Nylon Angel

Set in a not-quite post-apocalyptic Australia, de Pierres offers us an entertaining cyberpunk novel with film noir elements. Particularly entertaining are the Australian elements of the setting and plot. Her protagonist, Parrish Plessis survives in the underworld and convincingly gives us the noir'ish conflict of choices. A very good read and I look forward to the rest of the series.

I found this book at a friends house and ended up buying my own copy. Parrish Plessis is a tough name to say, but she is a tough kid. Bodyguard and born fighter. Only problem, she is owned by a local gangster who takes ownership very seriously. A mysterious group offers her way out. A war starts around her. She becomes wanted for murder, becomes a god, is infested with a intellegent virus, falls in love, settles for lust. In the end she is free, but a captive none the less.

I really enjoyed this book -- and its sequel, Code Noir. Looking forward to the third book (Crash Deluxe) in the series as well. The thing to remember with Parrish Plessis as a character is that she is not shy, not retiring, not a pushover unless she has absolutely no choice. This is a female who does what she can to survive, and as part of that, helps those she can. The world she lives in is dark. Her experiences up to the point where the books start -- and beyond -- have not been predominantly pleasant. For me, this was a fast read -- mainly because I couldn't put it down once I'd picked it up! Sure, there are some love triangle elements to it, but that doesn't make it a bad thing necessarily.I get what the previous reviewer wrote about this being a good post-breakup book to read. However, IMO, you don't necessarily have to be going through that to enjoy it. Think: dark, sci-fi, strong female lead. Not cute and fluffy -- period. If that's what you're in the mood for ... enjoy!

There are a great many spec' fic' writers out there who will soon be quaking on their rung of the best seller ladder at the emergence of Marriane de Pierres! Nylon Angel is a spectacular debut and when you've read the book you'll be as eager as I am to find out when Orbit are due to release the next one. Parish's world is borne from an untethered imagination, built on fantastic imagery, rich prose and dialogue as sharp as the main character. And no matter what shape your life is in, it will seem thankfully ordinary after you've read this book. Parish seems to have a penchant for the darkest kinds of strife and an unwitting ability to make acquaintance with the worst characters you could ever hope not to meet. Her only drive is to claw back her life from the manipulating clutches of the gang-lord of the Tert. Yet despite a serious `kit' and well-honed survival instincts that make Lara Croft look like an amateur, Plessis' manages to leap from one inferno to another. You'll be as exhausted as Parish if you take the ride and survive!