked in the fields of biomechanics and computer programming. His first two novels, The Star Fraction and The Stone Canal, each won the Prometheus Award; The Cassini Division was a finalist for the Nebula Award; and The Sky Road won the British Science Fiction Association Award and is a finalist for the Hugo Award. Dark Light continues the world of his fifth novel, Cosmonaut Keep. Ken MacLeod lives near Edinburgh, Scotland, with his wife and children.

 
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