Alistair Brewster is a hacker turned IT security specialist who grew old. Unfortunately he has grown old in a world that cares little for the elderly. For in this extrapolated future of an ageing population the old must have the means to pay for their care or they will be thrown on the mercies of their family or more commonly, onto the streets. Brewster lives in 'The Happy Farm', a $100,000 a year home for the elderly.

Not having the finances to pay for his care, Brewster utilises the skills of his career and hacks, syphoning off funds from may different accounts, a small amount from one account and then another - with each amount hopefully escaping notice. He also hacks to pay for the care of his former hacking colleague 'Jazzanova' who is so far gone from Alzheimer's that he would not be able to manage it himself.

Into this world steps 'Silhouette', and elderly person who leads a campaign of Age Rage, when elderly people commit crimes against the young. Brewster is suspected of being Silhouette, despite his own granddaughter having been the victim of one of the attacks. Following a visit from the authorities investigating the case, he decides to find out who Silhouette is himself and, with the help of fellow residents at the Happy Farm he begins his search.

This is an odd book. I've been working in IT for a decade or so, and it's still a relatively young industry. The idea of geriatric programmers is still a little new. Although I wouldn't mind still being up to doing it in my eighties. Being set sufficiently in the future means that most of the characters references will feel very familiar to today's reader, and serve to help you into the tale, setting background detail in a concise understated way - and in a story of only 67 pages this helps fill in backstory necessary for a full understanding of the novella.

It's also a compelling little tale. you do feel for the old folks in the tale, despite their being a little cantankerous form time to time. The main character is one I'd definitely say growing old disgracefully applies to, and he gives me a certain kind of hope - maybe it will be okay to not conform to the ideas of old age when I get there.

It's also a relief that the main character is written well. This is essentially a single person narrative, with cameos here and there from the supporting characters. You will find yourself willing Brewster on, and hoping he will be able to make things okay. But as with a lot of well written ficiton you will not know exactly what the ending is likely to be before you actually read the last page.

If you have ever read and enjoyed a modern sf tome involving computers, cyberpunk or otherwise, this is probably a book that will appeal. And if you are in IT and are curious what you might be like as an octagenarian then read these pages.

Oh, and as for the title, V.A.O. stands for Victim Activated Ordnance.

Synopsis
Gus has his squeeze Mandy. Mandy used to be a lap dancer. She's still got a body, I can tell you.

She's also got a mouth and the brains to use it. Her cover is that she used to be in property development. Well yeah maybe. A certain kind of old babe has the hardest eyes you'll ever see.

Mandy says, "The trouble with that scum is they'll turn the heat up on all of us."

The Happy Farm keeps its elderly guests protected with the latest security. VAO they call it, Victim Activated Ordnance. Sound guns or microwaves blast thieves and juveniles alike.

The Happy Farm provides drugs and physiotherapy and advanced Neurobics to help heal its guests' bodies and minds.

It also costs over $100,000 a year. So, some of the guests have turned to unorthodox ways of paying their bills.

They hack it out of other people's bank accounts.

Then a gang of aged street people starts taking more direct action. They turn the VAO onto the people it's supposed to protect: the young, the wealthy. Age Rage they call it. They even have a charismatic leader called Silhouette.

The cosy criminals of the Happy Farm realise that Silhouette is drawing all together too much attention to the scourge of elderly crime.

And the best way to do something about that is to catch Silhouette themselves.