Null Set

This exciting SF thriller sequel to Zero Sum Game keeps up the pace and piles on the tricky twists. Cas Russell, an expert mathematician and crimefighter, is recovering from a mind-melding fight and adjusting to a life filled with false memories. While on the hunt for a notorious L.A. crime lord, Cas begins to lose her grip on reality, her mind invaded by a past and an identity she does not recognize. Increasingly paranoid, Cas soon believes her friends all have ulterior motives and goes digging. Her curiosity may prove to be her undoing, as her discoveries upend the tenuous stability of the L.A. crime scene. The gritty tone complements the backdrop and plot, and there is a geniality to Cas that endears her to the reader. As Huang weaves together a compelling bit of science fiction in the possibilities of overwriting memories and identities, Cas’s existential struggles echo those of social media users wrestling with profiles and personas. Although the side characters have the tendency to fade into the background, the central narrative is still strong. Readers who appreciate suspenseful science fiction will enjoy this vigorous novel. (July)