REVIEW: Falling Into Oblivion by Aaron M. Payne
Aaron M. Payne comes blazing onto the scene full throttle with Falling Into Oblivion, a dark and electrifying cyberpunk murder mystery with an air of danger, urgency, and intrigue that is so addictive, it should honestly be criminal. It’s giving a bit of Dresden Files mixed with Neuromancer set against the backdrop of a neon-infused version of Batman’s Gotham City, and yet it is somehow also totally its own unique thing.
Through the eyes of local police detective Sol Harkones, we are sucked into the dark and deceptively alluring underworld of Nox City where corruption and danger lurk around every grimy corner. After another unrewarding day of work, he wants nothing more than to go home to read his young daughter her bedtime story, but his latest job turns out to be something altogether more elaborate and sinister. Soon, Sol finds himself tangled in an intricate web of conspiracies involving defective bodily modifications and deadly drugs, and he would rather risk his life than turn a blind eye.
Look, I can count on one hand the number of cyberpunk novels I have read, so it should come as no big surprise that Falling Into Oblivion felt like an excitingly refreshing story to me. The way that Payne brought this futuristic city to life in all its darkness and its glory immediately captured my imagination, and I loved how the deceptively alluring yet disturbingly unsettling ambiance just bled off every page; I truly felt like I was right there with Sol walking the dirty alleys and hunting for the next new mind-boggling clue in the investigation.
While I can see how some readers might be caught off guard by the unfiltered first person present tense narration, I personally found it to be extremely immersive and engaging. Even though I didn’t feel as emotionally invested in Sol as I would have wished for, I did feel like I understood him on a deep level, and I really enjoyed how his strong personal motivations, unwavering contrarian convictions, and relatable spiralling thoughts kept me grounded throughout this increasingly wild romp.
Moreover, Payne cleverly works a riveting ‘ticking clock’ element into the narrative through Sol’s burning desire to return home before his daughter’s bedtime, which not only organically raised the tension and personal stakes, but also added a surprising amount of heart to Falling Into Oblivion. Yet, at the same time, I also can’t deny that I felt like the breakneck pacing hindered the development of the side characters a bit, which took away some of the impact of a few twists and betrayals for me.
Still, for a narrative that spans only one frenetic evening and afternoon, it’s honestly quite astounding how much Payne was able to pack into these pages, especially in terms of layered world building and plot development. Interwoven throughout all the pulse-pounding chases, tense interrogations, and flashy fights are some seriously thought-provoking and cautionary themes on the risk of tech advancements, bodily modifications, the relentless greed of big corporations, and the devastating effects of expanding class division, which is exactly what will make Falling Into Oblivion linger on in my mind despite its short length. Also, we’ve got mech monsters and a cybernetic dragon, and if that doesn’t make this story memorable and prove that it stands out from the crowd, then I don’t know what will.
While this first instalment in the Tendrils of Chrome series has a relatively self-contained arc and wraps up its core mystery in a satisfying if slightly abrupt way, I am still left with so many burning questions and already can’t wait to return to Nox City to dig even deeper into this world and its characters. Whether you are a cyberpunk aficionado or a newbie to the genre, I think Falling Into Oblivion is a must-read for anyone who just wants to escape into a short yet unforgettable romp that is bursting with imagination, action, mystery, and heart.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Falling Into Oblivion is scheduled for release on October 4th, 2024.
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