More than anything, Tom Raines wants to be important, though his shadowy life is anything but that. For years, Tom�s drifted from casino to casino with his unlucky gambler of a dad, gaming for their survival. Keeping a roof over their heads depends on a careful combination of skill, luck, con artistry, and staying invisible. Then one day, Tom stops being invisible. Someone�s been watching his virtual-reality prowess, and he�s offered the incredible�a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. There, Tom�s instincts for combat will be put to the test and if he passes, he�ll become a member of the Intrasolar Forces, helping to lead his country to victory in World War III. Finally, he�ll be someone important: a superhuman war machine with the tech skills that every virtual-reality warrior dreams of. Life at the Spire holds everything that Tom�s always wanted�friends, the possibility of a girlfriend, and a life where his every action matters�but what will it cost him? Gripping and provocative, S. J. Kincaid�s futuristic thrill ride of a debut crackles with memorable characters, tremendous wit, and a vision of the future that asks startling, timely questions about the melding of humanity and technology.