I definitely liked the face paced action in this book. Also the internal conflicts are interesting through out. Over all a very good read. ( )

A man wakes up in a forest with no memory of who he is or how he got there. He names himself Seven. He is helped out by a stranger who gives him some cash and helps him find a place to stay. He gradually comes to find that this society is controlled by a totalitarian government, and most of its citizens are subject to invasive surveillance. After a couple of inciting incidents, he hooks up with a band of revolutionaries, and starts helping in their plans to destabilize and overthrow the government.

The plot proceeds at a rapid pace, with Seven quickly evolving from confused and broke to armed and dangerous. Some elements of the plot are a bit hard to swallow, such as the contents of the DVD (you’ll see what I mean), but we get a satisfying resolution and the setup for a sequel.

I found the conversational style a bit dry and emotionless, especially considering the sometimes violent acts committed by the narrator. The narrator also continually talks to himself, asking and answering questions like a crazy person, which can get a bit repetitive. Most of the characters are thinly drawn, not surprising since the story comes in at under 200 pages, but sometimes a quick read is a good read.

I think the theme of pervasive surveillance is timely and important, and this book was written a few years ago, so kudos to the author for anticipating the current milieu. ( )