Jeff Somers – författare

Avery Cates is in better shape than ever with the top-class augments the army's fitted him with. Pity he's no more than a puppet then, because they've also got a remote that can fry his brain at any second. And now a corrupt colonel is selling his controls to the highest bidder. Avery has visions of escape and bloody revenge - until he realises just who's bought him. Because the highest bidder is Canny Orel himself, Avery's oldest enemy. And as the System slides into chaos, Canny wants Cates to do one last job. Avery just needs one chance to get back at the old gunner - but this time, it's Canny who's holding all the cards.

In the System of Federated Nations, a new religion is growing fast. The Electric Church offers eternal life - the only catch is, you've got to be killed first. Millions have had their brains placed in advanced cybernetic bodies, making them immortal. But rumour has it that the new converts aren't quite as willing as the Monks make out.Avery Cates is a low-life contract killer, prepared to slit anyone's throat for a few measly Yen. But even he gets the heebie-jeebies from the plasticised, eternally-serene stare of the Monks. He'll have to come face to face with them soon enough though, because Cates is on the run from the System Cops and can only redeem himself by taking out the head of the Electric Church. That's if the gun-toting, super-augmented cybernetic Monks don't get to his own head first . . .

THIS IS AN ASSASSINATION. NOT YOURS. BUT AN ASSASSINATION NONE THE LESS.' Avery Cates, criminal 'king' of New York, has climbed his way to the top of a heap of trouble. On his knees in the snow, with a gun to his head, Avery thinks this must finally be it. Instead, he is injected with nanotech and left confused but alive. Then everyone around him starts dying. With every moment bringing humanity closer to extinction, Cates finds he will be either executioner or saviour of an entire world.