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The Spencer Nye Trilogy #1
Suspense
Spencer Nye can’t control the rage bubbling under her skin over the world around her. The trouble is, by the year 2102, the world has solved most of its great problems. Without hunger, war, greed, or even money, people obsess over the glamour of the Culture Industry and its mega-celebrity Idols, who vie for followers over the social networks of Connect.
But Spencer discovers there is plenty to fix within the Idols’ competition for more popularity. She becomes a diehard and promises to do anything to help her Idol, a dreamy movie star named Cleary Mintz, bring his vision of hope and purpose to the world. When she stumbles onto a threat against his life, she’ll have to fight harder than she ever thought possible or lose the man who means more to her than any other.
But Spencer discovers there is plenty to fix within the Idols’ competition for more popularity. She becomes a diehard and promises to do anything to help her Idol, a dreamy movie star named Cleary Mintz, bring his vision of hope and purpose to the world. When she stumbles onto a threat against his life, she’ll have to fight harder than she ever thought possible or lose the man who means more to her than any other.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2011
3 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
About the author
Jason Letts
79 books181 followersSometimes I think writing makes me crazy, but then again I'd probably be even more crazy without it. There are a lot of things I do to balance out though: traveling, distance running, hiking, reading, orange juice, tennis, food fights, walking out of movie theaters telling the people in line that Harry Potter dies, cooking ethnic food, and competitive napping.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 22, 2011
Suspense takes us in a future where everything is at our fingertips. Anything you have ever wanted can be easily gotten without having to lift a finger. And, not a far stretch from today, everyone is connected through a social network that is constantly connected by nodes in your eyesight.
When I first started Suspense I was really intrigued by the world this book was set in. It started with sudden action and mystery. However, I found myself getting very confused. I didn't understand the bit about Idols and why society was treating them like their gods. I understand fame, but this felt very extreme. It was like the world was divided by who you were following. But could you follow more than one person? What if you didn't like any of these idols? I also didn't truly believe that only 5 people in the world would be idols. It seems like a very small number when all you have to do is get followers through social networking. I can imagine a million ways a person could easily do what these idols have done to gain popularity.
In this world, there is a machine that creates anything and everything a person could want or need. No one needs to work, no one needs to fight, no need for jealousy or money. I'm the kind of person who needs proof or logic to believe in something, I won't just accept that something exists like magic (I won't start into an Adam and Eve discussion even though I love those), so I was immediately apprehensive about this "magic machine". It did get an explanation towards the end though so if you're like me, just be patient with it. I'm still a bit uncertain about how society would go on when everything is available for nothing.
All of this to say that the world building could definitely have been worked on to convince me that this futuristic setting would be plausible.
I did enjoy the characters. Spencer is strong and tough with a head on her shoulders. I also liked the side characters who all had fun personalities and distinct voices. I was fascinated by the villain's technologically advanced building. Gravity from all sides and maze-like tricks. It was great and I really liked that part. I was bewildered by the actions of the villains, though. I wasn't sure why they wanted to kill Cleary. It was sort of mentioned in passing towards the end, but when you think about it he didn't have to take that route at all.
The pacing of the book was fairly quick, and that may have also affected the world building opportunities. I can't say I didn't like the book, I just had a lot of issues with the feasibility of several aspects in the world. if you read this purely for entertainment, then you will probably enjoy it quite a bit.
When I first started Suspense I was really intrigued by the world this book was set in. It started with sudden action and mystery. However, I found myself getting very confused. I didn't understand the bit about Idols and why society was treating them like their gods. I understand fame, but this felt very extreme. It was like the world was divided by who you were following. But could you follow more than one person? What if you didn't like any of these idols? I also didn't truly believe that only 5 people in the world would be idols. It seems like a very small number when all you have to do is get followers through social networking. I can imagine a million ways a person could easily do what these idols have done to gain popularity.
In this world, there is a machine that creates anything and everything a person could want or need. No one needs to work, no one needs to fight, no need for jealousy or money. I'm the kind of person who needs proof or logic to believe in something, I won't just accept that something exists like magic (I won't start into an Adam and Eve discussion even though I love those), so I was immediately apprehensive about this "magic machine". It did get an explanation towards the end though so if you're like me, just be patient with it. I'm still a bit uncertain about how society would go on when everything is available for nothing.
All of this to say that the world building could definitely have been worked on to convince me that this futuristic setting would be plausible.
I did enjoy the characters. Spencer is strong and tough with a head on her shoulders. I also liked the side characters who all had fun personalities and distinct voices. I was fascinated by the villain's technologically advanced building. Gravity from all sides and maze-like tricks. It was great and I really liked that part. I was bewildered by the actions of the villains, though. I wasn't sure why they wanted to kill Cleary. It was sort of mentioned in passing towards the end, but when you think about it he didn't have to take that route at all.
The pacing of the book was fairly quick, and that may have also affected the world building opportunities. I can't say I didn't like the book, I just had a lot of issues with the feasibility of several aspects in the world. if you read this purely for entertainment, then you will probably enjoy it quite a bit.
November 9, 2011
Rating: 4.7 out of 5
In certain ways, Facebook has become an integral part of my life. I spend way too much time on it, conversing with friends, making connections, sometimes simply passing the time. It’s become a useful tool, but also a slightly frightening one. If you were to think about how connected everyone is through these bits of data flowing invisibly all around us, it would be very easy to come up with a nightmare scenario where we not only use programs like this as a tool, but they become necessary to continue our way of life, a world where without social networking, the whole of society would be lost.
Jason Letts took this scenario, fleshed it out, and in a flash of unique and original storytelling created Suspense, the first book in his Spencer Nye Trilogy. To say I was impressed with what he came up with would be a grand understatement.
Suspense centers around the exploits of the girl for whom the series is named, Spencer Nye herself. She is a gritty character, full of anger and distrust. She is also a diehard, one who will do anything – even kill – to protect and defend the image and life of her Idol.
What is this all about, you ask? Diehards? Idols? Well it seems that in Letts’s brilliant new universe, the general world populace uses a program called Connect – the most powerful social media ever invented, accessed through nodes implanted into peoples’ skulls – to, well, keep themselves connected. They float through life only half-existing in the real world, spending the rest of the time immersed in the data that flashes in front of their eyes, reading up on the latest trends, what their friends are up to, or just perusing. I found it to be a quite disturbing visual the first time I read a scene depicting this, representative of a world where the flesh is at times looked at as a hindrance.
A good chunk of society also uses Connect to keep up with their Idols – basically folks who’ve gained so much popularity, so many followers, that they’ve become, in a certain sense, godlike. All six of the Idols live in a fortress on a hidden tropical island, to keep them safe. And the animosity between the diehards for each of them is frightening. They’re constantly at war, constantly killing each other, with the end game being to elevate their Idol to an even higher level. It’s a scary thought.
The specifics of the society the author created are interesting, even beyond the whole social networking angle. There is no more industry, as anything anyone would ever need is created simply by pressing a button on something called a molecular synthesizer. There is no more crime – other than diehard-on-diehard violence – as why in the world would you have to steal if it everyone had everything they wanted and money no longer existed? And people get around by using terminals that transport them from place to place in the blink of an eye, simply by pushing numbers into a keypad.
In a lot of ways you could look at this and think, that’s not so bad. On the surface, this society is bordering on a utopia, but with the loss of personal freedom that comes with everyone knowing what’s on your mind at all times, and the amount of fanaticism the Idols create, it steers in the opposite direction and becomes pure dystopia. With a lack of purpose, a lack of direction, it leads folks to act irrationally, to search for meaning in a world that, in truth, means absolutely nothing.
The story itself is an adventure, as Spencer and her friends, a cyborg named Jetta and a programmer named Patch, seemingly uncover a plan to take out the Idols – including theirs, the actor Cleary Mintz. This leads to a great many action sequences and a rather ingenious plan, thought up by the three friends, to turn Spencer, herself, into an Idol and fix the situation from the inside.
What follows is a great amount of intrigue and a further exploration into how this whole world started in the first place. There is mystery, paranoia, and a hint that the direction society has taken was orchestrated by something wholly not of this world. And in the middle of all this is Spencer, the unstable teenager whose only desire has ever been for her life to have meaning.
This is a very good book, folks. Suspense is resourceful and technical, a mix of science fiction and dystopian fiction with a truly original premise. Though written for a young adult crowd, it’s definitely been created for an older audience. There are scenes of violence, confusion, and at one point a rather inspired scenario of sexual exploration while not in one’s own body, experiencing the sensations from the opposite viewpoint. The book is obviously not perfect – what book is? – but it’s more than worthy of your time and energy. In fact, I’ll go a step further to say this particular work of fiction may be important, as well. It allows us to look at our own actions, how much time we spend on the internet “connecting” with people while ignoring those who are standing right beside us, and urges us to find balance.
It’s a difficult tightrope to walk, and the author shows us what might happen if we fall off. Brilliant.
In certain ways, Facebook has become an integral part of my life. I spend way too much time on it, conversing with friends, making connections, sometimes simply passing the time. It’s become a useful tool, but also a slightly frightening one. If you were to think about how connected everyone is through these bits of data flowing invisibly all around us, it would be very easy to come up with a nightmare scenario where we not only use programs like this as a tool, but they become necessary to continue our way of life, a world where without social networking, the whole of society would be lost.
Jason Letts took this scenario, fleshed it out, and in a flash of unique and original storytelling created Suspense, the first book in his Spencer Nye Trilogy. To say I was impressed with what he came up with would be a grand understatement.
Suspense centers around the exploits of the girl for whom the series is named, Spencer Nye herself. She is a gritty character, full of anger and distrust. She is also a diehard, one who will do anything – even kill – to protect and defend the image and life of her Idol.
What is this all about, you ask? Diehards? Idols? Well it seems that in Letts’s brilliant new universe, the general world populace uses a program called Connect – the most powerful social media ever invented, accessed through nodes implanted into peoples’ skulls – to, well, keep themselves connected. They float through life only half-existing in the real world, spending the rest of the time immersed in the data that flashes in front of their eyes, reading up on the latest trends, what their friends are up to, or just perusing. I found it to be a quite disturbing visual the first time I read a scene depicting this, representative of a world where the flesh is at times looked at as a hindrance.
A good chunk of society also uses Connect to keep up with their Idols – basically folks who’ve gained so much popularity, so many followers, that they’ve become, in a certain sense, godlike. All six of the Idols live in a fortress on a hidden tropical island, to keep them safe. And the animosity between the diehards for each of them is frightening. They’re constantly at war, constantly killing each other, with the end game being to elevate their Idol to an even higher level. It’s a scary thought.
The specifics of the society the author created are interesting, even beyond the whole social networking angle. There is no more industry, as anything anyone would ever need is created simply by pressing a button on something called a molecular synthesizer. There is no more crime – other than diehard-on-diehard violence – as why in the world would you have to steal if it everyone had everything they wanted and money no longer existed? And people get around by using terminals that transport them from place to place in the blink of an eye, simply by pushing numbers into a keypad.
In a lot of ways you could look at this and think, that’s not so bad. On the surface, this society is bordering on a utopia, but with the loss of personal freedom that comes with everyone knowing what’s on your mind at all times, and the amount of fanaticism the Idols create, it steers in the opposite direction and becomes pure dystopia. With a lack of purpose, a lack of direction, it leads folks to act irrationally, to search for meaning in a world that, in truth, means absolutely nothing.
The story itself is an adventure, as Spencer and her friends, a cyborg named Jetta and a programmer named Patch, seemingly uncover a plan to take out the Idols – including theirs, the actor Cleary Mintz. This leads to a great many action sequences and a rather ingenious plan, thought up by the three friends, to turn Spencer, herself, into an Idol and fix the situation from the inside.
What follows is a great amount of intrigue and a further exploration into how this whole world started in the first place. There is mystery, paranoia, and a hint that the direction society has taken was orchestrated by something wholly not of this world. And in the middle of all this is Spencer, the unstable teenager whose only desire has ever been for her life to have meaning.
This is a very good book, folks. Suspense is resourceful and technical, a mix of science fiction and dystopian fiction with a truly original premise. Though written for a young adult crowd, it’s definitely been created for an older audience. There are scenes of violence, confusion, and at one point a rather inspired scenario of sexual exploration while not in one’s own body, experiencing the sensations from the opposite viewpoint. The book is obviously not perfect – what book is? – but it’s more than worthy of your time and energy. In fact, I’ll go a step further to say this particular work of fiction may be important, as well. It allows us to look at our own actions, how much time we spend on the internet “connecting” with people while ignoring those who are standing right beside us, and urges us to find balance.
It’s a difficult tightrope to walk, and the author shows us what might happen if we fall off. Brilliant.
September 6, 2011
"Universe Idol"
It is year 2102, and the world as we know it is now a digital paradise. 10.1 billion people are united through a marvel simply called "Connect"--a super-enhanced version of today's Internet--only this program is built into every single person on the planet. Through a small metal disc, a "node", on the right side on a person's temple, people can access Connect with little more than a thought. There are even greater wonders of technology. Complex machines known as "Molecular Synthesizers" can produce anything and everything people could ever want. People no longer rely upon jobs, careers, or even money to sustain themselves. Even law and government is a thing of the past. Everyone is free to pursue their dreams and happiness. Utopia...or so we are led to believe.
This is the story of a young woman named Spencer Nye. She's a "diehard" fighting for a cause. Her group's cause: upholding the values of Cleary Mintz, one of the world's six "Idols". He's a member of the "Culture Industry", the most discussed and adored people on the planet. Each Idol has his or her own followers, while a small percentage of people--the diehards--have vowed secret allegiances to protect and uphold what they stand for. Spencer is a "Cleary", and she is part of the group who believe in what their Idol represents: hope.
Spencer has been striving to be something more than just one of the billions of people who allow themselves to be spoon-fed them by mechanical miracles. She's always wanted to initiate something significant, always wanted to be someone. After running away from home at fifteen, she roved the streets and eventually found her way to the ragtag group of Clearies. There she met the group's leader, a hard-nosed man named Mathas, and his followers Patch--a tech guru, and Jetta--a half human, half cyborg. It is here that the adventure begins with the four Clearies fighting to deliver news to their Idol of an in-the-works plot regarding his assassination.
Things go sour after they intercept a man named Rucker who they believe is in on the conspiracy. He escapes, and Spencer and the other members struggle to continue their cause. Soon after the Clearies enact an audacious plan involving Spencer to gain them access to a hallowed place known as the "Chateaux", an unregistered location where the six Idols reside. When the wild plan unexpectedly works, Spencer and her comrades find themselves caught in a dangerous world of lies and deceit. Nothing is as it seems at the Chateaux, and they soon realize that the six Idols may be part of something far more incredible than anyone could ever imagine. Nothing is as it seems, and the further Spencer delves into the complex world of the Culture Industry, the more lines become blurred between good and evil. Can she and her team help to bring hope to a people who have become slaves to the machine?
Suspense is an excellent read, filled with intriguing characters and lively action. It moves along at a quick clip, never dwelling too long on any one particular scene, and is very human. It's message, while blatant clear, is believable and forces us to look at ourselves, technology, and the very world in which we live, in a new light. While I wish I could have gotten to know Spencer--who had a brilliant descriptive introduction--and the others a little better, I can only assume that they will be fleshed out in the subsequent novels. There were a few minor gripes I had, but none of them managed to ruin my reading experience. The book's one love scene, while well written, left me wondering if I should feel happy or disgusted for the two participating characters. I still am not sure how I feel about that eye-opening scene. The climactic battle was quite confusing to follow, but that was mainly because of its unique and detailed layout. And it wasn't until the end that I learned the origins of this book's incredible technology. If not for the somewhat wild explanation, I might have scoffed at the idea of a machine synthesizing anything a person could want, or the thought of an item being able to transfer a person's conscious mind to another living body.
Despite these quips, I strongly recommend this book to anyone seeking an exciting, fast-paced dystopian story. The characters are refreshingly flawed and engaging, the action aplenty, and creativity abounding! I found myself rooting for Spencer and her team's noble cause. She is a fine addition to the world of strong female characters. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the second book in the trilogy: Expense.
It is year 2102, and the world as we know it is now a digital paradise. 10.1 billion people are united through a marvel simply called "Connect"--a super-enhanced version of today's Internet--only this program is built into every single person on the planet. Through a small metal disc, a "node", on the right side on a person's temple, people can access Connect with little more than a thought. There are even greater wonders of technology. Complex machines known as "Molecular Synthesizers" can produce anything and everything people could ever want. People no longer rely upon jobs, careers, or even money to sustain themselves. Even law and government is a thing of the past. Everyone is free to pursue their dreams and happiness. Utopia...or so we are led to believe.
This is the story of a young woman named Spencer Nye. She's a "diehard" fighting for a cause. Her group's cause: upholding the values of Cleary Mintz, one of the world's six "Idols". He's a member of the "Culture Industry", the most discussed and adored people on the planet. Each Idol has his or her own followers, while a small percentage of people--the diehards--have vowed secret allegiances to protect and uphold what they stand for. Spencer is a "Cleary", and she is part of the group who believe in what their Idol represents: hope.
Spencer has been striving to be something more than just one of the billions of people who allow themselves to be spoon-fed them by mechanical miracles. She's always wanted to initiate something significant, always wanted to be someone. After running away from home at fifteen, she roved the streets and eventually found her way to the ragtag group of Clearies. There she met the group's leader, a hard-nosed man named Mathas, and his followers Patch--a tech guru, and Jetta--a half human, half cyborg. It is here that the adventure begins with the four Clearies fighting to deliver news to their Idol of an in-the-works plot regarding his assassination.
Things go sour after they intercept a man named Rucker who they believe is in on the conspiracy. He escapes, and Spencer and the other members struggle to continue their cause. Soon after the Clearies enact an audacious plan involving Spencer to gain them access to a hallowed place known as the "Chateaux", an unregistered location where the six Idols reside. When the wild plan unexpectedly works, Spencer and her comrades find themselves caught in a dangerous world of lies and deceit. Nothing is as it seems at the Chateaux, and they soon realize that the six Idols may be part of something far more incredible than anyone could ever imagine. Nothing is as it seems, and the further Spencer delves into the complex world of the Culture Industry, the more lines become blurred between good and evil. Can she and her team help to bring hope to a people who have become slaves to the machine?
Suspense is an excellent read, filled with intriguing characters and lively action. It moves along at a quick clip, never dwelling too long on any one particular scene, and is very human. It's message, while blatant clear, is believable and forces us to look at ourselves, technology, and the very world in which we live, in a new light. While I wish I could have gotten to know Spencer--who had a brilliant descriptive introduction--and the others a little better, I can only assume that they will be fleshed out in the subsequent novels. There were a few minor gripes I had, but none of them managed to ruin my reading experience. The book's one love scene, while well written, left me wondering if I should feel happy or disgusted for the two participating characters. I still am not sure how I feel about that eye-opening scene. The climactic battle was quite confusing to follow, but that was mainly because of its unique and detailed layout. And it wasn't until the end that I learned the origins of this book's incredible technology. If not for the somewhat wild explanation, I might have scoffed at the idea of a machine synthesizing anything a person could want, or the thought of an item being able to transfer a person's conscious mind to another living body.
Despite these quips, I strongly recommend this book to anyone seeking an exciting, fast-paced dystopian story. The characters are refreshingly flawed and engaging, the action aplenty, and creativity abounding! I found myself rooting for Spencer and her team's noble cause. She is a fine addition to the world of strong female characters. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the second book in the trilogy: Expense.
September 17, 2011
This review originally appeared on my blog, Feeding My Book Addiction:
http://feedingmybookaddiction.blogspo...
Prolific self published author Jason Letts steps away from young adult fantasy and paranormal romance to try his hand at writing a young adult dystopian trilogy. The first book, entitled Suspense, introduces readers to a world without problems. Hunger, poverty, and even war are no longer plague humanity. Everyone lives in prosperity and a comfortable peace as all of their needs are met by a molecular synthesizer that can produce everything people need or want.
Except there are a few people in this idyllic society that aren't on board with the whole living in peace thing. These are the 'diehards,' the people who faithfully follow one of the six cultural 'Idols' that govern over this culture driven society. The trilogy's protagonist, Spencer Nye, is a diehard for Cleary Mintz, a handsome leading man in the film world who believes in peace and kindess. When Spencer and her small cell of Cleary diehards uncover a plot to murder Cleary, they jump into action to save their Idol's life.
What transpires over the course of the first installment of the Spencer Nye trilogy is a fast paced and action packed adventure/coming of age story that is everything I expected and nothing I expected all at the same time. I've read several of Jason's other books so I was expecting intricately constructed action scenes and intriguing characters with something monumental to overcome. I wasn't expecting fellow Cleary diehard Patch's bold idea for saving Cleary's life and I definitely wasn't expecting that mind-bending scene on the beach. This is one of those books where you will have no idea how the author is going to bring you from beginning to end until you read it and for that reason, I loved it. Letts' imagination knows no bounds as it takes readers on a journey of discovery - of the self, of friendships, and of society. The journey was exhilarating and downright fun to read.
As fun as Suspense was to read, there were a couple aspects of the novel that didn't work for me. I didn't like knowing that this was a trilogy. In one scene, Spencer is battling clones of herself as they come off the molecular synthesizer. These clones seek to kill her because she is the original and every clone wants to be the original, not just a clone. As Spencer is losing stamina and bleeding from her wounds, I couldn't muster any fear for her because I knew that this was the first book in a trilogy named after her so she couldn't die, at least not in the middle of the first book.
(Also, it seems like every new young adult dystopian novel is a trilogy, but that's a whole other topic for its own blog post.)
I also felt that the narrative didn't provide enough information regarding this dystopian society. What happened to end war, hunger, greed, and the need for cold hard cash? How did Idols of culture come about and how did they end up as a pseudo form of government? How do people get connected to Connect, the Internet in their brains that they use for everything from communicating with others to finding out information? (This reminded me of the feed in M.T. Anderson's 2002 dystopian novel Feed.) And, what possessed people to become diehards? I'm one of those readers who loves the backstory in dystopian novels. I want to know the who, what, when, where, why, and how of these intricately created alternate universes that make me reevaluate the world I inhabit. I know that it sometimes takes a while to divulge this information for plot and narrative reasons. I also detest info dumps. So, I think this is one of those aspects of a book that I may not like, but I understand it. Besides, I'm sure that more of Spencer's dystopian world will be revealed in the next two books as the storyline progresses.
I am looking forward to reading the next two books to see just how Spencer navigates the new world she finds herself in, complete with the new information she uncovered at the end of book one. On a scale of one (I hated it!) to five (I loved it!), I give Suspense a three.
http://feedingmybookaddiction.blogspo...
Prolific self published author Jason Letts steps away from young adult fantasy and paranormal romance to try his hand at writing a young adult dystopian trilogy. The first book, entitled Suspense, introduces readers to a world without problems. Hunger, poverty, and even war are no longer plague humanity. Everyone lives in prosperity and a comfortable peace as all of their needs are met by a molecular synthesizer that can produce everything people need or want.
Except there are a few people in this idyllic society that aren't on board with the whole living in peace thing. These are the 'diehards,' the people who faithfully follow one of the six cultural 'Idols' that govern over this culture driven society. The trilogy's protagonist, Spencer Nye, is a diehard for Cleary Mintz, a handsome leading man in the film world who believes in peace and kindess. When Spencer and her small cell of Cleary diehards uncover a plot to murder Cleary, they jump into action to save their Idol's life.
What transpires over the course of the first installment of the Spencer Nye trilogy is a fast paced and action packed adventure/coming of age story that is everything I expected and nothing I expected all at the same time. I've read several of Jason's other books so I was expecting intricately constructed action scenes and intriguing characters with something monumental to overcome. I wasn't expecting fellow Cleary diehard Patch's bold idea for saving Cleary's life and I definitely wasn't expecting that mind-bending scene on the beach. This is one of those books where you will have no idea how the author is going to bring you from beginning to end until you read it and for that reason, I loved it. Letts' imagination knows no bounds as it takes readers on a journey of discovery - of the self, of friendships, and of society. The journey was exhilarating and downright fun to read.
As fun as Suspense was to read, there were a couple aspects of the novel that didn't work for me. I didn't like knowing that this was a trilogy. In one scene, Spencer is battling clones of herself as they come off the molecular synthesizer. These clones seek to kill her because she is the original and every clone wants to be the original, not just a clone. As Spencer is losing stamina and bleeding from her wounds, I couldn't muster any fear for her because I knew that this was the first book in a trilogy named after her so she couldn't die, at least not in the middle of the first book.
(Also, it seems like every new young adult dystopian novel is a trilogy, but that's a whole other topic for its own blog post.)
I also felt that the narrative didn't provide enough information regarding this dystopian society. What happened to end war, hunger, greed, and the need for cold hard cash? How did Idols of culture come about and how did they end up as a pseudo form of government? How do people get connected to Connect, the Internet in their brains that they use for everything from communicating with others to finding out information? (This reminded me of the feed in M.T. Anderson's 2002 dystopian novel Feed.) And, what possessed people to become diehards? I'm one of those readers who loves the backstory in dystopian novels. I want to know the who, what, when, where, why, and how of these intricately created alternate universes that make me reevaluate the world I inhabit. I know that it sometimes takes a while to divulge this information for plot and narrative reasons. I also detest info dumps. So, I think this is one of those aspects of a book that I may not like, but I understand it. Besides, I'm sure that more of Spencer's dystopian world will be revealed in the next two books as the storyline progresses.
I am looking forward to reading the next two books to see just how Spencer navigates the new world she finds herself in, complete with the new information she uncovered at the end of book one. On a scale of one (I hated it!) to five (I loved it!), I give Suspense a three.
September 16, 2011
First, let me just say that I haven’t read a great deal of dystopian YA lit, but after reading Suspense I’m hooked on the genre. In Suspense, author Jason Letts has taken the idea of a dystopian future, and by adding his own brand of humor, action, twists and turns, he’s created one of the most original stories I’ve ever read. This book is truly a page turner…seriously, I read it in one sitting and every time I told myself “Just one more chapter”, I’d get to the end of that chapter and something exciting would happen and I’d have to keep reading to find out what happens next…and this kept happening until I finished the book and realized it was about 5am and I stayed up all night just to read it.
In the year 2102, the world’s problems- greed, violence, war, poverty, hunger- have seemed to vanish. Machines called molecular synthesizers are capable of creating absolutely anything and have eradicated the world’s need for money. People simply trade or give things away. Terminals allow people to be transported anywhere in the matter of minutes. And the whole world is connected with Connect, which takes Facebook and Twitter to a WHOLE new level. Without governments and politics, it is the Idols-there’s six of them- that divide the world’s population. People follow and support their Idol, and some choose to be diehards- ultimate fans willing to do anything to support and protect their chosen Idol. Spencer Nye is one of those diehards. Along with her BFF’s Jetta and Patch, Spencer is a Cleary Mintz (a handsome actor) diehard. When they uncover a deadly plot against Cleary, the trio must go to extreme measures to protect him, and in doing so they uncover secrets bigger than they ever imagined.
What really captivated me about this book is that even when things seemed outlandish or farfetched, there was a voice in the back of mind that said “OMG, this could actually really happen someday!”. There are elements in this book,-truths about our culture, our humanity, our plausible future- that are so startlingly, yet so very honest, and this book is as much about who we (the collective we) are now as it is about who we may become.
But don’t let this underlying heaviness-that I happen to appreciate and think makes the book that more refreshing and captivating- deter you from this book, because at its core it’s a fast paced, action packed, intriguing, and entertaining book. And it is very well written. The characters- the trio of Spencer; Jetta; Patch, the Idols, and the antagonists- are all well developed and dimensional. The characters are easy to connect with, Spencer especially, which is important because the story is told from her perspective. With Spencer, Letts has created a strong, capable heroine who has her flaws and insecurities. I found her quite relatable.
The action- there’s a lot of it- is fast and heart stopping and often left me breathless and on the edge of my seat…or bed. But the action was never too overwhelming and I never found myself lost among the punches, shots, whirring, or shouts. And the storyline itself surprised me…it literally surprised me. I’m usually pretty good at predicting outcomes or where a story’s going, but Letts’ twists and turns led me to something I never expected…which I found pretty cool.
I must admit that the romantic aspects of this book kind of confused and overwhelmed me though. There isn’t a love triangle as much as there’s a love square or maybe even a love hexagon. At times the romantic aspects left me wondering so much that they pulled my attention away from the rest of the story. There were some romantic feelings that seemed to come out of nowhere and some that I’m still not sure I understand. However, this is only the first book in a series, so these questions and confusions may very well be explained and clarified in future books.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s edgy, smart, and gripping. I’m impressed by its originality, execution, and thought provoking aspects. I look forward to reading future books in the series and reading more of Jason Letts’ work.
In the year 2102, the world’s problems- greed, violence, war, poverty, hunger- have seemed to vanish. Machines called molecular synthesizers are capable of creating absolutely anything and have eradicated the world’s need for money. People simply trade or give things away. Terminals allow people to be transported anywhere in the matter of minutes. And the whole world is connected with Connect, which takes Facebook and Twitter to a WHOLE new level. Without governments and politics, it is the Idols-there’s six of them- that divide the world’s population. People follow and support their Idol, and some choose to be diehards- ultimate fans willing to do anything to support and protect their chosen Idol. Spencer Nye is one of those diehards. Along with her BFF’s Jetta and Patch, Spencer is a Cleary Mintz (a handsome actor) diehard. When they uncover a deadly plot against Cleary, the trio must go to extreme measures to protect him, and in doing so they uncover secrets bigger than they ever imagined.
What really captivated me about this book is that even when things seemed outlandish or farfetched, there was a voice in the back of mind that said “OMG, this could actually really happen someday!”. There are elements in this book,-truths about our culture, our humanity, our plausible future- that are so startlingly, yet so very honest, and this book is as much about who we (the collective we) are now as it is about who we may become.
But don’t let this underlying heaviness-that I happen to appreciate and think makes the book that more refreshing and captivating- deter you from this book, because at its core it’s a fast paced, action packed, intriguing, and entertaining book. And it is very well written. The characters- the trio of Spencer; Jetta; Patch, the Idols, and the antagonists- are all well developed and dimensional. The characters are easy to connect with, Spencer especially, which is important because the story is told from her perspective. With Spencer, Letts has created a strong, capable heroine who has her flaws and insecurities. I found her quite relatable.
The action- there’s a lot of it- is fast and heart stopping and often left me breathless and on the edge of my seat…or bed. But the action was never too overwhelming and I never found myself lost among the punches, shots, whirring, or shouts. And the storyline itself surprised me…it literally surprised me. I’m usually pretty good at predicting outcomes or where a story’s going, but Letts’ twists and turns led me to something I never expected…which I found pretty cool.
I must admit that the romantic aspects of this book kind of confused and overwhelmed me though. There isn’t a love triangle as much as there’s a love square or maybe even a love hexagon. At times the romantic aspects left me wondering so much that they pulled my attention away from the rest of the story. There were some romantic feelings that seemed to come out of nowhere and some that I’m still not sure I understand. However, this is only the first book in a series, so these questions and confusions may very well be explained and clarified in future books.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s edgy, smart, and gripping. I’m impressed by its originality, execution, and thought provoking aspects. I look forward to reading future books in the series and reading more of Jason Letts’ work.
February 28, 2012
Original review from Little Book Owl
Suspense was an entertaining, and very unique story. There is so much action, and this picks up almost immediately and the fast-pace helped in making this book a quick and easy read. The world in which the story is set, is digitally advanced, full of intriguing technologies and devices including "Connect", which is pretty much the ultimate social networking/internet database, the ability to defy gravity and walk on walls and molecular synthesisers which can produce anything and everything.
I loved the loyalty evident between the trio, Spencer, Patch and Jetta. Spencer has her flaws, and doesn't always make the right choices, but her friends still stand by her through everything. I would have really liked to get to know these three characters a little better -not so much with Spencer, as she narrated the story and you learn more about her than the other characters.
I found Suspense as a fairly deep story. The messages brought up by the mass of technology reflect modern society issues and threats. Firstly, there is no need for money. The lack of money results in equality in socioeconomic status amongst everyone, as the molecular synthesisers are able to produce anything someone could want or need, for free. There is also the reflection upon how technology is an integral part of human life, and I think this is a realistic commodity for the future of humanity. We become so incredibly dependant that we are unable to fend for ourselves.
Lee, the antagonist, has motives which derive from the comparison and choice between what life is today, and the today ideas I described above. He tried to strip the humans of their dependency on technology, and awaken them to some unknown truth. So basically, the choice is between equality and sufficient resources for life, and our current state of living where we have more freedom, being able to rely on ones self and each other, and being able to set goals for ourselves and challenge our abilities. Alongside these positives, are the negatives to each society - becoming weak and solely dependent on technologies which can be taken away in a moment, or on the other hand - inequality and having to work for ones survival.
The ending of this book leaves you wanting more, as it finishes with a huge twist that explains the source of the technologies available in this world. Look out for Expense which will be released in a few days!
I also had the honour of interviewing the author, Jason Letts. Click HERE to take a look!
Review copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
Suspense was an entertaining, and very unique story. There is so much action, and this picks up almost immediately and the fast-pace helped in making this book a quick and easy read. The world in which the story is set, is digitally advanced, full of intriguing technologies and devices including "Connect", which is pretty much the ultimate social networking/internet database, the ability to defy gravity and walk on walls and molecular synthesisers which can produce anything and everything.
I loved the loyalty evident between the trio, Spencer, Patch and Jetta. Spencer has her flaws, and doesn't always make the right choices, but her friends still stand by her through everything. I would have really liked to get to know these three characters a little better -not so much with Spencer, as she narrated the story and you learn more about her than the other characters.
I found Suspense as a fairly deep story. The messages brought up by the mass of technology reflect modern society issues and threats. Firstly, there is no need for money. The lack of money results in equality in socioeconomic status amongst everyone, as the molecular synthesisers are able to produce anything someone could want or need, for free. There is also the reflection upon how technology is an integral part of human life, and I think this is a realistic commodity for the future of humanity. We become so incredibly dependant that we are unable to fend for ourselves.
Lee, the antagonist, has motives which derive from the comparison and choice between what life is today, and the today ideas I described above. He tried to strip the humans of their dependency on technology, and awaken them to some unknown truth. So basically, the choice is between equality and sufficient resources for life, and our current state of living where we have more freedom, being able to rely on ones self and each other, and being able to set goals for ourselves and challenge our abilities. Alongside these positives, are the negatives to each society - becoming weak and solely dependent on technologies which can be taken away in a moment, or on the other hand - inequality and having to work for ones survival.
The ending of this book leaves you wanting more, as it finishes with a huge twist that explains the source of the technologies available in this world. Look out for Expense which will be released in a few days!
I also had the honour of interviewing the author, Jason Letts. Click HERE to take a look!
Review copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2011
Suspense is based in an interesting dystopian world that doesn't seem too far stretched from where we are nowadays. Everyone adores "idols" living in a big mansion and the people of this society even identify themselves by the idol they support (which includes amongst others a movie starlet, an older woman who is a teacher to the younger children and a tech geek).
Other major differences from the world as we know it includes "Connect" a device all people have implanted in them that serves as a communication tool, as well as the addition of machines that make everything anyone could possibly need or want; eliminating greed, jealousy and power through ownership from the population.
The reader gets to know this society and the idols through the eyes of Spencer Nye, a follower of the handsome actor Cleary Mintz. A die-hard follower in fact. This means that everything she does is focused on helping and protecting Cleary, even if it means fighting to her death for this cause.
So far Suspense is easy to follow and actually quite intriguing. However once Spencer gets closer to Clearly (much closer than she'd ever dreamed possible) and gets sucked into the world of the idols, the story rapidly moves into the bizarre. Furthermore, the writing style and tone of voice of the earlier chapters indicates this is a book for younger teens, but some of the scenes further along the line are definitely not suitable for this age group, which adds to the confusion of what exactly this novel is trying to achieve.
In the end, the storyline was okay. There's a fairly logical explanation for many of the questions laid out in the book and there are decent action scenes intertwined into the world building to keep the pace up.
Leaving out the more bizarre and unnecessary scenarios in the the story would definitely improve the book however, as would more details on the magic machines that supposedly make everything. Their origins do get an explanation, but I do not for one moment believe that they could've cured power and greed in people so easily. On contrary. Why aren't the elite hogging these machines as they have done everything else in human history? It doesn't really make sense and merely skimming over this part certainly doesn't divert the reader's attention from the significant weakness in the plot.
Other major differences from the world as we know it includes "Connect" a device all people have implanted in them that serves as a communication tool, as well as the addition of machines that make everything anyone could possibly need or want; eliminating greed, jealousy and power through ownership from the population.
The reader gets to know this society and the idols through the eyes of Spencer Nye, a follower of the handsome actor Cleary Mintz. A die-hard follower in fact. This means that everything she does is focused on helping and protecting Cleary, even if it means fighting to her death for this cause.
So far Suspense is easy to follow and actually quite intriguing. However once Spencer gets closer to Clearly (much closer than she'd ever dreamed possible) and gets sucked into the world of the idols, the story rapidly moves into the bizarre. Furthermore, the writing style and tone of voice of the earlier chapters indicates this is a book for younger teens, but some of the scenes further along the line are definitely not suitable for this age group, which adds to the confusion of what exactly this novel is trying to achieve.
In the end, the storyline was okay. There's a fairly logical explanation for many of the questions laid out in the book and there are decent action scenes intertwined into the world building to keep the pace up.
Leaving out the more bizarre and unnecessary scenarios in the the story would definitely improve the book however, as would more details on the magic machines that supposedly make everything. Their origins do get an explanation, but I do not for one moment believe that they could've cured power and greed in people so easily. On contrary. Why aren't the elite hogging these machines as they have done everything else in human history? It doesn't really make sense and merely skimming over this part certainly doesn't divert the reader's attention from the significant weakness in the plot.
September 12, 2011
I love the world created in this story, it draws you in from the first page. As soon as I started the book I realized we were in a different world than I know, with the personal nodes, the connect system, and the idols. I love how this world was implied rather than explained, and I gradually figured out what made this world tick. The idea of Connect, sending messages simply by thinking and finding the information you needed in front of your eyes in a split second, was really easy to visualize yet unimaginable at the same time. I really liked the creativity in creating this futuristic world that is still really relatable, and I could picture us here in another hundred years.
In Spencer, we have a strong female character who is determined and impulsive. I felt like I knew her and I could relate to her. Not only that, but I found myself rooting for her and wanting her to find whatever it was she was looking for. Jetta was an interesting character- I would have loved to learn more about her backstory and why she was so set on constantly augmenting herself. Patch was another one I would have liked to get to know better. I think the idols were each well-defined, and I was able to get a good feel for the type of followers they would attract.
The writing style is very fitting for a young adult audience. The story is easy to read and engaging while not being too simplistic. I did get a little lost at times during some of the action, having to take a second, closer look to see where I got lost. For the most part, I didn’t want to put the book down, always wondering what was going to happen next. I still am not sure how I feel about the ending, however. I like that it left the story open for the next book in the series, but it seemed a little, well, odd. I thought Spencer’s conversation didn’t fit in as well with the rest of her characterization earlier in the story, and the entire scene just struck me as a little “off.” It didn’t ruin the story for me, but it did leave me with a bit of a question mark in my head.
Full review @ GraceKrispy's MotherLode blog
In Spencer, we have a strong female character who is determined and impulsive. I felt like I knew her and I could relate to her. Not only that, but I found myself rooting for her and wanting her to find whatever it was she was looking for. Jetta was an interesting character- I would have loved to learn more about her backstory and why she was so set on constantly augmenting herself. Patch was another one I would have liked to get to know better. I think the idols were each well-defined, and I was able to get a good feel for the type of followers they would attract.
The writing style is very fitting for a young adult audience. The story is easy to read and engaging while not being too simplistic. I did get a little lost at times during some of the action, having to take a second, closer look to see where I got lost. For the most part, I didn’t want to put the book down, always wondering what was going to happen next. I still am not sure how I feel about the ending, however. I like that it left the story open for the next book in the series, but it seemed a little, well, odd. I thought Spencer’s conversation didn’t fit in as well with the rest of her characterization earlier in the story, and the entire scene just struck me as a little “off.” It didn’t ruin the story for me, but it did leave me with a bit of a question mark in my head.
Full review @ GraceKrispy's MotherLode blog
October 25, 2011
I made a discovery about myself while reading Suspense. I takes me a while to get into dystopian novels. It has nothing to do with the writing or the characters. It just takes me a while to wrap my mind around these unique, futuristic worlds. That being said, once I got into Suspense, I really liked it.
The book centers around Spencer Nye and her friends. The world Letts created for Suspense is perfect at first glance. It doesn't take long to discover though that nothing is perfect. Spencer lives in a world where everyone is equal and no one wants for anything. As great as it sounds, she seems to be the only one who realizes that there is no reward in having everything handed to you. Hmm... seems that there is a lesson to be learned there somewhere. I'm not saying that Spencer is above reproach and is the perfect hero. She has faults just like everyone else. One of her biggest at times seems to be how little she thinks of herself. Hopefully as the series continues she'll get over some of that. She wasn't in a really happy place during most of the book, even when she should have been.
Suspense is a YA novel, but it is definitely geared toward older teens. There is a fair amount of violence along with sexual themes. One scene, well, you'll know what I'm referring to when you get to it. :)
There were times in Suspense that I had a hard time adjusting to the reality that the characters lived in. I think it was because everything was so centered around technology that it was almost scary. I've often heard people now talk about how they couldn't survive without their computers, cell phones and other gadgets. Think about how hard it would be if you entire existence depended on the technology you were surrounded by. That's exactly what Letts gives you a taste of and it's a scary proposition.
The nice thing about starting Suspense now is that Jason Letts' next installment in the Spencer Nye trilogy is coming out in the next few days. Since Suspense left us in, well, suspense.... it will be nice to be able to grab Expense without much delay.
The book centers around Spencer Nye and her friends. The world Letts created for Suspense is perfect at first glance. It doesn't take long to discover though that nothing is perfect. Spencer lives in a world where everyone is equal and no one wants for anything. As great as it sounds, she seems to be the only one who realizes that there is no reward in having everything handed to you. Hmm... seems that there is a lesson to be learned there somewhere. I'm not saying that Spencer is above reproach and is the perfect hero. She has faults just like everyone else. One of her biggest at times seems to be how little she thinks of herself. Hopefully as the series continues she'll get over some of that. She wasn't in a really happy place during most of the book, even when she should have been.
Suspense is a YA novel, but it is definitely geared toward older teens. There is a fair amount of violence along with sexual themes. One scene, well, you'll know what I'm referring to when you get to it. :)
There were times in Suspense that I had a hard time adjusting to the reality that the characters lived in. I think it was because everything was so centered around technology that it was almost scary. I've often heard people now talk about how they couldn't survive without their computers, cell phones and other gadgets. Think about how hard it would be if you entire existence depended on the technology you were surrounded by. That's exactly what Letts gives you a taste of and it's a scary proposition.
The nice thing about starting Suspense now is that Jason Letts' next installment in the Spencer Nye trilogy is coming out in the next few days. Since Suspense left us in, well, suspense.... it will be nice to be able to grab Expense without much delay.
October 26, 2011
My Rating: 2.5 / 5
First thoughts:
While I'm completely in love with the idea of a story involving this kind of dystopian society and even though I read really positive reviews about Suspense, it wasn't the right story for me in the end. I would have preferred a little more romance and a little less action, but at the same time I'm interested in finding out what will happen in this world.
More detailed:
The idea of Suspense sounds really special and is a wonderful basis for a great novel. It's already visible today how many people are focusing on social networks and it's easy to imagine that one day people would depend on them too much. This also makes the idea of Idols quite realistic.
Jason Letts has outlined this world intriguingly, but at the same time it took a long time for me to understand the world and how it became the way it is. Only towards the end we are given more detailed explanations about how everything changed and that made it a little bit hard for me to relate to the characters throughout most of the novel.
As I said before I also would have loved some more romantic moments but this is just a very subjective / personal opinion. I have a hard time keeping my interest in a book that puts a main focus on action scenes instead of relationships. I know that for a lot of people this is completely different, so keep in mind that my rating is mostly based on this fact.
Other than that, Suspense is well written and easy to read. I'm sure that the questions I still have are going to be answered in the sequels and I still am very fond of the idea of this dystopian world. All in all, I think people who prefer action-packed novels with a very detailed style of writing could really like this story and should give this a chance.
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I received an ebook from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
First thoughts:
While I'm completely in love with the idea of a story involving this kind of dystopian society and even though I read really positive reviews about Suspense, it wasn't the right story for me in the end. I would have preferred a little more romance and a little less action, but at the same time I'm interested in finding out what will happen in this world.
More detailed:
The idea of Suspense sounds really special and is a wonderful basis for a great novel. It's already visible today how many people are focusing on social networks and it's easy to imagine that one day people would depend on them too much. This also makes the idea of Idols quite realistic.
Jason Letts has outlined this world intriguingly, but at the same time it took a long time for me to understand the world and how it became the way it is. Only towards the end we are given more detailed explanations about how everything changed and that made it a little bit hard for me to relate to the characters throughout most of the novel.
As I said before I also would have loved some more romantic moments but this is just a very subjective / personal opinion. I have a hard time keeping my interest in a book that puts a main focus on action scenes instead of relationships. I know that for a lot of people this is completely different, so keep in mind that my rating is mostly based on this fact.
Other than that, Suspense is well written and easy to read. I'm sure that the questions I still have are going to be answered in the sequels and I still am very fond of the idea of this dystopian world. All in all, I think people who prefer action-packed novels with a very detailed style of writing could really like this story and should give this a chance.
---
I received an ebook from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 10, 2012
Suspense was enthralling from the minute I started reading. It is aptly named as it is full of suspense at every turn. In the futuristic world Jason Letts has created there is no need for money or even working as everything is provided for you. The main thing that matters is your status and that of the Idol you follow over a social networking site called Connect. Spencer Nye is willing to fight for what she believes in; her Idol Cleary Mintz. This fight takes her to the brink and back, fighting not just for his life but for her own life and that of her friends.
The entire story is told through Spencer’s point of view which is great because she is involved in all of the action, however, I did find her a little bit annoying and sappy at some parts, and while I didn’t grow very attached to her as a character I did get attached to her friends as Spencer does an excellent job of making you care for Patch and Jetta as well as the choices/change she believes in.
Jason Letts tells a story full of fighting, social network hacking and romance. He employs several plot twists to keep you guessing. Each time I thought I knew what was coming next there were more layers peeled back and uncovered that made the story that much deeper and meaningful. I also like how the more Spencer uncovers about the unknowns in her world the more she grows as a person and becomes more aware that they are not living to their fullest potential and more like slaves despite having free will.
This book very much reminded me of The Hunger Games and what things might be like if Facebook took over the world. Overall it was an extremely exciting read and I would highly recommend it if you are into science fiction. Being more of a fantasy buff I’m not sure I’d be into reading the next book in the series seeing as one of the twists (which I won’t mention) was bit of a turn off for me, but not enough of one to destroy the enjoyment of the entire book.
The entire story is told through Spencer’s point of view which is great because she is involved in all of the action, however, I did find her a little bit annoying and sappy at some parts, and while I didn’t grow very attached to her as a character I did get attached to her friends as Spencer does an excellent job of making you care for Patch and Jetta as well as the choices/change she believes in.
Jason Letts tells a story full of fighting, social network hacking and romance. He employs several plot twists to keep you guessing. Each time I thought I knew what was coming next there were more layers peeled back and uncovered that made the story that much deeper and meaningful. I also like how the more Spencer uncovers about the unknowns in her world the more she grows as a person and becomes more aware that they are not living to their fullest potential and more like slaves despite having free will.
This book very much reminded me of The Hunger Games and what things might be like if Facebook took over the world. Overall it was an extremely exciting read and I would highly recommend it if you are into science fiction. Being more of a fantasy buff I’m not sure I’d be into reading the next book in the series seeing as one of the twists (which I won’t mention) was bit of a turn off for me, but not enough of one to destroy the enjoyment of the entire book.
December 29, 2011
Originally posted to Pawing Through Books on 12/29/11
When reading the description for this book I thought it sounded like a good and new take on a dystopian society. While reading I found myself thinking that some of this did sound feasible in the future.
Lets face it our society is obsessed with celebrities, so why couldn't a future where we have a few Idols happen? These are the people that everyone follows and looks up to and in some ways obsesses over. Also, we are a bit addicted to technology as well... a future where we can access something like Facebook 24/7 using our minds, why not?
The premiss behind Letts' Suspense is intriguing and lends itself to a decent read. The book is decently paced and is easily read. The writing is done well and you are constantly on a roller coaster ride of action and suspense.
I thought that the lead character was great. Spencer Nye is an independent & strong headed girl who is full of heart and would stop at nothing to help out those she loves. She is kick ass and can dish it out like the best of them. I really felt for her and hoped she would pull through in the end.
While I thought this book was well written and had a good premiss behind it there were a few parts that left me asking "wtf, did that seriously just happen?" These scenes left me confused and questioning why it was happening. I'm not even sure how to explain it without giving you spoilers and I don't want to give anything away for those of you that want to read it, so I will leave it at that.
In the end I would recommend this for those that are interested in a unique dystopian that is filled with action, suspense, and plot twists.
*Edit - to clarify these scenes that left me confused, weren't necessarily bad. They just took me by surprise and I was a little shocked!*
When reading the description for this book I thought it sounded like a good and new take on a dystopian society. While reading I found myself thinking that some of this did sound feasible in the future.
Lets face it our society is obsessed with celebrities, so why couldn't a future where we have a few Idols happen? These are the people that everyone follows and looks up to and in some ways obsesses over. Also, we are a bit addicted to technology as well... a future where we can access something like Facebook 24/7 using our minds, why not?
The premiss behind Letts' Suspense is intriguing and lends itself to a decent read. The book is decently paced and is easily read. The writing is done well and you are constantly on a roller coaster ride of action and suspense.
I thought that the lead character was great. Spencer Nye is an independent & strong headed girl who is full of heart and would stop at nothing to help out those she loves. She is kick ass and can dish it out like the best of them. I really felt for her and hoped she would pull through in the end.
While I thought this book was well written and had a good premiss behind it there were a few parts that left me asking "wtf, did that seriously just happen?" These scenes left me confused and questioning why it was happening. I'm not even sure how to explain it without giving you spoilers and I don't want to give anything away for those of you that want to read it, so I will leave it at that.
In the end I would recommend this for those that are interested in a unique dystopian that is filled with action, suspense, and plot twists.
*Edit - to clarify these scenes that left me confused, weren't necessarily bad. They just took me by surprise and I was a little shocked!*
February 6, 2015
This was an odd book to me. It dealt with a future Earth in which everyone was perpetually connected to each other with wireless internet implanted in their temples. This is a cool concept for me, but there were these "pins" which others could basically eject from your temple to delete stored data, for example. This is a ridiculous security risk, and I think that in a future with tech at that level, we could at least prevent the ease of that happening...
This future world had these matter fabricators which anyone could simply ask for whatever they wanted, and the fabricator would generate the item and give it to them. Supposedly, this created a society where there was no longer a need for money, which ended up leading to everyone being basically lazy and lacking in creativity, etc. I liked the notion of this effect, but I'm not sold on the author's idea of how it would cripple society (I agree it would cripple it in some ways, but not quite the same as the author had made it out to be).
There were also these celebrities who lived in a secret mansion together or something. The population of the world seemed to be a fan of only one of these people, and followed them as though it were a religion or a nation's leader or something. Really strange, and I just couldn't wrap my head around the feasibility of that. Sure, we have celebrities that people admire and stuff, but for it to become so extreme as to be like a cult - that's just not normal for the average person, lol.
I don't see myself reading any more of the series (this was book 1) unless it was free on a sale at some point maybe. I wasn't impressed overall, and the last 25% of the book was just bad IMO. Even so, I enjoyed the technology and the idea of the matter fabricator's impact on society, so the read was not a complete failure.
This future world had these matter fabricators which anyone could simply ask for whatever they wanted, and the fabricator would generate the item and give it to them. Supposedly, this created a society where there was no longer a need for money, which ended up leading to everyone being basically lazy and lacking in creativity, etc. I liked the notion of this effect, but I'm not sold on the author's idea of how it would cripple society (I agree it would cripple it in some ways, but not quite the same as the author had made it out to be).
There were also these celebrities who lived in a secret mansion together or something. The population of the world seemed to be a fan of only one of these people, and followed them as though it were a religion or a nation's leader or something. Really strange, and I just couldn't wrap my head around the feasibility of that. Sure, we have celebrities that people admire and stuff, but for it to become so extreme as to be like a cult - that's just not normal for the average person, lol.
I don't see myself reading any more of the series (this was book 1) unless it was free on a sale at some point maybe. I wasn't impressed overall, and the last 25% of the book was just bad IMO. Even so, I enjoyed the technology and the idea of the matter fabricator's impact on society, so the read was not a complete failure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2011
I had never heard of this author and wasn't sure what to expect. I seriously loved this book! The title, Suspense, really has a double meaning. It's the nickname of the heroine, Spencer Nye, plus the story is full of suspense from beginning to the end.
The plot is amazing. The world the characters live in is one where everyone is constantly connected to their social network by nodes implanted in their heads. It dominates most every part of how they exist. There are machines that create everything from food to clothing, money is unnecessary, everyone is equal, transportation is instantaneous (wouldn't that be nice!). With all the worries of survival taken care of, the population exists for the pursuit of happiness and following the Idol of their choice. Which as it turns out, is more cutthroat than you might think.
I always feel conflicted about technology and social networks because they make it easy to stay connected, but how does being so dependent on them really affect us? Suspense portrays a future that isn't all that unbelievable. How often do you check your social networks in a day? Have you ever been in a room full of people on their smartphones and not one person is speaking to another?
That isn't the only reason I thought it was great though. Spencer Nye is such a likeable, yet flawed, heroine. She doesn't always make the right choices but her heart is in the right place. Plus, I like a character that isn't afraid to stop asking questions and kill the bad guys already! Spencer's romantic interests seem pretty clear cut when you first start reading, but take an unexpected and awesome turn! Original and crazy!
I can't wait to read the next one!
The plot is amazing. The world the characters live in is one where everyone is constantly connected to their social network by nodes implanted in their heads. It dominates most every part of how they exist. There are machines that create everything from food to clothing, money is unnecessary, everyone is equal, transportation is instantaneous (wouldn't that be nice!). With all the worries of survival taken care of, the population exists for the pursuit of happiness and following the Idol of their choice. Which as it turns out, is more cutthroat than you might think.
I always feel conflicted about technology and social networks because they make it easy to stay connected, but how does being so dependent on them really affect us? Suspense portrays a future that isn't all that unbelievable. How often do you check your social networks in a day? Have you ever been in a room full of people on their smartphones and not one person is speaking to another?
That isn't the only reason I thought it was great though. Spencer Nye is such a likeable, yet flawed, heroine. She doesn't always make the right choices but her heart is in the right place. Plus, I like a character that isn't afraid to stop asking questions and kill the bad guys already! Spencer's romantic interests seem pretty clear cut when you first start reading, but take an unexpected and awesome turn! Original and crazy!
I can't wait to read the next one!
October 16, 2011
Interesting. Exciting. Suspenseful.
Suspense is a wonderful book created by Jason Letts. It’s original, action packed and with excellent characters.
The story takes place in the year of 2102, where Idols are followed for entertainment, food and objects are obtained without breaking a sweat. Oh, and you can’t forget about the immediate access to “Connect”, the internet/facebook/twitter, right from inside their human heads.
Spencer Nye finds herself trying to make a difference, by thinking and being different in this spoiled society. Strong, brave and loyal are one of her many qualities that makes me admire her so. She’s not perfect, way beyond that. She has made a lot of mistakes, but she manages to redeem herself, trying to do what’s best for her, and for the people she loves. She’s full of surprises I might add.
My favorite quote:
“I should’ve run away. I knew that was the safe thing to do. Or I could walk down the hall to the left or right. But when something scared me, I went toward it, not away. That was the only way to beat fear.” –Spencer Nye, Suspense.
I honestly believe there is some truth in Jason Letts’s book. The society he has created is very different from ours. Scratch that, it’s different but very possible in a near future. Technology has advanced so fast, that we rely on it a lot more than we used to a few years ago.
He has created and written a vision.
Good job Mr. Jason. I’ll be keeping an eye out for the sequel.
Suspense is a wonderful book created by Jason Letts. It’s original, action packed and with excellent characters.
The story takes place in the year of 2102, where Idols are followed for entertainment, food and objects are obtained without breaking a sweat. Oh, and you can’t forget about the immediate access to “Connect”, the internet/facebook/twitter, right from inside their human heads.
Spencer Nye finds herself trying to make a difference, by thinking and being different in this spoiled society. Strong, brave and loyal are one of her many qualities that makes me admire her so. She’s not perfect, way beyond that. She has made a lot of mistakes, but she manages to redeem herself, trying to do what’s best for her, and for the people she loves. She’s full of surprises I might add.
My favorite quote:
“I should’ve run away. I knew that was the safe thing to do. Or I could walk down the hall to the left or right. But when something scared me, I went toward it, not away. That was the only way to beat fear.” –Spencer Nye, Suspense.
I honestly believe there is some truth in Jason Letts’s book. The society he has created is very different from ours. Scratch that, it’s different but very possible in a near future. Technology has advanced so fast, that we rely on it a lot more than we used to a few years ago.
He has created and written a vision.
Good job Mr. Jason. I’ll be keeping an eye out for the sequel.
December 19, 2011
I was given a copy of this book to review from the author.
Suspense is a fast paced and edgy thriller. It does border on the weird and wacky at times, but then again this is a dystopian book so anything goes really. It really brings home how a society depends on social networking. I liked the futuristic feel of this book, you kind of think it’s possible that this world could happen.
I will say that it did take me a few good chapters to get into this book, at times I felt it pretty hard going. But I am glad I finished it, the ending was the best part. I did like the concept of the story but at times I think it went a bit flat. I’m not going to knock this book too much as I did think it made an interesting and colourful read.
I have to admit I didn’t really bond with the main character Spence, I found her a bit of a cold and complex character. But hey some characters are developed to be like this, we can’t always like everyone.
I would like to read book two in the series, just to see what’s next in store for the main character Spencer Nye.
Suspense is a fast paced and edgy thriller. It does border on the weird and wacky at times, but then again this is a dystopian book so anything goes really. It really brings home how a society depends on social networking. I liked the futuristic feel of this book, you kind of think it’s possible that this world could happen.
I will say that it did take me a few good chapters to get into this book, at times I felt it pretty hard going. But I am glad I finished it, the ending was the best part. I did like the concept of the story but at times I think it went a bit flat. I’m not going to knock this book too much as I did think it made an interesting and colourful read.
I have to admit I didn’t really bond with the main character Spence, I found her a bit of a cold and complex character. But hey some characters are developed to be like this, we can’t always like everyone.
I would like to read book two in the series, just to see what’s next in store for the main character Spencer Nye.
September 11, 2011
This was such a fun read.
It was different and fun and super unique. It is a great start to what I think will be a very promising series.
If you love kick butt heroines, a little mystery and even a sci fi edge then this is a book you really should try!
And for the next week you can even get a free ebook copy of this wonderful book free from the author and enter in to win some other spectacular prizes.
Check out my blog to find out how!
http://myguiltyobsession.blogspot.com...
It was different and fun and super unique. It is a great start to what I think will be a very promising series.
If you love kick butt heroines, a little mystery and even a sci fi edge then this is a book you really should try!
And for the next week you can even get a free ebook copy of this wonderful book free from the author and enter in to win some other spectacular prizes.
Check out my blog to find out how!
http://myguiltyobsession.blogspot.com...
December 23, 2012
The protagonist of this book was so incredibly hard to relate to that I almost put it down within the first few chapters. Luckily the action started and caught my interest.
However, this book's true accomplishment was its unique social structure. 'Suspense' takes Facebook and Twitter to dizzyingly terrifying levels.
Will I read its sequel? I have yet to decide.
However, this book's true accomplishment was its unique social structure. 'Suspense' takes Facebook and Twitter to dizzyingly terrifying levels.
Will I read its sequel? I have yet to decide.
Want to read
September 23, 2011I don't really want to read this, I added it just so I could express my outrage at the sudden spate of YA books trying to jump on the Hunger Games bandwagon. Even the cover of this one looks similar. Get your own ideas, JASON LETTS.
December 29, 2011
A little weird even for a science fiction book... Still enjoyed reading it though.
May 2, 2012
Just couldn't get into this book. I couldn't really see the whole premise as at all plausible. I really tried to finish it, but decided it was just wasting my time.
December 27, 2012
Some weird combo of Hunger Games, Uglies, and Aliens. It was... not as good as it could have been. But it was free, so I wasn't expecting much.
November 7, 2015
DNF at 75%
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews