Near future. An allegory.
"As a brilliant graphic arts student, Ethan Ring stumbled on a secret so awesome that its existence could not remain hidden. The computer-generated images he had helped to create contained infinite powers: the power to heal, erase memories, bring ecstasy, kill savagely. Locked into a devil's bargain with the monolithic European government, Ethan now sees his one chance to escape the dark forces of destruction that have enslaved his soul. He will brave the treacherous terrain, the lawless bands of akiras, and the power-armored security forces to undertake a thousand-mile pilgrimage. But the danger Ethan fears most comes from within. It is the seductive lure of his own damnation." [jacket blurb, US pbk, 1994]
"Cyberpunk's first lyrical poem, mixing Kabbalah, manga, pop-culture trivia and Zen with enough style and dexterity to actually pull it off.... McDonald does more in a page than most writers do in a chapter." --Neal Stephenson.
