Review: Crash / Author: Guy Haley / Publisher: Solaris Books / Release Date: Out Now

Crash is the latest novel by Guy Haley, who is rapidly carving a name for himself as an author who can consistently produce original and inventive sci-fi work. The premise is an old one given a slightly modern spin. It is the year 2153 and mankind is ruled by The Pointers, those who hold the majority of the wealth. The planet is pretty much dead and only a very select elite have anything approaching employment and even less have personal freedom. The 0.01% who own it all have decided to send vast colonial ships into the stars to secure their position and expand the human race. However, things do not go as planned.

Though on the face of it Crash seems to be a novel about emergent artificial intelligence, the dangers of greed and the thrill of galactic exploration, the central theme is about the nature of humanity. Not only its avarice, but its capacity to love, grow and learn. This should come as no surprise to those familiar with the author’s previous work; Guy Haley is always worth your time. Crash is clever, multi-layered and though political, never stoops to lecture or sermonise, it simply tells a story inspired by recent events in a timeless, almost classic science fiction style.

Haley has split the tale into key moments, making this the sort of book where you keep reading until you get to a natural pause. The characters are diverse and interesting. Sand, the American, is particularly fun, especially as most of the characters are German or Polish. A lot of thought has gone into even the most minor members of the supporting cast and the result is a world that feels very real indeed. Highly recommended and certain to appeal to almost anyone who likes good sci-fi.