Running Start

I went into *Running Start* expecting another tired dystopia where the hero’s plight is just window dressing for exposition dumps. I was wrong. Sutherland drops you into Mason’s world with the subtlety of a sledgehammer—no wasted words, no over-explained lore, just a guy trying to survive in a city that’s actively trying to kill him. The story’s strength isn’t in its world-building (though it’s solid) but in its characters. Mason is a refreshing departure from the usual cyberpunk protagonists: no chosen one, no tragic backstory, just a guy who fixes stuff and gets screwed for it. Rosa, his counterpart, is the beating heart of this audiobook—her quiet rage and unwavering loyalty make her impossible not to root for. Elizabeth Klett’s narration is the secret weapon here. She nails Mason’s weary sarcasm and Rosa’s simmering fury without ever resorting to caricature. The production is clean but never sterile, letting the story breathe without distracting with over-polished effects. My one critique? The mid-section drags slightly as Mason’s escape plan hits a few too many detours. And while the ending is satisfying, it wraps up a bit too neatly for my taste—real survival stories rarely tie their loose ends so neatly. But these are minor quibbles in an otherwise gripping listen. If you want cyberpunk with heart, grit, and a protagonist who’s refreshingly ordinary, *Running Start* delivers.