Genetically Modified Noir on Mars
In 2008, Richard Morgan wrote a book about a genetically modified Martian super-soldier who wins a lottery ticket back to Earth and comes home to do some sleuthing. Ten years later, he wrote another one titled Thin Air, where the protagonist is again a genetically modified super-soldier, but this time he’s investigating the disappearance of the Martian lottery winner – on Mars, several hundred years later.
I’d bet on it, that Morgan captures many of us with his macho protagonist because it’s truly heartwarming to see such a competent, skilled individual at the center of the action, someone who occasionally rips apart those who get in his way during his investigations. But the focus isn’t on the ripping apart, of course – despite a strong emphasis on action, Thin Air is ultimately a crime novel, specifically in the noir sub-genre.
Washed-up protagonist? Check.
Femme fatale? Check.
Nefarious conspiracy in the background? Check.
Thin Air: Intelligent and Believable Sci-Fi
If we set aside the sci-fi elements (which blend into the text as seamlessly as in the monumental Expanse series, see Tiamat’s Wrath by James S. A. Corey), and placed the story in the 1950s, Thin Air would still hold up. In fact, we might fare slightly better with the time shift, as Richard Morgan throws us straight into the deep end of Mars, with many references only becoming clear hundreds of pages later – or sometimes not at all. This, of course, can cause our brains to stumble occasionally.
However, despite these minor, annoying circumstances, Morgan’s book is a sophisticated, intelligent read for a sci-fi novel that immediately finds its footing once the two main characters meet. It maintains a steady, compelling momentum, losing steam only in a few scenes (e.g., when it delves into local, i.e., Martian superstitions for a bit too long).
There are also two very impactful sex scenes. Okay, this isn’t crucial, but it’s worth knowing.
The Hyperactive Super-Soldier Gets Tired of the Many Intrigues – and So Does the Reader
So what happens if we maintain a steady, compelling momentum over the long term? It’s no surprise – we get a bit worn out by the end.
By the conclusion of Thin Air, we get the sense that there’s a bit too much of the complications and unexpected twists, which sometimes don’t seem very consistent (see, for example, the mayor’s attraction to the ‘more force than brains’ approach). Additionally, the protagonist (who, despite being a super-soldier, is just a small player in the grand scheme of things) gets involved in resolving Mars’ issues to such an extent that it seems somewhat exaggerated.
Not everyone suits a messianic sense of mission akin to Jack Reacher’s (see Lee Child’s One Shot), driven by the obsession that they have to solve every problem in the world themselves. Though, ultimately, what matters is that he solves it.
Rating: 7.9/10
Thin Air by Richard K. Morgan
530 pages, Hardcover
Published in 2018 by Gollancz