"...readers are treated to a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be human in an increasingly digital world, led by a flawed yet determined protagonist whose journey is as much one of self-discovery as it is a quest for justice. Baird delivers a satisfying blend of thrills, mystery, bloodbaths, and philosophical depth."-Booklife Review from Publishers Weekly "A first-person bounty hunter romp under the neon lights of cyberpunk purgatory. In Hendrix, Baird has created a main character who combines the unrelenting violence and one-liners of Judge Dredd, Blade, and The Punisher. Hendrix is then thrown into a science fiction fever dream where the stakes are high and nothing is as it seems."-Adam Hulse, author of Below Economic Thresholds "I'll be very honest here, this genre is not one I've read previously, but Baird's imagination, way with words, and excellent characterization plugged me into SIN:THETICA rather quickly. I loved following the main character Balaam Hendrix around futuristic NeuTokyo with his snappy dialogue, no-nonsense demeanor, and remaining humanity underneath his rugged exterior. You root for him even when he's doing something seemingly awful. One minute you think you know what's happening and then, well, you don't. Give this novella a read and tell me you aren't instantly pulled into Baird's futuristic world; one you might not even realize you're in as you're twisting and turning in your own Grav."-Vivian Kasley, horror writer published in Hot Iron and Cold Blood, Crimson Bones, and other anthologies
The Sino-Nippon war is over. It is 2113 and Japan is crushed under the might of Chinese-Allied Forces. A former Coalition Corps soldier, US Marine Balaam Hendrix, is now a feared bounty hunter known as 'The Reverend'. In the sprawl of NeuTokyo, on this lawless frontier, he must track down the rogue employee of a notorious crime lord. But, there's a twist. His target has found protection inside a virtual reality construct and Hendrix must go cyber-side to corner his quarry. The glowing neon signs for SIN:THETICA are everywhere, and promise escape from a dystopian reality. But will it prove the means by which this hunter snares his prey, or will it be the trap he simply can't survive?
