The dark river

This book continues the story of the conflict between the Tabula and the Travelers. The Tabula, a.k.a. Brethren, are a group devoted to controlling humanity. Their tools are Total Information Awareness, closed-circuit cameras, and computerized surveillance of the world. The Travelers and their protectors, the Harlequins, struggle to increase individual freedom.

Perhaps the Tabula aren't entirely fictional. I'd be cheering for the Harlequins, if it weren't for some of the story faults that are common in this type of fiction. As they try to protect the Travelers, they spend enormous amounts of money for bribes, weapons, and false identities. So far, there has been no explanation of where they get all this funding.

If there were a group of people in the real world who were resisting the influence of the Vast Machine, I would hope that they would be better people than the Harlequins and Free Runners. It bothers me that the tools of their fight for freedom include lying, vandalism, stealing, hurting innocents, violence, and murder.