The Upgrade Apocalypse, Book 1

I’ll be honest: I went into *The Upgrade Apocalypse* expecting another by-the-numbers cyberpunk shoot-’em-up, but what I got was far messier—and far more interesting. The premise (a 10-year reunion derailed by body-modding gone catastrophic) could’ve easily devolved into camp, but Dean leans *hard* into the psychological unraveling of his characters. The upgrades aren’t just plot devices; they’re metaphors for midlife crises, toxic nostalgia, and the way technology warps identity. That said, the first act takes a beat too long to shift from snarky reunion banter to full-blown chaos—I found myself fast-forwarding through a few overly long reminiscences about high school drama. But once the upgrades start *malfunctioning*? Holy hell. The body horror elements are *brutal* (in the best way), and the moral dilemmas—like whether to save the class bully when his neural implant is literally eating his brain—are deliciously uncomfortable. The narration is a huge part of why this works. Wisniewski and Plant don’t just alternate chapters; they *embody* the duality of the story. Wisniewski’s performance as the jaded, self-loathing protagonist is all dry wit and simmering rage, while Plant’s delivery as the ruthless, upgraded “queen bee” is so icy it’ll give you chills. The production quality is top-notch, with seamless transitions and just enough ambient techno-hum to immerse you without distracting. My only real gripe? The ending sets up Book 2 *hard*—like, “wait, that’s it?!” hard—which might frustrate listeners who prefer standalone stories. But if you’re okay with a cliffhanger that’ll leave you screaming, this is cyberpunk with teeth, heart, and a wicked sense of humor. Just don’t listen to it right before your own reunion.