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Hep Cats of Boise #0.5
Em's Gator Club
Swing, software, and shady deals at the heart of future Boise’s subculture.
The swingin’ cats of Boise don’t just come to the Gator Club for jazz and gin, but for what Emery Wilson offers in the back room. They deal in contramods—nanobot software and devices unobtainable through legal means.
Though many dealers make their living from sex mods and dope injections, Em—who has hemiplegia and knows how it feels to have a disability—gives away innovative medical aids and prosthetics for cheap. But altruism is hurting their wallet. If they can’t come up with rent for the club by the fifth, the jive will close and Em will be out on the street.
Enter Joe: a square with an urgent need to cure his addiction to a powerful new drug, and a wad of dough if Em can help. But commissioning a cure means Em will have to venture into the foul domain of shady programmer, risking reputation and appetite.
When commissioning the cure becomes more complicated—and dangerous—than first expected, Em will need to use wits, grit, and their own contramod to keep the club, and themselves, alive.
The swingin’ cats of Boise don’t just come to the Gator Club for jazz and gin, but for what Emery Wilson offers in the back room. They deal in contramods—nanobot software and devices unobtainable through legal means.
Though many dealers make their living from sex mods and dope injections, Em—who has hemiplegia and knows how it feels to have a disability—gives away innovative medical aids and prosthetics for cheap. But altruism is hurting their wallet. If they can’t come up with rent for the club by the fifth, the jive will close and Em will be out on the street.
Enter Joe: a square with an urgent need to cure his addiction to a powerful new drug, and a wad of dough if Em can help. But commissioning a cure means Em will have to venture into the foul domain of shady programmer, risking reputation and appetite.
When commissioning the cure becomes more complicated—and dangerous—than first expected, Em will need to use wits, grit, and their own contramod to keep the club, and themselves, alive.
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About the author
Al Hess
34 books210 followersAuthor of World Running Down, Key Lime Sky, Yours Celestially, and the award-winning Hep Cats of Boise series.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 13, 2020
First read. Not the last.
This is my first story by Alia Hess and based on this brief tease, I am sure I’ll be checking out their backlist. Even though short, Em’s Gator Club fascinated with its incredible world-building, awesome characterization, evocative descriptions, and positive nonbinary representation.
This is my first story by Alia Hess and based on this brief tease, I am sure I’ll be checking out their backlist. Even though short, Em’s Gator Club fascinated with its incredible world-building, awesome characterization, evocative descriptions, and positive nonbinary representation.
October 25, 2019
“They’d have to pray Bug could make Joe a mod that worked, because they couldn’t let the Gator Club close down. For some, the thirties aesthetic was enough to stave off the boring mainstream world of neutrals and faux-natural everything. Others were fighting the Good Fight, pushing back against mandatory AI navigators forced into everyone’s heads.“
Technological futuristic story focused on Em, owner of The Gator Club and fence for “contra mods” in a world of “Big Brother”. Fusing knowledge and speculation of the future, Alia Hess quickly and quietly brings us into a fairly “standardized” world where Em and their Club are safe places to go against the norm. A different type of dystopian future from Hess’ Travelers series, but just as compelling. Highly Recommended 5/5
Technological futuristic story focused on Em, owner of The Gator Club and fence for “contra mods” in a world of “Big Brother”. Fusing knowledge and speculation of the future, Alia Hess quickly and quietly brings us into a fairly “standardized” world where Em and their Club are safe places to go against the norm. A different type of dystopian future from Hess’ Travelers series, but just as compelling. Highly Recommended 5/5
October 11, 2022
This is SUCH a cool story. It was futuristic with jazzy hip vibes that I loved. The writing was well done, and I enjoyed the characters. I am going to devour the rest of this series. Also, the author is looking to raise money for top surgery on his Twitter, so please donate/buy the books if you can!
I received this story as a freebie for signing up for the author’s newsletter.
I received this story as a freebie for signing up for the author’s newsletter.
November 13, 2025
Prequel to the Hep Cats of Boise series. Em is the nonbinary owner of a Decoist 1930s-style speakeasy where customers come for a retro-Luddite experience to counterbalance the over-technologized future of mandatory AI interfaces and ubiquitous advertising in a mechacorp-ruled world. Em also deals in contramods, ways to ditch the Big Brother monitoring or access medical devices and implants for patients that the big corps can't be bothered to waste time and research dollars on. Em has a number of illegal contramod implants to handle the paralysis of their entire right side. In this short story, Em has to deal with a vicious designer of a new super-addictive drug who objects to Em trying to devise an antidote.
Written with style and elegance. I will certainly be reading the rest of this series.
Written with style and elegance. I will certainly be reading the rest of this series.
September 21, 2025
Uuuuh I loved this sweet (sweet as in short) tast of this new universe. I'm going right into the full length novel that is next.
I enjoyed Em as a character and their club. The action went down fast and I was thoroughly entertained (only that I kind of want more now, but the good thing is, I can just keep reading the series)
I enjoyed Em as a character and their club. The action went down fast and I was thoroughly entertained (only that I kind of want more now, but the good thing is, I can just keep reading the series)
December 25, 2023
Hep Cats of Boise #0.5
Em's Gator Club
Al Hess
This series features a futuristic world in which people are injected with nanobots and artificial intelligence controlled modifications that make them partially robotic. Em’s Club features cocktails, a jukebox that plays jazz and back room deals.
Em's Gator Club
Al Hess
This series features a futuristic world in which people are injected with nanobots and artificial intelligence controlled modifications that make them partially robotic. Em’s Club features cocktails, a jukebox that plays jazz and back room deals.
January 5, 2021
This is a brief story and more of a teaser for what’s to come, but I think it‘s worth the read nonetheless. I liked the world building setting up for more in the series as it goes on. And the positive ownvoices non-binary rep in the form of the lead character, Em, is top-notch.
October 21, 2023
Fun setting. I’m definitely interested in reading more.
January 22, 2024
I was confused and unsure exactly what was happening but it was futuristic steampunk cyborg vibes and I was into it.
April 11, 2025
Very short. Has potential but, need more.
February 28, 2019
A short, sharp intro to a futuristic world where the past is something to be celebrated... and provides cover with style for an underground trade in illegal technology.
There's a lot to explain but this short story does it well. Em's use of 30s slang clashes suddenly up against the dystopian future where the global tech corporations are literally under people's skin. It paints a picture of the subculture of the Deco clubs amidst a lightly sketched but still frighteningly clear future. It's a wonderful piece of scene setting. The story's a little light but it tells us enough to get the gist of Em and their (yes, non-binary pronouns people, get over it) tough reality. Their physical suffering is especially, painfully well written.
As a taster, it certainly does it's job. I'm sure to look out for more from those hep cats. Copacetic!
-I received a free copy of this ebook from a giveaway-
There's a lot to explain but this short story does it well. Em's use of 30s slang clashes suddenly up against the dystopian future where the global tech corporations are literally under people's skin. It paints a picture of the subculture of the Deco clubs amidst a lightly sketched but still frighteningly clear future. It's a wonderful piece of scene setting. The story's a little light but it tells us enough to get the gist of Em and their (yes, non-binary pronouns people, get over it) tough reality. Their physical suffering is especially, painfully well written.
As a taster, it certainly does it's job. I'm sure to look out for more from those hep cats. Copacetic!
-I received a free copy of this ebook from a giveaway-
June 25, 2025
This was weirdly wonderful—like a queer dystopian road trip with a side of vintage grease, found family, and a big mechanical heart. Em’s Gator Club takes the unlikely and makes it feel familiar, like sitting at a dusty bar with strangers who somehow know all your wounds.
Set in a post-collapse America, this story centers around Em, a trans woman running a retrofuturistic repair shop/bar out in the desolate sprawl. She's quiet, complex, and deeply human. When she meets Lucian, a young man made partly of recycled robotics and mostly of trauma, their connection changes everything.
What I loved most? The slow burn of trust. The way trauma and identity were handled with grace—not overexplained, just lived. Also: the atmospheric world-building. Hess is so good at blending gritty Americana with sci-fi, giving us a setting that’s equal parts Mad Max and mid-century dive bar.
It’s not a fast-paced thriller; it’s a simmering character study layered in grease, grief, and hope. If you liked World Running Down, this one’s even better—more personal, more intimate, more Em.
Set in a post-collapse America, this story centers around Em, a trans woman running a retrofuturistic repair shop/bar out in the desolate sprawl. She's quiet, complex, and deeply human. When she meets Lucian, a young man made partly of recycled robotics and mostly of trauma, their connection changes everything.
What I loved most? The slow burn of trust. The way trauma and identity were handled with grace—not overexplained, just lived. Also: the atmospheric world-building. Hess is so good at blending gritty Americana with sci-fi, giving us a setting that’s equal parts Mad Max and mid-century dive bar.
It’s not a fast-paced thriller; it’s a simmering character study layered in grease, grief, and hope. If you liked World Running Down, this one’s even better—more personal, more intimate, more Em.
February 17, 2019
Not a bad little introduction to this character and this world. I'd like to read more of it, a longer story, to really get a chance to feel emotionally connected to the characters and what's happening.
I like the diversity of this novel (the protagonist using them pronouns and the casual inclusion of other queer characters).
Only reason the rating isn't higher is because it didn't knock my socks off or really do anything to stand out. It's a good start though and I'd like to read more of what the author comes up with in the future.
P.s. also love the cover, which was apparently made by the author as well. Well done!
I like the diversity of this novel (the protagonist using them pronouns and the casual inclusion of other queer characters).
Only reason the rating isn't higher is because it didn't knock my socks off or really do anything to stand out. It's a good start though and I'd like to read more of what the author comes up with in the future.
P.s. also love the cover, which was apparently made by the author as well. Well done!
October 23, 2019
Meet Em.
When a terrible car crash landed Em in a wheelchair, none of the conventional future tech medical mods in Boise worked. And these illegal cellulose ones can't handle the winter chill. But needs must; when the rent is due for the haven for hep cats they run, Em's got to traipse through the cold on behalf of a good paying client trying to shake loose from the latest designer drug.
It takes more than a murdering slime ball dealer on the bad end of town to bring down Em. Welcome to future Boise.
When a terrible car crash landed Em in a wheelchair, none of the conventional future tech medical mods in Boise worked. And these illegal cellulose ones can't handle the winter chill. But needs must; when the rent is due for the haven for hep cats they run, Em's got to traipse through the cold on behalf of a good paying client trying to shake loose from the latest designer drug.
It takes more than a murdering slime ball dealer on the bad end of town to bring down Em. Welcome to future Boise.
December 24, 2019
Em's Gator Club is a fun, unique synthesis of future tech and Jazz Age atmosphere. Being a fan of 20s history I loved the flavor Alia sprinkled into a story that has a very strong SF bent. Em is a compelling character and the world really draws you in. You want to keep reading (and reading).
September 9, 2019
Retro future tastiness
Hess tells a splendid tale of was and could be, sophisticating tech and retro-loving, slick and sick, love and murder. All while twigging Gibson in my head.
Definitely a delicious taste of a greater meal. Can’t wait to consume the rest!
Hess tells a splendid tale of was and could be, sophisticating tech and retro-loving, slick and sick, love and murder. All while twigging Gibson in my head.
Definitely a delicious taste of a greater meal. Can’t wait to consume the rest!
February 4, 2020
Another excellent short story from Alia Hess! Always worth a read! Great characters, interesting storyline! I always look forward to reading new things! Would recommend!!!
May 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews