In an alternate world-one where it seems as if Jules Verne-ish forecasts of what several centuries in the future would be like has come true-clones of authors are available as resources and checking out in libraries. Smithe was a mystery noir writer, and he‘s checked out to solve a secret and a death. He‘s a cross between Poirot and Spock and surprisingly crafty. Per Joe Haldeman You‘ll never look at a library book in quite the same way again.