4 Stars - Smart near-future Sci-Fi

Effacement takes place in a somewhat dystopian near future when everybody is required to have a lifelog that records every second of your life just to be able to be part of society, and for this most people have a chip implanted that is run by a software of one company. So, it is not difficult to imagine, just how convenient it would be to use such a chip as a weapon against members of society that maybe do not agree with the system they are living in...
We experience the story through the eyes of Cole, who is working for said company and finds himself in the middle of quickly escalating events after starting to look into the reasons for some mysterious deaths that start occuring after the latest update to his company's software. He finds unexpected support and allies in a group of people who question the system of total surveillance and starts reconsidering his previous perspectives on life as well.

The prose was functional rather than beautiful, but served its purpose. Hawkes has a propensity for short sentences and for using people's names repeatedly, which can make for somewhat clunky reading. (E.g. Cole did x. Then Cole thought y. Etc.) This did detract from the experience for me as I do enjoy beautiful writing to go with my gripping story. However, the story did make up for this. I thought that the plot was well constructed and plausible, the pacing was good.
The characters were mostly well developed individuals and their relationships felt realistic.

While it was not really central to the plot, I felt like the relationship between Tesla and Cole was captured absolutely brilliantly. The dynamics of a narcissist in a relationship and how they make the world conform to their wishes using their charisma was absolutely spot on.
I was less of a fan of Eva, who could have been a fantastic counterpart to Tesla by being considerate, caring and interested in the people around her. But she was just a little too perfect, too competent, too brilliant, which for me actually lessened her appeal. The insta-love Cole felt for her is also a bit of a cheap plot device, I think.

However, the standout character was Cole himself, who is a fundamentally good, decent guy who would describe himself as hard-working but boring. I did not find him boring at all, actually I enjoy it immensely to meet good guys in stories who do not buy into any macho narrative of how guys are supposed to be like. Hawkes also worked out very well how Cole starts to question his previous life after events rip him out of his usual routines. His thoughts about slippery slopes and slowly eroding civil rights of citizens who are kept happy and entertained as a distraction rang absolutely true.

For me this was a very solid, smart and enjoyable read. Recommended!

It took me a little while to get into this book. At first it seems pretty abstract and unclear where the authors are headed with the story. Part of this may be my limited experience with futuristic science fiction books.

After the introduction, the action does take off and the futuristic world is credible. I did enjoy this read. I felt the end was a bit anti-climactic and ended quicker than I expected, especially after all the build up.

Give it shot. I look forward to more reads from this author.

Thank you NetGalley for my free copy. The comments above are my own without influence.

Only a couple of weeks ago Goodreads blacked out for me, and I realised I had my whole to-read-list on here, and nowhere else. Panic struck a little. Obviously that was nothing compared to what Cole, the main character of 'Effacement', went through - but for me it was something that brought the setting of this book a bit closer to reality. Already we are practically nothing without our phones. When I go to the gym, I need a chip to log in and use everything, and my fitbit helps tracking my pulse. We usually pay everything digitally. What if everything was combined in one chip, and one day you wake up with that chip removed? What if that chip is used to kill people?

The setting being so close makes this book very interesting. I had a great time reading it, but also that nagging feeling that comes with great plot lines like the one of 'Effacement'. The only thing that made it a bit slow for me sometimes, especially at the start, is that there were too descriptive parts about how the chips and the interface worked. Especially since we all have experience, not with chips, but with smartphones and such, I think it would have been better to let us as a reader fill in these parts ourselves.

I like the pacing of the story and the dystopian elements, but sometimes the character and B story development fell a bit flat. If this is book 1 in a series, then those issues can be resolved down the road.

This is very good, and since there are so many helpful reviews already out there, I'll just recommend it to thriller and sci-fi fans.

Thanks very much for the free review copy!!

Hawkes has written a book that could easily happen in our future. I thought the moral implications between the haves and have nots was well done. I enjoyed the book and Hawkes writing.

Effacement focuses on a topic that is often at the top of discussions on privacy and internet security. What happens when we become so obsessed with technology that we can no longer be separated from it? Effacement places the protagonist named Cole right in the middle of a technological nightmare and sends him on a thrilling race against time to survive.

It’s interesting to read a book written about technology that isn’t written by a professional in the field. This could have been one of the book’s biggest flaws but instead is one of the better aspects of this book. The author Hieronymus Hawkes doesn’t skip a beat in that regard.

If you’re not a “techie” type, not to worry! The author makes an effort to explain almost everything that’s happening in detail on a technological level. Some of it may seem a little difficult to read. But it shouldn’t put you off this book as the author does take the time to explain things in language that will make sense to everyone.

The pacing is wonderfully written into each chapter which ebbs and flows faster in some and slightly slower in the chapters focusing on Cole’s relationships. It’s enough to keep those that love the “white-knuckling” thriller on edge enough to enjoy the book. And it caters to those of us that prefer a slower pace for the more intimate scenes between characters.

The future in Effacement looks grim as Cole discovers some bad “code” that is slowly killing anyone with a “Vitasync” neurochip implanted into their brains. The problem is this is practically everyone on the planet. So Cole collects a few friends along the way as he pushes onward to solve what is causing the neurochip to malfunction.

The other characters that Cole interacts with are all well-fleshed out and just as smart as our protagonist. Cole’s other half, named Tesla, also works at the same company as Cole and is equally focused and driven. This creates a much more believable story.

Hawkes also shines a light on the possibility of everyone being connected to the internet – whether they opt to or not. While the character Cole is every bit the technological vanguard, he also discovers a way out from under the technology that is now turning on everyone. Society has become interconnected with everything; nothing is private anymore. Is this the type of world we will eventually be a part of?

Effacement has thrills where it needs to while at the same time, offers an interesting take on one possibility of the future. People still question the morals behind technology controlling everything we do. Perhaps this is something we shouldn’t be taking for granted. The real world is relying more and more upon technology to function and live convenient lives. Hawke’s book presents a focal point of discussion with a serious undertone that questions the future we are building for ourselves and generations to come.