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The Erased
You’ve been imprisoned by a shadowy government project and your identity has been erased; the only question is why. Welcome Home.
In a dystopian society where severe laws are in place to regulate the media you’re allowed to view, anyone and anything can be erased. Most people get their information and entertainment from the Knowledgebase -- a computer network dubbed the “sum total of human knowledge.” But forces are at work to edit and shape the Knowledgebase as they see fit -- suppressing dissident thoughts and behaviors. Their clear a group of rebels who hide in plain sight and call themselves the Transhumans -- people who remote into androids illegally, and whose goal is to eventually transplant a human consciousness into an android.
In the middle of this stands 77, a prisoner who’s been asked to repair a broken android for his captors. Once he solves the mystery of this android, he may find the truth behind the Transhumans, the Knowledgebase Architects, and the Erased.
The Erased presents a near-future parable for the media age, where the march toward merging with technology comes at a terrible price.
In a dystopian society where severe laws are in place to regulate the media you’re allowed to view, anyone and anything can be erased. Most people get their information and entertainment from the Knowledgebase -- a computer network dubbed the “sum total of human knowledge.” But forces are at work to edit and shape the Knowledgebase as they see fit -- suppressing dissident thoughts and behaviors. Their clear a group of rebels who hide in plain sight and call themselves the Transhumans -- people who remote into androids illegally, and whose goal is to eventually transplant a human consciousness into an android.
In the middle of this stands 77, a prisoner who’s been asked to repair a broken android for his captors. Once he solves the mystery of this android, he may find the truth behind the Transhumans, the Knowledgebase Architects, and the Erased.
The Erased presents a near-future parable for the media age, where the march toward merging with technology comes at a terrible price.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 29, 2012
7 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Grant Piercy
21 books7 followersI'm a self-published writer, originally from Illinois. I grew up in the orbit of the strange planet Chicago -- just out of reach, but just close enough that it feels like home. Relocated to central Ohio to be with my wife about a decade ago, so I suppose Columbus is my home now. For a number of years, I've worked in the courseware development industry, creating educational materials for IT companies.
I've been writing since I was a kid on my Dad's Apple II -- sometimes tidbit stories based on dreams, sometimes raving, suicidal anecdotes from a depressed teenager, but most often about trying to find connection in a world in which I've often felt alien. It shouldn't have been any surprise that, after failing to satisfactorily follow through on a massive tome more in common with a conspiratorial transgressive fiction novel, I gravitated toward science fiction, especially after discovering the work of Philip K. Dick and Kurt Vonnegut.
The first book I've self-published -- The Erased -- contains strands from all of the above influences. You might feel that yearning to connect that you'd see in the work of Chuck Palahniuk, the brevity of chapters and manic weaving of elements similar to Cat's Cradle from Vonnegut, and of course, the android problem of PKD. Whether or not I actually continue on in science fiction is a different story. I've got other works-in-progress that will hopefully see the light of day soon.
I've been writing since I was a kid on my Dad's Apple II -- sometimes tidbit stories based on dreams, sometimes raving, suicidal anecdotes from a depressed teenager, but most often about trying to find connection in a world in which I've often felt alien. It shouldn't have been any surprise that, after failing to satisfactorily follow through on a massive tome more in common with a conspiratorial transgressive fiction novel, I gravitated toward science fiction, especially after discovering the work of Philip K. Dick and Kurt Vonnegut.
The first book I've self-published -- The Erased -- contains strands from all of the above influences. You might feel that yearning to connect that you'd see in the work of Chuck Palahniuk, the brevity of chapters and manic weaving of elements similar to Cat's Cradle from Vonnegut, and of course, the android problem of PKD. Whether or not I actually continue on in science fiction is a different story. I've got other works-in-progress that will hopefully see the light of day soon.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 23, 2012
Really more of a 3.5 star rating. An interesting vision of an android-laden future, but I didn't find myself particularly attached to any of the characters. I mostly just pushed on, waiting for the big reveal. Glad I didn't pay for the book (I read the free Kindle version) as I found 2 mistakes that even an inattentive editor should've caught. I'm sure there were more. (For the record, your interest gets piqued, not peaked.)
January 31, 2022
Tags: debut, androids, intrigue, sociopsychological
When a man is abruptly ripped from his home and family, his identity wiped from the public record, he is left without purpose and self. Institutionalized in a compound for others who are no more of the outside world and rebranded as only numbers this “77” finds himself with naught to occupy his thoughts but the memories of his family, the puzzle of a possible transgression, and a task remotely related to his previous job as a data applicator in the world's leading android production facility. It's with the befriending of two others who have been 'erased' that the trio tries to patch together an intermingled history in an attempt to solve their own mysteries, demons, and potentially a solution to their incarceration.
The debut novel of author Grant Piercy was published in 2012 and while it bares traces of a self published first run, having a few clunky bits to start that the lack of support system traditional publishing would iron out, the novel quickly finds it feet becoming a worthy sci-fi mystery that showcases the potential of what this author might become. Having published several other works since, I imagine he has. What pains me is that I'm unable to give half stars as the only thing that keeps this novel from being a 3.5 or even 4 star potential were I to revisit it is primarily a matter of personal taste.
I am very much a character reader. I admit that I didn't find myself really connecting with any of the individuals yet I was continually intrigued by them. They seem to be equal parts character and device. The introductory character had the roughest start and each character took a few chapters to develop a consistent voice so that the designations of perspective weren't completely necessary at the beginning of chapters. But as the novel progressed I found the expectations for the roles given to the two friends our protagonist makes to be reversed from expectation. And the subsequently introduction of characters worked as much as another puzzle piece revealed as another playing piece.
Another factor that worked very well was a modest mixed format. Narrative chapters are spaced between file reports, recording transcripts, and memos. To lighten the mood was a barrage of cultural references that spanned from ancient classics and philosophy to pop music, the author's dedication to Bowie making this reader at least smile. Yet it also alerted me to how vast the gap in my own media consumption of classics is. The pacing was also appropriate, unwinding slowly and elevates to a a rapid crescendo in the finale. As an intrigue novel I found my initial thoughts countered early on. While I figured out the 'twist' relatively early it didn't diminish the experience as it became just as much about how the others did.
One final element I was taken aback by was the foresight of the author. As mentioned this was originally published in 2012. Its commentary of media consumption, censorship, the problems with the ethics of technology, and the news media cycle are eerily relevant though not hammered in heavily.
All in all it's an exceptionally strong start to a career. While there are more books in the series I was satisfied with the conclusion enough that I may try one of the author's other books before continuing on as I'm curious to see where this type of mind that consider so many contingencies can take me in other premises.
When a man is abruptly ripped from his home and family, his identity wiped from the public record, he is left without purpose and self. Institutionalized in a compound for others who are no more of the outside world and rebranded as only numbers this “77” finds himself with naught to occupy his thoughts but the memories of his family, the puzzle of a possible transgression, and a task remotely related to his previous job as a data applicator in the world's leading android production facility. It's with the befriending of two others who have been 'erased' that the trio tries to patch together an intermingled history in an attempt to solve their own mysteries, demons, and potentially a solution to their incarceration.
The debut novel of author Grant Piercy was published in 2012 and while it bares traces of a self published first run, having a few clunky bits to start that the lack of support system traditional publishing would iron out, the novel quickly finds it feet becoming a worthy sci-fi mystery that showcases the potential of what this author might become. Having published several other works since, I imagine he has. What pains me is that I'm unable to give half stars as the only thing that keeps this novel from being a 3.5 or even 4 star potential were I to revisit it is primarily a matter of personal taste.
I am very much a character reader. I admit that I didn't find myself really connecting with any of the individuals yet I was continually intrigued by them. They seem to be equal parts character and device. The introductory character had the roughest start and each character took a few chapters to develop a consistent voice so that the designations of perspective weren't completely necessary at the beginning of chapters. But as the novel progressed I found the expectations for the roles given to the two friends our protagonist makes to be reversed from expectation. And the subsequently introduction of characters worked as much as another puzzle piece revealed as another playing piece.
Another factor that worked very well was a modest mixed format. Narrative chapters are spaced between file reports, recording transcripts, and memos. To lighten the mood was a barrage of cultural references that spanned from ancient classics and philosophy to pop music, the author's dedication to Bowie making this reader at least smile. Yet it also alerted me to how vast the gap in my own media consumption of classics is. The pacing was also appropriate, unwinding slowly and elevates to a a rapid crescendo in the finale. As an intrigue novel I found my initial thoughts countered early on. While I figured out the 'twist' relatively early it didn't diminish the experience as it became just as much about how the others did.
One final element I was taken aback by was the foresight of the author. As mentioned this was originally published in 2012. Its commentary of media consumption, censorship, the problems with the ethics of technology, and the news media cycle are eerily relevant though not hammered in heavily.
All in all it's an exceptionally strong start to a career. While there are more books in the series I was satisfied with the conclusion enough that I may try one of the author's other books before continuing on as I'm curious to see where this type of mind that consider so many contingencies can take me in other premises.
January 25, 2017
Difficult
After the first dozen chapters I had to slog through to the end expecting something but getting nothing. Did not like this book.
After the first dozen chapters I had to slog through to the end expecting something but getting nothing. Did not like this book.
May 25, 2013
Great concept, mediocre execution.
I think I'm spoiled by reading great writing so far this year. When one reads "The Cloud Atlas" there are multiple stories in the first person, and there was no problem from the voice who's story you were reading.
However in this book, everyone is a number, and everyone talks with the same voice. Consequently, it's very difficult to ascertain or remember which of the main characters you are currently reading.
On the positive side, you sort of guess what the payoff of this book is, yet it still manages to be surprising.
I think I'm spoiled by reading great writing so far this year. When one reads "The Cloud Atlas" there are multiple stories in the first person, and there was no problem from the voice who's story you were reading.
However in this book, everyone is a number, and everyone talks with the same voice. Consequently, it's very difficult to ascertain or remember which of the main characters you are currently reading.
On the positive side, you sort of guess what the payoff of this book is, yet it still manages to be surprising.
Want to read
January 27, 2013Kindle freebie, 1/27/13
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews