The Dyson File

The Gordian Division #5

by Jacob Holo

NEW GORDIAN DIVISION When a top engineer on Saturn commits suicide, Detective Isaac Cho and Special Agent Susan Cantrell are called in to review the case. But what seems like an open-and-shut case spirals into the strange. And if Cho and Cantrell don't solve the mystery soon, they may be the next ones to wind up dead.

The Atlas Corporation was all set to tear apart the planet Mercury—converting its resources into a swarm of solar-collecting megastructures—when Esteban Velasco, lead Atlas engineer, is found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Detective Isaac Cho and Special Agent Susan Cantrell, both eager to return to active duty despite close calls on their last case, are sent in to assess the situation. Their superiors expect a simple declaration of suicide, but Velasco’s death proves anything but typical.

The detectives soon find themselves embroiled in a mystery far more complex—and strange—than anyone expected, leading them to a church for Mercury-loving weirdos, a “nudist” colony open to Saturn’s unbreathable atmosphere, an exclusive park for hunting dinosaurs, and a ghost town where forgotten machines wage war over condo floorplans.

What was meant to be an easy return to duty for the detectives takes a sudden dark turn when ruthless mind-hackers ambush and nearly kill them, making one fact crystal clear.

If they don’t solve this case soon, it’ll be their corpses that turn up next.

At the publisher’s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

Genres: Mystery, Science Fiction

437 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2023

About the author

Jacob Holo has been a recreational geek since childhood, when he discovered Star Wars and Star Trek, and a professional geek since college, when he graduated from Youngstown State University with a degree in Electrical and Controls Engineering. He started writing when his parents bought that “new” IBM 286 desktop, and over the years, those powers combined to push him to the next level of nerddom: a sci-fi author who designs intricate worlds and tech systems...and promptly blows them up in a string of nonstop action.

He is the author of seven books, including national bestseller The Gordian Protocol (with David Weber), military sci-fi The Dragons of Jupiter, YA urban fantasy Time Reavers (a Kirkus Reviews Best Indie Book of 2014), and the mecha space opera trilogy Seraphim Revival (Bane of the Dead, Throne of the Dead, Disciple of the Dead); and YA steampunk fantasy The Wizard’s Way (with H.P. Holo).

Between novels, Jacob enjoys gaming of all sorts, whether video gaming, card gaming, miniature wargaming, or watching speed runs on YouTube. He is a former-Ohioan, former-Michigander who now lives in South Carolina with his wife/boss H.P. and his cat/boss Nova.

Reviews

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fifth in the Gordian Division series. I have not read the first two, but books 3, 4, and now 5 are great science fiction / police procedurals. The Dyson File can be read as a stand alone, but give yourself the pleasure of reading books 3 to 5. This is also the first book in the series written solo by Jacob Holo (without previous coauthor David Weber).

This is the third case that Detective Issac Cho and Special Agent Susan Cantrell have tackled (and takes place approximately within in a month of their first case). Their pairing is controversial because because Cantrell is an agent from an alternative earth, which was previously at war with Cho's earth. Their is still a lot of animosity and distrust between the two worlds. Cantrell's society is considered much more bloodthirsty, and when there is any ass kicking to be done, Cantrell is the go to.

The story has a nice cast of characters including Cho, Cantrell, Cho's sister who is a tech, and Cho's virtual partner. In addition to being a great police procedural, with interesting twists, and a convergence of plot lines, the book continues to explore the possible directions that humanity might take in the future: characters are physical, some are virtual, some have extensive body modifications, "merged" personalities, and more. The interplay between Cantrell, Cho and their team is fun (and realistic). Nice use of gaming throughout the story.

Highly recommended for both science fiction fans and police procedural fans. I would like to thank Baen for an eARC of The Dyson File in return for an honest review.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dyson File by Jacob Holo is the fifth book in "The Gordian Division" series. I think that while all the books have been great that this one is the best so far. I enjoyed the mix of far-future science fiction and a detective novel. It has elements of time travel, interdimensional travel, and even gaming. Mix this with a complex detective mystery and an interesting cast of characters and you have an excellent read by one of my favorite authors. I devoured this book in just a couple of days. I highly recommend it to fans of Jacob Holo!

[Lobolance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this more than I initially expected. It's really a police procedural set in a techy future. The characters grew on me and the world building was pretty nuanced. A fun read.

[Scott Caron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure at the beginning, but I am glad I did not give up. Now I need to read the rest of the series.

[Tim Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 really, and not because it's substantially flawed. I want to like it but it feels as if Holo wanted to do his first solo by putting in all the ideas he's ever had (looking at you, Neal Stephenson!). Maybe the earlier books did that, in which case I'm off base.

I am familiar with Weber's other work, though, and a series he co-launched must be expected to taste similar, so I am trying to judge it by what it was aiming for.

It's quite a good mystery/police procedural. It's got worldbuilding aplenty, and maybe more than it needs. Do we NEED time travel and a cop from an alternate earth? We have humans in all forms, antigravity, shapeshifting copbots - why are people driving around in trucks and walking? Bring out the Dick Tracy flying buckets! Still, Holo does a good job of making sure none of the technotoys is too powerful (Susan's power frame is close, but it's quite properly used only once and that's fair.)

Cho's pretty good, Susan is fun. The slob cop is a bad caricature, but his keen young partner is a good idea. But gosh, how many editors and pre-readers really thought the evil plushies were a good idea? And was the poop pipe escape really necessary, or is this a treat for the younger readers?

I'll read the next one anyway, and maybe go back to try #1.

[Ray Tabler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gordian Protocol series has evolved into what might be called police procedurals. But that isn't a problem, in my view. They are still extremely well-done books, entertaining and thought-provoking. Many science fiction novels fall into the trap of pessimism regarding what humanity will encounter in the future. These books don't swerve from the problems of technology; AI, time travel, the lure of virtual realities, and the challenges of fitting human nature into post-scarcity economics. The Gordian Protocols series steers straight into them at ramming speed, and manages to maintain good humor the whole way. That approach slices through the problems, much like Alexander hacked the Gordian knot. Hmm, I wonder if that's the intended metaphor.

[J Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb!

Detective Isaac Cho and Special Agent Susan Cantrell are assigned to investigate the suicide of the lead engineer at the Atlas Corporation. What should have been an open-close case becomes a maze of oddly-connected clues that encompasses rock-loving churches, nudist colonies, dinosaurs, and ghost towns with fuzzy killers.

This is action-packed sci-fi with bits of humor tucked in. Cho and Cantrell are an interesting investigative duo – diametrically opposed except for their dedication and loyalty. What’s not to love about her Combat frame? I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary.

[Marc Altman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is the 5th book published in the series, it actually takes place between the first and the second. Book 4 sets up what will be the 'series time' 5th book, and I was really hoping this was it before I started reading Dyson. A good book, just not the one I was hoping for.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-done mystery in a far future environment.

[Brent Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Read

Buuuut, I felt like we went backward from the fourth novel. Guess this was a wool gathering book. At least it was enjoyable.

[rob kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gordian Division

Once again Holo holds to his high standards. Truly enjoyable read. Left me waiting anxiously for the next installment. Great character development.

[Steve Wolcott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced detective novel set in a futuristic world of gangsters, nanobots, shady corporations, and fuzzy toys gone bad.

[Robin Schild · Rating 1 out of 5]

RPG

Don't like RPGs. Had I known I wouldn't have bought it. Lost interest after the first five pages. Don't recommend.

[Bill O'Driscoll · Rating 3 out of 5]

SciFi police mystery set on artificial cities orbiting Saturn.