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The Reintegrators
Welcome to Oakmont Academy. Study hard, make friends, and whatever you do, don’t get lost in the Metaverse.
Tormented by crippling panic attacks and desperate to find a way to help his catatonic father, Teddy Cartham is running out of options. When he receives an invitation to attend the elite academy where his father once taught, he believes his luck is changing. Until he uncovers a shocking secret—his new math teachers are Reintegrators, members of an ancient cult dedicated to exploring alternate universes. With the help of his classmates and some unlikely allies, Teddy searches a maze of bizarre worlds for the key to his father’s shattered mind. But deadly surprises lurk in the depths of the Metaverse…
Tormented by crippling panic attacks and desperate to find a way to help his catatonic father, Teddy Cartham is running out of options. When he receives an invitation to attend the elite academy where his father once taught, he believes his luck is changing. Until he uncovers a shocking secret—his new math teachers are Reintegrators, members of an ancient cult dedicated to exploring alternate universes. With the help of his classmates and some unlikely allies, Teddy searches a maze of bizarre worlds for the key to his father’s shattered mind. But deadly surprises lurk in the depths of the Metaverse…
398 pages, Paperback
First published June 11, 2013
10 people are currently reading
806 people want to read
About the author
Will Weisser
10 books33 followersBorn into a literary family (both his parents are authors and college professors), Will fell in love with science fiction and fantasy literature during the comics boom of the early 90’s and never looked back. Now residing in the fantastic realm known as the Philly ‘burbs, he uses his geek talents to program computers by day, while by night he huddles over unfinished manuscripts, attempting to engineer characters who touch the human spirit. In his scant free time he enjoys practicing martial arts (which he is pretty good at) and playing guitar (terribly).
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 17, 2013
So I see that Goodreads encourages authors to review their own books, but that they encourage us to "consider posting a brief essay about your book's inspiration in the review space."
Very well.
The first sentence I ever wrote to describe The Reintegrators was: "An inter-universe coming-of-age story."
I still like that phrase, because it captures what I think is the main theme of the novel: marrying a character's process of self-discovery with the external discovery of strange and fantastic realms.
Even though I enjoy reading for many reasons, I've always had a soft spot for books that make me think. This is something the SF/F genres do especially well, because they force readers to understand the intricacies of entirely new worlds in order to appreciate the story.
In the case of The Reintegrators, I went a little further by designing the novel as mysteries within a mystery; on top of the overriding question of what happened to Teddy's father, each world Teddy visits is its own mystery, because each holds a secret which reveals it to be more than it initially appears.
In addition, the book challenges readers by imposing a bit of an unusual narrative structure--not with the usual flashbacks and flash-forwards, but done in a way most have probably never seen before.
I'm the first to admit that the above elements may surprise readers who go in expecting a straightforward adventure tale. But personally, I love being surprised when a book ends up being more than it seems, as long as the story itself remains coherent and satisfying.
However, if you do find yourself growing confused, I offer this tip: pay attention to the bold chapter titles underneath the chapter numbers, because they're rather important :). As long as you remember to do this, I don't think many experienced readers of SF/F should have trouble following the plot.
That's about it! Thank you for your interest in my book, and happy reading.
Very well.
The first sentence I ever wrote to describe The Reintegrators was: "An inter-universe coming-of-age story."
I still like that phrase, because it captures what I think is the main theme of the novel: marrying a character's process of self-discovery with the external discovery of strange and fantastic realms.
Even though I enjoy reading for many reasons, I've always had a soft spot for books that make me think. This is something the SF/F genres do especially well, because they force readers to understand the intricacies of entirely new worlds in order to appreciate the story.
In the case of The Reintegrators, I went a little further by designing the novel as mysteries within a mystery; on top of the overriding question of what happened to Teddy's father, each world Teddy visits is its own mystery, because each holds a secret which reveals it to be more than it initially appears.
In addition, the book challenges readers by imposing a bit of an unusual narrative structure--not with the usual flashbacks and flash-forwards, but done in a way most have probably never seen before.
I'm the first to admit that the above elements may surprise readers who go in expecting a straightforward adventure tale. But personally, I love being surprised when a book ends up being more than it seems, as long as the story itself remains coherent and satisfying.
However, if you do find yourself growing confused, I offer this tip: pay attention to the bold chapter titles underneath the chapter numbers, because they're rather important :). As long as you remember to do this, I don't think many experienced readers of SF/F should have trouble following the plot.
That's about it! Thank you for your interest in my book, and happy reading.
July 14, 2013
Disclosure: I was sent a copy to review by the author.
This book is hard to write a review for. I loved the novelty of the concept, and the writing was strong and compelling - I read it straight through, and then had to read it again to get a better grasp of the story.
I'm a huge fan of the multiverse theory, and this is the first I've read of traveling between the dimensions.
On the other hand, I had to read the book twice to really understand what was happening and in some ways I still don't. I wanted to know more about his relationship with his father, and why he thought he could cure him.
Overall, I will be saving the book to read again and I would read more by this author.
This book is hard to write a review for. I loved the novelty of the concept, and the writing was strong and compelling - I read it straight through, and then had to read it again to get a better grasp of the story.
I'm a huge fan of the multiverse theory, and this is the first I've read of traveling between the dimensions.
On the other hand, I had to read the book twice to really understand what was happening and in some ways I still don't. I wanted to know more about his relationship with his father, and why he thought he could cure him.
Overall, I will be saving the book to read again and I would read more by this author.
July 13, 2013
Following the adventures (multiple adventures as well!) was a blast. I'd describe this book as multiple multi-threaded consecutive/sequential adventures. Some adventures do overlap... Love the concept and the characters in this book. Very much looking forward to the next books in this series. Lots of questions still remain, and it will be fun to experience them with Teddy as he learns more as well.
July 24, 2013
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book, at its heart, is two things: a coming of age tale and a showcase of metanautics, which is a novel interpretation of travel between universes. In all coming of age tales, the youth in question must undergo distinctive changes during the course of the story. Because of this, Teddy starts out as a weak and fairly unlikable character. Like any typical teenager, he is socially awkward, has temper tantrums, swears a lot, and stalks off after muttering "whatever." We are also introduced to his panic attacks, which serve as the focal point for his growth. When the book first introduces Teddy, his panic attacks are completely debilitating. He cannot function during one, and seems to have them frequently during times of stress. As the book progresses, Teddy finds friends and eventually embraces the role of leader in his social group. This, along with the experience of traveling across universes (called integrating), gives him the confidence and willpower to overcome his panic attacks. By the end, he still has them, but can function during any episodes.
The characterization in the book was fairly well done, as each individual has a distinctive personality. They felt like people, not cardboard cutouts, especially once the group started integrating. Even so, I never felt particularly invested or attached to any of the characters. When unfortunate things happened, I never felt a twang of sadness or a thread of regret.
The book's strong point was in the theory of metanautics. The basics were first introduced through a philosophical argument about reality. At the beginning, we were as clueless as Teddy. He had no idea what metanautics truly was, so the philosophical conversation had no special meaning to him (or us). However, after Teddy's first accidental integration, we find out exactly what metanautics is. It is a very unique take on the mechanism of travel between universes. Unlike many other books, movies, or television shows about the topic, this one does not involve physical transportation. Instead, memories are transferred to a genetically similar analogue in another universe by the way of a memorized pattern that represents that particular universe. The memories integrate into the new body, thereby transferring consciousness. In order for the travel to be complete, the memories from the new universe must reintegrate into the original. I'm sure many people scratched their heads at that explanation. It is not an easy concept to grasp, and is no easier when the book explains it in greater detail. However, the book can still be enjoyed even without full understanding of the mechanism behind the travel.
The world building was fantastic. The concept of travel between universes gives a veritable blank slate upon which to create new and stunning settings. This book introduces us to three (not including Earth): a seafaring world that once contained an ancient race, a world plagued by conflict on the surface while the underground suffers wretched conditions, and a world made of expanding tile. Admittedly, I can't do these worlds justice in a couple of sentences, just trust me, they are pretty unique. My only regret is there were not more worlds for the reader to explore. Maybe in the next book?
The plot itself was weak, compared to the world building. Teddy and friends first integrate together to try to determine the identity and goals of Teddy's mysterious benefactor. The second integration is to try to locate and rescue a friend. Each individual universe has side plots, which add depth and intrigue to the book. In this case, the sparsity of the plot works in the book's favor, allowing plenty of space for explaining metanautics and building unique universes. Additionally, as an introductory book (in what I hope will be a series), it does a fantastic job introducing characters and explaining concepts.
For anyone who has difficulty following multiple plot threads, I recommend caution, for the book can be a bit of a maze for the unobservant. Otherwise, this is a fun, very intelligent read that I would recommend to any young adult or adult reader interested in alternate universes.
This book, at its heart, is two things: a coming of age tale and a showcase of metanautics, which is a novel interpretation of travel between universes. In all coming of age tales, the youth in question must undergo distinctive changes during the course of the story. Because of this, Teddy starts out as a weak and fairly unlikable character. Like any typical teenager, he is socially awkward, has temper tantrums, swears a lot, and stalks off after muttering "whatever." We are also introduced to his panic attacks, which serve as the focal point for his growth. When the book first introduces Teddy, his panic attacks are completely debilitating. He cannot function during one, and seems to have them frequently during times of stress. As the book progresses, Teddy finds friends and eventually embraces the role of leader in his social group. This, along with the experience of traveling across universes (called integrating), gives him the confidence and willpower to overcome his panic attacks. By the end, he still has them, but can function during any episodes.
The characterization in the book was fairly well done, as each individual has a distinctive personality. They felt like people, not cardboard cutouts, especially once the group started integrating. Even so, I never felt particularly invested or attached to any of the characters. When unfortunate things happened, I never felt a twang of sadness or a thread of regret.
The book's strong point was in the theory of metanautics. The basics were first introduced through a philosophical argument about reality. At the beginning, we were as clueless as Teddy. He had no idea what metanautics truly was, so the philosophical conversation had no special meaning to him (or us). However, after Teddy's first accidental integration, we find out exactly what metanautics is. It is a very unique take on the mechanism of travel between universes. Unlike many other books, movies, or television shows about the topic, this one does not involve physical transportation. Instead, memories are transferred to a genetically similar analogue in another universe by the way of a memorized pattern that represents that particular universe. The memories integrate into the new body, thereby transferring consciousness. In order for the travel to be complete, the memories from the new universe must reintegrate into the original. I'm sure many people scratched their heads at that explanation. It is not an easy concept to grasp, and is no easier when the book explains it in greater detail. However, the book can still be enjoyed even without full understanding of the mechanism behind the travel.
The world building was fantastic. The concept of travel between universes gives a veritable blank slate upon which to create new and stunning settings. This book introduces us to three (not including Earth): a seafaring world that once contained an ancient race, a world plagued by conflict on the surface while the underground suffers wretched conditions, and a world made of expanding tile. Admittedly, I can't do these worlds justice in a couple of sentences, just trust me, they are pretty unique. My only regret is there were not more worlds for the reader to explore. Maybe in the next book?
The plot itself was weak, compared to the world building. Teddy and friends first integrate together to try to determine the identity and goals of Teddy's mysterious benefactor. The second integration is to try to locate and rescue a friend. Each individual universe has side plots, which add depth and intrigue to the book. In this case, the sparsity of the plot works in the book's favor, allowing plenty of space for explaining metanautics and building unique universes. Additionally, as an introductory book (in what I hope will be a series), it does a fantastic job introducing characters and explaining concepts.
For anyone who has difficulty following multiple plot threads, I recommend caution, for the book can be a bit of a maze for the unobservant. Otherwise, this is a fun, very intelligent read that I would recommend to any young adult or adult reader interested in alternate universes.
December 16, 2013
Imaginative, compelling, unique, fascinating, and with excellent characters, to boot. Put aside all of the other reviews, put aside the jacket text even, forget about the metaverse, and everything else this is supposed to be. Then stretch out your brain, and get ready for a really nice intellectual meal. This is a book to savor. A fantastic novel from a new author, I can only imagine what Mr. Weisser has in store for us in the future.
September 4, 2013
Disclaimer: I received this book from a first-read giveaway.
If you enjoy a delicate blend of thrillers and science fiction, definitely give this book a go! The Reintegrators has echos of The Matrix, Assassin's Creed, and Quantum Leap - quite enjoyable all around!
If you enjoy a delicate blend of thrillers and science fiction, definitely give this book a go! The Reintegrators has echos of The Matrix, Assassin's Creed, and Quantum Leap - quite enjoyable all around!
July 5, 2013
It's a daunting task to write a book's first Goodreads review. I hope others are writing too! Disclosure: author sent me a copy to review; I don't otherwise know him or have any connection to him in any way.
I'm going to assume that this is meant as a Young Adult book, just from the general plot and tone and characters. We aren't told up front where this is going, whether there will be a great climactic ending. I'll tell you now, there isn't. It's a book about a young man finding himself against an unusual setting that is the mechanism of his self-discovery. [Well, that's what *I* think it's about. YMMV.]
Teddy is a weak character at first, but we soon see why. There are mysterious Older People pulling strings, some where we can see them and others hidden. One of them reappears, and each time we learn more about what he is and whose side he is on. We meet Teddy's partners in adventure, two generic and one who turns out to be more interesting. Their actions and speech are consistent with their age and situation (not always the case these days).
Soon the characters are, er, elsewhere, and some surprising things happen to them, sometimes unpleasant. Not many plots allow an author to do this, but this one does. Makes you think.
We get just enough description of metanautics that we can think, "OK, it's baloney but it's reasonably consistent baloney so he gets to use it." Weisser then follows the rules and doesn't make any further Giant Assumptions - just develops the more-or-less logical implications of his main one.
I didn't care for the all-tiles setting, but after a while Weisser makes an attempt to explain how it might have developed, so I'll give him that one. The underground culture of the Tira was satisfactory, and its story arc developed well enough.
There's one aha! moment at the end that ties up a loose end involving Meghan. Didn't care for that as a solution. And an important Bad Guy is dealt with a tad too easily (and really, a rooftop showdown? Generic movie plot #4, I believe; only the top of a moving train is used more!) although I have also seen that recently in books by very very well-known authors so I won't blame this one.
Overall, the book reads quite well, flows smoothly, has satisfactory descriptions, some good settings and characters, doesn't drag too often. I suspect an experienced sci-fi editor might have flagged a few passages for revision to improve the flow even more. But not too many.
The plot is interesting enough to keep the reader engaged. The multiple settings probably make this a book you should read in big chunks close together, rather than dipping into it once a week. The latter approach might leave you backpedaling a bit to remind yourself who's doing what where.
I was left with a fairly strong feeling of "So what?" but then I decided that this book is about Teddy's journey more than it's about metanautics. But there's now a framework in place in which metanautics *can* be the story. Teddy and friends have some growing left to do, so they can stay too.
If the saga continues, though, the author will have to explore more deeply the impact on a metanaut HERE of something that happened THERE (or vice versa). And what you can DO as a result of being a Reintegrator (there's a hint near the end when we learn a bit more about the Mad Professor). Sorry to be a bit vague, folks, but I don't want to go all spoilers on ya.
This book isn't too far away conceptually from the Pratchett and Baxter "Long Earth" series. Far enough after one book each, but of course any closer could be a problem, and I haven't seen yet where P & B are going with their second volume.
Overall: It's worth reading. Not a home run, but a solid single into the outfield. In a world that's cranking out 20-volume vampire-zombie-emo yawners and eight-times-1000-pages sword-and-sorcery sagas, that's an achievement.
I'm going to assume that this is meant as a Young Adult book, just from the general plot and tone and characters. We aren't told up front where this is going, whether there will be a great climactic ending. I'll tell you now, there isn't. It's a book about a young man finding himself against an unusual setting that is the mechanism of his self-discovery. [Well, that's what *I* think it's about. YMMV.]
Teddy is a weak character at first, but we soon see why. There are mysterious Older People pulling strings, some where we can see them and others hidden. One of them reappears, and each time we learn more about what he is and whose side he is on. We meet Teddy's partners in adventure, two generic and one who turns out to be more interesting. Their actions and speech are consistent with their age and situation (not always the case these days).
Soon the characters are, er, elsewhere, and some surprising things happen to them, sometimes unpleasant. Not many plots allow an author to do this, but this one does. Makes you think.
We get just enough description of metanautics that we can think, "OK, it's baloney but it's reasonably consistent baloney so he gets to use it." Weisser then follows the rules and doesn't make any further Giant Assumptions - just develops the more-or-less logical implications of his main one.
I didn't care for the all-tiles setting, but after a while Weisser makes an attempt to explain how it might have developed, so I'll give him that one. The underground culture of the Tira was satisfactory, and its story arc developed well enough.
There's one aha! moment at the end that ties up a loose end involving Meghan. Didn't care for that as a solution. And an important Bad Guy is dealt with a tad too easily (and really, a rooftop showdown? Generic movie plot #4, I believe; only the top of a moving train is used more!) although I have also seen that recently in books by very very well-known authors so I won't blame this one.
Overall, the book reads quite well, flows smoothly, has satisfactory descriptions, some good settings and characters, doesn't drag too often. I suspect an experienced sci-fi editor might have flagged a few passages for revision to improve the flow even more. But not too many.
The plot is interesting enough to keep the reader engaged. The multiple settings probably make this a book you should read in big chunks close together, rather than dipping into it once a week. The latter approach might leave you backpedaling a bit to remind yourself who's doing what where.
I was left with a fairly strong feeling of "So what?" but then I decided that this book is about Teddy's journey more than it's about metanautics. But there's now a framework in place in which metanautics *can* be the story. Teddy and friends have some growing left to do, so they can stay too.
If the saga continues, though, the author will have to explore more deeply the impact on a metanaut HERE of something that happened THERE (or vice versa). And what you can DO as a result of being a Reintegrator (there's a hint near the end when we learn a bit more about the Mad Professor). Sorry to be a bit vague, folks, but I don't want to go all spoilers on ya.
This book isn't too far away conceptually from the Pratchett and Baxter "Long Earth" series. Far enough after one book each, but of course any closer could be a problem, and I haven't seen yet where P & B are going with their second volume.
Overall: It's worth reading. Not a home run, but a solid single into the outfield. In a world that's cranking out 20-volume vampire-zombie-emo yawners and eight-times-1000-pages sword-and-sorcery sagas, that's an achievement.
July 9, 2013
This is a sci fi/fantasy book that I believe was written for young adults. It's a very well-written book with well-defined dimensional characters. It is a rather complex story and I didn't always understand it but that didn't detract from its story for me. I did occasionally get lost as to what dimension that Teddy, the main character was in, since it switched from chapter to chapter, and I usually had to figure it out by whom he was with.
When we first meet Teddy he is a rather shy young man who stays in the background because of frequent panic attacks. His father was a Metanautics instructor at Oakmont Academy but he is now in a hospital in a near catatonic stupor. Then Teddy meets the enigmatic Ignatius who finds a way for Teddy to attend Oakmont Academy. Teddy thinks his luck has changed for the better. His roommate Charles is a quirky character but they sort of become friends. He also becomes friends with Kevin, an Asian guy, and Meghan, his girlfriend, who Teddy lusts for. Soon Teddy discovers that Oakmont Academy is more than just a boarding school when he uncovers a secret- metanautics is an ancient group of people who can travel to parallel worlds/dimensions. The worlds where Teddy and his three friends travel are bizarre, to say the least. Inventive. I really can't say that I like what happened to Meghan- though it was a solution to a big problem!
I'm not sure if the ending makes this a stand-alone book or if the author will be able to resurrect enough of Teddy's life to write a sequel. I think that he will certainly need some new friends.
When we first meet Teddy he is a rather shy young man who stays in the background because of frequent panic attacks. His father was a Metanautics instructor at Oakmont Academy but he is now in a hospital in a near catatonic stupor. Then Teddy meets the enigmatic Ignatius who finds a way for Teddy to attend Oakmont Academy. Teddy thinks his luck has changed for the better. His roommate Charles is a quirky character but they sort of become friends. He also becomes friends with Kevin, an Asian guy, and Meghan, his girlfriend, who Teddy lusts for. Soon Teddy discovers that Oakmont Academy is more than just a boarding school when he uncovers a secret- metanautics is an ancient group of people who can travel to parallel worlds/dimensions. The worlds where Teddy and his three friends travel are bizarre, to say the least. Inventive. I really can't say that I like what happened to Meghan- though it was a solution to a big problem!
I'm not sure if the ending makes this a stand-alone book or if the author will be able to resurrect enough of Teddy's life to write a sequel. I think that he will certainly need some new friends.
April 4, 2017
This was an interesting book and an enjoyable, quick read. The premise is that there is a multiverse which can be moved through by those with the proper training. I enjoyed the obvious thought the author put into the mechanics of moving between worlds in this way as well as exploring the dangers inherent in those mechanics. The action scenes are believable, and i like that the main character has some inherent flaws, although I expected something more in the way of resolution of these flaws.
The narration is in first person limited (quite limited in this case of this narrator). Which brings me to what I didn't especially like... the problem (as I see it ) with first person limited narration is that you either end up having people explain more than should be necessary to the character (so the reader understands) or leaving holes in the readers knowledge that might not get filled. This author chose the second method. Without giving anything away, there were some rapid changes in character attitudes that seemed to come from no where, and one early storyline that simply disappeared. Based on the ending, I would expect a sequel and, likely, some of my questions will be answered.
All-in-all, a good book with definite potential, especially if it has a sequel which more fully explains some of what happened outside of the narrators scope.
This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for a review.
The narration is in first person limited (quite limited in this case of this narrator). Which brings me to what I didn't especially like... the problem (as I see it ) with first person limited narration is that you either end up having people explain more than should be necessary to the character (so the reader understands) or leaving holes in the readers knowledge that might not get filled. This author chose the second method. Without giving anything away, there were some rapid changes in character attitudes that seemed to come from no where, and one early storyline that simply disappeared. Based on the ending, I would expect a sequel and, likely, some of my questions will be answered.
All-in-all, a good book with definite potential, especially if it has a sequel which more fully explains some of what happened outside of the narrators scope.
This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for a review.
July 28, 2013
This book was... strange. It had a very interesting and unique concept, something a lot of books lack these days, but I feel like somewhere along the ride, something was muddled and lost. Part of that, I think, is because of the writing. While the story itself, structure, and the individual characters were all well developed, I simply could not get past the constant streams of cursing. It was like a brick wall to the story. I felt like it was a young adult book stuck in an adult book setting. Not that I have any sort of issues with cursing in books, I just feel like it wasn't the time or place for that kind of language.
With that said, the the story itself was very cleverly written. I could get lost in a story just about traveling the this metaverse. I also feel like Teddy's story was interesting, but honestly, I wanted to know more about Ignatius. I honestly couldn't tell you why (beyond the stories explanation) he wanted what he wanted - but he was infinitely more interesting than the other characters.
I really did want to like this book more... I really did. It's right up my alley in terms of the stories I like. I'll probably look for more of these books down the pipeline, with hopes that the story shines and the conversations don't detract from the book as a whole.
With that said, the the story itself was very cleverly written. I could get lost in a story just about traveling the this metaverse. I also feel like Teddy's story was interesting, but honestly, I wanted to know more about Ignatius. I honestly couldn't tell you why (beyond the stories explanation) he wanted what he wanted - but he was infinitely more interesting than the other characters.
I really did want to like this book more... I really did. It's right up my alley in terms of the stories I like. I'll probably look for more of these books down the pipeline, with hopes that the story shines and the conversations don't detract from the book as a whole.
July 23, 2013
Disclosure: I was sent a copy to review by the author.
I thought the overall concept for the book was very interesting. I liked the idea of exploring the multiverse, but by the end of the book I was confused about how the science of metanautics is supposed to work. It seemed that there were a few rules but they weren't clearly explained and in some cases just ignored.
In some ways the characters were very believable as teenagers. However, I was somewhat disturbed by the lack of reaction to the extreme violence they witnessed. Only one character, Megan, reacts to the murders they see while traveling in the parallel universes. At the end of the novel the main character, Teddy, is in therapy for his panic attacks, but is otherwise unconcerned by all he has experienced. You'd imagine that a teenager who saw what he saw, especially in the Tiles universe, would take some time to recover. Nope, he's totally cool with it.
This book was clearly the exposition for a longer series, but by the end I felt so dubious about the "science" of metanautics that I'm not too interested in finding out what happens next to Teddy. The book was engaging enough that I finished it in two weeks, but I wouldn't tell my friends to run out and pick up a copy.
I thought the overall concept for the book was very interesting. I liked the idea of exploring the multiverse, but by the end of the book I was confused about how the science of metanautics is supposed to work. It seemed that there were a few rules but they weren't clearly explained and in some cases just ignored.
In some ways the characters were very believable as teenagers. However, I was somewhat disturbed by the lack of reaction to the extreme violence they witnessed. Only one character, Megan, reacts to the murders they see while traveling in the parallel universes. At the end of the novel the main character, Teddy, is in therapy for his panic attacks, but is otherwise unconcerned by all he has experienced. You'd imagine that a teenager who saw what he saw, especially in the Tiles universe, would take some time to recover. Nope, he's totally cool with it.
This book was clearly the exposition for a longer series, but by the end I felt so dubious about the "science" of metanautics that I'm not too interested in finding out what happens next to Teddy. The book was engaging enough that I finished it in two weeks, but I wouldn't tell my friends to run out and pick up a copy.
July 8, 2013
This book follows a boy called Teddy as he starts a new school in the hope of finding out what happened to his dad a few years previously. Unknown to him, he was about to learn the secrets of integration, world hopping. He is able to go to the school with the help of a man named Ignatius who has his own agenda in doing this. The characters are very well written, Teddy' s 3 friends were good fun as well. I especially liked Charles, his whole attitude was good fun. After a rocky start as room mates they ended up being good friends. I like the whole idea of world jumping and the book does follow a few time lines and the kids being duplicated. It wasn't confusing though, I was able to follow events well. Ignatius was great and by the end of the book he was in it quite a lot. He had been causing trouble for people for a lot of years, it will be good to read more about him. Teddy was able to discover things about his father, but not for what he was hoping for I think. So a fast paced book with lots of action, I would definitely recommend this book and can't wait until the follow up.
July 18, 2013
Refreshing take on a popular theme with well thought out and layered characters. The book as a whole wasn't too far off the beaten track to be dry and forgettable, but it wasn't the greatest thing out there by far. The writing was clear while not overly simplistic. I did find a few minor mistakes but certainly nothing stopping me from wanting to turn the next page. The plot seemed to flow at a rather slow rate with more than enough information being provided, a few rather predictable situation and outcomes, and a few difficult to accept without doubt parts.
I'm torn between three and four stars. I liked it, but it wasn't quite the quality I would grant with the extra star. At the same time, I'm hopeful the author continues his writing and learns from this book, and that it shows in the next. I'm going to be generous in the hopes this one improves, and because there are so many terrible attempts at novels already available through various online eBook stores.
Thank you to the author for providing a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
I'm torn between three and four stars. I liked it, but it wasn't quite the quality I would grant with the extra star. At the same time, I'm hopeful the author continues his writing and learns from this book, and that it shows in the next. I'm going to be generous in the hopes this one improves, and because there are so many terrible attempts at novels already available through various online eBook stores.
Thank you to the author for providing a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2013
I was sent a copy of this book by the author to rate and review. Thank you so much for the book, Will!
Since I enjoyed this book, I'll keep this review short and sweet (and spoiler free):
The prose was written beautifully with a pace that kept me alert and involved in the story. The story itself was very creative. It was definitely a fun and fast read. Weisser creates a vibrant picture of the world(s) in the book. A must read for Si-Fi fans. I'll definitely look forward to reading anything else Will Weisser writes in the future. (Ignatius is probably one of my favorite antagonist that I've read in a while, his wit and charismatic malice kept me waiting in anticipation for his next scene!)
BTW, the epilogue made me hungry for more adventures in the Metaverse--readers beware of a slight cliff hanger.
Once again, thank you so much for sending me the book!
Since I enjoyed this book, I'll keep this review short and sweet (and spoiler free):
The prose was written beautifully with a pace that kept me alert and involved in the story. The story itself was very creative. It was definitely a fun and fast read. Weisser creates a vibrant picture of the world(s) in the book. A must read for Si-Fi fans. I'll definitely look forward to reading anything else Will Weisser writes in the future. (Ignatius is probably one of my favorite antagonist that I've read in a while, his wit and charismatic malice kept me waiting in anticipation for his next scene!)
BTW, the epilogue made me hungry for more adventures in the Metaverse--readers beware of a slight cliff hanger.
Once again, thank you so much for sending me the book!
October 17, 2013
I was gifted a digital copy by the author in exchange for an honest review.
From scanning the reviews posted earlier, I see that I'm in agreement on several points. The first being that this novel is founded on good ideas. Often times, interesting concepts like time travel or reality travel will pop up in a book but be wasted. That was not the case here.
I also agree that I was a little put off by all the swearing, but it bothered me less as the book went on. Basically, I liked the book. I liked the ideas and the concepts it forced you to think about. It reminded me a little bit of Inception, actually.
From scanning the reviews posted earlier, I see that I'm in agreement on several points. The first being that this novel is founded on good ideas. Often times, interesting concepts like time travel or reality travel will pop up in a book but be wasted. That was not the case here.
I also agree that I was a little put off by all the swearing, but it bothered me less as the book went on. Basically, I liked the book. I liked the ideas and the concepts it forced you to think about. It reminded me a little bit of Inception, actually.
August 14, 2013
Loved this book! It's very hard to find a book with an original idea anymore, but Mr. Weisser has done exactly that. Imagine that the multiverse theory is correct. Now, imagine that you are one of a very few that can manipulate the barrier between these worlds. Your body stays where you left it, but your mind is now inhabiting a body that is eerily similar to the one you just left, small differences aside. What if your conciousness could inhabit every you in every universe, and remember everything it has learned? What would the price for such knowledge be? Would you be willing to pay that price?
July 13, 2013
I enjoyed the Reintegrators. The characters are a bit stereotypical for a high school drama, the hot girl, the lonesome hero, the nerd, the jock/bully but this is made up for by the setting and thought out plot. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the other parts of the metaverse, especially the "Tiles" area, where a self-building house gets out of control and covers a large swath of land in tile.
Overall I'd definitely recommend this book to someone who wants an adventurous, thrilling read!
Overall I'd definitely recommend this book to someone who wants an adventurous, thrilling read!
July 25, 2013
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ebook free from the author.
I liked this book, however, it took me a while to get into it and I was left with some questions at the end. Over all I believe the author did a great job in describing the settings and reitergration seems fasinating.
I liked this book, however, it took me a while to get into it and I was left with some questions at the end. Over all I believe the author did a great job in describing the settings and reitergration seems fasinating.
November 1, 2013
I read it and liked it. A few confusing spots, but that didn't stop me from staying up late a few nights to finish a chapter. Totally recommend it.
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