Frayed

DarkTrench Shadow #1

by Kerry Nietz

** Realm Award Winner for Best Speculative Fiction of the Year 2017 **** Readers' Favorite Award Contest Silver Medal Winner **** Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist ** ThreadBare is a debugger. He's property, one of the Imam's vast pool of implanted servants. He lives in a smelly, greasy garage on the boundary of the battlefield known as Delusion. All he wants is to complete his tasks, exceed his rival BullHammer, and stay alive. Possibly get a promotion.When an atypical chore brings Thread into contact with Sandfly and HardCandy, things get complicated. Day by day and task by task he struggles with the life he's always known. Ideas plague him, brutality vexes him, and women distract him.Then there's the list of offline debuggers, those who've quietly disappeared. Through datamixes--dreamlike records of their lives--Thread tries to uncover the truth. Where did they go? What does it all mean? And what can one forgotten debugger do about it anyway?

Genres: Science Fiction, Christian Fiction

261 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 21, 2016

About the author

Kerry Nietz is an award-winning science fiction author. He has over a half dozen speculative novels in print, along with a novella, a couple short stories, and a non-fiction book, FoxTales.

Kerry’s novel A Star Curiously Singing won the Readers Favorite Gold Medal Award for Christian Science Fiction and is notable for its dystopian, cyberpunk vibe in a world under sharia law. It has over a hundred 5-star reviews on Amazon and is often mentioned on “Best of” lists.

Among his writings, Kerry's most talked about is the genre-bending Amish Vampires in Space. AViS was mentioned on the Tonight Show and in the Washington Post, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. Newsweek called it “a welcome departure from the typical Amish fare.”

Kerry is a refugee of the software industry. He spent more than a decade of his life flipping bits, first as one of the principal developers of the database product FoxPro for the now mythical Fox Software, and then as one of Bill Gates's minions at Microsoft. He is a husband, a father, a technophile and a movie buff.

Reviews

[Madeline J. Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initial Response
I...don't exactly know what's happening...

High Lights
- I absolutely LOVED the worldbuilding in this book! It was so unique, unlike anything I've ever seen before. The debuggers, the data mixing, the serv bots, the Imam and his family, it was all so cool.
- Also, the names of the debuggers are just the best. ThreadBare is our main character, and then we have HardCandy, BullHammer, SandFly, FrontLot, and so many others. They put a little smile on my face. :)
- The prince was a very...odd character, I'll say. At first, we see that he's a bit of a quirky fellow. But as time goes on and Thread is given access to more rooms, we see that he's actually into torturing bots and debuggers. Yeah. He's. Interesting. O_O But that just makes all the more interesting!
- That ending! It was very action-packed and we finally get to see Thread being the hero, like he's been wanting to be for the whole story.
- Damali was sweet, I really liked her character. I wasn't sure about her at first, but as the story moved along, I started to really enjoy her curiosity and energy.

Low Lights
- All that to say, I did have a couple issues, personally.
- We first open to ThreadBare searching for old parts in a graveyard. And right away, I'm bombarded with a ton of terms that I have no idea what they mean. Even as I keep reading, they keep coming, and once I have a bit of an idea of one thing, another thing jumps up and leaves me confused again. Now, this would've been okay for me, because I love made-up sci-fi tech. But it was never explained to me what everything was. Even as I read on through the story, things are never exactly explained, and I had to figure it out on my own. And I'm still not entirely sure what some things are.
- The writing style wasn't really my...style. It was told in a very straightforward way, clipped sentences, just the facts. And I don't particularly like that, as to me, it feels a little stilted. (Which it totally fits with the story, since Thread is a debugger, not really human, so he doesn't think like a human, but still.)
- I didn't really connect with Thread. It took me a really long time, right up to the last few pages, where I began to care for him, and wanted him to be the hero. Maybe it was because of his inhuman-ness, or maybe it was just because of how his personality was shown via the writing style. I don't know.

Conclusion
This was a very interesting take on a dystopian novel with excellent worldbuilding. Though I wouldn't recommend it personally, if you're into novels with amazing worldbuilding, and you like sci-fi, definitely check this one out. Seriously, this world is crazy amazing.
3/5.

[Janet Sketchley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of the DarkTrench saga will be pleased to return to that same, dystopian future Earth. New to these books and not sure what to think? The book that started it all, A Star Curiously Singing, is free on most ebook platforms.

Frayed is the start of the DarkTrench Shadow Series, with new characters. Chronologically it overlaps the last part of A Star Curiously Singing. (Now I want to go back and read that one for a refresher to what happened off-screen in this book.)

The protagonist, ThreadBare, is a debugger (human, implanted with a computer chip that lets him wirelessly interact with all the machines so he can fix them). Debuggers are essentially slaves. In this society built on a form of Islamic law, their one bonus is they’re guaranteed entry to paradise because their chips block them from sinning – and from any other behaviour their masters forbid.

Debuggers are gifted at asking questions, solving problems. But the questions ThreadBare starts asking could land him in serious pain.

Frayed is written in the first person, present tense, and that works for these books. It’s like ThreadBare is talking to you, the reader, streaming to you a real-time account of what’s happening. At least once he’ll even speak to you directly, calling you a freehead (because you have no implant).

As well as the DarkTrench books, Kerry Nietz has also written Amish Vampires in Space and Amish Zombies in Space. I haven’t read the zombie one, but the vampire one is a serious novel, not a joke like the titles imply. For more about the author and his books, visit nietz.com.

[Review copy from my personal library.]

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read and enjoyed Mr. Nietz’s A Star Curiously Singing. If you enjoy snappy cyberpunk writing, I definitely recommend that read. Frayed had a number of similarities in style and in the worldview, so I was looking forward to another trip to the author’s extraordinary hi-tech future world run by powerful Imams. I wasn’t disappointed.

Written in the first person of a debugger, DR23, nicknamed Threadbare, much of the story involves the internal struggles of this “implanted” human when he is faced with the actions of a ruling class of “freeheads” (humans without implants). They abuse their powerful positions to run roughshod over not only Sharia Law, but also human decency.

Exposed to their moral corruption, Threadbare is under constant threat from the internal “stops” programmed to prevent him (through pain) from even thinking about disobeying Sharia Law. An attractive concubine further tests his “stops,” and causes Threadbare to confront the hypocrisy of a system that he is programmed to obey.

Frayedis the first book in the DarkTrench Shadow series. The series premise of a secret project and a list of debuggers who have somehow broken free of their internal programming is foreshadowed throughout. My only complaint is the cliff-hanger ending that left me feeling that this installment hadn’t been cleanly finished in its own right.

Disclaimer: This review was originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. I may have received a free review copy.

[Jeffrey Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit: I'm not a Dystopian fan, and this is Dystopian. But it also is very well written, with a great premise and memorable characters (lead character Threadbare, and supporting characters Bull Hammer and The Prince).

I won't spoil the story, but I will spoil the author's notes. Nietz previously wrote a fantastic Dark Trench Saga series dealing with debuggers Sandfly and Hard Candy. He wrote a short story going back to this world with a briefly used character Threadbare. This book continues on that short story, which parallels the previous series.

Kerry Nietz consistently impresses me as an author. He creates interesting characters and plots that are innovative and keep me guessing.

If you like dystopian, I highly recommend it. If like me you don't, but enjoy well-written stories, I also recommend it to you as well.

[C.S. Wachter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I prefer Fantasy to hard Science Fiction, Kerry Nietz weaves a splendid tale. For me personally, the book started a little slow and it took me a while to get a handle on ThreadBare’s character; but once I developed an appreciation for his matter of fact voice, he won me over. By the end, I couldn’t put the book down. I would definitely consider reading the next book in this series even though it’s not my usual genre.

[R.M. Lutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spin-off series are frequently plagued by feeling nearly identical to the original series, but this series comes out of the gates with a fresh perspective on this vibrant storyworld. Recommended to teens and up who are fans of science fiction.

Like Christian sci-fi and fantasy? Check out thebookhoundchristianspecfic.blogspot.com for full-length reviews, author interviews, and more!

[Eileen Keir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Sci-fi

The intrigue of the story and the development of the main character made this hard to put down. I loved the way Threadbare became a hero as he fought through horrendous circumstances. The technical language was a little hard to follow at times but was also part of what made it so interesting.

[Ava · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book a lot, I wish there was more so I could know what happens in the end! But regardless it is very well written and interesting

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first series by this author a couple of years ago and it was fun to have parts of that and characters from that series part of this series again. As I started reading this series, I thought it was the same one I had already read, but it didn't head in the same direction.

There are three separate kinds of "people" in these stories: humans (freeheads); those with implants in their heads who do the repairing of the mechanicals (debuggers), they are slaves for the humans; and the robots or mechanicals.

Our main character, Threadbare, is a debugger and he gets himself into a higher position but it doesn't turn out to be the good thing that these promotions should be. He is the slave of the Imam's first son and he is a masochist.

This story is full of action and a wee bit of suspense as well. There is also a taste of romance to keep us ladies interested.

This is a clean read.

[Sara James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book can be read separately from Nietz's Dark Trench Saga, but would also fit nicely after reading A Star Curiously Singing. It provides just a little additional information about those events which you might not appreciate without having read that book first. I read it after completing that entire series.
ThreadBare is a likeable character, coming across a bit younger than Sandfly from ASCS. He has more to offer in terms of story telling, I'm sure, so I hope we'll see more about him soon. Here, he struggles against the enforced obedience when it conflicts with his own moral compass. It's an interesting look at what choices we have even when we appear to have none.

[Richard New · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frayed, by author Kerry Nietz, is a return to the repressive sci-fi world of SandFly and HardCandy. Most of the world is still ground under the Imam's control, but there are holdouts resistant to the Imam and his A. These pockets of Antitex and other groups use honor and resourcefulness in the war against the Imam and his forces. And this is where ThreadBare comes in. He's a debugger, one of many stream-enhanced repair techs owned by the Imam, and his job is to repair heavy armament for the war effort. A lowly debugger in a repair garage near battle's edge, he feels forgotten. His only friends are other debuggers like himself. His only distraction from a tedious job are the dream-mixes he rents from other debuggers. Dreams of a different life, of more responsibility, of importance.

Then his dreams are answered. Promoted with a level twelve upgrade, ThreadBare finds himself the only debugger within the extensive and expensive household of the Imam's son, Aadam. A prince of the religious realm, Aadam is vicious, worldly, and nasty. As the son of the Imam, Aadam is above the restrictive Sharia laws governing the populace. He flaunts his worldly tastes among the house servants, guards, and concubines, abusing any and all of them as the whim takes him. He often resorts to prince parties, as ThreadBare secretly calls them, where the house robots are often either destroyed or severely damaged by Aadam's antics.

Taken even deeper into the prince's confidence, ThreadBare finds himself introduced to prisoner torture within the mansion's basement. This is where the prince interrogates his own people who cause him problems or don't carry out his impossible wishes. They are often tortured as fight companions to the prince's battle 'bots. ThreadBare finds himself witnessing these fights, and sometimes, even having to drive the 'bot against the defenseless prisoners. ThreadBare finds himself almost torn apart from these ordeals. Once Aadam is finished with his fun, ThreadBare has to repair any damage the prince caused the 'bots. The prisoners are left to themselves--to heal and recover, or to die from their injuries.

Overall, the story is a lively mix of wants, dreams, and dehumanizing rewards, all trampled underneath a repressive, worldwide religion. The story moves along at a steady and engrossing pace, carrying the reader along. At times, the story reminded this Reviewer of the oppressive world of Moses and the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt, driving the Israelite slaves into the harsh, Egyptian ground. Vicious, degraded, and ruled by personal vice, the character of Aadam draws a similar parallel. Though, in no way, does Threadbare resemble Moses.

This story is family-friendly and highly recommended.

[Celesta Thiessen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the world and some of the plot points. I felt for the character. This book wasn't as good as A Star Curiously Singing, though. It didn't give that same wonderful feeling at the end. Overall, this book was an entertaining and an engaging read.

[C.O. Bonham · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing I am always looking at when I read a book is where it falls in a current series or story universe. Author Kerry Nietz says that Frayed can be read before or after his popular Dark Trench trilogy. Notice he did not say, you wouldn't have to read Dark Trench at all. (Very tricky Mr. Nietz.) This is because he has created a story world so vivid and interesting that you will, of course, have to absorb everything that it encompasses.

I did not read the three books in the Dark Trench saga prior to reading Frayed. However, I found myself easily swept up into this story world in which Islam has taken over the world. Where some humans are given implants that let them interface with machines, and in return will not let them sin. These Debuggers are slaves and the definition of sin is left up to their masters. Threadbare is one of these and this is his story.

On the use of Islam, this is not a political book. This is a work of fiction. And that is ultimately what I loved most about this novel. Frayed is character driven, the setting and details are just dressing, not some cleverly disguised propaganda. Like many books the plot revolves around power, people who abuse it, and those who are abused by it. So while the bad guy is Muslim, so is the good guy.