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White Devils
Paul McAuley Book Review

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Plot Summary of White Devils
"

Tor, Feb 2004, 25.95, 448 pp.
ISBN: 0765307618

The genetic engineering experiments have desolated Africa as outsider research biologists have used the continent as a giant laboratory. Not caring about the consequences to the African people, the experimenters created dangerous extinct animals like the saber-toothed tiger and various other outputs ranging from the benign corporate logo butterflies to the pandemic diseases. Especially brutal has become the no man's land Dead Zone, where trees have melted into wooden pools.

The environmental group that rules over areas like the Congo, the Obligate, sends former mercenary Nick Hyde to lead an investigation into a recent massacre. Nick and his team find ripped asunder corpses with remains of brains that appear devoured. Appalled by the gruesome sight, Nick and his squad come under attack by lightning quick ferocious apelike creatures who use guns. The team is slaughtered with Nick escaping. Back in civilization, no one believes Nick's tale of demon killers except journalist Harmony Boniface.

Harriet Klausner"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of White Devils
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%




Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Spying & Investigations Yes
What is main char. doing? - unraveling a conspiracy
Lifeform altered? Yes
Kind of alteration: - Scientifically turned into another lifeform
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - warrior/knight
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
Earth setting: - current (early 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript
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