Foster's Future Murder Is Enjoyable Read
The Mocking Program by Alan Dean Foster
Whether writing farce that rivals Douglas Adams, hard science fiction to soothe even the most stringent rocket scientists or anything in between, Alan Dean Foster manages to plant likeable characters in a setting brimming with plausibility.
The Mocking Program, a detective novel set in the near future, is no different. In updating the police procedural, Foster falls prey to several of the genre's stereotypes but manages to invigorate his story through a newly constructed language, various gadgets and technical advances and at least two evolutionary breakthroughs. The results is a book that is familiar yet new and a pleasant way to spend leisure reading hours.
Intuit That
One of Foster's best innovations in this story is the notion that some humans are trained in empathy and able to act as super-profilers. Called Intuits, they are able to read body language, vocal dynamics and use psychology to learn about the person with whom they are interacting. This is nothing new, of course, but Foster's application of these individuals being chosen as police officers is a terrific device.
Foster also creates a dynamic future with a now-standard aggregation of cities forming an even larger metropolitan area. He peppers this setting with appropriate and fun changes in technology and medicine, but perhaps most striking is his consistent use of a Spanglish-style language created for the story. This device is not the Klingon phrases inflicted upon Star Trek readers, but an honest attempt at conveying a new language through a compelling story.
Readers will also be delighted at the spin Foster takes on evolution. I detest reviewers who bury spoilers in their analysis, but this evolutionary turn is integral to the story, doesn't strain the reader's credibility and is delightful. Few fantasy authors could have pulled the trick off as neatly as Foster does.
The Plot In Exactly One Hundred Words
Police inspector Angel Cardenas is an Intuit thrust into a whodunit about a whoisit. Despite a superior officer who wants him off the case, Angel and his partner peel the mystery's layers, they find themselves facing a global criminal enterprise as powerful as a small government. Angel must not only solve the initial murder, but soon finds himself trying to protect a brilliant young girl from being killed. Angel, something of a hero for quiet nerds, manages to get closer to learning about arch-villain Cleator Mockin than anyone ever using only his handheld web device, his brain and intuit skills.
What Works Well
oster is such a professional writer at this point in his career that he does many things well that others would simply take for granted. Yes, he is that good. This mystery novel could lose its future trappings and still be a solid work. Likewise, the neat futuristic gadgets and devices could help prop a weaker story.
Many readers may find the future setting too bleak, but The Mocking Program is about as far from cyberpunk as one can get and still write about computers a generation from now. Also of special interest is the way in which Foster deals with the problems his Intuit hero faces. This is no "shoot-'til-they-drop" cop yarn, but Foster has been around long enough to pick up the lingo of the locker room without the entire character falling into stereotypical behavior.
What Doesn't Work As Well
Unfortunately, where Foster succeeds with the depth of his main character, the supporting characters are often thin. A friendly bear of a partner constantly threatens to turn the story into a buddy movie worthy of Lethal Weapon while the supposedly concerned main female character (no spoilers!) is merely cardboard.
These issues detract only slightly from the overall effect, turning what could have been a very good novel into a good one. There is still much here to recommend The Mocking Program to fantasy readers or even mystery readers with a high tolerance for future settings.
Five Things To Remember From This Review
1. The novel is as well crafted as any popular novel out there. Foster can flat out write well.
2. The use of Intuits is an especially engaging device.
3. Foster deserves much praise for working with his psuedo-language to flavor the book. Not too much, not too little, but just right.
4. The story is really the plot and Angel. Ignore the other characters.
5. Look for a nice sub-plot about evolution.
