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The Trivial Game #1
The Infinet
The most powerful AI ever created has some bad news for humanity.
Oreste Pax, famed inventor of the Univiz, is in trouble. His mixed-reality glasses have replaced smartphones and computers and made him the head of the biggest technology company in the world. But after a decade at the top, his position is being challenged by disgruntled shareholders, and he needs to come up with something big to prove he should remain in charge.
Pax’s only hope is a longshot—to reinvent the Univiz by connecting it to a brain-computer interface. To his surprise, the effort not only succeeds but reveals the possibility of a previously unknown form of human cognition. He begins to hope of not just saving his job but reinventing what it means to be human.
But his plans are upended when a deadly computer virus begins attacking people through the Internet of Things. Shortly afterward, Pax is abducted by a group of people with technology far beyond anything he has seen before, which he learns was created by an immensely powerful artificial intelligence called the Infinet. When Pax learns the reason why the Infinet was created—and what it wants from him—he’ll have to make a choice that will change not only his life but the future of humanity.
Oreste Pax, famed inventor of the Univiz, is in trouble. His mixed-reality glasses have replaced smartphones and computers and made him the head of the biggest technology company in the world. But after a decade at the top, his position is being challenged by disgruntled shareholders, and he needs to come up with something big to prove he should remain in charge.
Pax’s only hope is a longshot—to reinvent the Univiz by connecting it to a brain-computer interface. To his surprise, the effort not only succeeds but reveals the possibility of a previously unknown form of human cognition. He begins to hope of not just saving his job but reinventing what it means to be human.
But his plans are upended when a deadly computer virus begins attacking people through the Internet of Things. Shortly afterward, Pax is abducted by a group of people with technology far beyond anything he has seen before, which he learns was created by an immensely powerful artificial intelligence called the Infinet. When Pax learns the reason why the Infinet was created—and what it wants from him—he’ll have to make a choice that will change not only his life but the future of humanity.
- GenresScience Fiction
406 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2017
About the author
John Akers
3 books31 followersJOHN AKERS grew up in the suburbs of New York. He got his undergraduate degree in behavioral sciences, and to this day enjoys telling people he got a B.A. in B.S. He later got a master's degree in human factors engineering before working as a product designer at various technology companies. Get the latest on John's works in progress, book deals, and sci-fi news by joining his newsletter at https://john-akers.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
December 18, 2017
A brilliant programmer seeks to heal the planet by ridding it of the human infestation. He pits people against one another by infecting the very things we've all become so dependent upon: the Internet of Things (IOT). As injuries and death mount leading to an extinction-level event, a society of brilliant individuals, aided by a quantum computer, ask Oreste Pax, inventor of a headset that puts the world at your fingertips, for his help in halting the IOT infection. It takes Oreste and his best friend, Cevis, a once-in-a-generation genius, to unravel the mystery.
One of the striking characters in the Aker's novel is the technology itself. The cleverness of the inventions throughout the novel and the superior detail John provides gives the story a verisimilitude that both anchors the novel and thrills the reader. The technology is more than a backdrop for this story; it plays a vital part, as much as any character, from Oreste's headset, called Gabe, to the truly marvelous quantum computer called the Infinet, that creates out-of-this-world inventions.
The main characters, Oreste, Cevis, and Alethia are as distinct as they are fascinating. So too is the detailed history of mankind that The Society uses to soften up Oreste. The history demonstrates that mankind's acquisition of deadly force has outpaced his ability to control it. Given recent political events, this novel is very timely.
The combination of news articles summarizing the human tragedy, the deep and compelling characters, and the looming extinction of mankind make the novel a great read. Infinet website.
One of the striking characters in the Aker's novel is the technology itself. The cleverness of the inventions throughout the novel and the superior detail John provides gives the story a verisimilitude that both anchors the novel and thrills the reader. The technology is more than a backdrop for this story; it plays a vital part, as much as any character, from Oreste's headset, called Gabe, to the truly marvelous quantum computer called the Infinet, that creates out-of-this-world inventions.
The main characters, Oreste, Cevis, and Alethia are as distinct as they are fascinating. So too is the detailed history of mankind that The Society uses to soften up Oreste. The history demonstrates that mankind's acquisition of deadly force has outpaced his ability to control it. Given recent political events, this novel is very timely.
The combination of news articles summarizing the human tragedy, the deep and compelling characters, and the looming extinction of mankind make the novel a great read. Infinet website.
January 2, 2018
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhiRm...
I started out this read unsure of what I was getting myself into but was quickly caught up in the story and the vision of technology that Akers creates. With some science forward reads I get stuck in the believability of the future technology the author tries to create, with The Infinet the evolution made sense. It was thought out and structurally sound and I am so thankful for that.
Then it reaches into this morally grey zone and starts asking what all this tech means for man kind. What does it mean to continue on the path we have created for ourselves and at what point is it all too much. I was left wondering if there was any “good guys” in this story. I was asking myself so many uncomfortable questions about my own relationship with the technical advances I use everyday without thinking about how connected I am.
You can tell that this book is a large accumulation of knowledge but is played out in a way that is extremely engaging (maybe because I live part of my life in the world of this book). There were only a few parts where it felt like a large info dump that could have been developed more cohesively to keep the plot moving.
There is also the sass of some of the characters (AI and human) that I fell I love with. I am extremely anxious to see where this story goes.
Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhiRm...
I started out this read unsure of what I was getting myself into but was quickly caught up in the story and the vision of technology that Akers creates. With some science forward reads I get stuck in the believability of the future technology the author tries to create, with The Infinet the evolution made sense. It was thought out and structurally sound and I am so thankful for that.
Then it reaches into this morally grey zone and starts asking what all this tech means for man kind. What does it mean to continue on the path we have created for ourselves and at what point is it all too much. I was left wondering if there was any “good guys” in this story. I was asking myself so many uncomfortable questions about my own relationship with the technical advances I use everyday without thinking about how connected I am.
You can tell that this book is a large accumulation of knowledge but is played out in a way that is extremely engaging (maybe because I live part of my life in the world of this book). There were only a few parts where it felt like a large info dump that could have been developed more cohesively to keep the plot moving.
There is also the sass of some of the characters (AI and human) that I fell I love with. I am extremely anxious to see where this story goes.
February 14, 2018
The Infinet had a premise that intrigued me but the book started off very slowly. The heavy use of technical details and jargon really slowed the momentum. My review can be found here ---> https://wp.me/p5t5Tf-1oL
December 9, 2017
Quite good first novel
Read with interest. A bit too long in historical discussion at the near end of the book, but still finished and look forward to sequel.
Read with interest. A bit too long in historical discussion at the near end of the book, but still finished and look forward to sequel.
June 10, 2018
The Infinet by John Akers is a thought-provoking tale about technology and how it impacts our lives. If you're into sci-fi with a heavy dose of technical details and jargon, this is one that you won't want to miss!
To think about technology going rogue... that is incredibly eerie! And that is exactly what this book was about.
I loved that the book begins with a very interesting project that the main character has been working on. I was hooked into this immediately and couldn't wait to learn more. Then suddenly, we are introduced to a new idea from a second character that was also incredibly interesting. However, before we learn more there, the story totally threw me for a loop when the focus switched again! This makes it sound a little choppy, but I assure you, it all flowed so well together! I loved being caught so off guard; it really kept things interesting!
I really enjoyed that the main storyline was broken up by police reports and news articles the helped to show how the situation had gotten more and more intense. There were a few sections that could be seen as a little info-dumpy, but I personally think that the way the author incorporated the educational lessons into the story was very well done! It was conversational and interesting!
And you all know how much of a sucker I am for chapters that end with a sentence that keep you hooked, making it impossible to stop reading. This book had many of those. For example this last sentence of a chapter: "As Pax looked up, the blackness above suddenly soared away from them, and what it revealed took his breath away."
The author also packed so many very difficult and controversial topics into the narrative in a way that flowed so well. And WOW! What a wonderfully timely book. I found myself shaking my head and agreeing with many things that the characters were saying.
A lot of the jargon was a bit above my head, so of course I can't say how realistic the things included were, but that's why I love sci-fi so much! The author wrote this book in such a way that made everything so believable to me, especially with my tendency to be a bit skeptical.
There were so many things discussed that seemed so clever to me, such as the name of Pax's project, Simon. This technology was originally called "Psy Man" because it was centered on psychic powers. The name "Simon" came around in a joking reference to the game Simon, which focuses on pattern matching. I though this was very clever, especially after reading about the trials they went through to get this tech up and running.
Then there were the characters. They were all so much fun! I was most intrigued by the AI characters, but I loved the humans as well. I really enjoyed how snarky and quick Gabe, the AI, was. I mean, these sections had me cracking up:
"Well, this wasn't here when I left yesterday, so how did it get here?"
"Based on the available data, I'm pretty sure I have no idea," Gabe snarked.
"Mr. Pax, you're about to..."
"Whoa!" Pax cried out, as he caught himself leaning so far forward on the edge of the bed he almost fell onto the floor. He sat back and said, "Thanks, Gabe - got a little carried away there."
"Don't thank me, it was self-preservation. I was afraid you were going to fall on your face and break me."
My favorite passages:
The dust turned into sparkles which drifted down like the aftermath of a fireworks explosion before disappearing.
"...He often spoke of the importance of asking questions, and how they create a natural tension in the mind that persists until they are resolved. He used to say, "Humans are natural-born problem solvers, and when we are confronted with a compelling question, it attracts the information we need just like a moth to a flame. Our unconscious minds are always at work trying to answer them, silently sifting through data, like a background process in a computer program, until the answer is found."
Pax looked down at the slowly darkening cityscape. Without the normal noise of a helicopter, Pax felt if he were in a glass bottomed boat observing marine life in the water below. The headlights from an endless daisy-chain of cars on the freeway sparkled like a diamond necklace that had fallen to the bottom of a mysterious grotto.
Pax stared at Angelo, trying to see if he was pulling his leg. Angelo's face, however, was as stoic as a Roman statue's.
I still hold out hope that some day people will come to understand we're all passengers on the same boat, seeking answers to the same questions.
My final thoughts:
A must read for any sci-fi/technology thriller fan. While some of the terminology was way over my head, this book still absolutely captivated me. I couldn't wait to see what happened next!
To think about technology going rogue... that is incredibly eerie! And that is exactly what this book was about.
I loved that the book begins with a very interesting project that the main character has been working on. I was hooked into this immediately and couldn't wait to learn more. Then suddenly, we are introduced to a new idea from a second character that was also incredibly interesting. However, before we learn more there, the story totally threw me for a loop when the focus switched again! This makes it sound a little choppy, but I assure you, it all flowed so well together! I loved being caught so off guard; it really kept things interesting!
I really enjoyed that the main storyline was broken up by police reports and news articles the helped to show how the situation had gotten more and more intense. There were a few sections that could be seen as a little info-dumpy, but I personally think that the way the author incorporated the educational lessons into the story was very well done! It was conversational and interesting!
And you all know how much of a sucker I am for chapters that end with a sentence that keep you hooked, making it impossible to stop reading. This book had many of those. For example this last sentence of a chapter: "As Pax looked up, the blackness above suddenly soared away from them, and what it revealed took his breath away."
The author also packed so many very difficult and controversial topics into the narrative in a way that flowed so well. And WOW! What a wonderfully timely book. I found myself shaking my head and agreeing with many things that the characters were saying.
A lot of the jargon was a bit above my head, so of course I can't say how realistic the things included were, but that's why I love sci-fi so much! The author wrote this book in such a way that made everything so believable to me, especially with my tendency to be a bit skeptical.
There were so many things discussed that seemed so clever to me, such as the name of Pax's project, Simon. This technology was originally called "Psy Man" because it was centered on psychic powers. The name "Simon" came around in a joking reference to the game Simon, which focuses on pattern matching. I though this was very clever, especially after reading about the trials they went through to get this tech up and running.
Then there were the characters. They were all so much fun! I was most intrigued by the AI characters, but I loved the humans as well. I really enjoyed how snarky and quick Gabe, the AI, was. I mean, these sections had me cracking up:
"Well, this wasn't here when I left yesterday, so how did it get here?"
"Based on the available data, I'm pretty sure I have no idea," Gabe snarked.
"Mr. Pax, you're about to..."
"Whoa!" Pax cried out, as he caught himself leaning so far forward on the edge of the bed he almost fell onto the floor. He sat back and said, "Thanks, Gabe - got a little carried away there."
"Don't thank me, it was self-preservation. I was afraid you were going to fall on your face and break me."
My favorite passages:
The dust turned into sparkles which drifted down like the aftermath of a fireworks explosion before disappearing.
"...He often spoke of the importance of asking questions, and how they create a natural tension in the mind that persists until they are resolved. He used to say, "Humans are natural-born problem solvers, and when we are confronted with a compelling question, it attracts the information we need just like a moth to a flame. Our unconscious minds are always at work trying to answer them, silently sifting through data, like a background process in a computer program, until the answer is found."
Pax looked down at the slowly darkening cityscape. Without the normal noise of a helicopter, Pax felt if he were in a glass bottomed boat observing marine life in the water below. The headlights from an endless daisy-chain of cars on the freeway sparkled like a diamond necklace that had fallen to the bottom of a mysterious grotto.
Pax stared at Angelo, trying to see if he was pulling his leg. Angelo's face, however, was as stoic as a Roman statue's.
I still hold out hope that some day people will come to understand we're all passengers on the same boat, seeking answers to the same questions.
My final thoughts:
A must read for any sci-fi/technology thriller fan. While some of the terminology was way over my head, this book still absolutely captivated me. I couldn't wait to see what happened next!
February 8, 2021
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A mad genius tries to eradicate mankind by taking out the Internet of Things. A group of other geniuses try to stop him.
A mad genius tries to eradicate mankind by taking out the Internet of Things. A group of other geniuses try to stop him.
November 17, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from Reading Deals in return for an honest review.
The Infinet deftly weaves themes of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and the internet-of-things in an intriguing thriller that asks important philosophical questions about humanity’s stewardship of the planet. With so many brilliant and inventive geniuses playing important roles in the story, it would be easy to get overwhelmed in the technology, but author Akers manages to write interesting, real characters with heart and flaws. There’s still plenty of room for action and intrigue in this novel, without abandoning the intelligent underlying themes.
This was a very good first novel and I look forward to the next in Akers’ Trivial Games series.
The Infinet deftly weaves themes of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and the internet-of-things in an intriguing thriller that asks important philosophical questions about humanity’s stewardship of the planet. With so many brilliant and inventive geniuses playing important roles in the story, it would be easy to get overwhelmed in the technology, but author Akers manages to write interesting, real characters with heart and flaws. There’s still plenty of room for action and intrigue in this novel, without abandoning the intelligent underlying themes.
This was a very good first novel and I look forward to the next in Akers’ Trivial Games series.
July 3, 2020
A very entertaining book! Well worth the read.
October 21, 2017
A terrifyingly aggressive computer virus faces off against a quantum computer in this unforgettable debut novel from John Akers. Oreste Pax is one of the foremost pioneers of technology. His Univiz has changed the world with its capability to switch between Virtual Reality and a real world that features self-driving cars and computer controlled households in every home. Pax is on the verge of the next breakthrough: a means to interact with the Univiz using only thought. Again, he’s going to revolutionise life, but thought-controlled technology seems trivial after Oreste joins his long-time friend and rival, Cevis, for dinner. After years of methodical testing and gene mapping, Cevis has invented a medical treatment with extraordinary repercussions for humanity. And Cevis wants Pax to join him in undertaking this treatment. With his life on such a high note, it’s a cruel joke that a drone and a small army of miniature robots kidnap Pax from his home that same evening.
John Akers’ debut novel, The Infinet, is a highly compelling novel that avoids the clichés while presenting arguments that are both intelligent and immediately plausible. This book makes you wish you knew the author so you could discuss it with them in depth. The setting is advanced enough to feel futuristic while still conveying a sense of realism through the current day roots of the technology it contains. There were occasions where the dialogue and exposition were so technical that I had trouble following it, but these paragraphs were brief and did not impact my ability to follow the plot. The Infinet is not a fast-paced novel but Aker’s excellent tension control ensures the novel is gripping from start to finish.
(Reviewed for Reader's Favorite)
John Akers’ debut novel, The Infinet, is a highly compelling novel that avoids the clichés while presenting arguments that are both intelligent and immediately plausible. This book makes you wish you knew the author so you could discuss it with them in depth. The setting is advanced enough to feel futuristic while still conveying a sense of realism through the current day roots of the technology it contains. There were occasions where the dialogue and exposition were so technical that I had trouble following it, but these paragraphs were brief and did not impact my ability to follow the plot. The Infinet is not a fast-paced novel but Aker’s excellent tension control ensures the novel is gripping from start to finish.
(Reviewed for Reader's Favorite)
February 21, 2018
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
After reading plenty of sub-par first novels from aspiring authors, The Infinet was a breath of fresh air. I was also pleasantly surprised that this book was written during a National Novel Writing Month, thus proving how useful the NaNoWriMo challenge is for people to get their stories out there. In the five years between the writing and publishing of this book, it looks like a lot of care went into polishing it into the entertaining and brilliant book that exists today.
There are plenty of things that The Infinet gets right when it comes to speculative science fiction. First, it doesn’t dwell on the details of the “hard science,” but it does mention the concepts in passing. As far as I can tell, the ideas presented here are accurate, which is key for this genre. Secondly, so many authors put their personal biases into their narratives, which can sour the experience for anyone who doesn’t agree with them. John Akers does a fantastic job of being mostly neutral on hot-button topics by presenting both sides of the arguments in an evenhanded and non-confrontational style.
And while I loved a lot of the little references and clever wordings (like the eponymous Infinet), the book still has a few flaws. The “history lesson” was perhaps a little bloated, some of the logic decisions of the kidnappers seemed odd, and the action near the end was initially confusing despite being explained afterward. Despite these things, the characters were well-rounded and realistic, if not an outright joy to follow along as the plot weaved around them. The fact that there was little to no “fluff” in the interconnecting pieces of the plot (another strength) was just the icing on the cake.
A prime example of how to do speculative hard sci-fi correctly, I give The Infinet 4.0 stars out of 5.
For more reviews of books and movies like this, please visit www.benjamin-m-weilert.com
After reading plenty of sub-par first novels from aspiring authors, The Infinet was a breath of fresh air. I was also pleasantly surprised that this book was written during a National Novel Writing Month, thus proving how useful the NaNoWriMo challenge is for people to get their stories out there. In the five years between the writing and publishing of this book, it looks like a lot of care went into polishing it into the entertaining and brilliant book that exists today.
There are plenty of things that The Infinet gets right when it comes to speculative science fiction. First, it doesn’t dwell on the details of the “hard science,” but it does mention the concepts in passing. As far as I can tell, the ideas presented here are accurate, which is key for this genre. Secondly, so many authors put their personal biases into their narratives, which can sour the experience for anyone who doesn’t agree with them. John Akers does a fantastic job of being mostly neutral on hot-button topics by presenting both sides of the arguments in an evenhanded and non-confrontational style.
And while I loved a lot of the little references and clever wordings (like the eponymous Infinet), the book still has a few flaws. The “history lesson” was perhaps a little bloated, some of the logic decisions of the kidnappers seemed odd, and the action near the end was initially confusing despite being explained afterward. Despite these things, the characters were well-rounded and realistic, if not an outright joy to follow along as the plot weaved around them. The fact that there was little to no “fluff” in the interconnecting pieces of the plot (another strength) was just the icing on the cake.
A prime example of how to do speculative hard sci-fi correctly, I give The Infinet 4.0 stars out of 5.
For more reviews of books and movies like this, please visit www.benjamin-m-weilert.com
November 14, 2019
awesome-eventually. interesting, drags in spots, worth it. increasing in depth n weight as it goes, with intriguing surprises. a convincing look at an old truth. pretty brilliant. pretty heavy toward the end, to the point of awesome. observation+logical progression is one of my favorite recipes. excellent example of why to read sci-fi
March 13, 2018
I was hooked on the story from the beginning. I loved the character development of Pax and Cevis. I especially liked how relatable everything was to our current world. If you are inretested in seeing how technology can consume a society you will enjoy the book.
That being said, my biggest frustration was the last third of the book...actually the last half. The entire last bit of the book drug on and on. I was so frustrated with the end because the beginning was so intriguing. It's almost as if the book lost traction halfway through and came to a dead stop.
I would rate this 3.5-4 stars because I was really craving more from the book. Overall, it was very interesting and makes you think about societies reliance on technology. If you are interested in technology or networking this would be a great read.
That being said, my biggest frustration was the last third of the book...actually the last half. The entire last bit of the book drug on and on. I was so frustrated with the end because the beginning was so intriguing. It's almost as if the book lost traction halfway through and came to a dead stop.
I would rate this 3.5-4 stars because I was really craving more from the book. Overall, it was very interesting and makes you think about societies reliance on technology. If you are interested in technology or networking this would be a great read.
April 14, 2020
An Interesting Take on a Technothriller
The Infinet is one of those books that was exactly what I was hoping for. John Akers writes a story about the near future where certain things that we take for granted now are just common place. Where you wear a “Univiz” every day (a combination of augmented and VR glasses) and pretty much every piece of history and knowledge is at your fingertips.
The first part of the book gives us an introduction to the main characters and the technologies that are involved in the story, along with intermixed flashbacks (slightly hard to figure out when these were happening) and some news stories about people being attacked/bothered by their technology. The scenes in which people were being bothered by their tech reminded me of an amazing scene from Mr. Robot where they harass someone by taking over all of their IoT (internet of things) connected devices to scare someone.
The story then takes an abrupt change into a completely different story – if it had two different people it would have been a completely different story. But it involved Pax – so it makes sense here. But man, it was like “here are these people, here are their lives, and then BAM now it’s completely different”. It just sort of threw me off and I spent a good amount of time trying to figure out what was going on (I believe this was disorienting and done on purpose by Akers so that the reader felt as confused as Pax did).
The final sprint of the book was completely unexpected and definitely kept my attention. The final 10% or so I just couldn’t put it down. I had to finish it to figure out what was going to happen. Thankfully, it had an “ending” but was also left pretty open since there are going to be at least two more books. I enjoyed The Infinet enough that I definitely want to know where the story goes and now that I know about the main characters and the main quantum computer – I believe that the next book won’t throw me for such a loop (or it will but that’ll be because Akers does it on purpose).
I thought that David A. Conatser did a pretty nice job with The Infinet. There were a few times that I thought he went a little overboard with some of the dramatic elements, but other times it added to the story. He definitely took a story that could have been confusing and made it a breeze to listen to.
Overall, The Infinet was an enjoyable Technothriller. It’s a book for fans of Eliot Peper and William Hertling.
The Infinet is one of those books that was exactly what I was hoping for. John Akers writes a story about the near future where certain things that we take for granted now are just common place. Where you wear a “Univiz” every day (a combination of augmented and VR glasses) and pretty much every piece of history and knowledge is at your fingertips.
The first part of the book gives us an introduction to the main characters and the technologies that are involved in the story, along with intermixed flashbacks (slightly hard to figure out when these were happening) and some news stories about people being attacked/bothered by their technology. The scenes in which people were being bothered by their tech reminded me of an amazing scene from Mr. Robot where they harass someone by taking over all of their IoT (internet of things) connected devices to scare someone.
The story then takes an abrupt change into a completely different story – if it had two different people it would have been a completely different story. But it involved Pax – so it makes sense here. But man, it was like “here are these people, here are their lives, and then BAM now it’s completely different”. It just sort of threw me off and I spent a good amount of time trying to figure out what was going on (I believe this was disorienting and done on purpose by Akers so that the reader felt as confused as Pax did).
The final sprint of the book was completely unexpected and definitely kept my attention. The final 10% or so I just couldn’t put it down. I had to finish it to figure out what was going to happen. Thankfully, it had an “ending” but was also left pretty open since there are going to be at least two more books. I enjoyed The Infinet enough that I definitely want to know where the story goes and now that I know about the main characters and the main quantum computer – I believe that the next book won’t throw me for such a loop (or it will but that’ll be because Akers does it on purpose).
I thought that David A. Conatser did a pretty nice job with The Infinet. There were a few times that I thought he went a little overboard with some of the dramatic elements, but other times it added to the story. He definitely took a story that could have been confusing and made it a breeze to listen to.
Overall, The Infinet was an enjoyable Technothriller. It’s a book for fans of Eliot Peper and William Hertling.
September 25, 2018
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The Infinet
Author: John Akers
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 22
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 7/10
Of the 22 readers:
22 would read another book by this author.
13 thought the cover was good or excellent.
21 felt it was easy to follow.
22 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
12 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
21 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
22 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘Loved this book. The cover didn’t grab me but the story did. Scary to think thinks like this could always happen.’ Male reader, aged 32
‘An exciting thriller which looks at how technology can be a weapon in the wrong hands. Sound familiar?! Cleverly written and populated with well-rounded characters, any thriller fan or even sci-fi nerd will find this entertaining.’ Female reader, aged 55
‘The technology aspect is well-researched and interesting. Techno-fans will like this. If you prefer a thriller with less jargon, this might not be for you. However, not only is it looking at the near future and how technology can negatively hurt us, it is also cleverly plotted; even the characters are intriguing.’ Male reader, aged 61
‘I’d happily read the next book.’ Female reader, aged 29
‘The degree at which the internet now controls every aspect of life is scary. This is also pretty scary, which is why I liked it.’ Male reader, aged 28
To Sum It Up:
‘A thought-provoking and gripping techno-thriller. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: The Infinet
Author: John Akers
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 22
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 7/10
Of the 22 readers:
22 would read another book by this author.
13 thought the cover was good or excellent.
21 felt it was easy to follow.
22 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
12 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
21 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
22 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘Loved this book. The cover didn’t grab me but the story did. Scary to think thinks like this could always happen.’ Male reader, aged 32
‘An exciting thriller which looks at how technology can be a weapon in the wrong hands. Sound familiar?! Cleverly written and populated with well-rounded characters, any thriller fan or even sci-fi nerd will find this entertaining.’ Female reader, aged 55
‘The technology aspect is well-researched and interesting. Techno-fans will like this. If you prefer a thriller with less jargon, this might not be for you. However, not only is it looking at the near future and how technology can negatively hurt us, it is also cleverly plotted; even the characters are intriguing.’ Male reader, aged 61
‘I’d happily read the next book.’ Female reader, aged 29
‘The degree at which the internet now controls every aspect of life is scary. This is also pretty scary, which is why I liked it.’ Male reader, aged 28
To Sum It Up:
‘A thought-provoking and gripping techno-thriller. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
April 16, 2019
Russell Murphy (Omnitech Industries Marketing & Sales executive VP) made an urgent call to Oreste Pax (Omnitech I CEO/founder, UCSD).
Oreste had Emma Kirkland (PA) cancel his appointment with Angela Martinez & Jeff Richards.
Ludibrium (sub).
Why was Oreste kidnapped & taken aboard by Angelo & Elena?
Jean Prudhomme (CortiTrac founder/chief neurosurgeon) had called Emma & told her Oreste could not be reached.
Qathi Nguyen (f, Omnitech I chief software architect), & Denise didn’t know where he was either.
Darlene called Cevis Pierson (Oreste’s BMF, geneticist/biotech, UCSD poly-mathematician).
What were Alethia & Oreste discussing?
What worldwide damage will the Chaotica computer virus do?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written international bio-tech thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a large set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great international bio-tech thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. It wasn’t as exciting as I hoped so I will only rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; BookBoast; Tech Noir Press; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Oreste had Emma Kirkland (PA) cancel his appointment with Angela Martinez & Jeff Richards.
Ludibrium (sub).
Why was Oreste kidnapped & taken aboard by Angelo & Elena?
Jean Prudhomme (CortiTrac founder/chief neurosurgeon) had called Emma & told her Oreste could not be reached.
Qathi Nguyen (f, Omnitech I chief software architect), & Denise didn’t know where he was either.
Darlene called Cevis Pierson (Oreste’s BMF, geneticist/biotech, UCSD poly-mathematician).
What were Alethia & Oreste discussing?
What worldwide damage will the Chaotica computer virus do?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written international bio-tech thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a large set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great international bio-tech thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. It wasn’t as exciting as I hoped so I will only rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; BookBoast; Tech Noir Press; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
May 29, 2018
This is a very well-written examination of the role of technology in human life, and examines how vulnerable this projected dependence will continue to make us.
The novel centers around Oreste Pax - a top tech figure some years in the future. He has a rather conflicted relationship with a college study-mate, and this is largely what drives him. When Pax is abducted, he must confront some truths about his work and about this relationship.
This is, quite obviously, the first novel in a series. This means that, while there is a resolution, it is by no means complete.
The story moves along at a very good pace - it's exciting. The author excels at world-building: the technology, while far ahead of what we have now, is very much within the realm of conception, based on rumoured (and actual) developments. I think the author has done an excellent job of bringing that future to life, and in demonstrating how seamless its use is.
Even though I'm not much for tech, I found this to be a riveting tale, and I look forward to reading the next installment.
I received a free copy through Voracious Readers Only.
The novel centers around Oreste Pax - a top tech figure some years in the future. He has a rather conflicted relationship with a college study-mate, and this is largely what drives him. When Pax is abducted, he must confront some truths about his work and about this relationship.
This is, quite obviously, the first novel in a series. This means that, while there is a resolution, it is by no means complete.
The story moves along at a very good pace - it's exciting. The author excels at world-building: the technology, while far ahead of what we have now, is very much within the realm of conception, based on rumoured (and actual) developments. I think the author has done an excellent job of bringing that future to life, and in demonstrating how seamless its use is.
Even though I'm not much for tech, I found this to be a riveting tale, and I look forward to reading the next installment.
I received a free copy through Voracious Readers Only.
July 26, 2020
I was never really pulled into this novel of computer geeks geeking out new inventions until one set of geeks decides humanity will destroy itself unless every human thought and action is viewed and manipulated by a quantum computer that dwarfs the capabilities of all other computers combined.
Although I don't doubt that humans may destroy themselves, giving computers absolute control over our perceptions and responses is so susceptible to errors and power grabs that a thinking person would never take the idea seriously.
The novel is further marred by weakly developed, stereotyped characters including femme fatale and an evil genius lurking behind everything.
My final complaint is the huge sidetracks the author takes to discuss religion and the history of mankind. The history of mankind chapter was exceptionally irritating. It went on for pages and pages and pages, listing all the steps and inventions that have brought us to where we are now. Not only was this list excessively long, but also several times it listed the inventions out of chronological order, and it listed some inventions more than once.
I will not be reading the sequels.
Although I don't doubt that humans may destroy themselves, giving computers absolute control over our perceptions and responses is so susceptible to errors and power grabs that a thinking person would never take the idea seriously.
The novel is further marred by weakly developed, stereotyped characters including femme fatale and an evil genius lurking behind everything.
My final complaint is the huge sidetracks the author takes to discuss religion and the history of mankind. The history of mankind chapter was exceptionally irritating. It went on for pages and pages and pages, listing all the steps and inventions that have brought us to where we are now. Not only was this list excessively long, but also several times it listed the inventions out of chronological order, and it listed some inventions more than once.
I will not be reading the sequels.
June 8, 2018
A gripping story from a new author
No spoilers: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this first novel from John Akers, and I am looking forward to the next installment of the series. The plot was gripping, and it never really slowed down. I thought the climax was maybe a little too Hollywood special-effect-y, but it did fit in with the rest if the story so I'm giving it a pass. And maybe the epilogue was a little cartoon-villain-y. Despite those and a few other minor flaws, the entirety of the story makes this a 5 star book to me. Things you won't find in this book include superfluous gratuitous sex; there is one, fairly PG scene; a lot of blood and guts; or, a lot of swearing. It would be safe for a young teen to read if your young teen reads science fiction, though it is not a YA novel by any stretch. I'm not usually interested in near future tech science fiction, but this was a good story and I'm glad I received this book as part of a giveaway. I will definitely buy the next book Akers writes, I think he has a decent future ahead as an author.
No spoilers: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this first novel from John Akers, and I am looking forward to the next installment of the series. The plot was gripping, and it never really slowed down. I thought the climax was maybe a little too Hollywood special-effect-y, but it did fit in with the rest if the story so I'm giving it a pass. And maybe the epilogue was a little cartoon-villain-y. Despite those and a few other minor flaws, the entirety of the story makes this a 5 star book to me. Things you won't find in this book include superfluous gratuitous sex; there is one, fairly PG scene; a lot of blood and guts; or, a lot of swearing. It would be safe for a young teen to read if your young teen reads science fiction, though it is not a YA novel by any stretch. I'm not usually interested in near future tech science fiction, but this was a good story and I'm glad I received this book as part of a giveaway. I will definitely buy the next book Akers writes, I think he has a decent future ahead as an author.
May 1, 2024
Initially a VERY SLOW Moving Story, but Later Gets Good
Oh, it was so tempting to STOP reading ‘The Infinet’ — just chuck the time I’d put into it, and move onto something better. At least the first 1/3 of the Book is NOT VERY GOOD AT ALL! The BackGround material that The Author feels The Reader has to know, is a bunch of malarky and boring, boring, BORING!!!
But, I recommend The Reader hang in there, as the story and writing gets significantly more interesting after the 1/3-mark. (Whew!) [Well, it may have gotten better, but I’ll admit there are still long, dry spots that will cause The Reader’s mind to regret the plot-line … but, again, hang in there!]
This is Part #1 of 2 of a mostly good SciFi story of computers taking over the world … well, OK, not quite that drastic, but you’ll see what I mean as you read this tale. I’m planning to read Book #2, but will probably only finish it if The Author’s “better” writing skills extend into it — if things are as boring as the beginning of Book #1, I’m likely to quickly quit. We’ll see …
Oh, it was so tempting to STOP reading ‘The Infinet’ — just chuck the time I’d put into it, and move onto something better. At least the first 1/3 of the Book is NOT VERY GOOD AT ALL! The BackGround material that The Author feels The Reader has to know, is a bunch of malarky and boring, boring, BORING!!!
But, I recommend The Reader hang in there, as the story and writing gets significantly more interesting after the 1/3-mark. (Whew!) [Well, it may have gotten better, but I’ll admit there are still long, dry spots that will cause The Reader’s mind to regret the plot-line … but, again, hang in there!]
This is Part #1 of 2 of a mostly good SciFi story of computers taking over the world … well, OK, not quite that drastic, but you’ll see what I mean as you read this tale. I’m planning to read Book #2, but will probably only finish it if The Author’s “better” writing skills extend into it — if things are as boring as the beginning of Book #1, I’m likely to quickly quit. We’ll see …
March 16, 2018
Great start
I got a digital copy of The Infinet through a Goodreads giveaway.
The book is chock full of advanced technology and loose ends but rather than being a turn-off it kept me turning pages. I almost want to reread it and see if I missed any details. The general premise is that the world is ravaged by a computer virus that is using connected devices to kill consumers and a tech CEO is kidnapped in order to convince him to help stop the virus. It may be my aversion to AI and overly integrated technology, but I have a hard time determining who the real bad guy is here. There’s something fishy about the secret society, the AI, and the creator separately. Things just don’t add up and I want Pax to be more suspicious. It’s like watching a horror movie-Don’t go in the basement! Still, I’m deeply intrigued by where the story is headed and would definitely read the next installment.
I got a digital copy of The Infinet through a Goodreads giveaway.
The book is chock full of advanced technology and loose ends but rather than being a turn-off it kept me turning pages. I almost want to reread it and see if I missed any details. The general premise is that the world is ravaged by a computer virus that is using connected devices to kill consumers and a tech CEO is kidnapped in order to convince him to help stop the virus. It may be my aversion to AI and overly integrated technology, but I have a hard time determining who the real bad guy is here. There’s something fishy about the secret society, the AI, and the creator separately. Things just don’t add up and I want Pax to be more suspicious. It’s like watching a horror movie-Don’t go in the basement! Still, I’m deeply intrigued by where the story is headed and would definitely read the next installment.
July 15, 2019
A very intriguing read, and also a scary one. There are several story arcs interwoven nicely, although one of them does make you scratch your head at the beginning. There is a lot of interesting interplay between characters. The book gives you some very fascinating looks into the psyches and motivations of the characters. The book also raises some questions about technology, privacy, and the well being of society. In my opinion the book also raises the age old questions can god people perform evil deeds, and can evil folks perform good deeds. The book also explores the issue of whether people can be manipulated without their knowledge. I only gave the book four stars because of a lot of knowledge that is included in the later chapters that slows the pace of the story. The ending of this book will definitely make you stop and think. The thought of living in a society as suggested in this books scares me to no end.
March 17, 2024
Technology ahead of its Time
Oreste Pax is CEO and Founder of Univiz, one of the world's hottest technology products. Univiz has replaced cell phones, laptops, desktop computers and much more. But right now, Pax is being hounded because, for the first time ever, Univiz has gone through three straight quarters without a positive profit.
John Akers, the author, has created a brilliant novel combining all of the gasps, groans and gurgles of a great thriller; enough quantum physics and strange mathematics for any nerd and chock full of near future scenarios for all die hard science fiction fans, all neatly tied up in one addictive book.
Being a fan of all three previously mentioned genres, I could not put this book down. I've only hinted at the complexity of the storyline, I guarantee you will be left breathless at the termination of the book. Best Sci-fi I've read this year yet.
Oreste Pax is CEO and Founder of Univiz, one of the world's hottest technology products. Univiz has replaced cell phones, laptops, desktop computers and much more. But right now, Pax is being hounded because, for the first time ever, Univiz has gone through three straight quarters without a positive profit.
John Akers, the author, has created a brilliant novel combining all of the gasps, groans and gurgles of a great thriller; enough quantum physics and strange mathematics for any nerd and chock full of near future scenarios for all die hard science fiction fans, all neatly tied up in one addictive book.
Being a fan of all three previously mentioned genres, I could not put this book down. I've only hinted at the complexity of the storyline, I guarantee you will be left breathless at the termination of the book. Best Sci-fi I've read this year yet.
May 27, 2019
This was a GoodReads giveaway of an electronic Kindle book.
I have a bias against e-books, so I started this book many weeks ago, but put it down to enjoy some print books. I read the first third, then put it down. I completed the remaining two thirds last night in one sitting. I need to get over my bias against e-books.
Events in the first third are a bit distance for my recollection. I do recall thinking it was not too bad. I do like some of the concepts and discussion in the last two thirds. I was surprised by the last plot twist, but I don't recall a lot of clues as to where that came from (perhaps because it happened in the leading third of the story). In the end, I did enjoy this book more than I was expecting. I will have to open my mind to the e-book format and put away my biases.
Have a GoodReads.
I have a bias against e-books, so I started this book many weeks ago, but put it down to enjoy some print books. I read the first third, then put it down. I completed the remaining two thirds last night in one sitting. I need to get over my bias against e-books.
Events in the first third are a bit distance for my recollection. I do recall thinking it was not too bad. I do like some of the concepts and discussion in the last two thirds. I was surprised by the last plot twist, but I don't recall a lot of clues as to where that came from (perhaps because it happened in the leading third of the story). In the end, I did enjoy this book more than I was expecting. I will have to open my mind to the e-book format and put away my biases.
Have a GoodReads.
August 22, 2018
I actually found this book rather frustrating. I felt like we spent an inordinate amount of time getting to the point. We had a rather pointless discussion on religious beliefs (it kind of felt like a religion bash) and then a long and drawn out "history of mankind" session. In the end, I found it moved rather slow, I just kept waiting and waiting for them to get to any kind of big reveal... just to wait another chapter and another chapter. Also I thought the wrap up was a little forced, I'm not sure I'd be convinced of any of the stuff the main character was convinced of as quickly and easily as he was. OK, but, but not great, I'm not planning on any sequel(s).
June 7, 2018
This is a nice futuristic tale that makes you have a couple of Walter Mitty moments, especially if you had access to the type of technology described in the book. There are a few moments where you want to call bull in terms of some of the scenarios, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book as I am looking forward to reading how the story continues. I picked this up for free during a Kindle promotion vs. its normal price of 99 cents, and I certainly received more than 9 cents worth of entertainment value out of it.
June 19, 2020
I purchased this audiobook on sale on Chirp. Near future SCIFI with some interesting technology concepts and good pacing. I liked the main character. The book is obviously written with at least one sequel in mind and the ending kind of leaves the reader somewhat unsatisfied. The narrator was ok. The voice he uses for the main character and to fill in the plot is fine. The voice he employs for other characters, especially female characters is horrible. Overall, I think I would have rather read the book than listened to it.
March 25, 2018
Perhaps not so Trivial
As I began reading this my first impression was that it was going to be predictable. That was not nearly as much the case as I had thought. It was quick paced and we'll built with a number of twists, small and large. Well worth the read. I also like that it began as a National Novel Writing Month project as I've engaged in and "won" several of those myself. Good on ya, sir.
As I began reading this my first impression was that it was going to be predictable. That was not nearly as much the case as I had thought. It was quick paced and we'll built with a number of twists, small and large. Well worth the read. I also like that it began as a National Novel Writing Month project as I've engaged in and "won" several of those myself. Good on ya, sir.
April 16, 2019
"I know not what we will be fighting WWIII with, but after we will be back to using sticks and stones as weapons after" Albert Einstein said once. This makes sense once you finish the book.
A very fascinatingly gripping story that grips you from start to finish. A main character that has to deal with his own mortality and morales face to face on more than one occasion. Never a shortage of tech and science fiction in this story. Make sure to pick this one up!
A very fascinatingly gripping story that grips you from start to finish. A main character that has to deal with his own mortality and morales face to face on more than one occasion. Never a shortage of tech and science fiction in this story. Make sure to pick this one up!
January 17, 2020
Anne Kinslow.
Technology of the future. Where to from here?
I enjoyed reading this well written novel of a futuristic tale involving the Internet, Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality. I often wonder where it will take us and hopefully unlike this story, we don’t end up destroying our humanity. It was a very interesting and believable look to the future of mankind.
A great read which I highly recommend.
Technology of the future. Where to from here?
I enjoyed reading this well written novel of a futuristic tale involving the Internet, Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality. I often wonder where it will take us and hopefully unlike this story, we don’t end up destroying our humanity. It was a very interesting and believable look to the future of mankind.
A great read which I highly recommend.
April 25, 2020
Fascinating bit of science fiction. The story was original and I enjoyed it immensely. The narrator was a little dry, but that sometimes works for sci fi. I would choose another reader for any sequels. I recommend this book highly. I received a free review copy of the audio version of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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