ZEROBOXER

Boxing gets an upgrade to zero gravity in this futuristic outing.

Living centuries in the future, Carr, at 17, has dreams of winning the title. Carr is a zeroboxer, trading punches in a zero-G cube. Carr was born on Earth in “balmy Toronto.” As a Terran, he’s low on the totem pole socially; Martians, resented on Earth for their genetic modifications, look down on Earth as a backwater. After a few wins, Carr gets a pay raise and a brandhelm to manage his career. However, he learns a secret that brings him close to a criminal conspiracy, and he can’t see a way out. Lee creates a believable future world by attaching new surroundings to common experiences. Carr lives in the inner circle on a space station; the wealthy can afford outer apartments with views of Earth. Boxing keeps its familiar customs, such as loud announcers, title belts and trash-talking opponents, but includes weightless flying. As a sports hero, Carr copes with interviews and fans just as today’s star athletes do. More interestingly, the book focuses on ethical issues such as the genetic modifications humans undertook to begin living on Mars and promotes social awareness, focusing on Carr’s humble beginnings and his still-impoverished young friend, Enzo. It all adds up to a superior sci-fi outing that doesn’t need mad scientists to provide suspense.

Top-notch science fiction and a great sports novel too.