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Titanium Noir #1
Titanium Noir
Cal Sounder is a detective working for the police on certain very sensitive cases. So when he’s called in to investigate a homicide at a local apartment, he is surprised at first to see that the victim appears to be a rather typical, milquetoast techie. But on closer inspection, he finds the victim is over seven feet tall. And even though he doesn’t look a day over thirty, he is actually ninety years old. Clearly, he is a Titan—one of this dystopian, near-future society’s genetically-altered elites. There are only a few thousand Titans worldwide, all thanks to Stefan Tonfamecasca’s discovery of the controversial T7 genetic therapy, which elevated his family to near godlike status. A dead Titan is big news... a murdered Titan is unimaginable.
But Titans are Cal’s specialty. In fact, his ex-girlfriend, Athena, is a Titan. And not just any Titan—she’s Stefan’s daughter, heir to the Tonfamecasca empire. As Cal digs deeper into the murder investigation, he begins to unweave the complicated threads of what should have been a straightforward case, and it soon becomes clear he’s on the trail of a crime whose roots run deep into the dark heart of the world.
A virtuosic mash-up of Philip K. Dick and Raymond Chandler by way of Marvel—the story of a detective investigating the murder of a Titan, one of society’s most powerful, medically-enhanced elites, Titanium Noir is a tightly woven, intricate tale of murder, betrayal, and vengeance.
But Titans are Cal’s specialty. In fact, his ex-girlfriend, Athena, is a Titan. And not just any Titan—she’s Stefan’s daughter, heir to the Tonfamecasca empire. As Cal digs deeper into the murder investigation, he begins to unweave the complicated threads of what should have been a straightforward case, and it soon becomes clear he’s on the trail of a crime whose roots run deep into the dark heart of the world.
A virtuosic mash-up of Philip K. Dick and Raymond Chandler by way of Marvel—the story of a detective investigating the murder of a Titan, one of society’s most powerful, medically-enhanced elites, Titanium Noir is a tightly woven, intricate tale of murder, betrayal, and vengeance.
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 16, 2023
659 people are currently reading
13070 people want to read
About the author
Nick Harkaway
31 books53.7k followersNick Harkaway was born in Cornwall, UK in 1972. He is possessed of two explosively exciting eyebrows, which exert an almost hypnotic attraction over small children, dogs, and - thankfully - one ludicrously attractive human rights lawyer, to whom he is married.
He likes: oceans, mountains, lakes, valleys, and those little pigs made of marzipan they have in Switzerland at new year.
He does not like: bivalves. You just can't trust them.
He likes: oceans, mountains, lakes, valleys, and those little pigs made of marzipan they have in Switzerland at new year.
He does not like: bivalves. You just can't trust them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,255 reviews
May 9, 2023
This book is the greatest combination of Raymond Chandler's crime fiction meets film noir detective movies, with a plotline reminiscent of Del Toro's Strain series and the entertaining, dry-witted, sarcastic tone of Guy Ritchie's movies.
The story opens with a crime scene that appears ordinary at first glance. A nerdy tech guy named Roddy Tebbit is found dead with a gunshot to the head, lying on his apartment floor. However, many things are unusual about the victim. He looks like a basketball player around 30 years old, but he is actually a Titan who has been dosed with T7 therapy, a treatment that only the ultra-rich can afford to maintain their youthfulness as genetically-altered elites of society. What's more, he is ninety years old, a fact that raises questions about the therapy's effectiveness.
Detective Cal Sounder is an expert in socio-medical criminal investigations who takes on the case. He has connections with Stefan Tonfamecasca, the powerful billionaire who discovered the Titan technology and T7 genetic therapy, through his ex-girlfriend Athena, who turned into a Titan after a tragic accident.
As Cal delves deeper into the truth about Roddy Tebbit's murder, he finds himself facing threats from the dark heart of the elite world. He realizes that nothing is as it seems, and he finds himself in a more dangerous position than he can handle.
The book is absolutely riveting, with an intriguing and darkly sarcastic tone. The short, entertaining dialogues keep the reader's interest intact. The way the twisty mystery unfolds is also satisfying enough to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for sharing this digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
The story opens with a crime scene that appears ordinary at first glance. A nerdy tech guy named Roddy Tebbit is found dead with a gunshot to the head, lying on his apartment floor. However, many things are unusual about the victim. He looks like a basketball player around 30 years old, but he is actually a Titan who has been dosed with T7 therapy, a treatment that only the ultra-rich can afford to maintain their youthfulness as genetically-altered elites of society. What's more, he is ninety years old, a fact that raises questions about the therapy's effectiveness.
Detective Cal Sounder is an expert in socio-medical criminal investigations who takes on the case. He has connections with Stefan Tonfamecasca, the powerful billionaire who discovered the Titan technology and T7 genetic therapy, through his ex-girlfriend Athena, who turned into a Titan after a tragic accident.
As Cal delves deeper into the truth about Roddy Tebbit's murder, he finds himself facing threats from the dark heart of the elite world. He realizes that nothing is as it seems, and he finds himself in a more dangerous position than he can handle.
The book is absolutely riveting, with an intriguing and darkly sarcastic tone. The short, entertaining dialogues keep the reader's interest intact. The way the twisty mystery unfolds is also satisfying enough to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for sharing this digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Read
November 6, 2023Well this was an unexpected treat. Recommended to me for a particularly memorable fight scene, but it's so much more fun than just that, and I tore through the book in less than a day. It's all voice and attitude and snappy dialogue with a protagonist who tries to do right but is world weary enough to know that's not always possible. In classic noir style there's a woman. And a murder. And a lot of very shady business to unravel. Simply pitch perfect. I look forward to reading more Nick Harkaway.
May 31, 2023
I thought this was really, really good. Previously I have read three books by this author and my ratings have varied. Titanium Noir: A novel however rates up there with The Gone-Away World at five stars.
Cal Sounder is a detective who is called in to deal with sensitive crimes involving Titans, genetically altered elite members of society. The premise is great, the story exciting, and the humour very funny. The author builds a wonderful world of science fiction and crime. (SciFi/crime - my kind of genre.)
I thought it was smart, clever and always interesting. I recommend it if you like your crime dark and your science fiction intriguing.
Cal Sounder is a detective who is called in to deal with sensitive crimes involving Titans, genetically altered elite members of society. The premise is great, the story exciting, and the humour very funny. The author builds a wonderful world of science fiction and crime. (SciFi/crime - my kind of genre.)
I thought it was smart, clever and always interesting. I recommend it if you like your crime dark and your science fiction intriguing.
April 10, 2023
Local Detective Investigates Murder of Elite Titan. In other news, Harpo Marx is trending…..
Book Information
Titanium Noir was written by Nick Harkaway. It will be published on May 26, 2023, and is 256 pages. Harkaway has been described variously as 'J. G. Ballard’s geeky younger brother', 'William Makepeace Thackerary on acid' and 'a British mimetic speculative godgame novelist'. Thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing me with an advanced reader copy for review.
Summary
Cal Sounder, a detective known for working on sensitive cases, is called in to investigate a homicide at a local apartment. The victim, a Titan - one of the genetically-altered elites, is over seven feet tall and appeared to be a typical techie at first glance. On closer inspection, he is found to be ninety years old despite looking no older than thirty, clearly a result of the T7 genetic therapy. The victim's murder is not only big news but also an unimaginable crime.
Titans are Cal's specialty. Only a few thousand Titans exist worldwide, with the Tonfamecasca family among the most elite thanks to their discovery of the T7 therapy. As it happens, Cal’s ex-girlfriend, Athena, is a Titan and the daughter of Stefan Tonfamecasca, the head of the Tonfamecasca empire.
As Cal delves deeper into the investigation, it becomes evident that the roots of the crime run deep and threaten to shatter his world and the lives of those around him.
My Thoughts
Nick Harkaway’s Titanium Noir is a gripping crime thriller that takes readers on a thrilling journey through a futuristic world. Set in a society where the super-wealthy enjoy immortality through the use of a powerful drug called T7, the story follows Cal Sounder, a freelance investigator for the police, as he delves into the murder of a Titan.
Harkaway skillfully employs the classic crime genre tropes, but with a fresh and captivating twist. His writing style exudes noir, bringing to life the shadows and grit of the story's setting. It is a unique and fascinating blend of tech and noir that the author flawlessly executes.
The mystery is well-crafted, and the characters are well-developed and engaging. The book takes us on a thrilling journey from opulent, affluent locations to the seediest bars and life-and-death cage matches. The world-building is excellent, and the story keeps readers guessing until the very end.
Overall, Titanium Noir is a quick and entertaining read that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. The author's ability to create a futuristic world that is both intriguing and believable is a testament to his writing talent. It is a very solid pick for fans of the crime and thriller genre.
Recommendation
If you're a fan of both noir and science fiction, you're bound to love this book. But even if you're not, you will still likely enjoy it. Give it a read.
Rating
4 Titanium Stars
Book Information
Titanium Noir was written by Nick Harkaway. It will be published on May 26, 2023, and is 256 pages. Harkaway has been described variously as 'J. G. Ballard’s geeky younger brother', 'William Makepeace Thackerary on acid' and 'a British mimetic speculative godgame novelist'. Thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing me with an advanced reader copy for review.
Summary
Cal Sounder, a detective known for working on sensitive cases, is called in to investigate a homicide at a local apartment. The victim, a Titan - one of the genetically-altered elites, is over seven feet tall and appeared to be a typical techie at first glance. On closer inspection, he is found to be ninety years old despite looking no older than thirty, clearly a result of the T7 genetic therapy. The victim's murder is not only big news but also an unimaginable crime.
Titans are Cal's specialty. Only a few thousand Titans exist worldwide, with the Tonfamecasca family among the most elite thanks to their discovery of the T7 therapy. As it happens, Cal’s ex-girlfriend, Athena, is a Titan and the daughter of Stefan Tonfamecasca, the head of the Tonfamecasca empire.
As Cal delves deeper into the investigation, it becomes evident that the roots of the crime run deep and threaten to shatter his world and the lives of those around him.
My Thoughts
Nick Harkaway’s Titanium Noir is a gripping crime thriller that takes readers on a thrilling journey through a futuristic world. Set in a society where the super-wealthy enjoy immortality through the use of a powerful drug called T7, the story follows Cal Sounder, a freelance investigator for the police, as he delves into the murder of a Titan.
Harkaway skillfully employs the classic crime genre tropes, but with a fresh and captivating twist. His writing style exudes noir, bringing to life the shadows and grit of the story's setting. It is a unique and fascinating blend of tech and noir that the author flawlessly executes.
The mystery is well-crafted, and the characters are well-developed and engaging. The book takes us on a thrilling journey from opulent, affluent locations to the seediest bars and life-and-death cage matches. The world-building is excellent, and the story keeps readers guessing until the very end.
Overall, Titanium Noir is a quick and entertaining read that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. The author's ability to create a futuristic world that is both intriguing and believable is a testament to his writing talent. It is a very solid pick for fans of the crime and thriller genre.
Recommendation
If you're a fan of both noir and science fiction, you're bound to love this book. But even if you're not, you will still likely enjoy it. Give it a read.
Rating
4 Titanium Stars
May 25, 2023
3.5 stars. Titanium Noir is a tight and well written hardboiled noir, yet it doesn't much feel like a Harkaway novel with the obscure and serpentine plotting, manic pacing, and wonderfully frivolous and digressive (and dense) detail that made The Gone-Away World and Angelmaker so unique and delightful. Still, it's plenty gritty and twisty, with witty dialogue and an interesting (though not wholly original) speculative element that makes for a compelling read nonetheless. My guess is that he's trying to broaden his appeal to a wider audience, and he may just have pulled it off.
May 29, 2023
A Titan has been murdered, and that almost never happens. Titans are genetically enhanced humans who extend their lives with successive enhancements, becoming larger each time. (It’s a little disappointing that they don’t seem to become smarter, more creative or more useful human beings, but that would be a different book.) Cal Sounder has been called to assist the police investigation. His role is complicated by the fact that his ex-girlfriend is a Titan and her father is a big deal in Titan world. The book is fast paced and there is a really trippy twist to the plot.
I enjoy the combination of science fiction with noir, but this book was less noir than I was expecting (and when you compare a book to Philip K Dick, you need to get more weird). My opinion was probably influenced by the fact that I listened to the audiobook and the narrator didn’t have the combination of ennui and grit usually found in the genre. To be fair, the character of Sounder was also pretty lackluster as written. However, there is room at the end of the book for a sequel and it’s possible that he could become more interesting.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I enjoy the combination of science fiction with noir, but this book was less noir than I was expecting (and when you compare a book to Philip K Dick, you need to get more weird). My opinion was probably influenced by the fact that I listened to the audiobook and the narrator didn’t have the combination of ennui and grit usually found in the genre. To be fair, the character of Sounder was also pretty lackluster as written. However, there is room at the end of the book for a sequel and it’s possible that he could become more interesting.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
April 4, 2023
“titanium noir” has a fantastic description and premise. people are turning into titans with a t7 serum that allows them to become bigger, faster, and stronger. when a titan is found murdered, it’s cal’s job (though he’s not a cop) to solve the murder.
unfortunately, the writing style was extremely difficult to connect to. cleverly written prose that is too clever and lacks substance clouded the effectiveness of this novel. i just couldn’t get into it, couldn’t enjoy it, and was turned off by the offhand sexual comments that came out of left field.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
unfortunately, the writing style was extremely difficult to connect to. cleverly written prose that is too clever and lacks substance clouded the effectiveness of this novel. i just couldn’t get into it, couldn’t enjoy it, and was turned off by the offhand sexual comments that came out of left field.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2023
A fusion of scifi-fantasy and crime noir. Detective Cal Sounder works with the police as a special investigator and is called to the scene of a 'socio-medical crime,' the murder of a Titan named Roddy Tebbit. Titans are regular humans who have received at least one infusion of Titanium 7, which is a treatment that stimulates rejuvenation of the body. Only the rich can afford it and it's sort of the fountain of youth people have been searching for for millennia. In the process of this rejuvenation, Titans also grow much taller and stronger, hence the name they've been given, like they are some kind of gods. The victim, Roddy, is at least 7 foot tall.
The story is a little hard to get into at first, something to do with the writing style which seems a bit confusing, like looking through a foggy mirror. Cal has a history with Titans, being madly in love with one named Athena whose family owns the drug business, so part of the early difficulty is figuring out these past relationships and what they have to do with the crime at hand. And who is now trying to stop Cal from investigating.
But I did get into it eventually and liked Cal as a lead character, a guy who is smart and resilient, so I hope this is the start of a series. It's a strange new world.
I received an arc of this novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks for the opportunity. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
The story is a little hard to get into at first, something to do with the writing style which seems a bit confusing, like looking through a foggy mirror. Cal has a history with Titans, being madly in love with one named Athena whose family owns the drug business, so part of the early difficulty is figuring out these past relationships and what they have to do with the crime at hand. And who is now trying to stop Cal from investigating.
But I did get into it eventually and liked Cal as a lead character, a guy who is smart and resilient, so I hope this is the start of a series. It's a strange new world.
I received an arc of this novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks for the opportunity. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
July 29, 2023
If, gentle reader, you adore old-fashioned noir detective stories, I think you will LOVE ‘Titanium Noir’! Even if you are not a fan of science-fiction detective noir (since maybe you hate genre mixing? I’ve read a lot of GR reviews, so I know you genre-mixing haters are out there), I suggest giving Nick Harkaway’s detective story of a science-fiction future involving a weird body-mod a look-see. The writing style, almost exactly like the style of noir writing in the 1930’s, might overcome your purist nausea over the inclusion of science fiction elements.
I have copied the book blurb below:
”Cal Sounder is a detective working for the police on certain very sensitive cases. So when he’s called in to investigate a homicide at a local apartment, he is surprised at first to see that the victim appears to be a rather typical, milquetoast techie. But on closer inspection, he finds the victim is over seven feet tall. And even though he doesn’t look a day over thirty, he is actually ninety years old. Clearly, he is a Titan—one of this dystopian, near-future society’s genetically-altered elites.
There are only a few thousand Titans worldwide, all thanks to Stefan Tonfamecasca’s discovery of the controversial T7 genetic therapy, which elevated his family to near godlike status. A dead Titan is big news... a murdered Titan is unimaginable.
But Titans are Cal’s specialty. In fact, his ex-girlfriend, Athena, is a Titan. And not just any Titan—she’s Stefan’s daughter, heir to the Tonfamecasca empire. As Cal digs deeper into the murder investigation, he begins to unweave the complicated threads of what should have been a straightforward case, and it soon becomes clear he’s on the trail of a crime whose roots run deep into the dark heart of the world.
A virtuosic mash-up of Philip K. Dick and Raymond Chandler by way of Marvel—the story of a detective investigating the murder of a Titan, one of society’s most powerful, medically-enhanced elites, Titanium Noir is a tightly woven, intricate tale of murder, betrayal, and vengeance.”
The blurb above is spot on, precisely what the book is about. I would add that it is almost indistinguishable from a Chandler noir because of the writing style Harkaway is using for his story appears to be an exact copying of Chandler’s writing style. Except the Chandler Harkaway is channeling is one who is updated with current science fiction elements. It is exceptionally well done! Of course, I love both science fiction and detective noir, so I am likely biased.
I have copied the book blurb below:
”Cal Sounder is a detective working for the police on certain very sensitive cases. So when he’s called in to investigate a homicide at a local apartment, he is surprised at first to see that the victim appears to be a rather typical, milquetoast techie. But on closer inspection, he finds the victim is over seven feet tall. And even though he doesn’t look a day over thirty, he is actually ninety years old. Clearly, he is a Titan—one of this dystopian, near-future society’s genetically-altered elites.
There are only a few thousand Titans worldwide, all thanks to Stefan Tonfamecasca’s discovery of the controversial T7 genetic therapy, which elevated his family to near godlike status. A dead Titan is big news... a murdered Titan is unimaginable.
But Titans are Cal’s specialty. In fact, his ex-girlfriend, Athena, is a Titan. And not just any Titan—she’s Stefan’s daughter, heir to the Tonfamecasca empire. As Cal digs deeper into the murder investigation, he begins to unweave the complicated threads of what should have been a straightforward case, and it soon becomes clear he’s on the trail of a crime whose roots run deep into the dark heart of the world.
A virtuosic mash-up of Philip K. Dick and Raymond Chandler by way of Marvel—the story of a detective investigating the murder of a Titan, one of society’s most powerful, medically-enhanced elites, Titanium Noir is a tightly woven, intricate tale of murder, betrayal, and vengeance.”
The blurb above is spot on, precisely what the book is about. I would add that it is almost indistinguishable from a Chandler noir because of the writing style Harkaway is using for his story appears to be an exact copying of Chandler’s writing style. Except the Chandler Harkaway is channeling is one who is updated with current science fiction elements. It is exceptionally well done! Of course, I love both science fiction and detective noir, so I am likely biased.
Read
July 23, 2023Harkaway again delivers a satisfying, slightly out of the ordinary story. Think a mash up of The Maltese Falcon meets Superman. Cal Sounder is an independent police consultant called into investigate unusual cases. In this moment, it is the possible murder of a Titan. What is a Titan you ask? Titans are ordinary humans injected with T7 that reverses the aging process and in so doing makes the recipient bigger, stronger, and almost immortal. Only the wealthy few and well protected can afford the treatment. So how did one of them end up dead of a gunshot? Sounder follows in the steps of other famous gumshoes think Sam Spade or Mike Hammer, in hunting down the killer. Clues that lead him to ex-lovers, bad cops, bad guys, good bad guys, both ordinary and Titan, and finally to the most dangerous and powerful Titan of all. This Titanium fueled who-done-it will not disappoint. If you like noir mysteries, characters like Sam Spade, Mike Hammer with a touch of Harrison Ford in Blade Runner, then get in line for a shot of Titanium Noir.
--Amy O.
--Amy O.
February 13, 2025
Clash of the Titans
A review of Knopf hardcover edition (May 16, 2023) released simultaneously with the ebook/audiobook.
AI generated image of a man twice the size of a normal man.
In a future world, a drug called T7 has been invented by a Stefan Tonfamecasca. A limited number of elites have access to the drug which grants an extended (perhaps immortal) lifetime, but with certain side-effects such as gargantuan stature, heavy bones and a weakened heart. Consulting detective Cal Sounder is brought in when one of the Titans is murdered. Sounder has a connection to the Titan community and thus has certain insider knowledge.
The location of this future world is in a fictional area and aspects of its world building are left to the reader to fill in i.e. how is it governed? how does the rest of society adapt to having a few thousand elites that are 7 to 12 feet tall i.e. are some houses and vehicles supersized? etc.
Still, Harkaway definitely knows to create the correct noir moves for his detective and certainly captures the hardboiled style, if not the poetry. I read Titanium Noir as my curiosity about Harkaway was intrigued by how well he had mimicked his father's style for his John Le Carré continuation series. This was a 3 & 1/2 star, which didn't quite get to 4-5 star territory for me.
Bonus Track
I have to say that of all the non-Smiley Nick Harkaway books I could have read first, I chose Titanium Noir due to its striking cover art featuring a classic fedora hat (evocative of the golden age of crime era) on top of a melting metal face (hinting at a dystopian future). The art and design work is by Jack Smyth, and you can see other examples of his book designs at his own website here or on Instagram here.
Trivia and Links
There is a short book trailer for Titanium Noir which you can see on YouTube here.
Sleeper Beach (Titanium Noir #2) (expected publication April 10, 2025) is an upcoming sequel. NOTE: Spoiler warning, if you click through and read the synopsis description of Sleeper Beach it will reveal a key plot element from the conclusion of Titanium Noir.
Nick Harkaway is one of the pennames of Nicholas Cornwell (1972-) one of the sons of David Cornwell aka John Le Carré (1931-2020). As Nick Harkaway he has primarily written dystopian science fiction. Recently he began a continuation series for his father's main character, the spy-master George Smiley, with Karla's Choice (2024) and is reportedly working on a further Smiley sequel. He also writes thrillers using the penname Aidan Truhen for the Seven Demons (2018-2021-?) series.
A review of Knopf hardcover edition (May 16, 2023) released simultaneously with the ebook/audiobook.
When he speaks, I realise he’s been there watching me all along, and that I knew it because I could hear him, but he’s so huge my brain simply didn’t process him as alive. Stefan is twice the size of a normal human, almost four metres high and broad in proportion.I wasn't completely taken in by Titanium Noir. It didn't sell me on its Philip K. Dick inspired dystopian world building nor did it have the poetic hardboiled similes of Raymond Chandler. But it was definitely a competent futuristic detective noir with the standard tropes of the genre, i.e. lone, cynical detective thrust into a world of elites meets femme fatales, uncooperative witnesses, has to fight and is beaten up and/or shot, fights against the odds, uncovers a conspiracy, etc. The grotesque nature of the genetically enhanced Titans definitely left a lasting image though.
Baseline, he was thickset, a wrestler rather than a dancer; after four doses of T7 he gives substance to the word his process made famous. For now he looks fifty years old, olive skin weathered like a Tyrol mountain climber or a wandering god: cragged and honey-haired and vast. He wears a pair of slacks in dark grey with a white shirt open at the neck.
AI generated image of a man twice the size of a normal man.
In a future world, a drug called T7 has been invented by a Stefan Tonfamecasca. A limited number of elites have access to the drug which grants an extended (perhaps immortal) lifetime, but with certain side-effects such as gargantuan stature, heavy bones and a weakened heart. Consulting detective Cal Sounder is brought in when one of the Titans is murdered. Sounder has a connection to the Titan community and thus has certain insider knowledge.
The location of this future world is in a fictional area and aspects of its world building are left to the reader to fill in i.e. how is it governed? how does the rest of society adapt to having a few thousand elites that are 7 to 12 feet tall i.e. are some houses and vehicles supersized? etc.
Still, Harkaway definitely knows to create the correct noir moves for his detective and certainly captures the hardboiled style, if not the poetry. I read Titanium Noir as my curiosity about Harkaway was intrigued by how well he had mimicked his father's style for his John Le Carré continuation series. This was a 3 & 1/2 star, which didn't quite get to 4-5 star territory for me.
Bonus Track
I have to say that of all the non-Smiley Nick Harkaway books I could have read first, I chose Titanium Noir due to its striking cover art featuring a classic fedora hat (evocative of the golden age of crime era) on top of a melting metal face (hinting at a dystopian future). The art and design work is by Jack Smyth, and you can see other examples of his book designs at his own website here or on Instagram here.
Trivia and Links
There is a short book trailer for Titanium Noir which you can see on YouTube here.
Sleeper Beach (Titanium Noir #2) (expected publication April 10, 2025) is an upcoming sequel. NOTE: Spoiler warning, if you click through and read the synopsis description of Sleeper Beach it will reveal a key plot element from the conclusion of Titanium Noir.
Nick Harkaway is one of the pennames of Nicholas Cornwell (1972-) one of the sons of David Cornwell aka John Le Carré (1931-2020). As Nick Harkaway he has primarily written dystopian science fiction. Recently he began a continuation series for his father's main character, the spy-master George Smiley, with Karla's Choice (2024) and is reportedly working on a further Smiley sequel. He also writes thrillers using the penname Aidan Truhen for the Seven Demons (2018-2021-?) series.
September 28, 2024
A genuinely gripping and enjoyable mystery with a great sci fi twist. I love speculative fiction books that build themselves around one simple central concept. ‘Titanium Noir’ does that brilliantly, and then throws a noirish mystery into the mix as well. There’s intrigue, secrets, family rivalry and a couple of great fight scenes all presented in a credible and fascinating world.
Read
May 14, 2023I don't read a lot of noir as I'm not interested in dark, gritty, or depressing, and noir can be all three.
But the SF element drew me. The writing is a tour-de-force. Such tight, descriptive, stylish prose, blending noir and Blade Runner-esque mean streets with a SFnal overlay. What kept me going was Cal Sounder's sardonic humor, as well as the sense that he was a good person at the substrate.
Drugs is at the center of the crime/mystery, in this case one that can make "superhuman." To solve the case, Cal not only has to follow clues, but listen to the way people at the bottom of the heap view their world, which was especially well done.
But don't start this one late at night--the pacing starts frenetic from the gitgo and does not let up!
But the SF element drew me. The writing is a tour-de-force. Such tight, descriptive, stylish prose, blending noir and Blade Runner-esque mean streets with a SFnal overlay. What kept me going was Cal Sounder's sardonic humor, as well as the sense that he was a good person at the substrate.
Drugs is at the center of the crime/mystery, in this case one that can make "superhuman." To solve the case, Cal not only has to follow clues, but listen to the way people at the bottom of the heap view their world, which was especially well done.
But don't start this one late at night--the pacing starts frenetic from the gitgo and does not let up!
February 7, 2025
Titanium Noir is a sci-fi mystery set in a corporate dystopia in which a medical breakthrough allows the rich to take a drug that resets their bodies to puberty, which has the side effect of putting you through another growth spurt. The benefit of this treatment is that it heals serious injuries and illnesses, restores youth, and extends the lifespan of those that take it. These titans live in a world apart from the rest of grubby humanity. It makes for an interesting setting. The story kicks off when one of these giants is murdered, and it is up to Cal Sounders, a private detective who has set up a practice that deals with issues and crimes related to titans. The mystery itself has a lot of twists, so it's engaging until the end.
October 29, 2023
A pretty good detective caper set in the near future with good world building, interesting characters and a fast-moving pace. I think the cover is very cool, but a little misleading. There are no significant characters that are androids or robots etc here. Crime stories and detectives are not my normal genre. My first Harkaway. I think I want more...
4 Stars
Listened to the audiobook. Davis brooks was excellent!
4 Stars
Listened to the audiobook. Davis brooks was excellent!
October 24, 2023
Roddy Tebbit is a quiet, tidy professor researching lake algae. His calendar is largely empty and his apartment has no family photographs. A colleague remembers him as ‘shy to the point of being rude’. He is then found dead with a bullet smashing at the back of his head. While on the coroner's slab, we found out that his "unremarkableness" was a deliberate deceptive.
OH, WHAT A TYPICAL STORY
It sounded so tried and a bit typical - a murder mystery. It's a sci-fi world with tons of sci-fi jargons but at the end of the day, it's still a detective story. Sci-fi and crime narrative have always been use as a tool for allegory of the real world and when the two genre mashed what sort of allegorical narrative are we going to get? That of your typical class on class in a noir story. Now this would've been a distraction in a less capable hands but Harkaway really do know how to write a tight noir mystery and that's where it really shine. Despite that it's just another noir murder mystery in a different setting is why it's better than most. It's written as one. A love letter to one. The world felt alive. The characters felt like real persons. The mystery is an engaging one and paced brilliantly without much plodding.
BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?
Cal is your classic noir detective. Scarred, hard-bitten, cynical but determined to get to the truth. As he says of himself:
And some of the best part of the novel was his reaction and his thoughts on the current predicament.
STANDING BEFORE THE HEAVY SCREAMING
I like great prose which always elevate a novel for me and it's something that genre fiction really need more of since the best and biggest hitters like Don Winslow, Megan Abbott and Raymond Chandler are known for and since this is clearly inspired by classic noir writer like Chandler, it was written beautifully. A bit of grit in its (almost?) purple prose. Just fantastic and flows so well.
Just...chef kiss.
OH, WHAT A TYPICAL STORY
It sounded so tried and a bit typical - a murder mystery. It's a sci-fi world with tons of sci-fi jargons but at the end of the day, it's still a detective story. Sci-fi and crime narrative have always been use as a tool for allegory of the real world and when the two genre mashed what sort of allegorical narrative are we going to get? That of your typical class on class in a noir story. Now this would've been a distraction in a less capable hands but Harkaway really do know how to write a tight noir mystery and that's where it really shine. Despite that it's just another noir murder mystery in a different setting is why it's better than most. It's written as one. A love letter to one. The world felt alive. The characters felt like real persons. The mystery is an engaging one and paced brilliantly without much plodding.
BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?
Cal is your classic noir detective. Scarred, hard-bitten, cynical but determined to get to the truth. As he says of himself:
I don’t hate Titans, cops or journalists. I also don’t love Titans, cops or journalists.
I do what I do and I try to do it right.
And some of the best part of the novel was his reaction and his thoughts on the current predicament.
Cop life is complicated. Three-quarters of the problems they get asked to solve they can’t, and shouldn’t have to, and don’t know how. The rest are just fucking terrifying. That makes them hang together, and that causes trouble because they can’t belong to one another more than they belong to other people – but they inevitably do. Add in all the ordinary human vices and cops can be a mile away and to the side of the population they’re supposed to protect.
STANDING BEFORE THE HEAVY SCREAMING
I like great prose which always elevate a novel for me and it's something that genre fiction really need more of since the best and biggest hitters like Don Winslow, Megan Abbott and Raymond Chandler are known for and since this is clearly inspired by classic noir writer like Chandler, it was written beautifully. A bit of grit in its (almost?) purple prose. Just fantastic and flows so well.
Right now the moon is rising behind the ridgeline and the campus streetlights are lit, each casting an X of shadows over the central path. I walk through the gates and find a guy standing by himself in the middle of the court. He’s short, a little plump, and he wears waistcoats and corduroy so hard you have to think he’s making a statement. Oddly flat lenses in round spectacles, so that they catch the light and flicker when he turns his head. I guess he has a certain image to maintain. After all, he’s the Dean.
Just...chef kiss.
January 21, 2023
3.5/5
Cal Sounder doesn't take any case he gets; he deals with sensitive ones, such as those involving the Titans, members of a near-future society's genetically altered elites. The local homicide squad calls him to investigate the murder of a seemingly average techie. Except, the victim is seven feet tall and despite young looks, is actually ninety years old. Cal takes the case. A dead Titan is big news.
Cal discovers that the murder investigation is more complicated than it appears. It soon becomes obvious that he's pursuing a crime that could unravel the dark mysteries of his society. Murder, betrayal, and revenge await him. Oh, and let's not forget about Stefan Tonfamecasca - the creator of the controversial T7 genetic therapy, which elevated his family to near-godlike status. Cal's love interest and the story's femme fatale, Athena, is Stefan's daughter. Yup. Things get complicated.
Titanium Noir is an entertaining science-fiction noir thriller, with good pacing and the right amount of twists and turns. Harkaway's elegant and rhythmic writing is impressive. He provides snappy exchanges and lightning-paced dialogue, nuanced characters, and a dark vision of future society. Now, it's not particularly original, if you're versed in the genre and its history. But it spins it here and there, and the mystery remains mysterious and engaging throughout. The ending lands well. Let's just say it's hard-hitting (though not fully unexpected).
While I had a reasonably good time with the story and appreciated both the craft and the imagination on display, I felt somewhat distanced from it. Harkaway's writing becomes quite dense and as impressive as it is, it can detract from the story. Now, I'm sure many readers will appreciate this "literary" layer of the story. For me, it didn't always work. In other words, I appreciate how good and clever this book is but the fact remains I had to push myself here and there to continue reading it. Hence the rating.
In all, though, Titanium Noir is an interesting and intelligent noir thriller worth attention and trying.
Cal Sounder doesn't take any case he gets; he deals with sensitive ones, such as those involving the Titans, members of a near-future society's genetically altered elites. The local homicide squad calls him to investigate the murder of a seemingly average techie. Except, the victim is seven feet tall and despite young looks, is actually ninety years old. Cal takes the case. A dead Titan is big news.
Cal discovers that the murder investigation is more complicated than it appears. It soon becomes obvious that he's pursuing a crime that could unravel the dark mysteries of his society. Murder, betrayal, and revenge await him. Oh, and let's not forget about Stefan Tonfamecasca - the creator of the controversial T7 genetic therapy, which elevated his family to near-godlike status. Cal's love interest and the story's femme fatale, Athena, is Stefan's daughter. Yup. Things get complicated.
Titanium Noir is an entertaining science-fiction noir thriller, with good pacing and the right amount of twists and turns. Harkaway's elegant and rhythmic writing is impressive. He provides snappy exchanges and lightning-paced dialogue, nuanced characters, and a dark vision of future society. Now, it's not particularly original, if you're versed in the genre and its history. But it spins it here and there, and the mystery remains mysterious and engaging throughout. The ending lands well. Let's just say it's hard-hitting (though not fully unexpected).
While I had a reasonably good time with the story and appreciated both the craft and the imagination on display, I felt somewhat distanced from it. Harkaway's writing becomes quite dense and as impressive as it is, it can detract from the story. Now, I'm sure many readers will appreciate this "literary" layer of the story. For me, it didn't always work. In other words, I appreciate how good and clever this book is but the fact remains I had to push myself here and there to continue reading it. Hence the rating.
In all, though, Titanium Noir is an interesting and intelligent noir thriller worth attention and trying.
January 2, 2024
This book was recommended to me by an independent bookshop manager and I mean to send him an email of thanks. This was an immensely satisfying reading experience: fast pace; witty, razor-sharp dialogue; enough of the sci-fi to make it interesting but no so as to be intrusive or dense; a fabulous cast of characters and a narrator that takes us with him from the first page and ensures the ride is as much fun as we can handle.
If you're after a quality crime read that's a bit different, then this is highly recommended. I binged.
If you're after a quality crime read that's a bit different, then this is highly recommended. I binged.
May 8, 2023
This was top class. Dark, gritty, weird, insanely atmospheric and with brilliant mystery writing at its heart.
Like a mixture of Chandler, Sin City and The Boys, Harkaway mashed genres together with great skill. The result is intelligent, fast paced and wholly gripping. Loved it.
Like a mixture of Chandler, Sin City and The Boys, Harkaway mashed genres together with great skill. The result is intelligent, fast paced and wholly gripping. Loved it.
May 29, 2024
Thank goodness I try not to judge a book by its cover, but even so that GREEN caused me to leave this on my "should I or shouldn't I?" list for far too long. Because it turns out this was just what I needed after a spell of too much non-fiction and too many memoirs.
Harkaway (né Cornwall, aka le Carré) is a revelation here, and caused me to create a new bookshelf - "nepo authors" - for him and other children of more famous writers, (Max Brooks, Joe Hill, Jeff Shaara and probably more still to be discovered*); not meant at all in a negative way, but more like "damn, I guess talent really is in the genes."
The book itself is a propulsive, near-perfect blend of classic noir with current sci-fi - I found the overall world-building quite similar to "Altered Carbon," or at least Season 1 of the Netflix series (I haven't seen Season 2 yet or actually read the book).
HIGHLY recommended; and there is definitely more Harkaway in my future.
* Suggestions welcome.
Harkaway (né Cornwall, aka le Carré) is a revelation here, and caused me to create a new bookshelf - "nepo authors" - for him and other children of more famous writers, (Max Brooks, Joe Hill, Jeff Shaara and probably more still to be discovered*); not meant at all in a negative way, but more like "damn, I guess talent really is in the genes."
The book itself is a propulsive, near-perfect blend of classic noir with current sci-fi - I found the overall world-building quite similar to "Altered Carbon," or at least Season 1 of the Netflix series (I haven't seen Season 2 yet or actually read the book).
HIGHLY recommended; and there is definitely more Harkaway in my future.
* Suggestions welcome.
July 11, 2023
Decades ago the secret to immortality was found. It can only be had by the richest of the rich, and it turns them into something literally bigger than human: more solid, taller, heavier, and almost impossible to kill. In this book an old fashioned noir gumshoe investigates the apparent suicide of a Titan. Cal Sounder is righteous but canny and flexible enough to survive having morals. I liked him, but I didn't like the investigation or the endless conversations he has with various potential informants. I basically gritted my teeth and got through a few hundred pages of investigation, at which point all hell breaks loose and a couple fascinating twists come out.
June 23, 2023
Titanium Noir is the fifth novel by British author, Nick Harkaway. In his role as a consultant for the police in affairs concerning that small, exclusive group, Titans, Cal Sounder is on the scene of the apparent suicide of a very tall man, Roddy Tebbit who indeed, turns out to be a Titan. At post-mortem, it is clear that Roddy was murdered.
Titans are medically-enhanced elites, made via an injection of Titanium-7, done only for a select group, and it produces young, strong and proportionately large humans, from ageing, possibly frail or ill candidates, but it does have adverse effects, including fragmentary amnesia. In Tebbit’s case, it was given as part of his contract.
Having noted a few anomalies at the scene, Cal follows up with a janitor with a hair fetish, the apartment commissionaire, neighbours, a casual lover, and the source of Roddy’s take-out last meal: he’s thorough. Turns out Roddy was down as an organ donor, so the cadaver upcycling depot gets a visit. He was a researcher at the University, so the somewhat anxious dean, and some of Roddy’s students, are questioned.
Cal learns something interesting when he visits the gun shop where Roddy purchased his gun, which sends him to a night club in search of Roddy’s new girlfriend. Cal is owed a favour by a dodgy financial adviser who is tasked with checking out Roddy’s finances. Each step provides another small clue is what is becoming a very convoluted trail.
Cal’s ex, Athena, daughter of discoverer of Titanium 7, and now herself a Titan, is interested in the case: at some stage, Roddy’s research involved work for Titan mogul, Stefan Tonfamecasca. Because it involves Titans, Cal needs to be diplomatic: rich and powerful means something a little different for a Titan: many are wealthy, but, given their size, their power is often physical and as well as influential.
As he chases up leads, some of which might well be red herrings, Cal discovers that there are lots of secrets and lies: the truth is elusive. In the course of his investigations, Cal ends up in a cage fight, is run over, shot, painfully laughed at by a Titan, and comprehensively beaten up. He certainly knows how to look after himself: he fights fast, smart and hard, and is able to quickly improvise to his advantage, but injuries still hurt.
Harkaway’s latest is original and imaginative, with a very likeable, self-deprecating protagonist and plot twists that keep the reader guessing and the pages turning. The dialogue is clever and there’s plenty of humour in this fine example of the sci-fi-crime genre.
Titans are medically-enhanced elites, made via an injection of Titanium-7, done only for a select group, and it produces young, strong and proportionately large humans, from ageing, possibly frail or ill candidates, but it does have adverse effects, including fragmentary amnesia. In Tebbit’s case, it was given as part of his contract.
Having noted a few anomalies at the scene, Cal follows up with a janitor with a hair fetish, the apartment commissionaire, neighbours, a casual lover, and the source of Roddy’s take-out last meal: he’s thorough. Turns out Roddy was down as an organ donor, so the cadaver upcycling depot gets a visit. He was a researcher at the University, so the somewhat anxious dean, and some of Roddy’s students, are questioned.
Cal learns something interesting when he visits the gun shop where Roddy purchased his gun, which sends him to a night club in search of Roddy’s new girlfriend. Cal is owed a favour by a dodgy financial adviser who is tasked with checking out Roddy’s finances. Each step provides another small clue is what is becoming a very convoluted trail.
Cal’s ex, Athena, daughter of discoverer of Titanium 7, and now herself a Titan, is interested in the case: at some stage, Roddy’s research involved work for Titan mogul, Stefan Tonfamecasca. Because it involves Titans, Cal needs to be diplomatic: rich and powerful means something a little different for a Titan: many are wealthy, but, given their size, their power is often physical and as well as influential.
As he chases up leads, some of which might well be red herrings, Cal discovers that there are lots of secrets and lies: the truth is elusive. In the course of his investigations, Cal ends up in a cage fight, is run over, shot, painfully laughed at by a Titan, and comprehensively beaten up. He certainly knows how to look after himself: he fights fast, smart and hard, and is able to quickly improvise to his advantage, but injuries still hurt.
Harkaway’s latest is original and imaginative, with a very likeable, self-deprecating protagonist and plot twists that keep the reader guessing and the pages turning. The dialogue is clever and there’s plenty of humour in this fine example of the sci-fi-crime genre.
May 9, 2023
Mix Philip K. Dick with Richard K. Morgan, infuse the potion with a little Philip Marlowe, and create Titanium Noir. Hard-boiled detective Nick Sounder, mouthy, brash, yet intuitively smart and keen-eyed for observation, is thrust into the investigation of the murder of Roddy Tebbit.
In this near-future dystopian world, a controversial discovery by magnate Stefan Tonfamesca has made available T7 genetic therapy for the select few—doled out by Stefan at an exorbitant price or the cost of “favors to come.” The therapy not only enhances the strength and size of the body but also turns back the ravages of time on the whole body. The elite recipients attain an almost godlike status. There are only a few thousand Titans worldwide. A murder of a Titan is definitely big news. Roddy Tebbit, a rather nerdy Titan techie, stands well over seven feet tall, and although he is ninety-one years old, looks no more than thirty. Cal Sounder is called in to investigate his murder. The police require a buffer and liaison during this most sensitive matter. He is no stranger to the dark, mean streets and can go where “cops” are not wanted and avoided. His ex-girlfriend and femme fatale is Athena, a Titan herself, and no less, Stefan Tonfamesca’s daughter and heir to his empire.
Picture Humphrey Bogart as Cal Sounder and Lauren Bacall as the lithesome and delectable Athena. Nick Haraway provides a complicated, interweaving plot that reveals both secrets and red herrings, ratcheting up the suspense and intrigue as the snarky Cal gets closer to revealing the twisted motivation and culprits responsible for Roddy’s demise. Hardaway populates his tale with multiple richly characterized actors. It’s truly difficult to discern who the villains and heroes are as this page-turner escalates into a satisfying conclusion. Hardaway nicely infuses tension and intrigue as this crime investigation morphs into a near-future dystopian noir mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf/Pantheon Publishing for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. Excuse me, while I download some of Hardaway’s earlier oeuvre.
Published at MysteryAndSuspense Magazine.....
April 27, 2023
Future times!
Hard nosed detective Cal Sounder investigates the murder of a Titan, a genetically modified elite.
Set in a dystopian futuristic world there’s more here than meets the eye, as Cal finds out.
Cal is a Titan specialist, a consultant to the police in these types of cases.
T7 injections turn ordinary humans into super beings. It’s incredibly expensive, highly desirable. It can save one from all sorts of physical challenges but your intellect doesn’t improve. Maybe that’s offset by living a few hundred years. Maybe?!
Learning to live with a body that’s been extended is no joke. Some (not many) have had several T shots over time—a long time.
The tone is set in the first few opening lines, in the sparse, take no prisoners, non conversation between Cal and the Captain as they head towards the crime scene.
A crime that will lead Cal back through the victim’s history as it intersects with others, and ultimately his own. There’s some delightful lines in the way of detective Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) of the Maltese Falcon fame.
“ Murder rooms are like train stations at midnight, not much left to do before the last departure.”
I must say I enjoyed every moment of Titanium Noir—it’s very noir, hard edged, smart and at times tragic.
A Knopf ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
Hard nosed detective Cal Sounder investigates the murder of a Titan, a genetically modified elite.
Set in a dystopian futuristic world there’s more here than meets the eye, as Cal finds out.
Cal is a Titan specialist, a consultant to the police in these types of cases.
T7 injections turn ordinary humans into super beings. It’s incredibly expensive, highly desirable. It can save one from all sorts of physical challenges but your intellect doesn’t improve. Maybe that’s offset by living a few hundred years. Maybe?!
Learning to live with a body that’s been extended is no joke. Some (not many) have had several T shots over time—a long time.
The tone is set in the first few opening lines, in the sparse, take no prisoners, non conversation between Cal and the Captain as they head towards the crime scene.
A crime that will lead Cal back through the victim’s history as it intersects with others, and ultimately his own. There’s some delightful lines in the way of detective Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) of the Maltese Falcon fame.
“ Murder rooms are like train stations at midnight, not much left to do before the last departure.”
I must say I enjoyed every moment of Titanium Noir—it’s very noir, hard edged, smart and at times tragic.
A Knopf ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
March 20, 2023
Oh, this was really good!
It’s a seamless mix of SF and Crime that should please readers of either genre.
I loved Cal and the all the Titan stuff was terrific. However, it also works wonderfully as a crime/detective novel and I was completely engaged in a very dark murder investigation.
The book is fast paced and entertaining and every single character was engaging.
Would love to read this author again!
• ARC via Publisher
It’s a seamless mix of SF and Crime that should please readers of either genre.
I loved Cal and the all the Titan stuff was terrific. However, it also works wonderfully as a crime/detective novel and I was completely engaged in a very dark murder investigation.
The book is fast paced and entertaining and every single character was engaging.
Would love to read this author again!
• ARC via Publisher
September 17, 2023
A detective novel set in a future where if you’re very rich you can undergo T7 treatment and extend your life and your size to become a titan. Cal Sounder is the detective and he investigates cases that involve titans and in this case a murder. It’s written very much in the style of a classic noir crime novel making it a fun and interesting read.
December 4, 2025
Marlowe and I get along fine.
Cal Sounder is a private detective of the “gumshoe” variety. Even without the Raymond Chandler reference, readers could easily recognize the template used by Nick Harkaway for his futuristic crime story. Sounder walks down some pretty mean streets in a metropolis sharply divided between shadow city and light city, the poor and the rich, the ants and the demi-gods. The division was brought about by scientific discovery, a new drug known as Titanium or T7:
It’s a rejuvenation treatment given by infusion. It turns the body’s clock back to pre-puberty, then runs you through it at speed. It’s also used to stimulate regeneration of severely damaged organs and limbs. It really does make you young again, but since it starts with an adult body, it also makes you bigger, hence the name. Oh, and it’s so expensive almost no one has it.
Those who have taken the drug are known as titans, massive post-human elites who control the economy, the politics, everything: post-humans in a late capitalist society. I’m the first one to laugh at internet conspiracy theories, but it is not so difficult to imagine where the inspiration for the novel came from: today’s tech-bros who invest billions of dollars in AI centers hoping to unlock the secrets of immortality while building secure bunkers for themselves and their families in case the unwashed masses will rise against them.
It’s a fairy-tale world where no one thinks about money and there’s only a couple of thousand real people on earth. The rest of us are flickering fairy lights: cheap, disposable and fragile. The doorway belongs to Tonfamecasca Company, and the daylight and the shadow worlds line up on their lawn, hoping to be let in.
Cal Sounder is a special kind of private investigator. The police calls on him whenever a difficult case is linked to the titan community living in the rich enclave on the lake shore. Because Cal’s ex-girlfriend is the daughter of the most powerful family in town, the Tonfamecasca, he has a unique position and unique access to both the shadow and the light worlds.
When you spend time in the shadows you know shadow people.
The plot and the first person narration are so similar to the classic Phillip Marlowe investigations that the reader would be tempted to call the book fan-fiction, if not for the excellent world-building and the clever use of technology. The case is bizarre and twisted, with ramifications into political circles, black market and criminal kingpins, the scientific community, the drinking and gambling parlors and the corrupt police circles.
I loved every twist and turn of it, the way the case gets more and more untidy and more improbable the deeper Sounder digs at the muck: a scientist murdered under an alias, a cage match, a gunshot wound, a dead lounge singer, a dead police officer, an exploded police station, stolen internal organs containing encrypted nuclear grade kompromat, and now my would-be murderer, mutilated, bleeding and pissed off on my office carpet.
Trying to discover how the murder is connected with the screwball comedies of the Marx Brothers is the next logical step for Cal Sounder.
But seriously, the plot holds together much better in its internal logic than many of the classic Chandler mysteries. Harkaway may throw a lot of red herrings at the reader but he never loses his focus and he never really wanders off message.
The two real clues our gumshoe has to follow are money and family: rich people who think they are above the law of the land, and the skeletons that can be found in any big family cupboard:
It’s just that the overwhelming majority of people who get T7 get it because they’ve spent a mortal lifetime being an asshole, and sadly the process does not change that about them.
More people get dead because of families and love than anything else.
The novel has atmosphere, brains and hard fists and is not afraid to use all of them. I found it quite spectacular in its genre, and I look forward to the sequel that was published recently.
Cal Sounder is a private detective of the “gumshoe” variety. Even without the Raymond Chandler reference, readers could easily recognize the template used by Nick Harkaway for his futuristic crime story. Sounder walks down some pretty mean streets in a metropolis sharply divided between shadow city and light city, the poor and the rich, the ants and the demi-gods. The division was brought about by scientific discovery, a new drug known as Titanium or T7:
It’s a rejuvenation treatment given by infusion. It turns the body’s clock back to pre-puberty, then runs you through it at speed. It’s also used to stimulate regeneration of severely damaged organs and limbs. It really does make you young again, but since it starts with an adult body, it also makes you bigger, hence the name. Oh, and it’s so expensive almost no one has it.
Those who have taken the drug are known as titans, massive post-human elites who control the economy, the politics, everything: post-humans in a late capitalist society. I’m the first one to laugh at internet conspiracy theories, but it is not so difficult to imagine where the inspiration for the novel came from: today’s tech-bros who invest billions of dollars in AI centers hoping to unlock the secrets of immortality while building secure bunkers for themselves and their families in case the unwashed masses will rise against them.
It’s a fairy-tale world where no one thinks about money and there’s only a couple of thousand real people on earth. The rest of us are flickering fairy lights: cheap, disposable and fragile. The doorway belongs to Tonfamecasca Company, and the daylight and the shadow worlds line up on their lawn, hoping to be let in.
Cal Sounder is a special kind of private investigator. The police calls on him whenever a difficult case is linked to the titan community living in the rich enclave on the lake shore. Because Cal’s ex-girlfriend is the daughter of the most powerful family in town, the Tonfamecasca, he has a unique position and unique access to both the shadow and the light worlds.
When you spend time in the shadows you know shadow people.
The plot and the first person narration are so similar to the classic Phillip Marlowe investigations that the reader would be tempted to call the book fan-fiction, if not for the excellent world-building and the clever use of technology. The case is bizarre and twisted, with ramifications into political circles, black market and criminal kingpins, the scientific community, the drinking and gambling parlors and the corrupt police circles.
I loved every twist and turn of it, the way the case gets more and more untidy and more improbable the deeper Sounder digs at the muck: a scientist murdered under an alias, a cage match, a gunshot wound, a dead lounge singer, a dead police officer, an exploded police station, stolen internal organs containing encrypted nuclear grade kompromat, and now my would-be murderer, mutilated, bleeding and pissed off on my office carpet.
Trying to discover how the murder is connected with the screwball comedies of the Marx Brothers is the next logical step for Cal Sounder.
But seriously, the plot holds together much better in its internal logic than many of the classic Chandler mysteries. Harkaway may throw a lot of red herrings at the reader but he never loses his focus and he never really wanders off message.
The two real clues our gumshoe has to follow are money and family: rich people who think they are above the law of the land, and the skeletons that can be found in any big family cupboard:
It’s just that the overwhelming majority of people who get T7 get it because they’ve spent a mortal lifetime being an asshole, and sadly the process does not change that about them.
More people get dead because of families and love than anything else.
The novel has atmosphere, brains and hard fists and is not afraid to use all of them. I found it quite spectacular in its genre, and I look forward to the sequel that was published recently.
May 17, 2023
This was a DNF for me at 20% mark. I simply couldn’t get into the story. Noir here seemed to mean keeping the reader in the dark. We learn absolutely nothing about the main character, and definitely nothing that would compel the reader to follow him. The world was obscure and opaque. Nothing was described properly, and we don’t even know where or when it takes place.
What little we learn wasn’t in any way interesting. Nothing about the titans made them worth learning more—selfish rich people aren’t interesting—and there was nothing intriguing about the murder or the victim; I didn’t even skip to the end to learn who did it. The investigation was an obstacle course for the reader. The first-person narrator didn’t bother to share his thoughts at all, which made it seem like he was conducting his investigation at random.
The dialogue was just talking heads with no indicators as to who was talking—I often had to re-read them so that they would make sense—and what kind of people they were, so the ‘snappy’ banter felt meaningless, random and mean. The narrative was disjointed with breaks at odd intervals.
All the five-star reviews seem to indicate there’s a pay-off for the reader who perseveres. Unfortunately, I’m not one of them.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What little we learn wasn’t in any way interesting. Nothing about the titans made them worth learning more—selfish rich people aren’t interesting—and there was nothing intriguing about the murder or the victim; I didn’t even skip to the end to learn who did it. The investigation was an obstacle course for the reader. The first-person narrator didn’t bother to share his thoughts at all, which made it seem like he was conducting his investigation at random.
The dialogue was just talking heads with no indicators as to who was talking—I often had to re-read them so that they would make sense—and what kind of people they were, so the ‘snappy’ banter felt meaningless, random and mean. The narrative was disjointed with breaks at odd intervals.
All the five-star reviews seem to indicate there’s a pay-off for the reader who perseveres. Unfortunately, I’m not one of them.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2024
A well written scifi noir. It has all the hallmarks of a noir story, with the ultra violence, the lusty ladies, the hard used detective etc. I thought its take on gene manipulation/eternal life seeking was interesting and had cool implications for the world that were mostly internally consistent.
A fine noir, just not one that made me jump up and down for joy on any of the scales I internally use when I'm considering how I feel about a book.
CONTENT WARNING:
A fine noir, just not one that made me jump up and down for joy on any of the scales I internally use when I'm considering how I feel about a book.
CONTENT WARNING:
June 10, 2024
Nick Harkwaway’s novels are always unique. He has a wild imagination, and he knows how to make very twisty and convoluted plots that manage to give the reader a satisfying ending – and reading experience. So at the risk of voicing what might be an unpopular opinion, can I just ask what happened here? OK, granted, I haven’t read Mr. Harkaway’s entire catalogue, I am basing my opinion of ‘Titanium Noir’ on how I felt about ‘The Gone Away World’ and ‘Angelmaker’, but if you had told me the same guy wrote all those books, I would be skeptical.
Cal Sounder is an investigator who specializes in Titan technology related crimes. In this strange world Harkaway has conjured, Titans are humans who have undergone a sort of gene therapy that makes them virtually indestructible, incredibly strong but also physically massive – which makes them dangerous sometimes simply because of their size. Those individuals are obviously noticeable, but they also tend to be from extremely wealthy backgrounds, as the therapy that turns humans into Titans is extremely expensive. So when Cal is called to a crime scene to investigate the death of a Titan who seems to have been from a very modest background, he finds himself with more questions than answers very fast.
I browsed a few reviews and my take on this is clearly the unpopular opinion, but this was just… weird. And I say that as someone who eats weird for breakfast. The hard-boiled detective vibe is spot-on, with violent encounters, a dame and plenty of double-crossing, but where, oh where is the (for lack of a better world) enchantment I had gotten used to from Mr. Harkaway? Certainly, his technology bordering on magical is there, love lost is a strong motivator for many characters in the story, and there is a not-so-subtle wink at class warfare, but it all felt kind of sterile and colorless compared to my experience of his other works, which were lush and baroque and shiny.
It’s also quite short, and that makes me wonder if he was rushed in any way, because the other books of his that I have read were sprawling tapestries that took readers all over the world. Would this book have been better if it had been longer? Maybe; provided the richness of his other work had been given room to bloom here, but somehow, I don’t think that this is what he was going for here.
I am going to dust off my copy of ‘Gnomon’ and read it to see if this one was the fluke, or if my first two reads were the fluke. Since I seem to be in the minority in not being crazy about this book, you should check it out if you enjoy weird noir detective stories with a strong sci-fi streak.
Cal Sounder is an investigator who specializes in Titan technology related crimes. In this strange world Harkaway has conjured, Titans are humans who have undergone a sort of gene therapy that makes them virtually indestructible, incredibly strong but also physically massive – which makes them dangerous sometimes simply because of their size. Those individuals are obviously noticeable, but they also tend to be from extremely wealthy backgrounds, as the therapy that turns humans into Titans is extremely expensive. So when Cal is called to a crime scene to investigate the death of a Titan who seems to have been from a very modest background, he finds himself with more questions than answers very fast.
I browsed a few reviews and my take on this is clearly the unpopular opinion, but this was just… weird. And I say that as someone who eats weird for breakfast. The hard-boiled detective vibe is spot-on, with violent encounters, a dame and plenty of double-crossing, but where, oh where is the (for lack of a better world) enchantment I had gotten used to from Mr. Harkaway? Certainly, his technology bordering on magical is there, love lost is a strong motivator for many characters in the story, and there is a not-so-subtle wink at class warfare, but it all felt kind of sterile and colorless compared to my experience of his other works, which were lush and baroque and shiny.
It’s also quite short, and that makes me wonder if he was rushed in any way, because the other books of his that I have read were sprawling tapestries that took readers all over the world. Would this book have been better if it had been longer? Maybe; provided the richness of his other work had been given room to bloom here, but somehow, I don’t think that this is what he was going for here.
I am going to dust off my copy of ‘Gnomon’ and read it to see if this one was the fluke, or if my first two reads were the fluke. Since I seem to be in the minority in not being crazy about this book, you should check it out if you enjoy weird noir detective stories with a strong sci-fi streak.
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