A review by kblincoln
Justice in an Age of Metal and Men by Anthony W. Eichenlaub
4.0
Cyber-Westerns may not be an official genre (although Cherie Priest's alternate history Clockwork Century series touches on that, amongst other authors) Eichenlaub creates a rural, Texas society thrust back to frontier law days due to the disintegration of civilization.
There was a civil war. J.D. Crow, the sheriff around these here parts, was on the "losing" side (although he claims they fought to a draw). Crow is mostly human, unlike many of the modded youngsters running around in gangs or on far-flung ranches. Courtesy of war-time trauma he sports a "black metal" arm and "nannies" (nanites) that keep him from getting too drunk-- a slight complication for a tough, old alcoholic. He's just trying to keep a little order in this lawless land, and suffer the unwanted addition of a new, city-bred deputy he suspects is there for political reasons.
Then a rancher is found dead. And there's complaints about a new Preacher stirring up unwanted attention, and a Cincas Armas gang member causing trouble-- and part of the fun here is finding out how all those things connect.
Crow's voice is pretty fun. He's weary, and wise, and philosophically obsessed with honor and determined to be a force against chaos.
There's not quite enough time for my personal taste spent on him interacting with his deputies, and I got a little confused about some of the criminal plotting, as well as I kept mistaking a few minor characters for each other, but this is certainly a fun book.
There was a civil war. J.D. Crow, the sheriff around these here parts, was on the "losing" side (although he claims they fought to a draw). Crow is mostly human, unlike many of the modded youngsters running around in gangs or on far-flung ranches. Courtesy of war-time trauma he sports a "black metal" arm and "nannies" (nanites) that keep him from getting too drunk-- a slight complication for a tough, old alcoholic. He's just trying to keep a little order in this lawless land, and suffer the unwanted addition of a new, city-bred deputy he suspects is there for political reasons.
Then a rancher is found dead. And there's complaints about a new Preacher stirring up unwanted attention, and a Cincas Armas gang member causing trouble-- and part of the fun here is finding out how all those things connect.
Crow's voice is pretty fun. He's weary, and wise, and philosophically obsessed with honor and determined to be a force against chaos.
There's not quite enough time for my personal taste spent on him interacting with his deputies, and I got a little confused about some of the criminal plotting, as well as I kept mistaking a few minor characters for each other, but this is certainly a fun book.