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Austin Dragon
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Liquid Cool: The Cyberpunk Detective Series (Liquid Cool Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Austin Dragon (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 1,293 ratings
The Sci Fi Detective Thriller Gets Cool...Liquid Cool!
Liquid Cool Book #1 is the action-packed (and funny) FIRST-IN-SERIES.

Meet Cruz -- a private detective with a cool hat, laser gun, and attitude. But don’t touch his red hovercar -- or you could get shot!

Science fiction and crime fiction blend in the high-tech, low-life world of Liquid Cool as he faces off neon gangsters, sinister cyborgs, corporate samurai soldiers, and laser-gun shootouts solving cases in the rainy supercity of Metropolis.

It isn’t a bad place, but it isn’t a good one either. Uber-governments and megacorporations fight for control of the supercity, but so does crime.

It's here we meet our unlikely hero in this supercity of a million victims and perpetrators.

In the novel that started it all, author Austin Dragon shows why you never want to meet a cyborg in a dark alley.

Grab Liquid Cool today and begin your action-filled and funny sci fi detective adventure with Cruz and company!

˃˃˃FIVE STAR REVIEWS

“Lots of shooting, lots of crazy maniacs, lots of action and fun!”

“I loved this book. It takes place in the future, and what a weird future.”

“A funny, intelligent (and sometimes crazy) main character…playing detective”

“Cool and Smooth.”

“Too much fun!”

“This is probably one of the very best cyberpunk novels I've ever read!!”

“Page Turner. Constant excitement. The best in 35 years of reading!”

˃˃˃Check out all of Author Austin Dragon’s books at http://www.austindragon.com

˃˃˃Join my VIP Readers’ Club and be the first to hear about all my new releases and special offers.
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  1. Book 1 of 11
    Liquid Cool
  2. Print length
    403 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    February 14, 2016
  5. File size
    1.9 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

In Metropolis, crime is as common as the rain
Meet Cruz, our sci-fi detective with an attitude!
fast hovercars, neon gangsters, samurai soldiers, psycho cyborgs and laughs
Solving cases in a High-Tech, Low-Life World
The Sci-fi detective Thriller Get Cool...Liquid Cool

Editorial Reviews

Review

5-Star Reviews
Praise for Austin Dragon

'In my eyes the author is a genius. And he doesn't use the shock graphic so many others use. Thank you so much for bringing joy excitement and laughter into my life.' Joe

'I love the very cool Cruz character! The tale was tightly constructed, well written and fun to read. I look forward to reading more of Dragon's work!' NDL

'A thoroughly enjoyable SF-ish whodunnit. The only issue I had with this book is that it's so engaging that it's hard to put down.' Fred

'I have been reading sci fit since the 70's and this is one of the best.' Kindle Customer

'Delicious Stew That Is Part SciFi, Part Detective, and Part Humor.' Amazon Customer

'Chill Out with Cruz! Cyber-noir written for this & next generations. I cannot wait for the sequels. Hip, funny, and somehow very understandable, Austin Dragon conjures up a near present world that sorely needs a hero. He gives us one in Cruz. Bravo!' J Ellsworth Weaver III

Praise for Liquid Cool

'Liquid Cool is totally cool. Dragon's world building is stylistic, he captures the rhythm of the people and the streets, the book is filled with wit and humor.' Carole P. Roman

'I really did not like detective novels. Wow!!!!!!!!! I can authoritatively say without out any reservations this is the best detective novel I have ever read. It is funny exciting edge of your pants reading.' Joe

'Super fun read! This book got me in trouble! I literally couldn't put it down. I missed breakfast. I missed lunch. I missed work. And I missed my bedtime! Finally finished it at midnight!' Mark York

'I had to finish it in one sitting! Wacky, weird, offbeat, unique, these all fit the book, but don't really capture the fun, lunacy, and just plain joy of this tale, unless you read it.' Amazon Customer

'Wow, fantastic! Read it from beginning to end in one day. I couldn't put it down. This would make a great movie. Hollywood are you listening?!' A Powers
'So cool! I never write book reviews because I don't have anything to say. BUT . . . this book grabbed my imagination.' Kindle Customer

'Every once in a while you find that book that keeps you hooked right to the end. That was this book for me, even had me laughing out loud at some of the situations Cruz finds himself in.' Joel Anderson

'Excellent! I am a fan of the genre, but a fairly critical reader. This book is well written with great pacing and a protagonist who grows on you quickly. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of detective stories as well as cyberpunk.' Jeff Battle

'This was a great book. I usually read at night and found myself thinking of the book all day long and stealing 15 minutes here and there during the day to read. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good adventure.' Patricia Dayon

'Wonderful, amazing, very entertaining. Loved every page, Cruz is the definition of cool. Everybody needs a friend like Phishy. Would give 6 stars if I could.' Robert A. Thurmanon

'Hard to put down. Great mix of sci-fi and detective mystery. Had a hard time putting it down till I was finished. Really enjoyed it, super entertaining.' Peter

'What a bunch of characters in this cyber world. Austin Dragon had fun dreaming up such zany people. Great new twist on the hard-nosed detective in a noir world.' Amazon Customer

From the Author

Hello, science fiction and mystery detective fans!

Liquid Cool is my third series, and I have many planned. However, I wanted to create a series that was just, plain fun--action, laughs, and combined two of my favorite genres: science fiction and the private detective thriller. I succeeded with my hero detective, Cruz, and his 'supporting cast of characters' in this hi-tech, low-life world of Liquid Cool.
In addition to being a genre-blend (which I plan to do in other series), I wanted to reimagine the cyberpunk genre. Liquid Cool from a critical literary standpoint is not cyberpunk; it is what the average reader thinks cyberpunk is which is...Blade Runner, or visibly darker, grittier science fiction. I wanted to keep that gritty, film noir (tech noir, in this case) sensibility, but replace angst with humor. My cyberpunk would have the rainy cityscapes, monolith skyscrapers, hovercar everywhere, and cyborgs--but that would only be scratching the surface of the story. Liquid Cool is about an average guy who changes his life to become a private eye and finds himself solving the biggest (and most dangerous) crime cases in the supercity of Metropolis. You, the reader, get the pleasure of going along for the wild and crazy ride.

I hope you enjoy all the Liquid Cool novels. You can find me at austindragon.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01BS37W4E
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Well-Tailored Books (February 14, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 14, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 403 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 1,293 ratings

About the author

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Austin Dragon

Austin Dragon

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Austin Dragon is the author of over 30 books in science fiction, fantasy, and classic horror. His works include the sci-fi noir detective LIQUID COOL series, the epic fantasy FABLED QUEST CHRONICLES, the international futuristic epic AFTER EDEN Series, the classic SLEEPY HOLLOW HORRORS, and new military sci-fi PLANET TAMERS series. He is a native New Yorker but has called Los Angeles, California home for more than twenty years. Words to describe him, in no particular order: U.S. Army, English teacher, one-time resident of Paris, ex-political junkie, movie buff, Fortune 500 corporate recruiter, renaissance man, futurist, and dreamer.

THE LIQUID COOL SERIES

Austin Dragon's sci-fi/cyberpunk detective thriller series, Liquid Cool series is filled with action, cyborgs, hovercars, and laughs! Get a preview by grabbing the prequel short, These Mean Streets, Darkly or the new novella, A Cruel Cyber Summer Night, for FREE.

THE FABLED QUEST CHRONICLES

The first four novels and first boxset of my new epic fantasy adventure is here! A journey through the lands of magic and monsters--the most fantastic and deadliest adventure of all time!

THE AFTER EDEN SERIES

Austin Dragon's science fiction and international thriller series is a dramatic mix of politics, religion, technology, and intrigue. It includes Thy Kingdom Fall, Stars and Scorpions, Rising Leviathan, the Tek-Fall mini-series: Metal Flesh and Hell's Menagerie, and select novel, Pure Conspiracy.

THE SLEEPY HOLLOW HORRORS

Austin Dragon's classic horror mini-series includes Hollow Blood and The Devil's Patch.

WEBSITE:

Visit the Fiction Universe of Author Austin Dragon -- Science Fiction | Epic Fantasy | Classic Horror | Thrillers -- at:

www.austindragon.com

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,293 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book entertaining with an engaging plot full of intriguing twists and turns, and they particularly enjoy the main character Cruz. Moreover, the writing is well-executed throughout, and customers appreciate its unique style, with one noting its 1960's comic book feel. Additionally, the book receives positive feedback for its innovative approach, with one customer highlighting its interesting concepts for our possible future. However, the pacing receives mixed reactions, with some finding it fast-paced while others note a slow start.

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264 customers mention "Enjoyment"257 positive7 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and engaging, keeping them reading to the end and taking them on a fun ride.

"...But it will by no means be the last! It was a great, engaging read with likable characters and lots of action and mystery...." Read more

"...novel in the Liquid Cool Cyberpunk Detective Series, Liquid Cool is a fun read and a real page-turner. It is well written and edited...." Read more

"...As I said, this book was well-written. It was also well-edited and well proofed, something you do not always find with Indie Authors...." Read more

"...It turned out to be an enjoyable read. I like that the main character just suddenly didn't become a PI- he read up on it, research it...." Read more

248 customers mention "Storyline"222 positive26 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, describing it as an engaging episodic detective story with intriguing twists and turns that are quick and exciting.

"...own quirks, foibles, and that's what makes them so human and so believable. Cruz is a bit of a neurotic germophobe cool cat...." Read more

"...The ending is satisfying though there was no way to have known from the information provided how it would turn out...." Read more

"...between the characters was at times a stretch, it fit the theme of the novel well and since it was never actually meant to be credible and authentic..." Read more

"...The world created here is vast and offers numerous future stories- and as listed way at the top, there are more stories available. So, read and enjoy!" Read more

122 customers mention "Character development"115 positive7 negative

Customers find the characters engaging, particularly the main character Cruz, and appreciate how well the protagonist's development is handled.

"...It was a great, engaging read with likable characters and lots of action and mystery...." Read more

"...for a good, quick science-fiction read full of interesting and varied characters...." Read more

"...Mr. Dragon's protagonist, Cruz, is likable and clever, as you would want any detective to be, and the narrative is full of absurd and funny moments..." Read more

"...unexpected twists, Excellent world building with complexity, interesting characters. Great first book in series" Read more

93 customers mention "Writing quality"72 positive21 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it very well written from start to finish and easy to read, with one customer noting it's action-packed.

"...It is well written and edited. If you like detective stories in a futuristic setting, this is the book for you...." Read more

"...As I said, this book was well-written. It was also well-edited and well proofed, something you do not always find with Indie Authors...." Read more

"...complex plot with unexpected twists, Excellent world building with complexity, interesting characters. Great first book in series" Read more

"...get to his conclusions, but otherwise, it's a relatively quick and easy read...." Read more

43 customers mention "Liquid cool"43 positive0 negative

Customers love the book's liquid cool concept, describing it as solid gold and saying it worked for them, with one customer noting it's well developed.

"...on the whole a very credible effort. If I could give partial stars I would rate this about 4.75, but as it's higher than 4.5 I'll give it a 5 *...." Read more

"...The characters were not complex or well rounded, but they were well thought out and their unidimensional presentation fit with the overall flow of..." Read more

"Liquid Cool is totally cool, in a cyberpunk cool way. Set one or two hundred years in the future, humans have expanded to space...." Read more

"Liquid Cool is totally cool...." Read more

20 customers mention "Style"20 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's style, describing it as unique and creative, with one customer noting its 1960s comic book feel and another highlighting its noir-esque grittiness.

"...His work is reflective of a creative, innovative mind with a lot of potential." Read more

"...Dragon's world building is stylistic, he captures the rhythm of the people and the streets, the book is fill with wit and humor...." Read more

"...What Austin Dragon brings to readers is not only a unique and great read but this book is also laugh out loud hilarious!..." Read more

"This is the book you want to read. Sci-fi + old-school gumshoe = fabulous read...." Read more

19 customers mention "Innovation"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book innovative, with one customer particularly appreciating its futuristic settings and technologies, while another enjoys learning about the Metropolis.

"...spent a bit of time simply absorbing it. Good development. Then-or actually, as he did this, cases came and went. Very involved...." Read more

"...Mr. Dragon's protagonist, Cruz, is likable and clever, as you would want any detective to be, and the narrative is full of absurd and funny moments..." Read more

"...future with no evidence of some apocalyptic event and plenty of nods to advanced technologies such as ultra-tall buildings, hover vehicles, space..." Read more

"...between neighborhoods in Metropolis and Manhattan, the futuristic settings and technologies and the characters..." Read more

66 customers mention "Pacing"41 positive25 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's pacing, with some finding it a fast-paced novel while others note it had a slow start and took time to get into.

"...Then-or actually, as he did this, cases came and went. Very involved...." Read more

"...It is also a long book that takes several chapters to get you engaged. Don’t give up on it though. It’s worth the read...." Read more

"...It's a feel-good book, a fun adventure that does not get overly bogged down in pathos...." Read more

"...The author did a good job of keeping a steady pace throughout the book to keep this reader interested...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Dr. Geoff
    5.0 out of 5 stars Liquid Cool is really cool! Great cyber punk detective yarn and series starter!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This was my first book by Austin Dragon. But it will by no means be the last! It was a great, engaging read with likable characters and lots of action and mystery. It had a real detective and film noir vibe, as well as all the aspects of cyberpunk.

    Cyberpunk is its own genre, which takes elements of several different genres to become its own unique style. It took me a little while to get into the book and figure out what was going on. There was lots of slang, lots of use of nicknames for real names, and lots of situations that took a while to figure out. But Cruz, the main character, and PJ (Punch Judy) who is a felon due to her misuse of her bionic arms sail through the middle of it all and come out the other side more or less in one piece. Every character has a realistic and consistent personality. Everyone has their own quirks, foibles, and that's what makes them so human and so believable.

    Cruz is a bit of a neurotic germophobe cool cat. He wears a tan trench coat and a fedora. He ends up getting shot at - a lot. He wants to be a detective, since he's listed as a common laborer, and that's not cool with his rich Chinese future in-laws. Who incidentally threaten to kill him if he marries their daughter, Dot. Cruz has a strong sense of right and wrong, good moral character, and he is very obsessive and goes after what he wants until he gets it. He is a very likable cus.

    Everyone is after something in Liquid cool. From the ancillary characters like Phishy to the main characters like Run-Time, everyone has a course to chart.

    The setting is a dark, rainy, dreary future "New York" like Metropolis super city with 50 million people and constant rain. Cruz, prior to becoming a detective, has been restoring classic hover cars for years, and at a very high-quality level. He drives (flies?) a red Ford Pony car that is very, very distinctive.

    I found myself more and more drawn into the story. Once I caught on to the names, the descriptions, the style of writing it was very easy to follow and very hard to put down. The true litmus tests of a writer and his work are would I buy another, do I want to keep reading it, and would I recommend it. The answer to all three of these questions is yes, very definitely.

    The writing is very good, descriptions are great, and the plot will keep you guessing right to the big surprise ending. Not a cliff hanger, fortunately. Austin Dragon did a really good job with this book and series opener. There were a few errors and missing or incorrect words or pronouns; enough so that I would say it should go through another proofing revision. But not enough to mistake the meaning. It just needs one more proofread.

    on the whole a very credible effort. If I could give partial stars I would rate this about 4.75, but as it's higher than 4.5 I'll give it a 5 *. Not quite perfect, but it is very, very good, and will leave you wanting to read more adventures of Cruz and Liquid Cool.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Chessy The Cat
    4.0 out of 5 stars One Cool Detective
    Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Cruz is thrust into the role of private detective by his life-long friend, Run-Time. Before, he was classified as a laborer who spent most of his time restoring hovercars. Their mutual friend, Easy Chair Charlie has been gunned down in a shootout with police. Or, did something else happen that was made to look that way?

    From the moment that Cruz accepts the case of Easy Chair Charlie someone tries to kill him. He solves the case almost instantly but the shootings continue. There is more to the case than one originally thought.

    Other cases come his way and word quickly spreads that Cruz is in business through his frenemy, Phishy. He hopes his newfound profession will sway his future in-laws’ opinion of him. He has hired Punch Judy, a former felon with bionic arms as his secretary/office enforcer.  

    Dragon’s first novel in the Liquid Cool Cyberpunk Detective Series, Liquid Cool is a fun read and a real page-turner. It is well written and edited. If you like detective stories in a futuristic setting, this is the book for you.

    The story has layers upon layers of mystery that must be uncovered to get to the bottom of Easy Chair Charlie case. It seems that almost everyone connected tries to lead Cruz in a different direction. Cruz has a lot of street smarts and is an expert at nonconforming. He tends to see what others often miss.

    The ending is satisfying though there was no way to have known from the information provided how it would turn out. I personally like to be able to cobble the clues together and guess at the who done it. That won’t be the case when you read this book.

    It is also a long book that takes several chapters to get you engaged. Don’t give up on it though. It’s worth the read.

    4 out of 5 stars.

    I received this book for free from the author for review consideration. This in no way affected my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Toots Sullivan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
    Reviewed in Australia on March 8, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I was blown away by the imagination taken to create this world, the people’s and the technological creativity is amazing. I loved the characters, they are scary, fun and amazing. This book is so well written I was immediately immersed in this new world of earth. Can’t wait to read more and recommend it to everyone.
    Report
  • ValinKent
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stylish novel
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 19, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I've given this book five stars because it is so well written. I had downloaded it based on the reviews as its simply not the type of book I'd normally read. I have read books on steampunk but cyberpunk is new to me, although I assume the mixture of 21st century and futuristic items and terms is indicative of the genre. The characters are excellent especially that of the lead, Cruz and his relationships with these other characters range from affection to exasperation. I particularly enjoyed the scenes with both sets of parents. There are laugh out loud moments in what appears to be my idea of hell, a packed and dystopian super city where it rains all the time (this is never explained) and violence is the norm . In my mind, reading this and picturing it, t always seemed to be night. Regarding the plot, I found it confusing at times and couldn't always work out how Cruz arrived at answers. That said, Cruz's own character and certain other key personalities kept the novel bubbling along. This in itself is interesting because despite its apparently frenetic activity over a relatively short period of time, the story instilled in a leisurely manner allowing characters and side stories to develop - to me, always the sign of a well written and well considered novel. Will I read more? I don't know. I couldn't read too much at once as I had to alleviate the Stygian, rainy gloom of this futuristic world from time to time by recourse to books showing pictures of sunlit meadows! However, it's classily written and I've no doubt other books in the series will be just as stylish.
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  • Álex Souza
    3.0 out of 5 stars Muito clichê. Não cheguei a terminar.
    Reviewed in Brazil on June 16, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Esse livro é extremamente clichê. O detetive "hardboiled" em uma cidade decadente cheia de neons é bom, mas já vimos demais.
    Não entenda mal: é possível usar as convenções de gênero, mas tem que ser de um jeito diferente. (me dá a mesma coisa, só que diferente. Senão fica chato.
    Eu não cheguei a terminar o livro. Por que eu faria isso, se temos muitos outros exemplos melhores?
    Report
  • KN
    5.0 out of 5 stars It almost feels like a film noir detective ambiance but in colour
    Reviewed in Canada on December 27, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    A man without any job stability finally found a knack for solving crimes.

    The first-person narration crafts perfectly for this detective-style genre. Austin Dragon personifies each character to perfection. Each chapter offers an entertaining value. If cyberpunk sci-fi is your thing, I think you'll get a kick out of this.
    Report
  • sumit sabal
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in India on August 27, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    nice book
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