The Night Sessions

MacLeod’s vision of a secular future and a world free from the influence of religion is just as powerful and timely as it was in 2008, when it won the British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Novel, and it will be relevant as long as people kill one another in the name of God. Set in a near future where humankind has largely turned its back on religion following the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the subsequent Faith Wars, the story revolves around Scottish detective Adam Ferguson and his investigation into the bombing murder of a Roman Catholic priest. Accompanied by a sentient robotic sidekick, Ferguson uncovers a global terrorist plot involving Christian fanatics that heralds the return of “the bad times.” MacLeod’s visionary fusion of science fiction and police procedural is replete with thought-provoking scientific and social speculation, particularly the exploration into the consciousness of robots and their significance in society. (Apr.)