Stalker: A novel

by Scott Butler

Elias Dunn hates his life. At only 26, he’s the youngest Head of IT for Network 4 and appears to be doing okay. He’s not. He’s living at home with a bipolar mother who uses medication and alcohol to get by. Eli loses himself in fantasy and obsession, stalking targets and colleagues to cope. He blames himself for the death of his sister, cutting the guilt from his body as a boy before covering his mistakes in tattoos. Eli finds solace in The Ellipse, a virtual club accessed through a world he’s created where he becomes someone else. Ink, a black-suited avatar that trades the spoils of the film momentos he steals in the real world for crypto in another. Stalker follows one man’s feeling of loss and his need to reconcile the pain of wanting a future.

322 pages, Paperback

Published January 12, 2024

About the author

Scott Butler’s first home was on an air-force base in Blenheim, New Zealand. His love of books came from the birthday gift his father continues to give him every year.

Scott works in advertising. He writes novels, short stories and blogs about original ideas he wants to share.

Scott’s a fan of the surf (though he can’t really do it), the snow, Vietnamese cuisine and Psychological thrillers. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand with his wife Lou, his two daughters, Zambezi and Cocolily, their guinea pig, Bellatrix and puppy, Taika.

Reviews

[Michael Botur · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is strongly inspired by 'Ready Player One.' There are hints of some other 'energetic' sci fi in there. By 'energetic,' I mean the protagonist comes with natural energy, and the book has an upbeat tone in which our hero resolves to get through his challenges.
I liked the contemporary 2020s/2030s feel and how it was full of brands, sports teams, entertainment, consumer items - again, very comparable to Ready Player One I reckon.

[Louise Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me wanting to read more from the first sentence and it didn't disappoint thereafter.

Expect a fast-paced journey across both real and virtual worlds - each getting us closer to exploring the depths of our imagination and human darkness.

The book with blow your mind in a good way.

An absolute page-turner.

[Steph Vercoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually a reader sci-fi. But I loved this book.
It's got a really great pace to it, a real page turner.
I loved the characters, the setting and the way the story transversed the real world and the artificial.
Highly recommend.

[Maya Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!!! Real page turner, had me gripped right till the end 😁😁
Read if your wanting a thrilling, fast paced book with fun ready player one vibes 👾