Published by Del Rey on September 29, 2015
Lightless is sort of a cross between 1984 and 2001. Relentless government surveillance occupies the background while a mad computer (although not exactly HAL) takes over the foreground. But it’s also a cross between a political thriller and a science fiction novel. While none of its elements are entirely original, C.A. Higgins blends them together in surprising ways.
The System, a controlling, authoritarian government based on Terra, is feared, if not reviled, on the outer planets and inhabited moons. A terrorist known as the Mallt-y-Nos is making mischief (including political assassinations). She is believed to be acting in concert with a couple of rogues named Mattie and Ivan, who position themselves as freelance thieves who have no interest in politics.
Mattie and Ivan board a System ship that is operated by a three-person crew. Mattie monkeys with its computer, much to the dismay of Althea, the ship’s engineer. Ivan is captured and held for interrogation by a System official named Ida who specializes in getting at the truth.
Ida is not allowed to use truth drugs, even in terrorism matters, unless she can first catch Ivan in a lie. That concern for civil liberties struck me as unlikely, given the System’s ubiquitous surveillance, its demand for loyalty, and its reliance on summary execution to assure obedience. Higgins needed that plot device to keep Ivan talking so I can forgive her for it, but it does detract from the novel’s credibility.
The political dynamic that underlies the story isn’t particularly sophisticated but neither is it simplistic. The ending is surprisingly dark but I appreciated its surprising nature. This isn’t feel-good fiction and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who is looking for an upbeat read, but Lightless held my interest with well-crafted characters and fast-moving story.
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