Minstrels

Minstrels, Michael Hemmingson, Permeable Press, 1997

Albert, an American, has flown to Paris to declare his love for Veronique, whom he met in the US the year before. He gets involved with a terrorist group, and kills one of its members under less than clear circumstances. Albert says it was self-defense; Veronique doesn't agree.

The authorities offer Albert a choice; the elctric chair for murder, or get a miniature TV camera implanted in his left eye (which he lost in the fight). From the outside, it looks like a normal eye; the intention is to get the terrorists, once and for all, and to satisfy the ever-growing hunger among European TV watchers for Reality TV. Veronique is not told about this.

It turns into a tale of hackers, assassins, illicit sex, terrorists, and Veronique joining a goth-synth rock band. While the members play a simple melody in the background, Veronique, the lead singer, makes up the words as she goes along.

This is a really good, very easy to read avant-pop story that's just 90's enough and just weird enough to appeal to most anyone.