Ghosts of Tomorrow by Michael R Fletcher

"Virtuality is the new reality"
Within my online social circles, I have heard many amazing things about the writer Michael R. Fletcher. My peers were so influential that I decided to check out one of his books and I chose this one because of the completely stunning cover, the fact that it is a stand-alone novel and also the point that the description sounded amazing.
This book is set in 2046 in a horrifically advanced world that is scarily relatable to our current Earth and here, young children's brains are harvested and then sold on the black market, where they are sometimes purchased by the Mafia, trained and then turned into having to control enhanced mechanical beings. Imagine the combat suits from Edge of Tomorrow with no human (alive at least) needed, with the same spectacular qualities that they possessed and I think that is an apt summary. The blistering action of this novel is intense and the awesome book takes place over 7 days. In the third person, we infiltrate the minds of about 8 "people". The main characters are Griffin, a rookie US government agent, 88 an ingenious autistic child who enjoys creating mirrors and Archaeidae, a 14-year-old robotic assassin who wears a Chassis that gives him six limbs. Yes, enough limbs to walk, wield two guns and flaunt two samurai swords. He also looks amazing in a trench coat that Chow Yun-Fat would be proud of owning.
I have to admit that I haven't read much science-fiction recently but, I believe this could be admired and enjoyed by fantasy and maybe "grim-dark" readers also. It has a great mix of emotion (surprising when a majority of the characters are robots, especially Abdul commenting on the point of existence after "death"), deaths and brutal set-pieces. Although I noticed a few grammatical errors, it is amazingly well written and Fletcher definitely knows his way around the Oxford Dictionary to create amazing prose. This isn't science-fiction in an out of space sort of presentation, it is how, seriously, the world could be in 30 years.
This is the revamped edition of Fletcher's book 88 and the story is so good, I might read that one like the completist I am just to see the differences. Some of the language used confused me here and there, very scientific-seeming of course but that is probably my silliness and not a negative to the story. At one point a character who I thought was female became male which knocked me off balance for a little while (robots, eh?) but the reason was explained a few chapters later which made me nod my head and think, cool.
Ghosts of Tomorrow is pretty damn awesome. I know a lot of the main bloggers and sites rave about Fletcher's work and now I have finished this, I can 100% see why. It is gritty, brutal, amazingly well written and also a scarily possible view on where our future could be going towards. If you could live forever as a robot, would you? I will check out Beyond Redemption very soon as my friend advised me that this book is in the greatest series he has read after Malazan. To me, and many of my fantasy book reading friends, that is a huge statement. I hope it is true.
This Ghosts of Tomorrow book review was written by James Tivendale


Have you read Ghosts of Tomorrow?
We've found that while readers like to know what we think of a book they find additional reader reviews a massive help in deciding if it is the right book for them. So if you have a spare moment, please tell us your thoughts by writing a reader's review. Thank you.
Ghosts of Tomorrow reader reviews
8.4/10 from 1 reviews
There are currently no reader reviews for this book. Why not be the first?
Write a reader review
Thank you for taking the time to write a review on this book, it really makes a difference and helps readers to find their perfect book.
More recommended reading in this genre

A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe
Alex White
Furious and fun, the first book in this bold, new science fiction adventure series follows a crew of outcasts as they try to find a legendary ship that just might be the ke...
Great fantasy books published in 2017

The Fall of Arthur
JRR Tolkien
The world first publication of a previously unknown work by J.R.R. Tolkien, which tells the extraordinary story of the final days of England’s legendary hero, King Ar...

Godsgrave
Jay Kristoff
The second thrilling installment of the award-winning Nevernight Chronicle, from New York Times bestselling author Jay Kristoff.In a land where three suns a...

Tarnished City
Vic James
A corrupted city. A dark dream of power. Luke is a prisoner, condemned for a murder he didn’t commit. Abi is a fugitive, desperate to free him before magic breaks his...

Red Sister
Mark Lawrence
At the Convent of Sweet Mercy young girls are raised to be killers. In a few the old bloods show, gifting talents rarely seen since the tribes beached their ships on Abeth....

A Conjuring of Light
VE Schwab
The precarious equilibrium among the four Londons has reached its breaking point. Once brimming with the red vivacity of magic, darkness casts a shadow over the Maresh Empi...

Beren and Luthien
JRR Tolkien
Painstakingly restored from Tolkien’s manuscripts and presented for the first time as a continuous and standalone story, the epic tale of Beren and Lúthien wil...

The Witchwood Crown
Tad Williams
New York Times-bestselling Tad Williams’ ground-breaking epic fantasy saga of Osten Ard begins an exciting new cycle! • Volume One of The Last K...

The Seven
Peter Newman
‘An exciting new writer – sharp, compelling and original’ Mark LawrenceYears have passed since the Vagrant journeyed to the Shining City, Vesper in...

Gilded Cage
Vic James
A modern Britain. An age-old cruelty. Britain's magically skilled aristocracy compels all commoners to serve them for ten years - and now it's the Hadleys' turn...
Looking for more suggestions? Try these pages: