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Rule 34

Rule 34

CrimeMystery
Pages
358
Published
2011
Language
English

Synopsis

Detective Inspector Liz Kavanaugh leads the Rule 34 Squad, a unit dedicated to policing illegal online activities. When three former spammers are found murdered, Kavanaugh must connect the dots between their past and their violent deaths. This thrilling mystery plunges into the dark corners of the internet and the criminal underworld.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

TenseGritty

Genres

Crime Mystery Science Fiction Thriller Amateur Sleuth Suspense Cyberpunk

About the author

C
Charles Stross

Charles Stross (born 18 October 1964 in Leeds, England) is a British writer of science fiction and fantasy, now based in Edinburgh, Scotland. He worked as a pharmacist, software developer and technology journalist before becoming a full-time writer in 2000. He is best known for the Laundry Files series of Lovecraftian spy novels and the Merchant Princes series, alongside standalone novels such as Accelerando and Glasshouse. His fiction has won three Hugo Awards, plus Locus Awards for Best Novel...

Characters

Liz KavanaughProtagonist
All characters in Rule 34

Frequently asked questions

  • Is Rule 34 a standalone novel?

    Rule 34 is a standalone novel, though it shares a thematic universe with Stross's earlier work, particularly in its exploration of near-future technology and internet culture. Readers do not need to have read any other books to understand its plot.

  • How does Rule 34 connect to Charles Stross's other books?

    While not a direct sequel, Rule 34 is set in the same speculative future as Stross's novel Halting State, featuring a similar blend of police procedural and technological thriller elements. It expands on the world-building and technological concepts introduced in that earlier work.

  • What awards did Rule 34 win?

    Rule 34 won the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel in 2012. This award recognizes outstanding works in the science fiction and fantasy genres, as voted by readers of Locus Magazine.