The critically acclaimed author of Lovecraft Country returns with a
thrilling and immersive virtual reality epic--part cyberthriller, part
twisted romantic comedy--that transports you to a world where identity
is fluid and nothing can be taken at face value.
John Chu is a "sherpa"--a paid guide to online role-playing games like
the popular Call to Wizardry. For a fee, he and his crew will provide
you with a top-flight character equipped with the best weapons and
armor, and take you dragon-slaying in the Realms of Asgarth, hunting
rogue starships in the Alpha Sector, or battling hordes of undead in the
zombie apocalypse.
Chu's new client, the pseudonymous Mr. Jones, claims to be a "wealthy,
famous person" with powerful enemies, and he's offering a ridiculous
amount of money for a comprehensive tour of the world of virtual-reality
gaming. For Chu, this is a dream assignment, but as the tour gets
underway, he begins to suspect that Mr. Jones is really North Korean
dictator Kim Jong-un, whose interest in VR gaming has more to do with
power than entertainment. As if that weren't enough to deal with, Chu
also has to worry about "Ms. Pang," who may or may not be an agent of
the People's Republic of China, and his angry ex-girlfriend, Darla Jean
Covington, who isn't the type to let an international intrigue get in
the way of her own plans for revenge.
What begins as a whirlwind online adventure soon spills over into the
real world. Now Chu must use every trick and resource at his disposal to
stay one step ahead--because in real life, there is no reset button.
