Outlaw artists wage war on Big Tech to reclaim San Francisco for themselves. Fight Club meets Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow in this debut technothriller.
It's 2032, and anarchist impresario Leo wages war on Bay Area Big Tech with his guerrilla art organization, the Chaos Order. After being arrested for sabotaging the virtual reality company HERE's property, Leo's closest followers, Evan and Lydia, take two different paths. Evan joins HERE to avoid legal consequences and to bring the spirit of the Chaos Order to the default world through a revolutionary immersive narrative game. Lydia plunges deeper into her relationship with the increasingly unstable Leo, whose revenge against Evan brings the Order into rising conflict with HERE. Told from Evan's and Lydia's alternating points of view, Zone Trip weaves through Leo's psychological manipulation of his followers, Evan's defection to the enemy's side, and the devastating consequences of Lydia's love for the Pan-like Leo.
Zone Trip is a unique technothriller that explores the intersection of society, technology, and protest. Inside, you will find a fast-moving plot and characters that are well-drawn and emotionally appealing.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Turner’s debut is a technothriller centered around characters with complicated intentions and versatile skills, where alliances are questionable and manipulation is a powerful tool. Told in alternating perspectives between Evan and Lydia, circumstances throughout are challenging but lead to a satisfying ending.
Prose: Alternating character viewpoints helps readers track the complex relationships and maneuvering that happens throughout the novel. Turner's prose is easy to understand and draws readers in slowly, while capturing attention with the story's intrigue.
Originality: Mixing technology with people who have ill intentions creates tension and uncomfortable situations that will appeal to readers.
Character/Execution: Conniving characters with wavering alliances take center stage in this technothriller. Turner's characters think for themselves and are driven by external forces and will appeal to the emotions of readers as they attempt to break the system.
Date Submitted: May 15, 2023
“Your link between anarchism and absurdism is well-established. Leo seems to be a true anarchist in that his goal is the absurdity, the subversion of expectations, and the dismantling of the system in the name of free artistic expression.”
“Zone Trip is a haunting story that just breaks my heart. The immersive setting, colorful characters, sense of loss, and transcendence at the end? What a ride. It's Tom Robbins, Ken Kesey, and Max Barry filtered through a Chuck Palahniuk lens.”
"With the tech world currently waging a war on the arts, this book couldn't have come at a better time. Smart, thoughtful, searing, and fantastically written, ZONE TRIP acts as a call to the questions we need to be asking."
“I love your voice, the themes, and the characters. It’s an incredible feat, and I know this book will delight readers.”
