Daryl Gregory - Afterparty || A Review

Original Image: Goodreads

No day in my life has ever been as blessed as the one in which I received Daryl Gregory's "Afterparty". None. You guys, not even the birth of my son (sorry Aximili AgeofUltron Winchester).

Totally real children who are real aside, let's get to it, shall we? ***no spoilers***

Synopsis

Now. I have to advise that you skip reading this and just get straight to the book. It's an infinitely more enjoyable experience if you go in blind and try to figure out what's happening as you proceed, which is what I did. 

As such, and because dictatorship is the best, the synopsis is now at the end of the review. L'chaim!

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WHAT YOU'LL LIKE

The Premise: For obvious, spoiler reasons, this cannot be properly expounded on, but, BUT suffice it to say, you will be impressed. Whatever Gregory is on, we want some. In ointment form, because sometimes we have trouble swallowing pills. 

The Setting: The book is set in the near future, which is usually kind of hard to pull off. Gregory crafts an "anything is possible" future which is very much grounded in today's reality; a good balance between so far into the future that we can't relate and too close to today to capture the imagination. The gadgets do the most here by really seeming like something we'll see in the next five or ten years - accessible, but still SCIENCY.

The Realism. Yes, realism. The book does nothing to sugar coat consequences for actions or gloss over/glorify things that are realities, BUT without being grim. The protagonist actually goes to prison for her crimes, you guys. The drug-induced mental issues that seem kinda cool to have and easy to glorify are also looked at through the lens of those affected around the sufferer, keeping it in perspective. Again, none of this feels heavy handed or depressing, just, real.

The Flawed Characters: Again, it is shamefully easy to veer off into "my flaws make me a cool renegade, aspire to me" territory, but man, does Gregory keep it together. The characters' flaws are well expressed as integral parts of them, organically growing out of their (excellent. seriously, excellent) backstories and not being neatly tied up in a Suddenly Healthy bow at the end. Relatable, real, and about to drag you on the adventure you'll be pretending was your life story on dates for years to come.

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WHAT YOU WON'T LIKE

Mini buffalo herd. You'll know it when you see it. 

Once you're through with this one, if you want a follow up Daryl Gregory book (and you will) I recommend "We Are All Completely Fine" to ease your withdrawals.

For Monday Like A Sir, this has been Evey G. Fair thee well. 

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The Promised Synopsis

If you chose to read the synopsis anyway, you little rebel you, the book begins with a teen runaway introduced to a new smart drug named "Numinous". When the effects - basically experiencing your own personal God- wear off, the emptiness overwhelms her and she kills herself inside the mental institution where she was being held. Another resident of the centre, scientist Lyda Rose, quickly figures out that the teen was on said drug- one that Lyda helped to create and fell victim to. Now, she must work to track down her co-creators and right past wrongs...