What do you think?
Rate this book
Slabscape #1
Reset
Praise for the Slabscape series
“I found myself chuckling throughout in a way that reminded me of Hitchhiker’s guide’
“a great read for Sci–Fi fans and other humans”
“Slabscape soon began to feel like a curious fusion of Douglas Adams and Iain M Banks, Hitchikers and Culture. Perhaps even a little Harry Harrison too.”
"I had forgotten how truly funny great sci-fi can be…….I laughed a lot, believe me!"
“Best read since Neuromancer”
“I’ve read quite a lot of sci-fi novels and I would easily put Slabscape in my top 5 and I highly recommend you stop reading reviews and go get this book.”
"by dice this is great"
"There are many chapters in this book that remind me of HARRY HARRISON at his best,and for me that is saying something."
"An original concept, interesting characters, witty dialogue, and novel futuristic ideas all make this a most entertaining and often thought-provoking read. Just enough Sci-Fi for the hard-core fans, and enough plot and intrigue for the norms."
"Hilarious!"
"I’ve been reading hard core science fiction all my adult life and I must say that I really enjoyed this novel… It didn’t take long to realise that there was a great story instead. It really does take a number of ideas and explores their impact on people."
"S Spencer Baker created an amazing new world for the reader to explore and I can’t wait to read the next installment."
Take the most sophisticated A.I. designed mind that has ever existed, encase it in over fifty million cubic kilometres of diamond nano-rods and send it off on a twenty-thousand-year odyssey towards the centre of the galaxy. Then screw it all up by allowing thirty-two million humans to go along for the ride.
SLABSCAPE : RESET takes place mainly on, or rather, in Slab; an extra-black spaceship the size of California that left Earth orbit in 2106 on a 20,000 lightyear voyage to the source of human suffering, or ‘home’ as the locals call it. It wasn't Slab-shaped when it departed, it looked more like a 350 Km high skyscraper with themed floors - but that was a long time ago. How long, is one of those questions the 32 million SlabCitizens prefer to not think about, seeing as they're approaching lightspeed where time annoyingly dilates (that is, they were approaching lightspeed but something’s wrong with the gravity drives).
One of the citizens has just been revived from what he considers to have been a 360-year-long dream. He used to be known as Louie Drago back on Earth but now he has a new body, a new name and an almost entirely vacant memory.
Fortunately, the original Louie, having been a pornographically wealthy, self-described 'business gurulla' had not only bought himself a one-way cryo-ticket which included having his body reengineered and returned back to its prime, he’d also had his entire personality digitised and uploaded to the ship’s systems as an interactive hologram. Well, we say ‘fortunately’ but so far, very few people feel they have benefited from that decision.
Gravity and levity are in abundance - and in every direction.
Reset is the first novel in the Slabscape series by S.Spencer Baker.
Webback
The book is backed up by a free online resource of background articles on the characters and the concepts explored – with definitions, explanations and complete irrelevancies –
“I found myself chuckling throughout in a way that reminded me of Hitchhiker’s guide’
“a great read for Sci–Fi fans and other humans”
“Slabscape soon began to feel like a curious fusion of Douglas Adams and Iain M Banks, Hitchikers and Culture. Perhaps even a little Harry Harrison too.”
"I had forgotten how truly funny great sci-fi can be…….I laughed a lot, believe me!"
“Best read since Neuromancer”
“I’ve read quite a lot of sci-fi novels and I would easily put Slabscape in my top 5 and I highly recommend you stop reading reviews and go get this book.”
"by dice this is great"
"There are many chapters in this book that remind me of HARRY HARRISON at his best,and for me that is saying something."
"An original concept, interesting characters, witty dialogue, and novel futuristic ideas all make this a most entertaining and often thought-provoking read. Just enough Sci-Fi for the hard-core fans, and enough plot and intrigue for the norms."
"Hilarious!"
"I’ve been reading hard core science fiction all my adult life and I must say that I really enjoyed this novel… It didn’t take long to realise that there was a great story instead. It really does take a number of ideas and explores their impact on people."
"S Spencer Baker created an amazing new world for the reader to explore and I can’t wait to read the next installment."
Take the most sophisticated A.I. designed mind that has ever existed, encase it in over fifty million cubic kilometres of diamond nano-rods and send it off on a twenty-thousand-year odyssey towards the centre of the galaxy. Then screw it all up by allowing thirty-two million humans to go along for the ride.
SLABSCAPE : RESET takes place mainly on, or rather, in Slab; an extra-black spaceship the size of California that left Earth orbit in 2106 on a 20,000 lightyear voyage to the source of human suffering, or ‘home’ as the locals call it. It wasn't Slab-shaped when it departed, it looked more like a 350 Km high skyscraper with themed floors - but that was a long time ago. How long, is one of those questions the 32 million SlabCitizens prefer to not think about, seeing as they're approaching lightspeed where time annoyingly dilates (that is, they were approaching lightspeed but something’s wrong with the gravity drives).
One of the citizens has just been revived from what he considers to have been a 360-year-long dream. He used to be known as Louie Drago back on Earth but now he has a new body, a new name and an almost entirely vacant memory.
Fortunately, the original Louie, having been a pornographically wealthy, self-described 'business gurulla' had not only bought himself a one-way cryo-ticket which included having his body reengineered and returned back to its prime, he’d also had his entire personality digitised and uploaded to the ship’s systems as an interactive hologram. Well, we say ‘fortunately’ but so far, very few people feel they have benefited from that decision.
Gravity and levity are in abundance - and in every direction.
Reset is the first novel in the Slabscape series by S.Spencer Baker.
Webback
The book is backed up by a free online resource of background articles on the characters and the concepts explored – with definitions, explanations and complete irrelevancies –
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 12, 2010
97 people are currently reading
383 people want to read
About the author
S. Spencer Baker
8 books58 followersS. Spencer Baker (Steve) was born in September 1956 in Nottingham, England. He fled formal education and family at 17 and refused to ever return to either. He spent many years exploiting the intellectual property of others, first by setting up an indie record label which failed, and then a management company that struggled for far too long before finally finding international success and then a design, film and advertising company which, after a shaky start, thrived in Europe, the US, and Japan. He woke up one morning in Tokyo and remembered that his childhood dream was to write Science Fiction.
Ten years later, Steve published his first novel Slabscape: Reset. The novel is a web-back; a work of fiction which is published in printed as well as e-book format with addenda, back-stories and tangentially linked information available through an online wiki: Slabscapedia.
The second book in the series, Slabscape: Dammit was published in Kindle format in November 2014. The paperback followed six months later. Dammit extends the webback concept with a few more surprises 'hidden' online.
Both of the first two books in the series have been awarded Amazon Best Seller status.
The third book in the series, Slabscape: Reboot, was published on Kindle on 21st December 2020. The paperback may follow later, or book four (Slabscape: Blocks) may come first on the Kindle before either go to print. Ask Schrödinger, he knows.
The first three books in the Slabscape series are available in audiobook format.
Ten years later, Steve published his first novel Slabscape: Reset. The novel is a web-back; a work of fiction which is published in printed as well as e-book format with addenda, back-stories and tangentially linked information available through an online wiki: Slabscapedia.
The second book in the series, Slabscape: Dammit was published in Kindle format in November 2014. The paperback followed six months later. Dammit extends the webback concept with a few more surprises 'hidden' online.
Both of the first two books in the series have been awarded Amazon Best Seller status.
The third book in the series, Slabscape: Reboot, was published on Kindle on 21st December 2020. The paperback may follow later, or book four (Slabscape: Blocks) may come first on the Kindle before either go to print. Ask Schrödinger, he knows.
The first three books in the Slabscape series are available in audiobook format.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
July 13, 2012
There is a trap that SF is always in danger of falling into – that of the too-weird, too-ridiculous, too-far-fetched. At the best of times it’s a genre that –whether in movies, TV series’ or novels- dances on the knife-edge between ‘Oh, okay, I understand that, it’s pretty cool!’ and ‘Huh? I don’t get it.’ Not to mention that any SF runs the risk of retreading old territory without doing it in a new and interesting way – sort of like what the movie Carnivore was to Jurassic Park.
It’s not often that an author not only manages to straddle that line between believability and wonder but also comes across as truly imaginative, and I’m pleased to report the S. Spencer Baker is such an author.
When I first heard of the book (thanks to Joe Bailey of Blip Publishing), I seriously thought that I was going to get a below-standard (in terms of physical quality) product binding a clunky, poorly edited story that wasn’t going to be particularly inventive – yep, that all flew out the window as soon as I opened the book. :-)
That’s the first thing that struck me about the book (other than the strange yet beautiful cover artwork) – the fact that it doesn’t start the way a book usually does: you know, with a full page or half a page of text. Not so with this book – you open it up and it sort of yanks your attention, just because what you expect to be there on the first page (where the story starts, should I say) isn’t there. You’ll be forgiven for thinking that it’s misprinted – I thought so, too. But then I started reading, and continued reading, until eventually this book that came out of nowhere from a publisher I hadn’t heard of before had my utter and complete attention.
The main character (it’s his fault some of the pages are blank in the beginning; you’ll understand why) wakes up and is served by a nurse that walks through walls. As the story continues we find out more about him – who he actually is, how he came to be where he is, etc. And as he journey’s through the book the author manages to make his awakening –regarding how to learn to use his body, how he reacts in certain situations and the odd thoughts that pop into his mind- interesting as well as humorous; there were plenty of scenes where I laughed out loud or had to force myself to have a discreet giggle.
Once he’s in place the world that the author has created – the Slab – opens up exponentially; it’s obvious to me that plenty of thought went into creating the world of the Slab, and it shows in the myriad cultures that are unveiled, the philosophies of these cultures, the technology in the Slab, etc. The world-building is not only thoughtful and interesting but also actually makes sense, in the context of the story. But the characters don’t suffer at the expense of the world-building, either. :-)
One thing I have to stress – this is one of those books wherein red herrings and sleight of hand abound: the author skillfully led me along, opening up myriad plot threads –and keeping me interested in them all- and then bringing everything together at the end to create a complex, entertaining and wonderful climax. I had no clue that things would turn out the way they did, though in retrospect, humanity being what it is, and the Slab being what it is, the rule of ‘anything can and will happen’ is too true. :-)
This book has a bit of everything – a high-tech, far-future premise, entertaining characters, humour in spades, a definite satirical edge and a satisfying and entertaining ending. I’m glad I got the chance to read this book and I definitely count myself among S. Spencer Baker’s fans. :-)
Highly recommended, and I’m looking forward to book 2!
9 / 10
It’s not often that an author not only manages to straddle that line between believability and wonder but also comes across as truly imaginative, and I’m pleased to report the S. Spencer Baker is such an author.
When I first heard of the book (thanks to Joe Bailey of Blip Publishing), I seriously thought that I was going to get a below-standard (in terms of physical quality) product binding a clunky, poorly edited story that wasn’t going to be particularly inventive – yep, that all flew out the window as soon as I opened the book. :-)
That’s the first thing that struck me about the book (other than the strange yet beautiful cover artwork) – the fact that it doesn’t start the way a book usually does: you know, with a full page or half a page of text. Not so with this book – you open it up and it sort of yanks your attention, just because what you expect to be there on the first page (where the story starts, should I say) isn’t there. You’ll be forgiven for thinking that it’s misprinted – I thought so, too. But then I started reading, and continued reading, until eventually this book that came out of nowhere from a publisher I hadn’t heard of before had my utter and complete attention.
The main character (it’s his fault some of the pages are blank in the beginning; you’ll understand why) wakes up and is served by a nurse that walks through walls. As the story continues we find out more about him – who he actually is, how he came to be where he is, etc. And as he journey’s through the book the author manages to make his awakening –regarding how to learn to use his body, how he reacts in certain situations and the odd thoughts that pop into his mind- interesting as well as humorous; there were plenty of scenes where I laughed out loud or had to force myself to have a discreet giggle.
Once he’s in place the world that the author has created – the Slab – opens up exponentially; it’s obvious to me that plenty of thought went into creating the world of the Slab, and it shows in the myriad cultures that are unveiled, the philosophies of these cultures, the technology in the Slab, etc. The world-building is not only thoughtful and interesting but also actually makes sense, in the context of the story. But the characters don’t suffer at the expense of the world-building, either. :-)
One thing I have to stress – this is one of those books wherein red herrings and sleight of hand abound: the author skillfully led me along, opening up myriad plot threads –and keeping me interested in them all- and then bringing everything together at the end to create a complex, entertaining and wonderful climax. I had no clue that things would turn out the way they did, though in retrospect, humanity being what it is, and the Slab being what it is, the rule of ‘anything can and will happen’ is too true. :-)
This book has a bit of everything – a high-tech, far-future premise, entertaining characters, humour in spades, a definite satirical edge and a satisfying and entertaining ending. I’m glad I got the chance to read this book and I definitely count myself among S. Spencer Baker’s fans. :-)
Highly recommended, and I’m looking forward to book 2!
9 / 10
June 26, 2012
Despite being a newbie to the world of science fiction literacy, Baker hooked me in and has left me eagerly anticipating the arrival of the second book in the series. I found all the science fiction thoroughly interesting and it left me awestruck at the imagination of Baker. Though the idea of Slabscpedia was lovely, it was not needed as I learned when Dielle learned. Slabscape: Reset has more than just science fiction going for it though. Bakers’ subtle humour kept me chuckling throughout the book and after the introduction of Drago, the second central character I found it hard to put the book down at all. Bakers’ characters, main and otherwise are delightfully diverse. You get everything from a 26 year old baby, to a straight talking hologram and then some when it comes to SIS. The story itself was good, at times moving a bit slow for my liking but inevitably essential as you get introduced to the Slab and as this is the first in a series it does have to set up quite a bit of backstory. The ending was also a little rushed for my liking as it tied all lose ends up very quickly. I had thought there would be more of a mystery to it that would be carried throughout the series. However I am still anticipating Slabscape: Dammit as I can’t wait to see what happens with Dielle as he come further to grip with the world around him and the new problem for Slab that needs resolving.
April 11, 2022
"Slabscape: Reset" by S. Spencer Baker refers to a regenerated 'reset' improved human on spaceship 'Slab' aimed to the destination where our soul energy flows upon death.
The concept is fresh, novel. But it wears thin under techno-babble.
Morals, be careful what you wish for, definition of success, work in a subtle cute aside
This could be a Utopian daydream, to start all over, televised in their physical peak. The president is selected by random lottery because those who want the power are too corrupt, but the current candidate is allowed three terms in a row because he is smart and politically strong enough to trick the system.
Opening chapters, Dielle's awakening, realistically startle and catch our attention. Louis is his foul-mouth hologram original, short, fat, rude, ugly-inside-and-out senior with a single f- word vocabulary. Asides to the 'Sis' Mother intelligence, techno-babble, and unfunny attempts, such as a full page of upper-case lawyerese disclaimer to be signed, grow tedious.
Another reader searched in vain for a crisis and climax. An apparent crucial danger approaches. A council of synthetic lookalikes sends multiple copies of the virtual Louis to solve.
The concept is fresh, novel. But it wears thin under techno-babble.
Morals, be careful what you wish for, definition of success, work in a subtle cute aside
This could be a Utopian daydream, to start all over, televised in their physical peak. The president is selected by random lottery because those who want the power are too corrupt, but the current candidate is allowed three terms in a row because he is smart and politically strong enough to trick the system.
Opening chapters, Dielle's awakening, realistically startle and catch our attention. Louis is his foul-mouth hologram original, short, fat, rude, ugly-inside-and-out senior with a single f- word vocabulary. Asides to the 'Sis' Mother intelligence, techno-babble, and unfunny attempts, such as a full page of upper-case lawyerese disclaimer to be signed, grow tedious.
Another reader searched in vain for a crisis and climax. An apparent crucial danger approaches. A council of synthetic lookalikes sends multiple copies of the virtual Louis to solve.
January 6, 2012
I keep seeing reviews comparing this novel to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which I totally get, but for me it was even more like a sci-fi Alice in Wonderland; it starts you off halfway down the rabbit hole, and you scramble to find your footing in an increasingly absurd but somehow completely believable world where many things are literally upside down. There's a disgruntled hologram, a mysterious war, an ever-evolving spaceship on a singularly fantastic intergalactic mission, and a society in which you can support yourself by selling the rights to your every conversation. The future according to S. Spencer Baker is wild and bright and filled with endless distractions, and it's completely engrossing. It's the most fun, cheeky science fiction that I've read in quite a while, and I definitely hope to see more of this universe.
November 18, 2011
An interesting cross between Neuromancer and the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. The author was sometimes silly, sometimes sarcastic, and sometimes prophetic.
October 6, 2012
From the first couple of pages I was pretty sure I would enjoy this book, and I wasn't disappointed. I finished and can't wait to get my hands on the sequel – finish that draft Dammit! I initially started making comparisons in my head to Douglas Adams, Grant Naylor with a dash of Banks, but that was just a superficial impression. Slabscape was it's own unique style and Baker has his own story to tell. I should reveal that I was provided a free electronic copy in exchange for a review, which I think is a great idea to get the word out and in no way influences my impressions.
I really enjoyed the character and plot development and the hints at what might be to come in the next books. There's a great balance of wit throughout, not laugh out loud but frequently brought a smile to my face and the odd chuckle. And there's still enough hard si-fi to sink your teeth in to.
There's a further online side to this story. Slabscapedia is a Wiki that is linked to throughout the story. I loved the idea of this but in practice I gave up on it very quickly. It was far too interesting! I will surely come back to it, but while I was reading the book I found it was too distracting. I'd follow a link and end up 10 degrees of separation from my initial reference, having to exercise some discipline to return to the story. That is the blessing and curse that is the humble hyperlink. It did not help either that I was on a Kindle, which is hardly a great internet device. Mine is not a touch model so navigating web pages was slow, awkward and takes you out of the moment. Had I been reading on an iPad I think that aspect would be a completely different and much more seamless experience. The Wiki has a great amount of depth already, and it's easily as funny and fascinating as the book. I will go back to it as an independent exercise. Well worth reading.
I really enjoyed the character and plot development and the hints at what might be to come in the next books. There's a great balance of wit throughout, not laugh out loud but frequently brought a smile to my face and the odd chuckle. And there's still enough hard si-fi to sink your teeth in to.
There's a further online side to this story. Slabscapedia is a Wiki that is linked to throughout the story. I loved the idea of this but in practice I gave up on it very quickly. It was far too interesting! I will surely come back to it, but while I was reading the book I found it was too distracting. I'd follow a link and end up 10 degrees of separation from my initial reference, having to exercise some discipline to return to the story. That is the blessing and curse that is the humble hyperlink. It did not help either that I was on a Kindle, which is hardly a great internet device. Mine is not a touch model so navigating web pages was slow, awkward and takes you out of the moment. Had I been reading on an iPad I think that aspect would be a completely different and much more seamless experience. The Wiki has a great amount of depth already, and it's easily as funny and fascinating as the book. I will go back to it as an independent exercise. Well worth reading.
April 30, 2012
Full disclosure: i was given a review copy by the publisher
Further disclosure: i greatly enjoyed this book
I'm not the type to write long-winded reviews with full plot summaries, so instead here are some of my thoughts:
it get's compared to Douglas Adams a lot, but that's not quite right; it's Douglas Adams and John Scalzi writing what happens when you mix House of Leaves with Hull Zero Three.
The webback thing is really interesting to me. or more properly the epub with embedded links to Slabscapedia. in the same way that House of Leaves is a wholly physical book--that is, it doesn't lend itself to a digital format--this is a uniquely digital experience.
the coolest things about the wiki:
it's a rabbit hole of sorts-- and interesting in its own right
it manages to provide the kind of information that readers (like myself) who love worldbuilders and the depth and complexity you can find there without clogging up the story.
I appreciated it almost more when there was a link i didn't click through--it's the easiest thing to just keep reading when you don't want get distracted from the plot.
i can't wait to see what happens to the wiki when the next book comes out.
nonverbal/telepathic conversations can be tricky to get right in a written story, and i think this guy does a great job of it.
the title is awkward. i would rather have seen it called Reset: a novel of the slabscape (or something like that).
i'm eagerly awaiting the sequel.
Further disclosure: i greatly enjoyed this book
I'm not the type to write long-winded reviews with full plot summaries, so instead here are some of my thoughts:
it get's compared to Douglas Adams a lot, but that's not quite right; it's Douglas Adams and John Scalzi writing what happens when you mix House of Leaves with Hull Zero Three.
The webback thing is really interesting to me. or more properly the epub with embedded links to Slabscapedia. in the same way that House of Leaves is a wholly physical book--that is, it doesn't lend itself to a digital format--this is a uniquely digital experience.
the coolest things about the wiki:
it's a rabbit hole of sorts-- and interesting in its own right
it manages to provide the kind of information that readers (like myself) who love worldbuilders and the depth and complexity you can find there without clogging up the story.
I appreciated it almost more when there was a link i didn't click through--it's the easiest thing to just keep reading when you don't want get distracted from the plot.
i can't wait to see what happens to the wiki when the next book comes out.
nonverbal/telepathic conversations can be tricky to get right in a written story, and i think this guy does a great job of it.
the title is awkward. i would rather have seen it called Reset: a novel of the slabscape (or something like that).
i'm eagerly awaiting the sequel.
May 8, 2012
I found out about this book here on Goodreads and instantly liked the description plus the fact that the author S.Spencer Baker seems to enjoy the Culture novels by Iain Banks (based on the ratings he's given them). So I was thrilled to get a copy of this from the publisher. However, I haven't read much humorous science fiction since the Hitchhiker's Guide and wasn't sure what to expect.
But I loved this book. And most of all I loved the world of this book. It was fascinating, very well created and detailed. I also think the Slabscapedia is a great addition to the book, although I have only started browsing it now after reading the book. And yes, it was funny, I thoroughly enjoyed S.Spencer Baker's sense of humor.
I enjoyed reading about how Dielle struggled to get used to the future he woke up in, while naively falling in love with the first woman he meets even though she is quite annoying and even more I enjoyed the more mysterious plot line with Draco. In the end I liked all the main characters and some of the best parts of the book deal with the interactions between them. For example the disappointment of Draco over the lack of basketball and how he/Dielle turned out to be.
What keeps me from giving it 5 stars is that Slabscape: Reset still felt a bit like just an itroduction to a great series. The ending was a bit rushed and I feel I can't wait for the next one and see where this is going.
But I loved this book. And most of all I loved the world of this book. It was fascinating, very well created and detailed. I also think the Slabscapedia is a great addition to the book, although I have only started browsing it now after reading the book. And yes, it was funny, I thoroughly enjoyed S.Spencer Baker's sense of humor.
I enjoyed reading about how Dielle struggled to get used to the future he woke up in, while naively falling in love with the first woman he meets even though she is quite annoying and even more I enjoyed the more mysterious plot line with Draco. In the end I liked all the main characters and some of the best parts of the book deal with the interactions between them. For example the disappointment of Draco over the lack of basketball and how he/Dielle turned out to be.
What keeps me from giving it 5 stars is that Slabscape: Reset still felt a bit like just an itroduction to a great series. The ending was a bit rushed and I feel I can't wait for the next one and see where this is going.
April 27, 2012
Slabscape: Reset had me hooked from start to finish. It explores life aboard an interstellar spaceship and the peculiaralities that occur there. The characters are believable and incredibly well thought out. Dielle's struggle with coming to terms with a new world is the central theme of the book and plays out in a hitchhiker's style comedic fashion. Baker adds humour and whimsy to all aspects of the story and uses it to bring his unbelievably well thought out world to life. And I mean well thought out! The attention to detail in creating the parts of "Slab" (the interstellar spaceship) and the society that lives within it is quite astounding and demonstrates the author's love for his world. He imagines the future of entertainment and the reality TV genre and the futuristic system of government and even how people shower and purchase food.
The second main story thread follows Louis Drago who is a holographic version of a business mogul from back on Earth. He has a traditional cut-throat attitude towards people and business and he makes a wonderful addition to the story as you can see how society has changed, being protected by a the benevolent AI overlord that is Sis.
Slabscape brings all the whimsical comedy of hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy in a refreshing and intriuging setting that is sure to captivate your imagination. I for one am eagerly anticipating the sequel.
The second main story thread follows Louis Drago who is a holographic version of a business mogul from back on Earth. He has a traditional cut-throat attitude towards people and business and he makes a wonderful addition to the story as you can see how society has changed, being protected by a the benevolent AI overlord that is Sis.
Slabscape brings all the whimsical comedy of hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy in a refreshing and intriuging setting that is sure to captivate your imagination. I for one am eagerly anticipating the sequel.
July 30, 2011
Firstly, I got this book as a GoodReads giveaway, chosen out of over 1000 people, so thank you.
The blurb on the back was punchy and hooked me in but I got the feeling that perhaps that meant that the book would be predictable. Fortunately, I was wrong.
I liked the viewpoints from the two characters (Dielle and Drago), which wasn't expected, did think it was going to be just Dielle's story to be honest. Kiki was a little annoying but I think she was meant to be!
Some unbelievable concepts but also some believable, notably the broadcasting of the 'sumes' which could be seen as the future version of today's society posting anything and everything on YouTube! And 'big Sis' instead of Big Brother - nice!
The humour was funny and not intrusive and I liked the pop culture references.
Somehow, I would have liked to have read more about Sis, did feel the end was a little rushed but still somewhat satisfying.
All in all, a fun read.
The blurb on the back was punchy and hooked me in but I got the feeling that perhaps that meant that the book would be predictable. Fortunately, I was wrong.
I liked the viewpoints from the two characters (Dielle and Drago), which wasn't expected, did think it was going to be just Dielle's story to be honest. Kiki was a little annoying but I think she was meant to be!
Some unbelievable concepts but also some believable, notably the broadcasting of the 'sumes' which could be seen as the future version of today's society posting anything and everything on YouTube! And 'big Sis' instead of Big Brother - nice!
The humour was funny and not intrusive and I liked the pop culture references.
Somehow, I would have liked to have read more about Sis, did feel the end was a little rushed but still somewhat satisfying.
All in all, a fun read.
October 15, 2011
The first and hopefully not the last!
Slabcscape is one hell of a book and S.S.Baker is one hell of an author.
I enjoyed every page of it. The book was fun to read and always kept me asking for more. The characters are all unique and believable. I enjoyed the idea of Dielle and Drago "technically" being the same person yet both having conflicting opinions.
What I really enjoyed tho, more so than the characters, was the world in the they lived in. The technology used in everyday life is quite mind boggling at first but it they will soon grow on you. Whenever I stopped reading for the night, I found myself pondering "what if" scenarios, if these technological advances were ever made possible in my lifetime.
I've read quite a lot of sci-fi novels and I would easily put Slabscape in my top 5 and I highly recommend you stop reading reviews and go get this book.
I promise you.....
You won't be disappointed.
Slabcscape is one hell of a book and S.S.Baker is one hell of an author.
I enjoyed every page of it. The book was fun to read and always kept me asking for more. The characters are all unique and believable. I enjoyed the idea of Dielle and Drago "technically" being the same person yet both having conflicting opinions.
What I really enjoyed tho, more so than the characters, was the world in the they lived in. The technology used in everyday life is quite mind boggling at first but it they will soon grow on you. Whenever I stopped reading for the night, I found myself pondering "what if" scenarios, if these technological advances were ever made possible in my lifetime.
I've read quite a lot of sci-fi novels and I would easily put Slabscape in my top 5 and I highly recommend you stop reading reviews and go get this book.
I promise you.....
You won't be disappointed.
April 23, 2012
Slabscape: Reset is an intriguing read and kept me enthralled from the first word to the last.
Although this novel is not the style of novel I would usually read It's setting in space is one of my favorites places for a story to be.
I really enjoyed the rich variety of technology imagined by S.Spencer Baker and how the slab was effectively run by an adaptive and completely evolved A.I. Even though she is not directly a main character I really am interested in how Sis has an effect on the story and lives of the characters.
The juxtaposition between the characters of Louie Drago and Dielle is something that makes me feel like being reset is something equivalent to reincarnation. It was amazing to see how different Louie could be from himself.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how the story on-slab and on the cosmic tit unfold
Although this novel is not the style of novel I would usually read It's setting in space is one of my favorites places for a story to be.
I really enjoyed the rich variety of technology imagined by S.Spencer Baker and how the slab was effectively run by an adaptive and completely evolved A.I. Even though she is not directly a main character I really am interested in how Sis has an effect on the story and lives of the characters.
The juxtaposition between the characters of Louie Drago and Dielle is something that makes me feel like being reset is something equivalent to reincarnation. It was amazing to see how different Louie could be from himself.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how the story on-slab and on the cosmic tit unfold
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2012
the author S.Spencer Baker is a brilliant author and has made probably one of the best sci-fi books I have ever read. Slabscape: Reset is a amazing book, based in a futuristic world built into a ship where everything and anything is possible. at first the reader might be confused by the new slang that is incorporated into the novel but soon becomes like second nature. The world of slabscape is one of pure amazement where anything you what to know is just a thought away. the characters in this book are described in-depth and after a few chapters do you really get a sense of each one and their pure uniqueness that adds to the world around them. I found myself asking, I wondering whats going on in slabscape and becoming lost in the world of this novel. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a fabulous read and loves sci-fi. truly a amazing book and I cant emphasize that enough.
May 4, 2012
Pleasantly enjoyable lightweight sci-fi.
I'd been equally intrigued but dubious with the various reviews comparing this to Hitchhikers' - but having read it, I can see the point. Equally, there's seems to be a lot of Bill Gibson, WJW et al influencing the writing style too.
An easy read, fun and enjoyable. While a fair mention is made on the online resource (Slabscapedia) which gives information, background etc. (possibly adding to the HHG2G parallel) I read the book without feeling the need to refer to it; the invented jargon in descriptions and speech aren't so far-fetched as to not be apparent from the context, especially once you've seen them used a few times.
Overall it's an interesting collection of SF concepts rebuilt in an interesting, humorous and intelligent way, resulting in a fun and unusual new world to explore.
I'd been equally intrigued but dubious with the various reviews comparing this to Hitchhikers' - but having read it, I can see the point. Equally, there's seems to be a lot of Bill Gibson, WJW et al influencing the writing style too.
An easy read, fun and enjoyable. While a fair mention is made on the online resource (Slabscapedia) which gives information, background etc. (possibly adding to the HHG2G parallel) I read the book without feeling the need to refer to it; the invented jargon in descriptions and speech aren't so far-fetched as to not be apparent from the context, especially once you've seen them used a few times.
Overall it's an interesting collection of SF concepts rebuilt in an interesting, humorous and intelligent way, resulting in a fun and unusual new world to explore.
December 19, 2011
Slabscape: Reset was a great read. It was funny, interesting and the technology on Slab was believable and exciting. S. Spencer Baker has a brilliant imagination. His descriptions of Slab and its inhabitants were vibrant and made Slab almost tangible.
I really enjoyed Drago as a character. Although he was out of his body, he was not out of his element. Not even the most ruthless and savvy of Slab's business people were a match for his negotiating ability.
I thoroughly enjoyed Slabscape. It includes many twists and turns which kept me guessing. I would definitely recommend this book and I am looking forward to the sequel.
I really enjoyed Drago as a character. Although he was out of his body, he was not out of his element. Not even the most ruthless and savvy of Slab's business people were a match for his negotiating ability.
I thoroughly enjoyed Slabscape. It includes many twists and turns which kept me guessing. I would definitely recommend this book and I am looking forward to the sequel.
March 13, 2012
I was thoroughly delighted by ‘Slabscape: Reset.’ The world itself was utterly fascinating and kept my interest. Slab as a technological haven and the lingo that came with all that, at first utterly confused me and I thought I was in over my head but with help from Dielle and Kiki and of course Sis, it became no problem. How easy everything would be if you pretty much had a superior Google in your head! Once i started it was hard for me to put down i was so interested. It kept my imagination on the go non stop. I couldnt wait to see where the characters were going to end up next. A joy to read and i look forward to the sequel:D
August 3, 2016
An interesting take on future society with a large portion of tongue in cheek humor.
Dealing with a bizzare future set floating through space on board a gigantic space-ship (or Slab), although calling it a ship is an understatement, The protagonist awakens in a different world to the one he left behind. But is it better?
This twist on modern/future society full of strange new technology and with obvious parodies of some of today's popular phenoms is a trip into a dark and strangely twisted new world. Where nothing is as it seems and yet everything is!
A must read for any fan of sci-fi or anyone who enjoys a well built world full of detail and intrigue.
Dealing with a bizzare future set floating through space on board a gigantic space-ship (or Slab), although calling it a ship is an understatement, The protagonist awakens in a different world to the one he left behind. But is it better?
This twist on modern/future society full of strange new technology and with obvious parodies of some of today's popular phenoms is a trip into a dark and strangely twisted new world. Where nothing is as it seems and yet everything is!
A must read for any fan of sci-fi or anyone who enjoys a well built world full of detail and intrigue.
August 5, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. The technology was believable and aptly explained using Dielle. Kiki was a tad annoying to begin with but by the end of the book was fine. I would have liked to have seen more of the Slab culture but I hope that will occur in the next book.
I couldn't give it five stars though because at times it was quite predictable where it was heading and in other parts it moved a little too quickly. Overall though it was a great book and I'd recommend it to anyone with a sense of humour.
I couldn't give it five stars though because at times it was quite predictable where it was heading and in other parts it moved a little too quickly. Overall though it was a great book and I'd recommend it to anyone with a sense of humour.
March 12, 2012
After reading this book multiple time I still feel excited every time I pick it up , each time is a new experience where I notice something new and exciting about life with slab , the crazy science portrayed annoys me in the worst Possible way ,it makes me hate time we will in .! Hopefully someday I can get into one of those cryo chambers .! Slab here I come
Slabscape is a book for anyone who loves fantasy , science fiction. especially for the avid Doctor Who fan.!This book leaves you wanting more and I can't wait for dammit to come out .
Slabscape is a book for anyone who loves fantasy , science fiction. especially for the avid Doctor Who fan.!This book leaves you wanting more and I can't wait for dammit to come out .
Read
August 18, 2024Quotes from Amazon reviews; "Slabscape is a very humorous and believable sci-fi outing. Drago as a character is easily the most thought-out and well written character I have come across this year.", "a fun read", "a fantastic sci-fi read full of brilliantly techy and sometimes weird imagination. I can't wait for the sequel(s)", "mind blowing and breath-taking - where does he get his ideas?" and "an absolute gem!".
July 14, 2012
This novel was a very good read- a nice blend of sci-fi, comedy and drama, with the character of Louis Drago causing me to laugh quite regularly with some of his jibes. It slowed a bit in the middle, with the characters just going about their seemingly day-to-day business without much drama and at that stage it became very lingo heavy. However the book as a whole is easy to recommend and I am beyond pleased with the stage that has been set for the next novel. Roll on Slabscape:Dammit!
September 13, 2015
For me this is the kind of book I would love on principle. It has everything that a sci-fi fan could want. The setting and characters are fresh and intriguing and the dark dry humour contrasts beautifully with the sobering seriousness of the situation presented. I grew up reading and loving Ian M. Banks and for me Slabscape feels like Banks at his best.
November 22, 2016
This was a really light read, with a thread of humour running through it and with some very creative and interesting ideas. I liked that it touched on social, political, religious and technological aspects of society, and not in any depth that made it heavy, but enough to make you wonder what society might develop into.
Want to read
July 11, 2011Seems like an interesting sci-fi read. (I'm a fan of how little the book description gave away. I'd much rather learn things as the author decides to present them than be waiting for an event mentioned on the book jacket.)
September 21, 2021
Sci-fi and humour are a difficult pairing, the notable exceptions make it look all the more easy. Slabscape: Reset is generally trying to reach its humour via character and scenario - someone is unfrozen after 300 years, finds themselves on a spaceship with no memories and slowly gets introduced to a society which is highly monetised by live sex shows. At the same time a copy of his original mind is let loose, and the kind of person who can afford hugely expensive freezing and resuscitation over three hundred years is a basically not that nice oligarch type. Slabscape is, if nothing else, full of ideas. Just some of them (well the core one - being called Slabscape) aren't great.
There are a couple of threads running through Slabscape Reset, which allow us a basic idea of the world that has been invented. A huge spaceship (the Slab) travelling at sub-light speed towards the a galactic centre of "death" (the afterlife - this bit is wooly). There are digressions on why basketball has died out, how matter transmission can change humanity (there is a running joke about the word shit that isn't funny and doesn't make sense). And at the heart of it were two characters that I didn't really like that much, this is partially on purpose but there is also the sense of a throwback Heinlein subtext that what this futuristic utopia needs to solve its problem is some good old fashioned hard nosed bastard capitalism.
And so it rubbed me up the wrong way and yet there were a lot of good ideas, and the solution to the big problem isn't actually hard nosed bastard capitalism at all, rather being nice and considerate to others. I knowing that humour is hard, I actually appreciated how much of it worked. So I might come back for seconds....
There are a couple of threads running through Slabscape Reset, which allow us a basic idea of the world that has been invented. A huge spaceship (the Slab) travelling at sub-light speed towards the a galactic centre of "death" (the afterlife - this bit is wooly). There are digressions on why basketball has died out, how matter transmission can change humanity (there is a running joke about the word shit that isn't funny and doesn't make sense). And at the heart of it were two characters that I didn't really like that much, this is partially on purpose but there is also the sense of a throwback Heinlein subtext that what this futuristic utopia needs to solve its problem is some good old fashioned hard nosed bastard capitalism.
And so it rubbed me up the wrong way and yet there were a lot of good ideas, and the solution to the big problem isn't actually hard nosed bastard capitalism at all, rather being nice and considerate to others. I knowing that humour is hard, I actually appreciated how much of it worked. So I might come back for seconds....
April 12, 2022
Slabscape
Mankind, and various other sentient beings, are on a one way cosmic cruise to the afterlife when the last earth born human, sort of, is thawed out of cryostasis. This leads to a series of events that forever change Slab way of life.
Discovering the world of Slabscape is a fun adventure all its own. It can be a bit hard to follow and the interactive Slabopedia is a nice touch. If you like your sci-fi kinda wacky with a sense of humor, this is for you.
Mankind, and various other sentient beings, are on a one way cosmic cruise to the afterlife when the last earth born human, sort of, is thawed out of cryostasis. This leads to a series of events that forever change Slab way of life.
Discovering the world of Slabscape is a fun adventure all its own. It can be a bit hard to follow and the interactive Slabopedia is a nice touch. If you like your sci-fi kinda wacky with a sense of humor, this is for you.
September 12, 2018
Funny and highly imaginative. A sci-fi comedy excellent for casual entertainment.
August 16, 2021
Loved it! It's almost like we never lost Iain M Banks.
November 21, 2021
Comparisons to some well known ‘trilogies’ are a little unfair, as it stands up well enough on its own. Others have provided good synopsis of what it’s about. Very imaginative, not predictable and fun in places, a few swipes at us humans. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.
August 21, 2015
From Musings of a Starving Author:
Delicious, savory science fiction! It’s admittedly a favorite treat of mine, so I was quite excited to see today’s meal slid out in front of me (that and all I had for breakfast was a thin rice gruel). It promised fascinating science fiction spices mixed with that dry British humor mix. Did it deliver or did it just dry out in the oven?
Before we begin, put your hands over your hearts and recite the Starving Review oath:
1.I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2.I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible
The first big hurdle when you’re making a sci-fi layer cake is to establish a strong first layer, to set the rules and structure of this particular piece of science fiction. Every sci-fi world has its particular flavors and it’s the consistency of those flavors that help the readers suspend their disbelief for the more futuristic or fantastic elements of the world. Mr. Baker has created a truly fantastic world in Slabscape and he does an excellent job introducing us to it and creating a consistent universe for his characters. Hurdle one is passed!
This well-baked world also supports the comedic aspects of the recipe. There’s a definitely British feel to the whole recipe, that particular sort of dry wit that appeals to my particular sense of humor. Maybe it’s a combination of blatant comedic excess mixed with a strangely firm sensibility to the way Slabscape functions that makes it all work out, but it certainly does work. That may be more important than the whys in this case as humor can be an unquantifiable thing, even for a Starving Reviewer like me.
So our genre mix is well-balanced, creating a solid foundation to layer on the heaps of characterization and creamy smooth plot, right? Well, the chef does serve up some nicely realized characters, a colorful cast that adds quite a bit of zing to the mix. Our main protagonists have a solid arc as they serve as our gateways into the sci-fi world the readers are introduced to, alongside some interestingly eccentric (at least by our 21st century viewpoints) secondary characters. So far so good!
The one stumble that Slabscape hits comes down to the plot. It’s not bad precisely, especially as the focus is obviously on introducing this bizarre future world to the readers, but that focus doesn’t entirely excuse the extremely low stakes of the plot and the rushed non-event conclusion to what might be seen as the big twist conflict introduced in the second-half of the book. With a world being presented as so perfectly safe, I kept expecting the other foot to drop, to show us that feeling of safety might be an illusion or there was something else going on, and that dramatic tension was never realized. Too many of the mysteries and conflicts built up were simply dissolved with little payoff and minimal conflict. It almost has a rushed, ‘we gotta wrap this up to set up the next book’ feel to it at the end, especially as it ends things on a new cliffhanger of sorts.
So what does that mean in the final, full analysis? Slabscape: Reset delivers on an engrossing sci-fi flavor with all the dry notes of comedic wit you might want, but the plot is unfulfilling in the end. However, you’ll enjoy the meal right to dessert, so it is still worth your time to take a bite out of if you enjoy comedic science-fiction meals. It does speak to the strength of the rest of the book’s elements that I am still giving it the rating I am despite the climax’s flat resolution. If you’re a hard sci-fi eater, though, or prefer single serving meals without committing to a series, you might want to avoid this particular repast.
FINAL VERDICT: **** (An engrossing sci-fi flavor with dry notes of comedic wit but the plot has a flat conclusion!)
Delicious, savory science fiction! It’s admittedly a favorite treat of mine, so I was quite excited to see today’s meal slid out in front of me (that and all I had for breakfast was a thin rice gruel). It promised fascinating science fiction spices mixed with that dry British humor mix. Did it deliver or did it just dry out in the oven?
Before we begin, put your hands over your hearts and recite the Starving Review oath:
1.I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2.I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible
The first big hurdle when you’re making a sci-fi layer cake is to establish a strong first layer, to set the rules and structure of this particular piece of science fiction. Every sci-fi world has its particular flavors and it’s the consistency of those flavors that help the readers suspend their disbelief for the more futuristic or fantastic elements of the world. Mr. Baker has created a truly fantastic world in Slabscape and he does an excellent job introducing us to it and creating a consistent universe for his characters. Hurdle one is passed!
This well-baked world also supports the comedic aspects of the recipe. There’s a definitely British feel to the whole recipe, that particular sort of dry wit that appeals to my particular sense of humor. Maybe it’s a combination of blatant comedic excess mixed with a strangely firm sensibility to the way Slabscape functions that makes it all work out, but it certainly does work. That may be more important than the whys in this case as humor can be an unquantifiable thing, even for a Starving Reviewer like me.
So our genre mix is well-balanced, creating a solid foundation to layer on the heaps of characterization and creamy smooth plot, right? Well, the chef does serve up some nicely realized characters, a colorful cast that adds quite a bit of zing to the mix. Our main protagonists have a solid arc as they serve as our gateways into the sci-fi world the readers are introduced to, alongside some interestingly eccentric (at least by our 21st century viewpoints) secondary characters. So far so good!
The one stumble that Slabscape hits comes down to the plot. It’s not bad precisely, especially as the focus is obviously on introducing this bizarre future world to the readers, but that focus doesn’t entirely excuse the extremely low stakes of the plot and the rushed non-event conclusion to what might be seen as the big twist conflict introduced in the second-half of the book. With a world being presented as so perfectly safe, I kept expecting the other foot to drop, to show us that feeling of safety might be an illusion or there was something else going on, and that dramatic tension was never realized. Too many of the mysteries and conflicts built up were simply dissolved with little payoff and minimal conflict. It almost has a rushed, ‘we gotta wrap this up to set up the next book’ feel to it at the end, especially as it ends things on a new cliffhanger of sorts.
So what does that mean in the final, full analysis? Slabscape: Reset delivers on an engrossing sci-fi flavor with all the dry notes of comedic wit you might want, but the plot is unfulfilling in the end. However, you’ll enjoy the meal right to dessert, so it is still worth your time to take a bite out of if you enjoy comedic science-fiction meals. It does speak to the strength of the rest of the book’s elements that I am still giving it the rating I am despite the climax’s flat resolution. If you’re a hard sci-fi eater, though, or prefer single serving meals without committing to a series, you might want to avoid this particular repast.
FINAL VERDICT: **** (An engrossing sci-fi flavor with dry notes of comedic wit but the plot has a flat conclusion!)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews