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For Hire
For Hire: Operator
It’s a world like our own, but the emergence of superhumans has created shifts in culture that play out in changes both subtle and monumental. Those who share their abilities with the world do so for a price: either as superheroes, public-facing protectors; or as operators, who work from the shadows. They are...For Hire.
The divide between superhero and operator has never been so blatant as in the relationship between Sana Parker and Marcella McKenzie. These high school sweethearts used their combined talents to create technology that put them toe to toe with the best superheroes in the game. For Marcella, now known publicly as Double M, fame and fortune are tools to create a better world. For Sana, the freedom of being an operator suits her, and she can be contacted for everything from stakeouts to assassinations under the name JC.
When Sana takes a contract from her favorite client, she has no idea this will put her in direct opposition to her love. With old friends and new threats in the mix, Sana must reconcile her past, battle for a better future...and hope that Double M doesn’t come for her in the meantime!
The divide between superhero and operator has never been so blatant as in the relationship between Sana Parker and Marcella McKenzie. These high school sweethearts used their combined talents to create technology that put them toe to toe with the best superheroes in the game. For Marcella, now known publicly as Double M, fame and fortune are tools to create a better world. For Sana, the freedom of being an operator suits her, and she can be contacted for everything from stakeouts to assassinations under the name JC.
When Sana takes a contract from her favorite client, she has no idea this will put her in direct opposition to her love. With old friends and new threats in the mix, Sana must reconcile her past, battle for a better future...and hope that Double M doesn’t come for her in the meantime!
250 pages, Paperback
Published October 15, 2018
14 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 21, 2024
Medicine that does a better job and costs a ton less shouldn't even need an argument.
I'm having a hard time rating this. I enjoyed it overall, but it did take a minute to get there. There was a lot of info dump and introductions in the beginning that it took longer than I would have liked to get us moving. When it finally did start, it really took off, though.
Before this, I read Patterson's Love's Not Color Blind and truly enjoyed how that was written. It might be a genre thing, I'm not sure, especially since it wasn't like I disliked this. It just seemed like a lot of matter-of-fact explanations instead of showing us. I dunno if that makes any sense. I did like the how the beginning of the chapters had short snippets of the magazine; how that gave us more information on this world and its workings.
We talk about the sanctity of life on one hand. Yet, on the other, in guns we glorify a device that only has the singular purpose of killing people. If I sell you heroin, I'm a drug dealer. If I sell you tar and nicotine, which is more than thirty times as deadly, I'm a businesswoman.
I really love all the rep here! I mostly picked this up and have been wanting to read it for a very long time once I heard of it from the Multiamory podcast with Patterson as a guest. (This was a long time ago; it might have been talking about his other book too.) Glad I've finally been able to get my hands on it to read! This is how more media needs to rep polyamory.
I still don't feel great with how this was resolved but I understand what it was trying to do and how it needed to be resolved in order for the story to go anywhere. I did like Kazi, though.
"There's nothing that makes what you all did okay!" I pushed him away.
"You're right, you're right. And if you guys had walked out on me and my sister like that, we'd have been pissed off, too. But it wasn't just hard for you. You don't get exclusive rights to that shit. Mark fell into a depression without his two girlfriends. Kani didn't eat for two days after she was mean to you. I had to go to her campus and nurse her back to health. Feeding her liquified slices of pizza through a syringe. And Darryl's...well just look at him!"
All-in-all, I'm not sure if I'm going to pick up the next to this but I probably will. Seems like this will continue with different MCs and I like that since this seemed neatly wrapped up. Which is also kinda sad since I would like more with Voss13 and the Amazing Magisteria. Maybe we'll get a book with them as the main!
3.5 stars rounded down, for now.
Sometimes, alcohol is its own superpower. Time travel, maybe...or teleportation...or both.
December 23, 2018
This was fun. A superhero story that pits friend against friend, it started slowly but really began to pick up once the supporting cast was introduced. What else can you ask for but a little moral ambiguity, some real magic, and a lot of punching? I look forward to future adventures in this world, and seeing what makes some of the other characters special. (Or would could see more of JC and Double M. I wouldn't object to that, either.)
October 16, 2024
I really enjoyed reading For Hire: Operator. The writers really put so much love and care into their characters, and I was really able to connect with Sana and Double M. I appreciated the level of detail and nuance in the world building. I hope I get to see more of these characters! It was refreshing to see non monogamous relationships normalized in a story in a way that was accessible. I'll definitely be recommending this to my fellow SciFi/Fantasy nerds!
May 20, 2019
In a “world like our own, [...] the emergence of superhumans has created shifts in culture that play out in changes both subtle and monumental. Those who share their abilities with the world do so for a price: either as superheroes, public-facing protectors, or as operators, who work from the shadows.”
And so begins the tale of For Hire: Operator. This story follows the immensely passionate love life and equally opposing careers of Sana Parker and Marcella McKenzie, high school sweethearts. Sana prefers to work under the cover of night, using her talents and the nanite technology she developed to serve the world as its number-one operator. Marcella, however, has taken a much more public route, saving the world one mission at a time as the world’s top superhero. Beloved by all, she is known around the world as the illustrious and invincible Double M. Despite both women’s status and international presence, their relationship is not publicly acknowledged - and for good reason. As Sana’s newest contract takes her further and further underground, her relationship with Marcella is tested to limits never before seen.
As can be inferred from the description above, Kevin Patterson and Alana Phelan do not shy away from including a variety of people and identities within their work. Both Sana and Marcella are queer women of color, and the polyamorous nature of their relationship is integrated into several undeniable plot beats. Yet another vital character, lover to both Sana and Marcella, is a seemingly world-famous nonbinary magician whose gender is unequivocally accepted by all news outlets and fans who speak of them. Somehow, they even manage to tie the weird and wonderful world of the kink scene into an especially tense and vital moment, touching lightly on the practices of consent and proper etiquette at play parties. And the ease at which they do so makes perfect sense, when you consider that both authors are queer and polyamorous themselves.
There are many other exciting ingredients that the authors added to this hotpot of diversity. The plot is fresh, though it follows the typical track of a superhero story: there is a massive evil working to take down the goodness of the world, and only a select few can be the ones to stop it. However, in a more radical shift away from the norm, the righteous side has, too, engaged in some morally dubious decisions. Those Sana works with have been less than kind to herself and her lover, and Sana herself, as an operator, has slain more than once in the name of her position. There is a building tension that underlies the story that is felt most in the interpersonal relationships between Sana and her allies. One could almost argue that the overarching plot acted more as a McGuffin to introduce us to these reach characters, to explore their diverse and intriguing world and the conflicts that could lie within it.
The evil itself, however, could have been further developed. In the aforementioned beautifully written kink scene (which, by the way, was not only one of my favorite chapters but featured my favorite character), the reader is able to see, for the first time, a bit of moral ambiguity when it comes to taking down the “bad guys.” Sana’s target becomes fully and beautifully human in her eyes, and she agonizes how to and if she should follow through on her assigned mission. This is both the first and last time that this type of conflict appears within the book’s pages. Any exploration of the ambiguity of Sana’s side is quickly squashed, wholly reassured that no one involved has bad intentions, that everyone is doing the right thing despite the steps they may have taken to get there. Even the nature of Sana’s violent job is more told to us than we are made to feel it with her. The nuance in the story comes not from exploring the humanity of both sides but rather from exploring Sana and Marcella’s pre-existing interpersonal relationships.
MILD SPOILERS FOR THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH:
A few other plot points also hold as points of confusion for me. For example, the amount of money that the group made through their Supercell project is referenced repeatedly. However, it seems that no one outside of the group seems to have any real knowledge of their project, and that the general public cannot fathom how Double M retains her powers without natural Genetic Variance Syndrome. Another baffling plot point: despite a previous boyfriend of both Marcella and Sana being brought up several times within the narrative, there seemingly exists no driving desire for either of them to get into significant contact with him. The love that was once supposedly there in such abundance, again, is more told to us than experienced. This is the primary flaw of For Hire: Operator. Despite its ability to draw the reader forward, it often feels as though it could have been better executed as a comic, or through another form that relies more on telling than showing. However, one should trust the authors to know best how they wish to tell their stories, and if a novel is the medium they ultimately chose, then this is the way that it was intended to exist.
END SPOILERS.
To wrap up as neatly as cartoon rope always finds its villainous target, For Hire: Operator has done a fantastic job of setting its readers up for the world that follows. And follow it will, as Kevin Patterson and Alana Phelan continue working behind the scenes to bring us the second installation in the series. Perhaps the villainy of the series’s characters will be explored more thoroughly in its next volume, the moral grayness of its protagonists analyzed with a few more complications. Either way, Patterson and Phelan are sure to take us along for a ride.
And so begins the tale of For Hire: Operator. This story follows the immensely passionate love life and equally opposing careers of Sana Parker and Marcella McKenzie, high school sweethearts. Sana prefers to work under the cover of night, using her talents and the nanite technology she developed to serve the world as its number-one operator. Marcella, however, has taken a much more public route, saving the world one mission at a time as the world’s top superhero. Beloved by all, she is known around the world as the illustrious and invincible Double M. Despite both women’s status and international presence, their relationship is not publicly acknowledged - and for good reason. As Sana’s newest contract takes her further and further underground, her relationship with Marcella is tested to limits never before seen.
As can be inferred from the description above, Kevin Patterson and Alana Phelan do not shy away from including a variety of people and identities within their work. Both Sana and Marcella are queer women of color, and the polyamorous nature of their relationship is integrated into several undeniable plot beats. Yet another vital character, lover to both Sana and Marcella, is a seemingly world-famous nonbinary magician whose gender is unequivocally accepted by all news outlets and fans who speak of them. Somehow, they even manage to tie the weird and wonderful world of the kink scene into an especially tense and vital moment, touching lightly on the practices of consent and proper etiquette at play parties. And the ease at which they do so makes perfect sense, when you consider that both authors are queer and polyamorous themselves.
There are many other exciting ingredients that the authors added to this hotpot of diversity. The plot is fresh, though it follows the typical track of a superhero story: there is a massive evil working to take down the goodness of the world, and only a select few can be the ones to stop it. However, in a more radical shift away from the norm, the righteous side has, too, engaged in some morally dubious decisions. Those Sana works with have been less than kind to herself and her lover, and Sana herself, as an operator, has slain more than once in the name of her position. There is a building tension that underlies the story that is felt most in the interpersonal relationships between Sana and her allies. One could almost argue that the overarching plot acted more as a McGuffin to introduce us to these reach characters, to explore their diverse and intriguing world and the conflicts that could lie within it.
The evil itself, however, could have been further developed. In the aforementioned beautifully written kink scene (which, by the way, was not only one of my favorite chapters but featured my favorite character), the reader is able to see, for the first time, a bit of moral ambiguity when it comes to taking down the “bad guys.” Sana’s target becomes fully and beautifully human in her eyes, and she agonizes how to and if she should follow through on her assigned mission. This is both the first and last time that this type of conflict appears within the book’s pages. Any exploration of the ambiguity of Sana’s side is quickly squashed, wholly reassured that no one involved has bad intentions, that everyone is doing the right thing despite the steps they may have taken to get there. Even the nature of Sana’s violent job is more told to us than we are made to feel it with her. The nuance in the story comes not from exploring the humanity of both sides but rather from exploring Sana and Marcella’s pre-existing interpersonal relationships.
MILD SPOILERS FOR THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH:
A few other plot points also hold as points of confusion for me. For example, the amount of money that the group made through their Supercell project is referenced repeatedly. However, it seems that no one outside of the group seems to have any real knowledge of their project, and that the general public cannot fathom how Double M retains her powers without natural Genetic Variance Syndrome. Another baffling plot point: despite a previous boyfriend of both Marcella and Sana being brought up several times within the narrative, there seemingly exists no driving desire for either of them to get into significant contact with him. The love that was once supposedly there in such abundance, again, is more told to us than experienced. This is the primary flaw of For Hire: Operator. Despite its ability to draw the reader forward, it often feels as though it could have been better executed as a comic, or through another form that relies more on telling than showing. However, one should trust the authors to know best how they wish to tell their stories, and if a novel is the medium they ultimately chose, then this is the way that it was intended to exist.
END SPOILERS.
To wrap up as neatly as cartoon rope always finds its villainous target, For Hire: Operator has done a fantastic job of setting its readers up for the world that follows. And follow it will, as Kevin Patterson and Alana Phelan continue working behind the scenes to bring us the second installation in the series. Perhaps the villainy of the series’s characters will be explored more thoroughly in its next volume, the moral grayness of its protagonists analyzed with a few more complications. Either way, Patterson and Phelan are sure to take us along for a ride.
May 27, 2025
Full disclosure two of my friends wrote this book. I like the characters and the polyamory representation. This was my re-read before I read The Price of Fame. When I first read this Voss13/Amazing Magisteria was my favorite. This time I still loved Voss, but I gained a new appreciation for Darryl and the rec center kid Ronnie.
I felt we got a bit robbed of some details in the climax, and some other plot points were a bit fuzzy. Yet, it’s still a fun, sexy, action packed story.
I felt we got a bit robbed of some details in the climax, and some other plot points were a bit fuzzy. Yet, it’s still a fun, sexy, action packed story.
January 21, 2019
Fun read!
January 17, 2019
Great Representation of LGBTQ and polyamory
Really great character development and story arc. Not my usual genre, but it kept me invested in what would happen next. Did not disappoint.
Really great character development and story arc. Not my usual genre, but it kept me invested in what would happen next. Did not disappoint.
December 28, 2018
I'm going to admit that when I started reading For Hire I was confused and kinda didn't like the story line, then I listened to an interview by of the authors, Kevin Patterson, and a few things clicked into place. The whole superhero/operator story still was just okay to me but by the end of the book I was much more invested in the characters and their stories and their lives. The love affair and story with Marcella and Sana warmed my heart!! It made me feel proud as a bisexual woman who's had relationships with other women to see it portrayed as it really is...like any other relationship that people have.
It wasn't fetishized, it was just real AF. The ups and the downs. The love. The breakups. Also, they're poly so their different and specific relationships and how their poly was different. It helped me see that situational poly and hookups were just as important as having someone to call a partner or a potential partner. This book and a few other situations that have happened this year have helped me grow in my poly walk and overall understanding of me.
It wasn't fetishized, it was just real AF. The ups and the downs. The love. The breakups. Also, they're poly so their different and specific relationships and how their poly was different. It helped me see that situational poly and hookups were just as important as having someone to call a partner or a potential partner. This book and a few other situations that have happened this year have helped me grow in my poly walk and overall understanding of me.
November 8, 2019
Full review forthcoming!
Notes while reading (yoinked from my Twitter):
Folks who enjoy speculative fiction sci-fi, urban fantasy, and superheroes - I recommend this book. When telling people about it I've been mainly sharing about the PoC, polyamory and queer aspects, but it shines as a spec fic novel in general. Which is kinda the point - it *centers characters* who are PoC and/or queer and/or polyam. IMHO (disclaimer, I'm only one of those IDs and only speak for me) this is a great type of representation - there's a place for identity-focused stories too, but stories like this are much needed.
Notes while reading (yoinked from my Twitter):
Folks who enjoy speculative fiction sci-fi, urban fantasy, and superheroes - I recommend this book. When telling people about it I've been mainly sharing about the PoC, polyamory and queer aspects, but it shines as a spec fic novel in general. Which is kinda the point - it *centers characters* who are PoC and/or queer and/or polyam. IMHO (disclaimer, I'm only one of those IDs and only speak for me) this is a great type of representation - there's a place for identity-focused stories too, but stories like this are much needed.
November 8, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. Sci-fi usually isn’t my jam, but I couldn’t resist a book that centers POC, polyamorous, and queer people. It was fantastic, from the fast paced thriller to the carefully guided stories of love, from its most long term and entrenched to the momentary, fleeting, or new. It’s excellent and I can’t recommend it more.
October 18, 2018
Fun read, great characters. I'd been struggling to finish things at all lately but blew right through this. Hopefully I'll be getting more sleep now that I'm finished though.
July 11, 2019
The most diverse cast of characters I’ve ever come across in a book!
May 28, 2020
I love the idea of this book, I like the characters, I think the world is interesting.
But it took me a very long time to be pulled into the story. I had difficulty connecting with the main character's emotions regarding her old friends, and with the 'why' of the story, both why they had this huge elaborate plan to run the world, and why the main character felt it was important. I just wanted some driving questions answered earlier in the book.
I did really enjoy the characters, and the little things that made them able to work well as a group. I want to know more about them, I want to know more about their world.
But it took me a very long time to be pulled into the story. I had difficulty connecting with the main character's emotions regarding her old friends, and with the 'why' of the story, both why they had this huge elaborate plan to run the world, and why the main character felt it was important. I just wanted some driving questions answered earlier in the book.
I did really enjoy the characters, and the little things that made them able to work well as a group. I want to know more about them, I want to know more about their world.
October 17, 2019
DNF. At 38%, I recognize that I am having to make myself read further, and that's the signal to be done. I'm so bored. The emotional weight the MC carries feels...almost superficial. Sure, she's not overly emotional, but I have read self-contained characters done much better than this. It can be done, but this author didn't deliver.
May 6, 2025
Awesome! The characters are full of dept and power. Well written and very engaging.
Highly recommended!
Chapter 20 is great, is the sexiest, kinkiest, sensual and saddest thing it have read in a while.
Love the aspects of non monogamy, kink, queer, non binary, they where very present and never the point of the plot. Well done!
Ohhh yes, there are super powers, nano tech and magic.
Highly recommended!
Chapter 20 is great, is the sexiest, kinkiest, sensual and saddest thing it have read in a while.
Love the aspects of non monogamy, kink, queer, non binary, they where very present and never the point of the plot. Well done!
Ohhh yes, there are super powers, nano tech and magic.
March 21, 2020
Absolute exactly what I’ve always wanted. All the fun an action of the superhero genre without the sexism, and some delightfully complex sexuality! What more could I even ask for?
January 14, 2025
Kevin! You have a knack for dialogue. I was hooked and read the whole thing in 24hrs (probably less)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews