Who Would Like This Book:
Richard K. Morgan's "Thirteen" (or "Black Man" in some regions) is a gritty, futuristic thriller that mashes up hardboiled detective noir with thought-provoking science fiction. It’s set in a fractured near-future America with some of the most immersive world-building you'll find, exploring big questions about genetics, free will, masculinity, and prejudice. If you appreciate morally complex characters, philosophical conversations, and stories that challenge our modern ideas about society, this is right up your alley - especially if you enjoy cyberpunk or authors like Gibson or Dick. Fans of action mixed with big ideas will get a kick out of it, and lovers of altered or engineered humanity tropes will find Morgan's take especially brutal and memorable.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you’re not a fan of violence, bleak dystopias, or protagonists with deeply flawed, hyper-masculine traits, you might have a tough time here. The plot can meander and the story is pretty hefty, with philosophical digressions slowing down the pace. Some found the characters unlikeable and the tone too cynical or heavy-handed, especially regarding gender and societal commentary. Anyone looking for a tight, fast-paced thriller with a super-likeable hero, or expecting pure sci-fi gadgetry over human-driven drama, may not gel with this book.
About:
'Thirteen' by Richard K. Morgan is a science fiction novel set in a future where genetically modified humans, known as thirteens, are created to be super soldiers. The protagonist, Carl Marsalis, is a thirteen tasked with hunting down other thirteens who have gone rogue. The book delves into themes of genetic engineering, societal prejudices, and the consequences of creating a subspecies of humans. The writing style is described as a mix of hard-boiled detective story and noir fiction, with elements of thriller, mystery, and dystopia.
The plot of 'Thirteen' is a fast-paced thriller that intertwines action, violence, and thought-provoking discussions on history, evolution, racism, and religion. The narrative explores a complex world where societal norms have shifted, leading to conflicts surrounding genetically modified humans and power dynamics. The book offers a blend of science fiction elements with a cop drama vibe, featuring cerebral themes alongside intense scenes of sex and violence.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Thirteen includes high content warnings for depictions of violence, sexual content, racism, and themes dealing with genetic modification and abuse.
From The Publisher:
In Thirteen, Richard K. Morgan radically reshapes and recharges science fiction yet again, with a new and unforgettable hero in Carl Marsalis: hybrid, hired gun, and a man without a country . . . or a planet.
Marsalis is one of a new breed. Literally. Genetically engineered by the U.S. government to embody the naked aggression and primal survival skills that centuries of civilization have erased from humankind, Thirteens were intended to be the ultimate military fighting force. The project was scuttled, however, when a fearful public branded the supersoldiers dangerous mutants, dooming the Thirteens to forced exile on Earth's distant, desolate Mars colony. But Marsalis found a way to slip back-and into a lucrative living as a bounty hunter and hit man before a police sting landed him in prison-a fate worse than Mars, and much more dangerous.
Luckily, his "enhanced" life also seems to be a charmed one. A new chance at freedom beckons, courtesy of the government. All Marsalis has to do is use his superior skills to bring in another fugitive. But this one is no common criminal. He's another Thirteen-one who's already shanghaied a space shuttle, butchered its crew, and left a trail of bodies in his wake on a bloody cross-country spree. And like his pursuer, he was bred to fight to the death. Still, there's no question Marsalis will take the job. Though it will draw him deep into violence, treachery, corruption, and painful confrontation with himself, anything is better than remaining a prisoner. The real question is: can he remain sane-and alive-long enough to succeed?
Ratings (10)
Incredible (3) | |
Loved It (6) | |
It Was OK (1) |
Reader Stats (14):
Read It (10) | |
Want To Read (4) |
What can you read after
Thirteen?
About the Author:
Richard K. Morgan is the acclaimed author of The Cold Commands, The Steel Remains, Thirteen, Woken Furies, Market Forces, Broken Angels, and Altered Carbon, a New York Times Notable Book that also won the Philip K. Dick Award in 2003….
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