Redeye

The Wonderland Cycle #2

by Michael Shean

Two years have passed since Agent Thomas Walken and Bobbi January found themselves at the heart of a conspiracy of unimaginable greed and cruelty. The Genefex Corporation remains shrouded in mystery, and Bobbi faces a life of unanswered questions and mounting disillusionment to look forward to. But when she receives a mysterious message from one of Walken’s former comrades, she is drawn back onto the trail. Now, Bobbi will find herself newly equipped to discover the truth – about Walken, about Genefex and the Yathi race – and the key to unlocking those secrets rests in the hands of a cyborg terrorist known only as Redeye.

But the road to truth will be a dangerous one, from the glamour of Seattle’s ultramodern core to the sprawling wastelands of the Old City and beyond. Alongside a band of lethal comrades, Bobbi will face death and worse amidst urban rot, abandoned subway tunnels, and ultimately the nightmarish halls of the Yathi themselves in a race to stave off what may prove to be the death of humanity itself. Drenched in blood and neon, Redeye is a tale of humanity on the edge of a new and terrible reality.

Genres: Cyberpunk, Science Fiction, Horror, Dystopia

390 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2013

About the author

Michael Shean was born amongst the sleepy hills and coal mines of southern West Virginia in 1978. Taught to read by his parents at a very early age, he has had a great love of the written word since the very beginning of his life. Growing up, he was often plagued with feelings of isolation and loneliness; he began writing off and on to help deflect this, though these themes are often explored in his work as a consequence. At the age of 16, Michael began to experience a chain of vivid nightmares that has continued to this day; it is from these aberrant dreams that he draws inspiration.

In 2001, Michael left West Virginia to pursue a career in the tech industry. He settled in the Washington, DC area as a web designer and graphic artist. As a result, his writing was put aside and not revisited until five years later. In 2006 he met his wife who urged him to pick up his writing once more. Though the process was very frustrating at first, in time the process of polishing and experimentation yielded the core of what would become his first novel, Shadow of a Dead Star. In 2009 the first draft of book was finished although it would not be until 2011 he would be satisfied enough with the book to release it.

Michael’s work is extensively character-driven, but also focuses on building engaging worlds in which those characters interact. His influences include H.P. Lovecraft, William Gibson, Cormac McCarthy, Philip K. Dick, and Clark Ashton Smith.

Reviews

[WiLoveBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, if you haven't read Shadow of a Dead Star, do it. You'll thank me. It is book 1 in the Wonderland series. I was blown away by the ending and was left wanting the next book. I was not disappointed. Redeye follows Bobbi January, who was my favorite character from the first book. It is a whole new perspective. She has some hacking skills that come in very handy as she attempts to figure out just what is going on and follows the trail that she finds. As dark, gritty, and gory as the first, this book is full of action, and twists that keep you guessing. And again, I want the next book right now!

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Number two in the The Wonderland Cycle, this installment takes place two years later and revolves around Bobbi January, club owner and hacker extraordinaire. Bobbi is still mourning the disappearance of Thomas Walken when she gets an encrypted message from his former partner, Frieda, asking for help. While they think they are just trying to uncover what happened two years before, they stumble upon a conspiracy and cover up that they could never imagine. With the help of her long-time friend, and employee, Marcus Scalli, Bobbi tries to take on not just the Genefex Corporation, but a plot that could disrupt their world.

I don't want to go into too deep a review of the book because I don't want to give away the good part; the surprise. I did NOT see it coming (don't worry, you only have to wait for half way through the book for it) but it is disturbing and different. Let me say first that this is a very dense book. There's easy beach reading and there's technical reading. This falls somewhere in the middle. The fact that Shean can make up entire new technologies and words and keep them all in his head is amazing (I asked - he doesn't write them down, they are actually all in his head). But just because it's dense doesn't take away from the enjoyment. It just means that you can really get into these characters and the scenes better. They are vivid and encapsulating. Shean's use of imagery and detail in descriptions make it so despite having no knowledge of cyber technology, I had no problem imagining it. In fact, some of the descriptions are so horrible that I wished I hadn't had such an easy time imagining them.

One thing I particularly want to complement the author on is his ability to convincingly write a strong female character. Sometimes male authors write women who sound like men. Sometimes female writers overcompensate and take all sensitivity out of their women in an effort to make them seem strong. Bobbi is definitely strong and smart, but she also has a vulnerability that is very likeable and relate-able. All his characters are well drawn. Marcus is my all-time favorite. He's like a giant teddy bear and I just want to hug him. I might get killed for that, but hey, I'd still try.

The end of the book leaves us with a tease for the next book to come. I'm really looking forward to it, and this is coming from someone with little to no science fiction books under her belt and exactly one (now two) cyberpunk books.

The book release date is scheduled for April 12th, which gives you plenty of time to read the first book, Shadow of a Dead Star before then, although this book can stand alone.

[Melysah Bunting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Redeye (The Wonderland Cycle #2) by Michael Shean is a continuation of Shadow of a Dead Star. In the first novel we meet, Tom Walken, a cop who has to keep the streets of Seattle clean of black-market technology. Bobbi, aka Brain Mother, is a hacker who gets tangled in the mess. She helps Tom battle Wonderland technology which comprises of dolls, and all sorts of crazy. In Redeye, Bobbi is on the hunt to find out if Tom is still alive after a chaotic battle.

Bobbi meets new friends and enemies like Redeye. Redeye was born a girl, but made into a machine. She has one mission, and that is to save the world. Although, she could destroy it in the process too.

Bobbi finds herself joining Redeye's mission with the help of some friends. Can they save the world from strange beings called Yathi? Will Redeye be their salvation or damnation?

The brilliance of this novel is due to Shean's eloquence. I read by paying close attention to each word, which is probably why I read so slow! To continuously choose the perfect word until you build a story is amazing.

The fact that the writing is so clear makes the story's pace flow with ease. Normally, in the second book of a series, I get bored. There was not one point in the book where I felt my attention give way.

For that, this is the best second book in a series that I've read. It makes a great part. It also makes a great stand alone novel.

The way anxiety builds as you read along is adrenalizing. You think, "Things can't possibly get any worse?" But you know they will.

Shean's writing never ceases to amaze me. As a side note, you probably don't want to read right before dinner. Ha!

I also love the plot. Girls, fashion, technology, shoot 'em up, gore, paranormal elements, etc. It's like a perfectly made Turducken.

I never thought I'd like an author as much as Stephan King. I know, I can read any novel by King, and I will love it. I feel like Shean could write a book about paint drying, and make it sound cool.

[TAMMY CUEVAS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bobbi January is still mourning the loss of Thomas Walken when she receives a request for help. Now, Bobbi seeks to discover the truth regarding the disappearance of Walken. When she discovers a cover up by Genefex Corporation, Bobbi enlists the assistance of her friend and employee, Marcus. After Bobbi meets Redeye, born a girl but made a machine, she joins in her mission to save the world from the Yathi race.


This is not a light, beach read, but for fans of the Wonderland Cycle as well as fans of sci-fi and cyberpunk, this will be perfect. A dark and gritty novel, Shean has created an complex futuristic world which, thanks to his excellent writing skills, is readily imaginable to the reader. I especially appreciate any male author who can create strong female characters, as he has done.

My congratulations to Mr. Shean on another well-written novel.


4 stars



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Nathan Soderland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second book in the cycle delivers on a lot of the mysteries that were seeded in Shadow Of A Dead Star. It also creates more mysteries -- enough new plot threads to make the wait for the next book seem like an eternity. Shadow did a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of worldbuilding - a 'dirty' job of establishing setting and tone that Redeye has capitalized on. Redeye as a novel has the freedom to provide more setting details at a pace that does not seem rushed -- readers can become invested in the world gradually. Characters introduced in Shadow are expanded on here as well (fitting for a sequel) -- the new characters introduced (especially the titular character) are similarly engaging. In short, Redeye is a worthy component of the Wonderland Cycle and well worth your time and money.

[David Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not nearly as good as the first two in the Wonderland series.

http://opionator.wordpress.com/2013/0...

[Joseph Spuckler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Redeye by Michael Shean is the second book in the Wonderland Cycle. I read the first book of the series about two weeks ago, and with as many books as I get to review I seldom get much past adding the second book to my To Be Read list. I received the first book through Curiosity Quills and then I did something I never do and asked for the second book in the series: Redeye.

Redeye picks up shortly after Shadow of a Dead Star ends. We see the return of Bobbi (don’t call her Roberta) January running her business, a cyber cafe drop box of sorts. When responding to an alarm she discovers it is a coded message for her from one of Walken’s former colleagues at the Industrial Security Bureau. If the message was not strange enough, the agents presence and appearance was. Searching for the truth of what happened to Walken and seeking revenge on Genefex, takes Bobbi and her allies on an exciting, twisting, adventure. The story follows along at a rapid pace halting only when there is a new revelation or when doubts of honesty over their allies come to light. Along the way there are several alliances and trusts that are developed and some are founded only in self interest. A fast moving story with a complex mix of characters and motives make for an exciting read.

The story remains dark and in this volume more takes place outside the “civilized” area of Seattle. There is the cult like following of an anti-Genefex terrorist, Redeye. Bobbi and her allies meet the feral population up close and personal in this adventure. The characters are well defined and detailed. The technology is excellent and believable in the story. It is a mix of cyberpunk and science fiction. Everything ties in perfectly.

One of the problems of reviewing a book in a middle of the series is the fear of spoilers for those who did not read the first book. So, in order to keep the series intact I cannot give too much information although there is plenty more I want to say. Read Shadow of a Dead Star, then read Redeye. You will also want to talk quite a bit about this series. My typical sci-fi read is the traditional space story by Clarke, Bova, or Robinson or a typical dystopia. This series has taken me a whole level. An outstanding read.

[ConciseAlan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked the first book a lot.

In this one, not much happens in hundreds of pages. What does is interesting and compelling, but it's just way too much wall-of-text for the few critical events. The quality of writing is excellent; there's just too much of it.

Not Recommended Read a synopsis, or just the lede for the next book.

[Billie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent sequel in the series, this takes less of the gumshoe tropes and more of the console cowboy approach

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Redeye, sequel to Shadow of a Dead Star, is a cyberpunk novel that speculates on to what extent dependence on machines and automation can have in a worst case scenario, where human bodies are seen only as functions or spare parts in a greater alien (Yathi) system that eludes them.

Bobbi takes centre stage in Redeye, and we see her personal life getting over what happened to partner Tom Walken. When a proficient hacker contacts her with vital information, Bobbi is thrust into a complex web of alien conspiracy, where she will make new well-conceived allies who she is not sure whether to put her trust in. The way Bobbi’s vulnerable, anxious and yet chipper mind worked was fascinating to read and such a contrast to former protagonist Agent Tom Walken’s distrustful and paranoid state. Many of the events in Shadow of a Dead Star were smoothly integrated with Redeye, perhaps painstakingly in the early pages. As soon as Bobbi physically sets out to hack alien sites, the author delivers with outstanding action that fans of classic apocalyptic Philip K Dick science-fiction will love.

Sometimes Bobbi must trust in dubious gifts bestowed by technological god-entities if she is to prevail against the enemy aliens. It is a paroxysm, but maybe an unavoidable one considering the circumstances where hacking and computer code are the basis for alien domination. Redeye shines a real light on how superficial, materialistic, and robotic people appear when they follow trends or adopt technologies they don’t really need, perhaps to show status. ‘The land of meat’ is used to refer to human society as if the computer realm views it with disdain. Ironically, despite all the warnings about digital over-reliance, the main protagonist Bobbi actually prefers the cyber-world of hacking, but is frequently ripped out of it by problems in the ruined world of meat.

Criticism: it took a while to get to the nub of the story; mostly it begins with who Bobbi can trust and this continues well into Redeye. At first I thought the group infiltration into a Yathi base progressed at a snail’s pace, with too many references to past incidents and confrontations with the Yathi in order to understand the current predicament. I see how this was used to add background to what the characters were up against, but I would have preferred present action and confrontation to be the deciding factor in how they unravelled enemy’s complexities. There were many typos, mainly between 25-30%. The author didn’t make clear why the Yathi became as technologically advanced as they were, and the characters’ comprehension of this was at times sketchy. Furthermore, this was the case with the explanations and reasons behind the aliens’ motives and their control of the global communications network. And why do the aliens appear as they do?

Overall, I really liked the balance of speculation, mystery, and action in Redeye. It developed existing ideas much better than Shadow of a Dead Star, fusing classic leader-of-the-underground ideas with an exaggerated balloon of looming ill-will and alien conquest. Every character was interesting, having their histories and characteristics. The thread of strong visual imagination continues in this series, and there is a high likelihood it won’t be too long before I’ll be reading the next.

[bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been meaning to read this book for years now, so I leapt at the chance when I was offered a free review copy.

I was worried going into it that I wouldn't remember enough of "Shadow of a dying star" to be able to enjoy this book, but luckily "Redeye" made an effort to get me up to speed.

The book itself started as an enjoyable cyberpunk thriller, ending up in a strange conspiracy theory place. This book borrows heavily from the work of other cyberpunk authors, with out adding too much new. This isn't exactly a complaint, since it makes the world quickly seem familiar, but it doesn't contain any truly far out mind bending or challenging concepts. Shean does do a good job of world building, and his characters are interesting, though they never really feel truly engaging. And unfortunately, I have to say the ending felt a little anticlimactic. Rather than an epic show down, the book sort of fizzles out, doing more to promote the next book in the cycle than providing a satisfying conclusion..

My other, and perhaps bigger, complaint is about the number of spelling and grammatical errors this book contains. While I'm usually pretty forgiving of this sort of thing, the fact it was published by a publishing company, and not self published, in addition to the amount of errors, eroded allot of my good will.

In conclusion, I feel this book is an enjoyable read. If you're looking for some pulp cyber punk, this book will fill that need. It won't be the greatest book you've ever read, but it probably won't disappoint. That being said, I'm not sure I would pay more than $3 for this book.

[Jonny Illuminati · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Wonderland Cycle is really good. Definitely a great mix of cyberpunk meets sci-fi (in the form of aliens from another world who are secretly working to over throw the world - I PROMISE it is a lot(!) better than it sounds). I really enjoyed this, both in the non-stop action and how well the characters progressed. The book had a couple of slow points, but I have a feeling that had more to do with what was going me in my life than anything that was actually wrong with the story. I would highly recommend any fans of cyberpunk pick up this series.

Definitely looking forward to the third book.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michale Shean nails it again!

This is cyberpunk at its very best. Michael Shean delivers an all star cast of characters who kept me interested in their personal stories and their well being the entire novel. I simply cannot recommend this book enough. If you read the first novel "Shadow of a Dead Star"' then you owe it to yourself to find out what happens next.

[Viking Jam · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://koeur.wordpress.com/2013/06/04...

[Janet Godsoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

It starts out slow, but when it picks up speed it doesn't stop.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

super duper