Titanium Noir
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4.5 • 16 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
'Nick Harkaway novels are electric' Patrick Ness, author of A MONSTER CALLS
'Cross-genre brilliance' William Gibson, author of AGENCY
'Captivating from start to finish' The Big Issue
Cal Sounder is a detective working for the police on certain very sensitive cases. So when he's called in to investigate a homicide at a local apartment, he is surprised at first to see that the victim appears to be a rather typical techie. But on closer inspection, he finds the victim is over seven feet tall. Clearly, he is a Titan - one of this dystopian, near-future society's genetically-altered elites.
There are only a few thousand Titans worldwide, all thanks to Stefan Tonfamecasca's discovery of the controversial T7 genetic therapy, which elevated his family to near godlike status. A dead Titan is big news . . . a murdered Titan is unimaginable. But Titans are Cal's specialty. In fact, his ex-girlfriend, Athena, is a Titan. And not just any Titan - she's Stefan's daughter, heir to the Tonfamecasca empire.
As Cal digs deeper into the murder investigation, it soon becomes clear he's on the trail of a crime whose roots run deep into the dark heart of the world. Titanium Noir is a tightly woven, intricate tale of murder, betrayal, and vengeance.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Harkaway (Gnomon) pulls off an artful blend of science fiction and hard-boiled detective story in this excellent outing. In the near future, gene therapy has made a remarkable breakthrough: those able to afford an expensive procedure called Titanium 7 appear younger, gaining great height, strength, and longevity. Private eye Cal Sounder, who specializes in investigations involving these so-called "Titans," is hired by his friend, homicide detective Giles Gratton, to consult on a tricky case. Roddy Tebbit, a 91-year-old Titan who looked half his age, has been shot execution-style in his apartment in a part of the city where a large number of the world's 2,000 Titans live. Apart from his genetic enhancement, Tebbit led an unremarkable life, making it hard to identify a motive for his slaying. Despite their small numbers, Titans wield significant political power, so Sounder makes the case a priority. Soon, however, his investigation points to answers that may lie closer to home than he'd like. Harkaway's superior worldbuilding makes it easy for readers to buy in to the conceit, which burnishes detective story clichés with sci-fi flair. It's a wild ride.
Customer Reviews
Another one
Nick Harkaway weaves fantastic tales like many other great novelists, but what sets him apart is his slightly quirky, quick witted style of writing, the dry humour that turns a clean-cut corporate named “Richard Washburn” into a pencilneck called Dickwash, and his ability to create a tapestry so intricate and detailed, you can’t help but be drawn in headlong.
A(nother) truly enjoyable read which I devoured with the voracity of a first-dose Titan craving carnality.