Babylon Babies

Babylon AD is a real snooze-fest compared with this crazy book- buy Babylon Babies and don't think about Vin Diesel anymore.

I enjoyed this book, makes you do some thinking, even if it's an action/adventure book.

Originally written in French several years ago, this novel does seem just a bit dated as it is finally released in English in 2005. Many of the flashbacks are to time periods that have already passed and that serves to break the reader out of the illusion at a few points. Other than that this was an enjoyable read. The cloak and dagger form of other cyberpunk is evident here except it is metted out at a more measured pace. Dantec creates a unique cast of characters who evolve over the life of the story. The unusual locations (at least for most American fiction) like ex-Russian states and China set the novel apart from similar titles. The central mystery slowly builds to a satisfying conclusion wrapping up the major plot points while leaving open the otion for a sequel. It would be interesting to see what the author would do in a sequel further expanding on the fascinating philosophy of evolution just touched on at the end of the novel.

Babylon Babies is a vortex, blending the eurasian conflicts, the future of biological warfare, DNA, genetic manipulation, philosophy of the fold, schizophrenia, TAZ, urban guerilla... Babylon babies is the french answer to Gibson, Ballard, Philippe K. Dick., an answer that links american's cyberpunk to the french philosophy of Deleuze, and the chaotic geopolitic of diying Europe. Babylon babies is a ride in a sputnik over Tchernobyl and Canada in 2012, with NIN, Portishead, Laibach played loud on an old radio connected to the 80's ColdWave era... Babylon Babies opened my mind to unclassical SF, underground litterature, avant-garde phylosophy, scientific research, and religions. This book connects you towards unexpected new directions. It is not a book that enclose your vision, it is an explosion that expands your mind. I can't wait for more translation of Maurice G. Dantec books.

Finally, a cyberpunk novel having nothing to do with either Japanese businessmen and/or US hackers, but rather with mongolian warlords, russian (er, also kazaki, ukranian etc.) mobbers, and veterans from the Kosovo war. Your basic 2013 dystopia, complete with genetic manipulation, fringe cultures, and an intriguing take on the biological roots of schizophrenia. Recommended