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Neon Nothing
Key has no past.
Shio has no future.
And they both just made the short list of Galivaria’s Most Wanted.
In a city divided between freaks and normies, predators and prey, there’s only one rule. Stay in your lane. On the right side of the wall, the glittering towers of the rich pierce the endless rain clouds. On the other, outcast Sundowners rule the night—hustling, hacking code, and deep-diving into the bliss of the virtual world.
Shio is just a cog in the corporate machine, sleepwalking through his tech-support job until the day he crosses paths with Key and ends up on the wrong side of the wall. Now, agents from the feared Med-Sec police are gunning for them both. It has something to do with Key’s true identity—if only he had a clue who he really is.
Left for dead three years ago, he woke up with a cybernetic spine and a head full of horrific dreams. Forced into an unlikely alliance, Key and Shio must dig out the truth before time runs out.
And it might be far worse than they ever imagined. . .
Shio has no future.
And they both just made the short list of Galivaria’s Most Wanted.
In a city divided between freaks and normies, predators and prey, there’s only one rule. Stay in your lane. On the right side of the wall, the glittering towers of the rich pierce the endless rain clouds. On the other, outcast Sundowners rule the night—hustling, hacking code, and deep-diving into the bliss of the virtual world.
Shio is just a cog in the corporate machine, sleepwalking through his tech-support job until the day he crosses paths with Key and ends up on the wrong side of the wall. Now, agents from the feared Med-Sec police are gunning for them both. It has something to do with Key’s true identity—if only he had a clue who he really is.
Left for dead three years ago, he woke up with a cybernetic spine and a head full of horrific dreams. Forced into an unlikely alliance, Key and Shio must dig out the truth before time runs out.
And it might be far worse than they ever imagined. . .
210 pages, Paperback
Published August 10, 2023
5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 4, 2023
DNF @ 37%.
I think this had the potential to be a good read, and I love the brilliant cover art, but for me it couldn't live up to the premise.
I got bogged down when the use of localised slang words started becoming dominant in some conversations, much of it unexplained to the reader, which was irritating.
I also couldn't connect with one of the main characters, whom I found to be sulky and unlikeable.
Not for me, which is a shame.
I think this had the potential to be a good read, and I love the brilliant cover art, but for me it couldn't live up to the premise.
I got bogged down when the use of localised slang words started becoming dominant in some conversations, much of it unexplained to the reader, which was irritating.
I also couldn't connect with one of the main characters, whom I found to be sulky and unlikeable.
Not for me, which is a shame.
October 29, 2023
Artificial Intelligence holds the promise of shaping our future. The pervasive discussions around AI have ignited my profound interest in the subject. Recently, I delved into the book "Neon Nothing," which intriguingly explores AI and technology.
Within the story, we encounter two central characters, Key and Shio, who are complete opposites. A formidable wall stands as a barrier, dividing the Lower Third from the rest of Hajishin. At the bottom of Galivaria, a group known as the Sundowners congregates, composed of diverse individuals, from hackers to prostitutes and drug-addled burnouts. Shio grapples with fear about finding himself on the wrong side of the wall.
One fateful day, as Shio was on his way home from work, he boarded a train and witnessed two men engaged in a heated argument, which escalated to the sound of a gunshot. Curiosity compelled Shio to tail these men, and the reasons for his actions unravel in the story, raising questions about potential danger.
The world-building in the narrative is undeniably distinctive, though admittedly, it requires some time to grasp its complexity fully. The characters, particularly Shio and Key, leave a lasting impression, making this an enthralling read.
My enjoyment of "Neon Nothing" was unequivocal.
Within the story, we encounter two central characters, Key and Shio, who are complete opposites. A formidable wall stands as a barrier, dividing the Lower Third from the rest of Hajishin. At the bottom of Galivaria, a group known as the Sundowners congregates, composed of diverse individuals, from hackers to prostitutes and drug-addled burnouts. Shio grapples with fear about finding himself on the wrong side of the wall.
One fateful day, as Shio was on his way home from work, he boarded a train and witnessed two men engaged in a heated argument, which escalated to the sound of a gunshot. Curiosity compelled Shio to tail these men, and the reasons for his actions unravel in the story, raising questions about potential danger.
The world-building in the narrative is undeniably distinctive, though admittedly, it requires some time to grasp its complexity fully. The characters, particularly Shio and Key, leave a lasting impression, making this an enthralling read.
My enjoyment of "Neon Nothing" was unequivocal.
October 22, 2023
Neon Nothing written by the author Ryan Mckinney is the debut novel of the author. The story features two main characters. Key doesn't remember his past and Shio has no future. Key is not his original name. It's what people call him. He is desperate to find out about his past so he can live a peaceful life.
Key was surrounded by so many wires with a surgeon cut into his arm to do some tests. One day, Key took his sample to get it analyzed. The moment the sample was analyzed, Key was being chased and he ran away. Shio lives on the respectful side of the wall and he has to stay in his lane. He works at Kigen technologies and is not happy with his tech-support job. Read this story to know what he will do that he is now on the other side of the wall.
The story is gripping. The characters are written well by the author. Being in a corporate, I could relate well to Shio not liking his job. I appreciate the vivid imagination of the author in creating the fantasy world in the story. Read this book to know if Shio and Key will uncover the truth. Go ahead with this book without any second thoughts.
Rating: 4.5/5
Key was surrounded by so many wires with a surgeon cut into his arm to do some tests. One day, Key took his sample to get it analyzed. The moment the sample was analyzed, Key was being chased and he ran away. Shio lives on the respectful side of the wall and he has to stay in his lane. He works at Kigen technologies and is not happy with his tech-support job. Read this story to know what he will do that he is now on the other side of the wall.
The story is gripping. The characters are written well by the author. Being in a corporate, I could relate well to Shio not liking his job. I appreciate the vivid imagination of the author in creating the fantasy world in the story. Read this book to know if Shio and Key will uncover the truth. Go ahead with this book without any second thoughts.
Rating: 4.5/5
October 22, 2023
I love reading Cyberpunks. This time, I got my hands on Ryan Mckinney's debut book "NEON NOTHING". The author has imagined an AI Scientific world in this story. There are two main characters: Key and Shio. Both are from different sides of the walls.
Key is a man without a past. He has been struggling for the past three years to find out the truth about himself. Surgeons keep on putting cuts into him and he is quite used to it now.
Shio works as a Customer Service Representative at Kigen Technologies. He follows his routine life to stay on the right side of the wall. He toes the line, does his job and maintains normality. One day while returning from work, he started chasing two guys and ended up on the wrong side of the wall. Shio was found by Key. What will happen as Key interrogates Shio?
Those who enjoy stories with dystopian futuristic settings should definitely get their hands on this book. I had a great time reading this book. It took me some time to understand the world building but my interest was built with every turning page. The twists in the story will keep you hooked till the last page.
Key is a man without a past. He has been struggling for the past three years to find out the truth about himself. Surgeons keep on putting cuts into him and he is quite used to it now.
Shio works as a Customer Service Representative at Kigen Technologies. He follows his routine life to stay on the right side of the wall. He toes the line, does his job and maintains normality. One day while returning from work, he started chasing two guys and ended up on the wrong side of the wall. Shio was found by Key. What will happen as Key interrogates Shio?
Those who enjoy stories with dystopian futuristic settings should definitely get their hands on this book. I had a great time reading this book. It took me some time to understand the world building but my interest was built with every turning page. The twists in the story will keep you hooked till the last page.
October 22, 2023
Dystopian science fiction stories are my favorite. I love reading stories with an advanced world building and having the role of Artificial intelligence in it. The two worlds are separated by the wall. Sukoshio Shimada is a twenty-eight-years old Customer Resource Rep for Kigen Technologies. He lives alone in Hajishin with an AI named Aimee and his dog Shiba.
I loved the way Aimee automatically did most of the tasks of Shio and eased his life. Shio's only goal in life is to do his job and stay in the lane. He has heard about people losing their jobs and moving to the lower parts of the city. Shio didn't want that to happen to himself. Yet, he ended up at the other side of the wall. What was Shio thinking when he started chasing the hooded man and the one in the suit?
This is a captivating story. It hooked my attention from the first page itself. The story is well paced and I enjoyed every bit of it. The author hasn't dragged the plot and I appreciate that. The writing style of Ryan is amazing with a smooth narrative that is easy to follow. It's a book worth reading. This story will stay in the lanes of my mind for a long time 😁.
I loved the way Aimee automatically did most of the tasks of Shio and eased his life. Shio's only goal in life is to do his job and stay in the lane. He has heard about people losing their jobs and moving to the lower parts of the city. Shio didn't want that to happen to himself. Yet, he ended up at the other side of the wall. What was Shio thinking when he started chasing the hooded man and the one in the suit?
This is a captivating story. It hooked my attention from the first page itself. The story is well paced and I enjoyed every bit of it. The author hasn't dragged the plot and I appreciate that. The writing style of Ryan is amazing with a smooth narrative that is easy to follow. It's a book worth reading. This story will stay in the lanes of my mind for a long time 😁.
October 29, 2023
Key is a man without a past. The phrase "We're going to do wonderful things to you" haunted his thoughts. He can get a maximum of four hours of sleep. He had gone through the saw pressed against his skin over and over. Now, he is used to it. He wants to put the past to rest.
Shio was a genius but his friends got jobs and moved away. To stay on the honorable side of the wall, he had to do his job, stay in the lane, maintain normality, etc. Shio lives with a twenty pound Shiba and his AI Aimee. Aimee is smart enough and now knows what Shio wants. So, Aimee presents him the things he want without him even asking. His friends had moved on to new phases and experiences. On the other hand, Shio follows routine life. His friends have their families and Shio feels alienated from them.
One day, Shio's path crossed with Key and he ended up on the wrong side of the wall. Shio and Key work together to find out the truth. Will they be successful?
For Cyberpunks enthusiasts, this book is a compelling and insightful choice. This story piqued my interest with every turning page. It's a riveting story. I enjoyed binge reading it on the weekend.
Shio was a genius but his friends got jobs and moved away. To stay on the honorable side of the wall, he had to do his job, stay in the lane, maintain normality, etc. Shio lives with a twenty pound Shiba and his AI Aimee. Aimee is smart enough and now knows what Shio wants. So, Aimee presents him the things he want without him even asking. His friends had moved on to new phases and experiences. On the other hand, Shio follows routine life. His friends have their families and Shio feels alienated from them.
One day, Shio's path crossed with Key and he ended up on the wrong side of the wall. Shio and Key work together to find out the truth. Will they be successful?
For Cyberpunks enthusiasts, this book is a compelling and insightful choice. This story piqued my interest with every turning page. It's a riveting story. I enjoyed binge reading it on the weekend.
October 29, 2023
Those who are fans of Cyberpunks should get their hands on Ryan Mckinney's debut novel "Neon Nothing". The title of the book caught my attention. Ryan has written a book about technology, the future and the human condition.
Key is a man without a past. He doesn't even know his name. He had tried for three years to reveal the truth about his identity but still he hasn't got a clue. To stop the nightmares, he has to find the truth.
Sukoshio was a bright student in school. He was called brilliant, prodigy and genius at school. Yet, he isn't at the same place as his friends. Shio is a customer service representative. According to some, coming to Galivaria is a chance to make a name for yourself but Galivaria is far from paradise. Most Galivarians were pencil-pushing salary workers whose only destinations in life were their cubicles, tiny one-room apartments, and ultimately the grave.
When Shio ended up on the other side of the wall, Key wondered what a man from a respectable society was doing in Sundowners. The world building is fascinating in this story. Both the characters Key and Shio are well described by the author. Go for this book.
Key is a man without a past. He doesn't even know his name. He had tried for three years to reveal the truth about his identity but still he hasn't got a clue. To stop the nightmares, he has to find the truth.
Sukoshio was a bright student in school. He was called brilliant, prodigy and genius at school. Yet, he isn't at the same place as his friends. Shio is a customer service representative. According to some, coming to Galivaria is a chance to make a name for yourself but Galivaria is far from paradise. Most Galivarians were pencil-pushing salary workers whose only destinations in life were their cubicles, tiny one-room apartments, and ultimately the grave.
When Shio ended up on the other side of the wall, Key wondered what a man from a respectable society was doing in Sundowners. The world building is fascinating in this story. Both the characters Key and Shio are well described by the author. Go for this book.
October 29, 2023
I'm a huge lover of Cyberpunk narratives, and "Neon Nothing" marks my introduction to the world of author Ryan McKinney. Right from the outset, the storyline had me gripped, with both Key and Shio's characters expertly fleshed out. The backdrop setting is truly awe-inspiring, and the narrative flows seamlessly, immersing me in the fictional world alongside the characters.
Descending to the lower levels is nobody's desire, yet Shio found himself on the less esteemed side of the wall, where he crossed paths with Key. Key insisted that someone of Shio's caliber didn't belong on that side of the wall, hinting at secrets they had yet to unearth.
As a debut author, Ryan has executed an exceptional job, leaving me eager for more of his AI-infused, technology-driven dystopian tales in the future. I'm genuinely elated by my experience with this book. The unexpected twists in the plot added depth to the narrative, and I was particularly pleased with the way the story concluded.
I'm eagerly anticipating the author's future literary works as well.
Descending to the lower levels is nobody's desire, yet Shio found himself on the less esteemed side of the wall, where he crossed paths with Key. Key insisted that someone of Shio's caliber didn't belong on that side of the wall, hinting at secrets they had yet to unearth.
As a debut author, Ryan has executed an exceptional job, leaving me eager for more of his AI-infused, technology-driven dystopian tales in the future. I'm genuinely elated by my experience with this book. The unexpected twists in the plot added depth to the narrative, and I was particularly pleased with the way the story concluded.
I'm eagerly anticipating the author's future literary works as well.
October 10, 2023
I wrote it, so. I think it’s pretty good.
March 4, 2024
Neon nothing follows no solid plot with characters neither I nor people I shared thoughts with cared about. It gets close to big points about ai but misses the mark time and time again. It did not grab my attention and the plot twists were readily apparent rather than true twists one didn’t see coming.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews