Ack-Ack Macaque: Volume 1

Gareth L. Powell

Dec 2012 · Ack-Ack Macaque Book 1 · Solaris

About this ebook

In 1944, as waves of German ninjas parachute into Kent, Britain’s best hopes for victory lie with a Spitfire pilot codenamed ‘Ack-Ack Macaque.’ The trouble is, Ack-Ack Macaque is a cynical, one-eyed, cigar-chomping monkey, and he’s starting to doubt everything, including his own existence.
A century later, in a world where France and Great Britain merged in the late 1950s and nuclear-powered Zeppelins circle the globe, ex-journalist Victoria Valois finds herself drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the man who butchered her husband and stole her electronic soul. Meanwhile, in Paris, after taking part in an illegal break-in at a research laboratory, the heir to the British throne goes on the run. And all the while, the doomsday clock ticks towards Armageddon.

Ratings and reviews

The cover of this book, and the blurb (far and away one of the best blurbs ever written) gives the impression that is going to be a light-hearted, humourous adventure romp. Cyberpunk set in an alternate history, this novel is a great adventure - but it's certainly not light-hearted. It explores some dark themes, such as the darker side of transhumanism. Toss in a mad scientist, a cult, some conspiracies and, of course, the monkey, and Powell has written a very good and very enjoyable story.

Excellent book, well written. What seems like a total mishmash of incongruous stories is very cleverly weaved together to make a story I didn't want to put down

Indescribable, its like a cross between a pulp adventure, a cyberpunk novel, and a late 80's Saturday morning cartoon. Highly enjoyable.

About the author

Gareth L. Powell is the author of the SF novel Silversands, and the critically acclaimed short story collection, The Last Reef. His work has been published all over the world and featured in a number of recent anthologies. He has written three novels for Solaris.