Richard M. Evans
Award-winning author of cyberpunk and
speculative science fiction.

cyberpunk series
Menticide [The Awakening]
Book One of the BINARY dystopian cyberpunk series
Book Synopsis
Welcome to New Babylon, the neon city of the future…
…where a corporation controls every aspect of civilised life
….but cybergangs rule the underworld
….and their dominion is challenged through weaponised street races
…whilst a digital apocalypse looms.
….but cybergangs rule the underworld
….and their dominion is challenged through weaponised street races
…whilst a digital apocalypse looms.
Cassandra, a young corpo programmer, uncovers a plot of technological menticide targeted at the city’s oppressed population. Armed only with a stolen data drive containing plans and schematics to this nefarious conspiracy, she must escape the clutches of her corrupt and malevolent employer, ZenithCorp.
Run!
If she is to stop the rollout of this technology, her only option is survival. Cassandra must locate an underground resistance group, known as Paradise, a band of digital warriors who operate from the shadows.
Hunted!
Cassandra has a bounty placed on her head and is forced into making critical, life changing decisions… If she can remain alive long enough.
Fight!
Cassandra must be the fuel that ignites Paradise’s spark to emerge from the shadows and help her confront ZenithCorp and the nefarious cybergangs who control the city’s underworld.
Race!
Public information and broadcasting is controlled and locked down by the corporation. Cassandra must enter a violent race called the Neon Rush, a global live streamed event, if she is to expose the corporation’s scheme to the world. To qualify for this gruelling race, she must push herself to the limits of her own humanity, undergoing radical neural upgrades and mods to forge a binary connection with an AI machine, a weaponised battle car and relic from a bygone era, Fury.
Menticide [The Awakening] is the first book in the BINARY dystopian cyberpunk series.
Drawing inspiration from classic cyberpunk themes and contemporary societal issues, Richard M. Evans creates a richly layered world filled with morally ambiguous characters, pulse-pounding action, and thought-provoking commentary on the perils of unchecked technological and corporate advancement.Driven by a passion for storytelling and a fascination with the intersection of humanity and technology, he invites readers on a thrilling journey through the shadows of a dystopian metropolis, where every corner holds secrets waiting to be uncovered and every decision carries weighty consequences.
Whether you’re a seasoned cyberpunk enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, BINARY will captivate, challenge, and leave you questioning the very nature of existence in a world where the line between humanity and machine grows ever thinner. In this electrifying tale of action, intrigue, elaborate plot twists and rebellion, the shadows come to life, and the race for survival takes an adrenaline fuelled kick.
Menticide [The Awakening] is a must read for fans of Ghost in the Shell, Blade Runner, Altered Carbon, Alita Battle Angel, Cyberpunk 2077, Akira, The Matrix, Death Race 2000, Robocop and Total Recall.

About the Author
From an early age, I’ve grown up with a love of the cyberpunk and dystopian genres, be it through books or films. Dystopian authors such as J.G. Ballard and George Orwell really captured a sense of impending fear for the future, which I believe blends into the cyberpunk genre perfectly.
There’s something I find incredibly fascinating about the crossover of advanced technology and gritty, dystopian settings. It’s a genre in which life is a constant struggle and humanity has been surpassed and eroded away by machines. As a writer, that tension really pulled me in; and I love exploring the psychological and ethical dilemmas as well as the impact of technology on society and identity.
My inspiration for writing the BINARY series comes from my love of the cyberpunk genre, but also to question the direction we’re headed with technological advancement.