I read this book on during a business trip to Orlando a week or so ago, but since I am lazy, I am only writing the review now.

Woken Furies - Richard K. Morgan

Woken Furies is the third Takeshi Kovacs novel from Richard Morgan. I've reviewed the first and second books previously. Takeshi is the sci-fi equivalent of a film noir detective. Set in the far flung future, Takeshi is an ex-government operative with training and skills that give him a decided edge over the bad guys, kind of like a cybernetic Jason Bourne.

In this novel, Takeshi is once again drawn into a sticky situation and get up against powerful foes quickly. I did enjoy 'on-the-lam' portion of the book and like Morgan's way of showing you the cool interesting side-story but not letting it take over the main thrust of the book.

Later in the book, once you are fully rooting for Takeshi, you are shown the dark side of our 'hero' and given a bit of an alternate view on his actions. Morgan obviously makes his a disgust of fundamentalist thinking a key point of this story. This theme is a key element of his writing in previous novels as well. Taking a departure from previous writing, in this novel he tries to point out that taking the fight to extremes makes you no better than those you are fighting. There aren't a lot on consequences for Takeshi as a result of his 'bad' actions, but it is acknowledged.

The wrap up of the story is fairly good, straying a bit into the Deus ex machina zone, but considering that you are reading a novel where characters can download their consciousness into different bodies regularly, you have to accept mysterious technology playing a role in the story.

Overall, a good read. Too bad I finished it in two days. Next time I won't start a book on a five hour plane ride.