CHIMERA [Paperback]

Will Shetterly (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Tor Books (2000)
• ASIN: B000OTI7AW
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Charming SF & Noir Mix, December 29, 2001

By 

sweetmolly (RICHMOND, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chimera (Paperback)

Once upon a future, there was a vegetarian, well born PI named Max and a chimera/critter (jaguar/human) named Zoe. Max takes on Zoe's case to find her "mother's" murderer for which Zoe is framed. Max's task is complicated by Zoe's lowly status in the not-so-brave new world. Critters have no civil rights, are "property" though are not called slaves. Everything in this Libertarian government is privately owned, including the police force, which is manned by Bots (trained robots.)

"Chimera" is a lively, fun, fast-paced story with ethical resonance. Some reviewers objected to the lack of depth in discussing the moral problems; I disagree. The author allows us to make our own decisions regarding what "rights" non-human entities should have. To make it more interesting, critters and A1s can reproduce among themselves and with humans.

The story takes place in LA, a ferment of sharply divided neighborhoods well described and plausible. Radical critters who hate all humans call them "skins." A human who consorts with a critter is a "furry." Critters that go inexplicably crazy are "wilding." The characters are sharply etched and most are likeable, some with remarkable (to us) attributes. Max has an Infinite Pocket attached to his wrist. You can't see it; it is about the size of a small backpack and holds his 9mm SIG Recoilless that has an infinite clip (he never needs to reload.) Zoe is amazingly fast, balanced and has a purring sort of voice. (She also has a furry ears that the author finds endearing.)

"Chimera" is good-natured, and I rooted for Max and Zoe shamelessly. The book is clever and highly readable. Treat yourself to something a little different and read "Chimera."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A HARD-BOILED PI AND HIS JAGUAR-GIRL CLIENT, July 19, 2000

By 

William Howell Jr. (Sterling, Alaska USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Chimera (Hardcover)

A great new SF detective story! Our detective hero follows in the tradition of Phillip Marlowe and Sam Spade, as he finds himself with a beautiful client who is also a murder suspect. His client also happens to be part jaguar; in the future,genetic technology has permitted the creation of "critters", mixtures of human and animal genes. These critters have become the new underclass, used as sex slaves and worse. Shetterly presents a very interesting society, an attempt to present a Libertarian dystopia, where respect for private property has permitted the enslavement of sentient beings and machines. In addition to these interesting societal ideas, Shetterly has dreamed up one of the coolest gadgets in recent memory, the Infinite Pocket. I sure wish I had one! A fine, fun novel, with plenty of action and lots of good ideas. You'll enjoy it!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Your cat will probably enjoy this one. . . ., October 5, 2001

By 

Michael K. Smith (South Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Chimera (Hardcover)

A chimera is a being produced by gene-splicing human genes with those of assorted mammals, the result being an intelligent "critter" who's not quite a slave -- but who doesn't have much in the way of civil rights, either. Having found that much in the flap copy, I thought immediately of one of my favorite stories: "The Ballad of Lost C'Mell," by Cordwainer Smith. Well, Zoe Domingo isn't C'Mell and Shetterly isn't Smith, but it's still a pretty good yarn, though a little heavy on the moralizing. What makes it fun is the mix of noir crime fiction style (think Philip Marlowe as a vegetarian PI) and a semi-cyberpunk vision of the future (everyday teleportation, space-warping as a personal "pocket," and Libertarian terrorists). Two-thirds of the way through, I began to wonder how Shetterly was going to tie up all the narrative threads, but he manages it in quite well -- though I shall be waiting with greater interest for the next "Bordertown" book.