Review: Optional Retirement Plan

Optional Retirement Plan by Chris Pourteau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This old dog still has some bite left in him...

Optional Retirement Plan is the story of how Stacks Fischer, an aging Syndicate Corporation hitman, chose to 'go out' -- like a badass and on his own terms. The book is set in a future where humanity has colonized the moon and mars, the earth is dying, and everything is ruled by the mob-like and iron-handed Syndicate Corporation. Once trusted with the Syndicate's darkest secrets, now old-man Fischer and his waning mind has become a liability and must be put down, one way or another.

Optional Retirement Plan is a well-written and fast-paced page-turner. It's best to start reading it on a long weekend, as you'll have a hard time putting it down. You would think "fast-paced" and old man wouldn't mesh together well in a story, but Fischer is an old dog that refuses to be put down. Fischer is a well-developed character and the narrative is told from his first-person perspective. You'll feel his deep pain and frustration over the betrayals at the end of his life (those of his own body, mind, and the Syndicate) and can't help but to connect to the old bastard. The whole story feels like a sci-fi film noir and while it certainly goes to some dark places, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat, rooting for Fischer. This is the first book I've finished this year, but I can tell it's going to be one of the best too.

The audiobook for Optional Retirement Plan is performed by R.C. Bray, who is an outstanding narrator and a longtime favorite of mine. It's for Bray that I gave the audio version of the book a chance, and he takes a great book and makes it even better. His voice is perfect for Fischer's first-person account and I can't find a single flaw in the performance. Even if my review doesn't convince you to get the book, get the audio version for Bray.

Thank you to Aethon Books who provided me this book free of charge at my request.

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