Land of the Headless by Adam Roberts

Old Man’s War by John Scalzi

The Modern World by Steph Swainston

THE WORLD OF Adam Roberts’ new novel Land of the Headless is governed by Holy Law, which decrees that adultery, murder and blasphemy are punishable by beheading. But, in this future civilisation, beheading need not result in death. A convicted criminal is fitted with an ordinator at the base of the spine, into which the mind is downloaded. The wound is sealed and a valve fitted to enable breathing.

The headless form a new underclass, shunned by all but the most charitable, forced to work at the worst jobs, or to become soldiers, shipped to another planet where they are used like disposable machines to fight an incomprehensible war. Land of the Headless is a darkly satirical tale that extrapolates an absurd idea into something weirdly plausible. This is not escapist adventure but a dystopian vision in the tradition of Swift, Orwell and Atwood against the cruellest extremes of human stupidity.

Although Old Man’s War by John Scalzi also features futuristic warfare, it is pure escapism. In Scalzi’s future, interstellar space is full of alien races competing for every planet.

The Colonial Defense Force protects Earth and backs up our right to colonise new worlds. John Perry joins on his 75th birthday, with no idea of what to expect, but resigned that he will never see Earth or grandchildren again. But his wife is dead, retirement boring, and he faces death whatever he does. His fellow recruits are all old codgers – experience is more valuable than fitness in this war. Only the smart and the lucky survive. Scalzi’s clever dialogue, fast-paced story and strong characters are reminiscent of Robert A. Heinlein, without his sometimes tedious lectures.

The war in Steph Swainston’s The Modern World is between people and gigantic, flesh-eating insects, and has been grinding on for more than 1,000 years. This is the third novel in a series narrated by the drug-addicted, winged messenger known as Jant (or Comet), an Immortal serving the Emperor San. Swainston writes with dash and elegance, and her realm is a fascinating blend of strange and familiar, archaic and contemporary, with the convincing texture of a place she discovered, rather than invented. But plotting is not her strong point: individual scenes are powerful, but the story seems cobbled together and the main event requires a major ecological implausibility.

Land of the Headless by Adam Roberts, Gollancz, £10.99; 288pp

Buy the book here for the offer price of £10.44 (free p&p)

Old Man’s War by John Scalzi, Tor, £6.99; 320pp

Buy the book here for £6.64 (free p&p)

The Modern World by Steph Swainston, Gollancz, £14.99; 336pp

Buy the book here for £13.49 (free p&p)

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