Rule 34 (novel)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Front cover 1st edition (hardcover, US), 2011 | |
| Author | Charles Stross |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Alberto Seveso |
| Language | English |
| Series | Halting State series |
| Genre | science fiction |
| Publisher | Ace (US) / Orbit (UK) |
Publication date | July 2011 |
| Publication place | US/UK |
| Pages | 368 |
| ISBN | 978-0-441-02034-8 |
| Preceded by | Halting State |
| Followed by | The Lambda Functionary (cancelled) |
Rule 34 is a near-future science fiction novel by Charles Stross.[1][2] It is a loose sequel to Halting State and was published on 5 July 2011 in the US and 7 July 2011 in the UK.[1][3] The title is a reference to the Internet meme Rule 34, which states that "If it exists, there is porn of it. No exceptions."[1][4] Rule 34 was nominated for the 2012 Arthur C. Clarke Award[5] and the 2012 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel.[6]
The novel is told in second-person narrative but primarily from three points of view: Inspector Kavanaugh of the Edinburgh police investigates spammers murdered in gruesome and inventive ways and learns about similar cases in other parts of Europe; Anwar, a former identity thief who becomes Scottish honorary consul for a fictional state in Central Asia; and "The Toymaker", an enforcer and organizer for the criminal "Operation". Their interactions and conflicts drive the story.
