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Fooko #1
Feed: Part 1
An announcement from the Feed is being released as a four part series! This version is still viable, however, Feed 1 is now available. It contains updates prior to the release of Feed 2, Feed 3, and Feed 4. For more information and to see Feed 1, please go to the author's Amazon page. Book There are eyes everywhere. Even in the dark--watching, seeing you sleep, dream, make love. And every second of it is being broadcast to thousands of feed networks by the Editors, who see what you're doing. And if they don't like it, you will answer to the Enforcers. One man is about to break free. The only problem is, they're watching. Always.
- GenresScience FictionDystopia
128 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 27, 2015
25 people are currently reading
771 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Grotepas
42 books188 followersNicole writes stories exploring concepts of surveillance and how it effects human behavior, colonization, AI, robots, and a bunch of other impossible but cool scenarios. She studied folklore in college and believes that the best parts of any story touch on these living, changing elements of culture.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 12, 2022
“We’ll give them The Sweet Life, and they’ll willingly give up their privacy.”
“Act normal. You’re being watched . . . by the entire country.”
A brilliant, deftly crafted, inherently absorbing novel from beginning to end!
This was such a fast read, I was surprised at how fast I was reading,I was so immersed into the story, the next thing I knew I had finished the book, captivating and engrossing, it drew me in, pressed at all my emotional buttons. I can truly say it’s an edge of the seat story. It’s so realistic and vivid, I felt like one of millions watching the feeds! Lol.
The plot is intricate, riveting; it begins slow paced, situating all the main characters in their respective places, with their own stories, the threading is subtle, I didn’t know where it was headed to but my curiosity and the intriguing colours that the writer wove the threads with played with my turbulent emotions. I was wondering what these characters had in common, and bit by bit the shape of the tapestry revealed their importance in the plot. Of course, we won’t see the tapestry completely woven till the end of the series! The prose is fluid, emotions described in a lovely poetic way, overflowing with feelings running deep, the passion described with such delicacy it felt beautiful, instead of crude. I wouldn’t call it sexual attraction, au contraire, it was more profound than that; it’s layered with a passionate fervour of innocence, like our very first love, sweet and delicate.
“I still remember what it was like before.”
There were no illusions about the underlying reality of a controlled and watched 24/7 life.
It’s full of unforgettable characters! Nicole Grotepas has crafted characters who are not only believable, but easy to identify with. The transition from one characters’ point of view to another is one of the best I've read. The Main character is engaging and refreshingly delightful to follow with his attitude and ways of dealing with each situation. Middle age, midlife crisis.
Remorse. Guilt road, years of self-recrimination and the blame that he’d carried. An invention not meant to be used this way..he was a pawn.
“He was the only one who could undo what had been done.”
On the opposite side of the equation, a government manipulated by a corporation in the hands of a cold blooded and heartless man, with quasi limitless power to do and undo the lives of millions who were in favour or against him. The ultimate control over lives through nano-cameras and Editors. Ghosteye. Enforcers. And voilá! Voyeurism was enhanced and encouraged.
I could see how the writer had captured the emotions of all the characters and interwove them with a passion only a sensitive person can.
Miss Grotepas writes with effortless dexterity and an attempted lighthearted tone, imbuing the story with a subtlety that keeps the story both swift and fascinating. Add a devastating turn of fate as the penultimate twist, and Nicole hooks in the reader as the book barrels toward a tough but satisfying conclusion. A wonderful, entertaining storyline with a deep understanding of what motivates humans to do what they do. A relentless thriller, it presents a masterfully realized and thought-provoking story. It’s a mad story, filled with sadness and passive action-if one can call the dramatic events unfolding as that-,that leaves you wanting more.
The First Cycle #1 by Nicole Grotepas is one of those extraordinary stories that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading it, days even! I highly recommend this series! 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Act normal. You’re being watched . . . by the entire country.”
A brilliant, deftly crafted, inherently absorbing novel from beginning to end!
This was such a fast read, I was surprised at how fast I was reading,I was so immersed into the story, the next thing I knew I had finished the book, captivating and engrossing, it drew me in, pressed at all my emotional buttons. I can truly say it’s an edge of the seat story. It’s so realistic and vivid, I felt like one of millions watching the feeds! Lol.
The plot is intricate, riveting; it begins slow paced, situating all the main characters in their respective places, with their own stories, the threading is subtle, I didn’t know where it was headed to but my curiosity and the intriguing colours that the writer wove the threads with played with my turbulent emotions. I was wondering what these characters had in common, and bit by bit the shape of the tapestry revealed their importance in the plot. Of course, we won’t see the tapestry completely woven till the end of the series! The prose is fluid, emotions described in a lovely poetic way, overflowing with feelings running deep, the passion described with such delicacy it felt beautiful, instead of crude. I wouldn’t call it sexual attraction, au contraire, it was more profound than that; it’s layered with a passionate fervour of innocence, like our very first love, sweet and delicate.
“I still remember what it was like before.”
There were no illusions about the underlying reality of a controlled and watched 24/7 life.
It’s full of unforgettable characters! Nicole Grotepas has crafted characters who are not only believable, but easy to identify with. The transition from one characters’ point of view to another is one of the best I've read. The Main character is engaging and refreshingly delightful to follow with his attitude and ways of dealing with each situation. Middle age, midlife crisis.
Remorse. Guilt road, years of self-recrimination and the blame that he’d carried. An invention not meant to be used this way..he was a pawn.
“He was the only one who could undo what had been done.”
On the opposite side of the equation, a government manipulated by a corporation in the hands of a cold blooded and heartless man, with quasi limitless power to do and undo the lives of millions who were in favour or against him. The ultimate control over lives through nano-cameras and Editors. Ghosteye. Enforcers. And voilá! Voyeurism was enhanced and encouraged.
I could see how the writer had captured the emotions of all the characters and interwove them with a passion only a sensitive person can.
Miss Grotepas writes with effortless dexterity and an attempted lighthearted tone, imbuing the story with a subtlety that keeps the story both swift and fascinating. Add a devastating turn of fate as the penultimate twist, and Nicole hooks in the reader as the book barrels toward a tough but satisfying conclusion. A wonderful, entertaining storyline with a deep understanding of what motivates humans to do what they do. A relentless thriller, it presents a masterfully realized and thought-provoking story. It’s a mad story, filled with sadness and passive action-if one can call the dramatic events unfolding as that-,that leaves you wanting more.
The First Cycle #1 by Nicole Grotepas is one of those extraordinary stories that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading it, days even! I highly recommend this series! 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 5, 2019
I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but I really enjoyed this! The premise is interesting/worrying, relevant, and Grotepas executed it really well. It takes our obsession with media and being seen to the next terrifying level-the cameras are everywhere, see everything, and everyone is a star on someone's screen.
What I really liked about that is that Grotepas didn't focus on the negative aspects of the complete loss of privacy, but also pointed out that there's no more crime, anywhere, because no one can get away with anything any more. I'm not convinced it would 100% play out like that, but let's just hope we'll never find out the hard way, shall we?
The characters were great and each POV had something intriguing to add. There's the guy who came up with the goodbye-privacy cameras, the lawyer who wants to help him fix it, a girl who's watching his life and completely obsessed with him, and the guy who edits our lives and turns them into emotional investments for everyone else.
My only niggle is that it was repetitive in places, but that's not enough to stop me from reading the next book.
I can't wait to see where it goes next, and will download the sequel today.
What I really liked about that is that Grotepas didn't focus on the negative aspects of the complete loss of privacy, but also pointed out that there's no more crime, anywhere, because no one can get away with anything any more. I'm not convinced it would 100% play out like that, but let's just hope we'll never find out the hard way, shall we?
The characters were great and each POV had something intriguing to add. There's the guy who came up with the goodbye-privacy cameras, the lawyer who wants to help him fix it, a girl who's watching his life and completely obsessed with him, and the guy who edits our lives and turns them into emotional investments for everyone else.
My only niggle is that it was repetitive in places, but that's not enough to stop me from reading the next book.
I can't wait to see where it goes next, and will download the sequel today.
December 15, 2017
Fulfills all of my sci-fi needs
I loved reading this novella! I found myself re-reading sentences that were extremely well written. I fell in love with every character and found myself cheering along with their every move. The reality of the constant surveillance by big companies is so near and I feel this book captured that reality perfectly. This was like an extended version of an episode of Black Mirror, and I seriously cannot wait to read Feed 2 & 3!
I loved reading this novella! I found myself re-reading sentences that were extremely well written. I fell in love with every character and found myself cheering along with their every move. The reality of the constant surveillance by big companies is so near and I feel this book captured that reality perfectly. This was like an extended version of an episode of Black Mirror, and I seriously cannot wait to read Feed 2 & 3!
August 7, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and it had me on the edge of my seat towards the end. It is not the usual dystopian menu - there are no aliens, no dreadful disease or destroyed cities. The story follows, literally, Ramone, the inventor of some high-tech equipment that allows everyone to follow anyone. Not everyone is keen on this. When you invent something so life-changing, there are going to be unexpected downstream effects. Is this future really so unlikely?
The book ended with a classic cliff-hangar. I want to read more!
This is the first of four books.
The book ended with a classic cliff-hangar. I want to read more!
This is the first of four books.
June 5, 2012
This is an amazing book about a future society that we could someday be part of. Intense and frightening especially at the thought of it ever coming true. Privacy is so important to me, and if I don't get it, then there's heck that someone's going to have to pay, and knowing that about myself scares me to think of this being our future. The author did a great job of keeping up the pace to the very last page. I couldn't see the end coming, and was a bit surprised when I realized that it was near. I could have gone on reading forever. Her characters were believable, and seem very familiar as they could be living right around you. Great read; hated to put it down to go to sleep at night. Highly recommended.
October 15, 2012
This is a kindle edition book written by my sister, Nicole. Download for $.99 at Amazon.com and give it a read!
I just finished your book Nicole. Very good, by the way. I was so intrigued at the first mention of the "feeds" and how exactly that had come about. I can see the influences of books you've read on the whole idea of the book (Bradbury, for example). And it was a bit disconcerting knowing you as I do, and hearing your voice in the book. I kept thinking to myself, this is so Nikki writing this. I found a few typos and I wish I had kept track of the location for you, but I didn't. So, how and when will you end this is my next burning question.
I just finished your book Nicole. Very good, by the way. I was so intrigued at the first mention of the "feeds" and how exactly that had come about. I can see the influences of books you've read on the whole idea of the book (Bradbury, for example). And it was a bit disconcerting knowing you as I do, and hearing your voice in the book. I kept thinking to myself, this is so Nikki writing this. I found a few typos and I wish I had kept track of the location for you, but I didn't. So, how and when will you end this is my next burning question.
December 22, 2017
The strongest element of this story for me was how believable the (near term) future painted by Grotepas actually felt. She really takes elements of today's society such as cult of the celebrity and ordinary people having their moments of fame, reality TV, short term attention span and turns them up them only a little to come up with the terrifying future of the book. And the technology behind it seems perfectly believable too.
Aspects of the story are stronger / weaker for me, and I am not sure why Beth is painted as such a very unlikable character, perhaps an attempt to make it a less black and white division between the goodies and baddies?
But overall, a very interesting read.
Aspects of the story are stronger / weaker for me, and I am not sure why Beth is painted as such a very unlikable character, perhaps an attempt to make it a less black and white division between the goodies and baddies?
But overall, a very interesting read.
June 16, 2016
I won this on GoodReads
What happens when the cameras follow everyone; 24/7? What happens when nobody ever has a moment that is not monitored; not just by government but by anyone who wants to watch? This is the world Nicole Grotepas created in “Feed”. Not that far from the world we live in now with reality TV the opiod for the masses. She created great characters with intense passions and frustrations. Four stars for this one. Give me more.
What happens when the cameras follow everyone; 24/7? What happens when nobody ever has a moment that is not monitored; not just by government but by anyone who wants to watch? This is the world Nicole Grotepas created in “Feed”. Not that far from the world we live in now with reality TV the opiod for the masses. She created great characters with intense passions and frustrations. Four stars for this one. Give me more.
July 26, 2013
Loved the original story. Obviously set up for a sequel at the end. Slightly bummed that there isn't enough closure to allow the book to stand on its own, but as long as the sequel is written I can satisfy my craving to know what happens next.
June 10, 2015
Interesting
Unusual story, high tech, imaginative. Ending left open for a sequel, but not in a bad way. I liked it.
Unusual story, high tech, imaginative. Ending left open for a sequel, but not in a bad way. I liked it.
February 24, 2015
awesome read
April 16, 2022
I have probably read a dozen books by this author. This one was my favorite. While it is set in a dystopian society, it is close enough to what we have now that it makes you think.
I love books that make me think.
Without giving away too much, this book tackles the logical progression of a society on screens 24/7. Due to nano-camera technology, the world is ALWAYS on screens. Everyone has their own "feed," and every single person has the opportunity to be an influencer. There are "editors" that tweak the feeds of particular popular people or stories. There are also "enforcers," who act as a means to protect the system.
This is where things break down just a little for me. There does not seem to be a reason for the enforcers to exist, that I can understand. People do not engage in criminal activity anymore, because with cameras everywhere, there is no way to get away with it. There is a mega corp that seems to control the overarching structure of the world, but it is not explained how they do this or why they are needed.
The main character was one of the inventors of the nano-cams. But for some reason, he decides that he needs to try to undo the tech, somehow. His motivations are not fully explained.
***************************************
I liked this a lot and I will almost certainly seek out the next book in the series. This IS part of a series and this is the first book. Like many series, this book suffers from cliffhanger syndrome, in that, there is a very "soft" ending. It kind of just leaves you hanging and you need to read on to get any kind of resolution.
If part of a boxed set, that is not always a bad thing. In an individual book, it is kind of a bugaboo for me. I MUCH prefer how Star Wars and Indiana Jones handled their "episodes." There is always more if you are interested in continuing. But each unit is self-contained and has a real beginning and ending. You do not get that here, and that is too bad. But that is one of the relatively few knocks I have on this.
It was an interesting and suspenseful read. Well done, Author Lady!
I love books that make me think.
Without giving away too much, this book tackles the logical progression of a society on screens 24/7. Due to nano-camera technology, the world is ALWAYS on screens. Everyone has their own "feed," and every single person has the opportunity to be an influencer. There are "editors" that tweak the feeds of particular popular people or stories. There are also "enforcers," who act as a means to protect the system.
This is where things break down just a little for me. There does not seem to be a reason for the enforcers to exist, that I can understand. People do not engage in criminal activity anymore, because with cameras everywhere, there is no way to get away with it. There is a mega corp that seems to control the overarching structure of the world, but it is not explained how they do this or why they are needed.
The main character was one of the inventors of the nano-cams. But for some reason, he decides that he needs to try to undo the tech, somehow. His motivations are not fully explained.
***************************************
I liked this a lot and I will almost certainly seek out the next book in the series. This IS part of a series and this is the first book. Like many series, this book suffers from cliffhanger syndrome, in that, there is a very "soft" ending. It kind of just leaves you hanging and you need to read on to get any kind of resolution.
If part of a boxed set, that is not always a bad thing. In an individual book, it is kind of a bugaboo for me. I MUCH prefer how Star Wars and Indiana Jones handled their "episodes." There is always more if you are interested in continuing. But each unit is self-contained and has a real beginning and ending. You do not get that here, and that is too bad. But that is one of the relatively few knocks I have on this.
It was an interesting and suspenseful read. Well done, Author Lady!
September 27, 2018
Originally imagined and developed to let the blind see, tiny, wireless cameras now roam the spaces and the lives of the residents of the U.S. filming lives and movements and broadcasting it all online for anyone to watch. The cameras’ inventor, Sam Ramone, had expanded the functionality from the medical arena to this total invasion of everyday life after massive home-grown terrorist attacks had been launched targeting thousands including his own children. Now, no one would ever be able to plan or execute such a threat again. However, Ramone never intended, nor imagined, the total invasion and televised results all in the name of entertainment. People were addicted to ‘the feeds’ as they were called: both appearing in them and viewing them. And now Ramone has had enough. But even as he works to undo the damage he made possible, he’s being watched himself.
In Feed 1, the first book in the Fooko series, author Nicole Grotepas has created a future U.S. where everyone is under constant scrutiny, and anyone can become ‘a star.’ Some watch ‘the feeds’ and vicariously share the lives of others. Some crave the attention of the viewers at the other end of ‘the feed’ and change their actions and their lives just to up the number of people following them. The story is peopled with regular characters that are feeling the pressure of the impact of ‘the feeds.’ But there are forces at work to keep the new status quo in place.
This story is highly recommended for sci-fi readers and anyone that has ever found themselves lost down a YouTube rabbit hole for an untold amount of time.June 22, 2018
Protection or invasion
Feed 1 is a book about how technology meant for good can be manipulated. Something Ramone designed to help the blind is now being used to watch everyone all in the name of national security and public safety. Is this what we are heading towards? A world where everything we do can be watched by everyone else in the world?
I am not sure how I feel about the book. It is somewhat intriguing but parts of it are rather slow and uninteresting. While I want Ramone's next design to succeed, I am not sure about the collaboration that suddenly develops. I see many aspects of the book alive even in today's society which is frightful and kind of disturbing. Given what the premise of the book is I am unsure if I really believe that this ragtag group can succeed.
Feed 1 is a book about how technology meant for good can be manipulated. Something Ramone designed to help the blind is now being used to watch everyone all in the name of national security and public safety. Is this what we are heading towards? A world where everything we do can be watched by everyone else in the world?
I am not sure how I feel about the book. It is somewhat intriguing but parts of it are rather slow and uninteresting. While I want Ramone's next design to succeed, I am not sure about the collaboration that suddenly develops. I see many aspects of the book alive even in today's society which is frightful and kind of disturbing. Given what the premise of the book is I am unsure if I really believe that this ragtag group can succeed.
October 29, 2021
This is a very timely story. We are almost living this life now with people's obsession with being seen. It is sad that our young people are loosing the ability to interact with actual people and spend almost every moment on their phone. Now I have to back up for a moment, it isn't just young folks. I have watched one of my best friends and my sister (both in their 70s) become like slaves to social media on their phones. I have given up pretty much all social media and use my phone as a phone. I am recommending that everyone read this book. It is a wake up call.
April 16, 2022
Very reminiscent of George Orwell’s 1984 which is to say an absolute nightmare that should be firmly placed in the horror genre. This one is not a great deal more advanced technology wise but Orwell’s was complete sci-fi fantasy at the time (published in 1949) but it is truly terrifying how spot on that fantasy technology turned out to be and this book is equally alarming at how human nature is playing out with the invention(s) and “advancements” of social media.
December 2, 2017
got this for kindle on freebie day, couldn't find the right listing on goodreads, actually got 1, 2 and 3 from freebie days but trying to read 1 seemed as if parts were from totally different story and just had to struggle to get through so no way trying to read 2 and 3
January 17, 2018
This was a good book however, it didn't seem to really have a climax. It ended before anything was really done and just about forces you to get the whole series. It was well written but I don't think I am going to read them all.
December 20, 2020
This book definitely makes you think. And not of good things. It's like a vision of the near future....a dystopian, but not post apocalyptic one. Very 1984, only better and way more relatable in this day and age.
May 8, 2022
Now titled THE FIRST CYCLE: THE FEEDS Book 1
Fascinating book published by Conundrum Publishing. You are very quickly immersed in the story of Ramone and, then, you can’t put it down. It’s eerie, a bit frightening, and incredibly human.
Fascinating book published by Conundrum Publishing. You are very quickly immersed in the story of Ramone and, then, you can’t put it down. It’s eerie, a bit frightening, and incredibly human.
January 25, 2021
3 stars = average.
The old Big Brother idea, hauled out again. Forgettable.
The old Big Brother idea, hauled out again. Forgettable.
February 15, 2013
This book started out with the novel premise of nano-cams that watch and record everyone 24/7 for the "safety" of the country. Run by conglomerates rather than the Government and streamed (almost) live to a nation who watches these feeds like people watch the reality TV of today.
It was a pretty good story and I was willing to forgive the odd descriptiveness in the book. It was over-descriptive in parts, other parts felt like the story had been written and someone advised the author to make it more descriptive so it was just thrown in.
Here's my major problem with the book - it wasn't finished. I would guess that it was 3/4 of the way through. This is why it got only two stars...it would have gotten three or possible four stars with a great ending. I couldn't believe my eyes when the words "The end" came up. Perhaps this was supposed to be the first in a series but I saw no mention of this when I bought the book - it looked like it was stand-alone. Anyhow, unless a second book comes out to finish the story, I would advise against getting it.
It was a pretty good story and I was willing to forgive the odd descriptiveness in the book. It was over-descriptive in parts, other parts felt like the story had been written and someone advised the author to make it more descriptive so it was just thrown in.
Here's my major problem with the book - it wasn't finished. I would guess that it was 3/4 of the way through. This is why it got only two stars...it would have gotten three or possible four stars with a great ending. I couldn't believe my eyes when the words "The end" came up. Perhaps this was supposed to be the first in a series but I saw no mention of this when I bought the book - it looked like it was stand-alone. Anyhow, unless a second book comes out to finish the story, I would advise against getting it.
June 13, 2019
The depth of this story is nearly scary.
With our world already advancing at such a high speed it's not unfathomable. We sign things regularly without considering repercussions. We hide from our own lives by watching others. Privacy and personal rights disappear daily. We are told it is in the name of our safety. Yet, is that a fact.
With our world already advancing at such a high speed it's not unfathomable. We sign things regularly without considering repercussions. We hide from our own lives by watching others. Privacy and personal rights disappear daily. We are told it is in the name of our safety. Yet, is that a fact.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews