A map locked away in an old archive sends Aurora and her brother Kars on a hike, searching the length of a hidden cable line up a mountain. Along with a close friend, they discover a long abandoned mine filled with lifeless machines. The machines stand as a reminder of a rebellion that the people of Prospector scarcely won. The costs were great and the townsfolk are on guard against any recurring threat. That threat is realized when a drone follows the trio down the mountain into their low-tech village. In the blink of an eye, chaos ensues and Aurora, Kars, their friend Lena, and an unexpected robot ally find themselves on the run from a ruthless mercenary. Aurora and her companions may be the only bastion to stand against the mega-corporation responsible for the alteration and manipulation of mankind. Will secrets about her past threaten the future Aurora thought that she wanted? Can the future even be clearly defined?
The Houses of the Curious is gripping from the first page and the intensity never lets up. The intriguing world painted is imaginative and original. As Aurora realizes her own abilities, the reader is treated to a flashy display of technological wizardry as she tests her new boundaries. The excitement builds as Aurora journeys on, looking for the enigmatic war hero, Arthur Lannius. Her search leads to more perplexing questions about her own humanity. This fast paced novel delivers layers upon layers of well thought out plot and articulate characters. John Bowie has penned a stellar cyberpunk/time-travel novel, sure to please even the most discerning of readers. The Houses of the Curious is a thrilling story filled with heart-pounding action and an explosive ending.
