The Extractionist

De: Kimberly Unger

Narrado por: Justis Bolding

RoboCop. The Matrix. And now, Ghost in the Shell. Today’s science fiction fans are enthralled with the idea of integrating technology into their bodies to enhance and extend their natural capabilities.

Following the explosion of VR and AR popularity, hybridization of human and computer tech is on the horizon for real and such a near future is the rich turf of contemporary science fiction. Enter The Extractionist.

Kimberly Unger, game producer, VR and AR expert, and CEO of her own game/tech company, takes over as an author where William Gibson left off. Unger has penned a fast-paced techno thriller following a tech-enhanced human hunting a persona in the virtual Swim as he tries to reunite it with its body. If only it were that easy.

Elias McKay is an Extractionist. As an “Xwire” with a head full of experimental mites, he specializes in pulling minds out of virtual space and getting them back into their bodies intact. He’s one of the best. But he’s fallen on hard times. After getting banned by the government from doing lucrative legal work due to a past indiscretion, McKay picks up slightly shady gigs wherever he can find them—a far cry from his former glory days.

His latest job takes him to Singapore for a quick extraction of a corporate bigwig, but things go from bad to worse when hired muscle, secret black ops agents, and hackers attack him and his client. After being ambushed in the Swim as well as the real world, McKay knows he needs to get on top of this situation or die for real. Thus the chase begins.

With a noir setting, understandable technology, and a great anti-hero, The Extractionist is a non-stop thrill ride through exotic locales. It’s the next-generation Neuromancer.

©2021 Kimberly Unger (P)2022 Recorded Books

I hate cyberpunk…but I loved Extractionist

Not normally the genre I gravitate towards, but the fascinating metaphor for cyberspace and digital architecture was a great setting. Characters that pull you in from the get-go, a mix of high action and whodunnit, and a sneaky ability to teach lessons about computer science, artificial intelligence, and modern data structures make this one a must read in my book.

Awesome Cyberpunk Noir

I stubbled across this book looking for some new sci-fi / cyberpunk reads and decided to give it a try. Very glad I did. This was a fun, gritty, and occasionally darkly humorous ride through a cybernetically enhanced version of Silicon Valley. It’s starts off immediately with a great Noir vibe too, caching in on a classic blade-runner vibe of Megacorp mystery that fits almost too well with current Silicon Valley tech corp trends/projections. Cool action, future tech, and mystery. Nice performance by the narrator too. Give it a try!

I had a hard time getting into it

I’m not saying it’s a bad book. I think for a cyber punk it might be good, it’s not my usual, but I just couldn’t get into the plot. Since I couldn’t connect to the main character, the peril didn’t matter to me and I don’t feel that the character grew at all.

Virtual thriller

Kimberly Unger’s The Extractionist is a virtual cyber-thriller in the style of William Gibson. The main character is a professional ‘extractionist’ whose job is to pull individuals out of virtual reality. She gets involved in extracting a spook who has uncovered some sensitive intel and has avoided leaving cyberspace until he can secure the material. At the same time, there are other parties that prefer the information, and the spook never see the light of day again. There are action scenes both virtually and in the real world as well as numerous double crosses and plot twists.

Unger crafts a reasonable simulation of a possible near future with people getting stuck in a nearly limitless virtual reality. The action is nearly non-stop with the main character, the extractionist, being an individual who is uniformly dismissed or ‘unloved’ by everyone including her employers.

The narration is excellent with solid character distinction. Pacing is smooth and on the brisk side.