This story uses a somewhat unreliable narrator to develop ideas about life in an asteroid space colony, a disease with odd effects, delusion, genius, sexuality, psychotherapy in virtual reality, and manipulation of security protocols within complex computer networks.
To clarify some details, a plot summary may be helpful. Spoilers ahead.
The protagonist, Sy, appears to be autistic and is being held in a mental institution on an asteroid. The characters in the story have been affected to some degree or other by a disease called Skew, which manifests itself in various physical or mental alterations. The story has very little exposition, requiring the reader to make sense of an assorted jumble of clues about Sy's circumstances.
Sy appears to be an anomaly, having been born into a population rendered largely sterile by the Skew. The unlikeliness of his existence is compounded by the fact that he may have a sister whom he refers to as Heady, although this sister may be nothing more than a creation of his imagination. Sy thrives in the world of things, whereas Heady is skilled in dealing with people. Sy is being treated by Dr. Singh, a psychiatrist who, besides treating Sy, is open to sexual involvement with his patient. Additional characters include security investigators Pointy Teeth and Bone knuckles, who want to know more about Sy's unusual capabilities and are instrumental in having him committed for the crime of unauthorized hypernet access.
Sy has a hypernet interface node that has been turned off. Dr. Singh turns Sy's node on for psychotherapy sessions in a virtual environment. Sy uses seduction to distract Dr. Singh, enabling him to successfully bypass security restrictions. After that Sy is in his element, slowly getting to know the network security protocols of the hospital in which he is imprisoned. When he eventually learns how to control the locks, he is able to escape.
« Last Edit: October 30, 2016, 01:44:02 AM by Piet »
It's not the destination...it's the glory of the ride.