Dealbreaker

Starred review from November 9, 2020
Beckett’s smart, energetic Gamechanger gets a lively sequel in this outstanding work of science fiction. Earth is in negotiations with advanced alien Exemplar races who covet the solar system’s real estate but will at least pretend to allow humanity to remain independent from their intergalactic empire—if the Solakinder, as earthlings are now called, can prove their ability to advance technologically. But it’s not that simple; nothing is in this novel. The Solakinder are actually a confederation of humans and independent AIs, and humans themselves now inhabit artificial “Mayfly bodies” while their consciousness are safely stored away. This enables them to enjoy daily experience in perfect virtual simulations, and also means that everyone is constantly connected and able to vote in stakeholder polls to determine whether Earth pushes ahead or surrenders to the aliens. Frankie Barnes, stepdaughter of Gamechanger heroine Rubi Whiting, works for Project Bootstrap, struggling to develop #supertech that will impress the aliens. She must contend with murderous human saboteurs and the aliens’ suave representatives—and in her corner are a ragtag crowd of simulated humans and cartoon-animal AI characters, Earth’s best representatives. The plot leaps and swaggers on from there, driven by joyful confidence that the reader—like the characters—will accept huge helpings of razzle-dazzle strangeness. The result is as delightful as it is mind-bending.

December 1, 2020

Following Gamechanger, this book will appeal to those who loved the quirky characters, fast-paced action, and, best of all, Star Trek references of the first book. Humans are extremely resistant to dealing with crises, whether they be climate change, famine, or offworlder threats to Earth's sovereignty. AIs have gone on strike, there is a shortage of food and resources, and the only recourse the government can offer its people is unlimited bandwidth and the ability to upload their memories and personalities into consciousness vaults where they can reload themselves into printed bodies of their own choosing. In the midst of the final collapse of Earth's economy and alien takeover of the government, a handful of humans are doing their best to keep their ship and their lives intact. VERDICT While the future technology is fascinating and the premise of the novel is intriguing, the author has chosen to make the characters almost mechanical to the point of being artificial in nature and speech and, possibly, unappealing to their target audience. However, the first novel was well received and, for those sf junkies who enjoy everything technological, this will be a welcome return to Beckett's world.--Jane Henriksen Baird, formerly at Anchorage P.L., AK

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2020
Set in the 22nd century, the second book of Beckett's post-cyberpunk space opera (after Gamechanger, 2019) finds pilot Frankie Barnes and her pack family neck-deep in conspiracy, sabotage, and political intrigue as they work to open interstellar space travel based on advanced alien technology. The Exemplar races originally wanted to take over Earth, but a deal was struck called the Bootstrap Project, which allowed humanity to reverse engineer their technology in order to participate in interstellar trade. Beckett crafts an intricate world in which there is no privacy, social media is capital, and human or AI consciousness can be transferred into new "printed" bodies. The narrative is quite unique; the story is strewn with hashtags and trademarks that emphasize a world driven by greed, power, and the importance of trending. Amid the harrowing adventure is a good bit of humor, as well as speculation on the future of gender identity, family, and the evolution of AI. This story will appeal to readers who want to explore the next iteration of cyberpunk or crave an intricate and modern space opera.

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