Ghost Hacker, Zombie Maker

by Robert J. McCarter

Ghost Hacker (noun): an individual that uses programming knowledge and social engineering to repair or alter the virtualized neural duplicates of the deceased (commonly called "ghosts"). Zombie Maker (noun): bullets with a biological payload that makes their victim compliant and malleable for a short time before causing catastrophic damage to the neural tissue resulting in a painful death. Boss used to have a career as the lead animator for a high-end virtual actress. Boss used to have a life, and a name, and the face he was born with. Now that is all gone and he makes his living fixing the virtualized neural duplicates of the dead. He's a Ghost Hacker. But now, even that is at risk. Somebody is shooting Zombie Makers at him and he's afraid he's been found. All he's got is his wits and his best friend Lucy--a virtual of Boss's creation--to figure out how to save what he has left. Ghost Hacker, Zombie Maker is a sci-fi thriller. This is a novelette (approximately 10,000 words or 40 pages long). This ebook also contains "Hacking the Ghost," a short Ghost Hacker story.

104 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 20, 2012

About the author

Robert J. McCarter is the author of seven novels, three novellas, and dozens of short stories. He is a finalist for the Writers of the Future Contest and his stories have appeared or are forthcoming in The Saturday Evening Post, Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, Fiction River, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, and numerous anthologies.
 
His latest effort is a serialized novel called Woody and June Versus the Apocalypse, a story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride. Of his novel, Seeing Forever, Kirkus Reviews says, “Sci-fi as it should be: engaging, moving, and grand in scope.”

He lives in the mountains of Arizona with his amazing wife and his ridiculously adorable dog.

Find out more at RobertJMcCarter.com