Spreadsheet Cultists by Dane Sullivan is a darkly hilarious, neon-soaked romp through the bureaucratic wasteland of late-stage capitalism set in a corporate-ruled 2393. Elton Gaius, a washed-up scammer turned reluctant corporate enforcer, joins the laughably dysfunctional PEEG: Piracy Evaluation and Elimination Group. But what's Elton’s new job? Sniffing out anti-corporate heresy buried in corrupted spreadsheets, glitched holograms, and suspicious water cooler conversations, of course! But when his old friends emerge as resistance leaders, and his own ethics begin to glitch, Elton must choose between crushing rebellion or fueling it. Equal parts absurd and incisive, Sullivan’s vision is bleakly funny and unsettlingly close to our own.

Author Dane Sullivan knows how to land a joke and yet stay totally on track with this storyline, and delivers razor-sharp cyberpunk satire with natural flair and a hacker’s precision. I had so much fun with the twisted office rituals, the absurd acronyms, and the eerie sincerity of this high-tech dystopia, yet it's also very easy to get into because the context makes things self-explanatory. Elton is a perfect guide through this nightmare future of data entry and corporate theology. I loved the layers to his character that exude a cynical, jaded air, but never put him beyond redemption. The humor is perfectly timed, never deflating its deeper critiques about identity, labor, and surveillance. Overall, Spreadsheet Cultists is a brilliant, biting, and irresistibly strange novel that turns the future of work into a thrilling act of rebellion. I cannot wait to see what else comes from the brilliant mind of this highly recommended author.

Spreadsheet Cultists by Dane Sullivan unfolds in the distant future in a world governed by artificial intelligence. Society is dictated by two major corporations—Blue and Red. While the physical world is plagued by poverty and crime, many citizens prefer to escape into the metrax, a virtual reality world powered by a well-sought-after digital currency, mericoin. As such, many metrax citizens opt to sell their cognitive capabilities to AI-driven organizations in exchange for this cyber cash. Elton, the protagonist, is a programmer who secures a job at a policing firm plagued by contradictory rules and systems. Rose, his romantic partner, becomes involved in a movement dedicated to fighting against AI's increasing control over humanity. Meanwhile, Elton wrestles with what being human really means. Will he join the revolution or look out for his own best interests?

Spreadsheet Cultists by Dane Sullivan is an intriguing dystopian story set in the year 2393. The author masterfully weaves together suspense, economics, technology, humanity, and dark irony in an unforgettable sci-fi tale. This novel offers a witty exploration of an AI-dominated world wholly reliant on AI to function. With it comes the rise in political and corporate dictatorship and the heartbreaking devaluation of human life. With sharp metaphorical insight, Sullivan explores the alarming possibility of a bleak, capitalist-driven future for humankind. What stands out the most is the remarkable depth of detail and the flawless way this disturbingly credible vision of the future is depicted. Sullivan builds a world that feels both unsettlingly authentic and captivating. Grab a copy of this book today if you are a fan of humorous and introspective sci-fi-themed novels.