Imagine if you will a World War II fighter pilot…who also happens to be a monkey. The eponymous Ack-Ack Macaque isn’t all he seems, however, as Powell’s seriously entertaining alternate history novel proves.
Based on Powell’s Interzone reader’s poll-winning story in 2007 (included in the book), which is more metaphorical and focuses on a failing relationship, the novel is something quite different. In this version of reality the United Kingdom and France merged in the 1950s to form the nation of Brittany. Macaque is the star of a mass audience virtual reality computer game set in an alternate reality World War II.
The main character in the story, Victoria Valois, is attempting to track down the man who murdered her husband and stole her neural implant. Meanwhile the heir to the throne of Brittany becomes a fugitive after breaking into a Parisian research laboratory.
The monkey, Ack-Ack, plays a pivotal role in the proceedings, but if I were to say how I’d be giving away spoilers. I love him as a character. He actually put me in mind of a furry Nick Fury, complete with eye patch, cigar-chewing and heavy weaponry. Think: fun, post-modern Planet of The Apes mixed with steampunkesque espionage thriller.
Rip-roaring adventure, pitch battles, dogfights, airship shenanigans and much more contrast with quieter moments. Victoria’s relationship with her “virtual” during her journey has genuine emotion, as does the heroine’s own journey to find out who she really is or even if her true self actually exists any more. Questions are asked not only about the nature of reality, but about morality in relation to a kind of future world where a vivisection of a particular type is practised, and where corporate power mongering holds sway (sound familiar?).
Ack-Ack Macaque wears its themes lightly, however; it gracefully balances action and politics to make for a novel that is all the richer for being so multi-layered.
A couple of times I felt I was getting a little lost, with the multiple storylines and trying to remember who was who. In some ways I felt the narrative could have been pared down a little and some of the material held back for the sequels. But then again, I read intermittently and not in a continuous process, which I feel this novel demands.
The dialogue is a sparky, the writing crisp and clear and concise. One minute I’m laughing, the next I’m experiencing the tension of the action and hoping that the characters I like will survive and triumph in the end. I have the follow-up novel, Hive Monkey, which I hope to review at a later date. You should also know that my officially favorite literary simian also appears in a third novel, Macaque Attack, which was recently released.
This series has intrigued me for awhile. However, I’m not much of an alt history reader, nor do I often enjoy fun books. I’m also noticing I rarely ever have large chunks of time to read, so if a book needs more than a chapter or two a day, it won’t work for me.
As soon as I saw the cover of the book, I knew I had to read this review.
Great review, and the second one I’ve come across in the last few weeks that convinces me that I need to grab a copy of this book right away.
Thanks for commenting, Tim, CV and Carl. Tim, not sure what you meant by not enjoying fun books – do you mean you only read experimental literary fiction (joking!)?
Absolutely no fun allowed. What is this, elementary school?
No, what I mean is I like funny, mysterious, thrilling or horrifying, but fun tends to lose my interest.
By fun I meant “entertaining”.
Sorry, I meant Tim, DJ and Carl!