Charles Stross initially gained notoriety for the far-future novels Singularity Sky and Iron Sunrise, then the comic-horror Atrocity Archives, the first two volumes of his medieval corporate fantasy Merchant Princes series, the positively stunning Accelerando, Merchant Princes #3, the shattered identity Glasshouse, an Atrocity sequel, Merchant Princes #4 and now this, quite different from anything in the previous oeuvre, exploring the question of security in our immediate future.
The eleventh book of fiction from Stross (in little more than four years!) Halting State is one of my favorite authors showing that no matter how broadly he reaches he can still deliver the goods. Just a decade from now, and taking a patch from Ian Rankin and Ken Macleod by using the Edinburgh setting as a key element, the story concerns a bank robbery. One that could not have happened even five years ago since this particular bank is inside a top tier massively multiplayer online role playing game.
Key characters include Sgt. Sue Smith of the Edinburgh police, forensic accountant Elaine Barnaby of Dietrich-Brunner Associates, a very capable game programmer named Jack Reed who hires on as Elaine’s “native guide,” several suits from the company running the in-game bank, Hayek Associates, and a smattering of coppers and related outfits. All ring real rather than cut out of a cereal box.
I’d rather not do any spoilers so no big plot discussion except to say Stross, not surprisingly does a good job with it and there is at least one 24-like complete jump change along the way. I will tell you that, the Scottish devolution wish fulfillment aside, his insights into the risks and rewards of near-term technological developments seem both very possible and frightening.
Charlie has two novels due in 2008, the fifth Merchant Princes novel and a standalone Heinleinesque space opera. Picture my hands rubbing in gleeful anticipation.
recommended
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