A Cruel Cyber Summer Night (A Liquid Cool Novella) by Austin Dragon
A Cruel Cyber Summer Night by Austin Dragon brings together detective noir and cyberpunk in a truly engaging, adrenaline-fueled experience. A perfect read for fans of high-stakes action, dystopian landscapes, and intricate mysteries, A Cruel Cyber Summer Night delivers a world that’s both chillingly familiar and wildly imaginative.
“A Cruel Cyber Summer Night”: A World of Grit and Mystery
“In a city that never sleeps, there’s no such thing as a quiet night – especially in the neon jungles of Liquid Cool.”
This quote encapsulates the high-tension setting of A Cruel Cyber Summer Night and pulls us into the heart of the story. In Dragon’s world, the “quiet night” is an impossibility. This urban landscape is alive, pulsating with characters who range from gritty detectives to shadowy hackers, all navigating a world where technology and humanity collide in the darkest of ways.
Summary of A Cruel Cyber Summer Night
Genre: Cyberpunk, Detective Noir
Length: Approx. 120 pages (Novella)
Publication Year: January 31, 2023
Rating: 4.6/5 stars
Available On: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo
The novella follows Cruz, a cyberpunk detective, who finds himself unraveling a dark mystery set against a backdrop of rain-soaked streets, blinding neon lights, and looming mega-corporations. The story combines classic noir tropes with cyberpunk elements—think Philip Marlowe meets Blade Runner. Cruz faces a murder case that’s anything but straightforward, filled with sinister plots, high-tech weaponry, and morally ambiguous characters.
Key Highlights of A Cruel Cyber Summer Night
Award-Winning Series: The Liquid Cool series has been recognized for its unique voice in the cyberpunk genre, blending humor, grit, and mystery.
Endorsements: Hailed by sci-fi author icons and cyberpunk fans, A Cruel Cyber Summer Night brings a freshness to cyber-noir, highly recommended by those who love classic detective tales reimagined in futuristic settings.
Books You Might Like if You Loved A Cruel Cyber Summer Night
If you enjoyed this novella, here are some similar books that blend cyberpunk and mystery:
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Neuromancer by William Gibson
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
When Gravity Fails by George Alec Effinger
Hardwired by Walter Jon Williams
Gun, with Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester
The Electric Church by Jeff Somers
Meet the Author: Austin Dragon
Austin Dragon has become a standout name in the realm of cyberpunk and noir. Known for his Liquid Cool series, he excels in creating a hyper-realistic, edgy cityscape that is as alive as the characters who inhabit it. With a background in political science and philosophy, Dragon brings layers of complexity to his narratives, questioning how technology, ethics, and power collide in urban societies.
The Writing Style: Punchy, Engaging, and Darkly Humorous
Dragon’s writing style in A Cruel Cyber Summer Night is tight, descriptive, and packed with subtle humor. His prose is cinematic, filled with rich details that transport you into the bustling underworld of Liquid Cool. His characters are vivid, often morally ambiguous, and his pacing keeps you turning the page, eager to uncover the next twist in Cruz’s investigation.
Memorable Takeaways from A Cruel Cyber Summer Night
Here are some key insights from the novella:
🌃 Technology can be a double-edged sword.
👤 Characters are morally complex, just like real people.
🕶️ The power dynamics in a hyper-urbanized society reveal the real cyberpunk theme.
🌐 Artificial intelligence brings both benefits and a dystopian undercurrent.
🕰️ There’s no such thing as a “quiet night” when the stakes are life or death.
What Makes A Cruel Cyber Summer Night Stand Out?
This novella brings a new layer to the cyberpunk genre by combining fast-paced detective storytelling with philosophical questions about humanity, technology, and morality. Its blend of classic noir atmosphere with high-tech, futuristic landscapes offers a unique twist on the genre.
Final Thoughts on A Cruel Cyber Summer Night
In terms of quality, A Cruel Cyber Summer Night lands firmly in the “A Great Book” category. For fans of cyberpunk and noir, this novella is a refreshing entry into the genre, bringing a thrilling story packed with twists and turns. With fast-paced storytelling, well-drawn characters, and a compelling mystery, Austin Dragon has created a book that deserves a place on every cyberpunk fan’s shelf.
Who Should Read A Cruel Cyber Summer Night?
If you’re into cyberpunk, detective stories, or fast-paced thrillers with dystopian undertones, this novella is for you. Perfect for fans of Raymond Chandler and William Gibson, or for readers who enjoyed the movie Blade Runner.
Other Works by Austin Dragon
Liquid Cool (Series)
Blade Gunner (Liquid Cool Series)
City Under Ice (Liquid Cool Series)
Suggested Reading Plan
To fully immerse yourself, start with the original Liquid Cool book to get a solid foundation of the characters and world, and then dive into A Cruel Cyber Summer Night for a satisfying side story.
Similar Authors in Cyberpunk and Noir
William Gibson (Neuromancer)
Neal Stephenson (Snow Crash)
Philip K. Dick (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?)
Richard K. Morgan (Altered Carbon)
Comprehensive List of Books Mentioned
A Cruel Cyber Summer Night by Austin Dragon
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Neuromancer by William Gibson
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
When Gravity Fails by George Alec Effinger
Hardwired by Walter Jon Williams
Gun, with Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester
The Electric Church by Jeff Somers
Happy reading! 📚💙