WINNER OF THE NEBULA AWARD After a global pandemic makes public gatherings illegal and concerts impossible, except for those willing to break the law for the love of music—and for one chance at human connection. In the Before, when the government didn't prohibit large public gatherings, Luce Cannon was on top of the world. One of her songs had just taken off and she was on her way to becoming a star. Now, in the After, terror attacks and deadly viruses have led the government to ban concerts, and Luce's connection to the world--her music, her purpose—is closed off forever. She does what she has to do: she performs in illegal concerts to a small but passionate community, always evading the law. Rosemary Laws barely remembers the Before times. She spends her days in Hoodspace, helping customers order all of their goods online for drone delivery—no physical contact with humans needed. By lucky chance, she finds a new job and a new calling: discover amazing musicians and bring their concerts to everyone via virtual reality. The only catch is that she'll have to do something she's never done before and go out in public. Find the illegal concerts and bring musicians into the limelight they deserve. But when she sees how the world could actually be, that won’t be enough.
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“Pinsker’s first novel depicts a moving alternate future in which technology provides everything a person could want, except human contact. Themes of virtual reality, humanity, and music are threaded throughout this melodic story.”
— Library Journal (starred review)
“Establishes [Pinsker] as an astonishingly impressive writer of day-after-tomorrow SF…This tale of hope and passion is a remarkable achievement.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)Be the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Sarah Pinsker is an author whose stories have won Nebula Award, Sturgeon Award, and the Philip K. Dick Award and have been finalists for the Hugo, the Locus, and the Eugie Foster Memorial Award. She is also a singer/songwriter with three albums on various independent labels.
Carlotta Brentan is a voice talent and audiobook narrator.
Nicol Zanzarella is an Earphones Award–winning audiobook narrator and a theater and television actress. She has appeared in productions of Richard III, Romeo and Juliet, The Winter’s Tale, Cousin Bette, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, and many others.