Wil McCarthy's AMERIKANO HIAIKA:
Originally published in the May `91 issue of Aboriginal SF, this novelette
has proved to be Wil McCarthy's most successful short fiction effort thus
far. It was a semifinalist for the Nebula award, and has been reprinted in
Britain (Interzone magazine) and Germany (lead story in an anthology called
DIE LETZTEN BASTIONEN). There was even talk at one point of turning
it into a movie.
The story, whose title means "The American Blues," concerns a murder
investigation in an American ghetto in 21st century Tokyo. Not even death
can stop Americatown cop Nick Tanner, whose memories have been encoded in
a "personality overlay" drug that allows him to mobilize the city's junkies
in a massive investigation to solve his own murder. But drugs wear off --
no high is permanent, and even seventy-odd Tanners, tough and streetwise
and having literally nothing left to lose, may not be enough to pierce the
veil of corruption and prejudice before this deadly biological clock runs
out.
"A crackerjack SF mystery story. I earnestly hope McCarthy turns this story
into a novel." -- Barbara Paul, Mystery Scene
The full text of the story is available here. To read it, click here for
Part One. Keep in mind, this story was written
in 1988!
You may also return to Wil McCarthy's home page.