The Raw Shack Texts

Steven Hall

Text Publishing Australia 2008

Reviewer: Bob Estreich

It’s rather hard to classify this book, but in the end I decided on science fiction. There is a “parallel universe” made up of the thoughts, words, emotions of this world, past and present. The thought world can be likened to a great sea, and this sea has spawned its own life forms. The principal one is a great shark-like creature called a Ludovician, who eats the thoughts and memories of people in the real world. It leaves only an empty shell behind

Eric Sanderson has just woken up without a single memory. The Ludovician has attacked in the night. Fortunately Eric has been attacked before. Sensing another attack building, he has left enough information behind to prepare the new Eric to resist the next attack. And another attack will surely come, for the Ludovician waits only long enough for its victim to accumulate new memories and emotions, then strikes again. Eric must learn to camouflage his mental processes long enough to find help to fight off the shark. But how do you fight a creature composed of the worst nightmares of other people?

The book is classic British “what if ???” science fiction, and defines a whole new plausible world for the characters to interact in. It could be heavy going, but Steven Hall’s style is light enough to keep the plot moving with elements of humour to lighten it. A certain well-known shark movie provides the background for the final showdown, and why not? When you say “shark”, what movie will most people remember? It could just be parody, but by this point in the book you will be adjusted to the thought world and accept it as it is – the result of thousands of memories defining a shark attack.

The book takes a little while to settle down, until you (and Eric) become used to the notion of a world composed of thoughts. It’s a really good read and I recommend it to anyone who is past the Star Wars type of SF.