Relevant (but overlook its age)

I’m surprised that it was written in 1995, it references technologies of the 50s and 60s which could just as well have been described by Frank Herbert in his novel “Destination: Void” from 1966, but it must have been a conscious choice in order to make the magic, plasma, to be the main supporting character.

The story is as heist. Aiah finds an untapped source of plasma and she finds a buyer, the metropolitan Constantine who use it for his own power games. During their dealings they become lovers.

She works in the plasma control office and use this as a way to hide the plasma source, her own involvement and the coup Constantine plans, partially by getting a mentor among the most senior.

She’s part of the Barkazi, an ethnic group who’re sceptical to the mainstream and keeps their conflicts between themselves and doesn’t involve authorities, except her mother is a loud mouth drama queen that likes the attention damned be the consequences, and who is close to making trouble for Aiah a couple of times.

People in the city are generally not too inquisitive, and everyone keeps mum when inquiried by the creepers, the Plasma Authorities internal investigatiors.

It is a noble principle, don’t involve the cops/ACAB, but it makes the slip ups of Aiah seem inconsequential and seldom adds tension.

The power games of Constantine are just there as a reason for him to accept Aiahs offer, the interest is kept by her internal monologue and some suspense as if she will survive to enjoy her gains.

Not WJWs best work, but I did enjoy it and I didn’t notice the present tense at all. I did muse about mobile phones, as a lot of the story rests on timing of messages left on answering machines.

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Ahead of it’s time

Shines a light on the human condition and all our failings and hope beautifully. Narrator speaks like warm honey.

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