FANDOM NAME: Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots (book)
WHAT MAKES IT GREAT: Data analysis to save the world! The real villain was capitalism all along! Casual bisexuality! Friendship is the most important relationship! Here is the official book blurb: "Hench explores the individual cost of justice through a fascinating mix of Millennial office politics, heroism measured through data science, body horror, and a profound misunderstanding of quantum mechanics." And yes, yes it does.
The premise of Hench is that supervillains can find assistants at temp agencies, for roles ranging from drivers and bodyguards to tech support and data entry. While on one of these temp gigs, Anna is injured by a superhero, and while recovering (without health insurance, because, of course, temp gig) starts running the data on all the harm superheroes do. Things Progress From There.
While I freaking ADORE the premise (and have nominated Worldbuilding, because I DEFINITELY want to know more about this world of temp henching!) what really drew me into this book were the relationships between women. There is a friendship breakup that is given the emotional attention and impact that a romantic breakup would have received in a mainstream superhero movie. The friendships and relationships Anna forms are directly contrasted with the ways male supervillains and superheroes alike isolate themselves. I deeply, DEEPLY want fic of Anna and Quantum Entanglement getting coffee and just TALKING. (And maybe making out. I would very much like that as well.)
Alternately, if you're into sexxy times with a brooding genius villain who has had so many body modifications that it's basically monsterfucking, there is a LOT of fic opportunity for you here as well.
Content notes: There is a LOT of violence, and in-depth exploration of the long term impacts of and recovery from violence. Significant body horror, especially at the very end. Threatened harm to children. Vast amounts of moral ambiguity.
WHERE CAN I FIND IT: wherever you usually find your books. It's widely available from online and in print booksellers, and many libraries as well.
Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots, nominated by whetherwoman
WHAT MAKES IT GREAT: Data analysis to save the world! The real villain was capitalism all along! Casual bisexuality! Friendship is the most important relationship! Here is the official book blurb: "Hench explores the individual cost of justice through a fascinating mix of Millennial office politics, heroism measured through data science, body horror, and a profound misunderstanding of quantum mechanics." And yes, yes it does.
The premise of Hench is that supervillains can find assistants at temp agencies, for roles ranging from drivers and bodyguards to tech support and data entry. While on one of these temp gigs, Anna is injured by a superhero, and while recovering (without health insurance, because, of course, temp gig) starts running the data on all the harm superheroes do. Things Progress From There.
While I freaking ADORE the premise (and have nominated Worldbuilding, because I DEFINITELY want to know more about this world of temp henching!) what really drew me into this book were the relationships between women. There is a friendship breakup that is given the emotional attention and impact that a romantic breakup would have received in a mainstream superhero movie. The friendships and relationships Anna forms are directly contrasted with the ways male supervillains and superheroes alike isolate themselves. I deeply, DEEPLY want fic of Anna and Quantum Entanglement getting coffee and just TALKING. (And maybe making out. I would very much like that as well.)
Alternately, if you're into sexxy times with a brooding genius villain who has had so many body modifications that it's basically monsterfucking, there is a LOT of fic opportunity for you here as well.
Content notes: There is a LOT of violence, and in-depth exploration of the long term impacts of and recovery from violence. Significant body horror, especially at the very end. Threatened harm to children. Vast amounts of moral ambiguity.
WHERE CAN I FIND IT: wherever you usually find your books. It's widely available from online and in print booksellers, and many libraries as well.