Chasing Filthy Lucre – Jarrett Rush

First off, I'm going to admit I don't remember all of the details of this novella, because Joseph Finder's novel came out the day after I read this one, and I couldn't keep myself from reading it!

I found out about this novella via a friend on twitter. It is another $0.99 Amazon special. At about 20,000 words, this is a novella you can easily read in a day.

This novella has a great start in an underground boxing situation. At first you think this is going to be a Fight Club type novel, but the next thing you know the main character is plugging a cable into his arm in cyberpunk post apocalyptic fashion. Apparently in this future time line, soldiers were implanted with a cybernetic type device so they could download tactical information while they sleep. As time went on, people found ways to increase the flow of information, which allows them to use the Internet like a kind of drug.

The main character is a kind of enforcer/transporter who makes sure that couriers (whose heads are packed with secret information) make it to their destination. One of his couriers dies, and he finds himself in the middle of an idealogical war, and decides to execute the plans that were stored in the courier's head.

This is a pretty short read, but it lays a great foundation for a future full length novel or perhaps a series of novels. This has some pretty strong similarities to Johnny Mnemonic, so if you like that, you will probably like this!

Up next, Superman: Red Son.