by fools_page » March 9th, 2014, 6:09 pm
A belated review of “The Synthetic Enigma”:
First, mechanically, I really enjoyed the new style of the dolls and drones . . . that is, in their “shinier” texture. Uzobono’s artwork is quite beautiful, and I could appreciate an entire series of his illustrations even without the dialogue. The movements suggested, the general appearance of the character, facial expressions, all are quite superb.
Of as much and greater appeal here, though, is the story itself. The story of Lilly was not, at first, what I had expected, having read and thoroughly enjoyed “The Synthetic Expose.” Actually, what I was hoping for initially was another doll-transformation sequence, in which Lilly in pursuing the lead on her sister would herself end up serving the same fate. I would still like to see another such transformation in this series, especially in light of the above-mentioned new artwork style. This was not the story told, though, and for that I’m glad, as this was a much finer effort.
Lilly’s story is a tragedy. I like tragedies, in contemporary and classic literature as well as in the context of erotic mind-control fiction. The key to good tragedy, regardless of genre, is that through loss there is an affirmation, or gain of some nature. In this case, Lilly’s investigation into her sister’s disappearance leads, in all practicality, to her own destruction: what she was is no more, and any hope of recovery at this point seems dim, even more so than any other doll or drone created by the Agency. The transformation was dark but also erotic, and on that basis alone is as successful as the story’s immediate predecessors, “A Doll Day Afternoon” and “The Synthetic Expose.” What raises “Enigma” to an even higher level, though, is the affirmation received, in this case not by Lilly but by her sister, Shan.
Shan’s identity, though lost forever, has been (unintentionally) awakened by her twin’s (unintentional) sacrifice. That’s good writing. Shan’s awareness of these circumstances also directly leads to a sequel in the old sense of the trilogy, wherein the first story introduces the hero (Shan), the second introduces the final problem (that her lover and now owner Tanya is a heel), and the final installment, one hopes, will lead to resolution (one where Tanya) is herself victimized by the forces she has unleashed, hopefully turned into a doll herself).
Shan may never regain her humanity - another tragedy - but she can still likely balance the scales with Tanya, who truly deserves “dollhood.”
Briefly, “Enigma” is a deeper, more meaningful story than its still highly enjoyable predecessors, and even if nothing of what I predict comes true, it’s still a thought-provoking (and highly charged erotic) tale.
“Expose” . . . “Enigma” . . . another “E” word for title?
fools_page