Book Review - The Unincorporated Man

by Kelly O'Brien

Despite what you might think, science fiction - good science fiction, anyway - isn't just about rocketships and laser guns and space aliens. While a healthy dose of those elements are certainly entertaining, in truly good science fiction, the gadgetry and gimmicks take a back seat to something deeper. As a genre, science fiction provides the perfect outlet for speculation on where our society might be headed, and what the future may hold in store. Dani and Eytan Kollin's upcoming debut novel, The Unincorporated Man, is a perfect example of how a story set in the future can get us thinking about what's happening in the present--and what it could mean.

The Unincorporated Man plunges its readers into a world three hundred years in the future where governments have been almost wholly replaced by companies, and people are incorporated at birth. In the incorporated world, citizens spend their lives (which have been extended considerably by advances in medical technology) trying to achieve majority, a controlling interest in themselves.

Into this setting comes the title character, the Unincorporated Man. Justin Cord was a brilliant businessman who, after a cancer diagnosis, constructed a cryogenic tomb and had himself suspended in the early 21^st century. Upon his reanimation, Cord finds himself immediately embroiled in the complex and sometimes sinister politics of the incorporated world.

The story that ensues is equal parts in-depth socioeconomic discussion and good old-fashioned science fiction adventure. Achieving a balance between those two seemingly disparate purposes is the Kollin brothers' greatest strength. Throughout the book, the authors seamlessly integrate the gripping, character-driven storyline with an overarching discussion not only of what makes an economy (and therefore a society) "good," but also of our definition of personal freedom.

The world the authors have constructed is incredibly broad and rich in detail. In just 500 pages, the brothers manage to introduce us to the full spectrum of this hyper-civilized society that spans a solar system - all without ever distancing us from our emotional investment in the main characters, both good and bad. Truly, as the story goes along, you'll find yourself just as attached to the villains as you are to the heroes. Despite having very definite Good Guy and Bad Guy camps, the authors foster in their readers a delectable love-hate relationship for the lead villains.

In addition to the big economic questions put forth in the book, The Unincorporated Man also explores the ever-present science fiction question: What will we be able to do with technology in a century? (Or, in this case, three.) The authors clearly had fun with technological extrapolation - the evolution of the internet, of PDAs, of cosmetic surgery, public transportation, and even architecture contribute to the well-developed feel of their world.

More than anything, though, what will keep you turning the pages is the progression of the underlying economic discussion. Although the basic framework of the discussion stays the same, each new twist or revelation that the authors spring on you will give you a different perspective on the arguments. You'll find yourself asking - again and again, through the book's final pages - would personal incorporation be so terrible? Would the privatization of the justice system, of the educational system (of almost every system) really be such a horrible thing?

Whether you're looking for an exciting, well-crafted science fiction story or an in-depth debate about socioeconomic values, The Unincorporated Man will not disappoint. 

The Unincorporated Man is due to hit the shelves on March 31 and is available now for pre-order at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Borders. The Unincorporated Man has already been named a SciFi Essential Book by the SciFi Channel.  For more information, please visit the Kollins' website at www.theunincorporatedman.com 

November 20, 2008