Counterweight

On a fictional island in a not-too-distant future, South Korean conglomerate LK is building an elevator to space. The tiny, quiet island has become a bustling travel hub as people vie to head for the stars. Far above, space junk acts as a counterweight, keeping the elevator working. The story kicks into motion when it is discovered that critical data from the company’s former CEO is hidden within the counterweight. Mac, the narrator of the novel and LK’s chief of external affairs, races alongside other decidedly nefarious groups to retrieve the information that could determine humanity’s future. Djuna’s English-language debut is a science-fiction-meets-noir mystery. Full of convoluted identities, “worms,” artificial intelligence, and literary references, this is a meaty and complex story harking back to the sci-fi greats. Narrator Daniel K. Isaac gives an excellent performance of Mac and the other characters as they race to fulfill their ambitions. His narration taps into the story’s noirish atmosphere, drawing listeners into this twisty mystery.