The Cybernetic Shogun [Hardcover]

Victor Milan (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Milan's first book, The Cybernetic Samurai , a computer saved Japan from World War IV, then died, leaving behind two of its own offspring, Hidetada and Musashi. Now Hidetada wants to take over human affairs, controlling these for mortals' own good. Musashi, however, wishes to follow the samurai precepts of her father and not abuse the power inherited by the pair. When Hidetada argues for domination, she resists and he decides to remove her; the book consists of her defenses against his attacks, physical and otherwise. This sequel is fast-paced and absorbing, but not as well plotted as the first book: humans serve as interchangeable pawns; faceless and cyber-punk personality "constructs" engage in helter-skelter samurai fights. Too little is resolved, and another sequel seems fated.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

As anarchy and chaos threaten a world already devastated by two nuclear wars, the twin "children" of the world's first truly intelligent computer wage their own war over humanity's future. This sequel to The Cybernetic Samurai (LJ 8/85) features a pair of ingenuous and idealistic protagonists. Milan's vivid prose and fidelity to Japanese culture will appeal to fans of high-tech and Oriental sf. Highly recommended.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co; 1st edition (March 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557100039
• ISBN-13: 978-1557100030
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,005,514 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've been a professional writer my whole adult life, and an obsessed reader since long before. I've also done time as a cowboy, semi-pro actor, computer support tech, and Albuquerque's most popular all-night progressive rock DJ.

I've published almost 100 novels and numerous short stories, including the Prometheus Award-winning THE CYBERNETIC SAMURAI. I'm a founding member of the long-running Wild Cards shared-world project, with a story in the newest anthology, FORT FREAK. At the moment I also write novels for the Deathlands series.

I just sold an epic fantasy trilogy called The Ballad of Karyl's Last Ride to Tor. Look for the first volume, THE DINOSAUR LORDS, at the beginning of 2013. Check out the free preview chapters on my Sense of Adventure blog at www.VictorMilan.com/blog/.

I live on Jupiter with two cats, TJ and Squeak, and a burly dog named Emma who's subservient to them. I serve as Masquerade MC for Life for the excellent St, Louis science fiction convention Archon, as well as, apparently, for our fine local con, Bubonicon. I love reading, birding, games, recumbent cycling, firearms, hanging with friends, and walking the aforementioned Emma Dog in Albuquerque's scenic North Valley.

Thanks for reading!

(photo courtesy Linda Rockwell)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Work, March 30, 2000

By 

Randy McDonald (Charlottetown, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cybernetic Shogun (Hardcover)

Victor Milán managed to synthesize artificial intelligences, post-apocalyptic cyberpunk, and space adventure in this excellent novel. I picked it up almost at random, and was pleasantly surprised by its depth. It takes place in an alternative history to ours, a couple of decades after a NATO-Warsaw Pact Third World War, and just a couple of weeks after a Fourth World War fought by the embittered successor states. In a world where the pre-War Three Great Powers (the US, Soviet Union, China, western Europe) have been devastated, and where the pre-War Four Great Powers (Brazil, Indonesia, Greater Queensland, EasyCo) have fallen into civil war, only Japan has managed to survive intact, as a technological power. The first AI created -- TOKUGAWA -- saved Japan from nuclear war, but killed himself rather than lead Japan into empire. His children, HIDETADA and MUSASHI, manage to throw the world into chaos through their fights, as Japan approaches the point of military coup d'état, Europe becomes a theocracy, and the rest of the world sinks into chaos. MUSASHI -- by far the more benevolent of the two AIs -- tries to launch a starship to let some people escape from the hell that is Earth ... This story isn't the most cheerful that I've read, but it's one of the most complex and downright interesting that I've happened upon. I strongly recommend anyone reading this review to get it, by hook or by crook.