Total apocalypse
The first volume of Bailiff , and then the whole trilogy, are the books thanks to which I fell in love with Gołkowski. I was absolutely delighted with his perversity in playing with clichés, but also inventing his own clues and fears. The treatment of the Bible as horror material somehow harmonizes with my sensitivity. In addition, a very creative swearing and a bitter hero who is constantly smoking under his skull. Reverse and Kant were full of surprises, completely credible, but unexpected twists … In short, excellent books sparkling with intelligent, sarcastic humor. The author maintained this tone throughout most of Siberpunk, losing a bit of brilliance in favor of the action in the final. And this is where, completely by surprise, the Debtors’ Arena comes in (OK, there was Fort 72 on the way , but it’s a different story).
It is impossible not to notice that the titles I have mentioned always show a destroyed, dying world. There is an eternal war ( Stalowe rats ), poverty and combining (NeoSybirsk) or a specific end of the world. So specific that it also heralds the closing of the series. And here’s a surprise, very Zek-style with the rest – he’s kind of died and comes back because he still has some butts to kick. Possibly smelled the last edible chewing gum.
Let’s live this one more time
The most important thing you need to know about the bailiff. The debtor arena is a kind of retelling of the original trilogy. A kind of proprietary fanfic (without eroticism). Zek returns to a slightly different place and time to watch the fall of the world once again. Sorry, his elevation to eternal glory. If you haven’t read Bailiff , you’ll find one big spoiler, told by a guy who knows everything and is an expert in the cleanest water – nerd alert !
The debtor arena can also be read as an independent book. In that case, you come across a catastrophic prepper homage to American post-apo cinema. Told from the perspective of an omniscient but not omnipotent narrator. The main character begins his journey alone, gathers the team and equipment (which he then throws away – this is a hymn to the non-ecological use of resources). Alone or with the crew, he loads himself into various idiotic situations, and most importantly, he is constantly on the way, and even on the run! What is the apocalypse about? The earth stops spinning, but all sorts of angels fall on it, believers slowly form militia to cleanse the world and separate the grain from the chaff. Just John’s vision in full and as per the recipe.
A laureate for the cinema with UłeSA (as Zek himself would have thought), the kind from the 90s. Not very politically correct – which the more sensitive of us will sometimes gnash our teeth. Personally, I am not sure what to think about some of Gołkowski’s choices – for example, the repeated use of the “M word” at the beginning of the book may (from the perspective of several chapters) simply be the effect of the hero’s terrible mental state. In turn, a certain supporting character uses a very elegant language, full of respect for others. He is an American from the South who calls everyone “gentlemen” and even “ladies”. Certain questions or suspicions are creeping into the mind of the undersigned, but for the time being I do not know whether Gołkowski intends to continue playing with this card, or is just teasing the reader. After Fort 72I have some concerns, but I will gladly wait and let myself be surprised, this writer likes to pick up the public against the hair. Especially since the character itself is autonomous, interesting and multidimensional.
SNAFU
Well, don’t you hear the reviewer’s delighted sighs? Because they just weren’t there. The arena is well written, the plot idea is the game itself, it sings and flickers, there are emotions, there is a great deal of destruction. I have only seen it all, and that at Gołkowski’s. And I really, really wanted to be surprised this time by the whole apocalypse, and not like road workers winter: we swear, we will fall into a ditch, it will be something to remember at family dinners. For SNAFU, too much is normal .
Of course I got screwed and when Gołkowski releases the next volumes of the Debtors Arena , I will read them and maybe even review them. And I will wait for the thrill of opening my head with another idiotic situation, the general tumble of the world. Today, however, I report that my mind is old-fashioned and longing for the fireworks from the original trilogy.
