The novel beings in a dystopian future California where the U.S. government has abandoned virtually all its functions to private franchise corporations and the landscape is dotted with autonomous quasi-national city-state suburbs. Hiro Protagonist is delivering pizza for the Mafia. A brilliant hacker, Hiro has trouble working jobs that require restraint and cooperation. He carries samurai swords because he feels people fail to take him seriously enough when he carries guns. He is given a critically late pizza and wrecks his car trying to cut through a neighborhood rather than bring down the consequences of a late pizza upon himself and the mob. A 15-year-old courier who calls herself Y.T. offers to finish his delivery for him, thus earning a favor from both Hiro and the Mafia.
