I finished Andy Futuro’s “No Dogs in Philly”, and these are some thoughts. (But mostly, you should just go read it for yourself)
When I first saw a book labelled a ‘Cyberpunk horror noir’, I thought it sounded overstuffed, and in a way it is – but appropriately so. When the setting is a disturbing future Philadelphia, where any and every vice, immoral act, or indulgence is possible and purchasable, it feels fitting that it is jam packed. It’s sort of like opening a webpage to a hijacker virus that takes you to three new tabs of ads and racy websites – that’s sort of the vibe, and it fits with the loud flashing technology and roaring advertisements of this future Philly. The city itself feels like a character of shady disposition and questionable motivations – the man in the trench coat waiting in a dark alley, poised to reveal himself and his ill-gotten merchandise. If you know anything about actual Philly – specifically Kensington Avenue, this version of Philly seems like a reasonable future rendition where greed and technology have fully consumed humanity.
Then there is Saru, a character that feels slimy and immoral and stuck in survival mode. She reminds me slightly of Cormoran Strike (Rowling/Galbraith’s detective) or Mikael Blomkvist (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) or Sal the Cacophany (Seven Blades in Black’s anti-hero). I’m also reminded, both in the world and the main character, of Altered Carbon.
Saru is a well fleshed-out and consistent, but not exactly likable – which is obviously intentional: she’s fun to read/watch just like all those listed above, but at the same time you recognize they’re not really a good person. It is my personal, and as yet unfounded, opinion that this is intentional in order to allow for certain character growth and plot arc.
The story itself is incredibly well thought-out and the universe that the book inhabits is very intriguing. I hit the end of the book and wanted to know much more (I will begin reading Cloud Country soon). It doesn’t feel rushed, it feels well outlined and thought out. The writing itself is -superb- a unique voice, a delicate balance of serious and depravity and lack-of-care-fun. Two funny and clever lines that stuck out to me: a bloody handprint being described as a “wet red turkey”, a smell being described as “orangutan nutsack” – there’s a reason to read the book right there.
I could see how reading it weekly as a serial would render the pacing slightly off, but that it’s all posted now and available so it flows quite nicely. The science and technology of the book is fascinating and thorough. Something I commented on one chapter was that various tech is introduced throughout the book but, in a Black-Mirror-type way, the tech is often shown to have flaws/exploits/limits/and moral questions.
Finally, one more thing I wanted to say is that I was very impressed with the way in which opposing sides are depicted or argued for. There are moments where I agree with, or can see the convincing nature of, each “factions” argument (I saw faction to avoid mild spoilers).