Corporate Gunslinger

March 2, 2020
Engstrom’s promising debut offers a stark, dystopian vision of a near-future American Midwest in which debt slavery is commonplace and livestreamed gunfights are a popular form of entertainment. Former actor Kira Clark accepts a sponsorship from TKC Insurance Company to duel civilians on live TV to avoid defaulting on her student loans and resigning herself to a life of debt slavery. Kira adopts a cold, composed persona in her gunfights, but outside the arena she’s kind-hearted and loyal, if gradually becoming more unstable. At her side are her best friend, Chloe Rossi, and her mentor, Diana Reynolds, who support Kira through all of her highs and lows. The violence is never glorified as Kira’s surprising empathy makes her easy to root for. Scattered flash-forwards reveal that Kira makes it through the competition to the final duel, leaving only the question of whether she’ll overcome her nerves and guilt to outwit her fiercest competitor. The gunfights become repetitive over time, weighing down Engstrom’s grim, intelligent examination of the American debt crisis. Still, fans of insightful dystopias will find plenty to enjoy. Agent: Danielle Burby, Nelson Literary.

June 1, 2020

DEBUT In a near dystopian future, insurance companies save money by having duels to resolve disputes instead of going through costly litigation. Most people are scraping by with crushing debt. But if you can make it as a gunslinger, you can shoot your way to fame and fortune. Kira Clark is an aspiring actress who is trying to claw her way out of massive debt. Turns out that her acting skills are just what she needs to create a persona to help get her through these near-death experiences as a gunslinger, and she's pretty good at acting and shooting. When her friend is killed it gets personal. But will her anger destroy her focus? Engstrom tries to tackle financial inequalities by pairing them with an updated, gun-toting gladiator arena. The narrative jumps back and forth between Kira's backstory and the fight at the pinnacle of her career. There are gaps in the story that make it difficult to follow and the ending is a cliff-hanger. VERDICT This title is hard to categorize, but it might be of interest to readers looking for near-future corporate intrigue.--Mark Hanson, Maranatha Baptist Univ. Lib., Watertown, WI

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2020
In the near future, dissatisfied customers who lose lawsuits against massive corporations can receive one last attempt to make their case by taking part in a deadly duel with the company's trained gunfighters. To keep from defaulting and becoming the literal property of her creditors, Kira Clark, an orphan whose acting career fell apart under the strain of monumental debt, becomes a gunslinger for a powerful insurance company. The narrative moves back and forth in time, presenting Kira on the cusp of the duel that will set her up for life or kill her and also during her beginnings as a deeply conflicted trainee. As Kira prepares for her last fight, each new slice of her past reveals what brought her to this moment. Engstrom's first novel moves along like clockwork toward its conclusion, presenting the grim dystopia of debt slavery and corporate greed that turns desperate people like Kira into deadly killing machines. Recommended for those who enjoy near future dystopias and those who like their sf a bit more action-packed.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)