Metal Fatigue Book

Sean Williams is a rising young Australian SF author who has published several award-nominated short stories: Metal Fatigue is his first novel. It's set in the walled, isolationist US city of Kennedy which, 40 years after America collapsed in nuclear war, is warily opening relations with the small but growing Re-United States. There are internal problems in Kennedy's mean streets, though. Policeman Phil Roads is finding it impossible to catch the serial data-thief called the Mole, who routinely walks through the tightest building security like a ghost. Meanwhile, a spate of political assassinations suggests that a "berserker" warrior may be on the loose--an adapted human made super-strong and super-fast by now outlawed bio- modifications. A touchy issue for Roads, since he secretly has a few bio-mods of his own. He also has too many incriminating contacts with the "dead" crime-lord who continues to exist as a software racketeer on the city net. The techno-noir action is tough, violent and fast- moving, with some good twists and thoughtful insights. Experienced SF fans will probably guess at the Mole's secrets long before Williams unveils the relevant magic technology late in the book, but nevertheless there are further surprises. He's a writer to watch. --David LangfordRead More