The Escher Man

By: T. R. Napper

Narrated by: Nick Atkinson

A cartel enforcer across Southeast Asia must escape a world of paranoia and violence to save his family in this cerebral and multi-layered cyberpunk science fiction novel, from the award-winning author of 36 Streets. Perfect for fans of William Gibson's The Peripheral and Five Minds by Guy Morpuss.

Your name is Endel ‘Endgame’ Ebbinghaus. It is Saturday, 3 September, 2101. You’re head of security for Mister Long, boss of the Macau Syndicate, a drug cartel. Your memories are being wiped and rewritten. You keep this log because you’re hard-pressed to remember what day it is. But today is a special day, mate. This is your last day on the job.”

‘Endgame’ is a violent man, the perfect enforcer. But Endel is also a father and husband—haunted by the memories of his estranged family, and the life they once had.

Endel wants them back, and he wants out. But life in the syndicate isn’t one you can simply leave.

Endgame is a violent man. Or is he? In a world where memory manipulation is the weapon of choice for the powerful, Endel can’t tell friends and enemies apart anymore, can’t be sure if he’s a person or a tool.

Trapped in a taut, twisting nightmare, Endel must find a way to escape the labyrinth they’ve made of his mind, and take revenge.

©2024 T. R. Napper (P)2024 Dreamscape Lore

Captivated me like neuromancer did

Didn’t think I’d ever blunder across a story that captivated me like neuromancer did (all those years ago). A truly remarkable story. Would make an incredible movie too

Napper does it again!

this author has a reputation for bringing cyberpunk out of the neon-soaked and synthwave-drenched depths of decadent depravity that it's been in for too many years and returns it to the gritty neo-noir of its origins. a worthy successor to Gibson.

Fantastically original

I haven't read tones of cyberpunk, but I have read quite a bit. This is a truly original story. The main character kept getting his memory tampered with and the story went around and around. It was really cool.

Interesting ideas but exaggerated dialog

If I could give half stars, I'd give this book 3.5 out of 5.

The cyberpunk-ish world is interesting, and I like the strange things the author is doing with memories, but I found the action and dialog to be a bit over the top.

The protagonist is too good at almost everything he does, and the dialog is filled with snappy one-liners that don't feel natural.

Solid cyberpunk

This felt just about right.

Napper perfectly captured the smell and taste of cyberpunk without making it a theme park. The memory concept was original and interesting. The world felt fresh but familiar.

Off to listen to 36 streets now.