Review

Jasper works a dead-end retail job at Here For You mart (a cheapie department store) in Sundown City. Aisle Nine used to be homewares, but since Hell Portal Day (HPD) two years ago — when hell portals opened around the world and started spewing out demons — it’s been off limits. Here For You mart is a Relatively Safe Hell Zone, meaning that business continues, but it’s periodically evacuated so that demons can be vanquished with flame throwers. People have adjusted to life post-HPD, with a militaristic private security organisation called Vanguard Corporation organising much of society, battling demons as they emerge, and rewarding co-operative people with VC points on their phone app. Jasper’s having a harder time than most — he lost his parents on HPD and lost his memory during an accident at the mart sometime later. He can only remember a couple of months back. He lives with a white fluffy plushie kitten demon, who managed to escaped Vanguard and specialises in eating pizza and watching TV.

Jasper’s drawn to mysterious Kyle, a take-no-prisoners Vanguard trainee also working at the mart, but she regards him with a blend of indifference and hostility. He doesn’t know why. Meanwhile, he’s experiencing more and more visions, of four entities approaching a portal. What could they mean? And why is the local hacker group — Suckerpunch, who doubt Vanguard’s actions and motives — trying to get in touch with him? Jasper decides that he has to find the answers, no matter what the cost… and before Black Friday.

*

This is an intriguing book: funny and satirical, full of energy and originality, but rough around the edges.

The satire is aimed squarely at hyperconsumerism, with people not caring too much about the hell portals as long as they can still get bargains on cheap tat at hideous stores and behave rudely to retail staff. Vanguard easily manipulates people with its app, constantly giving people points that they can redeem for consumer items, like discounts on branded junk food. Jasper’s narrative voice is lively and sweary, and the text is full of little satirical zingers.

Aisles one to two: Clothing and accessories. Basically, a polyester hellscape, where everything somehow smells deep-fried. Aisle three: toys that also reek. Aisles four to six: Food with expiration dates that are strategically covered by SPECIAL! stickers.

*

By the time I get there, my twelve fellow clerks are already seated. Most of them are around my age. Thanks to Vanguard’s Freedom-16 Act, it’s legal for teens sixteen and older to do hell-related jobs. We’re adults when we’re asked to mop blood, but conveniently teens when it comes to payroll.

*

Soon shoppers are streaming in, and Kyle has disappeared into Vanguard duty. Gully is wandering about, mouthing Smile! and Be friendly! as though we’re in a charm school for the budget-conscious.

*

There’s also a not-so-subtle allegory about people needing to overcome the modern (?) ills of hopelessness, anger, hyperconsumerism and retail greed to tackle the problems of the world.

The beginning is powerful and engaging, with lots of verve, but in the middle, it’s slowed down by plot details, justifications, entanglements, thematic embellishments and a cast of thousands. There’s plenty of action, but no real sense of tension. It’s good natured enough but is clearly rookie work. Promising, though, with some good descriptive moments, and a sweetly rendered touch of romance. I look forward to seeing what Cho (who is Aussie, despite the US flavour) does next.

Year 7 & up (but healthy dose of swears, so your mileage may vary). 272 pp.

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Fairly frequent swearing (f-words, s-words); lots of fantasy violence, including bloody injuries and death — description not too gory; a couple of fleeting kisses; positive messages about hope overcoming hopelessness and avoiding pointless consumption. Main relationship is mlw.

*

Cho, I. X. (2024). Aisle nine. HarperCollins Publishers.

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