Data Runner

Data Runner #1

by Sam A. Patel

In the not-too-distant future, in what was once the old City of New York, megacorporations have taken over everything. Now even the internet is owned, and the only way to transmit sensitive information is by a network of highly skilled couriers called “data runners” who run it over the sneakernet. It is a dangerous gig in a dirty world, but Jack Nill doesn’t have much choice in the matter. A brilliant young math whiz and champion of parkour, Jack must become one of these data runners in order to get his father out of a major gambling debt. But when a mysterious stranger loads Jack’s chip with a cryptic cargo that everybody wants, he soon becomes the key figure in a conspiracy that could affect the entire North American Alliance. Now it’s all up to Jack. With the help of his best friend, Dexter, and a girl who runs under the name Red Tail, Jack will have to use all his skills to outrun the retrievers and uncover the truth before they catch him and clip him for good.

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Dystopia, Cyberpunk, Adventure, Futuristic, Espionage

231 pages, ebook

First published May 16, 2013

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of sci-fi movies or sci-fi books, but the combination of this book’s title, cover and blurb intrigued me to no end and I just had to read it to see what it’s all about. Admittedly, I have watched a couple of terrific sci-fi movies (think I, Robot and The Fifth Element to name a few memorable ones), and have recently finished a techno-thriller with tons of sci-fi elements by Boyd Morrison. So I’m no stranger to this genre and won’t shy away from reading it as long as the story stays within our planet’s atmosphere. I’m definitely not into the whole Star Trek type sci-fi.

Anyhow, Data Runner is a dystopian science-fiction thriller not too far into the future. I enjoy dystopian novels, but am beginning to find them somewhat repetitive in that they’re not offering anything new. The world as we know it always ends with some plague, virus or biochemical warfare. The dystopian elements in this story is very different and here the world has changed (instead of ended) because of a mega-corporation controlling something we absolutely can’t survive without. If you stick out the slow start and don’t find regular intervals of info dump overwhelming like I did, it’s a really good read. The main character, Jack, from whose point of view the story is told, is a well-balanced, wholly likeable character. I can say the same for his friends, his father and their allies. All the characters in this novel are fully fleshed out and grow on the reader as you get to know them along the way.

One of the elements that made this such a remarkable read is without a doubt the world-building. It’s a complex setting which at times boggled my mind when trying to form the whole picture, but it was done creatively, and clearly a lot of thought and effort went into constructing this backdrop. Another element that had me riveted was the race against time to retrieve the data from Jack’s “wing” and him trying to stay one step ahead of his pursuers. Jack constantly has to make on the spot decisions as to how to survive the next attack, who he can trust and who not to.

It’s very seldom I come across a YA book aimed specifically at male readers, or ones I can recommend exclusively to guys looking for an adrenaline-pumping read loaded with conspiracies, hostile takeovers and characters skilled in parkour. Yes, girls would enjoy it too, but my honest opinion after reading this novel is that guys would enjoy this much more. The advanced technology, mechanisms, gadgets, military gear and weapons used to propel this suspense-laden plot would inarguably satisfy many a male fantasy. The writing is fluid and the romance only a drop in the bucket. It’s an exciting read and although I sometimes lost my hold on all the finer details, I never lost the plot. The ending is a stunner and that alone already has me eagerly anticipating the next instalment in this extraordinary new series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a copy from NetGalley for review in exchange for an honest review

The Data Runner is certainly an unique book in it's genre. There is lots of action, which in this case mean lots of running around. The story is the most important part in this book.

The story starts off a bit strange, the prologue is actually a scene from later in the book, but when I started the book I didn't realize that and it left me a bit confused. Then when the story really starts it starts with a conversation full of terms I didn't understand yet and information dump. After that the story got better, the story really is the most important thing in this book. There is always something happening and I did wanted to keep reading to find out more. The story is really original and there is lots of attention for parkour and the philosophy behind it. The story was really good, but sometimes it got a bit too technical for me.

There isn't a whole lot of atention to the characters overal, but I did get a good sense of who the main characters is. I did like him, although I did got a bit annoyed at the halfway there paradox after a while, because he kept mentioning it. The side characters are interesting and there certainly is enough information to get a feel of who they are, but I would've liked to get to know them better. There is hardly no romance in this book beside a few kisses near the end, which actually was kinda nice for a chance.

The world building is actually the thing that bothers me the most, because it is clear there is a whole lot of world building behind it all, but I just couldn't get a good grab what the world was. There are so many things that aren't that clear. I think it's a dystopia world, but what exactly happened? What does the world look like? why has the internet changed nto the Aggranet? What is the free city? There is just too much that isn't completely explained. Or the explanation comes too late and in an info dump moment. There are a few moments with info dump in the book, which are usually timed a bit strange. I wanted to get to know the world, but even after finishing this book I still don't have a good idea what the world looks like and what happened to it.

To conclude: Data Runner is a story based book. It's fast paced, full of action and with an original story. I did get a good idea who the characters are, but still would've liked to get to know them better. The world building is there, but the explanation is usually a bit confusing and at the end of the book I still didn't had a good view of the world.

[Brigid ✩ · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can also read this review on Flying Kick-a-pow! Reviews.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Actual rating: 2.5 Stars

Red Tail turns her attention back to her thin screen, and we walk in silence for a few minutes, giving me a chance to take in everything she's just told me. But soon her expression changes, seemingly from some disturbing piece of information she's just received.

"What is it?" I ask.

"Look, you've come into this at a very awkward time. This is going to sound paranoid, but it's the best piece of advice I can give you right now. Trust no one. Do you hear me? No one."

"Wouldn't no one include you?"

"That's your choice."

In the near future, megacorporations have taken over what was once New York City. Without the Internet, important information is passed through a network of "data runners" who physically run information from place to place, carrying it in chips imbedded in their arms. Teenage math genius Jack Nill chooses to become a data runner so that he can help his father out of a gambling debt. But when Jack receives cargo that everyone wants, his life is soon in danger. Teaming up with his best friend, Dexter, and a fellow data runner girl who goes by the code name Red Tail, Jack has to outrun his pursuers before they find him.

Over all, I have mixed feelings about Data Runner. On one hand, I like the concept a lot. On the other hand, I didn't feel like the book reached its potential.

The book started off rather confusing for me. The reader is thrown right into the plot without much explanation. A lot of unfamiliar terms are thrown out into the open and you just have to try to keep up. It does start to piece together after a while … but I have to say, for almost the first fourth of the book or so I had next to no idea what was happening a lot of the time––especially because a lot of the dialogue is like this:

"Those EEPROMs all use a modified Floating Gate MOSFET for their storage mechanism. It works like a built-in failsafe. Any attempt to pull the data matrix directly from the EEPROM will trigger a hot-carrier injection into the gate dielectric and wipe it out completely."

Uhhh…?



Maybe it's because I'm not all that tech-savvy, but … yeah. Reading something like that is just another language to me.

The pace picked up a bit for me once I got about a third of the way into the story. Once Jack is a data runner and there are all these crazy people after him, it gets more exciting. There are a lot of chase scenes and whatnot, which were able to hold my attention most of the time.

Also, like I've said, I thought it was a cool concept. There was a lot of creativity in the idea of data running, and it was pretty different from most books I read.

However, some things really took away from the book for me.

For one, there was some painfully bad dialogue. I mean … real bad.

"This," he catches my reflection in the blade, "this is not for making ice cream." He pauses for drama like a bad actor. "Not I scream," he finishes, "this is for making you scream."

[image error]

I …
Yeah, I don't even know.

(Also as I typed that, I realized the punctuation is atrocious. But yeah, moving on.)

The book also struck me as being a bit racist. The main villain is this Japanese guy named Mr. Ito, who basically runs around hacking off people's arms with a katana. Right … because every Japanese person owns a katana.

On top of that, he's just a pretty flat and two-dimensional villain. So whenever he showed up I was just like:



Speaking of which, I just didn't feel much of a connection to any of the characters. Jack is pretty much just a Gary Stu––a math prodigy, outsmarts everyone, yada yada. I didn't find anything compelling in his character.

Probably Red Tail was the only character I was close to liking, but I still felt pretty "mehhh" about her. She was a pretty typical sassy female lead and the relationship between her and Jack felt a little too rushed and forced to me.

In the end, I found this book to be fun for the most part, and the idea was intriguing. It just wasn't fleshed out enough, and it just wasn't that memorable or compelling for me.

- Flying Kick-a-pow! Reviews

[Experiment BL626 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hipsters versus evil corporations and their hired thugs. The book read like an action movie but without the plot holes and indigestible contrivances.

+ the characters

The good guys were a bit full of themselves. Parkour was cool. Community was cool. Staying in school and going to college, cool. Hacking and beating the man, guess what? Cool, too. (They never used the word “cool” but the sentiment was apparent.) While I liked that the characters had passion and goals, they went a bit overboard with the enthusiasm. It was a step short of indoctrination. Yes, I get it. Y’all are hipsters. Fortunately, enthusiasm eased up after a few chapters once the plot got going and the characters had no time to extol their interests.

I liked Jack. He was smart, earnest, and decisive, completely worthy of his role as the protagonist. However, I wish Jack was smarter in carrying a gun or some other weapon after he accepted a job that he fully knew was dangerous. Case in point, the news frequently reported that there was a guy was chasing after data runners and chopping off their arms. Hell, I didn’t understand why practically none of the data runners were armed. At least carry some smoke bombs or something. I knew their raison d'être was to run, run, run but they had to have realized that running would not always be an option. What started as an oversight on the protagonist’s part soon became an oversight of the world building. The concept of data runners could have been more developed.

Red Tail was another data runner and Jack’s love interest. I really liked that the romance appeared late at the end and was a minor, almost trivial plot line because it would have distracted the plot and interfered with the characters’ priorities. I also liked how Red Tail never played the role of a damsel in distress for a second, and in fact she played the role of Jack’s rescuer and reluctant mentor. Red Tail was such a kickass heroine that the book could have easily been told in her POV.

Martin was a secondary character and Jack’s father. At first I didn’t like that Jack called his dad by his first name, but I quickly understood why even though the book, which was told in Jack’s 1st person POV, never pointed it out. Martin did not act like a proper father to say the least. What kind of a father gambles away the family’s savings and then silently accepts that his kid has to work a dangerous job to pay off his debts and pretty much shoulder all adult responsibilities? Martin should have known the game was rigged and was a trap given the fact that the gang accepted his admission to the game so easily knowing he was a card counter. The revelations made towards the end explained Martin’s fatherly incompetence, but instead of making his fatherly incompetence understandable they made me think worse of Martin.

The only character that were worse than Martin were the bad guys who were complete stereotypes. They came into two groups: thugs and evil corporate suits.

+ the world building

I didn’t take issue with how black and white the world building was, but I was disappointed by it because the book could have done better, a lot better. For example, practically making all corporations evil, greedy, and bent on world domination, I kid you not the book actually said it, was shallow and gratuitous. Sorting people as good or bad, making it into “either with us or with them” matter, as if each person, especially the “bad guys,” don’t have their own values, simplified the social issues too much to be taken seriously. While I got the points the book made, e.g. fraking is bad, I believe those points would have been sharper if the world building showed some care for the complexity of the issues it raised.

In Conclusion

I rate Data Runner 3-stars for I liked it. As a book that raise social issues, it failed to present complexity, but as a book that entertains, it succeeded. I was also thrilled by the greater than average amount of science fiction elements.

[S.M. Blooding · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn’t a book for the people who want an easy, brain candy experience. You’re gonna have to pay attention, and you’re gonna have to think. With that said, there wasn’t a single time when I was ever lost. I’m in Editing Hell, which means long hours, long days, constant work, no play. Basically a brain DRAIN. All the information was presented in a way that I was able to pick it up as he was putting it down.

I devoured this book! It was exactly what I was looking for. Okay. Not exactly. We’ll get to that in a second. The story was original and that’s what I’ve been looking for. I need a break from the cookie cutter books. (Same setting, but this time, magic comes from purple fairies. Oh, neat. Same characters, but this time the vampires sparkle. Um. Okay.) No. My soul needs something different. This book gave me that in spades.

Okay. So what was wrong? Why didn’t it get five dragons?

Info dumps slaughtered one dragon. I totally get it. I create very different worlds too, and they have to be set up, but in huge info dumps with techno language? That was not fun as a reader. I got it. Don’t get me wrong, but wow. It was painful for a minute. Personally, I think Mr. Patel could have deleted the info dumps and kept the information he had laced within the natural flow of the narrative. That would have made me happy. However, when I write that way, I get about 50% of my readers who just can’t keep up. Finding that middle ground is tough. I will say, it was a little like ripping off the Band-aide. Once you get past that, it’s a cr-A-zy, wild, unique, fast-paced, thrilling ride. Fun-fun-FUN! Wow! Whoot!

There was one more dragon slaughtered, though.

*stares up at the Heavens, clawed hands of frustration*

Present tense. Why? I just don’t understand the thrill of present tense. We don’t TALK like this. We don’t think–okay, maybe you do. I don’t know. I’m not in everyone’s head. But I know I don’t think like that. “I sit down. I say to my friend.” Uh. No. I might have conversations with myself. “Self. This is a bad idea.” But that’s where present tense in the Real World and a day in the life of Frankie come to an END!

I will say that in this story, there is maybe a reason for this. The story is so in the NOW. The tense helps to keep the reader glued to the edge of her seat. And, as far as the wordsmithing goes, Sam Patel pulled off probably the best present tense narrative I’ve read. It didn’t piss me off. It annoyed me and occasionally pulled me out of the story, especially during info dumps. But it was written really well, which is how this book earned the fourth dragon back.

So. If you dare to be challenged, if you want to read something that is unique and new, pick up this book . Just…let’s not all start talking in present tense. That’ll just get awkward.

[Readeralex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seventeen-year old Jack Nill and his father Martin Baxter live in the not-too-distant future in a city what was once New York. Many things have changed since Martin Baxter’s childhood: a small number of mega-corporations have taken control of the country and they are striving for more. Those mega-corps have a finger in every pie, they operate the army, manipulate the water market and of course, the independence and neutrality of the internet is part of a bygone halcyon era. Today, you cannot send sensitive correspondence through the post or via the internet without having to worry about it getting scanned for content. Now, the only way to transmit important data files is by a network of “data runners” who literally run the information over the sneakernet. This procedure, of course, isn’t appreciated by the megas, so running data is the most dangerous game in this very dirty world.

Jack Nill has to accept that risk when he gets into this business. He must make money as a data runner because his father has been tricked in a major gamble and lost a lot.

With his intelligence and his outstanding parkour skills, Jack seems to be the perfect data runner. He is able to run even the most wanted and highly explosive data with a bunch of contract killers on his heels until something unexpected happens. Jack stumbles into a huge conspiracy that could affect the entire North American Alliance. Now, it’s up to him and his friends to use all their skills to outrun their interceptors and uncover the truth. Will they be able to avert the imminent catastrophe?

The author Sam A. Patel has created a future world under the control of a handful of ruthless and power-crazed mega-corporations. Is this an unthinkable plot or a hard-edged realistic scenario? No matter what, this is the basis of a very cool story. Together with Jack, the reader doesn’t go on a rollercoaster ride – that would be way too passive. The author gives you a fascinating insight into the world of parkour and the skills of traceurs when he chases Jack from one dangerous and thrilling data run to the next and the teenager has to overcome highly dangerous physical as well as mental obstacles – “there are no limits, only plateaus”.

Data Runner is a literally fast-paced adventure, action-packed and full of suspense. I cannot pigeonhole Sam A. Patel’s first series; is it a dystopia, SciFi, a book about parkours, computer technology, white-collar crime? Well, I couldn’t care less – I only have one clear category: fantastic book, one of my favourites in 2013 up to now. Five Stars!

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.0 of 5

Set in the not-too-distant future, Data Runner is a an action-packed thrilling ride.

A few giant mega-corporations own nearly everything - including the internet. The only way to transmit sensitive data is to employ runners to carry the data from one location to another. They do this by getting the digital information injected into a special device inside the runner and it is extracted when the runner reaches the rendezvous point. Safeguards are in place, which includes the destruction of the device (and the runner) if improper extraction were to take place.

Despite the dangers of being a data runner, Jack Nill needs the work in order to make money to get his father out of a large gambling debt. Jack is a math genius and a champion of parkour - which makes him a natural as a data runner. But when a stranger loads Jack's data chip with a message it suddenly seems that the entire world is after him to get at that message.

This was such a simple concept. Anyone who has worked in a large city (such as New York or Los Angeles) has encountered runners scurrying from one large business to another. Updating this idea just slightly gives us a tremendous, dystopian YA novel that will really appeal to young men.

The book starts just a little slow as author Sam A. Patel gives us a lot of information to set up the premise and the world we are in. But if you stick it out, the payoff is well worth it. The last quarter of the book is mostly non-stop action and Patel delivers it very smoothly. I was completely brought in to the story and reading rapidly to turn the page to see what would happen next.

The science was believable and incorporating parkour was a stroke of genius. Patel writes the parkour scenes well and it fits nicely in the story.

All in all, this was an exciting read and it isn't often that we get tremendous adventure fiction for YA boys, but this is just the thing.

Looking for a good book? Data Runner by Sam A. Patel is an exciting sci-fi adventure.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Razael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text may contain spoilers!

There are no limits. Only plateaus...

It's always to fun to read how an Eastern European guy brings down and entire USA Corporation. Double the fun when the reader is Eastern European himself. :)


I received this book via email by Diversion Books in exchange for honest review. The title reminded me of PK. Dick classic Blade Runner, but soon after i start reading i realised there is nothing in common /except the cyber punk anti utopian world/. Some reviews mention it's like William Gibson, but in my opinion, the style of writing is closer to the classic Bruce Bethke "Cyber Punk", where a bunch of punky teenanegers hack the network from a public library. Soon after i entered the world of Data Runner i came to the understanding that Sam A. Petel has its own unique writing style and ideas.

In the not so far future, the Internet is owned by corporations and even the slightest bit of top secret info can be scanned. And here comes role of the Data Runners who are running the sneakernet carrying valuable information capable of wiping out entire state or a corporation. The job of Data Runner is one of the most dangerous things in the World, especially when you have on your back unscrupulous hired assassins known as Interceptors and Disruptors.

Data Runner is the story of the Carrion aka. Jack Nill(god i fell in love with the nicknames in this book), a notable member of the Dragons Free run Gang. Jack Nill is cut off the elite schools and lives with his father, the hacker Martin Baxter. When his dad falls in the trap of online poker fraud, Jack Nill receives the unique opportunity to run for the most elite group known as Arcadian Transports / Yeah, its actually related to ancient Greek Arcadian region known for their transport ships/. Running for Arcadian means huge benefits that can pay his dad debt and help Jack go to elite school. But soon Jack and his friend Dexter are going to mess up with Blackburn corp /Blackwater is that you!?!/ . Here is where the shit really hits the fan.

Also here is where the cyber punk is getting mixed with fast, fun and thrilling adventure. “Data Runner” is much more YA, coming of an age action adventure than cyber punk. Still the author manages to bring interesting themes like the while parkour philosophy, the Zeno’s paradox and etc. The author seems like a really smart guy, the book is not only action and running.

The characters are a bit cliché, but from Jack point of view they are represented in an interesting way. I really loved Dex, Red Tail, Snake and even Cyril / a guy you met only twice in the whole book/. Generally this is a book about friendship with a really good conclusion – bringing down one evil, just to be replaced with another evil.

“Data Runner” addresses the very important problem with the environment and the hydrofracking companies. From my point of view this is important for my small Eastern country, because some major USA corporations want perforate my small country; poison our waters and leave us a wasteland in order to achieve their own benefits. That caused major antigovernment protests. So that’s the theme that I liked most.

Now, it’s time for some minuses. There is a lot of world building “Data Runner”. Jacks father is really a mysterious figure and the plot twits are made really well. All is connected and there are no plot holes, but the antagonists are just ridiculous. We have 2 major corporations playing intrigues between the Runners - Grumwell and Blackburn. Corporations as a group antagonist are a good idea but its a tragedy when they have more personality than the actual villain of the story – Bigsby. I really couldn’t understand why this guy is so unspeakably unreasonable and evil. Yeah, we have some background as a soldier but that’s pretty much all. There is no motivation beyond his actions and he is evil… just because he is working for corporation. Even Mister Ito and his sidekick have more motivation than him – they are doing their contract. Bigsby is a mystery, but not because his history, but because he is really poorly written character.

In my opinion in the book could be recognized some left ideas. For example, the bad guy is Blonde and Jack is dark skin. His friend is black /and im sure if they make a movie Red Tail will be asian ;) / The citizens are forced to pay for something that they should receive for free /terraaqua corp/. And the only resistances are the “Anonymous” style Undernet hackers known as Morlocks and rebel factions like the Outliers.

Some few more words bout the novel; the narrative is fast and there is not a single page where I was bored. “Data Runner” is a perfect unpretentious read for teenage readers. The whole free run was exiting and reminds of mix between the parkour movie “Yamakshi” and any other cyberpunk story. A little bit more dystopia and action than cyber punk, but to be honest I liked it much more than “the Hunger Games”.

The finish is open for sequels. In my opinin it could be fun to see the Intereceptor/Disruptors point of view. This setting have a lot of potential and the author deserve a chance.

[Jenny - Book Sojourner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dual mom and teenage son review
3.5 to 4 Stars

My Review (4 Stars):

I admit I'm probably not the target audience for this book. I got it because I thought my teenage son would like it and I wanted to read something alongside him. I admit in the beginning, there was so much new information - new cities and corporations, lots of techy and Parkour jargon to take in - that I was worried it would either overwhelm me or bore me. I started highlighting passages hoping I'd remember everything. But once I decided to just get the gist and not get bogged down by all the technical details, I really started to appreciate this book. And my advice is to not get overwhelmed in the beginning. As time goes on, if you're like me, you'll pick up more and more on Jack's world. But it is still a lot of information to take in.

This is definitely a plot-driven, action adventure. There is a steady increase in action and pacing until you suddenly get to the point where you don't want to put it down because there seems to always be something coming around the corner. I must compliment Patel on his ability to integrate providing the reader with new information in the midst of potentially dire situations. He was able to find a good balance between the two, furthering the action but keeping the reader up to speed on the big picture and overall plot. Plus this futuristic world he created was really fascinating and not unreasonable, making the whole story more realistic. And I'll say that whatever situation Jack found himself in, I really looked forward to how Patel was going to get him out of it. It felt like Jack was running until the very end, and I felt like I was right there alongside him.

There is also a great mix of characters. I normally love great character development in a book, and while I enjoyed the characters here, I would not say this book is necessarily great at developing the depths of its characters. Jack was a great narrator, observing things like an overly bright, far advanced for his years, 17-year-old at times, and at other times just like a normal kid his own age. His passion for Parkour was clear, and I really loved how Patel brings that love to the reader, making us respect the Parkour philosophy as well. The other characters brought their own life to the story, and we get a bit of background on each of them to make them interesting and see their importance to the story and to Jack, but I would still have liked to know more about them.

Bottomline: This is a great plot-driven, action-packed adventure; light on character development. It's a bit "techy" at times, and the reader will be tempted into confusion, but even if you don't understand every single detail, the overall picture is very intriguing. The actual "data running" and Parkour elements are exciting and a welcome integration into this genre. This is the first book of a series, but we are not left with a huge cliffhanger, more of an idea of what might be happening with Jack in the next book, which I look forward to reading.

My Son's Review (13 y/o) - 3.5 Stars:

My first impression when I started Data Runner was that I wasn't going to be into it. In the beginning it was hard to understand what Jack was doing because the technical words were confusing until I got more into the book. After I figured out what Jack did with his life and where he lived, I got more into the story. I really liked the Parkour parts of the story and those were not confusing. I liked that he did Parkour as part of his data running. I really liked when he jumped on a moving train. I also liked the Brentwood Dragons - how and where they trained, their sayings, and their friendships. I also found the plot interesting and how it was laid out. Once I was towards the middle of the book, it was hard for me to stop reading. There was a lot of action and a lot of stuff happening and it made me want to keep reading. I felt the characters were very plain and not a lot was revealed about them. The ending was very surprising. I didn't expect things to happen the way they did. But it was still very exciting to read and makes me want to read the next book. I didn't like all the bad words.


Bad Word Count:
Ass = 9 times
Bastard = 1 time
B--ch = 1 time
Crap = 5 times
Damn/Damning = 11 times

[Braxton Cosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Original Article) http://wp.me/p1E9M4-6o

I’m running. I’m running. And I can’t stop. As an ex-track athlete who spent most of his time doing the exact same thing in high school and college, I can appreciate a good run. I was a hurdler. Leaping over a 42 inch barrier, running full speed, with multiple adversaries in the adjacent lanes next to you is no small feat. It takes a great degree of focus and energy. More than that, there is an unwritten importance of keeping your eyes ahead of you on the next obstacle while toppling the current one.

Much like Patel’s story of wall climbing, curb skipping and fire-escape grappling Jack Nill, life in the future can be a dance of adaptation and tight-roping. Sam Patel set out to create a new series that captures the essence of these elements with his stunning debut in Data Runner. The story takes place I the future, where corrupt corporations run the ship and the government has all but been decimated by the widening gap between poor and wealthy stretching to almost limitless proportions. The economic tide is washed in technology and Geek warfare, with the internet being the battleground. Data running –odd jobs that require a person to download information into their arm and transport it from point A to B for money – has come to the forefront as a lucrative business, with multiple companies investing big bucks on trainer personnel with the skills to get things done. Jack Nill possesses the talent of parkouring, which allows him to travel city blocks sort of like a certain web-slinger who runs New York, just minus the web-fluid in his wrists. He bypasses school and joins a faction of Data Runners to make ends meet.

Behind the basic plot of a young man struggling to earn another buck until the best new gig comes along, is a story that addresses the importance of friends and family, of which Jack is short on. His mother went missing years ago and his father is a living enigma who keeps his work private. Before too long, Jack finds out that running data from here to there isn’t as easy as it seems. He gets caught up in and unravels the seams of a corporate conspiracy to bring down the entire city, with the spoils going to the last company standing. And of course, he carries the data that holds the key to thwarting the evil plans.

The story moves at an expected rapid pace, with Patel providing an adequate amount of detail that fleshes out the scenery of tomorrow, without slowing down the storyline. Mix in a cute budding romance for Jack to play around in, and you have the start of a story that I anticipate watching grow as the series runs along. Anyone into young adult, cyberpunk and sci-fi is in for a treat. The showdown at the end was a little anti-climactic, but I’m hopeful that Jack will find his light at the end of the Closter phobic tunnel in time. I give Data Runner an exhilarating, parkour twisting, 4 out of 5 stars.

Data Runner comes out June 25th and will be available on ebook, at Amazon and Barnes and noble.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my god. This is such a brilliant book. Insta-fave.

EDIT: 5/29/13

I absolutely LOVED this book. It's rare enough to find good sci-fi books that guys can enjoy, but even harder to find books that have parkour in it. Usually it's called something else, like SILENT SHADOW FLOWS OVER LAMP or something equally cheesy and kung fu-y.

I found the beginning a little bit disorienting, because Patel just decided to throw all this new "future" vocab at you, and literally, it's introduced like this--

VOCABWORD. A snarky definition here.

Which is FINE, except he does that at least ten times. And honestly, I don't think it'd be that bad to find a couple different ways to sneak words in. It got really confusing really fast because of that.

But some of the terms that I didn't know, like parkour tricks and stuff, weren't explained at all. I guess it would've detracted from the experience if he tried to explain those, but it was still a bit confusing.

One thing--if you like figuring out things yourself, you might not want to read this book...literally, the main character is pretty much a goody two-shoes that never messes up, and always preaches about life and how to live it. As in parkour style.

Also, the main villains, a katana-wielding duo of Mr. Ito and Gendo were a bit too cheesy for a book. It was really weird, like something from a bad martial arts movie.

But those were really my only gripes...Really. I LOVED the parkour. Instead of just describing the actions, Patel went into the philosophy behind the lifestyle of parkour, and really took Data Runner from just an action-stuffed blah of a book to a thoughtful, interesting and engaging novel.

The love interest was pretty snazzy too--Red Tail isn't that much of a "girly girl" so much as a tough heroine whose built herself up from practically nothing. And her tattoo's probably really cool too.

The whole concept behind the data runner was really cool. Inserting data into a traceur's (parkour practicer's) arm, and making them run to a drop-off location--the way that this was explained and shown was very well "shown", and I was on the edge of my seat, reading these passages. And the stuff with Arcadian Transports [the company that Jack runs for] and the cool tattoos/data-injection places was really intriguing. I'd love to see a picture or concept drawing of the tattoo, definitely.


My Rating
Although the book did get a bit cliched at times, I really did enjoy the element of parkour and the data runner concept, and am looking forward for *hopefully* sequels. :)

4 out of 5 stars

--You can also find this review at my blog, Time to Book--

[Jaymi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via netgalley.com to review.

Data Runner, the name alone makes me think of Shadow Run, with shadowy hackers breaking into corporations and taking their data for fun and profit. There is a bit of similarity in this book but it's of a different nature. Patel creates an interesting vision of the future where "data runners," or people who load up data into their bodies and currier it from location to location, help form the culture of our world. Our protagonist, Jack, a tracer who dreams of being able to go to the best schools, gets recruited into the best data running organization, Arcadia. Soon, he learns the value of carrying data and what it can really shape the direction of the world.

I loved the world built into this book. I loved the parkour and running scenes. My head carried out music to accompany it. The book did have a few twists and it kept me wondering just how far the run was going to go. The characters were great and had flaws, that made them more well rounded. The book ends with a great opening for the next, if there will be.

I'm not sure what the shortcomings of this book might be... it was a bit short (which isn't a downfall), and things did flow a bit too well, but those are minor things to something I hope heralds the start of a promising series.

Bottom Line: want a fun cyberpunk/shadow run book to read? Love tales that feature parkour prominently in them? Then this is your book.

[Sadaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book focuses on Jack Nill who is a data runner. When I first began reading this, I was ver confused. Nothing made sense and I felt like starting a new book but I'm glad I decided to read this to the end. The first 3 chapters or so will confuse you because of all the terms the author uses and goes straight into the story which made no sense because I knew nothing about data runners and what they do.

Jack's job is to get data and run to another point to transfer the data without getting caught. His typical job changes once he gets hired to work for the Arcadians who are a mysterious group. Arcadians are a step above any other, with impressive chips inserted into each person and these chips seem to be a better version then the chips other groups have. The data is then stored into the chip and the race begins. Run and transfer the data from one point to another without interception from other people or groups. When a big secret is revealed, Jack has to use all his skills and abilities to win.

I do have to say that after everything that happened, the ending was not something I was expecting. I do truly feel sorry for Jack and what he has to bear as an outcome of the secret

Definitely a great read but I do have to acknowledge that it was a bit slow in some parts and it the beginning is quite confusing, however that being said it still is a great read

[Mandi Kaye Sorensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at http://www.mandikayereads.com/archive... (7/8/13)

This book had a very very slow start to it. I wasn't sure I was going to finish it, to tell you the truth. It's a very different sort of book than I normally read, and it opened with an information dump to acclimate the reader to the unique world of the story. It was confusing and difficult to follow at times.

And then when I realized how much of the story relied on the fad of parkour, I definitely almost put it down. That trend went viral last year and then died down again. Reading about it now felt a bit dated - especially in a book set in the future. But I pushed through because I've been in a reading rut and I wanted to read something different.

And by the time I got to the end, I was glad I did.

About halfway through the action really ramped up. The pace picked up and it stayed up right until the end. My heart was in my chest while I rooted for Jack to figure out the truth and save his friend - and himself. In the end, most of the questions were tidily answered and everything was wrapped up in a neat little bow. But there were just enough new questions left to segue into the next book in the series (which I will definitely read).

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley to review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was full of action and had a realistic rendering of the future. I liked the addition of parkour to the story. It was integrated well and made sense. The sport was explained well for those who were unfamiliar with it. There aren't a lot of YA books about it so that was nice. The philosophy behind parkour was explained well. The sense of community the boys had was relatable. Some of the hacking stuff went over my head, but the gist of what was going on. I felt like that was what was supposed to happen when Martin opened his mouth though. He's very intelligent and his technobabble illustrated that. I loved the world building. The idea that the net became controlled and how that changed communication made sense. The evolution of courier and security systems out of that was very logical. Overall, I thought that the book was a really fun read.

[Tellulah Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yay for this book! It's been a while since I read such fun sci-fi. What I love about the best sci-fi is not aliens or futuristic technology but how it illuminates important social, political and cultural issues in our world. And Data Runner does not disappoint.

It touches on timely issues like fraking, water rights and combines it with great world building, fun data running, engaging conflict and great characters. Data Runner reminded me of the storytelling I enjoyed so much in early William Gibson novels but made relevant for today.

I can't wait to read book two!

Thanks to Diversion Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Annabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot I was ready to love about this – cool sci-fi concept, check, computers and hackers, check, youngster taking down super mega corporation, check. And in a lot of ways these elements were all portrayed with a degree of realism that made Data Runner not any old YA Sci-Fi Lite. It had big ideas, and a level of technical accuracy that made it challenging and realistic.

But that, unfortunately, also came with a level of technobabble that at times made it close to unreadable.

I have a fairly high tolerance for technobabble. I’m relatively intelligent, a very forgiving reader, and I have a basic understanding of a broad range of science-y topics that gives me a way in to a lot of science fiction. But this started to lose me pretty quickly.

And it was a shame, because there was a great story here. I loved all the subterfuge and intrigue of the different corporations, and the idea of the ‘sneakernet’ – a network of data transfer powered by people running the data from one side of the city to another – was a fantastic concept. I liked the characters, particularly Jack – our protagonist – who was equal parts cocky and insecure in a very realistic teenage boy kind of way. But when you have to stop to reread a passage three times before you can start to get an inkling about what’s going on, it really throws you out of the story.

After a while, I did start to get the hang of it, and found the second half of the book much easier going than the first as I began to wrap my head around some of the language. I have always thought that if a book needs a glossary, then the writer isn’t working hard enough to introduce terms and ideas in a way that’s accessible to the reader. At times when reading this book, I really wanted a glossary.

Perhaps technology is starting to lose me. Perhaps I’m just getting too old!

[Arra · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of with the cover, it was very futuristic. You'll know from there what will be the focus of the book. It screams technology and how it will be twenty or thirty years from now. The numbers also reminded me of the Matrix.

Anyway, I've always wondered how the internet really works, how it goes straight to our computers, tablets, etc. It made me think if it's tangible, if it goes through wires like electricity. Then I read about fiber optics. So it made me think where these "coils" can be found and how it can transfer lots of data in a second, and all over the world. Remember when we used to send snail mails, then emails, then chats, and now through social media. We used floppy disks to save and transfer files, then CDs, then USBs, and now data clouds like Dropbox, etc. I also imagined how these will change in the future. Will there be transparent screens we always see in the movies nowadays? Will we rely on bar codes?

So when I read this book, I thought it was incredible how the author came up with this story--the idea of data running through chips. I think I've heard a similar idea before but I've never read a story about it yet which makes it refreshing.It was a realistic world in a futuristic setting which makes it exciting. However, the expectations of the reader should be met immediately once the world is introduced and built as you go along the story line. The setting was in New York. Its name was change but it wasn't extraordinary for me. I wish to know more about it though. I wanted to learn how the world ended up that way, why it had a dystopian theme. But again, I was captured by the idea of data running and how it was done particularly with Arcadian.That fascinated me so much that I cannot shake the idea away. It will stay in my mind forever. I really love how the runners were named and how they were marked. I think it was brilliant to compare yourself with a specific specie of bird that carries the same attributes you have since the data runners are trained for flight and at times, to also fight. You can go for the fastest, the fiercest or even the smallest kind, and it's all up to you. It made me think of what bird I should be if I was a runner, and I told myself I want to be an owl. I've always loved owls plus it was Athena's symbol and it represents intelligence. To be specific, I want a snowy owl since it has a mysterious and intimidating stare that I think I have as well. You can ask my friends. Back to the review, I just want to point out the use of terminology. Some were explained and defined which I appreciated and there were those I didn't understand that I have to consult a dictionary myself. Don't judge, but I still don't know what parkour is. I usually list down a glossary of words from a books so I can add it on Shelfari and I was not able to get its definition. That's one of the few words I didn't get to absorb. Also the shift of normal conversations to scientific or mathematical ones. It was really mind-boggling! I'm a bit rusty on those subjects now and I'm not a math whiz to begin with so I felt nauseous on those parts. I know that Martin and Jack are geniuses but please not all can understand and catch up. What I'm trying to say here is I think it is really important to elaborate and explain some technical terms, ideas and even the formulas since not everyone could get it. It just leads to confusion at times. As long as it was thoroughly explained, the reader will eventually understand it. I also have to point out the recurring way jack mentions the paradox. I want to tell him to just skip it because I already get what it means. No need for repetitions. Nevertheless, those were just minor issues for me and it was still outshone by the amazing plot. Despite the few setbacks, I was still captivated by the story. I wanted to find out more. I was clearly hooked. The originality was there and it was action-packed that amps up the ante even more.

With the characters, I think there were a few who stood out for me. They were Jack, Red Tail and Pace. I'm just into underdogs. I love how Jack relies on his speed and intelligence more than his fighting capability. He proves that there's always a way to outsmart your enemies without releasing a punch. Although i was a bit disappointed on how he was deceived by Mr. Ito. It was so obvious and unbelievable but he fell for it. Red Tail is a favorite of mine. She was a young badass girl. I love the spunk she has and how she can be as techy as guys which I think made Jack admire her. I love how she empowers a female character and how she shows us that male leads can also be damsels-in-distress at times. Hats of to Sam Patel, which by the way is a guy! I also appreciated how it lacked romance but you know there's a hint of it but it didn't need to focus and go there. I think it gave me the thrill I needed. Last is Pace. He was perceived to be a weakling. He was always rescued by his co-dragons. They think he was a coward but he proved them wrong and showed them he was the bravest of them all. His character blossomed to this boy who second-guesses himself to a courageous man. Aside from being the underdog, he was also Filipino (or partly) so he was really close to my heart. Now there were also characters whom I want to see more on the next book. I want to see Snake's capabilities. I know he is brains and brawn, and I needed to see that. It wasn't enough that he drove for Jack and Red Tail on their mission. Same with Martin. I know he can show his brilliance and intelligence in the next book. I want to be wowed by these two. I know that I have to admire them but there was a lack of spark. It is essential for me to see those. Cyril was also an enigma to be cracked. I wanted to know if he can play a big part on the story or if he was just an accessory character. Now there were also those who disappointed me. Mr. Ito and Gendo lack the sophistication that I think they should have as villains. I also didn't like the way Mr. Ito talked by combining Japanese and English in the same sentence. I think it looked a bit forced. Another is Bigsby. I think his description was confusing. He needed a little more work and polishing.

Nonetheless, Data Runner was a book with so much promise and has a very unique concept which made me excited to turn each page. It was a story that I wanted to know further and dig deeper because I know it has so much more to tell. Both male and female reader will definitely enjoy reading this book and I strongly recommend this to Young Adult genre fans.

[Anirudh Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars only because of the orignality of concept.
Being an avid science fiction reader I have seen nearly all the subgeners and combinations. Be it detective+ science fiction, action+ science fiction or video games coming to life I have been through the whole nine yards.
This is the first time I am seeing the elements of parkour and science fiction come together in a novel. The description of the parkour moves being performed by Jack Nill and the other characters are extremely vivid. Kudos to Sam for that.
Data runner is a breath of fresh air in the ususal dystopian, cybe enhanced world of science fiction.

[LPJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Data Runner, the debut novel by Sam A. Patel is, in a way, my favorite kind of sci-fi. It's a tale set in the near future which serves as a critique of current day practices and policies. We meet Jack, a 17 year old techie/parkour practitioner. He lives outside what used to be New York City, except now America has been split into a number of nation-states and free cities tightly entangled with megacorporations. Jack becomes a data runner, sort of like a bike messenger for data - without the bike. You see, the Internet has also been taken over by corporations and sending data online is basically as secure as sending it by pigeon, so the future relies on these runners to physically take information from place to place. But it's a dangerous job.

As much as the story is an action-packed and exciting adventure tale of the many obstacles Jack faces not just in delivering his data, but staying alive with his limbs intact, in many ways the story is really about Citizens United, the landmark Supreme Court case which declared corporations were people.

Even before that (ridiculous) court decision, sci-fi has long been a place to explore the disturbing reality of how corporations unduly influence government and society. Here, we also get a pulled-from-today's-headlines polemic against hydrofracking (the environmentally poisonous method for obtaining natural gas) which in the story has made the water toxic in many suburban towns. Luckily there's a corporation ready to sell clean water to you, as long as you can pay.

So yes, I love sci-fi that reflects the present-day back to us and projects the likely future outcome of today's troubling issues. William Gibson and Neal Stephenson are probably my favorites for this. My problem with Patel's story is that in his hands, the story begins to feel preachy. The themes he's exploring are too close to the surface, and voiced out loud by too many characters. There's little in the way of nuance or subtlety at play.

The story explains so much along the way in an "Oh, you don't know what a Superconducting Quantum Interface Device is? Well, I'll explain it to you. In detail." Jack, our first person narrator, is deeply interested in technology and how everything works. Personally, I loved the authenticity of the tech details, but wish they were better integrated into the narrative. Here at times, they weigh it down.

Jack also often over-explains character motivations. Things along the lines of: {So-and-so nodded his head like he knew what I meant. 'I know what you mean,' So-and-so said.} I felt like there was a more organic way of letting the audience find out information as opposed to Jack just taking a break and telling us all the time. I wanted the author to trust his audience more to pick up details from the context and not need what amounted to integrated footnotes in the story.

Even with the asides, the story is fast-paced, never letting up for too long before we're taken to the next action set-piece. For the most part, this worked well and I stayed engaged throughout the whole book. However, at around 80% we start going down a sort of detour that I wasn't sure had been set up enough and I didn't really get what Jack and his crew thought they could do about the situation.

Character-wise, Jack is a special flower, picked to be a data runner by the best company around, for no reason that we really understand. Sure he's good at parkour, but he knows his best friend Dexter is a better runner and parkour-person (traceur), plus Dex can fight. But it's Jack that gets the invitation. Along the way we meet Snake, the retired-runner and pseudo mentor and Red Tail, the girl. To be fair, she's a pretty awesome girl; Jack thinks so too. Jack's dad, Martin, is important too as a super tech genius with a moral code that ensures he'll never be financially stable.

I would have loved more from the characters, we get enough for them to breathe, but they're never fully realized IMO. Or the way they're realized is through platitudes and witty remarks which doesn't create a lot of depth.

The bad guys were a little underwhelming. The katana-wielding team of Mr. Ito and Gendo would have been scarier if their reputation inducing activities had happened on-screen. Sure, they're menacing enough, but I wasn't ever really afraid of them. Another baddie, Bigbsy, had it in for Jack on a personal level that I never understood. In fact, I never understood his motivation at all.

For as many action scenes as the book had, there wasn't a lot of suspense. When we'd get to the end of a chapter, where I expected some kind of stakes-raising cliffhanger, it never happened. The action was vivid, but I wasn't on the edge of my seat. Part of it is because we never get to see Jack fail. He either gets himself out of the situation with skill or ingenuity or is saved by someone. He doesn't have any flaws that I can recall. He's brave, generous, honorable. He gives speeches on freedom that makes girls swoon. He's super-intelligent, inventive, and his hair is adorably messy. He doesn't even really make mistakes.

With all that said, there's a lot to enjoy in Data Runner. I love this genre and I like what the book has to say. I think it will be great for its intended teen audience. Overall, this is a solid debut that would probably make a great movie.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Data Runner is a fast-paced YA debut novel by Sam A. Patel. Data runners are couriers who transmit information securely by means of chips implanted in their arms. The job is risky as interceptors or destructors are often after that same sensitive information.

Jack Nil needs money to clear his father's debt and decides to take an offer from a company that runs data. Jack's parkour skills and keen intelligence are the reason he has been recruited, and he will need those qualities in this hazardous new job.

The characters could have been better developed, the plot more realistic, and the world building better clarified, but the action keeps this novel going. The novel feels as if the author was rushing to get his ideas down, but skimped some areas that would have added depth.

The use of parkour is an innovative addition to a familiar theme; I was unfamiliar with parkour, but found the sport fascinating.

From Wikipedia: Parkour (French pronunciation: ​[paʁˈkuʁ]) (abbreviated PK) is a holistic training discipline using movement that developed out of military obstacle course training.[1][2][3] Practitioners aim to move quickly and efficiently through their environment using only their bodies and their surroundings to propel themselves, negotiating obstacles in between. They try to maintain as much momentum as possible without being unsafe. Parkour can include running, climbing, swinging, vaulting, jumping, rolling, quadrupedal movement and more, if they are the most suitable movements for the situation.[4][5][6]

Check

[Fraser Simons · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Data Runner, I really enjoyed this book.

“There are no limits, only plateaus.”

In a not too distant future Jack, a young high school student with a lot of tech know-how, finds himself in a predicament. His father has lost 50,000k and the only way he knows how to make enough money by the time he needs it, is to become a Data Runner.

Megacorps reign supreme and although it is a dystopia, it instead focuses on people in a community without running water (drawing on a lot of Flint coverage) due to fracking. The town got a settlement and most took off, the people that remain are squatters combined with original town members that won't leave their home. It endears you to Jack, his single parent father Martin, and some other town members we meet really well.

"The traceur doesn’t knock an obstacle out of the way unless it’s absolutely necessary. He meanders his way past it. Over. Under. Through. Around. He gets past not by moving the obstacle but by moving himself. That is parkour, and working this job I use every technique I know just to get it done."

What really makes this interesting though is not the setting, (at least for me) it's the emphasis on parkour AND the lifestyle. It's not a tacked on bit of just action, although the action sequences with Jack tracing his way through areas was done super well and I loved it. Repeatedly the author reiterated why Jack loves it so much and it's always the drilled down philosophy of parkour which, when distilled to its root is this: Freedom.

There there's the aggrenet (what the internet became with future progress and corporate intervention), the undernet (the net of the counterculture movement in the story), and the sneakernet (not so much a virtual playground, but the network of Data Runners physically running packages through the city). The real theme is freedom, and more so that Jack and others do not have it. In fact, nobody does - except the corps, of course.

"the bioidentical cortex chip that will be implanted subcutaneously on the inside of your forearm. It is a proprietary biocircuit developed in our labs specifically for this purpose, and it is unlike any other in the world."

Data runners are not a new concept BUT, the way it is done here is fantastic. Jack joins the Aves, which use a subdermal chip to hold the information on it. Here's the thing though, it's also biotech - which means it feeds off of his body. He has to eat and make sure his temperature is good, and some other stuff. They use SQUID devices to load up the data, and the runners are off on foot to their drop points. He's got a tattoo on his forearm that has scorpion ink in it that scrambles the signal from this chip. The tattoo, and all the Aves tattoos, are of birds. It's a small detail that ends up being worked into the story really well and also reinforces the freedom theme.

"..that’s what parkour helps us get back in touch with. It isn’t just a process of discovery, it’s the process of rediscovery as well."


"standard Superconducting Quantum Interference Device, or SQUID, interface. The same kind doctors use to communicate with surgically implanted components like pacemakers."

This coupled with the technical know-how of the authors parkour moves and philosophy makes it a really enjoyable book. Jack is young, naive, intelligent, and a very likeable character. I usually like my cyberpunk to have a human condition element to the story, but this was great. It'd make a great movie, too.

There's lots of technical bits about the future, what happened, the aggrenet, undernet, sneakernet, etc. That makes the setting feel pretty good but there's not much description further than the technical details of what's happened. I missed that further on after it was established or I would have given it 5/5. Overall, it was pretty great. The world just could have been fleshed out a bit more for me.

"Sooner or later we stop running, stop climbing, stop reaching for the sky. We stop pushing ourselves toward unattainable goals because common sense tells us that the only logical thing to do is push ourselves toward the attainable ones. If running through the world like kids on the playground is a kind of dream, then at a certain point we just stop dreaming."

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted at The Cozy Armchair.

I’ve been on a sci-fi binge recently (i.e. since the summer of Star Trek, as I’ve taken to calling it), so I’ve jumped at every opportunity to read YA sci-fi whenever I can. Data Runner presented an interesting concept because it’s set in a future where megacorporations have taken over the nation and own everything, even the Internet, so the only safe way to transmit information is in the bodies of couriers called “data runners”. Enter Jack, our main character, who is part of a parkour club. He and his friends are really good at what they do and aspire to be invited to be part of the “sneakernet”, the black market data trade, and put their skills to use.

It’s a lucrative albeit extremely dangerous business. When you transport data for one person, their enemies will be out to intercept you and prevent your delivery at all costs. In this sense, Data Runner is an action-packed book, and it was a really cool to read about the insane stunts they would do on a run. It made me think of that Assassin’s Creed parkour video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAhPai...)!

Beyond that, the details surrounding the consequences of carrying data, such as the physical tolls, were really interesting to me. The data is embedded in chips in their arms, which is why most data runners end up maimed or dead if caught by the clients’ enemies. The only part I found dumb was that none of them were armed, ever?? Even when there was a guy going around chopping off arms?? It’s not like everyone can be a data runner and they’re often carrying important info, so you’d think a little more importance would be placed on personal safety and self defense.

I was a bit uncomfortable with the portrayal of one of the villains, a Japanese hitman that uses a katana because of course. It was stereotypical and the character himself was a very two-dimensional evil henchman. The rest of the antagonists are outlined in the same way, very straightforward and shallow. Data Runner attempts some commentary on the nature of corporations but doesn’t go beyond labeling them as all-around evil, period.

In that sense, I always felt like there was something missing from the worldbuilding to really bring the setting into focus. There’s a lot of science fiction and dystopian elements, but none of them come together cohesively, so I can’t tell you whether this is meant to be a dystopian or simply the future. There’s parts of info dumping for the purposes of worldbuilding, but it’s clunky and could have been elaborated on more elegantly.

I don’t really have any complaints about Jack as a main character. He’s talented, driven, and strong. He becomes a data runner because he needs to help his dad pay off his debts, and it’s admirable that he does it without spiraling into self-pity. But my favorite character had to be Red Tail. She’s a strong, independent woman who is never shoved into the stereotypical love interest role. She has more experience than Jack as a data runner and she’s allowed to show it, saving Jack’s life on a couple occassions. The romance with her was relatively subtle. It definitely wasn’t insta-love, even though Jack is admiring of her from the start, more or less.

In general, this was a decent sci-fi read. It was entertaining and exciting but ultimately not a show-stealer. On the scale, it falls evenly on average. Not terrible by any means but with definite room for improvement.

[Kayla De Leon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A free digital copy of this book was procured via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Originally seen at: The Bookish Owl

Data Runner was the very definition of riveting. I was on tenterhooks while reading it. I will never regret the day that I requested this from NetGalley.

Data Runner had a very fascinating concept, which was expertly delivered by Sam Patel. The dystopian world would have been better if it weren’t written in such confusing terms. I thought that the different layers of the aggernet, like the sneakernet and the undernet, weren’t very well explained. It took me until the middle of the book to get a flimsy understanding of it. I also thought that the author had a tendency to become too descriptive with the technology involved in the book. My mind would often wander when I got to the part about the hydrofracking issue or Martin’s cables. The parkour scenes were very intense although I wish they were described in more layman terms. I couldn’t comprehend what exactly a vault was or how it was done. Readers with prior knowledge of parkour would have no difficulty understanding the lingo in this book, but novices like me would have a hard time doing so.

The characters were all realistic and I especially liked Pace and Dexter. I might be a little biased towards Pace (read the book to find out) but I thought that Dexter was very three-dimensional. I wished he was shown in the book more and I can’t wait for his character development in future books.

I wasn’t too keen on the climax. It was very hard to understand as it was explained poorly. I couldn’t really grasp the Blackburn and TerraAqua issue. It would have been better if more background had been given into the rise of mega-corporations and what led to the formation of the North American Alliance. There wasn’t really much information about the countries outside of North America so that was something I was disappointed in too. In regards to the TerraAqua and Blackburn issue, if it was approached slowly and not as one giant slap in the face during the last parts of the book, it would have been more understandable.

Sam Patel’s writing style was very compelling and fast-paced. I was pressing the next page button on my Kindle as fast as I could. Kudos to Sam for dreaming up such an inventive world and an even more inventive plot.

I have high hopes for the second book in the series and I’m excitedly anticipating it. If there will be a physical copy of this book, I’ll be sure to pick it up because it would be an awesome addition to my ever-growing bookshelf.

[Philip Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Data Runner is Johnny Mnemonic plus Speed; a world where data is physically downloaded into a person, and then that person delivers it at breakneck speeds without ever stopping. It is like a Tom Cruise chase scene from beginning to end; arms and legs pump at a furious rate, it's full of intensity, and you have a smile on your face the whole time. It's a Parkour exhibition, with a dash of cyberpunk mega corporations as its playground. And a fun, enjoyable romp through that playground it is.

It's a fast read, both because it seems short and because it's a real page turner - the pace never really lets up. I enjoyed it in the same way I enjoy a fun, well crafted action movie. It even starts with one of those drop-you-in-the-middle-of-the-action then "72 hours earlier" style gimmicks, but it works quite well as a hook. There are fun twists and turns, the semi-dystopian world is interesting, and you always want to keep going to see what's around the next corner. Honestly, I found it hard to put down. Even the romance is more subtle rather than the typical overplayed triangle, which I found refreshing.

Now, to be transparent, this is lighter fare. You're not going to find anything too deep or gut wrenching here, although I did find the philosophy of parkour thought provoking, and I enjoyed some of the common refrains, even if they were repeated (a bit too?) often. At times, it seemed a bit light on details, especially with the world building which was explained explicitly a bit too much rather than just being shown. But at the same time, it has a high level of polish and never bogs down, and this is YA so I can forgive that.

If I had one key piece of critique, it would be that the there is not much depth to the characters, nor is there much development. They are cool, they are stylized, and they are enjoyable to read about, but they don't go through much change. Toward the end, the main character mentions how he's not the same person as when the story started, and I thought to myself, "Oh? How is he different, really?" So if there's one thing I'd like to see more of, it's deeper character exploration and development. There was certainly time for a bit more of that. And as the author says, "There are no limits, only plateaus!" (Love it.)

To that point, I absolutely WOULD like to see more! Count me in for the sequels. If you're looking for a fast, fun, light read with a sleek geeky tech twist, give this one a shot. You'll most likely enjoy it!

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, are you looking for something that is derivative of Gibson's "Johnny Mnemonic" or the movie "Wanted," but not as well-written?
Bully for you-you have found just such a place.
I usually don't do 'synopsis,' but as this was an advanced reader edition I will do a brief: Boy in dystopian future runs data in a chip stored in his arm. What's this? Data that could bring down the evil megacorporation? And it has been entrusted unto me?! Forsooth!
Yeah, yeah. You've heard it before.
But still...
After getting through the rehashed plot and the poor editing using words that don't exist like, "undistinguishable." After getting through poor grammar, stilted and awkward sentences that the editor should have caught, I actually sped through parts of this book.
Some of it was laborious and trudging, but the places where it excelled it did quite nicely.
The action.
This is where the author got me.
The description of how the "datarunners" would "Three E." (Elude, Evade and Escape." Yes...I know...terribly trite and somewhat redundant. I forgive too much? Perhaps)
These scenes had me pacing quickly through and imagining the scenes straight to film.
At the same time, where it lacks-it truly lacks.
There is a build up to book two within moments of opening the first book.
The lead character is too familiar with the reader straightaway.
Lack of character development.
Our protagonist becomes an expert at his craft and a legend within a month and starts spouting off about "parkour" (basically, the 'art' of running) as if he were a Zen Master.
Ridiculous phrasing.
Obvious outcomes, plot-lines, character discovery, etc.
A horribly, rushed, tidy wrap-up.
A lead into book two that just made me want to retch.
Yeah, that bad in all of those areas.
All the same...the pacing of those action scenes. I have not read that kind of "action-style writing" in a long time and it worked. Somehow it worked.
I give this attempt three very generous stars due to the fast read and the aforementioned pacing.
I may have even been swayed by the free ebook I received, but I swear, when the second in the series comes out I would like to read it-just to read another "run."

Namaste~

[Cheree Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a unique book with an interesting concept and that's what drew me to it. Jack is a free runner, an expert in parkour, in a not-too-distant future where megacorporations rule and even the internet is owned by someone. The only way to transmit data is through the use of data runners, which is a dangerous job in itself. Jack is pulled into the world of data running to get his father out of a serious gambling debt and is recruited by one of the top and most secretive data running companies. When Jack's chip is uploaded with a cryptic cargo that everyone wants to get their hands on, or destroy, he soon becomes a part of a key conspiracy that could change the shape of the world order.

I have to admit I haven't read too many hardcore sci-fi novels before and one thing that threw me when I started reading Data Runner was that Patel threw the reader into the action and the world without much explanation to the different meanings and jargon that was being used, but overlooking that what Data Runner provides is a thrilling read with lots of twists and turns as the reader is thrown into the chase through the city with Jack and all of the dangers and pitfalls that lay ahead for him.

One of the things I loved with Data Runner was the in-depth explanation of parkour, it really showed that Patel had experience with the sport and it helped to paint the details of what Jack was really doing. The characters all had different personalities and that was great to see, Jack was a fantastic character to follow through the story with an interesting backstory and a tough life that it made it easy to cheer him on as he's being chased.

There were a couple of parts that I felt lagged a bit and I just wanted Patel to get back to the action scenes, which he writes so well, but overall this was an interesting story with a unique take on the sic-fi novel. I recommend this to anyone who loves hardcore sci-fi's or just a thrilling cyber novel.

[Lucie Paris · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Lively, absorbing and super interesting!

A mixture between races by the Yamakasis, a hint of the atmosphere of "Jumper" and the tv show Dark Angel.
It's futuristic while being very contemporary at the same time. This story really blew me away. If at first, I frowned to understand the complexity of the different organizations, as soon as the action is taking place, the story becomes a really fast pace and addictive.

The reader finds himself running in the middle of the city to get rid of a ton of different villains. Between those who cut arms with a Katana and those who use guns and worse...Adrenaline peaks are waiting for you!

Then, there are the secrets surrounding Jack and the darker secrets kept by the organizations that are fighting for control and power over the world. It is very well done.
I grabbed my book and I have not let go until the last sentence...

The final twists are a awesome. Between fights, cars chases and betrayals, Jack showed great courage to give a meaning to his life. A deep and loyal male character which I really liked.

Hats off also to the author who embarked me into his world ...
A very good Science fiction story ! I will eagerly await the sequel.

Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Data Runner' takes the old computing concept of sneakernet and updates it into a pretty good futuristic YA novel.

Jack Nill lives with his father in what used to be part of New York. Things have been been better for the two of them and they've had to move into a poorer neighborhood to make things meet. Jack's dad is pretty clever with technology, but he's got a gambling debt. Jack runs in a parkour club with friends. This brings him to the attention of a group of data runners. Data runners use humans to transport data, usually embedded in their arms. This could be Jack's way out, except for the strange person going around disrupting data by cutting off data runner's arms.

It's an exciting read, with Jack being chased and jumping over things through most of the building. There's a larger story involved, and it's not bad. It's also part of a series, and while there is no huge cliffhanger, it does leave threads open for the next book. I found it a quick, enjoyable read.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Diversion Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this fun ebook.

[Waffles - Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens when the world you once new, a Free World at that, becomes too enclosed on you and yours? When the meaning of the word Free isn't what the Dictionary once described? When even the Internet is owned and watched and carefully examined?

You would do whatever it takes.

Jack Nill is one of those kids that must do whatever it takes to get sensitive information from one data to another. Jack is part of a league of kids called Data Runner's, where they install a microchip into their arms and hoof it down in what is called a Sneakernet and transfer sensitive code, sensitive Intel and data. But when one of his chips gets comprised with precise cargo that everyone wants, and will kill for, Jack must harness his skills and use his friends to help him figure out the truth behind the Internet and the people that are trying to destroy what he knows is His God given Right!!

Interesting story line that I received from NetGalley. Kudos to the author for thinking of an interesting new way of how our world will turn out in the near future. A little slow at first, but when you go the lingo of the computer world, it was quite interesting.