Tonight I finished the pseudo-cult classic “Veniss Underground” by Jeff VanderMeer. The reason for the description is that it is hard to find, rather adored by those that have read it, yet a new book, first published in 2003. I ordered it from Amazon.Co.UK because at the time Amazon.Com didn’t carry it. Rather interesting since he is an American writer living in Florida.
So what is the pseudo-cult classic about? Again I defer to Amazon.Com’s description credited to Publishers Weekly.
…… sets a dark, phantasmagoric tale in and beneath a decadent, far-future city where Living Artists craft monstrous works of biological art and genetically enhanced meerkats plot to make humanity obsolete. The story is told from three viewpoints, that of Nicholas, a Living Artist not quite talented enough to succeed; his more pragmatic, vat-grown twin sister, Nicola; and her former lover, the unsavory Shadrach, who has survived a childhood lived in the dangerous levels beneath the city and now operates above ground as an agent for Quin, the world’s greatest Living Artist and the perverted master of much that is evil within the city of Veniss. When Nicholas’s apartment is robbed and the tools of his trade are stolen, he goes to Shadrach and begs an introduction to Quin, hoping to find employment and resurrect his near moribund career. Alas, he fails to follow Shadrach’s directions and soon disappears beneath the city ……
It’s a dark, gritty book ala China Miéville and K. J. Bishop. His style is different from the other two though. His prose is not as eloquent, yet still good. The one thing he has on Bishop is a faster moving storyline. His dialogue though lacks a bit at times, with characters asking “Why?” questions almost making it seem immature. But overall this is a very worthwhile read from another author with a very bright (or should I say “dark” in a good way) future.
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