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Andersson Dexter #1
Self Made
Ever wish things were different?
Ivy Velasquez did, so she became someone else. In the 3D virtual world Marionette City, you can be anything you want - but everyone still knows who you are. Driven by her desire for a new life, Ivy takes her future in her hands when she makes another identity for herself. A brilliant designer, Ivy works for one of the huge multi-national firms which control the online system the world relies upon for both business and pleasure. But one day, Ivy tries to access M City as her alternate self, Reuben Cobalt, to discover that Reuben had been murdered.
Since alternate identities are forbidden by the firms which control access to the nets and to M City, Ivy has nowhere to turn - until she finds Andersson Dexter. Part private eye, part vigilante and part cop, Dex sets out to uncover Reuben's killer. Since the corporations control almost every aspect of life, including law and order, justice for average people comes only at the hands of the outlaw organization to which Dex belongs.
Self Made is a murder mystery set in a vision of a future that seems to lurk just over the horizon. But above all, it is a story of how people strive to control their own destinies, and how that desire affects them and the people around them in ways they could never imagine.
Ivy Velasquez did, so she became someone else. In the 3D virtual world Marionette City, you can be anything you want - but everyone still knows who you are. Driven by her desire for a new life, Ivy takes her future in her hands when she makes another identity for herself. A brilliant designer, Ivy works for one of the huge multi-national firms which control the online system the world relies upon for both business and pleasure. But one day, Ivy tries to access M City as her alternate self, Reuben Cobalt, to discover that Reuben had been murdered.
Since alternate identities are forbidden by the firms which control access to the nets and to M City, Ivy has nowhere to turn - until she finds Andersson Dexter. Part private eye, part vigilante and part cop, Dex sets out to uncover Reuben's killer. Since the corporations control almost every aspect of life, including law and order, justice for average people comes only at the hands of the outlaw organization to which Dex belongs.
Self Made is a murder mystery set in a vision of a future that seems to lurk just over the horizon. But above all, it is a story of how people strive to control their own destinies, and how that desire affects them and the people around them in ways they could never imagine.
187 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
43 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
M. Darusha Wehm
36 books67 followersM. Darusha Wehm is a Nebula Award winner and Sir Julius Vogel Award winner, the author of Hamlet, Prince of Robots, the game The Martian Job, and over a dozen other novels. Their short fiction has been published widely and their poetry has been a finalist for the Rhysling Award.
Writing as Darusha Wehm, their mainstream books include the Devi Jones’ Locker YA series and the humorous coming-of-age novel The Home for Wayward Parrots.
Darusha is a member of the Many Worlds writing collective and they are a fifth of the writing team Darkly Lem, the author of The Formation Saga which starts with Transmentation | Transience.
Originally from Canada, Darusha lives in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand after several years sailing the Pacific.
Writing as Darusha Wehm, their mainstream books include the Devi Jones’ Locker YA series and the humorous coming-of-age novel The Home for Wayward Parrots.
Darusha is a member of the Many Worlds writing collective and they are a fifth of the writing team Darkly Lem, the author of The Formation Saga which starts with Transmentation | Transience.
Originally from Canada, Darusha lives in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand after several years sailing the Pacific.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 23, 2012
'Self Made' is the first of Wehm's 'Andersson Dexter' SF detective novels. It's a well-constructed and engaging story that reads like an equal-opportunity, cyberpunkish version of Asimov's 'The Caves of Steel' ... if that sounds like it might be your sort of thing, I can definitely recommend it. Wehm offers an intelligently-conceived crime, an intriguing investigation and some very plausible (though not intrusive) social commentary, served up in a writing style which, in its lack of ornamentation, is very reminiscent of Isaac Asimov (although, in my opinion, with rather more emotional awareness).
April 9, 2016
I'm putting this under sci-fi because I don't have a Futurism or Virtual Reality shelf. I've really only read one other VR book. Sci-fi just doesn't seem to cover it.
I wasn't expecting a whole lot from this, mostly because you get what you pay for, and this was a freebie. The story takes place at some unspecified time in the future where people live and socialize mostly in virtual reality and everything is run by corporations. And what isn't run by corporations is pretty much ignored.
Dex has a call center day job so that he can be a cyberdetective for what amounts to a "benevolent" vigilante group in his free time - and while he's on his day job as well. He at least gets paid, like a private detective, for his vocation. His client has had her "multi" - an extra avatar (people are only allowed one virtual identity) murdered. Its code was breached by a virus that tore it apart. She wants to know who would do such a thing.
I have spent nearly a decade in Second Life, socializing and creating my own avatars, so this should be familiar territory to me. I even read Peter May's book, Virtually Dead which I gave 4 out of 5 stars for 6 years ago. (http://staff-developomendo.blogspot.c...) But I had trouble with this. Much of the difficulty was in keeping the virtual and "meat" worlds straight. Although this might be a creative choice, a change of font might have helped me. Also, there just wasn't enough action. I don't call ordering a drink and drinking it "action." Then, of course, this all points up how inactive these people of the future have become ... without, I might add, getting fat.
But there is so much more than can be done in VR than quietly sitting in a virtual bar with a virtual beverage interrogating a virtual being. Suspects could have virtual homes and virtual hobbies. Dex could question people while skydiving or scubaing -if that's a word. It really made VR look as dull as Real Life(tm)*.
In my time in SL I have jumped off of buildings, bought and ridden a horse - both things I'm afraid of - and I go dancing every week, which I don't do anymore for many reasons. I had a job as a hostess in a club, working for tips. None of these virtual characters are doing anything interesting. In virtual realities there are vampires and roleplaying and places to visit - all more interesting than sitting around talking - and you can talk at the same time! Again, this might be a creative choice, making it a bit difficult for RL(tm) to seem even more tedious, but the author manages it. People eat bricks of nutrients and drink beverages with trademarks so inane that they seem to have come out of a 1920s ad agency (Gingapop?).
Also, not much of a mystery. Talk, talk, talk - here's the solution.
Next time I hope Dex has more excitement in his virtual life, poor dull boy. Maybe at least a sex scene. How does anyone spend any time in a virtual world without cybersex? [Looks embarrassed when she realizes that's just what she manages to do. But, dammit, I'm not fictional! I don't have to be interesting.]
*joke
I wasn't expecting a whole lot from this, mostly because you get what you pay for, and this was a freebie. The story takes place at some unspecified time in the future where people live and socialize mostly in virtual reality and everything is run by corporations. And what isn't run by corporations is pretty much ignored.
Dex has a call center day job so that he can be a cyberdetective for what amounts to a "benevolent" vigilante group in his free time - and while he's on his day job as well. He at least gets paid, like a private detective, for his vocation. His client has had her "multi" - an extra avatar (people are only allowed one virtual identity) murdered. Its code was breached by a virus that tore it apart. She wants to know who would do such a thing.
I have spent nearly a decade in Second Life, socializing and creating my own avatars, so this should be familiar territory to me. I even read Peter May's book, Virtually Dead which I gave 4 out of 5 stars for 6 years ago. (http://staff-developomendo.blogspot.c...) But I had trouble with this. Much of the difficulty was in keeping the virtual and "meat" worlds straight. Although this might be a creative choice, a change of font might have helped me. Also, there just wasn't enough action. I don't call ordering a drink and drinking it "action." Then, of course, this all points up how inactive these people of the future have become ... without, I might add, getting fat.
But there is so much more than can be done in VR than quietly sitting in a virtual bar with a virtual beverage interrogating a virtual being. Suspects could have virtual homes and virtual hobbies. Dex could question people while skydiving or scubaing -if that's a word. It really made VR look as dull as Real Life(tm)*.
In my time in SL I have jumped off of buildings, bought and ridden a horse - both things I'm afraid of - and I go dancing every week, which I don't do anymore for many reasons. I had a job as a hostess in a club, working for tips. None of these virtual characters are doing anything interesting. In virtual realities there are vampires and roleplaying and places to visit - all more interesting than sitting around talking - and you can talk at the same time! Again, this might be a creative choice, making it a bit difficult for RL(tm) to seem even more tedious, but the author manages it. People eat bricks of nutrients and drink beverages with trademarks so inane that they seem to have come out of a 1920s ad agency (Gingapop?).
Also, not much of a mystery. Talk, talk, talk - here's the solution.
Next time I hope Dex has more excitement in his virtual life, poor dull boy. Maybe at least a sex scene. How does anyone spend any time in a virtual world without cybersex? [Looks embarrassed when she realizes that's just what she manages to do. But, dammit, I'm not fictional! I don't have to be interesting.]
*joke
November 16, 2016
"... the little things ... that (make) life what it is ..."
Set in a future where people live more in a three dimensional virtual reality world than they do in the flesh, Anderson Dexter is a Crucible Man, one who works as part of an unofficial police force in addition to his boring day job with B & B Upgrades. Mostly working alone, he specialises in investigation and is good at what he does. So it is no surprise when he gets a new client, Ivy. The surprise is that it is her murder she wants investigated, or rather, the death of her 'multi' identity, Reuben.
This is a fascinating story, easy to follow despite the complexity of realities. In a world where everyone is easily tracked, by whom, and why, was Reuben killed? Struggling with his own memories of lost love and loneliness, Dexter engages the help of another hacker to help him to reason it out.
This enjoyable story and clever glimpse into a very near future is, sadly, marred by both typos and an apparent obsession of the author with bathroom visits. Occasional reference for verisimilitude is fine but I personally found the frequency of mentions distracting, so much so that when, two thirds of the way through the book they seemed to cease, I started to anxiously wait for more. I was not to be disappointed. There were a further 9 visits to the 'lav' after this break and more than 16 (I didn't start counting from the beginning, not knowing it would so consume me) prior. This is a silly thing to mention but then, it is "the little things..."
That said, it is a book well worth the read both for fans of murder mysteries and science fiction buffs: an intriguing story with, dare i say it? solid characters set in an all too possible futuristic setting. I will definitely be looking out for the next in the Anderson Dexter series
Set in a future where people live more in a three dimensional virtual reality world than they do in the flesh, Anderson Dexter is a Crucible Man, one who works as part of an unofficial police force in addition to his boring day job with B & B Upgrades. Mostly working alone, he specialises in investigation and is good at what he does. So it is no surprise when he gets a new client, Ivy. The surprise is that it is her murder she wants investigated, or rather, the death of her 'multi' identity, Reuben.
This is a fascinating story, easy to follow despite the complexity of realities. In a world where everyone is easily tracked, by whom, and why, was Reuben killed? Struggling with his own memories of lost love and loneliness, Dexter engages the help of another hacker to help him to reason it out.
This enjoyable story and clever glimpse into a very near future is, sadly, marred by both typos and an apparent obsession of the author with bathroom visits. Occasional reference for verisimilitude is fine but I personally found the frequency of mentions distracting, so much so that when, two thirds of the way through the book they seemed to cease, I started to anxiously wait for more. I was not to be disappointed. There were a further 9 visits to the 'lav' after this break and more than 16 (I didn't start counting from the beginning, not knowing it would so consume me) prior. This is a silly thing to mention but then, it is "the little things..."
That said, it is a book well worth the read both for fans of murder mysteries and science fiction buffs: an intriguing story with, dare i say it? solid characters set in an all too possible futuristic setting. I will definitely be looking out for the next in the Anderson Dexter series
April 24, 2018
A lovely LGBTQ+ futuristic sci-fi. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
The characters were all so full with individual personalities, emotions, and flaws. It was such a unique perspective on gender and sexual preference while being completely focused on the mystery at hand. The ending was beautifully done.
The characters were all so full with individual personalities, emotions, and flaws. It was such a unique perspective on gender and sexual preference while being completely focused on the mystery at hand. The ending was beautifully done.
October 22, 2020
Original
I wasn't sure if I would like this, after reading the story description, but I really did enjoy it. The story was very original, kept my interest, and ended on a thoughtful note.
I wasn't sure if I would like this, after reading the story description, but I really did enjoy it. The story was very original, kept my interest, and ended on a thoughtful note.
October 23, 2017
Very interesting book
It is very nice book. It was keeping me interested until the end. I will for sure read the next one in the series.
It is very nice book. It was keeping me interested until the end. I will for sure read the next one in the series.
November 19, 2023
This review is for the whole series, not just this book.
I am a big fan of this series, I bring it up anytime I am talking about books. Such an interesting world view, such a great way of looking at the connection of human minds in the digital age. A great take on the fluidity of love and gender and sex and friendship in the age where minds meet in VR more often then IRL.
This series has an interesting combo of the buddy cop combined with a rom com set in a kinda dystopian future. Well written and very thought provoking. A very good series and well worth the read.
I am a big fan of this series, I bring it up anytime I am talking about books. Such an interesting world view, such a great way of looking at the connection of human minds in the digital age. A great take on the fluidity of love and gender and sex and friendship in the age where minds meet in VR more often then IRL.
This series has an interesting combo of the buddy cop combined with a rom com set in a kinda dystopian future. Well written and very thought provoking. A very good series and well worth the read.
December 1, 2016
If you're looking for a cyberpunked dystopian world in the mold of Gibson and Stephenson, this is a book for you. If you're interested in a murder mystery....not so much.
The central conflict is someone murdered and the corporate cops won't do anything about it. So the protagonist is hired to find the murderer.
You see, in the future, the police force have been privatized and only serve their corporate masters. People are on their own. But this isn't a normal murder- oh no. In this future, everyone is deeply entwined in the everywherenet, so much so that it functions as an augmented reality overlaying the waste land of reality.
IN this future augmented reality world, Reuben is murdered. Except that he wasn't. Not really. You see, Reuben wasn't real. He was an identity that LIz put on in place of her normal identity. An act this world considers a crime. So, when someone de-rezed or uncoded her fake identity , she has no where to turn for justice except Dex.
And that's the large central problem- no one was actually murdered. Someone's alternate identity was deleted and all their forum posts deleted along with it. Nothing bad actually happened. To translate this into today's terms: imagine you have 2 facebook accounts. One, the one you were born with, you're Larry. Larry is an accountant. Larry does accountant stuff, talks about accountant things, and re-posts accountant memes. But..one your other account...You're Molly the STripper! And you appear to lead a strip-tastic life! Until one day someone hacks into your Molly account and deletes it. All your pictures, your posts, they're all gone.
I know what you're thinking; Kind of a bummer, but who cares? Go make a new alternate stripper identity and name that one Sally. Move on with your life, dang.
And that's the problem- i found it impossible to care about Reuben's "death". Seriously, I just finished reading this book and I had to go back to look up the name to finish writing that sentence. I'm not joking.
Now, why am I giving this 4 stars after just putting it on blast?
Because all the other stuff going on in the story. The book explores the fluid nature of identity, gender, sexuality, and how that can be at odds with what society says they should be. It does so in a world with an augmented or digital reality that can allows an internal self a real existence that is in conflict with an external reality. Like, a person born as a female could have a real and productive life as a man in an augmetned world, and this persons friends would never know (or conceivably care) about the birth gender of their friend. could never happen in a regular world.
That's what kept me reading.
So, if you're interested in a cyberpunk book that examines the impact of augmented reality on societies concepts of identity, gender, and sexuality, then this is a good read.
I was provided this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The central conflict is someone murdered and the corporate cops won't do anything about it. So the protagonist is hired to find the murderer.
You see, in the future, the police force have been privatized and only serve their corporate masters. People are on their own. But this isn't a normal murder- oh no. In this future, everyone is deeply entwined in the everywherenet, so much so that it functions as an augmented reality overlaying the waste land of reality.
IN this future augmented reality world, Reuben is murdered. Except that he wasn't. Not really. You see, Reuben wasn't real. He was an identity that LIz put on in place of her normal identity. An act this world considers a crime. So, when someone de-rezed or uncoded her fake identity , she has no where to turn for justice except Dex.
And that's the large central problem- no one was actually murdered. Someone's alternate identity was deleted and all their forum posts deleted along with it. Nothing bad actually happened. To translate this into today's terms: imagine you have 2 facebook accounts. One, the one you were born with, you're Larry. Larry is an accountant. Larry does accountant stuff, talks about accountant things, and re-posts accountant memes. But..one your other account...You're Molly the STripper! And you appear to lead a strip-tastic life! Until one day someone hacks into your Molly account and deletes it. All your pictures, your posts, they're all gone.
I know what you're thinking; Kind of a bummer, but who cares? Go make a new alternate stripper identity and name that one Sally. Move on with your life, dang.
And that's the problem- i found it impossible to care about Reuben's "death". Seriously, I just finished reading this book and I had to go back to look up the name to finish writing that sentence. I'm not joking.
Now, why am I giving this 4 stars after just putting it on blast?
Because all the other stuff going on in the story. The book explores the fluid nature of identity, gender, sexuality, and how that can be at odds with what society says they should be. It does so in a world with an augmented or digital reality that can allows an internal self a real existence that is in conflict with an external reality. Like, a person born as a female could have a real and productive life as a man in an augmetned world, and this persons friends would never know (or conceivably care) about the birth gender of their friend. could never happen in a regular world.
That's what kept me reading.
So, if you're interested in a cyberpunk book that examines the impact of augmented reality on societies concepts of identity, gender, and sexuality, then this is a good read.
I was provided this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 29, 2016
"...the little things ... that (make) life what it is."
Set in a future where people live more in a three dimensional virtual reality world than they do in the flesh, Anderson Dexter is a Crucible Man, one who works as part of an unofficial police force in addition to his boring day job with B & B Upgrades. Mostly working alone, he specialises in investigation and is good at what he does. So it is no surprise when he gets a new client, Ivy. The surprise is that it is her murder she wants investigated, or rather, the death of her 'multi' identity, Reuben.
This is a fascinating story, easy to follow despite the complexity of realities. In a world where everyone is easily tracked, by whom, and why, was Reuben killed? Struggling with his own memories of lost love and loneliness, Dexter engages the help of another hacker to help him to reason it out.
This enjoyable story and clever glimpse into a very near future is, sadly, marred by both typos and an apparent obsession of the author with bathroom visits. Occasional reference for verisimilitude is fine but I personally found the frequency of mentions distracting, so much so that when, two thirds of the way through the book they seemed to cease, I started to anxiously wait for more. I was not to be disappointed. There were a further 9 visits to the 'lav' after this break and more than 16 (I didn't start counting from the beginning, not knowing it would so consume me) prior. This is a silly thing to mention but then, it is "the little things..."
That said, it is a book well worth the read both for fans of murder mysteries and science fiction buffs: an intriguing story with, dare i say it? solid characters set in an all too possible futuristic setting. I will definitely be looking out for the next in the Anderson Dexter series
Set in a future where people live more in a three dimensional virtual reality world than they do in the flesh, Anderson Dexter is a Crucible Man, one who works as part of an unofficial police force in addition to his boring day job with B & B Upgrades. Mostly working alone, he specialises in investigation and is good at what he does. So it is no surprise when he gets a new client, Ivy. The surprise is that it is her murder she wants investigated, or rather, the death of her 'multi' identity, Reuben.
This is a fascinating story, easy to follow despite the complexity of realities. In a world where everyone is easily tracked, by whom, and why, was Reuben killed? Struggling with his own memories of lost love and loneliness, Dexter engages the help of another hacker to help him to reason it out.
This enjoyable story and clever glimpse into a very near future is, sadly, marred by both typos and an apparent obsession of the author with bathroom visits. Occasional reference for verisimilitude is fine but I personally found the frequency of mentions distracting, so much so that when, two thirds of the way through the book they seemed to cease, I started to anxiously wait for more. I was not to be disappointed. There were a further 9 visits to the 'lav' after this break and more than 16 (I didn't start counting from the beginning, not knowing it would so consume me) prior. This is a silly thing to mention but then, it is "the little things..."
That said, it is a book well worth the read both for fans of murder mysteries and science fiction buffs: an intriguing story with, dare i say it? solid characters set in an all too possible futuristic setting. I will definitely be looking out for the next in the Anderson Dexter series
May 27, 2011
In Indie author/publisher M. Darusha Wehm’s second novel, released in January of 2010, we are introduced to a future world. One where day-to-day life as we now know it doesn’t exist and social activity takes place on the multitude of ‘nets’ and ‘boards’ designed by computer programmers.
Darusha Wehm has cleverly developed complex characters to populate this multifaceted world that is complete with diverse neighborhoods to explore. The first ‘murder’ in this world has occurred and Ivy Velasquez has contacted Adersson Dexter, Dex, an independent investigator of private claims and concerns, to find out who hated Reuben Cobalt, her other identity, enough to scramble his code.
To protect her real identity, Ivy created Reuben to find new friends and explore this ‘other’ world in safety. It wasn’t safe for Reuben though. Most employers have a no ‘multi’ clause in their employment contracts. Was Rueben destroyed because of the bigotry that exists towards multis or because of something she knows? Ivy needs to find out. As one of the Cubicle Men, an underground ‘private’ security force, Dex has the connections to find out.
About the Author: Darusha is the author of the Andersson Dexter series of science fiction detective novels Act of Will and Self Made, and the Parsec Award-nominated cyberpunk novel Beautiful Red. She also writes short stories and non-fiction, some of which can be read free at her website. She is a member of SpecFicNZ and the online writing community #amwriting.
Darusha is from Canada, but has spent the past three years living and sailing on her sailboat, Scream, with her partner Steven. She's in New Zealand now where she's writing short stories and novels for your entertainment.
by Lynnette Phillips, Avid Reader Book Reviews
Darusha Wehm has cleverly developed complex characters to populate this multifaceted world that is complete with diverse neighborhoods to explore. The first ‘murder’ in this world has occurred and Ivy Velasquez has contacted Adersson Dexter, Dex, an independent investigator of private claims and concerns, to find out who hated Reuben Cobalt, her other identity, enough to scramble his code.
To protect her real identity, Ivy created Reuben to find new friends and explore this ‘other’ world in safety. It wasn’t safe for Reuben though. Most employers have a no ‘multi’ clause in their employment contracts. Was Rueben destroyed because of the bigotry that exists towards multis or because of something she knows? Ivy needs to find out. As one of the Cubicle Men, an underground ‘private’ security force, Dex has the connections to find out.
About the Author: Darusha is the author of the Andersson Dexter series of science fiction detective novels Act of Will and Self Made, and the Parsec Award-nominated cyberpunk novel Beautiful Red. She also writes short stories and non-fiction, some of which can be read free at her website. She is a member of SpecFicNZ and the online writing community #amwriting.
Darusha is from Canada, but has spent the past three years living and sailing on her sailboat, Scream, with her partner Steven. She's in New Zealand now where she's writing short stories and novels for your entertainment.
by Lynnette Phillips, Avid Reader Book Reviews
July 15, 2010
The short novel, Self-Made is an engaging sci-fi tech novel best described as cyber-punk noir.
Self-Made by M. Darusha Wehm is worth reading. The opening was a bit flat, but the shaky prose doesn’t last and the book picks up steam quickly, building an intriguing world of online interaction, avatars and virtual murder. The plotline revolves around the “murder” of Reuben Cobalt, a virtual avatar. Andersson Dexter is hired to investigate the crime, leading him into the online world of avatar programming and “multis” that turns into a complex mystery to unravel.
The crime and mystery plotline is nicely written and the conclusion satisfying, with the allusion of noir and murder providing a flavourful background, but the true value in the novel is in the character interaction and the topics it reveals. Like all good science fiction, the book has subtle layers, and touches on a variety of issues such as civil rights, reality vs. virtual, gender identity and human interaction. The author has skilfully explored the depth of the characters; the plot revolves around the detective, Dexter and it is his complex personality that keeps the reader engrossed. The world the author created is filtered through his eyes, and it is fascinating.
Besides the slightly weak beginning, there are a few distracting typos (although the book I read was an advance copy, so some of those problems may have been corrected), but nothing major and certainly nothing to detract from the reading experience. Self-Made is an excellent book, especially for fans of cyber-tech sci-fi.
Self-Made by M. Darusha Wehm is worth reading. The opening was a bit flat, but the shaky prose doesn’t last and the book picks up steam quickly, building an intriguing world of online interaction, avatars and virtual murder. The plotline revolves around the “murder” of Reuben Cobalt, a virtual avatar. Andersson Dexter is hired to investigate the crime, leading him into the online world of avatar programming and “multis” that turns into a complex mystery to unravel.
The crime and mystery plotline is nicely written and the conclusion satisfying, with the allusion of noir and murder providing a flavourful background, but the true value in the novel is in the character interaction and the topics it reveals. Like all good science fiction, the book has subtle layers, and touches on a variety of issues such as civil rights, reality vs. virtual, gender identity and human interaction. The author has skilfully explored the depth of the characters; the plot revolves around the detective, Dexter and it is his complex personality that keeps the reader engrossed. The world the author created is filtered through his eyes, and it is fascinating.
Besides the slightly weak beginning, there are a few distracting typos (although the book I read was an advance copy, so some of those problems may have been corrected), but nothing major and certainly nothing to detract from the reading experience. Self-Made is an excellent book, especially for fans of cyber-tech sci-fi.
December 19, 2016
Self Made (Andersson Dexter Book 1)
By: M. Darusha Wehm
5 out of 5 stars
The story Self Made (Andersson Dexter Book 1) by M. Darusha Wehm is a science fiction/fantasy book. Ivy Velasquez wanted to be someone else. In the virtual world of Marionette City you can be anything you want, however, everyone still knows who you are. Ivy has created an alternate self and named him Reuben Cobalt. Now Reuben has been murdered and she wants to know why. That is where Andersson Dexter comes in. He is part of a group that works to get justice for average people since the corporations control almost every aspect of life. Can Dex find out who murdered Reuben and why?
This is quite an interesting book. It is set in a world that could be our future, where avatars and the virtual world is the norm. Navigating this world with Dex trying to find a killer is such a wild ride. You have secret organizations, characters with sinister motives, and corporations that want to control every aspect of your life. You eat food bricks and you have drinks that help you sleep, even controlling the amount of time you sleep. The mystery solving is wonderful and you still have the usual suspects, just in a different setting. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to glimpse a possible future. I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it.
By: M. Darusha Wehm
5 out of 5 stars
The story Self Made (Andersson Dexter Book 1) by M. Darusha Wehm is a science fiction/fantasy book. Ivy Velasquez wanted to be someone else. In the virtual world of Marionette City you can be anything you want, however, everyone still knows who you are. Ivy has created an alternate self and named him Reuben Cobalt. Now Reuben has been murdered and she wants to know why. That is where Andersson Dexter comes in. He is part of a group that works to get justice for average people since the corporations control almost every aspect of life. Can Dex find out who murdered Reuben and why?
This is quite an interesting book. It is set in a world that could be our future, where avatars and the virtual world is the norm. Navigating this world with Dex trying to find a killer is such a wild ride. You have secret organizations, characters with sinister motives, and corporations that want to control every aspect of your life. You eat food bricks and you have drinks that help you sleep, even controlling the amount of time you sleep. The mystery solving is wonderful and you still have the usual suspects, just in a different setting. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to glimpse a possible future. I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it.
September 20, 2012
A standard dystopian cyberpunk story, but lacking the action of William Gibson or Bruce Sterling. (Has all the flaws of cyberpunk, though, such as the difficulty of making anything high-stakes in a virtual world where nobody can actually be harmed.) The protagonist lives a depressing grey life, kind of like a noir detective without the excitement.
I've been listening to the audio version. There's been no progress on solving the mystery for a long time now, and when Podiobooks changed their site and I stopped getting new episodes I decided I'd just stop.
I've been listening to the audio version. There's been no progress on solving the mystery for a long time now, and when Podiobooks changed their site and I stopped getting new episodes I decided I'd just stop.
June 2, 2016
Really interesting take on virtual world
This one's got a bit of a slow build but ended up well worth it. Dex is a detective in a future world where people spend most of their time hooked up to virtual reality-- and he feels like one of the few people for whom it's not as good as the real thing. Also contains a great romance. Really looking forward to rejoining Dex and Annabelle in their future adventures.
This one's got a bit of a slow build but ended up well worth it. Dex is a detective in a future world where people spend most of their time hooked up to virtual reality-- and he feels like one of the few people for whom it's not as good as the real thing. Also contains a great romance. Really looking forward to rejoining Dex and Annabelle in their future adventures.
January 19, 2015
Self Made is set in an all too realistic future where most intereaction takes place in a virtual world. The sci-fi elements take second place to the characters who struggle with their own diffulties to connect to the world and others around them. I found this to be a really meditative read as not too heavy or dark, and am greatly looking forward to reading the next installments.
February 28, 2012
Thoughtful and insightful but a bit low on the jeopardy and mystery. Perhaps a bit too laid back for its own good and a rather well trodden subject area for such a novel. Rather neat if slightly stretched ending.
February 2, 2012
The birth of Dexter. This is the story of Dex, and his real virtual job of solving crimes in a virtual world. Darusha extends her future view world from Beautiful Red by adding a charachter I can root for in books to come.
April 3, 2016
Self Made
This book is pure brilliance. The scrupulous detective story line and vision of what may come twists and turns on each page. This needs to become a screenplay for a movie series. I loved it get this book today. Don't wait.
This book is pure brilliance. The scrupulous detective story line and vision of what may come twists and turns on each page. This needs to become a screenplay for a movie series. I loved it get this book today. Don't wait.
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February 18, 2010Jo Allah nay banaya hay, banda wohe rahay to thek hay;-)
November 5, 2015
Found on podiobooks.com...this book was a bit difficult for me to read. Guess I'm not into the cyberpunk thing.
September 11, 2014
Slightly clunky writing but enjoyed the premise.
February 13, 2018
Great cyberpunk thriller
Really enjoyed this book, the setting, characters and generally the whole vibe throughout. Well worth a look of you like your cyberpunk, detective and futuristic SciFi.
Really enjoyed this book, the setting, characters and generally the whole vibe throughout. Well worth a look of you like your cyberpunk, detective and futuristic SciFi.
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