The book is set on the planet Spatterjay, where a virulent disease has given rise to a new form of life the hoopers who are effectively immortal.

To the remote planet Spatterjay come three travellers with very. The Skinner is the first book in the Polity series and introduces many of the characters and themes that recur throughout Asher’s work. Banks and some of the other top British genre writers, Asher will definitely appeal to connoisseurs of sophisticated adventure-oriented SF. The Skinner is the first book in Neal Ashers Spatterjay series set in a lethal waterworld. Though his fiction is less thoughtful than that of Ken MacLeod, Iain M. Unbeknownst to the three, however, other more unsavory intelligences, some human, some alien, are gathering with evil intent. Three off-worlders land on Spatterjay: the depressed Erlin, who has returned after many years to find Ambel, an Old Captain whom she hopes will give her a reason to go on living Keech, a long-dead former police monitor kept cybernetically alive who hopes to hunt down the last of a group of murderous pirates and Janer, essentially a tourist who acts as eyes and transport for a hive mind. Ruling loosely over the world are the superhumanly strong Old Captains, who spend their days aboard ships fishing the planet's dangerous waters. Most of the few human inhabitants are also infected with the virus. Worse still, all of Spatterjay's life forms are infected with a virus that makes them virtually invulnerable to harm. Spatterjay has Earth-equivalent gravity and a breathable atmosphere, but it overflows with inimical life forms, from gruesome leeches that grow to the size of sharks to horrific glisters, gigantic shellfish that will eat anything. ), a rousing space opera, Asher takes us to Spatterjay, a deadly planet reminiscent of that in Harry Harrison's 1960 classic Deathworld Neal Asher, whom Tor introduced to the American audience with Gridlinked, takes us deeper into his unique universe with an even more remarkable second novel, The Skinner.

of society, phenomena (tech), places 10% Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)įANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction storyĮxplore/1st contact/ enviro story - Yes Explore: - stranded on alien planet, fighting aliens to survive Spying & Investigations - Yes What is main char.With his second novel (after 2003's Gridlinked of chases or violence 20% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives 40% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development 30% Descript. Click on a plot link to find similar books! Plot & Themes Composition of Book Descript.

The Skinner by Neal Asher