Book Introduction
The book today is Thirteen by Richard K. Morgan
Overall rating: 3.9/5 (-0.1 for unnecessary bedroom stuffs)
What’s it About?
“Thirteen”, also known as “Black Man” in the UK, is a near future story where genetically engineered humans (Thirteens) were created to be super soldiers. When their duty was done, they were exiled to Mars out of fear. Carl Marsalis, the main character, is a Thirteen who hunts other Thirteens down that escape Mars and make it back to Earth. We watch as he tracks down one such Thirteen by the name of Merrin who’s committed several brutal murders. Marsalis must travel across a fragmented America from the theocratic “Jesusland” to the corrupt “Rim States” as he looks for clues of where Merrin is. In doing so, he reflects on his identity and humanity through social issues like racism, ethics of genetic engineering, and violence.
While Marsalis pursues Merrin, we are challenged with philosophical and ethical questions of what it means to be human, if genetic manipulation created non-humans or true humans, and the like. Marsalis’s love interest is his partner in hunting down the rogue Thirteen, and as he learns of her past, he learns more about himself in this gritty, action-packed science fiction novel.
What I Liked
This book has great character and world building. The depth of each brings the complexity of the near future (that could be our future too!) to life. While many of the trope-ish type of things remain, there’s still fresh ideas, technology, and characters to keep even a seasoned science fiction reader entertained.
What I Didn’t Like
There are some sections that move much slower than others. It was slow getting started for me, and there were some bits in the middle I thought were too slow, but I didn’t question the story at any point. The philosophical introspection, especially from a Thirteen bred for violence, was enough to pull me through. This may not be true for everyone though. There were also moments where I noticed some comical or unrealistic depictions of belief, especially in relation to Christianity and Middle America. And like I said earlier, there’s some unnecessary bedroom stuffs that just isn’t everyone’s style.
Conclusion
The book is not for the faint of heart. If you don’t like fast action, slow philosophic reflection, and gruesome violence and “intimacy”, this book isn’t for you. However, if you like adult science fiction, it’s probably worth adding to your reading list, especially if you’re interested in where technology might take us in the next hundred years.
Stay Tuned
I hope you enjoyed this webisode, let me know what you thought of it and if you’ve read The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter, let me know in the comments what your takeaways were. Don’t forget to check out the other webisodes and full-length podcasts available on Substack and Spotify! You can find links to them all by going to craigtstewart.com
And with all that said, have a good one folks!
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