"Black Projects, White Knights" is a collection of fourteen stories telling the history of Dr. Zeus Inc. or as its agents call it, "the Company." The stories share with us the secret activities of the Company's once human field agents; who are now immortal time-traveling cyborgs. Four of the stories are about one Alec Checkerfield, a genetically engineered man, recounting the events that occurred in his youth, as well as explaining, to some degree, his origins and purpose. One is about Botanist Mendoza, who returns to 1844 California, where she searches for a rare hallucinogenic grape. "Old Flat Top" is set in Neolithic times, where a young boy goes in search of God, and discovers instead a very bored Enforcer who is very interested in sharing man's history with the human. Without a doubt, the entire book was incredible, but my favorite two stories were the one with Facilitator Joseph, discussing a special film premise with the ill Robert Louis Stevenson in 1879, and the introduction, in which the reader uses subterfuge to gain access to the Company, and to some of the secrets it holds. "Black Projects, White Knights" is a wonderful book, with brilliant time-traveling science fiction. If you're looking for a new novel at your library, and haven't read anything by Baker yet, give this, or one of her other four Company novels a shot. You won't be disappointed.
Title: Black Projects, White Knights |
9/12/04
