Books › Distraction
Distraction
a novel
First published 1998 · 544 pages
A chaotic, near-future political thriller where a cynical spin doctor and a brilliant scientist try to outmaneuver a broken, dystopian America.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like being strapped into a high-speed roller coaster racing through a collapsing, hyper-capitalist America. The mood is chaotic and deeply cynical, painting a near-future where the government is broke and the military shakes down citizens in the streets. Yet, beneath the dystopian dread and sharp-edged political satire, there is a brisk, propulsive energy driven by the desire to actually fix a broken world. The prose is sharp and fast-paced, mirroring the frantic spin-doctoring of its protagonist as he dodges government goons and laptop assassins. It will delight readers who crave high-stakes, near-future thrillers that blend technological revolution with biting political commentary, offering a wild ride through a society on the brink.
- Mood
- chaotic
- paranoid
- dystopian
- frenetic
- Tone
- cynical
- satirical
- urgent
- wry
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- political corruption · technological disruption · systemic collapse · the power of spin · fighting a broken system
- The writing
- Sharp and fast-paced, saturated with near-future political cynicism and technological urgency.
- The arc
- Moves from cynical maneuvering within a farcical system to a desperate, high-stakes fight for genuine change.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love chaotic, near-future thrillers where sharp-witted underdogs try to outmaneuver corrupt, collapsing societies.
Content notes
- political corruption
- state violence
- extortion
About the book
It's November 2044, an election year, and the state of the Union is a farce. The government is broke, the cities are privately owned, and the military is shaking down citizens in the streets. Washington has become a circus and no one knows that better than Oscar Valparaiso. A political spin doctor, Oscar has always made things look good. Now he wants to make a difference.
But Oscar has a skeleton in his closet. His only ally: Dr. Greta Penninger, a gifted neurologist at the bleeding edge of the neural revolution. Together they're out to spread a very dangerous idea whose time has come. And so have their enemies: every technofanatic, government goon, and laptop assassin in America. Oscar and Greta might not survive to change the world, but they'll put a new spin on it.
Description from Open Library.
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