Halting State (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780441016075)

"Halting State is] a near-future story that is at once over-the-top and compellingly believable." - Vernor Vinge, author of Rainbows End

In the year 2018, Sergeant Sue Smith of the Edinburgh constabulary is called in on a special case. A daring bank robbery has taken place at Hayek Associates--a dot-com start-up company that's just floated onto the London stock exchange. But this crime may be a bit beyond Smith's expertise.

The prime suspects are a band of marauding orcs with a dragon in tow for fire support. The bank is located within the virtual reality land of Avalon Four, and the robbery was supposed to be impossible. When word gets out, Hayek Associates and all its virtual "economies" are going to crash hard.

For Smith, the investigation seems pointless. But the deeper she digs, the bigger the case gets. There are powerful players--both real and pixelated--who are watching her every move. Because there is far more at stake than just some game-head's fantasy financial security...

Author: Charles Stross
ISBN-10: 0441016073
ISBN-13: 9780441016075
Publisher: Ace Books
Language: English
Published: 07/01/2008
Pages: 336
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.36lbs
Size: 6.74h x 4.18w x 0.90d