[1] Nova Swing takes place long after the events of Light, where we first discover the disturbance in the space-time continuum known as the Kefahuchi Tract.

The Event Site was created when a piece of the Tract fell to the ground, transforming the appearance and even the physics of the port area and commercial buildings.

The Site draws tourists from other planets, led by hardened guide Vic Serotonin, who specialises in dangerous and unpredictable tours of this chaotic zone.

The stories of Vic and his nemesis Detective Ascheman take on the classic noir of tortured police procedurals and hunted/haunted criminal tropes, while also subverting them.

She bought an Uncle Zip Mona tailoring package (a genetic body transformation process) to change herself into a desirable sex worker.

in Nova Swing, cats appear in vast numbers running down the street to the Event Site — every dawn and dusk.

Uncle Zip: The master tailor and creator of many identities, who appeared in person in Light, now is established as an interstellar franchise in Nova Swing.

Although not for everyone, Harrison's trippy style will appeal to sophisticated readers who treasure the work of China Miéville and Jeff VanderMeer.

"[2] Regina Schroeder in her review for Booklist said "with its gritty, noirish atmosphere, elements of space opera, and some impressive moments of explosive action, this is a tasty, entertaining morsel, deeply flavored to satisfy the thoughtful.

"[3] Kirkus Reviews described it as "a cross between J. G. Ballard's intense, static The Drowned World and Arkady and Boris Strugatsky's terrifying Roadside Picnic.

The upshot: This science-fiction noir cum literary and social criticism is memorable, perplexing and challenging in equal measure.