Synopsis
In the distant future of planet cracking, VR distraction, and corporate greed, grieving private detective Ryoma LeBeau takes what seems to be a simple job on the opulent casino planetoid of Scylla. Captivated by a chance meeting with the cybernetic musician Guin, he finds himself drawn to the smoky anachronistic lounge bar where they perform. But it seems there’s a lot more to both Guin and this case and Ryoma can’t help but pull at the threads of mystery leading him to the depths of conspiracy and memory.
Inspired by Philip K Dick novels and Ghost in the Shell, Synthetic Sea is a cyberpunk noir entwined with queer romance.
Review
This review only represents my personal opinion and does not reflect the entire judging team’s (Red Stars) thoughts or progression in the SPSFC4 competition. Thank you for reading. I chose to start with Synthetic Sea because it was the shortest (264 pages) from the selection that I’m scouting. Here are the other books I’m scouting– https://x.com/sff_reads/status/1842679501739950472?t=PSGH1YVJmCCAOjR-dJ_7-w&s=19
Synthetic Sea by Franklyn S. Newton is a cyberpunk standalone that introduced readers to characters Ryoma and Guin. The reader is immersed into a world of futuristic technology and neon-lit cityscapes through the perspective of an ex-boxer/private detective (Ryoma) working a case. The cover captured the essence of cyberpunk fiction by hinting at themes of technology, digital interface, and neon-lit atmospheres. I’m quite obsessed with the cover and think I need a copy for myself!
The representation of Ryoma and Guin, two trans characters (one enby), finding love felt authentic and uplifting even though it developed a bit too quickly for me – I’m more of the “slow-burn” type. Their relationship was a testament to how well the characters and their bond were portrayed. There was a beautiful intimacy rooted in trust that developed between the two. The romance and representation were handled with great care.
In a cyberpunk setting where immersion in a tech heavy world is paramount, the integration of cybernetic technology was seamless. This kind of natural exposition helped me feel grounded without being overwhelmed. Newton’s world-building stands out as one of the strongest elements. Over the years, I have found myself gravitating towards cyberpunk aesthetics so I could go on and on about all of the elements and little details that I loved. Guin’s job as a synth jazz musician, the casino planet, synthetic parts, VR, the hive/pool, smoky lounge bars, etc etc etc. Newton knocked it out of the park with their world-building.
The detective element was my main hook at the beginning, but it ended up stalling for a little while the romance was introduced. I felt the pace snag a little when the romance took priority without moving the detective plot forward. The story lost its initial momentum. I would’ve liked to see the romance and mystery elements develop more side by side because it felt like the romance was sectioned off from the core crime and mystery.
Ryoma could’ve been assigned any job, and it may not have made a difference. Ryoma felt passive and disengaged with his case. A secondary character did most of the detective work “off page” — and when the secondary character didn’t evolve or have an interesting arc themselves, the overall mystery ended up feeling flat. I think his sister’s backstory tied into the present mystery, but it wasn’t exactly clear. It opened up the door for more unanswered questions. I thought maybe his hesitation and passiveness was from the loss of his sister, but there were a few situations that he approached hastily. I finished feeling a little unsure with Ryoma’s character arc.
The main antagonist was more of a faceless corporation with “enforcers” showing up at predictable times. This felt formulaic and pushed the plot along in a predictable way, so this didn’t work much for me. I do like when my antagonists create unpredictability and help keep a sense of surprise or danger.
Finally, there were some scenes that felt misplaced– such as one near the end that might have been better suited for the middle (pool scene, in particular). The immersion into the pool was a more exploratory moment in my opinion which felt a little out of place. Rearranging some scenes may have allowed for a more natural progression of tension and help maintain momentum without such a disruptive shift.
Overall, the fluid integration of technology and world building, along with meaningful representation, brought depth and authenticity to the narrative. The only critiques I really have involved the pacing and a predictable antagonist.
Content Warnings: Explicit, Martial arts/combat, Non-consensual medical procedures, References to assault but this is not on the page
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