Halting State

In near-future Scotland, Sergeant Sue Smith of the Edinburgh police investigates a robbery at Hayek Associates, a technology company operating a virtual online world. The case draws in forensic accountant Elaine Barnaby and programmer Jack Reed as they trace a theft involving virtual currencies, game avatars, and real-world financial networks. Charles Stross combines a police procedural with speculative fiction about gaming, surveillance, and networked crime.

by Charles Stross

Ace Hardcover · First published 2007 · 368 pages