autistic MC? check
queer MC? check
trans rep? check
anti-AI? check
a dystopian space world? check
a heist? check

Kelli lives a relatively quiet and unassuming life as the supervisor of an AI that writes scripts for entertainment media when she's contacted by an old friend and flame who needs her help. It's a trap, but an interesting one, and one that brings Kelli's life into focus as an autistic, queer kid, and how far she's strayed from the issues and activist work she once wanted to do.

Copy of my review on GoodReads

This novel ticks a lot of boxes:

* hard SF with a focus on computer science, and especially generative AI / cybersecurity
* neurodivergent characters
* queer characters
* technological singularity - what happens to society when it becomes ruled by AI overlords and 90% of the population relies on basic income to survive (there are barely any jobs anymore, everything has been automated)
* space pirates, fast-paced adventure
* intellectual property laws - what happens to artistic creation when megacorporations can copyright ideas?
* censorship, and especially banning queer and political content

All those themes come together in a novel that could be an awful soup, but somehow, it works.
The exposition was quite long, and I had to "hang in there". Around 30% in, the reward came (and it was massive). This is a compelling adventure relying on exquisitely built characters, fine grained world building, and a somewhat unreliable narrator. Queer and/or neurodivergent characters are never archetypes here. They are whole people, sometimes endearing, sometimes insufferable.

<i>Ignore All Previous Instructions</i> is as much about the evolution of the main characters' relationships as it is about space pirates and AI. This was well done, with no caricature and great sensibility. I am queer and neurodivergent myself and felt "seen". It does not mean that this is a novel for queer / neurodivergent readers. The story is compelling enough to appeal to a broad audience, I would even recommend this novel to teenagers. Without spoilers, my "age" line is about sex, sheer violence and unbounded morality. There is no such thing here. You can totally gift this to a fourteen year old who enjoys SF.

Some non-spoiler highlights:
* the prompts! Very innovative idea. It totally works and provides the reader with a lot of "food for thought"
* relatable computer security content - privilege escalation, geeking about file systems, serialization attack (more of this please!)
* elaborate exploration of what it means to produce fiction with an AI

Cherry on the cake, <i>Ignore All Previous Instructions</i> features a satisfying end. There could be a sequel and I would buy it, but this works really well as a standalone novel.

This novel was provided to me as an ARC by NetGalley and Tachyon Publications. Special thanks to the editor and to Ada Hoffmann for a great novel. I will buy this book.