The Water Knife is a gripping novel, a futuristic noir thriller full of non-stop action, but it’s far more than that. The plot is tense, full of betrayals and double-crosses, and Mr. Bacigalupi’s prose stands up to the story. The world is full of depth and detail, with little touches that bring it to vivid life. The author has clearly done his research, but presents it in the best possible way, without ever getting preachy of being forced into dry exposition. Every locale, from the high-tech pristine arcologies to the most squalid and mean streets felt authentic and real.
This is a troubling and violent book as well. Mr. Bacigalupi doesn't shy away from the ugliness to which people will stoop when their lives, or the lives of people they love, are at stake. There are also people in this book who take every advantage of the collapse of order to simply take advantage of those who are weaker. While the violence is casual and explicit, there is a strong current of hope running through The Water Knife. In the face of so much ugliness Mr. Bacigalupi shows us characters who behave with dignity, kindness, and bravery in the worst possible circumstances. As the lives of the main characters overlap, each character grows, showing more and more depth the longer we see them. Each character is important and their tales interact in surprising and unexpected ways. The supporting cast is also well-rounded and fully-realized. By the end of this blood-soaked story the only real thing of which we are sure, is that each one will never be the same. |
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July 2020
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