Novel Review - When the Sparrow Falls

Rob reviews When The Sparrow Falls...

When The Sparrow Falls is a journey into a sci-fi dystopian future by writer Neil Sharpson. With echoes of Blade Runner, When The Sparrow Falls is a tight sci-fi thriller that will keep you guessing right until its conclusion.

The novel follows Agent Nikolai South as he transports Lily, the widow of a deceased journalist through the Caspian Republic to identify their late spouse's body. This is easier said than done as the Republic touts itself as the last haven for humanity within a world governed by Artificial Intelligence. As South struggles with his duties and keeping himself and his escort alive, ghosts from his past not only come back to haunt the Agent - they also threaten the fragile peace between the Caspian Republic and the wider world.

I enjoyed When The Sparrow Falls. Neil Sharpson throws us straight in at the deep end with a politically motivated killing that echoes events seen within our world. It's an incredibly effective way of drawing the reader into this world and the authoritarian regime that's the Caspian Republic. Nikolai South is also quite an effective character that's in essence an amalgamation of various characters from other literature and media. South is somewhat indifferent from the world he lives in and although this world is changing he's failing to change with it. South also comes across as someone who wouldn't necessarily take risks, yet he wouldn't be afraid to do so if the timing was right. He also comes across as a person who wouldn't stick his neck out to help anybody and is happily playing his role within this world. 

In contrast to South, we're also shown insight into the world of Paulo Xirau. While Xirau suffers quite an unfortunate death he is the polar opposite to the South. Xirau is passionate about what he believes in and will do anything for the benefit of these beliefs. In a somewhat twist it also turns out that Xirau just so happens to be a "machine" - Artificial Intelligence inside a living body. This naturally leads Xirau into direct conflict with the Republic's regime which leads to his death. 

Whilst Xirau's death drives When The Sparrow Falls it also opens up quite a few questions. One of the major questions is why would a machine want to live within a nation where its kind is persecuted and vilified? 

Arguably the other major character within the novel is the Caspian Republic itself. Due to the rampant use of Artificial Intelligence, the Republic has shunned even the basics of technology. This means that the country is in a somewhat technological dark age as the rest of the world moves forward.

It's an interesting premise that feels very much inspired by our historical events. More so when you add in the factors of mistrust amongst the citizens, the government being in control, and even a secret police force rooting out any dissidents. Each chapter opens with snippets of information that Sharpson uses to show how technology has evolved in this world and how it's used for good - regardless of the Caspian Republic's views. 

Much like that seen within Blade Runner or even HBO's Westworld, When The Sparrow Falls feels very much like an insight into both human and artificial life and what happens when both demand basic rights. While on the surface South and Xirau are different, underneath the surface they have plenty in common. And it's this quasi relationship that Sharpson explores with great effect. There's a lot of questions that dive into what it means to be human and when does a self-aware A.I. stop being an "Artificial Intelligence"? 

For a debut novel, Neil Sharpton has crafted something special When The Sparrow Falls. It's a great slow burn that takes its time in building its story into a thrilling crescendo. The political nature of the novel makes for a fantastic thriller that's boiling on the surface of this unique sci-fi world. There's a deep layer to the story that dives into some "near future" issues, whilst mirroring current events within our world. 

When The Sparrow Falls is available now and can be purchased from Rebellion Publishing by clicking here.

An ARC was provided courtesy of Rebellion Publishing for this review. 

Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev