Book Review of ICE BLACK by T.E. Mark
I thought I'd close out this month and change things up a bit. I recently had the pleasure of reading the book ICE BLACK by brilliant author Mark E. Thomas, who pens his work using the pseudonym T.E. Mark. While I do not review books often, I felt compelled by the premise of the story.
It’s the early 25th century, and our world is divided between humans and drones - synthetic beings with phenomenal consciousness, nearly indistinguishable from their human counterparts, that now make up 35 percent of the Earth’s population, and the desire to eliminate their organic counterparts.
Drones were granted full citizenship in the year 2018. Now, they run corporations that are more profitable and efficient, and their government is more stable and respected. There is no crime or poverty within their ranks. Humans, on the other hand, unable to compete with such perfection, now face the menacing and detestable inevitability: Becoming a subservient underclass to a race of beings they once created to make their own lives more comfortable and exciting.
Peter Frost is an independent contractor or, to be more precise, a corporate thief. He and his team have been hired by the human Directorate to steal something from the drones - something called ICE BLACK - a vital part of the synth’s plans for world supremacy. However, before Mr. Frost can secure this item, with the brilliant insights of robotics Professor Chu Lin and his synthetic assistant Charon, he must first locate the article, and more importantly, he must find out what ICE BLACK is.
Just imagine: Synthetic gardeners, maintenance technicians, nail stylists and nannies suddenly turning into warriors for the drone cause at the command of the Secretary General. This seemingly inevitable human-synth war would presumably be over in just a matter of days with the defeat of mankind. Unless, of course, humans do the unthinkable and violate the nuclear arms treaty. The friction, bias, and competition between the synths and humans can be read as bigotry, controlled human evolution, or as technology and robotics progression, making the human race obsolete in due course…the choice is yours.
With ICE Black the author, T.E. Mark has crafted another sizzling, yet meaningful tale, that delivers a startling look into a not so far-fetched future. It opens like a Hollywood screenplay – fast-paced and with a bang! I enjoyed this page-turner tremendously, and highly recommend it if you’re in search of an exciting sci-fi read!
Piper is the author of several non-fiction books, and recently added two historical fiction novels to her ever-expanding collection of published writings, In the Shadow of Her Majesty and The Country Girl Empress. When she isn't busy typing away on her computer, she can be found chasing after her furry children or holding on tightly to a good cup of coffee. Follow her on LinkedIn, Facebook, Goodreads and Google+.
Writer / Editor
6 å¹´Thanks for the nice review, A. Piper. There's a special feeling one gets when a professional writer likes your work. It means more.