Axiomatic

This collection of short stories is an approachable introduction to the enigmatic Greg Egan (just Google "Photos of Greg Egan"). It shows talent and literary promise, combining bizarre storylines with exceptionally clear, deceptively simple prose. These stories presents extraordinary situations with unrelenting precision and is some of the most startling and mind-bending narratives I've ever read. They asked obstinate questions about how traditional beliefs in the nature of the self, human personality and consciousness can be sustained in a world where the boundaries between what is real and what is often (computer) generated are less and less easliy defined - questions about the implications of science and technology that frequently cross over into the surreal.

Many of the protagonists are investigators of some kind, sometimes detectives, sometimes reporters or epidemiologists, whose investigations invariably lead them far beyond what they ever contemplated. More often than not they obtain disturbing or even terrifying kind of knowledge as they come to understand aspects of the universe, their societies, or their own identities. There are no Hollywood-ending to most of these stories as we find the various protagonists often estranged from their own volitions and emotions, or having experiences that challenge their sense of any stable self. Are they Sartrean heroes who continue to live with disturbing knowledge about themselves and the universe? Or have they simply rationalizes their situations in a manner that is essentially cowardly? We never really know, but they learn ... and survive!

All the storiers amplifies the consumate ease with which Egan can converge physics, biology, the implications of computer science and significant aspects of modern philosophy into convincing specualtions about transhumanist thinking and the future. The style and structure of the prose are simplified to the maximum, the narrative pacing is almost flawless and Egan has a natural instinct for creating suspense and mystery. The challenges of accessibility is derived entirely from the intrinsic difficulties of Egan's concepts. Sometimes the vision is bleak, but more often it's thoroughly mind-blowing ... and genuinely liberating.

For me the stories collected in "Axiomatic" set new standards. They are all quintessentially SF and quite frankly, brilliant. Excuse me while I go and find more Greg Egan!