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Tesla Evolution #2
Decay
AWARDS:
Finalist in Foreword Review's indiefab book of the year (Science Fiction)
Science Fiction Prize Runner up in The SPR Full Moon Awards 2014
Top Ten Best Self Published Books of 2014 - theBookBag
Finalist in the Wishing Shelf Awards for teen readers.
Listed for Ditmar Science Fiction Award
Book Two of the Tesla Evolution.
When friends fail and cities fall, when enemies grow strong taking everything you treasure, what can you do? Strike back. Sebastian and Melanie crusade against the cyborg enemy risking everything against betrayal’s cruel bite.
The steam academy is rebuilt, but the city is not the same. The fortress of science, the last sanctuary from the marauding cyborg army sweeping the land, is being twisted by refugees as they flood to the city for protection.
The world changes, power corrupts and the enemy becomes harder to identify.
Dark deeds are afoot, and friends are not who they appear to be as Sebastian and Melanie embark on an adventure leading them into the very heart of the enemy’s territory where they must face their darkest fears and lose everything important.
Finalist in Foreword Review's indiefab book of the year (Science Fiction)
Science Fiction Prize Runner up in The SPR Full Moon Awards 2014
Top Ten Best Self Published Books of 2014 - theBookBag
Finalist in the Wishing Shelf Awards for teen readers.
Listed for Ditmar Science Fiction Award
Book Two of the Tesla Evolution.
When friends fail and cities fall, when enemies grow strong taking everything you treasure, what can you do? Strike back. Sebastian and Melanie crusade against the cyborg enemy risking everything against betrayal’s cruel bite.
The steam academy is rebuilt, but the city is not the same. The fortress of science, the last sanctuary from the marauding cyborg army sweeping the land, is being twisted by refugees as they flood to the city for protection.
The world changes, power corrupts and the enemy becomes harder to identify.
Dark deeds are afoot, and friends are not who they appear to be as Sebastian and Melanie embark on an adventure leading them into the very heart of the enemy’s territory where they must face their darkest fears and lose everything important.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 10, 2014
1 person is currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 4, 2014
DECAY (Tesla:Book Two) by Mark Lingane
I received a free eBook copy of DECAY from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Sebastian's Tesla powers have increased and he is learning to control them more and more every day.
Melanie discovers that the cancer, which had previously been so extensive that she was given only weeks to live; has now completely disappeared.
She knows that it was the radiation emitted by Sebastian that has cured her cancer, but the doctor informs her that since her body is now normal, she must limit her contact with Sebastian or risk falling ill again; this time with radiation poisoning.
The cyborgs lost the first major battle in the war at the end of book one. Now, they are threatening the Steam Academy and they have a dangerous new weapon whose sole purpose is to hunt down and destroy all the Teslas.
But, it seems like the cyborgs are not the only threat. With thousands of refugees pouring into the city, food shortages and unemployment are rampant. Because of this people are restless and malcontent and are willing to listen to anyone who can give them someone to blame.
With a new "church" rallying hate toward the Teslas, living in the city is proving that it might be more dangerous then fighting the cyborgs.
Will Sebastian and Melanie be able to make people see reason? Or will hatred and prejudice destroy the last human sanctuary? And, what do the cyborgs have to do with it?
Also, someone is feeding information to the enemy. They seem to know every move the humans make. Who is the spy? Is there a leak?
Sometimes, the greatest enemy is the one you least expect.
What I Liked:
Mark Lingane has done it again. With this second book in the Tesla series, he has crafted an intricate tale in a unique world.
The mixture of Steampunk and Science Fiction, along with action and adventure will capture and hold your attention from the first page.
The author also demonstrates that he knows how easy it is to sway scared people into blaming the most convenient target.
If history has shown us anything, it has shown us that people will grasp at any explanation, no matter how improbable, to explain away their circumstances. It also shows us that fear and hatred can spread quickly and infect even the most rational person.
The story never falters and the reader is swept up in Sebastian's world. I found myself cheering him on and even being outraged when he is mistreated. Being able to instill in the reader a genuine sense of concern for the characters in a story is the mark of a truly gifted author, and Mark Lingane has done exactly that.
He has also left the reader with another cliff-hanger. I can't wait to find out what happens next.
POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT:
-Do not read the next few paragraphs if you do not want to take a chance at part of the story being revealed.
On top of the fact that this is a good book, it is also a biting criticism and commentary on present day society.
The cyborgs are born human and then modified to be "better". They are all linked to a central intelligence and they do absolutely nothing without being told to do it by their "tinyIRIS.
The tinyIRIS is linked to their eye and they receive commands through it. They LOL instead of laugh, and they #like the things that the tinyIRIS tells them to like. They make choices based on the calculations of probability trees as analyzed by the central intelligence.
They have names like @Summer14Rose and even though the parents had wanted to name their child @Summer, they were not allowed to because it was already "taken".
When @Summer's tinyIRIS is broken and her connection to the hive severed, she feels completely lost. She has never had to think for herself before. Even though at first she finds it frightening, she soon relishes the freedom that comes with discovering the world through her own eyes.
Also, even though the cyborgs have advanced technology (much of it eerily similar to our own technology) their life spans are very short and most die before the age of 30.
They are at war with the humans because they need the water supply and much of their food comes from "M" which is a restaurant that is located on almost every corner in their city. The food from there is described as tasting good (until you swallow) and lacking in nutritional value. Does this sound familiar? It sounds a lot like McDonalds to me.
There are quite a few other instances where the reader will see parallels between our society and the cyborg society throughout the story.
RATING:
I have to give this book a 4.5 star rating out of 5. Even though this is a sequel, I enjoyed this book even more than the first one.
Extras:
You can view this book review, along with many others on my new blog at amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
I received a free eBook copy of DECAY from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Sebastian's Tesla powers have increased and he is learning to control them more and more every day.
Melanie discovers that the cancer, which had previously been so extensive that she was given only weeks to live; has now completely disappeared.
She knows that it was the radiation emitted by Sebastian that has cured her cancer, but the doctor informs her that since her body is now normal, she must limit her contact with Sebastian or risk falling ill again; this time with radiation poisoning.
The cyborgs lost the first major battle in the war at the end of book one. Now, they are threatening the Steam Academy and they have a dangerous new weapon whose sole purpose is to hunt down and destroy all the Teslas.
But, it seems like the cyborgs are not the only threat. With thousands of refugees pouring into the city, food shortages and unemployment are rampant. Because of this people are restless and malcontent and are willing to listen to anyone who can give them someone to blame.
With a new "church" rallying hate toward the Teslas, living in the city is proving that it might be more dangerous then fighting the cyborgs.
Will Sebastian and Melanie be able to make people see reason? Or will hatred and prejudice destroy the last human sanctuary? And, what do the cyborgs have to do with it?
Also, someone is feeding information to the enemy. They seem to know every move the humans make. Who is the spy? Is there a leak?
Sometimes, the greatest enemy is the one you least expect.
What I Liked:
Mark Lingane has done it again. With this second book in the Tesla series, he has crafted an intricate tale in a unique world.
The mixture of Steampunk and Science Fiction, along with action and adventure will capture and hold your attention from the first page.
The author also demonstrates that he knows how easy it is to sway scared people into blaming the most convenient target.
If history has shown us anything, it has shown us that people will grasp at any explanation, no matter how improbable, to explain away their circumstances. It also shows us that fear and hatred can spread quickly and infect even the most rational person.
The story never falters and the reader is swept up in Sebastian's world. I found myself cheering him on and even being outraged when he is mistreated. Being able to instill in the reader a genuine sense of concern for the characters in a story is the mark of a truly gifted author, and Mark Lingane has done exactly that.
He has also left the reader with another cliff-hanger. I can't wait to find out what happens next.
POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT:
-Do not read the next few paragraphs if you do not want to take a chance at part of the story being revealed.
On top of the fact that this is a good book, it is also a biting criticism and commentary on present day society.
The cyborgs are born human and then modified to be "better". They are all linked to a central intelligence and they do absolutely nothing without being told to do it by their "tinyIRIS.
The tinyIRIS is linked to their eye and they receive commands through it. They LOL instead of laugh, and they #like the things that the tinyIRIS tells them to like. They make choices based on the calculations of probability trees as analyzed by the central intelligence.
They have names like @Summer14Rose and even though the parents had wanted to name their child @Summer, they were not allowed to because it was already "taken".
When @Summer's tinyIRIS is broken and her connection to the hive severed, she feels completely lost. She has never had to think for herself before. Even though at first she finds it frightening, she soon relishes the freedom that comes with discovering the world through her own eyes.
Also, even though the cyborgs have advanced technology (much of it eerily similar to our own technology) their life spans are very short and most die before the age of 30.
They are at war with the humans because they need the water supply and much of their food comes from "M" which is a restaurant that is located on almost every corner in their city. The food from there is described as tasting good (until you swallow) and lacking in nutritional value. Does this sound familiar? It sounds a lot like McDonalds to me.
There are quite a few other instances where the reader will see parallels between our society and the cyborg society throughout the story.
RATING:
I have to give this book a 4.5 star rating out of 5. Even though this is a sequel, I enjoyed this book even more than the first one.
Extras:
You can view this book review, along with many others on my new blog at amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
April 22, 2016
Foreword Reviews:
https://www.forewordreviews.com/revie...
This steampunk thriller series continues with humor, energy, and air-scorching speed.
In Decay, the second book in Mark Lingane’s YA steampunk Tesla Evolution series, the teenage heroes and their mentor, Nikola, are in danger again as their city is attacked by enemies both outside and inside the Steam Academy’s city walls.
Written with verve and wit, packed with action and authorial legerdemain, Decay follows Sebastian and his friends as they try to reclaim their pre-cyborg-war city, the Steam Academy, and their daily lives. Sebastian is still intent on finding his mother; Melanie is enjoying her relationship with boyfriend Gavin, but missing the combat training area; and Isaac is smitten with the daughter of a refugee family. Thousands of strangers from outlying areas have come to the Academy for safety; with them arrive the seeds of an insurrection, led by a woman whose faith clouds her mind. Nikola grows weaker from his near-daily contact with his protégé Sebastian and other male students, who are called teslas for their ability to manipulate physics. The cyborgs continue their war against the humans, and all too soon, Sebastian and his friends are again fighting for their lives and those they love.
Lingane’s prose style is warm, humorous, energetic, and controlled, a tough job to handle when the pacing moves at air-scorching speed. He has mastered the art of moving a story through action without leaving the reader behind, which makes for pacing that doesn’t seem faster than necessary.
The Star Trek: The Next Generation references to the Borg Collective in Lingane’s cyborg culture are enough to make the connection without overdoing it. The cyborg speech rendered with computer symbols is refreshingly free of stilted delivery, a subtle reminder that many of the cyborgs were once completely human.
Minor problems do exist. Once the major action moves outside the city walls, no one seems to stop for food. There are traveling sections where such breaks could have been mentioned. Active run-and-fight scenes wouldn’t include food breaks, of course, but each character carrying a snack stash would fix this easily. If the characters actively fighting are supported by electromagnetic energy, whether via being teslas or otherwise, a clear example of this would be an innovative way to keep the characters’ energy levels up. Hints are left that this could be the case, but more is needed.
On the author’s website, Lingane calls himself a “rock ‘n’ roll writer.” If this description is meant to imply that he takes elements of more than two genres and melds them into a unique world peopled with familiar and interesting characters (as rock music has done with blues, jazz, country, and other musical genres), it’s right on target. Just as a skilled juggler would do with a trio of balls, Lingane keeps the pacing, characterization, and story moving in time with one another, creating well-known patterns with his own personal style.
The Tesla Evolution series began with Tesla, and continues after Decay with Faraday. More books in this series are planned, so those who favor science fantasy but are wary of a full steampunk experience may want to dive into this series now. Decay has a darker, more serious tone than Tesla, but never suffers for it because hope lives in each of the characters. A great read and a writer to watch.
https://www.forewordreviews.com/revie...
This steampunk thriller series continues with humor, energy, and air-scorching speed.
In Decay, the second book in Mark Lingane’s YA steampunk Tesla Evolution series, the teenage heroes and their mentor, Nikola, are in danger again as their city is attacked by enemies both outside and inside the Steam Academy’s city walls.
Written with verve and wit, packed with action and authorial legerdemain, Decay follows Sebastian and his friends as they try to reclaim their pre-cyborg-war city, the Steam Academy, and their daily lives. Sebastian is still intent on finding his mother; Melanie is enjoying her relationship with boyfriend Gavin, but missing the combat training area; and Isaac is smitten with the daughter of a refugee family. Thousands of strangers from outlying areas have come to the Academy for safety; with them arrive the seeds of an insurrection, led by a woman whose faith clouds her mind. Nikola grows weaker from his near-daily contact with his protégé Sebastian and other male students, who are called teslas for their ability to manipulate physics. The cyborgs continue their war against the humans, and all too soon, Sebastian and his friends are again fighting for their lives and those they love.
Lingane’s prose style is warm, humorous, energetic, and controlled, a tough job to handle when the pacing moves at air-scorching speed. He has mastered the art of moving a story through action without leaving the reader behind, which makes for pacing that doesn’t seem faster than necessary.
The Star Trek: The Next Generation references to the Borg Collective in Lingane’s cyborg culture are enough to make the connection without overdoing it. The cyborg speech rendered with computer symbols is refreshingly free of stilted delivery, a subtle reminder that many of the cyborgs were once completely human.
Minor problems do exist. Once the major action moves outside the city walls, no one seems to stop for food. There are traveling sections where such breaks could have been mentioned. Active run-and-fight scenes wouldn’t include food breaks, of course, but each character carrying a snack stash would fix this easily. If the characters actively fighting are supported by electromagnetic energy, whether via being teslas or otherwise, a clear example of this would be an innovative way to keep the characters’ energy levels up. Hints are left that this could be the case, but more is needed.
On the author’s website, Lingane calls himself a “rock ‘n’ roll writer.” If this description is meant to imply that he takes elements of more than two genres and melds them into a unique world peopled with familiar and interesting characters (as rock music has done with blues, jazz, country, and other musical genres), it’s right on target. Just as a skilled juggler would do with a trio of balls, Lingane keeps the pacing, characterization, and story moving in time with one another, creating well-known patterns with his own personal style.
The Tesla Evolution series began with Tesla, and continues after Decay with Faraday. More books in this series are planned, so those who favor science fantasy but are wary of a full steampunk experience may want to dive into this series now. Decay has a darker, more serious tone than Tesla, but never suffers for it because hope lives in each of the characters. A great read and a writer to watch.
April 2, 2015
Sometime in the future civilization has nearly wiped itself out and civilization seems to be restricted to a few towns in outback Australia, where the humans have built a walled city, and are being attacked by a seemingly endless supply of cyborgs. The humans are normal humans, together with a very few teslas. What teslas are we do not really know although they seem to have some magic skill with electricity. While we have cyborgs, lasers, etc, this is apparently steampunk, so we have our two young protagonists, Sebastian and Isaac, who start the book riding their steambikes outside the defensive walls, and they apparently study at the Steam Institute, thus ticking the box, but they never seem to attend. When the book starts, things look bad, and they get progressively worse. This is the second in a trilogy, and I feel there is no problem if you have not read the first, although I suppose I cannot be sure.
The writing is clear, the story moves well, the author certainly has the skill to introduce problems for the young protagonists, and he can write extended action sequences. For me, there was only one problem that lost the fifth star, and that is the plot seems to be designed to generate tension by just making things progressively worse, while our protagonists get out of some holes by what for me were either highly unlikely action (blind luck saves the day) or alternatively our teslas turn up with some almost magic trick for which there has been no preparation. I prefer stories where the rules are known in advance, and there is nothing approaching the "magic wand" to get them out of trouble. Worse, the steambikes immediately go flat out, with no refueling and no getting up to pressure. (Let's not consider the size!) The steam is merely arm waving. Having said that, the story works well, and is very easy to read.
The writing is clear, the story moves well, the author certainly has the skill to introduce problems for the young protagonists, and he can write extended action sequences. For me, there was only one problem that lost the fifth star, and that is the plot seems to be designed to generate tension by just making things progressively worse, while our protagonists get out of some holes by what for me were either highly unlikely action (blind luck saves the day) or alternatively our teslas turn up with some almost magic trick for which there has been no preparation. I prefer stories where the rules are known in advance, and there is nothing approaching the "magic wand" to get them out of trouble. Worse, the steambikes immediately go flat out, with no refueling and no getting up to pressure. (Let's not consider the size!) The steam is merely arm waving. Having said that, the story works well, and is very easy to read.
March 31, 2015
The story begins with Melanie's sickness being miraculously cured and advised by the doctor to stay away from her friend Sebastian because the same thing that made her well could make her sick.The steam academy is rebuilt, but the city is not the same. The fortress of science, the last sanctuary from the marauding cyborg army sweeping the land, is being twisted by refugees as they flood to the city for protection. With thousands of refugees pouring into the city, food shortages and unemployment are rampant. Because of this people are restless and malcontent and are willing to listen to anyone who can give them someone to blame. Sebastian also finds out that someone is helping the cyborgs by giving information and letting them into the city. Sebastian and his friends embark on a journey into enemy territory to end the war and risk losing everything.
Steampunk doesn't often appeal to me but I did find this book demanded my attention from the beginning. I have not read the first in the series which I do NOT recommend because it doesn't backtrack to provide background for things that have already happened. It is definitely a series book that needs to be read in order. The glimpse into the cyborg community was charming and entertaining as it has many aspects of today's society for example, the cyborg names beginning with an @. An interesting read for teens and older who like a good mix of understandable technology and adventure.
Steampunk doesn't often appeal to me but I did find this book demanded my attention from the beginning. I have not read the first in the series which I do NOT recommend because it doesn't backtrack to provide background for things that have already happened. It is definitely a series book that needs to be read in order. The glimpse into the cyborg community was charming and entertaining as it has many aspects of today's society for example, the cyborg names beginning with an @. An interesting read for teens and older who like a good mix of understandable technology and adventure.
May 14, 2015
This follow to the first book Tesla brings me to a year after the events of the last book. Sebastian and Isaac are getting stronger and learning to use their tesla powers. The story also shows the relationship development between Melanie and Gavin. The book also presents more challenges from tyrant Mayor’s wife who plan on cleansing the Steam Academy of Tesla and gets them ran out of town. New kind of cyborgs and more secrets revealed. And best of all more action. The story is very fast pace and kept me on my toes. I couldn’t put my kindle down and never wanted to stop reading. I also liked some of the new character called @summer who is a cyborg with human like qualities. In the book I got new view of the enemy and how there world is different and human they are. Other aspects that make this sequel awesome are the gadgets and the steampunk aspects of the story. Some of the parts I didn’t like are the fact that I am still confused and there are some questions that haven’t been answered in the first book. Like why the cyborgs and Iris is so invested in getting Sebastian and who is Number Two or Number One. I also wished both Sebastian and Isaac’s tesla powers where more developed and they should be able to defend themselves. Sebastian still collapses every time there are cyborgs or dragons are around. But overall the book is awesome and I recommend reading it.
May 28, 2015
This book was recently entered and was a SILVER medal winner in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 29
Readers’ Comments
‘This book is excellent. Firstly, the cover looks cool. Secondly, the plot is amazing. So many twists and turns. I liked Sebastian and Melanie very much and the cyborg army is pretty scary.’ Girl, aged 14
‘I liked the way the book was not only about the cyborg enemy but also about the refugees. Also, the chemestry between the two central characters is good.’ Boy, aged 13
‘I liked the scary world the author created in his story and also how the machinery is steam driven. That was cool.’ Boy, aged 14
‘I read 11 books for The Wishing Shelf Award and this was, by far, the best. I enjoy books with pace and this has lots and lots and lots of it.’ Girl, aged 14
Stats
Of the 29 readers:
29 thought the cover was good or excellent.
29 would read another book by this author.
9 felt the best part was the futuristic setting.
6 thought the pacing was the best.
3 thought the cyborg army was the best.
‘A fantastically exciting fantasy adventure. A SILVER medal winner!’ The Wishing Shelf Awards
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 29
Readers’ Comments
‘This book is excellent. Firstly, the cover looks cool. Secondly, the plot is amazing. So many twists and turns. I liked Sebastian and Melanie very much and the cyborg army is pretty scary.’ Girl, aged 14
‘I liked the way the book was not only about the cyborg enemy but also about the refugees. Also, the chemestry between the two central characters is good.’ Boy, aged 13
‘I liked the scary world the author created in his story and also how the machinery is steam driven. That was cool.’ Boy, aged 14
‘I read 11 books for The Wishing Shelf Award and this was, by far, the best. I enjoy books with pace and this has lots and lots and lots of it.’ Girl, aged 14
Stats
Of the 29 readers:
29 thought the cover was good or excellent.
29 would read another book by this author.
9 felt the best part was the futuristic setting.
6 thought the pacing was the best.
3 thought the cyborg army was the best.
‘A fantastically exciting fantasy adventure. A SILVER medal winner!’ The Wishing Shelf Awards
June 8, 2015
This was honestly a great read. It may be a young adult novel but there is no doubt that this novel would be entertaining for even the pickiest adult reader. Mark Lingane has yet again grabbed my attention and left me wanting more when the novel came to an end. This novel started exactly where the last book left off, giving me the feeling of coming home to good friends. Melanie has been cured by Sebastian only to find out that continuing spending time around him could now make her sick. We learn more about Sebastian’s mother and feel for him, knowing how much he wants to rescue her. Willing to risk everything to save her. The twist that occurs when those you think are friends are actually foe and some enemies are much closer to friends make you look at each well-developed character more closely. Looking forward to reading the next book in the Tesla series. I just need to know what happens next. Will everyone make it out of this situation alive? Buying the next book very soon to find out.
Thank you Mark Lingane for giving me something to look forward to.
Thank you Mark Lingane for giving me something to look forward to.
September 15, 2016
Although continuing the story begun in Tesla, the book branches out a lot. Gone is the basic plot quest to find somewhere he belongs in the background of a war between technology and the Old Way; Now, the quest becomes surviving in spite of religious zealotry, traitors, and a machine that can do a hell of a better job manipulating humans than what 9/10 modern villains and real-life sociopaths manage to do.
The pacing issues with this book have been fixed from the previous volume, and I found it much easier to get through, in spite of the grammar coming apart a bit towards the last 30 pages of the book.
If you can get through #1, feel justified in beginning #2. You wont' regret it.
The pacing issues with this book have been fixed from the previous volume, and I found it much easier to get through, in spite of the grammar coming apart a bit towards the last 30 pages of the book.
If you can get through #1, feel justified in beginning #2. You wont' regret it.
January 3, 2015
I was given a copy of Decay by the author, Mark Lingane in exchange for an honest review. This is book two in the "Tesla" series. I enjoyed it as much as the first one. Again, we have steampunk meets cyborgs. A good mix of science fiction and dystopian. Filled with a lot of tongue in cheek humor, along with battle scenes, teenage friendships, mad scientist, and other crazy things. Sebastian is still trying to find his mom and save the world. I loved it. I can recommend for ages 14 and up. No swearing, there is some sexual references. Five stars from me. Starting book three right away.
September 3, 2015
Another great book by Mark Lingane. I actually started getting emotional towards the end of it. I can not think of the last time that I have read a book that has done that to me. It was nearly impossible to put down, but there times when I had to. Again, I wish that I could give it a rating higher than the number of stars allow here, but I guess I will just have to say that it deserves higher than just the five shown here.
August 27, 2015
This book was just as good as the first one. I ejoyed the entire thing. Check out my full review here.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews