The short stories collected in Wages: Future Tales of a Hired Gun form a blood-soaked and bitterly satirical firsthand tour of the war zones of the near future. Private military contractors have all of the firepower of the military and none of the accountability. Join the 21st century's mercenary cowboys as they protect the interests of a royal DJ in Dubai, undertake a false flag operation for union-busters in Michigan, shoot it out with separatists in East Texas, and end up as stars on a Hollywood reality show.