Cowboy Angels (Gollancz S.F.)

Used
Hardcover
2007
$12.76

America, 1984 - not our version of America, but an America that calls itself the Real, an America in which the invention of Turing Gates has allowed it access to sheaves of alternate histories. For ten years, in the name of democracy, the Real has been waging clandestine wars and fomenting revolution, freeing versions of America from communist or fascist rule, and extending its influence across a wide variety of alternate realities. But the human and political costs have proven too high, and new President Jimmy Carter has called an end to war, and is bringing troops and secret agents home. Adam Stone is called out of retirement when his former comrade, Tom Waverly, begins to murder different versions of the same person, mathematician Eileen Barrie. Aided by Waverly's daughter, Linda, Adam hunts for his old friend across different sheaves, but when they finally catch up with Waverly, they discover that they have stumbled into the middle of an audicious conspiracy that plans to exploite a new property of the Turing Gates: it will change not only the history of the Real, but that of every other sheaf, including our own. COWBOY ANGELS combines the high-octane action and convoluted plots of the TV series 24 in a satirical, multi-layered alternate reality thriller.

Synopsis

America, 1984 - not our version of America, but an America that calls itself the Real, an America in which the invention of Turing Gates has allowed it access to sheaves of alternate histories. For ten years, in the name of democracy, the Real has been waging clandestine wars and fomenting revolution, freeing versions of America from communist or fascist rule, and extending its influence across a wide variety of alternate realities. But the human and political costs have proven too high, and new President Jimmy Carter has called an end to war, and is bringing troops and secret agents home. Adam Stone is called out of retirement when his former comrade, Tom Waverly, begins to murder different versions of the same person, mathematician Eileen Barrie. Aided by Waverly's daughter, Linda, Adam hunts for his old friend across different sheaves, but when they finally catch up with Waverly, they discover that they have stumbled into the middle of an audicious conspiracy that plans to exploite a new property of the Turing Gates: it will change not only the history of the Real, but that of every other sheaf, including our own. COWBOY ANGELS combines the high-octane action and convoluted plots of the TV series 24 in a satirical, multi-layered alternate reality thriller.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 400
Publisher: Gollancz
Published: 20 Sep 2007
ISBN 10: 0575079347
ISBN 13: 9780575079342
Book Overview: Paul McAuley is one of Britain's hottest SF thriller writers Winner of the Arthur C. Clarke, Philip K. Dick, British Fantasy, Sidewise and John W. Campbell Awards His futuristic thrillers have widened his audience into the mainstream 'Science Fiction has seen fashions come and go, but there are still a few out there who keep the faith, and McAuley is one of the best ' Independent 'McAuley is part of a spearhead of writers who, for pure imagination, hipness, vision and fun, have made Britain the Memphis Sun records of SF' Mark Thomas, Mail on Sunday 'McAuley is easily the equal of any big-name American writer in sheer narrative drive and ingenious future-making' Kim Newman

Media Reviews

A thriller that manages to combine high concept SF with cracking pace. More twists, turns and surprises than you could possibly hope for. -- Steve Robinson DEATHRAY 2007 PREVIEW If you like to think as you read, you're going to love this book. I've always said that SF and the spy thriller are very much close bedfellows and Cowboy Angels is proving this. If you like to see both genres together, this book is a good place to start. -- Geoff Willmetts SF CROWSNEST Hard-hitting and brutal, the novel is a gripping, page- turning thriller that is also a timely reminder of the dangers of imperialism. -- Eric Brown THE GUARDIAN A brainy, inventive, gung-ho techno thriller. Paul McAuley is an excellent writer, though his liberal outrage at what he sees as American imperialism is a bit predictable. I preferred his inventive Fairyland, just reissued in paperback in the Gollancz Future Classics series, but this one is highly recommended. -- Andrew McKie THE TELEGRAPH A spy-fi yarn that feels like Ian Fleming writing a 'Sliders' episode. Will give readers a visceral Boy's Own kick. -- Dave Bradley SFX McAuley provokes spycraft convincingly and proceedings eventually become extremely complex. A very professionally crafted adventure. -- Gary Dalkin DEATHRAY Cowboy Angels is nothing if not compelling. A relatively gung-ho thriller. -- Jon Jordan EDGE Breakneck pacing and narrative fluency - he juggles plot twists here to a quite awe-inspiring extent. -- Roz Kaveney TIME OUT

Author Bio

Paul J. McAuley won the Philip K. Dick Award for his first novel and has gone on to win the Arthur C. Clarke, British Fantasy, Sidewise and John W. Campbell Awards. He gave up his position as a research biologist to write full-time. He lives in London.