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Michael G Kurilla

In for a moddy, in for a daddy

Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2020

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George Alec Effinger's A Fire in the Sun is the sequel to When Gravity Fails. Marid has now become the right hand man of the major crime boss and has a 'job' with the police force. All his old friends and associates want little to do with him. In addition, his mother comes back into the picture as well as his boss' main rival. His boss keeps giving him odd jobs and showering him with 'gifts' that further isolate him. He gets drawn into a murder investigation that turns into a serial murder spree for organ harvesting. All the various loose ends get connected and tied up in the end.

Effinger crafts a complex crime mystery with Marid taking damage all along the way. Unfortunately, he seems to float above it all with his enemies giving him enough time and space to pick them off one at a time. Overall, it was not as satisfying as the prior offering. Other than some fancy weaponry and the recording of mental states for kinky pleasures, there's not much in the way of sci-fi.

Eric M

Really solid series

Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2019

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Despite being published so long ago, this series really holds up. The urban setting is really well developed and the futuristic tech gives just enough to latch onto to push the plot in unusual ways. Looking forward to the close of the trilogy! This installment is well worth picking up if you enjoyed the first. It will scratch the same itch.

Amazon Customer

Plus ca change, plus c'est le meme chose

Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2020

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This book is like a trip to an exotic foreign land. In an alternate or future world that can easily be extrapolated from today, Marid finds mystery and growth, and yet remains himself. An intriguing cast of characters adds color and spice to the story.

3DayPriest

Not as good as the first in the series

Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2020

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I started to give it a 3-star review but bumped it to 4. Why? I considered that I only paid $1.99. At that price a good buy. But it started slow, and the ending was, well, meh.

As fr the last in the series? Only if it is also $1.99.

KL

A Fire in the Sun

Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2013

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The next book in the Marîd Audran is a bit different from the first. Marîd is no longer anyone's favourite person. He's treated like scum by all his old friends for the horrific incident at the end of the last book as well as he's now Friedlander Bey's lieutenant.

Not so much a detective book this time Audran is now Papa's official liaison with the police force helping them when suitable. He's also dealing with his past when he finds his mother for the first time since his youth. And coming up against the only rival Papa has.

It's still a fairly dark book but lacks the punch of the first one. There's nothing really new in the world although there is a mention of a new technology which may pop up later. It was a good book but I was hoping for more.

albionphotoTop Contributor: Anime

Budayeen developed

Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2013

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This is the second novel in what might be termed the Budayeen trilogy. In this book Marid Audran develops into Friedlander Bey's factotum. It's not an eays transition. I won't reveal the plot but I thought it was a little more linear than When Gravity Fails and the Budayeen has lost some of its freak show attractiveness in a second book. Marid does become an interesting character though... In the end this was still a worthwhile read and the pace quickens nicely at the end. The first book is definitely more interesting and emotive though.

Reader in Troy

Tight, tight narrative

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2005

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The narrative in 'When Gravity Fails' is uneven; Marid in particular is supposed to be a relatively uneducated son of a prostitute, yet he compares himself to Hamlet. Eh?

'A Fire in the Sun makes no pretensions and slips like that. It is the fully contained story of Marid's struggle between his old life of the Buyadeen hustler, and the new life in "Papa" Friedlander Bey's employ. No background or further reading are required.

This book is better than both "When Gravity Fails" and "The Exile Kiss". I'll go as far as to say that it's almost criminally obscure and is one heck of a read.

Effinger often makes a point of the supposed paradox between religion and reality; in this case he chooses Islam, in part for its beauty and depth, but also in part because 'A Fire in the Sun' could happen nowhere else. It doesn't detract from the book and only pushes it higher in the ratings.

Anyone interested in a story with heartbreaking reality behind slick lines should read this one.

Tomas Michaud

One of the best books I've read...

Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2018

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One of the best books I've read in a long time. Also, the narrator on the Audible version is fantastic... I'm sure that's partly what created the awesome experience. The only downside has I felt a real loss after reading the final book in the series (book 3). I want more!

Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer

Original, sometimes engrossing, refreshing story.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 15, 2018

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This book was not on the same par as When Gravity Fails but was an entertaining and a little different read to what is expected from George A Effinger. It was another interesting read with Futuristic Muslims in a setting. This book was a good read as a Muslim reader. It was appealing just the same way the first book was. The third book, The Exiles Kiss should be really exciting to read. It is worth all the praise that most of the reviews state about.

Vimes

Excellent second part of the trilogy

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 15, 2008

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This book continues from When Gravity Fails, and carries on with the exploits of the lead character Marid Audran. "A Fire in the Sun" picks up the story a few months after the ending of "When Gravity Fails". Audran has been forced to mature as the sense of control and ownership from Friedlander Bey strengthens. Audran's old associates view him with suspicion as Freidlander Bey inserts Audran into the local police as a liason officer. This sets the scene for more adventures.
I love the way Effinger sets the scene in a futuristic Arabic city, pitting inbred and deep Qu'ran values against modern and futuristic technology. People can "moddy" and "daddy" their brains, change their gender and it's almost a requirement to alter their appearance, yet a "good muslim woman" should not approach a strange male in the street. The characters are well developed and you get a strong sense of them very quickly with Effingers easy style.
It does differ from the first story, but in no way should this be seen as a negative.
Part detective, part thriller, and is not too sci-fi.
Very recommended.

Amazon Customer

Cult classic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 16, 2015

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Part of Effinger's cult classic Marid series; distinctive, elegantly written, atmospheric, first rate as both SF and crime fiction.

Timothy Atwood

Excellent Sequel to "When Gravity Fails"

Reviewed in Canada on July 4, 2019

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This second book of the trilogy is as good as the first. Gritty and powerful. Body mods and sex changes are common place. Personalities are sold on the street. Nightmares are forced into people's minds for the ultimate in perversion and torture. Marid Audrian operates in the spaces between the powerful and the most decadent sex clubs trying to survive and stop the twisted killer of his friends.

With its complex dirty fight for survival among corruption this novel evokes a feeling similar to Blade Runner. Whether through his lover and friends or a spiritual moddy jacked direct into his brain Maurid struggles to do what is right by his people and find even the smallest meaning and briefest love.

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