This second installment in a classic cyberpunk series is a fast-paced ride through a gritty, well-imagined world.
Steward is a clone, a beta. His memories are fifteen years old because his alpha never had a brain-scan update. And in those fifteen years, the entire world has changed. An alien race known as the Powers has established relations with humanity. The Policorp that held his allegiance has collapsed. He fought and survived the off-world Artifact War, but dozens of his friends did not. Both his first and second wives have divorced him. And, more importantly, someone has murdered him, causing the activation of the beta backup. Now Steward must probe into the horrors of the war, its politics and betrayals, to find out who wanted him dead—if he doesn’t want to die again.
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"I re-read this after all these years. The story of a clone, finding himself. It still feels like a strangely weird dream, propelled by an inner need for a crusade Stewart fights the corps and aliens with wired reflexes this is still a great cyberpunk read." — Richard (4 out of 5 stars)
"I re-read this after all these years. The story of a clone, finding himself. It still feels like a strangely weird dream, propelled by an inner need for a crusade Stewart fights the corps and aliens with wired reflexes this is still a great cyberpunk read."
“Slick and intelligent entertainment. The tension remains high throughout. A taut, satisfying tale of space-age skulduggery.”
“Fast-paced adventure…carefully plotted and well written.”
“Resonances of Vietnam-era moral concerns make this deft updating of the post-World War II genre of psychological thrillers about amnesiacs one of the best of its kind.”
“A combination of fast action, gritty realism, and high-tech polytechnics that is certain to be popular with Williams’ growing audience.”
“Fast-moving, hard-driving, with a robust, well-handled plot, an unusual approach, and plenty of intriguing complications. All in all, a stirring and heartening performance.”
" Wikipedia says this is something of a prequel to Aristoi, also by WJW. I was intrigued by the descriptions of the Powers. They seemed pretty mysterious and very alien. "
" Nice story, not as good as Hardwired, more SF then Cyberpunk, but worthwhile nevertheless. "
" Solid. Not as good as Hardwired. "
" This book was better then I remembered. "
" Walter Jon Williams is one of the cutting edge science fiction authors despite some of his commercial stuff "
" Competently done cybernoir. Recorded personalities, zen mysticism, marching towards a ill-seen fate. Williams turns in his usual good prose. "
" Not the best of Walter Jon Williams, but still great. Well-written and kept me guessing. "
" Really no idea why it's part of the Hardwired series as they have no characters in common. It was a good book though and I'd give it a 3.5 if I could. "
Walter Jon Williams has been nominated for every major science fiction award, including Hugo and Nebula award nominations for his novel City on Fire. His books include The Sundering, The Praxis, Destiny’s Way, the Quillifer trilogy, and The Rift. He lives near Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his wife, Kathy Hedges.
Don Leslie has appeared on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theaters throughout the country. He has been heard in thousands of commercials, promos for all the broadcast networks and most cable stations, political campaigns, movie trailers, and over fifty audiobooks.
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