Author: Dick Upson

Publisher: Xlibris Corporation

Published: 2001-05-07

Total Pages: 230

ISBN-13: 0738852333

As a Twenty First Century detective in the Republic of Vegas, Joe Nazzarino's typical assignments involve breaking up non-government sanctioned gambling and other forms of unconstitutional betting. When Vegas ruler and talk show host Prezzy Dent offers him a brand new body in exchange for tracking a fugitive, Nazzarino jumps at the chance. Not only does he have the chance to discard his century old skin for that of a twenty five year old, but he also gets an all expenses paid trip to Winworld, the renowned gaming theme park on the moon. The detective's mission is to track down renegade Vegas courtier John Baptista, who has apparently stolen the dreaded Lotto virus, an ancient CD capable of disrupting the electronic games of chance that Vegas' economy depends on. As Joe Nazzarino tracks John Baptista through Malltown, Aqualand, Attitude City and the other lunar parks, he arouses the suspicions of the mysterious Tribe, the rulers of Winworld, a race of halfbreeds who represent a race created by the union of the Native American tribes with the Mafia. He risks becoming a social outcast by falling in love with Mary, his assigned Leisure Lover, who is both an Afrab and a clone. Nazzarino is surprised to find himself starting to admire Baptista, and the two men develop a friendship, leading to the truth about the alleged thief as a leader of the Casino Orphans. This terrorist group is composed of orphans whose parents abandoned them in casinos, dedicated to the destruction of gambling in all its forms. Joe Nazzarino finds himself in a race against time, desperately trying to get off the doomed planet with his beloved Mary before the orphans carry out their final revenge.