The Devil's Dictionary

by Steven Kotler

New York Times bestselling author Steven Kotler's follow up to Last Tango in Cyberspace, a near-future thriller about the evolution of empathy in the tradition of William Gibson and Neal Stephenson.

Hard to say exactly when the human species fractured. Harder to say when this new talent arrived. But Lion Zorn, protagonist of Last Tango in Cyberspace, is the first of his kind—an empathy tracker, an emotional forecaster, with a felt sense for how culture evolves and the future arrives.

It’s also a useful skill in today’s competitive business market.

In The Devil’s Dictionary, when a routine em-tracking job goes sideways and em-trackers themselves start disappearing, Lion finds himself not knowing who to trust in a life and death race to uncover the truth. And when the trail leads to the world’s first mega-linkage, a continent-wide national park advertised as the best way to stave off environmental collapse, and exotic animals unlike any on Earth start showing up—Lion’s quest for truth becomes a fight for the survival of the species.

Packed with intrigue and heart-pounding action, marked by unforgettable characters and vivid storytelling, filled with science-based brilliance and cult comic touches, The Devil’s Dictionary is Steven Kotler at his thrilling science fiction best.

• ISBN10: 1250202094
• ISBN13: 9781250202093
• Publish Date: 19 April 2022
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Out of Print: 9 April 2024
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: St Martin's Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

I've been picking up a lot of authors that I've never read before, so why not keep the trend going? The Devil's Dictionary, written by Steven Kotler, is the first I've read by this author – though I can already tell that I enjoy his style.

Many experts have theorized that humanity will fracture sometime in the future. That is exactly what is happening here, as the world struggles to adjust to new abilities and talents. Lion Zorn is what some would call an emotional soothsayer. He can detect things that no other being can.

His gifts, and the need to understand, pulls Lion Zorn into a culture like no other. Trapped in this battle, he will travel to America, hoping to find a way to save the rest of his species before it is too late.

I'll admit it: I have a weak spot for science fiction/dystopia that leaves room for empaths and the like. It adds a human element that many stories can overlook (not always, mind you). So I was excited to pick up The Devil's Dictionary.

In this instance, empathy is the story's focal point, the world. All of it. Or maybe I should be saying it's the lack of empathy that's a focal point? What I'm trying to say is that people have turned pretty rotten, forcing one empath to step up and try and do something about it. Like I said, interesting premise.

There's a lot that happens in this book, throwing the main character from one place to the next. Honestly, there were times when it got a bit busy (there were lots of adventures, including robots and wild creatures).

Part of the problem here is that I made a huge mistake: I didn't realize this was a sequel until it was too late. By then, I was invested, and my stubborn butt wasn't turning around. I'm sure I missed some critical worldbuilding details there. So, don't be like me – read Last Tango first. I think you'll appreciate Lion Zorn's character more that way.

Thanks to StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks