THEME PLANET, A Novel of the Anarchy
by Andy Remic
Publisher: Solaris, 1st Edition (NOV, 2011)
Theme Planet is the first novel of a new series, The Anarchy, by Andy Remic, a prolific author of such science fiction/fantasy and military science fiction thrillers as Serial Killers, the Vampire Warlords series, Hardcore and Biohell (Combat-K Novels).
The novel teems with numerous scenes on Earth and on Theme Planet right out of recent movies like Aeon Flux or Ultraviolet. A lone female bio-engineered Anarchy Android assassin, Amba, with enhanced reflexes and augmented muscles, attacks and kills a host of guards and dim-witted cyborgs (SIMs).
During one of the first kill-fests, Amba shoots a ten year old girl and her mother, leaving the innocent bystanders sporting newly inflicted double-taps in their foreheads. These killings, unlike the others, continue to haunt Amba and play an important character-development role later in the novel.
The other major character, Dexter Colls, is a London policeman, part of the Police Urban Force (PUF) with a beautiful wife and two darling little girls, who decides to take his family on vacation to an ultimate Super-Disney amusement park: Theme Planet, a short starship hop away to another star system.
The plot continues in a manner similar to a Philip K. Dick story and a 1990 Oscar-winning sci-fi adventure film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. I cannot mention the title of the movie because that would be an unfair spoiler
The writing in Theme Planet is better than I expected. It is not just another grimy, cynical novel of urban decay and future dystopias. I found myself laughing many times at the utter inanity and grossness of the commercialized language. The two kids constantly demand such things as "Fatty Fat Burgers," "Hellhorror Pinkpunk Dolls" (compare the 2011 craze among the Kindergarten set for Draculina(tm) Dolls?) and rides on the A-Mazing five kilometer high roller coaster.
The novel contains graphic language and strong expletives. This is no-holds barred hilarious storytelling.