Review: Infinity Engine

Title: Infinity Engine
Author: Neal Asher
Pages: 464
ISBN: 9781597808897
Series: Transformation #3
Publisher: Night Shade Books
Published: 21 March 2017
Genre: Science Fiction / Space Opera
Source: eARC from publisher

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The Book Depository (US edition)
The Book Depository (UK edition)

In the outskirts of space, and the far corners of the Polity, complex dealings are in play. Several forces continue to pursue the deadly and enigmatic Penny Royal, none more dangerous than the Brockle, a psychopathic forensics AI and criminal who has escaped the Polity's confinements and is upgrading itself in anticipation of a deadly showdown, becoming ever more powerful and intelligent. Aboard Factory Station Room 101, the behemoth war factory that birthed Penny Royal, groups of humans, alien prador, and AI war drones grapple for control. The stability of the ship is complicated by the arrival of a gabbleduck known as the Weaver, the last living member of the ancient and powerful Atheter alien race. What would an Atheter want with the complicated dealings of Penny Royal? Are the Polity and prador forces playing right into the dark AI's hand, or is it the other way around? Set pieces align in the final book of Neal Asher's action-packed Transformation trilogy, pointing to a showdown on the cusp of the Layden's Sink black hole, inside of which lies a powerful secret, one that could destroy the entire Polity.

Infinity Engine is the final installment in the Transformation trilogy and what a conclusion it is. Wow! Just wow! I ended up reading this till well past midnight and my mind is still left reeling from the experience. In the best possible way.

Watching Penny Royal's intricate machinations unfold is like trying to assemble an ever-evolving 4D puzzle while blindfolded with one hand tied behind your back. Up until the last third of the novel you are never quite sure whether Penny Royal is a force for good or evil. It's only when all the set pieces are moved into place for a tense, breathtaking showdown that you discover the true brilliance of what the AI is attempting to do.

"This was about redemption, about forgiveness, about a need to be understood"

The process of transformation is finally brought to completion, not only for Penny Royal but also for all the characters that crossed its path; for some in the most unexpected ways. The end result is a universe irrevocably altered, transformed into something new with far-reaching implications that will leave you reeling under their impact. Neal Asher has absolutely outdone himself!

The Verdict:
Infinity Engine is a stunning conclusion to the Transformation series. It has all the hallmarks of a Neal Asher novel - devastating technology, massive space battles and stellar destruction on the grandest of scales, but it's also a far more intimate story of growth, redemption and forging your own identity. There are a lot of intricate layers at play in the superbly woven narrative; the myriad transformations will leave you both satisfied and utterly intrigued with the implications for the Polity universe at large. A mind-blowingly brilliant read!

The Rating: 8/10 (Great!)

Thanks to Bri from Night Shade Books for the review copy.