Company Town
August 15, 2016 7:05 AM - by Madeline Ashby - Subscribe
Meet Hwa. One of the few in her community to forego bio-engineered enhancements, she’s the last truly organic person left on the rig -- making an outsider from the community, as well as a neglected daughter and bodyguard extraordinaire. New Arcadia is a city-sized oil rig off the coast of the Canadian Maritimes, now owned by one very wealthy, powerful, byzantine family: Lynch Ltd. As an expert in the arts of self-defence, Hwa has been charged with training the Family’s youngest, who has been receiving death threats – seemingly from another timeline.
Meanwhile, a series of interconnected murders threatens the city's stability and heightens the unease of a rig turning over. All signs point to a nearly invisible serial killer, but all of the murders seem to lead right back to Hwa's front door.
"A brilliant and chilling look at our post-oil future. I haven't been this hooked by an SF novel for ages." -- Charlie Stross, author of Empire Games
Meanwhile, a series of interconnected murders threatens the city's stability and heightens the unease of a rig turning over. All signs point to a nearly invisible serial killer, but all of the murders seem to lead right back to Hwa's front door.
"A brilliant and chilling look at our post-oil future. I haven't been this hooked by an SF novel for ages." -- Charlie Stross, author of Empire Games
I read this, but I've already forgotten most of the “why” of what happened. I seem to remember the resolution being less than satisfying, and most of the plot revolving around the protagonist not asking questions despite everything being framed as a mystery.
I think I was primed by the synopsis to expect an adventure, when really this was a power fantasy with high concept sci-fi garnishing. And a ton of horrible things happening to women.
posted by books for weapons at 11:30 AM on August 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
I think I was primed by the synopsis to expect an adventure, when really this was a power fantasy with high concept sci-fi garnishing. And a ton of horrible things happening to women.
posted by books for weapons at 11:30 AM on August 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
I liked the take on Canadian cyberpunk, and it has been one of my favorite sci-fi action reads of the year so far. Same complaints as books for weapons though. It's like a movie where you're yelling at the screen because the protagonist isn't making the choices you would.
posted by tofu_crouton at 4:31 PM on August 15, 2016
posted by tofu_crouton at 4:31 PM on August 15, 2016
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posted by quaking fajita at 10:07 AM on August 15, 2016