Picks and Shovels - (Martin Hench Novels) by Cory Doctorow

About the Book

"The year is 1986. The city is San Francisco. Here, Martin Hench will invent the forensic accountant--what a bounty hunter is to people, he is to money--but for now he's an MIT dropout odd-jobbing his way around a city still reeling from the invention of a revolutionary new technology that will change everything about crime forever. ... When Marty finds himself hired by Silicon Valley PC startup Fidelity Computing to investigate a group of disgruntled ex-employees who've founded a competitor startup, he quickly realizes he's on the wrong side. Marty ditches the greasy old guys running Fidelity Computing without a second thought, utterly infatuated with the electric atmosphere of Computing Freedom. Located in the heart of the Mission, this group of brilliant young women found themselves exhausted by the predatory business practices of Fidelity Computing and set out to beat them at their own game, making better computers and driving Fidelity Computing out of business"--

Book Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Cory Doctorow returns to the world of Red Team Blues to bring us the origin story of Martin Hench and the most powerful new tool for crime ever invented: the personal computer.

The year is 1986. The city is San Francisco. Here, Martin Hench will invent the forensic accountant--what a bounty hunter is to people, he is to money--but for now he's an MIT dropout odd-jobbing his way around a city still reeling from the invention of a revolutionary new technology that will change everything about crime forever, one we now take completely for granted.

When Marty finds himself hired by Silicon Valley PC startup Fidelity Computing to investigate a group of disgruntled ex-employees who've founded a competitor startup, he quickly realizes he's on the wrong side. Marty ditches the greasy old guys running Fidelity Computing without a second thought, utterly infatuated with the electric atmosphere of Computing Freedom. Located in the heart of the Mission, this group of brilliant young women found themselves exhausted by the predatory business practices of Fidelity Computing and set out to beat them at their own game, making better computers and driving Fidelity Computing out of business. But this optimistic startup, fueled by young love and California-style burritos, has no idea the depth of the evil they're seeking to unroot or the risks they run.

In this company-eat-company city, Martin and his friends will be lucky to escape with their lives.

Review Quotes

"Picks and Shovels... is note perfect...Despite cultural entropy, corruption, greed and all the betrayals there's a core of hope and honor in the story too." - Stephen Fry

"Cory Doctorow writes as few authors do, with tech world savvy and real world moral clarity. A true storyteller for our times." - John Scalzi

"Told with wit and verve, this is the portrait of the old raconteur and rabble-rouser as a young man and will charm readers... Highly recommended." - Library Journal, starred review

"Not only is Marty Hench an absolutely compelling narrator, but the story, which explores the relationship between computers and crime, is exciting, surprising, and full of suspense. Doctorow's fan base extends well beyond the boundaries of sf, and this novel is a wonderful gift to his fans." - Booklist

"You won't put this book down - it's too much fun. I was there when it all began. Doctorow's characters and their story are real." - Dan'l Lewin, CEO and President of the Computer History Museum

"Righteously satisfying...A fascinating tale of financial skullduggery, long cons, and the delivery of ice-cold revenge." - Booklist on The Bezzle

"Cory Doctorow is one of our most important science fiction authors." -Kim Stanley Robinson

"Cory Doctorow doesn't just write about the future--I think he lives there!" -Kelly Link

"Another winner from an sf wizard." - Booklist on Red Team Blues

"Absorbing and ruthless." - Library Journal on Red Team Blues

"A cleareyed warning...With unconventional gumshoe Martin at the helm, fans can expect good things from the series to come." - Publishers Weekly on Red Team Blues

About the Author

Cory Doctorow is a science fiction author, activist and journalist. He is the author of many books, including THE LOST CAUSE, a solarpunk science fiction novel of hope amidst the climate emergency. His recent nonfiction THE INTERNET CON: HOW TO SEIZE THE MEANS OF COMPUTATION is a Big Tech disassembly manual. Other recent books include RED TEAM BLUES, a science fiction crime thriller; CHOKEPOINT CAPITALISM, nonfiction about monopoly and creative labor markets; the LITTLE BROTHER series for young adults; IN REAL LIFE, a graphic novel; and the picture book POESY THE MONSTER SLAYER. In 2020, he was inducted into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.