Automatic Reload

Starred review from February 24, 2020
A cyborg mercenary works to protect a genetically enhanced woman from a powerful corporation in this consistently surprising, hyperkinetic action adventure from Steinmetz (The Sol Majestic). Former drone operator Mat, now more machine than man, is obsessed with preventing casualties on his oft-violent missions. Despite his reluctance to work for the shadowy International Access Corporation, Mat accepts a lucrative job protecting one of its packages in transit. But when he discovers the package is Silvia, a woman experimented on against her will and transformed into a monstrous killer, Mat turns on his employers to rescue her. As the two try to outwit IAC, they forge an unexpected bond, helping each other face their respective trauma. Steinmetz expertly fuses cyberpunk staples and romantic comedy elements to deliver an over-the-top, action-packed tale while also addressing mental illness and body issues. In tackling Silvia’s panic disorder and Mat’s PTSD, as well as their respective feelings of dysphoria, Steinmetz imbues this rip-roaring tale with a surprising amount of sensitivity and heart. This thoroughly satisfying story works as both thriller and romance. Agent: Evan Gregory, the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency.

Tim Campbell narrates a pulse-pounding adventure featuring a tough-as-nails mercenary outfitted with cybernetic limbs and tasked with an unusual mission. Mat's arms and legs are varied military-grade weapons that make him the best soldier on the black market. His latest job promises a huge score that turns out to be a person: Silvia, a genetically engineered assassin. Campbell imbues Mat with a gruff exterior offset by a core of tenderness, while Silvia's anxiety bleeds through her deadly abilities. Thundering gunfights, hectic chases, and harrowing battle sequences abound as Campbell's narration deftly balances the action with the heart-melting romance that blossoms between Mat and Silvia, along with a hefty dose of humor. Campbell elevates the written story into an explosive romantic comedy. J.M.M. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine