Enter the world of Char, where everything has a price and power is a game.
A global crypto token manipulated by wealthy magnates and sentient trading AI sorts the haves from the have-nots, squeezing its citizens and leaving them to fight over the remains.
Anyone can challenge the world order by competing in Char’s lethal gaming tournament, but predictably, the elites have the outcome rigged so that the winners join them or die.
When Arrow, a hacker and rags-to-riches gaming champion, and Sage, an exiled scion from the ruling class, are recruited by a disillusioned military general to tame the token for themselves, their victories bring turmoil and ruin to the citizens of Char.
To preserve their humanity and their lives, they must find a new way to play war.
WIN CONDITION is an action-packed sci-fi thriller where the oppressed fight to free themselves from the zero-sum games where only the ruthless survive. Will they succeed in changing the rules for survival, or will they perpetuate that which they hope to destroy?
Schultz’s ambitious, propulsive debut—inspired by the promise and challenges of cryptocurrencies—blends elements of dystopian and gamer-inspired SF to imagine a young gamer and hacker, first known as Miranda but then Arrow and Sylph, finding herself with the power to shape and maybe repair a fallen world. That means others are out to manipulate her, of course. As she wins acclaim for her skills in the wildly popular game of BreakPoint, facing champions, she gets talked into a performative public romance crafted to hasten a revolution. Miranda, now Arrow, must take bold steps not to be a pawn herself. In crisp, striking scenes alive with memorable characters and surprising futuristic detail, Schultz documents Arrow's evolving sense of self, her mastery of BreakPoint, her growing understanding of the great island city of Char and its once-liberating, now-corrupted currency, CIN, and ultimately how her courage and talents can be targeted toward greater freedom and opportunity for all.Despite the novel’s economic impetus, Win Condition is brisk, exciting, and suspenseful, thick with detestable villains (especially Char’s First Citizen Violet, who will kill anyone to maintain her power), uneasy allies (like Arrow’s BreakPoint mentor, Sage), and imaginative BreakPoint opponents (especially BRAID, an AI whose “simmed hostility towards humans faded by 5%” after learning it has a human fan.) Among vivid depictions of a radically unequal society and the hedonistic festival the First Citizen throws to distract the unwashed masses, Arrow faces a host of factions, including coup-plotters led by Sage, the underground group who keep the foundational spirit of cryptocurrencies alive, and Arrow’s lovable online friend group, without whom “she wasn’t sure she’d fully exist.”
BreakPoint itself, unfortunately, is somewhat vague, with matches described more than suspensefully dramatized, and a plot point involving a ginned-up prophecy is too quickly glossed over. But, for all Win Condition’s hefty length, Schultz keeps the story moving with purpose and excitement, all powered by a palpable love for freedom.
Takeaway: Epic dystopian adventure of online games, inequality, and crypto freedom.
Comparable Titles: Philip Charter and Niko Laamanen’s 21 Futures: Tales from the Timechain, Ramez Naam’s Nexus.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
"An exhilarating and thought provoking novel with tons of detail, suspense, and intrigue. The vividly crafted world that Char inhabits, with its stark socioeconomic disparities and ruthless power dynamics, drew me in immediately with atmospheric language and an intense tone. The manipulation of the crypto token by both wealthy magnates and advanced AI painted a chilling portrait of a society where human value is monetized and life is a constant struggle."
"Gripping and emotionally charged, and this dynamic is one of many highlights that showed the author’s flair for dialogue packed with character. Their battles within the lethal gaming tournament and their broader fight against the oppressive system kept me on the edge of my seat, and I felt a profound sense of empathy for the oppressed citizens and a burning hope for Arrow and Sage's quest to upend the status quo. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Win Condition to fans of intense sci-fi dramas seeking something exciting and accomplished to read next."
