The Cambridge Geek

David Wong - Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits

Ah, David Wong. He writes some absolutely mental stuff. Such as What the Hell Did I Just Read?, which I enjoyed back in October.

This is an entirely separate story, about Zoey, a trailer park girl who finds herself thrust into the middle of a succession war, when her absent father, who just so happens is the head of a political and criminal empire (allegedly) dies and leaves her everything. Unfortunately, in this case, everything includes the plans to cyborg implants which a lot of people will kill for. Puts her at a fair bit of risk, does that.

All of which means that she has to build an army from her father's staff and go to war against the nearest thing that her new world has to a supervillain. He's not particularly out of place in this near-ish future in which holograms are everywhere, everyone records their life and broadcasts it to an internet audience of millions and gang wars now have fansites.

The world is well fleshed out, having a good dystopia/utopia mix that comes from capitalism run rampant, and filled with a nice range of impressive characters. In particular are Zoey's new handpicked staff, who make up a lovely little ensemble of crazy but efficient people who tend to use their personality quirks as offensive weaponry, expressed in the form of the heavy duty snark that Wong does so well.

The overall feel of the book is of someone having an immensely enjoyable time just trying to work out the stupidest things they can possibly do while still being successful. It works very well, in that you'll likely find yourself laughing at the extravagance of a particular scheme, while still thrumming with tension over whether or not it will succeed.

Did not take me very long at all to get through it, and would happily read a sequel.

Highly recommended.

Tagged: Book Science fiction Cyberpunk Novel Print