Book Review: Under the Amoral Bridge By Gary A. Ballard

Paperback: 170 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1449509673
ISBN-13: 978-1449509675

Artemis Bridge is the know-who, go-to guy, the amoral fixer in 2028 Los Angeles with the connection for any illicit desire no matter how depraved. You need it, he can get it without questions or judgment. He prides himself on staying detached from the depravity, untouched by the filth, untouchable by the law. When a young hacker is assassinated before his eyes, he is burdened with a scandalous video of the mayor on the eve of the city’s most important election of the century. With digital assassins and murderous thugs dogging his every step, he has only days before the corrupt mayor is re-elected, handing the Chronosoft Corporation complete control of the city. Unable to sell the video, he is forced further into a complex conspiracy.

Under the Amoral Bridge is set in dystopian future Los Angeles, after a bankrupt government has abandoned its citizenry and a major corporation with it’s own agenda has taken over. Artemis Bridge, simply known as “Bridge” always knows someone who can get you what you want,as long as you’re willing and able to pay. Even with the obvious futuristic elements of the story, there is much that links it to present day – Politics, Corporate Greed and both the good and bad aspects of technological advances.

Under the Amoral Bridge is a fast paced story with a heaping spoonful of action. The pacing is swift, partly due to the events in the book taking place over the short span of less than 48 hours and partly due to Ballard’s skillful prose. Ballard has also done an impeccable job of fleshing out the characters and the world they occupy, a lesson that even some of the most seasoned authors could learn.

My only real criticism of Under the Amoral Bridge is the short story at the back of the trade paperback, enititled ‘Feeding Autonomy’. This short story, is set nearly 9 months before the events of Under the Amoral Bridge and is as well written as the main story itself, however I personally would have preferred ‘Feeding Autonomy’ as a precursor to the main book, rather than being placed afterward. I am aware that it seems trendy or artsy to place things chronologically out of order in movies or books. In this instance however, when I had completed the entire book, I wished I had read ‘Feeding Autonomy’ prior to the main story. Believe me when I tell you that this is a very small complaint for a book I would consider a really kick-ass, cyberpunk thriller.

I am thoroughly impressed by Gary A. Ballard’s debut effort and highly recommend it to everyone.

I give “Under the Amoral Bridge by Gary A. Ballard” Five Out of Five Stars