Hep Cats of Boise Series by Al Hess

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... moreSwing, 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. less

A '21-22 SPSFC semifinalist!Introvert Reed Rothwell is part of a subculture of art deco era enthusiasts, pushing back against bland mainstream society and its mandated technology. Stuck with an AI assistant in his head is bad enough, but when he's inflicted with a forced upgrade to a new beta version, named Mazarin, the navigator starts to take on feelings and opinions of his own. ​When rumors spread of beta navs turning on their pilots, Reed is determined not to become a victim... moreA '21-22 SPSFC semifinalist!Introvert Reed Rothwell is part of a subculture of art deco era enthusiasts, pushing back against bland mainstream society and its mandated technology. Stuck with an AI assistant in his head is bad enough, but when he's inflicted with a forced upgrade to a new beta version, named Mazarin, the navigator starts to take on feelings and opinions of his own. ​When rumors spread of beta navs turning on their pilots, Reed is determined not to become a victim. Mazarin hasn’t become violent yet—the AI is sympathetic and understanding—but with beta participants coerced into slitting their own throats, it’s only a matter of time before Reed is next.The AI megacorporation already has an unhealthy interest in Reed, and all the beta testers who have sought help for their navigators have disappeared. The swingin' cats of the deco scene have the means to illegally terminate Reed's AI. But Mazarin has never tried to harm Reed—he loves Reed. Grappling with ridding himself of intrusive technology, the morality of hurting his self-aware AI, and avoiding the attention of a company that wants to sweep Reed’s existence under the rug might be too much for one hep cat to handle. less

Mazarin’s idea of the perfect Valentine’s gift for his beloved Em is restitution from the woman who did Em wrong. Heading into a rival speakeasy for a little romantic revenge isn’t anything Mazarin can’t handle, and besting Em’s ex at a jive contest should be harmless fun. With a plan, plenty of skill cutting a rug, and Reed by his side, he can pull this off.But there’s something fishy about this wingding... moreMazarin’s idea of the perfect Valentine’s gift for his beloved Em is restitution from the woman who did Em wrong. Heading into a rival speakeasy for a little romantic revenge isn’t anything Mazarin can’t handle, and besting Em’s ex at a jive contest should be harmless fun. With a plan, plenty of skill cutting a rug, and Reed by his side, he can pull this off.But there’s something fishy about this wingding. Reed’s crippling anxiety doesn’t make him the best dance partner, and if anyone discovers Mazarin is an AI, it could spell trouble.Problems compound when a surprise new update is installed in Mazarin’s software—without his consent—and he suddenly has much more to contend with than trying to win a Valentine’s rag. less

Mazarin has everything an AI could want: a hep holographic body, a joyfriend she’s dizzy for, and asylum from Wave, the shady AI megacorporation that once held her captive. In their clutches, she’d been confined to the anxious brain of her host, Reed, serving as his navigator. Now separate, they enjoy a friendship and the knowledge that Wave’s lead engineer, Phil Rice, who terrorized them for months, is locked away in a court-ordered hospital stay... moreMazarin has everything an AI could want: a hep holographic body, a joyfriend she’s dizzy for, and asylum from Wave, the shady AI megacorporation that once held her captive. In their clutches, she’d been confined to the anxious brain of her host, Reed, serving as his navigator. Now separate, they enjoy a friendship and the knowledge that Wave’s lead engineer, Phil Rice, who terrorized them for months, is locked away in a court-ordered hospital stay. But when Rice escapes, Reed’s stress skyrockets. Though Mazarin is no longer in Reed’s brain, their connection lingers, and she can’t resist the desire to stick close and protect them both from Wave. If Rice abducts Reed, it means certain death, and there’s no telling what the megacorp would do to Mazarin if she’s captured. Reed’s sudden nosebleeds, paranoia, and skewed sense of perception lead Maz to believe more is at play than his galactic anxiety. With Rice on the loose, she can’t be too careful. Desperate for a solution to Reed’s deteriorating health, Mazarin risks her safety venturing into the company of untrustworthy AI, decoist gangsters, and even Wave themselves, to find help for her beloved pilot before it’s too late. less