Implanted

Sometimes when I finish a book and want to collect my thoughts I have a brief look at other people's reviews. When I did this I discovered people classing this book as 'cyberpunk' a term I was unfamiliar with though on doing some research I have discovered that this term includes films such as Blade Runner and The Matrix, both of which I have watched and enjoyed, so now I know more about it it's less of a surprise that I enjoyed this book. For those of you who don't know the term cyberpunk, the definition I found states that it's futuristic science fiction combined with advanced technology and breakdown or change of the social order.
This definition fits Implanted perfectly as we have the majority of people in New Worth with implants which help them communicate and engage with their surroundings, combined with a desire by the whole community to leave the dome and return to the outside world once it is again habitable. This is contrasted by the Disconnects, those who don't have implants for various reasons and are shunned by the implanted people as they are seen as inferior because they don't conform with societal norms. 

In the story we follow Emery who is blackmailed into becoming a courier, carrying data in her blood and delivering it to all parts of the city.  One of these deliveries goes wrong, she is unable to deliver the data, leaving her in the city with valuable information in her blood and unable to know who to trust. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was one of those that is hard to put down. Every time I had a spare few minutes I would pick it up and start reading again because it was that addictive. It's a fairly straightforward story but when you add in the technology and the fact that everyone lives in a dome, because in the past the planet was ruined and it was unsafe to live outside, then you add some new perils and it puts a completely different spin on the whole story.  

The descriptions were spot on, it was really clearly written which I loved. I felt claustrophobic every time Emery went down in the dome to the areas where there are less or no daylight and very relieved when she came back up again. Although we have inequality in many countries the majority of us are still, at least, able to see the sky and breathe fresh air. I can't imagine how society would work if that were to change. In the story there is, understandably, a difference of opinion between the implanted and the disconnects and it was easy to see the perspective of both sides.  

I've always loved sci-fi, more tv than books, but I'm trying to expand my reading of sci-fi and fantasy and happily Angry Robot books are supplying the most fabulous books in order for me to be able to do this, and this book is no exception. Even if you don't think science-fiction is your thing, if you like stories that have differences in society, heirarchical groups and stories that make you question what you believe then this is worth a read.  It'll make you wonder whether the technological advances that we have at the moment are going to lead to the world imagined here or not and whether that is a good thing. A fabulous read and an author that I am excited to see more from!