Dealbreaker

by L. X. Beckett

Overview

L. X. Beckett's Dealbreaker is the thrilling sci-fi sequel to Gamechanger, perfect for fans of Neuromancer and Star Trek

Rubi Whiting has done the impossible. She has proved that humanity deserves a seat at the galactic table. Well, at least a shot at a seat. Having convinced the galactic governing body that mankind deserves a chance at fixing their own problems, Rubi has done her part to launch the planet into a new golden age of scientific discovery and technological revolution.

However, there are still those in the galactic community that think that humanity is too poisonous, too greedy, to be allowed in, and they will stop at nothing to sabotage a species determined to pull itself up.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250165282
Publisher:	Tor Publishing Group
Publication date:	12/07/2021
Series:	The Bounceback , #2
Pages:	512
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Toronto author and editor L. X. Beckett frittered their misbegotten youth working as an actor and theater technician in Southern Alberta, before deciding to make a shift into writing science fiction. Their first novella, “Freezing Rain, a Chance of Falling,” was published in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 2018, and takes place in the same universe as Gamechanger and Dealbreaker. Lex identifies as feminist, lesbian, genderqueer, married, and Slytherin, and can be found on Twitter or at a writing advice blog, the Lexicon.

Editorial Reviews

Driven by joyful confidence that the reader—like the characters—will accept huge helpings of razzle-dazzle strangeness. The result is as delightful as it is mind-bending.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Intricate....[S]trewn with hashtags and trademarks that emphasize a world driven by greed, power, and the importance of trending.” —Booklist

Praise for Gamechanger:

“Packed with cool ideas, psychological intrigue, political conspiracy, and hard-won hope.” —Annalee Newitz

“This delightful pinball machine of a book recalls the whiz-bang joy and gleeful innovation of Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A visionary glimpse into the future.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A thought-provoking and, at times, frightening peek into possibilities of the future.” —Booklist

“Readers will delight in the nonbinary characters, LBGTQ relationships and identities, and the land acknowledgment statement at the end of the book. Highly recommended.” —Library Journal, starred review

From the Publisher

★ 11/09/2020

Beckett’s smart, energetic Gamechanger gets a lively sequel in this outstanding work of science fiction. Earth is in negotiations with advanced alien Exemplar races who covet the solar system’s real estate but will at least pretend to allow humanity to remain independent from their intergalactic empire—if the Solakinder, as earthlings are now called, can prove their ability to advance technologically. But it’s not that simple; nothing is in this novel. The Solakinder are actually a confederation of humans and independent AIs, and humans themselves now inhabit artificial “Mayfly bodies” while their consciousness are safely stored away. This enables them to enjoy daily experience in perfect virtual simulations, and also means that everyone is constantly connected and able to vote in stakeholder polls to determine whether Earth pushes ahead or surrenders to the aliens. Frankie Barnes, stepdaughter of Gamechanger heroine Rubi Whiting, works for Project Bootstrap, struggling to develop #supertech that will impress the aliens. She must contend with murderous human saboteurs and the aliens’ suave representatives—and in her corner are a ragtag crowd of simulated humans and cartoon-animal AI characters, Earth’s best representatives. The plot leaps and swaggers on from there, driven by joyful confidence that the reader—like the characters—will accept huge helpings of razzle-dazzle strangeness. The result is as delightful as it is mind-bending. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

12/01/2020

Following Gamechanger, this book will appeal to those who loved the quirky characters, fast-paced action, and, best of all, Star Trek references of the first book. Humans are extremely resistant to dealing with crises, whether they be climate change, famine, or offworlder threats to Earth's sovereignty. AIs have gone on strike, there is a shortage of food and resources, and the only recourse the government can offer its people is unlimited bandwidth and the ability to upload their memories and personalities into consciousness vaults where they can reload themselves into printed bodies of their own choosing. In the midst of the final collapse of Earth's economy and alien takeover of the government, a handful of humans are doing their best to keep their ship and their lives intact. VERDICT While the future technology is fascinating and the premise of the novel is intriguing, the author has chosen to make the characters almost mechanical to the point of being artificial in nature and speech and, possibly, unappealing to their target audience. However, the first novel was well received and, for those sf junkies who enjoy everything technological, this will be a welcome return to Beckett's world.—Jane Henriksen Baird, formerly at Anchorage P.L., AK

Library Journal