Synopsis

A thrilling, propulsive story of escape as a small-time crook goes on the run across Australia with a stolen secret that will change the world, perfect for fans of William Gibson’s All Tomorrow’s Parties , Richard Morgan and Ghost in the Shell.

Jackson Nguyen is a petty crook living slim on the mean streets of Melbourne. When he crosses paths with a desperate, but wealthy, Chinese dissident, begging for his help, Jack responds in the only natural way: he steals her shoes.

And yet, despite every effort to mind his own damn business, a wild spiral into the worst kind of trouble begins – Murder, mayhem, fast cars, fast-talking, bent cops, and long straight highways into the terrible beauty of the vast Australian Outback.

In Jack’s world, taking a stand against the ruling class is the shortest path to a shallow grave. But when an Earth-shattering technology falls into his hands, he must do everything he can to stop the wrong people taking it. In a world of pervasive government surveillance and oppressive corporate control, it’s up to a small-time criminal to keep the spark of human rebellion alive.

Quick Review

Ghost of the Neon God is a thrilling, contemplative, and atmospheric novella. It’s a human story told through the lens of T.R. Napper’s gritty cyberpunk world.

Full Review

I picked up a copy of Ghost of the Neon God a while ago, but for one reason or another it always shifted back in the order of books to be read. I finally set aside some time for it, and I am thrilled that I did, because this cyberpunk thriller novella is absolutely stunning.

I suspect part of my apprehension with digging into T.R. Napper’s recent work was the fact that I hold Neon Leviathan and 36 Streets in such high regard—both were direct inspirations for some of my own cyberpunk fiction and they’re immediate recommendations I offer to anyone seeking some new sci-fi to read. I think a part of me was afraid to see what else Napper had written, because how could it possibly come close to the way I’d built those other stories up in my head?

Well, I’m pleased to say that Ghost of the Neon God did exactly that and then some. In fact, if you catch me in the right mood, I might even say that this is my favorite story of Napper’s yet.

All that preamble aside, I’m sure you want to know what this novella is actually about. Ghost of the Neon God largely follows the perspective of Jackson Nguyen—occasionally breaking away to provide some insight into another character or expand upon a scene. Jack is a petty criminal, working alongside his best friend Col. That is, until an unexpected encounter with a woman who begs them for help, who they deny wholeheartedly.

Unfortunately for them, they are pulled into her game anyway. They are pursued by the Australia police and Chinese agents in what becomes a deadly race across the Outback.

Within the first twenty or so pages, Jack and those around him are truly in the shit and the pace rarely slows down from there. However, there’s a really lovely balance between high-octane action scenes and brutal gunfights; alongside some more vulnerable moments of discussion. At one point, Jack divulges how he fell into a life of crime in the first place, and it’s one of the most gripping monologues I’ve read in some time.

T.R. Napper has a knack for creating these really visceral worlds and characters that feel real. They’re gritty and hardened but that doesn’t mean they lack humor or a desire for attention. Along the way, the story touches upon some really interesting questions about the way people are treated and technology’s role in the world (I’m being somewhat vague to avoid too many spoilers) and while these characters aren’t the people to solve those problems they also don’t shy away from those questions either.

If I can criticize anything here, it’s that age-old problem with a great novella: I wish there was more. I don’t know if that would be a good decision for the story, but selfishly I would have welcomed a little more time spent with Jack in a few places—especially the ending. But, then, what is here is already superb, and I love the way Napper forces you to think about what’s on the page—he doesn’t just provide the answers for you.

I highly recommend Ghost of the Neon God. It’s a fantastic thriller, with a contemplative side, and told with heart. It’s a future that feels shockingly real, but still has a cyberpunk flare to keep things exciting for those of us who love genre fiction.

I encourage everyone to give T.R. Napper’s books are a try, and this is a fantastic one to start with. Being a novella, you could finish it in a day (which is very nearly what I wound up doing), and it’s a great example of what Napper can do.

Suffice it to say, I don’t think I’ll hesitate to pick up his other work. The Escher Man just launched up to the top of my TBR.