Max
Barry’s Lexicon became a must buy after
I heard the author read part of its frenetic and humorous opening at last
year’s Melbourne Writers Festival.
The
novel has a wonderful premise. It is set in a world where poets and the words
they use can be deadly weapons. Poets use their words to compromise people and force
them do their bidding. But it is not as easy as just saying a few words, a poet
first has to establish the personality traits of their victim to know which
words will control them.
The
story begins with Wil Parke having a needle shoved in his eye by two thugs who
have dragged him into an airport toilet. He has no idea what they want from
him, but decides he better keep still. Meanwhile, Emily Ruff , a young hustler,
is accosted by one of her potential marks. He compromises her and she winds up
in the poet’s training academy.
Their
stories unfold in alternating chapters, as the stakes increase. It is clear
that at some point their stories will have to connect, but that connection does
not come as a revelation, it is more of a slow reveal that occurs as the novel
charges from one tension filled page to the next. It’s a page turner, with two
engaging central characters whose plight embraces a reader’s empathy.
Lexicon
was voted the fourth favourite science-fiction/fantasy book on Goodreads last
year. It was also included in a list of the best books of 2013 that you have
never heard of in, an article in the Melbourne Age. It recently won the
Aurealis award for best Australian science-fiction novel.
Lexicon is a great science-fiction/fantasy
novel. One of the best written by an Australian. Its original premise takes
readers on one fantastic road trip to a totally satisfying conclusion. The
novel had me wanting to visit Broken Hill before the poets arrive.
4 comments:
Fantasy? OFFS! I had planned to read it too, but I'm so sick of buying alleged sci-fi books that turn out to be fantasy. Thanks for the warning.
Graham,
I have thought more about the genre of Lexicon since I wrote the review. Can a book that revolves around the power of words to influence and control others be considered science-fiction? Does science drive the plot of Lexicon? Not unless it is the science of words. The more I think about it, the more Lexicon is a modern day fantasy. A bit like American Gods, by Neil Gaiman. So I am curious why it was included in the science fiction category of the Aurealis awards. Barry's previous novel, Machine Man, which I very much enjoyed too, was very much science-fiction, so perhaps that influenced me in my original categorising of Lexicon as science-fiction/fantasy. Having said all that, Lexicon is still a very good novel.
Cheers for the heads up and review.. That's pretty good accolades and ive heard good things about Barry - perhaps from you.
I've been wanting to visit Broken Hill ever since I saw Wake In Fright. This sounds good.
Anthony, I have mentioned him a few times, so you probably heard about him from me. I keep on getting another of his novels Jennifer Government recommended to me by others.
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