In what may be the early 21st
century, Brazil begins to produce a number of major technological advances,
including practical fusion power. They launch their first rocket and the
booster fails - but the spacecraft continues to ascend into space. Something's
going on.
This is, in effect, Brazilian
SF. The author came from the US, but has lived in and has an attachment to
Brazil. The book certainly doesn't glamorize Brazil. However, it has the Latin American
suspicions towards the US. In the story, following the odd Brazilian space
launch, the US sees crucial technology in it and demands Brazil share the information. When Brazil does not submit, the situation moves towards a US invasion of Brazil. (As with the war in Iraq, the American rationale for the invasion is a false
accusation about nuclear weapons.)
The story follows various
characters' scheming and maneuvering in this framework. There's a NASA
employee / UFO-logist looking into sightings in Brazil, an American painter
living in Brazil with connections to the CIA and a love of Brazil, a very dark character heading Brazil's secret police, some sort of psychic type advising Brazil's president (who's surrounded by various questions), a regular CIA agent, a Japanese
industrial spy...
Conflicting suggestions are
made as to the source of Brazil's technology. Perhaps, they are dealing with
aliens. Perhaps, it's something supernatural. At best, different readers will
interpret different answers. But one may not see any answer at all.
There are also questions
about some Brazilian citizens being "disappeared".
As I said, it's not a pretty
picture of Brazil (or at least its elite). Women and children are abused by
some characters. These seem to be especially popular with characters in the
spy business. Other cruelty is indicated, the nature of some of which is not
so clear. Not all characters are so twisted or damaged, but none of them are a
knight in shining armor sort of hero.
It can be an interesting and
exciting read. How it works for you may depend on being able to see in the
Latin perspective.