THE ASSASSIN'S SOUL (The Black Edge Octalogy Book 7)

By 2050, an underground network and economy is thriving. Built on crypto-currencies—an open global mesh network—the freewheeling markets and innovative services are challenging rigid State powers and their corporate cronies. The State, resorting to secret laws, black-sites, and mob-style tactics, intend to take down this free network and anyone using crypto-currencies. But this is proving a difficult task—more hazardous and complicated than anticipated. The mesh is resilient, crypto-currencies strong...high-tech software and hardware built in basements around the world stays one step ahead. Crypto groups, aligned in their goals, collaborating with the united alliance to build and maintain the global mesh, nonetheless are troubled with infighting and power struggles between crypto-currencies, crypto-currency forks, and ultra-wealthy large crypto-holders.

The Black Edge Octalogy follows the adventures of cypherpunks pursuing a life of privacy and independence through their mesh networks, crypto-systems and crypto-currencies. They write code, hack hardware, and expose authoritarian deceit and brutality.

Seemingly safe in the Gobi yurt-quarter atop the vast underground facility, Sian's ongoing battle against the daily anxiety of his hijacked life, and constant worry over his parents' fate, has the others deeply concerned. Gilroy assures everyone with him since fleeing Shanghai that Andreas and Assange—respective leaders of the United, and of the more violent splinter fork—have personally vouched for all working in the research/production labs. Gilroy reminds a fatigued Victor Mason that this is war; that the Free Mesh Network—once in place—will dominate the world of 2050 and spark a transformation crucial to save Ireland from devolving into a slave-owner's paradise...South America from becoming desert waste...and derail the USA's police-state, where the rich inhabit armed walled-off estates and the other 99% battle daily through frequent killer tornadoes simply to feed themselves. The crypto-economy—fate willing—will no longer be cryptic. Later in the subterranean Prototype Lab, Sian and Kawabata rush to perfect the flying mesh-nodes, while hundreds of feet above a psychopathic assassin prepares to die in order to exterminate Gilroy. Victor analyzes surveillance video hacked from State/White Fist HQ, and confirms a dark speculation. When the facility shakes from a massive explosion on the Gobi range-land above, all present are stunned by the reality of an enormous loss...and the genuine possibility of losing the war....