The Chimpanzee Complex (Marazano & Ponzio, Cinebook)

[SmallBlueThing]

Picked up all three volumes of this while in London yesterday, and unexpectedly read it all last night. Hadnt heard anything about it, but the combination of it being a science fiction tale, with a female protagonist, concerning Mars, was enough to sell it to me.

Despite art that looks either traced, or manipulation of photos to look like drawings, and which is reminiscent of Richard Piers Raynor at times, it's lovely stuff. The set up is that in 2035, a NASA space capsule falls to Earth, containing Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin- who claim to have been in space since they landed on the moon in 1969, but who havent aged. NASA and the pentagon call in Helen, an astronaut who was due to be the first person on mars before budget cuts ended the mission, to interview them. What she discovers sends humanity back to the moon and on to the next stage of space exploration, while her young daughter has to come to terms with her mother being away.

Over three books (50+ pages each, colour), we follow Helen as her life is destroyed by Those In Charge, has one more chance for her heart's desire, and explores the unexpected natures of universal constants.

The title refers to the first apes to go into space, and their psychological issues that followed, and anyone who enjoys a bit of hard-edged sf should consider picking this up.

SBT