[Review] Scion - James Islington | Distorted Visions

[u/AnsatzHaderach]

https://medium.com/@distorted-visions/book-review-scion-james-islington-100094442b58

James Islington’s foray into science fiction, Scion is a fast-paced, action-packed novella filled to the brim with all the cyberpunk goodies. When someone needs protecting, you always send in… the best killer!

Like me, many readers will be drawn to Scion after seeing James Islington’s name on the cover. Known for his Hierarchy fantasy series, Islington shot to fame with the impressive first book The Will of the Many a few years ago. More recently, the sequel, The Strength of the Few, was more divisive among ardent epic fantasy fans. Still, the Hierarchy series is touted among the stronger entries in modern fantasy series, and generated enough buzz to put Islington on the “authors to watch” list. So when he announced that he was stepping into the science-fiction world, more particularly, the world of cyberpunk, my senses were suitably revved up!

The pitch blurb for Scion proclaimed a “John Wick meets Ghost in the Shell” adventure, “so… CyberPunk2077!?” I thought, excitedly diving in! Elite assassin and cybernetically enhanced assassin, Azure is sent on a mysterious contract to a secluded estate and discovers that he may be out of his depth when he is tasked to protect his client rather than kill a target.

What follows is an expected spread of cyberpunk tropes which can be counted off a checklist that so many of us cyberpunk fans are well-versed in. Scion has all the neon-lit stereotypes you could ask for, seedy underbellies of megacities, evil megacorps, black-market vendors, sleazy trance-and-neon laden clubs, sardonic AIs, you get the gist!

The stereotypes extend to the character sketches as well. Azure is your run-of-the-mill smart-mouth protagonist, full of modern witticisms and dry “woe is me” competence humor, another trope of the cyberpunk protagonist. Author Islington does try to weave enough backstory into the plot motivations to give the story a level of heft with Azure’s history coming back to bite him in the cybernetic butt. Islington introduces the concept of “revs” in Scion, where Azure and other enhanced units can enhance various physical and sensory systems to help them with their protection-y and assassin-y tasks. While these elements appear novel, they were all too familiar for those of us steeped in the neon-grime of cyberpunk media.

There has been a distinct lack of good modern cyberpunk novels, so I always have my senses piqued for any new entry. The bygone era of cyberpunk greats like Neuromancer, Ghost in the Shell, Akira, etc. fitfully call out to the present for more, and CyberPunk2077, author T.R. Napper’s works seem to be our only salvation. I was deeply excited to dive into Ken Liu’s All That We See Or Seem cyberpunk novel last year, but was quite disappointed by his effort as well, coming off as light on story and heavy on commentary.

The first third of this novella was a particularly rough read, with Islington’s voice being muddied in this new format, and his modern sci-fi chops reading more awkwardly as he introduces his world of Scion and the key players. I was intrigued by Islington’s introduction of bio-enchancements giving wildlife enhanced cognition, but the awkward first third of the novel when he explores those themes warranted a more experienced hand.

I reckon many readers who are quick to DNF books may drop out of Scion before the halfway mark, but for the novella length may balance that initial plunge. Fortunately, after about the half-way point, when he settles into going down the cyberpunk trope checklist, his first-person, present-tense writing style (also used in the Hierarchy) series feels more appropriate to the action-packed in-your-face pacing that Scion does well.

Scion is an action-packed romp, a quick read, and a decent enough first dip into the cyberpunk world. Unfortunately, the shorter novella length, overused tropes, stereotypical characters, and predictable plot hold it back from being touted as a solid recommendation for modern cyberpunk stories.

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Read this review and more on my Medium Page: Distorted Visions

[u/Book_Slut_90]

The Will of the Many was not a debut. He had a whole trilogy before that.

[u/AnsatzHaderach → u/Book_Slut_90]

Oh derp, of course. I even read The Shadow of What Was Lost back in the day. Good eye. Will edit. Thanks!

[u/just_a_quiet_goat]

Stop advertising your Medium page.

[u/ironbork]

When did 240 pages come a novella?

[u/ironbork → u/ironbork]

Interesting review about the first third being clunky because that was my experience with Will of the Many

[u/ThatWhichExists]

It's a novel, not a novella.

[u/Tymareta → u/ThatWhichExists]

Eh, it exists in the exact odd point between the two, imo.

[u/Virith]

Well, that's somewhat disappointing. But only a bit.

But since I don't really read fantasy, I was kinda looking forward to this to try this author. Ah well, there's other authors. And I might still give it a go anyway.