The Burning Light
Bradley P. Beaulieu and Rob Ziegler
Tor.com
Paperback $14.99
ebook $2.99
This short novel went on sale about two weeks ago. I’d like to thank Brad Beaulieu for sending me a review copy. I’d also like to apologize for not getting it read and reviewed closer to the release date. Life has been happening, and I’m still adjusting to some new time constraints.
I’ve not read Ziegler but I’m a big fan of Beaulieu’s work. And while most of that work has been fantasy, he has written some science fiction. That’s what The Burning Light is.
Set in a future where the ocean levels have risen, New York has been flooded and taken over by squatters. The wealthy and powerful live in enclaves further inland, and everyone has implants that allow them to communicate nonverbally through a type of cybernetic web.
Something called the Light is starting to erupt in places. It produces an addiction that leaves its victims burned out junkies who eventually die. Colonel Chu is trying to find the source of the Light and destroy it. Years ago the Light manifested through her twin sister. Although her sister survived, and Chu was touched by the Light, everyone else in the vicinity died. Now Chu has become obsessed with vengeance.
Zola used to be a wealthy pilot of boats, controlling fleets from her high rise apartment. Then the Light tried to reach her. The failed attempt cost her everything. Now she hides in the remains of New York. But she’s not just an ordinary junkie. She may be the one path the Light has to manifest.
The Burning Light is a fairly short novel. The chapters alternate between Chu and Zola. This is a dystopia, so things are pretty grim most of the time. There is an element of hope in the way things resolve. Although, be warned, if you’re something of an individualist like me, you probably won’t find the resolution too hopeful. But then I’m not a huge fan of dystopias to begin with.
That’s a matter of personal taste; and yours may certainly be different. In the hands of a good writer, even a scenario that wouldn’t be a reader’s first choice can be an enjoyable experience.
The writing in The Burning Light is crisp, and events move along at a quick pace. Beaulieu and Ziegler handle the backstory well, providing flashbacks in a way that moves events forward. In the hands of less capable writers, flashbacks could slow things down and get in the way of the story. Not so here. The pacing and characterization are top notch.
Like I said, this is a short novel. Unless your schedule is such that you are only getting a few minutes a day to read (like mine), you can finish it in one or two sittings. Check it out.