Matrix Warrior: Being The One: An Unofficial Guide by Jake Horsley
01/07/2003 . Source: Donna Jones 

pub: Gollancz. 232 page hardback. Price: £ 6.99 (UK). ISBN: 0-575-07527-9.

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‘The Matrix’ film was the hottest Science Fiction film to hit the screens in 1999. The onset of the Millennium looming, it gave people a new viewpoint of what life was all about. The two sequels, out this year, have renamed 2003 the Year of The Matrix.

With this in mind the tidal wave of books analysing ‘The Matrix’ philosophy is hardly surprising but not really an original idea. David Icke has his ‘Children Of The Matrix’ out at the moment and Jake Horsley's ‘Matrix Warrior’ will certainly not be the last to hit the book shelves.

Jake Horsley has written two books on violence in cinema, made into a single volume back in 2000. However, in ‘Matrix Warrior’, his author info says he is unpublished. The front of the cover proclaims 'Jake Horsley seems to arrive from out of nowhere, yet here he is!'.

The book basically goes through symbolic scenes within ‘The Matrix’ film and then analyses them full-frontal so it would seem. The fact is that this book cannot be described as anything ... I mean it isn't interesting to the likes of people who loved the film because I am one of them and this book ruins the film. The book repeats itself so many times that you want to shake it and say change the record.

The book constantly contradicts what has been said previously and never really examines all the violence in the movie. I have researched this and it could be because this was analysed in the ‘Blood Poets’ books (the two volumes I mentioned earlier): 'already done that don't need to do it again' type of attitude.

There are other nasty habits throughout the book. At the beginning, the book actually thanks the cast and crew for their performances and bringing us ‘The Matrix’, then in the text bashes the Wachowskis for being Gatekeepers and not allowing more people to unplug.

The pretentious use of language puts the cherry on the top of the cake for me, exegesis does not clearly tell you his intention behind the book.

What I think really disappoints me is that all this book tries to do is piggyback off the success of the film. It doesn't even try to be good, the diagrams are very simple and uninspired...they're circles! The philosophy of ‘The Matrix’ is apparent in the film, mixing Eastern philosophies with this idea that we are in some kind of game/alternative reality (‘Red Dwarf’s ‘Better Than Life’ did the same).

The book tries to examine this idea and how we should prepare ourselves for unplugging. The inescapable truth of the matter is that the Dalai Lama has already told us the way. If you're looking for enlightenment, read one of his books. I guarantee you'll get much more from it and it won't ruin your enjoyment of one of the best Science Fiction films of recent years.

So basically this is a soggy trout of a book that no one should read. No doubt people will buy this because of the title and because of the success of the films. If you really want to know the philosophies behind the making of ‘The Matrix’ and its kin, go to the horse’s mouth and buy ‘The Art Of The Matrix’ by the Wachowski Brothers.

For goodness sake, don't read this book for pleasure. It is about as pleasurable as sticking a sharpened pencil into your thigh, no mistake!

Donna Jones