Just Finished Reading: Aristoi by Walter Jon Williams

In the far future at least a thousand years after the destruction of the original Earth and the deaths of over 8 billion people human civilisation has reached a plateau of virtual perfection. Ruled by a small elite cadre of men an women who are the best – Atristoi – that humanity can produce life is good for the many billions of people scattered amongst several hundred star systems. But some of the Aristocracy believe that humanity is stagnating and so a conspiracy develops to find another path towards perfection – a conspiracy that requires the death of those sworn to protect civilisation itself.

This was a very interesting (and fairly fast) read. The book was brimming with ideas many of which had been used before but Williams managed to employ them in interesting nuanced ways that made them seem fresh. Virtual reality, nanotechnology, Tachyon communications, brain implants, genetic engineering and much else besides have become staples in SF but Williams used these as mere backdrops to the story itself. They were tools used by the characters to show both the technological superiority of their society and (at least in some ways) its cultural or moral superiority too.

But as with all utopias each Eden must have a serpent. The novel was basically an old tale of Good versus Evil, of Freedom versus Manipulation and of Virtue versus Vice (in this case Pride). It was a tale of political intrigue and political philosophy and had some very interesting ideas of how minds work which I will have to follow up at a later date as well as thoughts on posture and gesture which I will definitely have to research further.

The second half of the book – where the conspiracy was uncovered and the main characters thrown into jeopardy – was a little too blatant a critique of modern society generally lacking in subtlety. The end, when it came, I felt was too rushed and rather too contrived. However, even saying that, I found the book to be quite a page turner with good characterisation, a very visual ‘feel’ as well as much food for thought. Although not his best book in my opinion I did find it very entertaining and mentally stimulating. Recommended.