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The Electric Church

Book 1 in the series:Avery Cates

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In a rough and seemingly hopeless future, Avery Cates is a hired assassin who uncovers a conspiracy involving a growing religion called the Electric Church, where converts become immortal cyborgs. The novel is described as dark, intense, and suspenseful, with a gritty noir feel and a lot of action. The story follows Cates as he navigates through a world filled with cyborg Monks and suspenseful surprises, guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

The writing style of the book is praised for being witty, biting, and engaging, drawing readers into a cool, future noir setting with a post-war disaster backdrop. The main character, Avery Cates, is well-developed and interesting, adding depth to the fast-moving plot filled with action and suspense. Despite some criticisms, such as repetitive dialog and comparisons to video game-like scenes, readers find the story cinematic and exciting, with a unique blend of cyberpunk and hard-boiled detective elements.

Characters:

The characters, especially Avery Cates, are multi-faceted, though some dialogue among them lacks distinction, limiting depth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style blends hard-boiled detective narratives with dark humor, characterized by sharp dialogue but suffers from some repetitiveness.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative explores a dystopian future where the protagonist, Avery Cates, navigates political intrigue and danger while trying to survive as an assassin.

Setting:

The setting is a dark and oppressive dystopian future marked by corruption, chaos, and the looming threat of a powerful religious entity.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally fast and engaging, focusing on action but which might overwhelm readers seeking more depth.
I wasn’t really listening to Nad. I never listened to Nad, actually. We were standing in a shadowy doorway on Bleecker—just a doorway, a rectangle of ancient brick melting away to dusty rubble on eith...

Notes:

The setting is a dystopian future where police control the surface and citizens live in fear and starvation.
Avery Cates is a talented assassin trying to survive in a chaotic world.
The Electric Church is a major religion led by cyborgs known as Monks.
Cates is tasked with the impossible mission of killing the leader of the Electric Church after becoming a wanted man.
The book combines elements of cyberpunk and noir, presenting a gritty atmosphere and strong characterization.
Dialogue in the book is noted for its sharpness and wit, reminiscent of pulp fiction masters.
The Electric Church features themes of immortality gained through cybernetic enhancement, raising questions of freedom and control.
Despite mixed reviews, some readers enjoyed the fast pace and action-filled plot.
The book has been compared to the works of authors like Raymond Chandler and Philip K. Dick.
There's a mention of an upcoming movie adaptation, adding to its appeal to fans of action and sci-fi.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include violence, strong profanity, and themes of manipulation and control, which may be distressing for some readers.

From The Publisher:

In the near future, the only thing growing faster than the criminal population is the Electric Church, a new religion founded by a mysterious man named Dennis Squalor. The Church preaches that life is too brief to contemplate the mysteries of the universe: eternity is required. In order to achieve this, the converted become Monks - cyborgs with human brains, enhanced robotic bodies, and virtually unlimited life spans.

Enter Avery Cates, a dangerous criminal known as the best killer-for-hire around. The authorities have a special mission in mind for Cates: assassinate Dennis Squalor. But for Cates, the assignment will be the most dangerous job he's ever undertaken - and it may well be his last.

"Some debuts simply set new bars in a genre. Jeff Somers' The Electric Church is one such book, a gritty noir story that challenges and surprises with every page. A novel that is equal parts Raymond Chandler and William Gibson. A major new talent has arrived - and it's about time!" - James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author

Reader Stats (3):

Want To Read (3)

About the Author:

Jeff Somers was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. After graduating college he wandered aimlessly for a while, but the peculiar siren call of New Jersey brought him back to his homeland. In 1995 Jeff began publishing his own magazine, The Inner Swine (www.innerswine.com). Find out more about the author at www.jeffreysomers.com.

 
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