Bear Head - (Dogs of War) by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Paperback)

About the Book

In a sequel to the much-praised Dogs of War, Honey the genetically engineered bear takes a ride in Jimmy the Martian's head and starts a revolution on the Red Planet.

Book Synopsis

Honey the genetically engineered bear starts a revolution on the Red Planet in the new novel from the Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author of Children of Time.
WELCOME TO HELL CITY, MARS
Jimmy Martin has a sore head.

He's used to smuggling illegal data in his headspace. But this is the first time it has started talking to him.

The data claims to be a distinguished academic, author and civil rights activist.

It also claims to be a bear.

A bear named Honey.

Jimmy has nothing against bioforms - he's one himself, albeit one engineered out of human stock - and works with them everyday in Hell City, building the future, staking mankind's claim to a new world: Mars.

The problem is that humanity isn't the only entity with designs on the Red Planet. Out in the airless desert there is another presence. A novel intelligence, elusive, unknowable and potentially lethal.

And Honey is here to make contact with it, whether Jimmy likes it or not.
Praise for Bear Head:
'An unashamedly thrilling escapade' The Times

'Funny, appalling, gruesome and uplifting... Propelled by a cracking plot that balances dystopian satire with a palpable sense of moral peril' Daily Mail

'An absolute whammy of a read, and a must for anyone who enjoys a smart, fast-paced, hugely entertaining blast of speculative fiction... This is one of those books where you can just throw yourself and abandon yourself to a fabulous story, knowing you will be entertained throughout' LoveReading

'A rousing good read' Guardian

'If you're a fan of Black Mirror, this classic dystopian book will have you hooked within the first few pages. Smart, fast-paced, and razor-sharp, this book is surprisingly funny while still remaining deeply thought-provoking' Daily Express

Review Quotes

"Adrian Tchaikovsky's dissection of Thompson's appeal and ghastly genius is the thoughtful highlight of this unashamedly thrilling escapade. You don't need to have read Dogs of War to enjoy Bear Head - but why deny yourself the pleasure?" --The Times

"Funny, appalling, gruesome and uplifting (often at the same time), Bear Head is propelled by a cracking plot that balances dystopian satire with a palpable sense of moral peril" --Daily Mail

"An absolute whammy of a read, and a must for anyone who enjoys a smart, fast-paced, hugely entertaining blast of speculative fiction... Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning Adrian Tchaikovsky has successfully combined weighty, thought-provoking moments, with a Trump-like baddie, full-on action and smirky humour... This is one of those books where you can just throw yourself and abandon yourself to a fabulous story, knowing you will be entertained throughout'" --LoveReading

"A rousing good read" --Guardian

"A thought-provoking novel... Bear Head is a triumph. Its story is fascinating, with unexpected events occurring throughout. It's a novel filled with compassion and characters that are very easy to empathize with'" --Geek Dad

"Adrian Tchaikovsky has done another marvellous job of humanising his bioform characters: bears, dogs and other animals with varying amounts of modifications and intelligence. Their attitudes and thought-processes are extrapolated in thoughtful and interesting ways and we are even offered an insight into the way that a distributed intelligence would work... A thrilling and fun sequel to Dogs of War that expands the universe in new and profound directions'" --SF Crowsnest

"A wonderfully strange blend of a story that sits somewhere between Total Recall and Johnny Mnemonic with just a touch of Animal Farm thrown in for good measure... With a prescient focus on political landscapes and how manipulations of them can manifest on both sides of an argument, Bear Head works just as well as a thought-provoking science fiction as it does a political thriller'" --SciFiNow

"Adrian Tchaikovsky's talent in creating imperfect, believable characters has always been one of his strengths and this continues here... It combines superb storytelling, emotion and leaves the reader thinking long after finishing. If you like intelligent SF, I can't recommend this enough'" --Birmingham SF

"If you're a fan of Black Mirror, this classic dystopian book will have you hooked within the first few pages. Smart, fast-paced, and razor-sharp, this book is surprisingly funny while still remaining deeply thought-provoking" --Daily Express

"A fast-paced, two-planet, head romp with plenty of humour and more than a smattering of cyber-punk. It's more than a tad political too, touching on legal rights, abuse of power, control and suppression... Largely fun and thoughtful, though occasionally gruesome and unsettling'" --Concatenation

About the Author

Adrian Tchaikovsky was born in Lincolnshire before heading off to Reading to study psychology and zoology. He subsequently ended up in law and has worked as a legal executive in both Reading and Leeds, where he now lives. Married, he is a keen live role-player and occasional amateur actor and has trained in stage-fighting. He's the author of the critically acclaimed Shadows of the Apt series and his novel Children of Time was the winner of the 30th Anniversary Arthur C. Clarke Award.