And it begins...


Words
Finished The Exile Kiss by the late George Alec Effinger. Exile is the third (and, unfortunately, last) of the sf Budayeen series dealing with Madrid Audran. Madrid, once a street hustler in an unidentified Arabic city gone cyberpunk of the future, is now the right-hand man of one of the most powerful underworld figures. None help him at the beginning and much of the first half of the book, though, as he and his 'boss' are exiled into the deserts of the Sahara.

I thoroughly enjoyed this last book by Effinger. Madrid, despite some of his more 'questionable' actions and extreme glaring flaws, is an engaging and sympathetic character. He tries to do what's right in his world for himself, his friends, family, and eventually the city around him. This is despite the increasing power he's inherenting from his position.

I've read the series in sequence and much of the original cast of colorful characters from the first book (When Gravity Fails) and the second continue to dog Madrid in the exotic quarter of the Budayeen. But the setting is what originally fascinated me--and continues to fascinate me--about the series. Unlike most cyberpunk novels, the world of the Budayeen is set in the Muslim world of the future. Gone are the Western concepts of division between church and state; utopias of equality between all men (and women); of resources for all; easy divisions of good and evil; and not killing one's enemy is a trait to be admired. Here a woman's virginity is still considered sacred; honor and one's word--not signed contracts or lawyers--are what make a man; and justice is an eye for an eye (even when its mechanical). Enter this mix are the 'traditional' elements of dystopic cyberpunk science fiction as humanity-altering cyber implants coupled with some new ones (to me at least): easy sex change operations and drug-filled lung replacements.

There have been many books written set in cyberpunk worlds but I've found most of them to be cookie cut in the same manner as most fantasies after Tolkien. To me, Effinger's Budayeen series stands out as a shining example as just how different the future can really be. Like Huxley's Brave New World, there's no limit to how different humanity will change both within and the societies it creates.


Weights
Remind me never to read while on the bed with a full stomach. Lethargy set in and I missed a good cardio class. Well, there's tomorrow.


Whatever
Started the job hunt today.
Interview with Remedy Staff agency went well. Hoping to hear about a couple of job opps (one in a major company) later this week. I stopped by Kimco to drop off my updated resumes and received a pleasant surprise: a possible three month assignment!

I'm keeping my figures crossed. It's interesting; last year I searched in vain for six months with barely a peep and now three opps in one day. I'm experienced, though: I'm not celebrating until a contracts signed. Still, I feel slightly less anxious when I see our bills and checking account.