Better than Real: Sensual Solutions for the Discerning Client [Paperback]

Huw Lyan Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 2006

Lee is an up-and-coming designer of seductive love dolls, until the day his sexiest creation yet goes murderously wrong. Sent to the crime scene to defuse a delicate situation, Lee finds that the rogue doll has been infiltrated by a mysterious, self-aware entity called Lilith who can't seem to make her mind up whether she's a silky-smooth seductress or a state-of-the-art assassination system. Within hours, Lee's encounter with Lilith has escalated into a life-or-death race with her creators, the shadowy and relentless Elect, and ultimately into a battle for the very stuff of his humanity - a battle in which his best hope of salvation turns out not to be human at all.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Velluminous Press (January 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1905605021
• ISBN-13: 978-1905605026
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,691,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun read, but not without flaws, December 22, 2007

By 

Neal C. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Better than Real: Sensual Solutions for the Discerning Client (Paperback)

Better Than Real by Huw Lyan Thomas presents a fast paced story in a coherent and believable near-future world with a great cast of characters, all of whom have at least one quality that makes them engaging or just plain cool. The story is a fast and fairly easy read. It's focused more on characters and plot than technical jargon and minute details. In other words, cyberpunk aficionados may find this book overly simplistic and may enjoy something like Looking Glass by James R. Strickland a lot more. But more casual cyberpunk readers may like this one.

The tale told is certainly not the most original tale, but a story does not need to be original to be enjoyable. I was reminded of some of my favorite anime, manga, comics, etc. as I was reading. The first chapter, for example, evoked thoughts of Elfen Lied in me and that's part of the reason I wanted to check this book out- because it evoked feelings of something else I liked.

The book is not without flaws, however. Sometimes the writing is a tad choppy. Sometimes events, albeit minor ones, just suddenly happen. This is one book that I felt could have benefited from smoother writing with more details. Of course, if you dislike copious details and just want to get to the good parts, check this book out. Even the first chapter starts off in the middle of the action and it was reading that first chapter on Amazon that made want to buy the book and find out what happens next.

Bottom line? If you are a more casual reader and don't mind sometimes choppy writing, this is a fun book to read over a holiday or weekend. If you want deeper, meatier, and more "tech-y" cyberpunk, there are better choices out there, such as James Strickland's Looking Glass. I enjoyed the book personally because I was looking for a more fun and relaxed read for the holidays.

But don't take my word for it. Go ahead and read the excerpt provided here at Amazon and decide for yourself if this is a book you'd like to read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid sci-fi thrill ride, September 10, 2008

By 

Harriet Truman "I seeeeeeeeee you." (South of Heaven) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Better than Real: Sensual Solutions for the Discerning Client (Paperback)

I'm a sucker for all books about sexy artificial intelligences, so I loved this one from beginning to end. Writing was just a tad rushed at times, but the characterizations are solid, and never gets boring.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful read -- someone needs to make this a movie, July 2, 2006

By 

grace saran "grace saran" (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Better than Real: Sensual Solutions for the Discerning Client (Paperback)

This is an absorbing work that I spent a day and a half reading cover to cover. It is written so smoothly and visually that when done you feel as though you have lived in this world (and don't want it to end, which was great because the way the ending is written, it is a complete work unto itself yet leaves the door open for a sequel.) Suspense-filled, with great and memorable characters. The author obviously knows a lot about current and future technology and renders this highly imagined world in a way that makes it scarily real for the reader, and the tone of the book is great throughout, you feel as though Lee is real and a friend and even the most brutal of characters are made human. (I am an attorney and when I have a "client" that means one thing to me but when Stranger, pronounced, Strang-er, has a "client" it means something shudderingly different.)

I greatly recommend this book. If there are any smart film makers out there, they ought to read it. I hope the author is working on a screenplay because this would seriously make a wonderful movie -- it has all the successful elements of box office hits like The Matrix-- it fill your senses, keeps you on the edge of your seat and transports you into another world while connecting you to the characters so that you truly enjoy the ride (and don't want it to end-- I hope the author will do that sequel.)