A paid guide to online role-playing games becomes entangled in international intrigue when a mysterious client hires him for a lucrative assignment, leading to a thrilling adventure that blurs the lines between virtual reality and the real world. The story explores themes of identity, espionage, and the impact of gaming culture on society, with a diverse cast of characters and a mix of humor and suspense.

Matt Ruff, acclaimed author of mind-bending speculative fiction like "Fool on the Hill", "Set This House in Order", and "Lovecraft Country", is back with another wildly imaginative page-turner - "88 Names". This fast-paced cyber-thriller is set in a near-future world where online role-playing games have become staggeringly immersive and popular. The protagonist, John Chu, works as a "sherpa" - a paid guide who provides wealthy clients with tricked-out avatars and shows them the ropes in vast virtual realms like "Call to Wizardry."

When a new mysterious client hires Chu and his crew for a lucrative gaming tour, he soon suspects his patron may actually be infamous dictator Kim Jong-un. As Chu is pulled into an international web of intrigue involving North Korean agents, Chinese spies, and a vengeful ex, virtual dangers start bleeding into the real world. But with his eclectic found family of gaming experts watching his back, Chu still has a few tricks up his sleeve.

Ruff gleefully brings his signature vivid imagination and surprising plot twists to the MMORPG milieu. With a minimum of infodumping, he immerses the reader in dazzling fully-realized game worlds that make Ready Player One's OASIS seem almost tame in comparison. An avid gamer himself, Ruff nails the details of in-game mechanics, culture and lingo. At the same time, his exploration of concepts like virtual identities, online relationships and the increasingly blurry line between digital and physical selves feels insightful and timely.

Ruff proves once again that he's a master at writing engrossing, humane stories starring diverse casts of characters. In an adventure that globe-trots from virtual taverns to Los Angeles dojos, Chu's crew and adversaries come from a realistic range of cultures, genders and orientations. Yet none ever feel tokenistic or stereotypical. Instead, they're portrayed with the nuance, empathy and sly wit that are hallmarks of Ruff's prose.

"88 Names" barrels along with the momentum of a great spy novel and the levity of a caper comedy. When he's not battling mythical monsters, Chu delivers hilariously observant jabs at toxic online cesspools even as he outmaneuvers their denizens. Each chapter opens with a fictional epigraph, some laugh-out-loud funny. A few chapters delve into headier topics like prejudice, politics and human nature. But Ruff handles these weightier interludes with a light touch, never losing sight of the sheer fun to be had in a secret-agent romp with a geeky twist. While a tad less profound than some of his prior work, "88 Names" showcases Ruff's gifts for wildly creative world building, warm-hearted characterization and mixing the adventurous with the thought-provoking. For fans of speculative page-turners, this latest offering from a virtuoso of the genre is a must-read.