Neuropath
While writing his series, The Prince of Nothing, R. Scott Bakker was challenged by his wife to write a thriller. He did, it was called Neuropath, and is the best thriller I’ve ever read. I must note here before going any further that I don’t particularly like thrillers. It’s not exactly a genre I can get behind, many of them rely on a pretty hefty suspension of disbelief. However, a few outstanding examples of authors have managed to balance such an act.
This is not an instance of such, Neuropath uses modern neuroscience to support its plot. so the suspension of disbelief is actually rather light and easy to carry. Probably the terrifying thing about the book, is that it feels like a believable future. It relies heavily on evidence-based theories rather than superstition, which is its greatest strength.
Neuropath is a bit reminiscent of Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse, as they are both supported by modern neuroscience. Though Dollhouse is a bit more lighthearted. The fact that Dollhouse is pretty dark should give a sign of how dark Neuropath actually is.
Neuropath is set in the near future, neuroscience has made a breakthrough in understanding what the chemical flows within the human brain mean. At the same time there are rumors that the FBI as well as some major corporations, such as Wal-Mart, have developed small MRI like machines that can tell generally what someone is thinking when they walk by them. Enabling Wal-Mart managers to discipline their employees for not appearing happy enough.
The main character is Tom Bible, a psychology major with two kids, and a strained relationship with his ex-wife. His best friend, Neil, is a neurologist who worked for the NSA with interrogations in an attempt to apply mind-altering technology to gain information. Neil leaves the NSA and is investigated by the FBI for a series of abductions that occur in the book. There is a supporting cast of FBI agents and Tom Bible’s neighbors.
The story mostly revolves around the abductions, with bewildered FBI agents and Tom Bible offering explanations. There is a vague side-story of a serial killer called the Chiropractor, who is tying up most of the FBI resources, so only a few can be fielded on the Neil case.
The story builds rather well leading towards the climax plenty of twists and turns, a few are a bit cliché and hurt the novel a bit, but it’s still overall pretty good. In my opinion, the ending is the weakest point. It’s kind of a letdown. The themes in the book are rather nihilistic, with a healthy dose of the futility of our struggle in reality, and how we delude ourselves to make it through the day. Which, while true, is something most people don’t feel comfortable thinking about. It is the discomfort that comes from such things that most of the meat of the novel is heavily seated. If that discomfort puts you off then Neuropath isn’t for you.
Neuropath challenges your understanding of willpower, and what you are truly capable of when you aren’t in control. It has a few graphic, mature, and violent scenes that can put people off. The book grabs you and pulls you in, but it lets you down a little in the end. While it might be disappointing to some, I might be being overly critical, as thrillers aren’t exactly my favorite genre.
I have to say Neuropath is good, it’s not R. Scott Bakker’s best work, but it is good. It’s definitely in my favorite thrillers list, though that isn’t a very long list, and it’s one of the only thrillers that I would consider for my list of favorite books, along with the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Which will probably be a later fictional rant, as that’s my number one thriller of all time.
I recommend it fairly highly if you’re interested in psychology, and like thrillers, or even if you don’t it can still be engaging enough to keep your attention. My opinion is that it is definitely worth the time. Neuropath is one of those books that I might never read again, or if I do it’ll be a long while. Most books fall in that category as I’ve only re-read Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy and Good Omens. If you’re looking for something you’ll read time and again this isn’t it, it’s a one time joy that leads you down dark paths, it’s an adventure that doesn’t bode well for the hero. While the ending is rather weak, overall the novel is well written and easy to follow. If you’re interested you can find it at the amazon link listed below.