L.X. Beckett’s Gamechanger presented a richly designed middle future that posited what life on Earth might look like after the regressive, destructive madness of our time, with its late-stage capitalism, deregulated neoliberal economics, and resurgent fascism. The story continues in Dealbreaker (2021), which jumps deeper into the future, wrangling with the aftermath of the alien first contact that resulted in the previous book. The “Exemplar” extraterrestrials have brokered an opportunity for humanity to join the galactic mainstream, and to that effect, a project called Project Bootstrap is underway. Humanity must prove itself by developing the scientific and technological advances needed to be a true intergalactic species. To that end, Frankie Barnes — daughter of Gamechanger’s hero, Rubi — is a pilot for project. There are, however, people with nefarious motives determined to keep humanity from achieving parity with the Exemplars, and looking to sabotage Project Bootstrap. Frankie becomes a key figure in the battle to uncover the conspiracy, aided by her partner Maud and an extended polyamorous pod of human lovers and artificially sentient companions.
The introduction of aliens and intergalactic culture to this universe makes for a significant departure from the futurism-based design of Gamechanger. This distanced me, somewhat — Gamechanger’s frenetic optimism felt more grounded in the real world than this one, and the action was more slightly difficult to get physically oriented in. Nonetheless, Dealbreaker is a worthy sequel, blending Malka Older-like political speculation with unmitigated, freestyle creativity in the vein of Rudy Rucker. It spins off inventively from the original with a diverse roster of fun characters in a story that — in a refreshingly upbeat way — continues to slyly critique the brokenness of our times by imagining an inspiring, forward-thinking reaction to them.
L.X. Beckett’s Gamechanger presented a richly designed middle future that posited what life on Earth might look like after the regressive, destructive madness of our time, with its late-stage capitalism, deregulated neoliberal economics, and resurgent fascism. The story continues in Dealbreaker (2021), which jumps deeper into the future, wrangling with the aftermath of the alien first contact that resulted in the previous book. The “Exemplar” extraterrestrials have brokered an opportunity for humanity to join the galactic mainstream, and to that effect, a project called Project Bootstrap is underway. Humanity must prove itself by developing the scientific and technological advances needed to be a true intergalactic species. To that end, Frankie Barnes — daughter of Gamechanger’s hero, Rubi — is a pilot for project. There are, however, people with nefarious motives determined to keep humanity from achieving parity with the Exemplars, and looking to sabotage Project Bootstrap. Frankie becomes a key figure in the battle to uncover the conspiracy, aided by her partner Maud and an extended polyamorous pod of human lovers and artificially sentient companions.
