New Contract

Perimeter Defense #3

by Michael Atamanov

The enemy’s at the gate, the situation getting worse by the second... and Ruslan’s employer hasn’t done a good job (to put it mildly) of securing his successes. Now the star system Unatari is under threat from the Aliens. It’s high time Ruslan came back in order to rescue everything he holds dear from imminent destruction and save Perimeter Defense - the game that has become his life.

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Fiction, Audiobook, Virtual Reality, Space

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Michael Atamanov was born in 1975 in Grozny, Chechnia. He excelled at school, winning numerous national science and writing competitions. Having graduated with honors, he entered Moscow University to study material engineering. Soon, however, he had no home to return to: their house was destroyed during the first Chechen campaign. Michael's family fled the war, taking shelter with some relatives in Stavropol Territory in the South of Russia.

Having graduated from the University, Michael was forced to accept whatever work was available. He moonlighted in chemical labs, loaded trucks, translated technical articles, worked as a software installer as well as scene shifter for local artists and events. At the same time he never stopped writing, even when squatting in some seedy Moscow hostels. Writing became an urgent need for Michael, driving him to submit articles to science publications, news fillers for a variety of web sites and a plethora of technical and copywriting gigs.

Then one day unexpectedly for himself he started writing fairy tales and science fiction novels. For several years, his audience consisted of only one person: Michael's elder son. Then, at the end of 2014 he decided to upload one of his manuscripts to a free online writers resource. Readers liked it and demanded a sequel. Michael uploaded another book, and yet another, his audience growing as did his list. It was his readers who helped Michael hone his writing style. He finally had the breakthrough he deserved when the Moscow-based EKSMO - the biggest publishing house in Europe - offered him a contract for his first and consequent books.

Reviews

[Katharine v Knihách · Rating 4 out of 5]

Na začátku jsem si říkala, že by se celá ta série mohla klidně ukončit tím druhým případně třetím dílem, ale druhá část knihy mi jasně řekla, že ne. Ještě ten jeden díl je a ty si ho chceš přečíst. Upřímně, ano, chci si ho přečíst, a to hlavně kvůli toho, že cca v posledních 25% se tam stalo tolik věcí, že musím vědět k čemu tam teda nakonec dojde. Jo, očekávala jsme tam nějaký obrat, nejen co se týče Ruslana, ale mám pocit, že se to zvrhlo víc než bylo v plánu.
Recenzi očekávejte brzy a pokusím se ji napsat bez spoilerů. :)

[Hana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Číta sa to veľmi rýchlo, to sa nedá vytknúť. Ale hlavný hrdina... je dosť hrozný. Všetko sa mu darí, zo všetkého sa vykrúti, okrem toho je strašne arogantný, najlepší z najlepších a sexistický až myzoginistický (prefackal svoju ženu).

Okrem toho, jeho konanie sa mi vidí nečestné, nie až tak obdivuhodné.
Napríklad *Spoiler* v jeho záujme velitelia prináležiaci de facto spojeneckej flotile dezertujú k jeho vojisku a keď sa potom na nich vznesú obvinenia, nazývajú to zradnými klamstvami. Ehm, dezercia - vojenský súd, či nie?

Plus, používanie "fake news" ako propagandu a zbraň na ovplyvnenie názoru civilistov - to je tiež nečestné (aj keď sa to vo vojne bežne robí) ale ten nedostatok nejakého vnútorného konfliktu alebo aspoň pocitu nesprávnosti šírenia klamstiev, ma naštval. Také špinavé metódy, ktoré vymýšľa hlavný hrdina, s ktorým sa čítatelia majú stotožniť alebo ho obdivovať.

Jeho arogancia a istota, že všetko sa mu vydarí a že svojej hlúpučkej milenke "dá celý Trónny svet! Máš moje slovo korunného princa!" ako záverečné slovo ma fakt prinútila takmer si na konci želať, aby cisárovi Augustovi na konci vyšiel jeho podraz, aspoň na pár mesiacov.

Georgovi/Ruslanovi by sa fakt zišlo, aby mu niekto zrazil ten jeho hriebienok.

[John Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

LitRPG worth paying for

As a Kindle Unlimited reader it takes a special kind of writer for me to buy individual books anymore.
A five star rating by me is a reflection of how caught up in the story without wanting to put it down. I find myself binge reading Atamanov series and getting little sleep at night.
The characters in this series are likeable. I appreciate the balance between explain things in detail and allowing time to pass quickly so the overall plot moves along.
If you like LitRPG with more story telling than character building this series is one I think is worth the expense. If your looking for a LitRPG where the characters build character sheets and choose character paths then this series will disappoint.

[Martin Zoul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruslan se po pár měsících čekání vrací do Obránce perimetru s jediným úkolem: zachránit Unatari před obklíčením cizáků.

Kniha byla opět úžasně čtivá, pan Atamanov je v umění čtivosti opravdu skvělý a stránky ubývali sami od sebe. Na knize se mi nejvíce líbilo napětí, jestli je obránce perimetru hra nebo ne, problémy s robotickou asistentkou a hlavně politické machinace, které jsou sice trošku zjednodušeny, ale naprosto jsem je "žral". Úplný top byl závěr s Císařem po kterém jsem okamžitě drapnul po posledním dílu.

Snad jediným záporem knihy vidím opět v jednoduchosti, jakou Georgeovi prochází některé problémy.

Hodnocení 9/10

[Max Ganas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Третья книга цикла «Защита периметра» продолжает историю в том же духе, что и предыдущие части. Сюжет по-прежнему держит интригу и уверенно удерживает интерес.

Однако решение автора фактически «обнулить» главного героя в начале книги выглядит спорным. С одной стороны, это можно расценить как попытку освежить сюжет и добавить элемент неопределённости. С другой стороны, в контексте уже устоявшейся вселенной подобный приём воспринимается слабо и слегка выбивается из общей логики повествования.

Тем не менее, как только преодолеваешь этот сюжетный «финт», книга вновь начинает увлекать. Лучше всего — просто воспринимать эпизоды с «обнулением» как своеобразный плохой сон, и двигаться дальше по основному повествованию. К счастью, дальше события развиваются динамично и насыщенно. Несмотря на неоднозначное начало, «Новый контракт» достойно продолжает серию и оставляет положительное впечатление.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, wow, WOW!!!

What an amazing addition to the series!
After how the last book ended it was a bit rough transitioning from that ending to where we were during the last two stories but once we did it was an absolute warp speed adventure that just got better and better. I loved the entire story but that ending was something else! Can't wait to read the next book!

Why four stars? There were as many errors in this book as the previous two combined, if not more. The first two had very few and I was surprised at the number of errors, albeit mostly small, in this book.

[Kritch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feels a bit rush and left me feeling like not a lot of important things happened in this book. Still a very good part of the series and built up well for the forth and (probably) the last book.

And the author is still loving his cliffhangers, I see. Luckily for me, all the books is out and I can read it in one go. On to the next one.

[Roberto · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would never have returned to the game' the author explains it at the end of the 4 book, the reason why the MC did go back, I felt it was a deus ex bull.... out of his ass, and it patch the plot hole that make the MC looks like a retard by deciding to met with Red in the restaurante..

[Ian Denner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Average

This book was a huge let down after the first book in the series. I had my doubts after finishing the second book but I had to read this one, and now I obviously have to look at the next one as well...

[Durian Jaykin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Change in tactics focusing on light ship combat. But then it changed as Ruslan got his fleet back together. Barely any mentions of the carrier's impact. It's impact seem to be close to that of a glorified drone light cruiser. Nonetheless, great space opera.

[David Bos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome but. . .

This series is not lit rpg but it is awesome. Cant wait to hit the next book and continue the adventure

[Jay Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy 4 stars, great book

[Deconinck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best one of the 3 imo, finally some answers and feelings with the characters.
To bad there is no 4th... ;)

[Magila · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Lubos Elexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Autor má veľmi dobrý štýl gradácie deja v závere. To platilo aj pri predchádzajúcich častiach. Napriek tomu, že dodržiava zaužívanú schému, dej sa neopakuje a stále dokáže prekvapiť.

[Bender · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good conclusion to at arc...with a bit left to cover. Again politics plays a huge and interesting part supplemented with some good and exciting space battles.

Liked it.

[Ray Ritchey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

Enjoyable and surprising closure on a lot of story threads. Enjoyable read that was full of action and adventure with A+ world building.

[Ethan Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really really great continuation to the series. Lots of twists and turns and unexpected developments. Throughly enjoyed it and ready to listen to the next one.

[Dominic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

This book is fast paced, and packs a lot of development in its few pages. Hopefully the next few books are a little slower, and more focused on development,but this book was awesome.

[Zrzi čte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Další díl Obránce perimetru, další napínavé pokračování Ruslanových dobrodružství. Docela se obávám poslední knihy, většina LitRPG které u nás vyšlo totiž díl od dílu klesalo na kvalitě. Snad se tomu obránce vyhne.
Ruslan se v tomto díle po několik měsících vrací zpět do hry a je nepříjemně překvapen co všechno pan G.I. dokázal pokazit. Nepřekvapivě se mu to nejdůležitější daří napravit a to i přes hrozbu cizáků a spousty dalších problémů které se na něj valí ze všech stran.
Ruslana však nezaměstnává jen politika a invaze nepřátel, ale i otázka co vlastně Obránce perimetru je. Hra, vitruální realita nebo něco úplně jiného? Doufejme že odpověď nalezne v posledním díle.

[Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

took me a while to warm to the first book, so listened to audio and liked it. Was happy with the second, enjoyed this one. MC is the most competent military man in the book and things basically go his way, but in surprising ways. Sometimes its a call saying his enemy died suddenly or due to political machinations he was unaware of are considering allying with him. This goes both ways as the people people he trusts frequently take any opportunity to gain advantage over him and then like nothing happened act as friends. The Truth seeks who are a cross between bene gensserit and aes sedai prove to be the most dangerous and untrustworthy group in the book culmination in a reveal that I find truly unforgivable near the end.
MC has multiple relationships with various women, that's all handled well, they all have their own agenda and its not because MC is some stud.
The mystery of the nature of the game stays a mystery but not too frustrating.
I hope in the future books MC calls out everyone for taking advantage of his good will and seeks to find ways to protect himself.

[Fred Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one had some substance to it. Not terribly much. But enough to get me to buy the 4th and final book in this series, A Game With No Rules I do believe. Moving day is about to begin for me so I will be insane for probably a day minimum. Plus, my nearly 17-year old kitty is over in my childhood bedroom all night already so I'm missing her. She is no cuddle bug or anything. She is deaf now too (last kitty who stayed here was blind by the time she came to me). I just miss her. Even if I am being ignored seemingly. She still is there. But not again till later today. And she will have a "new" apartment to explore.... Only 525 sq.ft. so won't be able to explore much. Plus things will still be in boxes and just scattered. Not even a replacement sofa right away.

[M.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book almost as much as the previous installments. Despite starting with a large disadvantage, the protagonist managed to turn around his fortune quite convincingly throughout the book. My only complaint is that this has happened a bit too fast (and maybe too easily) for me to properly enjoy the journey.

[Scott Voyles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written

The story keeps getting better as the series continues and the plot twists are exciting keeping the reader guessing. Hopefully the series will continue as we were left hanging as to what direction the empire is going.

[GaiusPrimus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh... The plot is disjointed from the previous two books. The misogyny is much more prevalent and the main character is a bore.

If there is a book 4, don't think I'll be picking it up. As I said on my last review, read Phantom Server instead of this if you want to read Sci-Fi LitRPG

[Rex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall not as strong as book 2, and it felt a bit rushed, but none the less a fantastic book. There are a few plot holes that stand out, but the story was strong and the ending left a desire for book 4, but the day may never come.

[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want more.

I just flat out enjoy this entire series. Translation is great. To bad this is only a three book series.

[Suprio · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Lukas Lovas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool. Liked this one about as much as the first book, and I'm curious to see how, and if the series will continue. Surprisingly enjoyable :)

[Paulo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Merge your most narcissistic thoughts with your mildest wet dreams, subtract personality and you'll get this book main character.