INK.

by Sean Patrick Traver

Most biochemists don’t work out of a tattoo shop’s back room, but then, Serra isn’t most biochemists. She’s a neurodigital programmer, the best in her specialized field. Want an education in a pill? Serra can upload libraries to your brain. Need to forget a traumatic event? Serra can wipe your wetware clean and leave the memory of an island vacation behind. Without her revolutionary work, the Bane Corporation never could’ve evolved into a global superpower within a few short years. But now Serra’s on the run from her former employer and his private police force. Head of State and CEO Peter Bane means to tempt her back into the fold with a new project, one that will blur the lines between science and magic and keep his company/kingdom on the cutting edge. If Serra won’t cooperate, however, then BaneCorp is ready to silence her… for good. INK. is a mindblowing tale of creative chaos vs. corporate control set in the surreal Los Angeles of tomorrow! (Long Story/Short Novel – approx. 20,000words/60pages)

71 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 3, 2010

About the author

SEAN PATRICK TRAVER is a native of Los Angeles. His writing explores the hidden worlds that lurk behind the sleek facade LA presents to a casual observer. In addition to the traffic jams, the film studios, and the cookie-cutter suburbs, there are opulent courtyards and private gardens high up in the Hills, as well as blank, black-market warehouses crouched down in the Valley below. There are ritual shrines hidden near the hiking trails and secret practitioners who summon the spirits left over from a thousand years of history. Suburban shamans, rogue necromancers, criminal cabals and computer-savvy witches all populate the pages of his fiction. Learn more at seanpatricktraver.com

Reviews

[Juliet · Rating 3 out of 5]

A curious dystopia which may take place tomorrow or a hundred years from now. This is a fast paced read and carefully thought out with a raft of technologies that sound eerily plausible as do the implications of such technology in the wrong hands.

Characters are vivid though we don’t really get to know them. We can see them clearly for the most part but couldn’t necessarily guess at motivations. You can’t give too much background in such a short piece without dropping your pace considerably and to be fair, I don’t think it would do anything to enhance the story. This is plot more than character driven piece.

INK is enjoyable and gives a new and different take on some tried and tested sci-fi themes. But you really should read it for yourself to find out what those are.

[Douglas Castagna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast, fun and futuristic. This fast paced novella is set in the not too distant future and has a nomenclature all its own. That being said, it is very easy to follow and has a great plot that drives it to the end. It is very cinematic in nature and lends itself to a one sitting read. I would recommend this to anyone who likes SciFi of the dystopian future sort.