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Children of the Great Reckoning #2
Firewall: Samu'el
The Children of the Great Reckoning Series continues in Firewall, Book 2: Samu’el.
Samue’l Stelle remembers very little of his life as a human child. Injured in a horrific accident, his mind has been at play in a nanotech-driven game for nearly two decades. His only living companion in this alternate world is Nuress, an artificial intelligence originally designed to create Sam’s game experiences from the stuff of his own mind.
But in a world where everything is simply Sam mirrored back to himself, sanity is becoming a precious commodity. Nuress, seeking to protect his fragile heart, bonds Sam to another young man, Ianto Tobali. They touch at last through the nanotech they carry in their biological bodies, and find in each other a reason to live.
Ianto is already a pawn in a world bruised first by plagues and then the bizarre genetic changes imposed on a whole generation of children. If Sam is a creator, then Ianto is a surely a destroyer, the man who breaks things from within. Their union ties together both consensual reality and the Game, and the ripples from that connection will force all beings to redefine the very parameters of what it means to be human as well as the very nature of that emotion called love.
Samue’l Stelle remembers very little of his life as a human child. Injured in a horrific accident, his mind has been at play in a nanotech-driven game for nearly two decades. His only living companion in this alternate world is Nuress, an artificial intelligence originally designed to create Sam’s game experiences from the stuff of his own mind.
But in a world where everything is simply Sam mirrored back to himself, sanity is becoming a precious commodity. Nuress, seeking to protect his fragile heart, bonds Sam to another young man, Ianto Tobali. They touch at last through the nanotech they carry in their biological bodies, and find in each other a reason to live.
Ianto is already a pawn in a world bruised first by plagues and then the bizarre genetic changes imposed on a whole generation of children. If Sam is a creator, then Ianto is a surely a destroyer, the man who breaks things from within. Their union ties together both consensual reality and the Game, and the ripples from that connection will force all beings to redefine the very parameters of what it means to be human as well as the very nature of that emotion called love.
432 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2013
120 people want to read
About the author
K.B. Nelson
11 books11 followersK.B. Nelson holds a master’s degree in comparative religion and loves teaching yoga, qigong and adult education classes when she is not writing, crafting fiber art or running after the sheep in her backyard. “My grandfather once said he was a jack of all trades and master of none. I think I have managed to live into that same sentiment my whole life, and I can’t say it has ever disappointed me.” Kim has authored three non-fiction titles and five science fiction works and her poetry has appeared in both national anthologies and national magazines.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 20, 2013
"I entered a temple once...to experience what was meant by this slippery word 'holy'...looking into Ianto's eyes, it all changed. I finally understood. And I thought, ah, it is God who needs to see us and not the other way around."
3.5 stars, rounded to 4 stars.
Firewall: Samu'el (F:S) is the second book in this series and a direct continuation. This addition to the series continues to be a plot-driven work of science fiction that is paced better than its predecessor. While book one took time in establishing characters, relationships ("good" vs "bad") and in crafting the world, F:S is able to focus on the plot's development. While we get glimpses of The Game in the predecessor, F:S tends to focus mostly on the virtual reality simulation. (I would say 60% takes place in The Game while 40% is in the actual reality.)
The story is told through several character POVs, focusing mostly on Sam, Ianto, Jean, Cyntia and Hobert. There are a few other characters as well, though they don't get as much page time as these characters. With these character perspectives, the story also changes between The Game and reality with each chapter. While I am NOT a fan of POV changes over more than two characters, I don't feel that it distracts from the storytelling. Mostly because these characters have prominent roles in the overall plot, and their perspectives are thus important in understanding the story.
F:S also has a nice M/M twist as we FINALLY see Ianto and Sam interacting more than just a few scenes. There is romance between these two characters, and that "bond" is a critical element in the overall plot. However, it is important to make the distinction that this story is NOT M/M romance-driven; in fact, I wouldn't even label this as a M/M romance per se; more of a science fiction novel with M/M elements.
Unfortunately, the characters still felt a little flat for my liking. Sam and Hobert are probably the only characters that I felt were less two dimensional. Ianto is more likeable in this installation, if only because his actions are more predictable; or in other words, he acts "more" human (which is ironic, when you read this book). The only other major issue I had with this novel is the proofreading errors - mostly misspellings that got distracting at times (even misspelling of character names at times). While this wouldn't be a reason to NOT read F:S, I felt that there was definitely some polishing that could be done.
My overall verdict: F:S is a very interesting science fiction novel with a riveting plot. Anyone who is a fan of the SF genre who doesn't mind the lack of romance-driven M/M plot should give this series a go (starting with book one). If you enjoyed the first book, or was left intrigued with the plot, the second book only gets better.
3.5 stars, rounded to 4 stars.
Firewall: Samu'el (F:S) is the second book in this series and a direct continuation. This addition to the series continues to be a plot-driven work of science fiction that is paced better than its predecessor. While book one took time in establishing characters, relationships ("good" vs "bad") and in crafting the world, F:S is able to focus on the plot's development. While we get glimpses of The Game in the predecessor, F:S tends to focus mostly on the virtual reality simulation. (I would say 60% takes place in The Game while 40% is in the actual reality.)
The story is told through several character POVs, focusing mostly on Sam, Ianto, Jean, Cyntia and Hobert. There are a few other characters as well, though they don't get as much page time as these characters. With these character perspectives, the story also changes between The Game and reality with each chapter. While I am NOT a fan of POV changes over more than two characters, I don't feel that it distracts from the storytelling. Mostly because these characters have prominent roles in the overall plot, and their perspectives are thus important in understanding the story.
F:S also has a nice M/M twist as we FINALLY see Ianto and Sam interacting more than just a few scenes. There is romance between these two characters, and that "bond" is a critical element in the overall plot. However, it is important to make the distinction that this story is NOT M/M romance-driven; in fact, I wouldn't even label this as a M/M romance per se; more of a science fiction novel with M/M elements.
Unfortunately, the characters still felt a little flat for my liking. Sam and Hobert are probably the only characters that I felt were less two dimensional. Ianto is more likeable in this installation, if only because his actions are more predictable; or in other words, he acts "more" human (which is ironic, when you read this book). The only other major issue I had with this novel is the proofreading errors - mostly misspellings that got distracting at times (even misspelling of character names at times). While this wouldn't be a reason to NOT read F:S, I felt that there was definitely some polishing that could be done.
My overall verdict: F:S is a very interesting science fiction novel with a riveting plot. Anyone who is a fan of the SF genre who doesn't mind the lack of romance-driven M/M plot should give this series a go (starting with book one). If you enjoyed the first book, or was left intrigued with the plot, the second book only gets better.
July 21, 2015
These books are for people who like to think while they read. They are full of philosophy on the nature of power, religion, consciousness, love... pretty much everything. Mainly, though they are reflections on politics and governments, on the nature of power structures and manipulation. The margas are metaphors for the warring of science and religion, and how underneath the war there are people who want control.
There are a lot of interesting technical concepts here as well, with the nanotechnology. The author does a good job of being just vague enough to make things seem feasible.
I think the book lost momentum for me for a couple of reasons. One, as I mentioned in my review of her first book, her sociopolitical structures are limited by the qualitative differences between those in power and the "populace." Ianto is just a monk, constantly manipulated by his church leaders. The leaders are all single mindedly determined to maintain power. There isn't really a lot of overlap between the character templates, reminding me of her other series in which things were run by genetically engineered "administrators." These leaders have a lot in common with her administrators: dogged devotion to the organization, complete lack of compassion (although she allows some small amount of empathy), and rigid hierarchies ("know your place.").
I think this dichotomy limits her books, and it also leads to problem 2. If I can see this, why can't Ianto? He falls for the same manipulations over and over. Making things transparent to the reader yet opaque to the protagonist requires some reasoning. I think she is going the "naive and trusting" route, but it makes no sense that he would remain that way in the environment she has placed him in. It leaves you wanting to smack Ianto silly. He walks into trap after trap, and his innocent despair becomes disingenuous.
So I give it 3.5 stars. I do think readers of dystopian fantasy will enjoy it, even if they want to throw their Kindle out the window the 100th time Ianto realizes he has been tricked.
There are a lot of interesting technical concepts here as well, with the nanotechnology. The author does a good job of being just vague enough to make things seem feasible.
I think the book lost momentum for me for a couple of reasons. One, as I mentioned in my review of her first book, her sociopolitical structures are limited by the qualitative differences between those in power and the "populace." Ianto is just a monk, constantly manipulated by his church leaders. The leaders are all single mindedly determined to maintain power. There isn't really a lot of overlap between the character templates, reminding me of her other series in which things were run by genetically engineered "administrators." These leaders have a lot in common with her administrators: dogged devotion to the organization, complete lack of compassion (although she allows some small amount of empathy), and rigid hierarchies ("know your place.").
I think this dichotomy limits her books, and it also leads to problem 2. If I can see this, why can't Ianto? He falls for the same manipulations over and over. Making things transparent to the reader yet opaque to the protagonist requires some reasoning. I think she is going the "naive and trusting" route, but it makes no sense that he would remain that way in the environment she has placed him in. It leaves you wanting to smack Ianto silly. He walks into trap after trap, and his innocent despair becomes disingenuous.
So I give it 3.5 stars. I do think readers of dystopian fantasy will enjoy it, even if they want to throw their Kindle out the window the 100th time Ianto realizes he has been tricked.
September 11, 2015
Unlike the other reviewer, I knew this was the second book of a series, so I read the first book before this one. You really need to read the books of this series in order, so that you can understand it.
When I first started this series, I thought it would be too confusing to read, but I kept reading it and couldn't put it down. I read the whole series over two days because I wanted to know how this would end. I would have loved more romance in this book, but the story hooked me so much that I could just concentrate on the events happening instead. There are lots of great characters and world building with this story.
When I first started this series, I thought it would be too confusing to read, but I kept reading it and couldn't put it down. I read the whole series over two days because I wanted to know how this would end. I would have loved more romance in this book, but the story hooked me so much that I could just concentrate on the events happening instead. There are lots of great characters and world building with this story.
June 27, 2013
I got this book from good reads. I loved this book alot. The setting and characters spring to life. It's well worth the read. the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars, is it seems you needed to have read the first one to get this one.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews