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Description edit
"The most spectacular science fiction writer of recent years" (Vernor Vinge, author of Rainbows End ) presents a near-future thriller. Detective Inspector Liz Kavanaugh is head of the Rule 34 Squad, monitoring the Internet to determine whether people are engaging in harmless fantasies or... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Kemal: Add a description of this character.
- Bibi
- Tariq
- Felix Datka
- John Christie
- Dorothy
- Dickie Macleish
- Mr. Hussein
- Liz
- Bhaskar
- Adam
- Dr. Macdonald
- Mr. White
- Peter Manuel
- Michael Blair
- Butthurt
- Anwar
- Di Kavanaugh
- Larry
- Jaxxie
- Naseem
- Vivian Crolla
- Mcdougall
- Mike Blair
- Frank
- Eileen
- Dixon
- Aslan
- Detective Inspector Liz Kavanaugh: Protagonist and - since the book is written in second person, "you".
- Kemal Aslan: Europol officer in charge of investigating spammers and shutting down their physical operations.
- Athena: Not what you think
Setting & Locations edit
Edinburg, Scotland
- Scotland
- Edinburgh
- Babylon
- Kyrgyzstan
- Bishkek
- Saughton
- Independent Republic Of Issyk-kulistan
- Lothian Road
- Brussels
- Gorilla
- Dresden
- Sameena
- Moscow
- London
Organizations edit
- Innovative Crime Investigation Unit: Also know as the Rule 34 square, this group is responsible for investigating Internet memes that may inspire copy cat crime sprees in the physical world.
First Sentence edit
It's a slow Tuesday afternoon, and you're coming to the end of your shift on the West End control desk when Sergeant McDougall IMs you: INSPECTOR WANTED ON FATACC SCENE.
Table of Contents edit
Part 1
LIZ: Red Pill, Blue Pill
ANWAR: Job Interview
TOYMAKER: The Leith Police Dismisseth Us
LIZ: Morning After
ANWAR: Office Worker
TOYMAKER: Headhunter
LIZ: Black Swans
ANWAR: Diplomat
TOYMAKER: Hostile Takeover
LIZ: Snowballing Hell
ANWAR: Cousin Tariq
TOYMAKER: Reality Excursion
KEMAL: Spamcop
FELIX: First Citizen
THE OPERATION: Blofeld Blues
Part 2
LIZ: Mote, Eye, Redux
ANWAR: Running Scared
TOYMAKER: Fucktoy
DOROTHY: Safeword
TOYMAKER: Abused
LIZ: Bereavement Counselling
ANWAR: Sleep-walk
TOYMAKER: Happy Families
FELIX: E-commerce
ADAM: LOLspammers
Part 3
DOROTHY: Breakdown
LIZ: It's Complicated
ANWAR: Getting Answers
DOROTHY: Rewind
LIZ: Project ATHENA
ANWAR: Bluebeard
LIZ: Dominoes Fall
ANWAR Toymaker
LIZ: Protective Custody
FELIX: Hummingbird
DOROTHY: 2.0
LIZ: Debrief
ATHENA: Meatpuppet
Glossary edit
- Voight-Kampff: Name of a fictional machine from the movie Bade Runner that tests a subject's affect to determine if they're an android.
- Rule 34: The book's title refers to an Internet adage thought to have originated on 4chan. The rule states, "If it exists, there's porn of it."
Series & Lists edit
This is book 2 of 2 in Halting State. (standard series)
Preceded by Halting State.
This book is in Kirkus Reviews: Best Fiction of 2011. (authoritative list)
This is book 3 of 5 in NPR Best Science Fiction - Fantasy 2011. (authoritative list)
Preceded by The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, and followed by The Heroes.
This book is in 2011 Locus Recommended Reading List: Science Fiction. (community list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Charles Stross (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Ace Hardcover
Country: USA
Publication Date: July 5, 2011
ISBN: 978-0441020348
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Ace Hardcover
Country: USA
Publication Date: July 5, 2011
ISBN: 978-0441020348
Page Count: 368
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: PR6119.T79R85 2011
- Dewey: 813
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