Africa Zero - two novellas

[Patrick Mahon]

I've just finished reading Africa Zero (2006, Cosmos Books) - a collection of two linked novellas about a human cyborg called "the Collector" who wanders around a future Africa, collecting and cataloguing that continent's genetic diversity - and killing a lot of people into the bargain.

I really enjoyed these stories. Lots of action, and some very strange creatures - but I was impressed by the way that, over the course of the book, Neal made me care about the Collector, a protagonist who is initially very easy to take a dislike to.

Neal - I understand that these novellas pre-date this 2006 publication. How old are they, and have you written any other stories about the Collector? If so, I'd love to know where to get hold of them - Cheers!

 

[Neal Asher]

No other stories about the Collector, unfortunately. The first novella was serialized in Geoff Lynas's wonderful Threads magazine back in 1994 so I wrote it some time before then, not sure how long before, however. I did it after reading a very old book called The Mountains of the Moon (botanist in Africa) along with a definite hat tip to James Kahn's World Enough and Time.

The Skinner

 

[blacknorth]

Loved these - first Asher stories I've read and I'll be seeking out more.