The Human Front

By Ken MacLeod

Winner of a Prometheus and Sidewise Award, this science fiction novella is a comedic and biting commentary on capitalism and an exploration of technological singularity in a posthuman civilization. As a world war rages on without an emerging victor, the story follows John Matheson, an idealistic teenage Scottish guerilla warrior who must change his tactics and alliances with the arrival of an alien species. This alternate history and poignant political satire flips hero types and expectations, delivering a lively tale of adventure—as dramatic and thought provoking as it is funny. Also included is an interview with the author and two essays that relate his poignant views on social philosophies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Independent Publishers Group
• Release date: Mar 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781604868593

Ken MacLeod

Ken MacLeod is the multiple award-winning author of many science fiction novels, including the Fall Revolution quartet, the Engines of Light trilogy (Cosmonaut Keep, Dark Light, and Engine City), and several stand-alone novels including Newton’s Wake, Learning the World, and The Restoration Game. Born on the Scottish isle of Skye, he lives in Edinburgh.

Reviews for The Human Front

[alanpoulter_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Marvelous polemical alternate history of the twentieth century, as seen though the eyes of a young Scot.

[quondame · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An alt-world 60s-70s where powerful bomber technology has enabled the capitalist forces to eliminate the USSR as a superpower before the start of the main action and the Scottish protagonist involves himself in communist organized resistance which, due to it's original genesis, ends up outside traditional topple the regime narrative. Motivation for John radicalization is somewhat scanty, but sure. I could not give up my bogglelization at Scottish flavored SF, my own limitation entirely as of course the alternate past, like the potential future is ubiquitous.

[richardderus · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a hoot...what a ride! I can't imagine how the author works in the past and still makes a future worth dreaming about. He's just better at it than the other guys from the 1970s & 1980s.This alternate history novella, with a few explanatory notes following, gives the reader a real workout. There are a few points where I was sure I understood what he was doing...and was I ever wrong. When he decided to show me the real deal, I thought I was a bit dim for not getting it. Still love being off the beam, when we get to go this way. If you're in the mood for a read that doesn't mean what you think it means, you could do worse but not a lot better.