Counter Dance of the Cyber Gods by Michael Somers By Jim Cherry Audacious, Challenging Book With Few If Any Antecedents The title of this review may be the first sentence of this review. Counter Dance of the Cyber Gods by Michael Somers is an audacious novel with no other books to compare it to (comparisons are a short cut to thinking) except maybe Will Durant’s The Story of Civilization. Counterdance is truly an encyclopedic sized volume and I don’t know if I can even summarize the plot for you because that may become a Cliff’s Notes sized review. And a summary won’t translate all the nuances of the plot and how Mr. Somers presents that material, but I‘ll see if I can give it a try. Counterdance of the Cybergods isn’t written by Michael Somers but goes under the premise that he is just the amanuensis, the medium by which our descendants, who have long ago left Earth in starships called Eikodromes and are now transmitting the history of the future to us, to not so much alter that coming history but rather in an effort for us to understand that history. As the Eikodromes head into ever deeper space the technology they have relied on the Ultra-Intelligent Mind-Simulators are becoming sentient and it is up to Vyncent, a gifted musician to convince the leaders of their society that something is amiss and they must correct it or their mission to colonize other worlds is in danger, and the human race will cease to exist. Although, this is a standard theme in science fiction there is a freshness to Mr. Somers approach. Novels that seek to describe entire worlds or civilizations isn’t new, J.R.R. Tolkein’s, Lord of the Rings, Herbert’s Dune and Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange come to mind off the top of my head. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book of such an all encompassing ambition as to try and relate that civilization as a whole to the reader. This history of the future is also supported by supporting documentation such as illustrations, charts, printouts, transcripts and quotes, including such varied sources such as the Bible and Oswald Spengler. The plot is also interspersed with philosophical tangents that don’t seem tangential but cut to the core of the issue being discussed. Despite this philosophical or maybe academic approach the plot and the writing aren’t didactic or condescending as some other works of this type or magnitude by lesser authors might find themselves succumbing to. Counterdance is also structured differently than other books. I don’t have any formal training in music or music theory, more of what a dilettante fan picks up or has overheard. It seems to me that Counterdance is structured like a symphony. Again, this in and of itself isn’t new to literature but what I think is new or at the very least unique is how the components create a synergy that imbues the book with a freshness and a readability that keeps the reader interested and wanting to know what‘s going to happen next. I don’t know much about Mr. Somers but from the promotional material that came along with the book it seems he does have training and knowledge of the musical world and he brings that knowledge to bear, as well as the knowledge accumulated from a lifetime of living, thinking and absorbing knowledge, and again, all without being didactic, definitely keeping the readers interest throughout the work. Or is he only the vehicle of future historians and he’s taking notes for our understanding? If your tastes in reading are eclectic, ambitious or want a challenging read, Counterdance of the Cybergods is the book for you, but it is an adventure not taken lightly or for the faint of heart. If you would like more information about Galatic Exodus: Counterdance of the Cybergods by Michael Somers (amanuensis) check out his website at: http://www.somersong.com and to buy the book it is available at www.amazon.com

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