I picked this book up from the new releases section at the library. It’s a tightly written cyberpunk novella set in Australia, starting in Melbourne circa the year 2100. At a mere 110 pages, it tells a complete story with plenty of action, drama, and a little humor and philosophy to boot.
Twenty-something Jack Nguyen lives on the margins in Melbourne with his friend Col Charles. One night, their criming is interrupted by a collision with a beautiful woman speaking Chinese, who needs their help. They decide to steal her shoes. Soon, they find themselves caught up in something much bigger than petty crime, pursued by killers convinced they possess something invaluable and who will stop at nothing to get it back.
This was a pretty good, quick read. After finishing the latest Dungeon Crawler Carl novel, I had a few weeks of “now what?” It’s like that for me after finishing a long series: So invested in one world that it takes a while to figure out how to get into a new one. This book helped me get over the hump and I’m excited to read even more in 2025.
I learned, after the fact, that Ghost of the Neon God is set in the same universe as Napper’s well-received cyberpunk novel 36 Streets, so I may check that out in the future.