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Cyber Seed #1
Sycamore
Imagine a world where your eyes can't be trusted...
When the Sycamore corporation releases the ultimate gadget -- an implantable microchip designed to replace smartphones -- society rapidly descends into dystopia.
Augmented reality contact lenses act as the new system's display, simultaneously recording everything in the user's field of vision. The potential applications are limitless. So are the surveillance opportunities.
Soon after gaining access to Sycamore’s inner circle and learning the corporation’s plans for the future, the chip’s young creator painfully regrets ever giving them the idea.
Power like this has never existed.
When the Sycamore corporation releases the ultimate gadget -- an implantable microchip designed to replace smartphones -- society rapidly descends into dystopia.
Augmented reality contact lenses act as the new system's display, simultaneously recording everything in the user's field of vision. The potential applications are limitless. So are the surveillance opportunities.
Soon after gaining access to Sycamore’s inner circle and learning the corporation’s plans for the future, the chip’s young creator painfully regrets ever giving them the idea.
Power like this has never existed.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2013
132 people are currently reading
878 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 3, 2015
Imagine if Google Glass actually became a thing, and then was further developed to be simple contact lenses. Then imagine Amazon and Walmart having a baby. Then that baby teams up with the Google Glass lenses. That would be Sycamore in a nutshell. It's the near future and millions of people wear UltraLenses which sync to their phones and computers. But Kurt has this idea to eliminate the need for additional devices: have your hand become a trackpad! It's genius and innovative and just one of his many improvements. Unfortunately, once this tech is out there, there's no stopping the company from using it for whatever they want.
Sycamore was super cool and intense. The idea of UltraLenses paired up with Kurt's microchip is awesome. All the technology you need is right on your person. He also came up with the idea of having the lenses record your life for later playback. You can relive your first kiss! Prom! Disneyland vacation! Anything! Of course, the Sycamore company who develops his idea takes it to the extreme, as you can imagine. Tracking, targeted advertising, digitized money, virtual plastic surgery! It's madness! This is not what Kurt had in mind, and it was totally twisted how this company was able to make it all seem like good, safe ideas, and avoid responsibility when things go wrong. They're basically like "We don't force people to do X, we just charge them for it!" It's madness.
There were only two things that really kept me from loving Sycamore. The first was that it needed some more editing. At first I thought it was set in the UK because of some of the words used and the punctuation, but then we're told that it's set in America. There's even mentions of VAT, which as far as I know isn't used here. It was just distracting and pulled me out the story when I noticed it. There's no reason that this couldn't have been set somewhere in Europe, but I suppose America is the most obsessed with smart phones and invasive tech.
The second was that there's multiple mentions of needing the UltraLenses for getting into houses, cars, etc and how if Sycamore shuts down your chip, then you're locked out. But not everyone had lenses before Kurt's chip, so therefore not everyone has this kind of tech on their houses and cars, and those same people are probably the ones who didn't buy the chip when it did come out, so they still wouldn't have that tech on their houses and cars. There would have needed to be a complete overhaul on infrastructure and there's no way that happened.
I don't want to give too much away, but Sycamore was a great read. This future feels probable. Much of this stuff already exists, it's just not at the level it's portrayed here. We're living in a time where almost everyone is constantly plugged in, we're constantly be bombarded with ads, being told to buy this and wear that. It's not hard to imagine technology developing this far in the name of progress to the point where we forget what's even real anymore and become wholly dependent on it. Of course, Kurt has to fight the system he accidentally helped create, but that's not until the sequel!
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
Sycamore was super cool and intense. The idea of UltraLenses paired up with Kurt's microchip is awesome. All the technology you need is right on your person. He also came up with the idea of having the lenses record your life for later playback. You can relive your first kiss! Prom! Disneyland vacation! Anything! Of course, the Sycamore company who develops his idea takes it to the extreme, as you can imagine. Tracking, targeted advertising, digitized money, virtual plastic surgery! It's madness! This is not what Kurt had in mind, and it was totally twisted how this company was able to make it all seem like good, safe ideas, and avoid responsibility when things go wrong. They're basically like "We don't force people to do X, we just charge them for it!" It's madness.
There were only two things that really kept me from loving Sycamore. The first was that it needed some more editing. At first I thought it was set in the UK because of some of the words used and the punctuation, but then we're told that it's set in America. There's even mentions of VAT, which as far as I know isn't used here. It was just distracting and pulled me out the story when I noticed it. There's no reason that this couldn't have been set somewhere in Europe, but I suppose America is the most obsessed with smart phones and invasive tech.
The second was that there's multiple mentions of needing the UltraLenses for getting into houses, cars, etc and how if Sycamore shuts down your chip, then you're locked out. But not everyone had lenses before Kurt's chip, so therefore not everyone has this kind of tech on their houses and cars, and those same people are probably the ones who didn't buy the chip when it did come out, so they still wouldn't have that tech on their houses and cars. There would have needed to be a complete overhaul on infrastructure and there's no way that happened.
I don't want to give too much away, but Sycamore was a great read. This future feels probable. Much of this stuff already exists, it's just not at the level it's portrayed here. We're living in a time where almost everyone is constantly plugged in, we're constantly be bombarded with ads, being told to buy this and wear that. It's not hard to imagine technology developing this far in the name of progress to the point where we forget what's even real anymore and become wholly dependent on it. Of course, Kurt has to fight the system he accidentally helped create, but that's not until the sequel!
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
August 22, 2014
This was probably one of the scariest and thought provoking books I've read in a long time. With our society's need for constant connection to the internet and social networks via mobile devices and the power that sites like Facebook have over many people this story isn't a far stretch. I see this as a warning to use our technology wisely and place a little less importance in our digital worlds and start paying more attention to the real one again.
That aside, I love a story where I can find myself genuinely hating and/or liking a character. Amos was one that came across as a true sociopath with no regard for human life and Kurt simply just wanted to make the world better. Good vs. Evil stories will never get old. Can't wait for the sequel!
That aside, I love a story where I can find myself genuinely hating and/or liking a character. Amos was one that came across as a true sociopath with no regard for human life and Kurt simply just wanted to make the world better. Good vs. Evil stories will never get old. Can't wait for the sequel!
February 17, 2025
This wasn't good.
The premise was interesting and the story had potential but the writing was terrible. It didn't read like a story but like a manifesto. A preachy litany of everything that could go wrong with the technology, cardboard characters that also lacked internal coherency and unbelievable developments. It felt like I was being ranted at for 300 pages and by the time it was finally done I didn't really care about the dystopian world. I just wanted it to be over.
The premise was interesting and the story had potential but the writing was terrible. It didn't read like a story but like a manifesto. A preachy litany of everything that could go wrong with the technology, cardboard characters that also lacked internal coherency and unbelievable developments. It felt like I was being ranted at for 300 pages and by the time it was finally done I didn't really care about the dystopian world. I just wanted it to be over.
September 13, 2014
I love when I discover an unexpectedly great book. "Sycamore" appeared as a 'recommended similar book' when I was looking up another book here on Goodreads (can't remember what book it was now) ... Sycamore's unnerving cover of an eye in a someones mouth stopped me in my tracks and I found myself clicking to see what it was about. With a freaked up cover like that, and the ambiguous single word title, I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting myself into, but after reading the synopsis I was completely intrigued.
I noticed there was a spinoff novella (Funscreen) available from the author so I downloaded that one first, read it, and enjoyed it enough to download this one too.
... I wasn't was not disappointed.
This book is about the man (Kurt) who invents the 'seed' (and his life after he shares his invention (and becomes famous overnight). Sycamore is the multifaceted company (puppeted by Amos) that launches the seed as the "next great technology". Within a week of the launch, millions of people queue up for blocks and wait hours, throw out their smartphones and walk away from the internet in order to have the computer chip (or 'seed') implanted in their hand.
The seed, along with the cool addition of special contact lenses that allow a wearer to record and save their lives forever, so it can be rewound and watched later .... ultimately, a 'seed' replaces the need for phones, computers, passwords, televisions, keys, money .... or privacy.
By having it implanted, every seed bearer is tracked 24/7. Everything they say, see, and do is being recorded, watched and policed.
Big Brother is totally watching.
Favorite Quote:
Eventually Kurt managed to look at Amos. “It’s like the opposite of The Truman Show,” he said. And then, more poetically: “Orwell on acid.”
Another random great quote: (being said to Kurt)
You can’t beat yourself up for giving it to them. Things are always hijacked, wasted and misused — that doesn’t mean they’re not good things. The devil can quote scripture to serve his purposes.”
Tagged as a Near-Future Dystopia, I have to say there's so much more to this book. It's a well written mash up of a little bit of everything to please many genres. I would recommend Sycamore to my reader friends and I am definitely looking forward to a sequel. This book was creepy scary in a 'Oh my God, that could really happen!' sort of way... On second thought, maybe it's already happening.
Sycamore is about a not so far fetched (or far away) future.
March 20, 2015
A very present-day near-future novel in the form of 1984, but more in tune within an environment and way of life that we are more familiar with.
Told cleverly as a fictional story, the author manages to bring awareness to all the dangers and horrors that new technology is likely to achieve, taking over our way of life as a means of progress and convenience, when in fact, it is pure mass enslavement in disguise - half of which is already at our doorstep or currently in the works.
So needless to say, this makes for quite a page-turning read. Especially if one is already up to date with technology and activities that are already in operation and having sound predictions of what is very likely to follow over the next few decades.
I only had a couple of gripes with the overall story, but they are minor in the grand scheme of things.
One is that the technological progress within the story occurs in the space of just a few months, with groundbreaking advances taking merely weeks. But as unrealistic as that may be, it thankfully does not harm the story. (After all, I could always just imagine the weeks being months, or a couple of months being several, if I wanted to ground it a more satisfactory level in my head).
The other issue I had was with the protagonist's character. For someone in his early 20's, I couldn't help but see him as a naive (and very irritating) teenager - albeit in his late teens, or at most, a college freshman.
Still, this was very likely intentional so as to play off against his adversary in regular dialogue-heavy confrontations - this being his boss, the founder of Sycamore and the villain in this tale.
All in all, this was a surprisingly fast read with a pace that never got bogged down by unnecessary details and descriptions that would otherwise slow the flow; and it certainly makes you think of what's to come in terms of mass media technology.
Told cleverly as a fictional story, the author manages to bring awareness to all the dangers and horrors that new technology is likely to achieve, taking over our way of life as a means of progress and convenience, when in fact, it is pure mass enslavement in disguise - half of which is already at our doorstep or currently in the works.
So needless to say, this makes for quite a page-turning read. Especially if one is already up to date with technology and activities that are already in operation and having sound predictions of what is very likely to follow over the next few decades.
I only had a couple of gripes with the overall story, but they are minor in the grand scheme of things.
One is that the technological progress within the story occurs in the space of just a few months, with groundbreaking advances taking merely weeks. But as unrealistic as that may be, it thankfully does not harm the story. (After all, I could always just imagine the weeks being months, or a couple of months being several, if I wanted to ground it a more satisfactory level in my head).
The other issue I had was with the protagonist's character. For someone in his early 20's, I couldn't help but see him as a naive (and very irritating) teenager - albeit in his late teens, or at most, a college freshman.
Still, this was very likely intentional so as to play off against his adversary in regular dialogue-heavy confrontations - this being his boss, the founder of Sycamore and the villain in this tale.
All in all, this was a surprisingly fast read with a pace that never got bogged down by unnecessary details and descriptions that would otherwise slow the flow; and it certainly makes you think of what's to come in terms of mass media technology.
December 25, 2013
Holy Crap!! If there is anyone out there that has any question at all of where things are more than likely going to end up at least in some very close fashion, and more sooner than later. All we need to do is keep allowing all these "goodies" and cool gadgets into our lives at a controlling rate, and not be just a bit more careful, we already see what social media has done, and then how the powers that be sell it off as what they need to do to keep us safe as they collect our data. When one is given the power to look into ALL THINGS even if the intentions were good at one point, it becomes to tempting to have it and the ability to use it and then not..then it begins...and how will it end?
This author has done an incredible job of giving us a great story, as well as a great lesson of what our future may hold and we have to be willing to keep OUR EYES OPEN, or at least one of them!!! Bravo, I am a fan, and looking forward to reading whatever he writes if this first one is any indication of what he has stored away, just waiting to break free!!
This author has done an incredible job of giving us a great story, as well as a great lesson of what our future may hold and we have to be willing to keep OUR EYES OPEN, or at least one of them!!! Bravo, I am a fan, and looking forward to reading whatever he writes if this first one is any indication of what he has stored away, just waiting to break free!!
March 5, 2014
I really liked this book. It is a chilling look into what I believe could be our future. During the whole build up to the Seed, when Kurt was describing his product, I was thinking "This could happen." and it is frightening. The characters seemed mostly believable (if some were somewhat flat), although I wondered why more people weren't "unseeded"...then again, why do more people not keep their old flip cell phones? Or, better yet, why do more people not have cell phones? It is the way of technology. I do know I would not have the Seed...but it was frightening how fast the company could change things. And how they could make you believe anything they want you to believe. The ending was a little rushed and just kind of ended, but it seems like the author might be thinking of a series. I don't know where it would go from here, but it was a good beginning.
October 29, 2019
The plot, whilst not completely original, treads a fine line between borrowing from other books of a similar ilk (ie, 1984) and breaking some new ground.
There is something inherently worrying, yet familiar about the story of Kurt Jacobs, the protagonist and hotshot of Sycamore. Unfortunately there's something undeniably dislikeable about him too.
Portrayed as whiny and neurotic, the character flip flops between moral outrage, the lure of technological progress and his desire to do something good in the world.
The series has promise, for sure. There is ample room for growth and even a relatable character arc for Jacobs.
Sycamore 2? Hopeful yet unconvinced.
I'll let you know.
There is something inherently worrying, yet familiar about the story of Kurt Jacobs, the protagonist and hotshot of Sycamore. Unfortunately there's something undeniably dislikeable about him too.
Portrayed as whiny and neurotic, the character flip flops between moral outrage, the lure of technological progress and his desire to do something good in the world.
The series has promise, for sure. There is ample room for growth and even a relatable character arc for Jacobs.
Sycamore 2? Hopeful yet unconvinced.
I'll let you know.
November 26, 2017
Dystopian anti capitalist pro privacy manifesto
Entertaining ,or rather thought provoking, enough to complete. The whole premise seemed to center around dangers of allowing every piece of personal info, to include our audio visual experiences, to be made available to government and corporations. Storyline, plot, and climax seemed rushed and poorly thought of. Timeline of story especially fast to the point of unrealistic, thus "rushed". A little more research and a few, maybe several, rewrites may have helped.
Entertaining ,or rather thought provoking, enough to complete. The whole premise seemed to center around dangers of allowing every piece of personal info, to include our audio visual experiences, to be made available to government and corporations. Storyline, plot, and climax seemed rushed and poorly thought of. Timeline of story especially fast to the point of unrealistic, thus "rushed". A little more research and a few, maybe several, rewrites may have helped.
January 20, 2020
oh my goodness! This book freaked me out.. I was thinking sure I would love a seed! till
May 19, 2017
Meh. Some really good ides, but Kurt ended up being extremely annoying character.
January 22, 2023
The future might be closer...
...Than you think!
Craig's vision isn't prophetic as it's almost historical.
A lot of the notions and events in this story are happening now, have occurred recently, and most of us are eager for those upcoming.
But really hope it doesn't happen like that in real life.... or is it too late already?
A tale of technological advances and a society that is focused on looks and things....
...
What happens to society when Facebook-style social networking joins hands with AR improvements and leads to loss of privacy, digital surveillance, corporations taking over government,....
Read it and be scared 😱 😨 😂
...Than you think!
Craig's vision isn't prophetic as it's almost historical.
A lot of the notions and events in this story are happening now, have occurred recently, and most of us are eager for those upcoming.
But really hope it doesn't happen like that in real life.... or is it too late already?
A tale of technological advances and a society that is focused on looks and things....
...
What happens to society when Facebook-style social networking joins hands with AR improvements and leads to loss of privacy, digital surveillance, corporations taking over government,....
Read it and be scared 😱 😨 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2025
The premise is what hooked me but at the end of the day it felt like nothing really happened until the absolute very end. It was a repetitive cycle of “main character finds out something they don’t like, they go argue with head CEO person, CEO person shows them the issue isn’t black and white, main character leaves until they see something else they don’t like” and the cycle starts over again. Unfortunately wasn’t enough to get me interested in the world or characters enough to continue the series but there are a few thought nuggets here and there.
June 13, 2017
The future was yesterday
This novel is not in the near future, it is the dawn of Today. Well done, Mr. Falconer! The author has captured all of us as the characters. This book series should be mandatory reading in public schools right now. Forget "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" ... WE are our own worst enemy! Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
This novel is not in the near future, it is the dawn of Today. Well done, Mr. Falconer! The author has captured all of us as the characters. This book series should be mandatory reading in public schools right now. Forget "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" ... WE are our own worst enemy! Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
October 1, 2025
I appreciate a story that moves at a good clip and keeps my interest. But, the villain of this book starts at heartless businessman and jumps immediately to supervillain/antichrist. And it is relentless. He doesn't do anything without malice.
If the book leaned into the over the top campiness, it could have been fun, but it takes itself too seriously for that.
If the book leaned into the over the top campiness, it could have been fun, but it takes itself too seriously for that.
July 1, 2019
WOW
What a story! This is a very well written, extremely good story. It was hard to put it down to go to sleep. It was hard to go to sleep once putting the book down. You have got to read this book. Can't wait to read book 2.
What a story! This is a very well written, extremely good story. It was hard to put it down to go to sleep. It was hard to go to sleep once putting the book down. You have got to read this book. Can't wait to read book 2.
July 28, 2019
An interesting near future SF novel by a new writer (to me). I believe this is his debut novel and very promising it is indeed. It talks of the potential horrors of how certain technology can be used/abused for both control and surveillance purposes. It is horrifying in its plausibility.
September 15, 2025
Very good. Its more like a prophecy! I really think the moment we get implemented with cheap for our "convenience", it will end up exactly as described in the book. The only missing from this book is ever-present AI. But the book was written in 2013, long before current AI craziness.
Read
October 18, 2024Just saw that this image is being used for Theater Bizzare movie. Weird connection, I wonder where the image was sourced
August 15, 2013
My criteria for giving a book a 5 star review is that it must make me want to keep reading it rather than doing what I really need to do. Sycamore turned out to be one of those books.
Set in the near future it's a very plausible tale and one which would be all too likely to happen if we don't start taking more interest in what information we share. Now that government spying is an accepted fact we tend to overlook the fact that industry spies on us far more.
So what's the book about? Think 'Big Brother', government spying, identity cards, Google Glass, Facebook and merge in some current (and probably justified) conspiracy theory concerns.
What's wrong with the book in terms of technology?
I'm not sure about putting in contact lenses and leaving them in for months at a time. I don't wear contact lenses but I'm pretty sure there would be a few eye infections from this.
The implanted chip/seed wouldn't really be necessary. The lens itself could carry out all it's functions and detect motion of the users hands without needing a touch sensitive implant.
The cloud storage required would be far greater than what is available now - but then there is new technology on the way (memristors) which may provide what would be needed
The people wearing lenses would need to be in constant high-speed communication everywhere they went. That's not possible currently
What about social acceptance?
I think it's all too plausible that people would demand this. As suggested it wouldn't need legislation.
Would we tolerate pop-up adverts? Possibly, but not when they put lives at risk.
The cover? Certainly eye catching. I loved it - my wife hated it.
Set in the near future it's a very plausible tale and one which would be all too likely to happen if we don't start taking more interest in what information we share. Now that government spying is an accepted fact we tend to overlook the fact that industry spies on us far more.
So what's the book about? Think 'Big Brother', government spying, identity cards, Google Glass, Facebook and merge in some current (and probably justified) conspiracy theory concerns.
What's wrong with the book in terms of technology?
I'm not sure about putting in contact lenses and leaving them in for months at a time. I don't wear contact lenses but I'm pretty sure there would be a few eye infections from this.
The implanted chip/seed wouldn't really be necessary. The lens itself could carry out all it's functions and detect motion of the users hands without needing a touch sensitive implant.
The cloud storage required would be far greater than what is available now - but then there is new technology on the way (memristors) which may provide what would be needed
The people wearing lenses would need to be in constant high-speed communication everywhere they went. That's not possible currently
What about social acceptance?
I think it's all too plausible that people would demand this. As suggested it wouldn't need legislation.
Would we tolerate pop-up adverts? Possibly, but not when they put lives at risk.
The cover? Certainly eye catching. I loved it - my wife hated it.
August 7, 2020
I have to admit that this review gave me a hard time. To begin with, one star was lost right off the bat because of the many errors in the text. I assume this was a self-published work, for which I salute the author, but still a bit of proofreading/editing was in order.
Then it was the way the story was developed. I know it is supposed to make people think, but I just felt that some of the events happened too fast. The fact that everything unraveled within three weeks is beyond me. I'm sure things had to be exaggerated in order to highlight the gravity of the situation, but I would have preferred a more subtle approach.
Also, there was the issue with Kurt's continuous complaining. I mean, the guy saw something he didn't like, complained about it, went home, saw something else he didn't like, complained, went home, and so on and so forth, for about five to six times. I'm sure there are other ways to weave things into the story without being so obvious about it.
However, I enjoyed the story because it showed a kind of technology which doesn't exist (yet, at least), but it is so easy to picture. Being mostly technology-savvies, the readers will have no trouble visualizing the way the Seed works and all the repercussions it can have.
I believe that sci fi fans will like Sycamore, but they should probably check out Funscreen first, a spin-off story by Falconer, so they can get a glimpse of the world Sycamore is set in. Having said all that, I am kind of curious to read the sequel, but maybe not so eager as I was to read this one.
Then it was the way the story was developed. I know it is supposed to make people think, but I just felt that some of the events happened too fast. The fact that everything unraveled within three weeks is beyond me. I'm sure things had to be exaggerated in order to highlight the gravity of the situation, but I would have preferred a more subtle approach.
Also, there was the issue with Kurt's continuous complaining. I mean, the guy saw something he didn't like, complained about it, went home, saw something else he didn't like, complained, went home, and so on and so forth, for about five to six times. I'm sure there are other ways to weave things into the story without being so obvious about it.
However, I enjoyed the story because it showed a kind of technology which doesn't exist (yet, at least), but it is so easy to picture. Being mostly technology-savvies, the readers will have no trouble visualizing the way the Seed works and all the repercussions it can have.
I believe that sci fi fans will like Sycamore, but they should probably check out Funscreen first, a spin-off story by Falconer, so they can get a glimpse of the world Sycamore is set in. Having said all that, I am kind of curious to read the sequel, but maybe not so eager as I was to read this one.
July 6, 2013
The future is coming faster than we think! Sycamore takes technology that we have today and pushes it to the next level of innovation. It questions a lot of the moral and ethical implications that come from the technology we are creating and the very thin line between augmented reality and virtual reality.
As a tech nerd myself, this book was right up my alley. Sycamore pretty much takes Google Glass and brings it further into future (and right into our eyes). The lines between what people want and what people are required to have get very blurred and "don't be evil" all depends on which side of the dollar you are on. The morals and ethics of big corporations come into play, as well as how it affects the blind. The world that is brought about in this book is very real and described in a way that it is not hard to picture. The characters are believable and when the sh*t starts hitting the fan the emotions are also very well portrayed.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good not-so-distant-future action book and to all my fellow computer nerds out there. This is a very well written book and really draws you in, and I am hoping there is a continuation in the future!
As a tech nerd myself, this book was right up my alley. Sycamore pretty much takes Google Glass and brings it further into future (and right into our eyes). The lines between what people want and what people are required to have get very blurred and "don't be evil" all depends on which side of the dollar you are on. The morals and ethics of big corporations come into play, as well as how it affects the blind. The world that is brought about in this book is very real and described in a way that it is not hard to picture. The characters are believable and when the sh*t starts hitting the fan the emotions are also very well portrayed.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good not-so-distant-future action book and to all my fellow computer nerds out there. This is a very well written book and really draws you in, and I am hoping there is a continuation in the future!
January 9, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
"Birds eat cats when they get the chance"
A fascinating race to take over the minds and hearts of a population with their willing acceptance. A bigger than Orwell glimpse at what could be in just a smidgen of time: one dominant corporation able to control everything since it can see everywhere through the eyes and ears of all individuals who are themselves then fed what the corporation wants them to be, consumers of the one and only supplier. From books and films, sex and policing, public hygene and financial services, everything is in it's control.
It is a great and all too possible story and very readable even if it is more a polemic than a novel. It reminded me of the great Robert Tressel' s novel on Socialism, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, not, obviously, in content but writing style. This latter languished unpublished for too many decades before finally surfacing in entirety in the 1950's and was itself trying to open people's eyes to what was happening around them, so thank goodness for Indie publication nowadays. Tressel' s book was and Sycamore is a wake up call to our society, and the picture painted here is one far more terrifying than that of 1984.
Read it and be afraid
"Birds eat cats when they get the chance"
A fascinating race to take over the minds and hearts of a population with their willing acceptance. A bigger than Orwell glimpse at what could be in just a smidgen of time: one dominant corporation able to control everything since it can see everywhere through the eyes and ears of all individuals who are themselves then fed what the corporation wants them to be, consumers of the one and only supplier. From books and films, sex and policing, public hygene and financial services, everything is in it's control.
It is a great and all too possible story and very readable even if it is more a polemic than a novel. It reminded me of the great Robert Tressel' s novel on Socialism, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, not, obviously, in content but writing style. This latter languished unpublished for too many decades before finally surfacing in entirety in the 1950's and was itself trying to open people's eyes to what was happening around them, so thank goodness for Indie publication nowadays. Tressel' s book was and Sycamore is a wake up call to our society, and the picture painted here is one far more terrifying than that of 1984.
Read it and be afraid
June 18, 2016
Pretty good story, but unbelievable.
I really dug the technology and critique on society, but much like the movie "Idiocracy", this book goes a little too far too fast. In Mr. Falconer's other book, "Not Alone", we spend several hundred pages building up the machinations and PR spins necessary to convince the world that aliens have visited our planet. But in "Sycamore" we go from realistic AR (augmented reality), to a complete takeover of American society in less than a month. I realize that people are very obsessed with their cell phones, and are willing to give a staggering amount of personal data over to Google/Facebook/Twitter... but come on, there are limits. Plus the technology leaps are staggering and occur daily in this fictional world. Hell, even Google took years to develop reliable self-driving cars; and they can't get them approved for consumers without manual overrides being available. Society is quite gullible, but the kind of change they are talking about here is a little hard to swallow.
However, if you can overlook that, there is a pretty good story in here. I was engaged throughout and am looking forward to seeing the characters through until the conclusion.
I really dug the technology and critique on society, but much like the movie "Idiocracy", this book goes a little too far too fast. In Mr. Falconer's other book, "Not Alone", we spend several hundred pages building up the machinations and PR spins necessary to convince the world that aliens have visited our planet. But in "Sycamore" we go from realistic AR (augmented reality), to a complete takeover of American society in less than a month. I realize that people are very obsessed with their cell phones, and are willing to give a staggering amount of personal data over to Google/Facebook/Twitter... but come on, there are limits. Plus the technology leaps are staggering and occur daily in this fictional world. Hell, even Google took years to develop reliable self-driving cars; and they can't get them approved for consumers without manual overrides being available. Society is quite gullible, but the kind of change they are talking about here is a little hard to swallow.
However, if you can overlook that, there is a pretty good story in here. I was engaged throughout and am looking forward to seeing the characters through until the conclusion.
November 9, 2013
The book is just awesome. Once you start reading it you definitely want to know what happened next? Once you find that out the next question rather next expression "What the fudge " "How the fudge".
I think what everyone will except is that the plot is very much possible and really not that far away in the future. The book is technology heavy. By which I mean the futuristic concept of the new technology are brilliantly explained. The detailing of the scenes are commendable.
Only problem that I had with the book was the supporting characters were just that ...supporting characters. I wished that author could have developed them more.
I wish the author good luck and look forward to his next book.
I think what everyone will except is that the plot is very much possible and really not that far away in the future. The book is technology heavy. By which I mean the futuristic concept of the new technology are brilliantly explained. The detailing of the scenes are commendable.
Only problem that I had with the book was the supporting characters were just that ...supporting characters. I wished that author could have developed them more.
I wish the author good luck and look forward to his next book.
November 21, 2013
I really liked this book. It brought up some interesting questions about technology. Unfortunately we are not so far away from being immersed in a slavery to tech and the coorporations that own it, in real time. Some of us are already slaves to our phones but imagine if you didn't need a phone? What if every call, text, and internet site could be seen right before your eyes? You have to pay for each interaction but who cares? We will make the money digtial and give you credit! Before long you are up to your eyeballs in debt but the convenience is worth it right?
March 30, 2014
A chilling vision of the not-so-distant future, creepily familiar in almost every detail. An easy to read book that keeps you wanting more. Though I would say the build up is steady, the reader seems more aware than the protagonist (though perhaps we're supposed to be?), and the culmination feels a little rushed, almost squeezed into the last chapter or two. Other than that, it's a great debut and perfect for a quick read in your spare time.
April 14, 2016
A stark warning of corporate power.
“Why is it that you and your type are so driven by money? I mean, why spend your days collecting money when you’re killing everything that used to be good in the world?”
A captivating story of power & money, a warning of things to come.... that are almost already reality. Kept me reading when I should have been asleep.
“Why is it that you and your type are so driven by money? I mean, why spend your days collecting money when you’re killing everything that used to be good in the world?”
A captivating story of power & money, a warning of things to come.... that are almost already reality. Kept me reading when I should have been asleep.
July 6, 2013
A brilliant and relevant sci-fi from a debut author. It's so realistic, he could be talking about things happening tomorrow, or next week. An interesting and matrix-like insight into what the future could hold, and what pitfalls could accompany it.
March 28, 2014
This isn't the most literary of books; it's a novella that encapsulates the potential of computer technologies to be used for good or evil. It's a thought-provoking book that does a better job of provoking thought as a novel than it would as an equivalent non-fiction book.
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