What do you think?
Rate this book
Spectrum Lathe #1
Rim City Blues
They want Felix Lasko to solve a murder while getting chased by coyotes, one-eyed assassins, and killer robots. He’d say no, but that's not an option—since they'll kill him outright if he refuses.
Felix had always dreamed of becoming a detective: just not at gunpoint. Besides the hot lead motivation, solving the murder of Jeff Hense will get him a ticket into Neotopia. It's the last city on the planet with power, and he’s run hundreds of miles only to get stuck outside its blue forcefield dome.
He’ll need to get through a brothel-ship wedged into a cliffside, and a gang of violent criminals called the Mayors. All while avoiding instant death by a deadly piece of Tek known only as the Scream Ray.
Whatever the odds, he’s done running. He’ll get into Neotopia even if it kills him.
Felix had always dreamed of becoming a detective: just not at gunpoint. Besides the hot lead motivation, solving the murder of Jeff Hense will get him a ticket into Neotopia. It's the last city on the planet with power, and he’s run hundreds of miles only to get stuck outside its blue forcefield dome.
He’ll need to get through a brothel-ship wedged into a cliffside, and a gang of violent criminals called the Mayors. All while avoiding instant death by a deadly piece of Tek known only as the Scream Ray.
Whatever the odds, he’s done running. He’ll get into Neotopia even if it kills him.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 20, 2020
76 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Elliott Scott
8 books24 followersElliott Scott read Neuromancer when he was fourteen and has been hooked on Science Fiction and Cyberpunk ever since. Then mysteries like The Big Sleep found a permanent home in his brain.
He spends most of his days reading and rambling about the Singularity. When he can't find anyone to listen to him he writes. Terms of Service is his first full length novel, and he plans to write until the sun explodes or until there is no ink left to print on Earth--whichever comes first.
Follow Elliott Scott on Goodreads to be the first to hear about new releases and giveaways.
He spends most of his days reading and rambling about the Singularity. When he can't find anyone to listen to him he writes. Terms of Service is his first full length novel, and he plans to write until the sun explodes or until there is no ink left to print on Earth--whichever comes first.
Follow Elliott Scott on Goodreads to be the first to hear about new releases and giveaways.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 10, 2022
I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when I started this one. The cover and blurb give a sci-do noir vibe, which it definitely my thing. And it kind of was.
But it was also a weird western flavoured sci-fi story with nods to cyberpunk. Fortunately, there is nothing I love more than unexpected weirdness in books!
Everything about this story was completely unexpected, and an absolute joy to read as someone who is a bit burnt out on the usual sci-fi tropes. I loved every minute of it. Quirky, a great sense of humour, likeable characters, what’s not to love?
If your looking to shake things up with your reading routine, and you like unusual stories, check this one out.
The writing is smooth and easy, it doesn’t get bogged down in world building or technical details, it’s just a good-old-fashioned yarn that will have you on the edge of your seat the whole time!
But it was also a weird western flavoured sci-fi story with nods to cyberpunk. Fortunately, there is nothing I love more than unexpected weirdness in books!
Everything about this story was completely unexpected, and an absolute joy to read as someone who is a bit burnt out on the usual sci-fi tropes. I loved every minute of it. Quirky, a great sense of humour, likeable characters, what’s not to love?
If your looking to shake things up with your reading routine, and you like unusual stories, check this one out.
The writing is smooth and easy, it doesn’t get bogged down in world building or technical details, it’s just a good-old-fashioned yarn that will have you on the edge of your seat the whole time!
September 29, 2022
This whole book was a vibe and I was here for it.
The main character was quirky, funny, and terribly sympathetic. His hang-ups about killing made him especially endearing - I don't mind hard-broiled types of characters, but this was really refreshing. He was competent, but I also wanted to cushion him in a feather-down comforter and maybe some bubble-wrap. Poor guy.
The side characters were also fun, even if they were only 'on screen' briefly. I was especially a fan of Handsie. When we first saw him, I admit I thought he was just going to be the butt of a joke - but no, he was a serious player who even saves the main character's life. I really liked that. It was just a nice thread of seamless inclusion that I always appreciate in a story. Glow was great. Badass in a way that was believable given the post-apocalyptic hellscape they're living in. Even though we never see Tender face to face, he, too, was a chilling villain, a brilliant setup for what I can only assume will be more showdowns in the future of the series.
I must say the worldbuilding, too, was fantastic. The story doesn't try to take itself too seriously with it. It's creative as hell, but this is clearly cyberpunk in feel and we don't waste time explaining why our flocks of butterflies are compelled to follow certain people around. We don't need that. That's not the kind of story we're dealing in, and that too can be refreshing. The fast-and-loose way the technology of the story works was used perfectly, and the author really managed to play to its strengths.
As an inde book, the editing on this was really impressive too. You can tell the author must have fronted making sure this got put through the proper ringer and the finished product shows it. It's got the same quality as anything traditionally published, with remarkably few errors (the kind of things that slip into even the most mainstream of literature.)
I don't read a lot of cyperpunk, but I am a fan of noir and this scratched the itch, with a bit of a lighter tint that I found really enjoyable. If pressed to compare it to something that I have read, I'd probably go for The Dresden Files so far as characterization. I'll have to read more within this genre to come up with others, I was surprised by how much I liked it (I'm often a low-fi kinda gal, but I dig this!)
Regardless, I'll definitely be pursuing more by this author. Assuming the novels are available in paperback, I may even purchase them for my shelf. The only thing I can't figure out is why this book doesn't have more reviews.
Hopefully that changes.
The main character was quirky, funny, and terribly sympathetic. His hang-ups about killing made him especially endearing - I don't mind hard-broiled types of characters, but this was really refreshing. He was competent, but I also wanted to cushion him in a feather-down comforter and maybe some bubble-wrap. Poor guy.
The side characters were also fun, even if they were only 'on screen' briefly. I was especially a fan of Handsie. When we first saw him, I admit I thought he was just going to be the butt of a joke - but no, he was a serious player who even saves the main character's life. I really liked that. It was just a nice thread of seamless inclusion that I always appreciate in a story. Glow was great. Badass in a way that was believable given the post-apocalyptic hellscape they're living in. Even though we never see Tender face to face, he, too, was a chilling villain, a brilliant setup for what I can only assume will be more showdowns in the future of the series.
I must say the worldbuilding, too, was fantastic. The story doesn't try to take itself too seriously with it. It's creative as hell, but this is clearly cyberpunk in feel and we don't waste time explaining why our flocks of butterflies are compelled to follow certain people around. We don't need that. That's not the kind of story we're dealing in, and that too can be refreshing. The fast-and-loose way the technology of the story works was used perfectly, and the author really managed to play to its strengths.
As an inde book, the editing on this was really impressive too. You can tell the author must have fronted making sure this got put through the proper ringer and the finished product shows it. It's got the same quality as anything traditionally published, with remarkably few errors (the kind of things that slip into even the most mainstream of literature.)
I don't read a lot of cyperpunk, but I am a fan of noir and this scratched the itch, with a bit of a lighter tint that I found really enjoyable. If pressed to compare it to something that I have read, I'd probably go for The Dresden Files so far as characterization. I'll have to read more within this genre to come up with others, I was surprised by how much I liked it (I'm often a low-fi kinda gal, but I dig this!)
Regardless, I'll definitely be pursuing more by this author. Assuming the novels are available in paperback, I may even purchase them for my shelf. The only thing I can't figure out is why this book doesn't have more reviews.
Hopefully that changes.
November 21, 2021
I really enjoyed this main character, Felix Lasko. He talks to himself all the time! I have always felt talking to oneself is the best way to get things done! As such, I felt like I was following a continuous dialogue in the mind of Felix - who is a bit of a comedienne and fatalist as he was always expecting the worst outcome(s)! Yet, he always kept moving. Granted, it was sometimes forward and sometimes backwards. Lots and lots of clever thoughts and remarks. I felt, in a positive way, that he is the master of the obvious. Since I had already read the book, Terms of Service, I was not surprised by the exciting and wonderful technology in use or the various living conditions for earth's inhabitants. I was prepared for the non-stop action, the levels upon levels of society, the intriguing technology, and the skillful writing of the author. Whichever story one chooses to read first, be prepared to be entertained by an incredible world/earth that is experienced through the eyes, ears, nose, throat, hands, and etc. of Felix Lasko. I received an review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read
October 15, 2022In this post-apocalyptic adventure, Felix Lasko sure has a complicated life. We follow him through a whole host of perils and challenges.
The prose was tidy and easy to read, though a few odd phrasings tripped me up (something like “The light shined” stuck out to me). We get the story in first person from Felix himself, and he has an entertaining turn of phrase that feels noir without being very grim. I particularly liked:
Despite Felix’s aspirations to be a PI, he doesn’t get a lot of opportunity to be a detective. He’s too busy trying to prevent fights, disasters and people trying to kill him or worse. He has a bunch of interesting friends and enemies. He is also surprisingly knowledgeable when he needs to be, and he has “Spooks,” which I think of as superpowers that kick in during emergencies. Those two characteristics did seem a bit convenient at times when he seemed to be in inescapable situations. Still, things weren’t always that easy, and he had other chances to show off his cunning.
Overall, a fast-paced and entertaining SF wasteland adventure.
The prose was tidy and easy to read, though a few odd phrasings tripped me up (something like “The light shined” stuck out to me). We get the story in first person from Felix himself, and he has an entertaining turn of phrase that feels noir without being very grim. I particularly liked:
I would’ve reacted differently if I was running Boulder City, but then again, I was wearing clothes I’d borrowed from a bunch of hookers and I’d just stolen a box of caterpillars. So take my life decisions with a heap of salt.
Despite Felix’s aspirations to be a PI, he doesn’t get a lot of opportunity to be a detective. He’s too busy trying to prevent fights, disasters and people trying to kill him or worse. He has a bunch of interesting friends and enemies. He is also surprisingly knowledgeable when he needs to be, and he has “Spooks,” which I think of as superpowers that kick in during emergencies. Those two characteristics did seem a bit convenient at times when he seemed to be in inescapable situations. Still, things weren’t always that easy, and he had other chances to show off his cunning.
Overall, a fast-paced and entertaining SF wasteland adventure.
April 8, 2022
I struggled a bit initially wondering where the story was going, but as the novel developed I enjoyed it.
It was certainly a different take on why someone became a detective.
Felix was obviously way smarter than anyone he encountered, which I think made his character so much more interesting, especially as he dealt out snippets of knowledge.
An interesting world with a few unexpected twists and a swag of twisted people gave body to the story.
It was certainly a different take on why someone became a detective.
Felix was obviously way smarter than anyone he encountered, which I think made his character so much more interesting, especially as he dealt out snippets of knowledge.
An interesting world with a few unexpected twists and a swag of twisted people gave body to the story.
March 23, 2022
This was a thoroughly entertaining ride through a postapocalyptic wasteland. Even while desperate and on the run, the protagonist is a force to be reckoned with, somehow making his way out of constant desperate situations. A great start to a series!
December 8, 2021
Elliot Scott is a brilliant writer. I just finished reading Rim City Blues, and this book is action-packed, has witty narration, and is filled with highly detailed imagery. When reading this book, you are transported into the world you long to be in: Neotopia. I highly recommend any reader who is interested in cyberpunk/noir sci-fi to read this book as you will love it! I see tons of writing success for such a gifted author in the future.
July 26, 2022
Engaging sci fi noir.
This book is a an engaging sci fi noir. Reminding of the first book in the expanse. Each chapter feels like it ends on a cliffhanger making you want to read more.
This book is a an engaging sci fi noir. Reminding of the first book in the expanse. Each chapter feels like it ends on a cliffhanger making you want to read more.
February 14, 2022
“If it hadn’t been for all the screaming and the smell of burning flesh, it would have been beautiful.”
Elliott Scott’s Rim City Blues scratched the fiction itch for something like the Fallout games without getting too gonzo. It’s post-apocalyptic fun and a welcome entry into science fiction crime and detective fiction, a genre that needs more love and more series like this one.
The main character is a tech scavenger facing down some nasty bad guys while navigating a world of cut-throat businesspeople looking to keep him from the one score that will set him up for life in a paradise town that sounds too good to be true.
There’s good action, good snark, some funny lines, and solid story telling.
Recommended.
Elliott Scott’s Rim City Blues scratched the fiction itch for something like the Fallout games without getting too gonzo. It’s post-apocalyptic fun and a welcome entry into science fiction crime and detective fiction, a genre that needs more love and more series like this one.
The main character is a tech scavenger facing down some nasty bad guys while navigating a world of cut-throat businesspeople looking to keep him from the one score that will set him up for life in a paradise town that sounds too good to be true.
There’s good action, good snark, some funny lines, and solid story telling.
Recommended.
February 12, 2023
‘It was time to hunt some butterflies’
Whilst emulating his favorite detective, Phillip Marlowe from Raymond Chandler’s “The Big Sleep”, our hero desperately dodges obstacles so he can realize his dream of “making it” to Neotopia. But is it really the paradise that he thinks it’ll be?
‘Neotopia Immigration just might be a little more robust than he imagined.
Let’s see how his next job goes in ‘The Dead Note’ (#1.5) before jumping into our next fun activities that are in store for us in ‘Terms of Service’. After that are: That Hardline Habit (#2.5), State of Ruin (#3), then The Twisted Die (#4) to be released in March.
Whilst emulating his favorite detective, Phillip Marlowe from Raymond Chandler’s “The Big Sleep”, our hero desperately dodges obstacles so he can realize his dream of “making it” to Neotopia. But is it really the paradise that he thinks it’ll be?
‘Neotopia Immigration just might be a little more robust than he imagined.
Let’s see how his next job goes in ‘The Dead Note’ (#1.5) before jumping into our next fun activities that are in store for us in ‘Terms of Service’. After that are: That Hardline Habit (#2.5), State of Ruin (#3), then The Twisted Die (#4) to be released in March.
May 6, 2022
A Great Post Apocalyptic Read
Felix would do just about anything to flee the hellish, post-apocalyptic rim city of Boulder. Neotopia—the high tech, paradisiacal utopia of the desert—beckoned, but searching the trash heaps of a forgotten civilization for usable technology probably wasn’t going to get him there. Especially when the local war lords and crime bosses demanded everything he collected. But there just might be a way…
Recommended to me by a friend, and I really enjoyed this book. You will too, so give it a try.
Felix would do just about anything to flee the hellish, post-apocalyptic rim city of Boulder. Neotopia—the high tech, paradisiacal utopia of the desert—beckoned, but searching the trash heaps of a forgotten civilization for usable technology probably wasn’t going to get him there. Especially when the local war lords and crime bosses demanded everything he collected. But there just might be a way…
Recommended to me by a friend, and I really enjoyed this book. You will too, so give it a try.
June 20, 2022
On Kobo: epub 2 (DRM-Free)
A quirky introduction (prequel?) that throws the reader in midway. Much becomes clearer eventually but the narrative ends on a definite 'now read on' point. However, that notwithstanding, the premise and future post-apocalyptic world here is intriguing and I'll follow on for a bit!
A quirky introduction (prequel?) that throws the reader in midway. Much becomes clearer eventually but the narrative ends on a definite 'now read on' point. However, that notwithstanding, the premise and future post-apocalyptic world here is intriguing and I'll follow on for a bit!
July 28, 2022
a few bothersome details
The protagonist has eidetic memory and has memorized the dictionary (and other books) yet insists on calling the ground the floor and the bow of a ship the nose. Details like that are lacking throughout the book and that takes me out of the story. However, the story was pretty unique so it gets 3 stars.
The protagonist has eidetic memory and has memorized the dictionary (and other books) yet insists on calling the ground the floor and the bow of a ship the nose. Details like that are lacking throughout the book and that takes me out of the story. However, the story was pretty unique so it gets 3 stars.
January 30, 2021
Fantastic novella that drops you right into the action. Fallout meets a dash of noir in this story which introduces the feudal towns surrounding a purported technological utopia in the middle of a ravaged dystopian future America.
July 15, 2021
A rather strange tale of a man wandering in the desert trying to find "Utopia"
September 12, 2022
I thought this novel was going to be a Sci fi one but it had a western feel to it which I found very interesting. I loved it and it had me gripped.
Definitely recommend.
Definitely recommend.
October 28, 2023
Great read
Great story and outstanding dialogue. The temptation to put it down doesn't exist. The sequel is has some big shows to fill
Great story and outstanding dialogue. The temptation to put it down doesn't exist. The sequel is has some big shows to fill
December 19, 2023
Future imperfect
A sort of end of the world with a lot of leftover gadgets. Felix is a wanderer and a misfit with odd abilities. His quest leads to Neotopia
A sort of end of the world with a lot of leftover gadgets. Felix is a wanderer and a misfit with odd abilities. His quest leads to Neotopia
October 13, 2022
Such a fun and quick read! I’m not normally a huge sci fi person, but the dialogue and characters made it so easy to blast through. The mystery added fun and excitement to the story too!
September 27, 2022
Excellent book, a touch of cyberpunk in a future where tek makes miracles but only the privileged get it, unless our hero can get his ticket in to Neotopia. But first he's going to have to use his wits and some special abilities to get it.
Currently reading
January 19, 2022Ah, the ever difficult "review your own work" conundrum. Do you put on your conservative glasses and sip your tea, mumbling your enthusiasm? Or do you slam a Redbull and scream your opinion while flying through a plate-glass window?
Get the phonebook out. Dial up the window repair team.
Ignore the fact that no one's used a phone book in two or three centuries.
We're going in hot.
This is one of my favorite things I've ever written. I actually wrote it after I finished my debut novel Terms of Service, and I felt that I'd really gotten a handle on the tone I was after. Absurd and exciting. Hilarious and tense. Full of bizarre characters and exciting technologies. It was a blast to write and read.
One of my favorite bits is that the main henchman, Einer, has a collection of butterflies that he takes care of as pets. Did you know that butterflies eat meat? It's such an odd fact, and it's just the kind of thing I like throwing into my stories. I won't spoil it here, but it's a fun little element that plays into the story.
I'm really new to the author game, and hearing people say that they enjoy this puts such a grin on my face. I am happy to have written it, and hope you enjoy it too!
Get the phonebook out. Dial up the window repair team.
Ignore the fact that no one's used a phone book in two or three centuries.
We're going in hot.
This is one of my favorite things I've ever written. I actually wrote it after I finished my debut novel Terms of Service, and I felt that I'd really gotten a handle on the tone I was after. Absurd and exciting. Hilarious and tense. Full of bizarre characters and exciting technologies. It was a blast to write and read.
One of my favorite bits is that the main henchman, Einer, has a collection of butterflies that he takes care of as pets. Did you know that butterflies eat meat? It's such an odd fact, and it's just the kind of thing I like throwing into my stories. I won't spoil it here, but it's a fun little element that plays into the story.
I'm really new to the author game, and hearing people say that they enjoy this puts such a grin on my face. I am happy to have written it, and hope you enjoy it too!
December 7, 2023
Wannabe detective Felix wants a ticket into the haven of Neotopia, but to get one he has to find a way around the impossible demands of the criminal underworld’s boss and investigate two missing persons cases in 24 hours or he will be brutally dismantled.
Conceptually, this book was right up my alley. It has so much promise! But the execution was a bit rough. Details about the history of a character would be thrown at you, telling instead of showing. There was no foreshadowing, no clever literary devices, heck the tense of the book would change between paragraphs. It was often a bit rough.
HOWEVER
I really, really liked the unstoppable machine Hugger that was constantly hounding Felix, as well as the depiction of trauma-based claustrophobia. And Handsie is a character that would be everyone’s bisexual best friend, and probably one of the best developed characters. There’s a lot of weird stuff in this book, but these were the parts that actually made a connection with the reader.
Overall, not a bad debut novel but I bet the sequel is better.
Conceptually, this book was right up my alley. It has so much promise! But the execution was a bit rough. Details about the history of a character would be thrown at you, telling instead of showing. There was no foreshadowing, no clever literary devices, heck the tense of the book would change between paragraphs. It was often a bit rough.
HOWEVER
I really, really liked the unstoppable machine Hugger that was constantly hounding Felix, as well as the depiction of trauma-based claustrophobia. And Handsie is a character that would be everyone’s bisexual best friend, and probably one of the best developed characters. There’s a lot of weird stuff in this book, but these were the parts that actually made a connection with the reader.
Overall, not a bad debut novel but I bet the sequel is better.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews