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Networked
They thought it was just a video game, but it’s not. Someone is out there. Watching.
Video game designers Nick and Dan find their half-finished project suddenly replaced with a game that is finished – and brilliant. Soon players everywhere find themselves immersed in an incredible new virtual world. But events in the game become increasingly sinister, taking over the lives of players and blurring the lines with reality.
As Nick's life is thrown into turmoil, he fears for his friend Dan, and his wife Lily, and he finds himself increasingly asking: where has the game come from? Who made it? What is it for? And most importantly … What does it want from them?
Networked contains several chapters depicting a character's journey with depression. Some readers may find this content upsetting.
Video game designers Nick and Dan find their half-finished project suddenly replaced with a game that is finished – and brilliant. Soon players everywhere find themselves immersed in an incredible new virtual world. But events in the game become increasingly sinister, taking over the lives of players and blurring the lines with reality.
As Nick's life is thrown into turmoil, he fears for his friend Dan, and his wife Lily, and he finds himself increasingly asking: where has the game come from? Who made it? What is it for? And most importantly … What does it want from them?
Networked contains several chapters depicting a character's journey with depression. Some readers may find this content upsetting.
312 pages, Paperback
First published August 19, 2014
6 people are currently reading
435 people want to read
About the author
L.K. Chapman
13 books136 followersLK Chapman writes psychological thrillers about relationships, family drama, secrets and lies – from dark and disturbing tales of obsession and jealousy, to twisty thrillers with a dash of romance – her passion is creating characters that get under your skin and stories that keep you gripped.
Chapman’s books are inspired by her studies in psychology, and she has always been fascinated by the strength, peculiarities and extremes of human nature. As well as working as a psychologist, Chapman volunteered for mental health charity Mind before starting her journey as an author. It has been an incredibly exciting journey and she is so grateful for the support of her readers.
When she is not writing, Chapman will usually be found in her garden or getting out and enjoying the outdoors – immersing herself in nature and giving her mind a chance to work on her next story!
You can receive a free copy of my short story Worth Pursuing, as well as news about new releases, by signing up to the LK Chapman reading group: www.lkchapman.com/free-book-offer
You can find out more about LK Chapman by visiting her website.
Chapman’s books are inspired by her studies in psychology, and she has always been fascinated by the strength, peculiarities and extremes of human nature. As well as working as a psychologist, Chapman volunteered for mental health charity Mind before starting her journey as an author. It has been an incredibly exciting journey and she is so grateful for the support of her readers.
When she is not writing, Chapman will usually be found in her garden or getting out and enjoying the outdoors – immersing herself in nature and giving her mind a chance to work on her next story!
You can receive a free copy of my short story Worth Pursuing, as well as news about new releases, by signing up to the LK Chapman reading group: www.lkchapman.com/free-book-offer
You can find out more about LK Chapman by visiting her website.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 12, 2016
I loved Networked!
The story is narrated by a character called Nick, and is based around his work, life, wife and business partner / friend Dan. Dan and Nick creates and develops video games. One night, they lost all their work on their unfinished video games, but quickly retrieved a full complete version of the game perfectly operational, ready to be released. After thinking about it they release the game, which started to affect their lives in many ways. I enjoyed the element of mystery appearing early in the story, with the introduction of Interface. you just want to know what he is going to do to them.
Networked is the type of book where you just want to know what is going to happen next. The story alternates between chapters relating events happening in 2013 and 2007. the struggle that Lilly, Nick's wife, are facing with self harm, are quiet touching. Also the way Nick are trying to deal with it, offers perspectives on how certain people around those affected by mental illness, are coping with patience and Love.
Although this book can not directly be classified as a "spiritual book", the story would definitely appeal to readers who enjoyed this type of books.
I can't wait to read more from Ms Chapman.
The story is narrated by a character called Nick, and is based around his work, life, wife and business partner / friend Dan. Dan and Nick creates and develops video games. One night, they lost all their work on their unfinished video games, but quickly retrieved a full complete version of the game perfectly operational, ready to be released. After thinking about it they release the game, which started to affect their lives in many ways. I enjoyed the element of mystery appearing early in the story, with the introduction of Interface. you just want to know what he is going to do to them.
Networked is the type of book where you just want to know what is going to happen next. The story alternates between chapters relating events happening in 2013 and 2007. the struggle that Lilly, Nick's wife, are facing with self harm, are quiet touching. Also the way Nick are trying to deal with it, offers perspectives on how certain people around those affected by mental illness, are coping with patience and Love.
Although this book can not directly be classified as a "spiritual book", the story would definitely appeal to readers who enjoyed this type of books.
I can't wait to read more from Ms Chapman.
September 9, 2016
I won this book in a Goodreads give-away. From the first page this book takes you gently into a seemingly familiar world that gradually becomes less and less mundane.
The plot is a wonderful journey into "what if", which stands along side some of the best traditional "SF". The story is wonderfully written and held me from page 1, through to the end.
L.K. Chapman has an eminently readable style,and I am looking forward to reading some more of her work.
The plot is a wonderful journey into "what if", which stands along side some of the best traditional "SF". The story is wonderfully written and held me from page 1, through to the end.
L.K. Chapman has an eminently readable style,and I am looking forward to reading some more of her work.
September 30, 2016
Amazing book a treasure to be proud of a very hard topic to write about and it was well thought out and very insightful. This amazing story I would be so delighted to recommend to my friends also my heart felt thanks to the author L.K.Chapman for the exquisite pleasure of reading this wonderful book so to all happy reading from wee me.
September 10, 2016
I quite enjoyed the characterisations, the psychology was vivid and I think Chapman's captured a lot of the reality of self-harm well. I found the network side of the story less appealing; the fact that the guys were computer programmers really didn't hold any water or add anything to the story.
Still, as a debut novel there's a lot of good here, and I'd be interested to see what comes out in the future.
Still, as a debut novel there's a lot of good here, and I'd be interested to see what comes out in the future.
February 14, 2018
An interesting tech thriller although it got slightly kooky at the end after promising a more speculative type of sci-fi from early on. Character back stories were interesting and harrowing in equal measure but as the story went on it was quite clear this was not mere character development and it certainly wasn't filler. In a way, the life experiences of the two main secondary characters were extremely relevant.
It's thoroughly engaging too. You don't need to be familiar with tech thrillers, coding, MMO gaming or anything like that to get it as Chapman effectively explains these concepts in the narrative. I do recommend it; one of the better self-published work I've read in the last few years.
Sadly, she seems to have moved onto more traditional crime fair since this, her (so far) only entry into sci-fi/tech.
It's thoroughly engaging too. You don't need to be familiar with tech thrillers, coding, MMO gaming or anything like that to get it as Chapman effectively explains these concepts in the narrative. I do recommend it; one of the better self-published work I've read in the last few years.
Sadly, she seems to have moved onto more traditional crime fair since this, her (so far) only entry into sci-fi/tech.
October 12, 2015
A page turner that made me re-think a few things in my life.
I was only a quarter of the way in when I wrote this update on Goodreads:
"The depression areas of this book are really hard to take because I knew someone who was very similar to the character in this book. But the story is incredibly gripping. I'm totally hooked."
This book dove right into it. There were only a few chapters in the beginning that I wasn’t sure the direction the book was going to take. But once the action started it didn’t let up. I read this book over two nights (where I should have been sleeping), but I just couldn’t put the book down.
There is some violence, sex, and a lot of (really well researched) depression in the book. The depression is written so well that if you or know someone who has dealt with depression those scenes will be a little rough to read. Don’t get me wrong, I still loved the book, but it was hard to delve back into life with someone who was similar to one of the characters in the book.
Chapman grabs you from the beginning and won’t let go, this book is a great technothriller and a quick read if you can’t put down a page turner. It even had me looking over my shoulder during the two nights that I read it. I was able to figure out a little bit about the main antagonist earlier in the book just by some subtle clues that she gave out about him, but a lot of people will be shocked to discover what the main character discovers in the end.
Speaking of the end, (don’t worry I won’t give any spoilers here), I was a little worried as I got closer and closer to the last page that the book was not going to end the way I had hope. But in the end I was glad that it finished the way it did. This book gave me closure and that says a lot with the way some books are written today.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy video games, coding, design, and anyone who like a good old fashioned page turning thriller.
Check out this and other book reviews at Brian's Book Blog
I received a free copy of this in exchange for my honest review.
I was only a quarter of the way in when I wrote this update on Goodreads:
"The depression areas of this book are really hard to take because I knew someone who was very similar to the character in this book. But the story is incredibly gripping. I'm totally hooked."
This book dove right into it. There were only a few chapters in the beginning that I wasn’t sure the direction the book was going to take. But once the action started it didn’t let up. I read this book over two nights (where I should have been sleeping), but I just couldn’t put the book down.
There is some violence, sex, and a lot of (really well researched) depression in the book. The depression is written so well that if you or know someone who has dealt with depression those scenes will be a little rough to read. Don’t get me wrong, I still loved the book, but it was hard to delve back into life with someone who was similar to one of the characters in the book.
Chapman grabs you from the beginning and won’t let go, this book is a great technothriller and a quick read if you can’t put down a page turner. It even had me looking over my shoulder during the two nights that I read it. I was able to figure out a little bit about the main antagonist earlier in the book just by some subtle clues that she gave out about him, but a lot of people will be shocked to discover what the main character discovers in the end.
Speaking of the end, (don’t worry I won’t give any spoilers here), I was a little worried as I got closer and closer to the last page that the book was not going to end the way I had hope. But in the end I was glad that it finished the way it did. This book gave me closure and that says a lot with the way some books are written today.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy video games, coding, design, and anyone who like a good old fashioned page turning thriller.
Check out this and other book reviews at Brian's Book Blog
I received a free copy of this in exchange for my honest review.
October 7, 2018
Really enjoyed this book. Very cleverly written
September 26, 2014
Networked is a real page turner. Each chapter left me dying to read the next one and the pace of the story is very well balanced. It’s packed with intense scenes but also has intimate moments where the characters’ personalities shine through.
The story covers some pretty diverse topics, including artificial intelligence and violence in video games but also depression, intimate relationships and even questions what it means to be alive.
The three main characters in Networked are normal people trying to deal with a very abnormal situation that seems to keep getting worse and worse, but the differences between the characters show in how they respond to the situation. I enjoyed reading how the relationship between the characters changed throughout the story and I found the ending surprisingly emotional.
There are regular flashbacks to an earlier period when one of the main characters, Lily, was struggling with depression and I particularly liked how these moments were echoed in the present day and also seeing the ways in which Lily has and hasn't changed since then.
Despite being classed as sci-fi it’s not really like most sci-fi that I have read before and I would definitely recommend it to people who wouldn't normally read sci-fi.
The story covers some pretty diverse topics, including artificial intelligence and violence in video games but also depression, intimate relationships and even questions what it means to be alive.
The three main characters in Networked are normal people trying to deal with a very abnormal situation that seems to keep getting worse and worse, but the differences between the characters show in how they respond to the situation. I enjoyed reading how the relationship between the characters changed throughout the story and I found the ending surprisingly emotional.
There are regular flashbacks to an earlier period when one of the main characters, Lily, was struggling with depression and I particularly liked how these moments were echoed in the present day and also seeing the ways in which Lily has and hasn't changed since then.
Despite being classed as sci-fi it’s not really like most sci-fi that I have read before and I would definitely recommend it to people who wouldn't normally read sci-fi.
April 9, 2016
I really like this book. I kept wanting to find out what happened next- so couldn't put it down!
A word of warning - it does contain swearing and "scenes of a sexual nature", also it explores subjects some people may find controversial. That said I would highly recommend this novel.
I am female and over 50.
A word of warning - it does contain swearing and "scenes of a sexual nature", also it explores subjects some people may find controversial. That said I would highly recommend this novel.
I am female and over 50.
September 19, 2016
l received this book for free through Goodreads Firstreads giveaway.
A toss up between two and three stars . . . .two stars won. Why?
l found the story rather far-fetched and not (in my opinion) well told. l wanted to shout at the characters and tell them to stop being silly, pull themselves together and tell the world.
l will not seek out any other books by L K Chapman.
A toss up between two and three stars . . . .two stars won. Why?
l found the story rather far-fetched and not (in my opinion) well told. l wanted to shout at the characters and tell them to stop being silly, pull themselves together and tell the world.
l will not seek out any other books by L K Chapman.
August 25, 2016
Bit of a mixed opinion about this one. A solid sci-fi story with some interesting ideas about mental health and relationships thrown in. The writing frustrated me for some reason though.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews