Frequencies

This is one of the best SciFi Books I've read in a long time. I'd even venture to say this is the most original in concept and voice since Gibson's "Neuromancer". The concepts and events are very timely to the direction things seem to be moving that it was almost chilling to read. Great characters! Great Voice! Definitely a talent to watch!Can't wait for the sequels Josh! Or the Movie!

Joshua Ortega has created an incredible futuristic Seattle without changing it into complete science fiction. His innovative creations of federal agencies and everyday life makes you think....could these things really happen? Some of his predictions have already begun to come true. Freeky! I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in a different view of the future - one that we can't imagine, yet we are moving toward. Be careful what you think - control your frequencies.....

Frequencies was an action-packed adventure set in future Seattle. What imaginative scenery and characters! The issues presented are eerily parallel to the direction in which our society to moving. Very deep concepts and interesting, thought-provoking themes are paired with science-fiction like characters (although they may not be considered so science-fiction in the near future) which cause you to look at our world now and compare it the their world. In a freeky way, the two worlds don't seem very different at all! Action and adventure in this intricately-planned out society keep you wanting to read more and more. Joshua Ortega is a master at creating the picture in your mind to let you feel each character. You definitely want to check this one out!

I just finished the book and thought it was fantastic. There were Gibsonian elements (Neuromancer,Idoru) in it, though it often made me think of Rudy Rucker (The Hardware Trilogy). Nonetheless, while I'm reminded of this author or that, Ortega has a unique style of his own, which is quite interesting and lends itself to a good read. I think the best part of this book was the fact that it became more of an art form; the entire section related to the delta symbol is a unique concept in writing and it made the impact convayance of situation much more intense. I look forward to reading Ortega's next book.

I highly recommend this book. Like 1984, Atlas Shrugged, and Brave New World, it considers one possible future based upon trends in both politics and technology. Unlike those stories, however, it makes its point without being particularly heavy handed. The oppression of the frequencies-monitored society is part of the richly-developed back story; it is not a part of a sermon.((frequencies)) works on several levels. On the surface, it's a sci-fi action story with chases, gadgets, and intrique galore. The novel features several excellently developed characters, and the writing conveys a great deal of compassion as well as irony, humor, and loss. As I mentioned, the subtext also presents a great deal of food for thought with regard to human nature, the imperatives of committees, and the balance of benefit vs destruction that accompany any technological advance.Mr. Ortega's greatest strength is developing great characters and putting them into readily understandable situations. The bad guys are not 100 percent evil, and the good guys (with one notable exception) are not completely untarnished. This makes them incredibly interesting and compelling.Alas, the ending is just a bit open-ended for my tastes. It's very clear that this isn't the end of the story; that at least one (more likely, two) installment will be necessary to tell the complete tale. Assuming the writing is at least as good in the next book, however, I think I can live with that. I definitely want to read the next installment(s)....So, buy this book, and make it compelling for Mr. Ortega to finish the next one soon!