Review: Pink Gallery to Mar Suite by Chris Leite

Author Christopher Leite drops readers into the mind of a ruthless android in Pink Gallery to Mar Suite, a grim and bloody novel of revenge, lust, and the existential angst of an AI assassin.

In this gritty slice of the future, ICQA-1037 is just a hard-working robot killer trying to get laid after four long years, but his standards are high, his patience is thin, and his temper seems perpetually ready to boil over and explode. Being one of the most advanced forms of technology on the planet doesn’t make up for his loneliness, or confusion at the petty problems of humanity.

There is a brutal and detached style to the writing, and to Icy’s blunt personality, particularly when it comes to violence, confrontation, and outright meanness to others. The classic “robot trying to understand human emotions” trope is taken to a whole new level with this borderline psychotic protagonist, an advanced model without the traditional behavioral limitations; he is programmed to eliminate targets, and he’s “damn good at it.”

However, moving through the world without remorse or self-censure doesn’t gain him much affection, aside from the loyalty of A3-11, Icy’s “best” friend, drinking buddy, wingman, and accomplice when any “extra” bodies hit the floor. When this cybernetic super assassin starts experiencing blackouts, it puts everything in danger – his targets, friends, missions, career, and any poor soul within arms’ reach. Icy was designed to kill by his creators at Memory12, with the ultimate mission of “saving the world,” but their inability to control his violent rages eventually places him in their savage crosshairs.

The stream of consciousness narration in this novel is immersive and authentic from a compellingly flawed protagonist. Icy spends a lot of time reflecting on his own feelings and reactions to various subjects – women, colleagues, bosses, sex, murder, friendship, purpose, and freedom. These narrative passages are some of the most revealing, and seem to be where Leite conducts his own thematic explorations. The ideas proposed, dissected, and judged by Icy’s perpetual analysis are interesting and thought-provoking, but they can sometimes feel disjointed and not fully fleshed out before the prose manically turns elsewhere.

Additionally, the narrative can be jarring and unpleasant at times, from misogynistic diatribes to spontaneous acts of violence that make it difficult to find the main character redeeming: “I hope he kills himself tonight, I hope the noose is tight.” While the edginess of the prose may appeal to some readers, the sociopathic undertones are intense and relentless, along with frequent graphic fight scenes and fatalities.

On a technical level, there is also much to be desired in the text, from misspelled and incorrectly used words to repetitive dialogue, grammatical errors, and tangential passages that don’t contribute to the plot or character. A decisive editorial hand could certainly improve these rough spots, though the imperfections almost fit with the unpredictable and slap-dash flow of the plot.

Despite the critiques and potentially niche appeal for this sci-fi slasher story, Pink Gallery to Mar Suite is a highly original and darkly alluring tale of morality and mortality.