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Socket Greeny #0.5
The Making of Socket Greeny
Socket Greeny is not normal.
His funny name and snow-white hair are the least of his problems. When a devious prank goes bad, Socket and his friends realize they are about to lose everything they’ve worked for in the alternate reality universe of virtualmode.
But when the data drain encroaches on Socket’s subconscious memories, some mysterious force erases the event entirely. Subtle clues suggest there's more to him than he knows and will lead him to discover why his mom is always at work. And just how far from normal he is.
The beginning of Socket Greeny’s epic journey to save himself begins with the making. The universe is depending on him.
His funny name and snow-white hair are the least of his problems. When a devious prank goes bad, Socket and his friends realize they are about to lose everything they’ve worked for in the alternate reality universe of virtualmode.
But when the data drain encroaches on Socket’s subconscious memories, some mysterious force erases the event entirely. Subtle clues suggest there's more to him than he knows and will lead him to discover why his mom is always at work. And just how far from normal he is.
The beginning of Socket Greeny’s epic journey to save himself begins with the making. The universe is depending on him.
81 pages, ebook
First published October 31, 2015
45 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Tony Bertauski
72 books762 followersGet my books FREE. Tell me where to send them at http://bertauski.com
He grew up in the Midwest where the land is flat and the corn is tall. The winters are bleak and cold. He hated winters.
He always wanted to write. But writing was hard. And he wasn’t very disciplined. The cold had nothing to do with that, but it didn’t help. That changed in grad school.
After several attempts at a proposal, his major advisor was losing money on red ink and advised him to figure it out. Somehow, he did.
After grad school, he and his wife and two very little children moved to the South in Charleston, South Carolina where the winters are spring and the summers are a sauna (cliche but dead on accurate). That’s when he started teaching and writing articles for trade magazines. He eventually published two textbooks on landscape design. He then transitioned to writing a column for the Post and Courier. They were all great gigs, but they weren’t fiction.
That was a few years later.
His daughter started reading before she could read, pretending she knew the words in books she propped on her lap. His son was a different story. In an attempt to change that, he began writing a story with him. They made up a character, gave him a name, and something to do. As with much of parenting, it did not go as planned. But the character got stuck in his head.
He wanted out.
A few years later, Socket Greeny was born. It was a science fiction trilogy that was gritty and thoughtful. That was 2005.
He has been practicing Zen since he was 23 years old. A daily meditator, he wants to instill something meaningful in his stories that appeals to a young adult crowd as well as adult. Think Hunger Games. He hadn’t planned to write fiction, didn’t even know if he had anymore stories in him after Socket Greeny.
Turns out he did.
He grew up in the Midwest where the land is flat and the corn is tall. The winters are bleak and cold. He hated winters.
He always wanted to write. But writing was hard. And he wasn’t very disciplined. The cold had nothing to do with that, but it didn’t help. That changed in grad school.
After several attempts at a proposal, his major advisor was losing money on red ink and advised him to figure it out. Somehow, he did.
After grad school, he and his wife and two very little children moved to the South in Charleston, South Carolina where the winters are spring and the summers are a sauna (cliche but dead on accurate). That’s when he started teaching and writing articles for trade magazines. He eventually published two textbooks on landscape design. He then transitioned to writing a column for the Post and Courier. They were all great gigs, but they weren’t fiction.
That was a few years later.
His daughter started reading before she could read, pretending she knew the words in books she propped on her lap. His son was a different story. In an attempt to change that, he began writing a story with him. They made up a character, gave him a name, and something to do. As with much of parenting, it did not go as planned. But the character got stuck in his head.
He wanted out.
A few years later, Socket Greeny was born. It was a science fiction trilogy that was gritty and thoughtful. That was 2005.
He has been practicing Zen since he was 23 years old. A daily meditator, he wants to instill something meaningful in his stories that appeals to a young adult crowd as well as adult. Think Hunger Games. He hadn’t planned to write fiction, didn’t even know if he had anymore stories in him after Socket Greeny.
Turns out he did.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 4, 2017
(3.4)
It was written in MG style, but with YA content. This had a great world building and solid start, but again, it was in MG style and it would distract me from what I was reading.
Recommended 12+ for language, violence, and mild romance.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free when I was signed up for his newsletter during a giveaway. It does not affect my review/thoughts. (blah, blah, blah, we all know the drill)
It was written in MG style, but with YA content. This had a great world building and solid start, but again, it was in MG style and it would distract me from what I was reading.
Recommended 12+ for language, violence, and mild romance.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free when I was signed up for his newsletter during a giveaway. It does not affect my review/thoughts. (blah, blah, blah, we all know the drill)
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February 17, 2016BERTAUSKI STARTER LIBRARY is FREE!
Get 3 full-length novels and 1 novella…Just tell me where to send them.
http://bertauski.com/
Get 3 full-length novels and 1 novella…Just tell me where to send them.
http://bertauski.com/
September 11, 2019
As a short prequel to the main trilogy it sets the stage quite well.
We're definitely dealing with teenagers running amok in full immersion virtual reality environments. It's got aspects of 'Ready Player One' and Anthea Sharp's 'Feyland' series, so if you enjoyed those Socket Greeny may just be your thing.
At the end of the day, a prequel should serve one purpose and that's to get you wanting to read the rest of the series, and this has definitely served it's purpose as i dove straight into 'The Discovery of Socket Greeny'. It could have used a little editing to get rid of a few typos, but other than that it's well written with a fast flowing narrative.
We're definitely dealing with teenagers running amok in full immersion virtual reality environments. It's got aspects of 'Ready Player One' and Anthea Sharp's 'Feyland' series, so if you enjoyed those Socket Greeny may just be your thing.
At the end of the day, a prequel should serve one purpose and that's to get you wanting to read the rest of the series, and this has definitely served it's purpose as i dove straight into 'The Discovery of Socket Greeny'. It could have used a little editing to get rid of a few typos, but other than that it's well written with a fast flowing narrative.
January 26, 2018
I absolutely loved this.
A 14 year old boy and his friends get caught up in a world of advanced tech / virtual (un)reality, and rivalry with classmates over hacking accounts etc. This may not sound exciting as such, but start to read this and you will soon change your mind. The main character knows that something isn't quite right whilst joining his friends on his VR trips but when he starts to feel different, things become very interesting.
This is a fantastic introduction into the world of Socket Greeney, a world that I fully intend to explore at some point!
A 14 year old boy and his friends get caught up in a world of advanced tech / virtual (un)reality, and rivalry with classmates over hacking accounts etc. This may not sound exciting as such, but start to read this and you will soon change your mind. The main character knows that something isn't quite right whilst joining his friends on his VR trips but when he starts to feel different, things become very interesting.
This is a fantastic introduction into the world of Socket Greeney, a world that I fully intend to explore at some point!
February 17, 2017
Free to get. Having read Humbug (The Unwinding of Ebenezer Scrooge): A Science Fiction Adventure was not really surprised at yet another book from this writer that I could not figure out the genreS and that had never quite come across anything else like it, but definitely worth a read and then some. Check out his other books, definitely.
Date is off, noticed had forgotten to do the goodreads when did the amazon review.
Date is off, noticed had forgotten to do the goodreads when did the amazon review.
September 8, 2019
Another excellent read by Tony Bertauski! I really liked the characters and the virtual reality technology described would be amazing! The virtual reality technology in this novel seemed to be an less advanced version of the virtual technology found in The Maze series. I will definitely read more books in this wonderful series!
March 24, 2018
Definitely one to watch. Good characters, good story and the description of virtual reality is so good you feel like you're there. Will be putting it on my list to read the rest of the series. Highly recommended.
June 23, 2017
A short prequel to the series Socket Greeny
November 25, 2018
A good interesting short story with a little background for the other books in the series! Liked it!
August 4, 2025
Sci Fi
Well written and engaging storyline. Not really my type of book but if you like this genre then it could be a winner for you.
Well written and engaging storyline. Not really my type of book but if you like this genre then it could be a winner for you.
September 1, 2019
Really enjoyed this one - it tickled my imagination enough to reckon I will have a read of the next part and see if it still grabs me.
April 30, 2016
Socket Greeny thinks he’s “pretty much a normal kid, except for the hair. Pure white... growing up in a single-parent home.” But things are about to change.
Author Tony Bertauski introduces readers to a well-imagined future world, seen through Socket Greeny’s eyes and told with very believable first-person narration. Have you ever wondered how people with cope with computer technology that allows them to stay in the same chair for hours on end while laboring in virtual worlds? Or how it might seem if you could really enter the worlds of computer games? All these things become easily and believably real as these teens try to clear up the mess they’ve made through real-world mistakes, as they balance real against imagined, and as they take risks in the certainty that imagined worlds can’t hurt them.
The Making is the start of a series, and I’d love to read more. But it’s a thoroughly enjoyable short read on its own, with believable teens, convincing world-building, and genuine scares.
Disclosure: I like the author’s wringing so I jumped at the chance of a free book. And I offer my honest review.
Author Tony Bertauski introduces readers to a well-imagined future world, seen through Socket Greeny’s eyes and told with very believable first-person narration. Have you ever wondered how people with cope with computer technology that allows them to stay in the same chair for hours on end while laboring in virtual worlds? Or how it might seem if you could really enter the worlds of computer games? All these things become easily and believably real as these teens try to clear up the mess they’ve made through real-world mistakes, as they balance real against imagined, and as they take risks in the certainty that imagined worlds can’t hurt them.
The Making is the start of a series, and I’d love to read more. But it’s a thoroughly enjoyable short read on its own, with believable teens, convincing world-building, and genuine scares.
Disclosure: I like the author’s wringing so I jumped at the chance of a free book. And I offer my honest review.
November 15, 2015
Socket, the name alone gets your attention! but hey all the kids in this story are named a bit odd and its a futuristic read were virtual reality is more for the everyday not just a gamer. In this story the making of Socket Greeny means he is trying to find himself but doesnt he already know who he is? well he did but not now now hes not sure what to think and the answers are there just out of his reach. This is a short read and I can not wait to get to the full series WOW! Once I started reading I did not put it down almost sped through it. Its what I do when I like the read. This is just the beginning of a brand new way of life and a new way of knowing who he truly is because it seems there are a lot of secrets he did not even know existed until his friend decides to push it almost too far!!
August 20, 2019
This is a very short story just to wet your appetite for more. Joseph is on the lookout for duplicates and he has found a factory that makes them. You also get the story of a soldier in a gaming world who come awake and wants to live. Is he Chas? He needs a vehicle and a name to live. Duplicates are in the world and you cannot tell them apart from humans. This is just an introduction to the series a great way to see if you want to read more. I received a free book from the author and the views and opinions are my own.
August 25, 2019
Who am I? Where am I? What am I?
How would you feel if you "woke up" in the middle of a battle, in a place you didn't recognize, with no idea who you were?! Mr. Bertauski's short story throws the reader into this situation, following the Soldier. So as not to give away any of the story, I just want to say, "Tony, you are warped!!" And I mean that in a fantastic way!!
I was given an ARC by the author...and I would read the phone book if he wrote it! What an author!!
How would you feel if you "woke up" in the middle of a battle, in a place you didn't recognize, with no idea who you were?! Mr. Bertauski's short story throws the reader into this situation, following the Soldier. So as not to give away any of the story, I just want to say, "Tony, you are warped!!" And I mean that in a fantastic way!!
I was given an ARC by the author...and I would read the phone book if he wrote it! What an author!!
April 2, 2016
A prequel to the Socket Greeney saga - one of the author's introductory freebies. As such it touches on events that form part of the saga without being a necessary prior read. Enjoyable.
August 23, 2019
That was. Weird. But in a really cool way. Gives you pause as you blast your way through a video game. I really enjoyed it!
September 1, 2019
What a very imaginative short story! Tony packed so much into such a few amount of pages. I highly recommend you give this book a read! You will not be disappointed but will be craving for more
November 22, 2016
Interesting beginning, looking forward to reading more in the series
April 27, 2017
If you're into virtual reality....
Something about virtual reality and having it blend into the real world just doesn't do it for me. Otherwise the story was OK. I guess I'm just getting too old for stories about kids hacking their way through life....
Something about virtual reality and having it blend into the real world just doesn't do it for me. Otherwise the story was OK. I guess I'm just getting too old for stories about kids hacking their way through life....
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews