Mainline

by Deborah Teramis Christian

Book Overview

Bystanders, beware: Reva the assassin always gets her man, and anyone caught in the crossfire won't live to tell about it. Reva has the unique ability to see different lines of causality spread out... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0812549082
• ISBN13: 9780812549089
• Release Date: August 1997
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Suspenseful - great read!

This book contains all the things that I like in SciFI: a world created in the future, suspense, good plot, interesting time-line effects, lots of computer-techo action, good characters, and excellent writing. The assassin Reva grows during the book, and at the end still has a lot of growing left to do. I hope that we will see her again in a sequel!.

A tale of a woman who is ruthless but has compassion

In this book, I had the feeling I was reading from a mature writer who has a good grasp of how to entertain her readers. Few authors would have had the capacity to evoke an understanding and sympathy in readers for an essentially all-powerful being--an assassin at that--who seemingly cannot be harmed because of her ability to travel to various realities to kill someone or escape pursuit. Christian does this with greate ease. From the loss of her family to the loss of her friend, Reva is a character who gains sympathy despite her powers. Also, from beginning to end, Mainline keeps action and interest flowing--so much I read it all in just one sitting. A curious but compelling tale of a far-future woman in a tale few authors can handle. I hightly recommend it.

Femme Nikita of a future world...

I've just finished reading Mainline and found it truly masterful.  It has all the elements of suspense and action as well as character development that a reader hopes for in any science fiction book as well as delightfully creative worlds as invented by the author. The quick scene changes helps keep the pace and suspense going as if one were watching a movie.   Reva is like the Femme Nikita of the future world--tough on the outside, vulnerable on the inside. Supporting characters help keep the readers on their toes as plotlines overlap and cross over one another to the climax of the novel.  

Female assassin has unique abilities in cyber/future setting

Imagine that you can see and choose from a myriad of possible near-term futures. Reva, a beautiful female assasin can do just that, but has discovered the hard way that a few varied choices can create great changes in the society and people around her. Deborah Christian has successfully created a sympathetic "anti-hero" whose redemption in the book revolves around succumbing to the joys and hurts of friendships. The reader comes to know and like an unlikely cast of heros including a cold-blooded killer (who's maybe not so cold-blooded), a smuggler (who may be just a frustrated business woman), and a government policeman (who's sympathies for the 'bad guys' isn't quite by the law books). The plot is fast paced and the action is varied between several story lines. The few inconsistencies are overshadowed by the crafting of the people and places. And fortunately, the ending of the book is left open and stays away from formulaic 'happy endings.' Overall, a real find!

A spectacular first novel!

Set in a universe of interstellar travel, this is the story of Riva, an assasin whose ability to shift between alternate timelines makes her the best at her craft. The best aspects of this book are its unpredictability (ok, it does get a little predictable at the end...) and the frenetic pace of the narration. Though I am often skeptical of reviews which claim that a book is difficult to put down, this one really is. Deborah Christian really has that spark which enables her to interleave storylines without losing touch with the narrative thrust. This is the work of a mature novelist and it's hard to believe it's her first attempt. I'm looking forward to her future works.