The Artificial Kid

On planet Reverie, the Artificial Kid is a celebrity "combat artist" who works on tape; he started his career as "a junior gang member of the Cognitive Dissonants, a group led. . . by that resplendent couple, Chill Factor and his Ice Lady." Yes, as you've guessed by now, this is sf of the hip/satiric sort - and, after a few establishing chapters, a quest format gets underway: Kid has begun a feud with the Clone Bros. and other agents of "the Cabal," but when Moses Moses ("Founder of the Corporation") amazingly returns to life after some 400 years, Kid and his pals must protect this hero - so they flee, with only Kid, Moses, and Saint Anne Twice-born surviving a shipwreck. While waiting to die of starvation, each tells his/her life story, but then they realize they're on a flying island - and when Prof. Crossbow comes by (his "Gestalt Dispute" was the cause of that feud), the team is persuaded to venture into the dreaded "Mass" area while Crossbow (scientist) and Moses (politician) exchange brains. Finally, the Cabal is destroyed, and Kid accepts his hologram heritage, winning the love of once-prim Saint Anne. Hardworking - with a few chuckles, juicy images, and sf notions - but much strain and long, heavy-going chatter. (Kirkus Reviews)