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System Reset
Earth Has Changed
Warped by an oppressive ruler,
all life segregated to
societies encased within the ‘new state’ of Earth.
Detective Sartore grapples with a rising crime
syndicate in the New State’s Manhattan sector.
Galaxies away, two ex-demolition operatives
are rehired by a galactic corporation to investigate
a small unprotected solar system containing
New earth.
An earth tribe, exiled and forced to terraform
the planet known as mars, develops a weapon
capable of avenging their home planet and
bringing death to its tyrannical alien king.
all is affected
all is connected
nothing is as it seems.
System reset is a white-knuckle, galaxy-spanning dark sci-fi epic from award-winning UK horror author, Joe Clements.
Warped by an oppressive ruler,
all life segregated to
societies encased within the ‘new state’ of Earth.
Detective Sartore grapples with a rising crime
syndicate in the New State’s Manhattan sector.
Galaxies away, two ex-demolition operatives
are rehired by a galactic corporation to investigate
a small unprotected solar system containing
New earth.
An earth tribe, exiled and forced to terraform
the planet known as mars, develops a weapon
capable of avenging their home planet and
bringing death to its tyrannical alien king.
all is affected
all is connected
nothing is as it seems.
System reset is a white-knuckle, galaxy-spanning dark sci-fi epic from award-winning UK horror author, Joe Clements.
133 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 9, 2024
2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 20, 2021
I had a blast reading System Reset. Joe Clements' writing flows beautifully, painting scenes with poetic passages. The universe he has created for this story is vivid and unforgiving, with a deep history this novella merely scratches the surface of.
We follow three story arcs that combine to form a full narrative; a full narrative that requires careful thinking to be fully understood. I think, to an extent, I'm still trying to get my head around it - I may have to come back to this review and make some edits once it hits.
The characters are interesting, their flaws making them real. Each has a history that informs the course of the story, making them feel more like real people than mere characters.
I think this may be another story, though, where my autism has impacted my understanding. To an extent, I don't quite *get* what happened. I will not spoil the details, but the story ends with implications rather than a definitive conclusion, as though there is still more story to come (maybe there is).
At least, that was how it felt to me.
Whilst I liked what happened, where it all led, and how it all came together, I (personally) needed a little bit more at the end to tie things together. To finalise some of the connections I couldn't quite reach. To an extent, I was left confused.
None of this is a negative attack on the book. As aforementioned, I think it is stunningly written and has great concepts throughout. The ending just didn't hit with me (which I, again, believe is a shortcoming of my own understanding). It has left me wanting more, though, if only to help me understand this story better.
I have decided to give System Reset ⭐⭐⭐/5; it was good, well-written and enjoyable. I have simply failed to connect the dots. Give it a read. I think most other people will understand it far more than I did, and therefore feel comfortable giving it a higher rating.
We follow three story arcs that combine to form a full narrative; a full narrative that requires careful thinking to be fully understood. I think, to an extent, I'm still trying to get my head around it - I may have to come back to this review and make some edits once it hits.
The characters are interesting, their flaws making them real. Each has a history that informs the course of the story, making them feel more like real people than mere characters.
I think this may be another story, though, where my autism has impacted my understanding. To an extent, I don't quite *get* what happened. I will not spoil the details, but the story ends with implications rather than a definitive conclusion, as though there is still more story to come (maybe there is).
At least, that was how it felt to me.
Whilst I liked what happened, where it all led, and how it all came together, I (personally) needed a little bit more at the end to tie things together. To finalise some of the connections I couldn't quite reach. To an extent, I was left confused.
None of this is a negative attack on the book. As aforementioned, I think it is stunningly written and has great concepts throughout. The ending just didn't hit with me (which I, again, believe is a shortcoming of my own understanding). It has left me wanting more, though, if only to help me understand this story better.
I have decided to give System Reset ⭐⭐⭐/5; it was good, well-written and enjoyable. I have simply failed to connect the dots. Give it a read. I think most other people will understand it far more than I did, and therefore feel comfortable giving it a higher rating.
February 13, 2021
‘Being scared of the same thing everyday is just exhausting’
.
.
Kindly gifted me a copy of his new book System Reset for a honest review. Here is that review.
Detective Sartore is a Harrison Ford, Blade Runner style cop who is battling with a rising Japanese crime syndicate, that is threatening to swallow him whole.
Two ex-demolition workers are rehired by a mysterious corporation and thrown well and truest into the frying pan.
And lastly we visit a earthly tribe that has been exiled to Mars, who are trying desperately to create a weapon to kill the new alien king of their home planet.
.
.
If that sounds like you’ve just had a sip of your drink at the bar and thought it tasted funny, or eaten a home picked mushroom omelette then don’t worry because Clements’ new book is completely off it’s rocker. I wild ride that spin starts and skips most gears until your screaming, gripping the edge of your seat trying to hyperventilate into your cardigan.
Like a mix of 1984 and Blade Runner, Clements shows off his ability to approach science fiction in the same respect to what Orwell and Dick do, with a heavy slapping of political satire.
.
.
For such a short story (under 100 pages) Clements fits as much as he possibly can. With several adjacent story’s that eventually thread together to create a scrapbook style bigger picture. When you flip the final pages you can imagine Clements sat at home with a wall covered in ideas threaded together with pieces of string, thinking of new ways of mashing peoples heads. Consider it mashed.
.
.
Kindly gifted me a copy of his new book System Reset for a honest review. Here is that review.
Detective Sartore is a Harrison Ford, Blade Runner style cop who is battling with a rising Japanese crime syndicate, that is threatening to swallow him whole.
Two ex-demolition workers are rehired by a mysterious corporation and thrown well and truest into the frying pan.
And lastly we visit a earthly tribe that has been exiled to Mars, who are trying desperately to create a weapon to kill the new alien king of their home planet.
.
.
If that sounds like you’ve just had a sip of your drink at the bar and thought it tasted funny, or eaten a home picked mushroom omelette then don’t worry because Clements’ new book is completely off it’s rocker. I wild ride that spin starts and skips most gears until your screaming, gripping the edge of your seat trying to hyperventilate into your cardigan.
Like a mix of 1984 and Blade Runner, Clements shows off his ability to approach science fiction in the same respect to what Orwell and Dick do, with a heavy slapping of political satire.
.
.
For such a short story (under 100 pages) Clements fits as much as he possibly can. With several adjacent story’s that eventually thread together to create a scrapbook style bigger picture. When you flip the final pages you can imagine Clements sat at home with a wall covered in ideas threaded together with pieces of string, thinking of new ways of mashing peoples heads. Consider it mashed.
October 7, 2020
I am not a fan of SiFi but I fully enjoyed this short epic. Interesting characters and story all rapped up in a bite size book. I fully recommend.
April 14, 2021
I don't usually read fantasy but this was brilliant!
Fantastic descriptions and action which kept me hooked. I shall certainly be reading more from this author in the future.
Fantastic descriptions and action which kept me hooked. I shall certainly be reading more from this author in the future.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews