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Shadow Resistance: The Basics

Debut novels are something that intrigues me, on a personal level. There is something unique about examining the first published novel of an author. Shadow Resistance is B.J. Cyprian’s authorial debut, though of course – as the reader discovers in the introductory noteParenthetically, if you are the kind of reader that skips introductory notes, do not skip this one, especially if you are an author yourself. It is replete with interesting elements related to the writing process. – other attempts came before it.

Shadow Resistance operates on multiple levels and involves a large variety of characters, but if I had to describe it in a few sentences, it’s the story of a group of individuals who (half-accidentally, as it usually happens with true heroes) combat institutionalized injustice.

Genre, Narrative, and Plot

The easiest way to approach Shadow Resistance is as a political thriller. As I mentioned earlier, there are several layers in the plot, including aspects of detective fiction. In terms of genre, the narrative balances nicely between description and pace, stereotypical characters and originality, self-reflection and action.

Having said that, it does occasionally come off as slightly too extensive. A general rule of writing is, if a scene doesn’t serve a purposeA purpose in a narrative context is defined as something that either moves the plot forward or illuminates the personal drive of a character, it shouldn’t be there. I think some of the scenes in Shadow Resistance would probably belong to that category.

However, their presence isn’t detrimental to the overall picture. If anything, some of these scenes  – such as the discussion between a counselor and an alcoholic mother – bring some humanity to an otherwise slightly clinical narration (perhaps an inevitable outcome, considering that the protagonist is a computer genius and another major character is her highly opinionated super computer).

Genre Rules

Still, the aspect of genre is important here. Shadow Resistance is not literary fiction, nor a romance novel. Focus is on plot – that is, on what happens rather than why it happens – which is exactly as it should be for a political thriller.

That is not to say that the narrative is devoid of deep, introspective discussions. The exact opposite is the case: there is a wealth of intriguing social commentary and information.

Indeed, it is evident that the author has done a lot of research on the topic (not to mention personal experience), and this deep comprehension of the nuanced dynamics pays off. There is a sense of authenticity and genuine complexity – though one that doesn’t get in the way of reading an enjoyable thriller.

Fiction Needs to Make Sense; Reality Doesn’t

Generally speaking, the plot progresses very naturally. There isn’t anything extraordinarily original about it, though on the other hand, there are no glaring flaws either.

The plot is built around a murder investigation which soon reveals a wider and much more sinister nexus of conspiracy around it.

For some readers, the conspiracy portrayed in the story might initially appear a bit far-fetched. However, don’t forget that art only imitates life. Without wanting to spoil any details of the plot, I can assure readers that events similar to those described in Shadow Resistance have indeed been at least attempted in South Africa during the apartheid era.

Characters

There are many characters parading through the novel. In a certain sense, there are perhaps too many. The few weaknesses of the novel can be attributed to the author’s choice to expand in so many directions. Not all scenes are necessary, narratively speaking, and to an extent the same can be said about characters.

To put this in a better perspective, the presence of so many characters inevitably leads to the limited usage of some of them, at least in certain parts of the novel. For instance, I would’ve personally liked to see more of Rose, perhaps precisely because she offers a more human aspect. Another example would be her brother, Robert, who mostly remains in the shadow of his much more active brother, Ryan.

The Deus ex Machina Factor

Other things one could observe is the special status of Dom and SARA (the computer genius and her creation, respectively). They both are a bit heavy on exposition, supplying a mountain of information. This is all good and nice, and perhaps inevitable, but it also puts a lot of strain on their realism.

It also has an effect on Dom’s humanity. To an extent, again, it’s natural. She is sort of a recluse, a hacker. She doesn’t miss human company, or so it appears at the beginning.

Indeed, the beginning of the novel is also a bit thin on emotions. Especially when contrasted with the character of Rose later on, Dom appears somewhat aloof. And yet, an interesting (and perhaps partly unwritten) metaphor lies there. What if we sometimes all – despite our identity and even intentions – can be oblivious to the suffering around us?

Additionally, both Dom and SARA have a certain deus-ex-machina role in the narrative: as if waving a magic wand, they’re there to provide quasi-magically what is needed to move the narrative forward. It is a bit problematic, though on the other hand it is entirely justifiable in the context of the genre. The reader should just accept it for what it is – a literary device – and move on.

Shadow Resistance: Conclusion

Overall, I was left with a very positive impression. Shadow Resistance is clearly superior to your average novel out there – as I have often mentioned, there is a lot of noise – and the fact that it is a debut novel only makes me feel even more optimistic about the author’s potential.

Indeed, there is a certain “peculiarity” in B.J. Cyprian’s writing, and I mean that in a good way. Though it’s virtually impossible to speak of a personal style when there is only one novel to examine, I dare to speculate that the author displays a (probably still only subconscious) ownership of authorial voice; in other words, of developing a way of writing that is quite unique.

Perhaps it’s the dedication to offering a holistic perspective on the chosen topic, that makes Shadow Resistance come off almost as a cross between fiction and narrative nonfiction. Or maybe it’s the sense of humor pervading the story – though slightly stereotypical, it also reveals crucial components of the human experience, as the dialogues between Dom and SARA indicate.

A Writer Should Disturb

The language deployed is top-class, the descriptions are detailed and patient yet not overwhelming, and the topic is dealt with head-on, without any attempt at amelioration. Indeed, I often see writers attempting to take on a topic, only to end up filtering out unwanted details. In this context, “unwanted” implies unwanted by their audiences. Attempting to please others is an awful way to write a book.

Not B.J. Cyprian.

The novel is relentlessly critical of social injustice, of all forms. Furthermore, there is a crucial detail in this. Not only is the narrative critical of injustice, but it also portrays a remarkable maturity about causes, factors, distractions, and hypocrisy. An author should not be afraid to disturb, and B.J. Cyprian isn’t.

Characteristic is the scene where Ryan, the retired soldier, speaks of US foreign policy. “The US is making it seem like we are needed [in the Middle East] to keep the peace when us being there is making the situation worse”. Self-obvious this though it may be outside the US, it’s not a part of the official narrative inside them. Ryan makes it explicit, in fact, affirming that “[p]eople stateside generally get the press package”.

Ultimately, I enjoyed reading Shadow Resistance. Despite its extensive length, I finished it in only two days. This is a testament to its overall readability as well as its suspenseful plot. There are a few rough edges here and there, but for a debut novel you really can’t ask much more than this.

You can read a free preview and buy Shadow Resistance on Amazon.