BKBUGPRK.RVW   971125

"Bug Park", James P. Hogan, 1997, 0-671-87773-9, U$22.00/C$30.00
%A   James P. Hogan
%C   P. O. Box 1403, Riverdale, NY   10471
%D   1997
%G   0-671-87773-9
%I   Baen Publishing Enterprises
%O   U$22.00/C$30.00
%P   405
%T   "Bug Park"

Yet another finely crafted and technically informed work of science
fiction from James Hogan.  This time, he explores the world of, well,
millitechnology.  The heroes, and villains, actually, of this one are
building smaller and smaller robots, working their way down to the
realms of nanotech.  Most of the activity in the story takes place in
the size range of bugs.

Hogan recognizes the changes in dynamics that take place as size is
scaled down.  Mass becomes negligible, and technologies that are
inefficient at our level become vital.  Flat surfaces aren't, soft
becomes a trap, and sheer is climbable.  He notes that movement must
be learned all over again, in much the same way as it is in low
gravity.  None of the robots are equipped to generate sound: speakers,
in that dimension, are a waste of space and weight, and would probably
damage delicate mechanisms.

The one problem I do have with his description is in regard to sense
and vision.  (The characters are running the robots via virtual
reality and telepresence, through the auspices of direct neural
coupling.  We'll accept that.)  Colours are described as brilliant,
and small items are described in great detail.  Unless the robots are
using the ultraviolet spectrum and even higher, though, as eyes and
lenses are scaled down, resolution falls.  Working in close quarters
would offset this to a certain extent, but only somewhat.  Distance
vision, on the order of metres, would be very fuzzy indeed. 
Sensitivity to sound could be arbitrary, of course, and in the book it
is consistently set to human volume.

On the writing level, Hogan has become extremely skilled indeed. 
While this doesn't fall into the "thriller" class of literature (only
one life is in danger at any given time), it is one of the most
gripping and exciting books I have read in a long time.  The bad guys
are absolutely contemptible, including an actual evil step-mother. 
(Who drives a Jaguar.  How much more real can you get?  Jag drivers
are evil.)  The antagonism is the more gripping since it is usually
not just a teenager against all the adults, but a quarter-inch tall
teenager against all the adults.  Great stuff, with a satisfying (and
mechanically accurate) conclusion to the chase scene.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 1997   BKBUGPRK.RVW   971125