The Human Front (Outspoken Authors, 10)

by Ken MacLeod

Paperback, 2013

Status

Available

Call number

PR6063.A2515 H86

Genres

Science Fiction

Fiction

Publication

PM Press (2013), 128 pages

Description

Winner of a Prometheus and Sidewise Award, The Human Front follows the adventures of a young Scottish guerrilla drawn into low-intensity sectarian war in a high-intensity future, when the arrival of an alien intruder calls for new tactics and strange alliances. Acclaimed British sci-fi author Ken MacLeod's unique vision is developed even further in a new commentary written especially for this edition, and in his delightful personal account of a Hebridean youth's first encounter with the post-capitalist world. Also featured is an outspoken interview with MacLeod.

User reviews

LibraryThing member AlanPoulter

Marvelous polemical alternate history of the twentieth century, as seen though the eyes of a young Scot.

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LibraryThing member richardderus

What a hoot...what a ride! I can't imagine how the author works in the past and still makes a future worth dreaming about. He's just better at it than the other guys from the 1970s & 1980s.

This alternate history novella, with a few explanatory notes following, gives the reader a real workout. There

are a few points where I was sure I understood what he was doing...and was I ever wrong. When he decided to show me the real deal, I thought I was a bit dim for not getting it. Still love being off the beam, when we get to go this way. If you're in the mood for a read that doesn't mean what you think it means, you could do worse but not a lot better.

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LibraryThing member quondame

An alt-world 60s-70s where powerful bomber technology has enabled the capitalist forces to eliminate the USSR as a superpower before the start of the main action and the Scottish protagonist involves himself in communist organized resistance which, due to it's original genesis, ends up outside

traditional topple the regime narrative. Motivation for John radicalization is somewhat scanty, but sure. I could not give up my bogglelization at Scottish flavored SF, my own limitation entirely as of course the alternate past, like the potential future is ubiquitous.

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