Spademan is an assassin, no questions, no qualms. In a future where New York has been eviscerated by terrorism and apathy, those who can spend their days hooked in virtual reality beds while the city crumbles around them. A routine job turns all but when he’s tasked with killing a pregnant 18-year-old runaway.
The writing is sparse, sharp. There are no wasted words. It’s obvious each one was specifically and carefully chosen, and as such, almost transcends from prose to poetry at times. The story is tight and unflinching, with enough grit to feel believable. The protagonist is wounded and clinical, and quite human. The ending, the secrets they find, are chilling and quite possible, as is the population seduced away from reality by their every desire virtually fulfilled.
My only complaint is the lack of quotation marks throughout the novel. While they are annoying to type (IMO), they do fill a crucial role for the reader, and I was confused at times during conversations.