The Chimera Code

De: Wayne Santos

Narrado por: Catherine Ho

Neuromancer for a nonbinary age: an action-packed techno-thriller with a side of magical realism....

Everything’s for hire - even magic. If you need something done, they’re the best: a tough, resourceful mage, a lab-created genderless hacker, and a cyborg with a big gun.

But when they’re hired by a virtual construct to destroy the other copies of himself, and the down payment is a new magical skill, Cloke knows this job is going to be a league harder than anything they’ve ever done.

©2020 Wayne Santos (P)2020 Recorded Books

Johnny Mnemonic vibes and a little magic thrown in

“Murphy is an auxiliary member of the team … and he’s always laying down the law.”
This was an excellent futuristic urban fantasy heist story with fresh concepts and a cast I hope to see again. It felt very Johnny Mnemonic with trips into virtual, uneasy alliances, and a very worldwide-Asian sensibility.

“You haven’t earned full b*** mode yet”
Lightning mage Cloke anchors the team and she’s a force to be reckoned with.

“Death happened and now you’re a disembodied consciousness
and that isn’t as much fun as it is in concept.”
The story starts at Darma’s funeral, after he took one for the team.

“How does debriefing work?”
“Oh, that goes pretty much like you’d expect: we all take off our underwear
and show it off to check for skid marks and other accidents.”
Marcus is a cyborg with a droll sense of humor.

“I’m not a she.”
Hacker Z is the newbie and at a bit of a loss as to what to make out of the odd bunch.

“First time it’s ever been unfair to bring a knife to a gun fight.”
Were their faults? There is a meager level of detail for the scenery or character’s looks. The action and humor is sporadic. And, I’m not sure I bought the magic + tech world building backstories. But, especially for free in Audible Plus, I forgave any slights in favor of something new and entertaining.
If there is a sequel, I will be sure to tune in.