Douglas Lumsden's Reviews > 36 Streets

36 Streets is not only terrific cyberpunk, it transcends the genre. This is what cyberpunk should be: action-packed melodrama in a near-futuristic high-tech dystopia with a heavy dose of social commentary on the class war between the downtrodden and the powerful elite. In this case, the downtrodden are the Vietnamese, and the powerful elite are their Chinese overlords in a continuation of a conflict that has lasted for millennia. The "36 Streets" in the title refers to a fabulous "Night City" neighborhood, with crowded labyrinthine streets, near anarchy, high crime, ubiquitous violence, jerry-rigged futuristic tech, and street people struggling not only to survive but to live as freely as possible under an authoritarian regime. That's what we want in cyberpunk, and Napper offers it all up with a uniquely Southeast Asian twist.

What makes 36 Streets special is the emotion-packed story of Lin Thi Vu, "The Silent One." Born in Australia of Vietnamese descent, Lin comes to Ha Noi at an early age and struggles with limited success to reconcile her two worlds. A rebellious lone wolf by nature, Lin allows herself to be adopted and mentored by a criminal boss and trained in the martial skills by a brutal and abusive master. In the process, she tries unsuccessfully to shield herself emotionally from her mother and twin sister, who love her unconditionally (though, in the case of her sister, critically). Lin's story is both poignant and heroic. And dark. Very dark.

Oh, and 36 Streets is also a terrific noir-inspired mystery. And a psychological drama steeped in questions about identity and the nature of reality. And a highly entertaining page-turner. Yes, this book is ambitious, and, ultimately, fulfilling.

So much cyberpunk is puerile comic-book level adolescent wish-fulfillment. If you are looking for a mature well-written take on the genre that combines fascinating projections about the future with solid historical underpinnings, 36 Streets is the book you want to elevate to the top of your reading list.