Talk about a book for our times. In Slattery's wondrous novel the US economy has collapsed. Manhattan, now ringed by junk and all manner of boats as a protective border, is ruled by a Kingpin like character called The Aardvark. The Aardvark has built himself a massive tower overlooking NYC with a Sauron like spotlight that keeps people in fear.

The cities have largely fallen apart. Slavery is back in a big way, with some people going so far as to sell themselves into it so they can survive. It's a pretty harrowing future.

We first meet our lead character, the super ninjatastic hitman Marco, onboard a battered prison vessel that has been taken over by the inmates. The ship is making it's way towards Manhattan with Marco believing the group he has been a part of, The Slick Six, are the only ones who can put things right.

The novel is a tour across a very different America where a mystical force called The Vibe works through our characters to restore balance. It's a fairly trippy book full of amazing characters and settings. The crux of the novel follows Marco and former teammate Zeke as they search for and find their former cohorts in the Slick Six.

Hot on Marco's trail is an assassin who can follow people via ribbons of light in different colors. Obviously the book climaxes in a return of the Slick Six facing off with the Aardvark in his tower.

But how they get there and what comes next are a big part of the fun.

This book had me when Marco infiltrates Manhattan to rescue Zeke from the Aardvark's impenetrable super prison on a black hang glider like a superhero.

If that sounds like fun then this book is for you.