What do you think?
Rate this book
You're in Game! #1
You're in Game!
This fast-paced collection of novellas and short stories from leading Russian LitRPG authors sheds new light on their signature worlds. New works by Vasily Mahanenko, Andrei Livadny, Alexey Osadchuk, Michael Atamanov and Pavel Kornev! Expect your favorite heroes to play second fiddle to an array of new main characters; once-minor plot lines to lead you in unexpected directions; familiar story events to take new surprising turns. FIVE unique writing styles. SIX meticulously conceived gaming worlds, two of which come from authors new to LitRPG but who are already experts in the craft of genre fiction. Each story pushes the boundaries of suspense and intrigue. An adventure roller coaster in the new LitRPG anthology You're In Game!
140 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 20, 2017
62 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Vasily Mahanenko
88 books1,093 followersBe the first to know when Vasily Mahanenko’s next book is available! Follow him at https://www.bookbub.com/profile/v-mah... to get an alert whenever he has a new release, preorder, or discount!
Vasily Mahanenko is a fantasy author working in the new genre of LitRPG - the MMO-based fantasy and sci fi. His Way of the Shaman series took Russian literature by storm in 2012.
Vasily dipped into his college-days insider knowledge as a hardcore gamer in order to create a believable world of the virtual-reality MMO game. His bestselling series combines fiction and video games, telling the story of Shaman and his friends stuck in the ruthless reality of Barliona. He used his more than ten years' experience as an ERP implementation project manager to approach his writing in a well-organized manner, working to a strict schedule, a set of deadlines and even a budget. At the moment, the series boasts six novels with the seventh one in the works - this time the author expands on stories of Shaman's companions and those who helped and supported him in his trials and tribulations.
The first book of the series has already been translated into English, with more translations to follow, aiming to make the Way of the Shaman series available to the English-language reader in its entirety.
Vasily's other passion is space exploration which is why he now works on a follow-up series entitled Galaktiona. Set in a space-simulator based world, the first book of the series in already finished while Vasily works on its sequel.
Vasily Mahanenko is a fantasy author working in the new genre of LitRPG - the MMO-based fantasy and sci fi. His Way of the Shaman series took Russian literature by storm in 2012.
Vasily dipped into his college-days insider knowledge as a hardcore gamer in order to create a believable world of the virtual-reality MMO game. His bestselling series combines fiction and video games, telling the story of Shaman and his friends stuck in the ruthless reality of Barliona. He used his more than ten years' experience as an ERP implementation project manager to approach his writing in a well-organized manner, working to a strict schedule, a set of deadlines and even a budget. At the moment, the series boasts six novels with the seventh one in the works - this time the author expands on stories of Shaman's companions and those who helped and supported him in his trials and tribulations.
The first book of the series has already been translated into English, with more translations to follow, aiming to make the Way of the Shaman series available to the English-language reader in its entirety.
Vasily's other passion is space exploration which is why he now works on a follow-up series entitled Galaktiona. Set in a space-simulator based world, the first book of the series in already finished while Vasily works on its sequel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Read
July 24, 2019This was a LitRPG anthology series featuring novellas from 6 famous Russian LitRPG authors. I had not read any of the authors before so these novella were my first introduction to their various series. I must admit I'd not heard good things about Russian LitRPG as even the folks over at the cesspit that is r/litrpg seem to agree that Russian LitRPG can be a bit rapey and full of right wing propaganda. I figured this was still worth a go though as I got it cheap and there are a lot of Russian LitRPG authors out there who seem to have found an audience so I felt like this sample anthology was a good way to dip my toes in and see what they had to offer.
Shamanic Rites by Vasily Mahanenko
This was a tale set in Mahanenko's The Way of the Shaman series. It was piss poor to be honest. Nothing at all engaging about the writing, the story was dull, and the characters were totally forgettable. I could not even figure out if the main character in the story was actually in a fully immersive VR world or was just describing a computer game she was playing on her PC! My guess is the main character in this novella, I finished it 5 minutes ago and I've already forgot her name, is a love interest to the regular character in the main series as her only thoughts outside of a boring game task seemed to be the occasional daydream about how much she had the hots for some guy who was her mentor.
Rating: 2 stars. This has probably helped eliminate The Way of the Shaman series from my to-read list!
Purgatory by Andrei Livadny
This is listed as a novella in Livadny's Phantom Server series and his Crystal Sphere series so it appears like this is a linked universe. My feeling, even knowing nothing about those books, is that this novella was a prequel that gave a bit of information in how the VR worlds of those series came into existence.
Rather than a stint in cryo-sleep prison criminal, Dietrich, is offered the alternative of taking on an experimental neuroimplant and having his mind placed in a new VR world so the scientists behind the project can test if the tech is safe for human use and so they can iron out the flaws in the software. The story ended up being a fairly intriguing glimpse into Livadny's fantasy world. The tech was dangerous and very experimental!
I felt like this story caught my interest and that Livadny's writing style seemed engaging enough that I'll likely be willing to give one of his full books a go at some point as this novella did peak my interest in the world.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Throne World by Michael Atamanov
This was a novella from Perimeter Defence series and did an OK job of giving a glimpse into what seemed a fairly cool sci-fi based LitRPG world. There was a nice mix of intrigue and surprise twists and the story itself was pretty fun.
It did not do a great job of explaining the LitRPG elements so it actually felt more like a regular pulp sci-fi story.
Rating: 3.5 stars. I'll probably check out this series at some point in the future especially as I know it has a solid audio narrator in Neil Hellegers at the helm.
The Best Quest by Andrew Novak
This was a novella set in Novak's AlterGame series but it actually did a good job of acting as an introduction to his fantasy world. We got the chance to glimpse both the game world and the real world. Which is not always the case with the LitRPG books I read. The "real" world for the characters in this story was actually an intriguing post apocalyptic future. The game world was equally strange as it ended up being the most RPGey game world I've ever encountered in a LitRPG!
It worked out well though and ended up being a decent tale. Novak seemed to have a fairly engaging writing style. Probably the most easy to get into story of the whole anthology and the story itself stood alone very well as an independent story. I'm definitely interested in reading a book from the full series.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Countdown by Pavel Kornev
It was not mentioned if this novella was part of any of Kornev's book series or not. I do not think it mattered too much as this worked great as a tiny stand alone story.
We followed the story of a guy who was basically a member of a police force of a hyper realistic VR world. It was his job to find and eliminate players who were abusing others in the game. His latest job is a tough one as he comes up against a murderous hacker!
The story was decent enough and the world seemed an interesting enough place. I might well give a Pavel Kornev book a go after reading this one.
Rating: 3 stars.
The Date by Marina and Alexey Osadchuk
This ended up being a short and rather strange story in terms of the nature of the anthology in general as this was as much cute YA romance as it was LitRPG. It touched on a few interesting topics like disability, real life meet ups, and learning to accept oneself.
It was a fun enough story and the characters were likeable enough. If there was a flaw it was in the fact that the VR elements of the story were a little uninspired. It was OK though so I'm still interested in giving a go to Project Daily Grind which is the series this novella was set in. That is a good thing considering I bought PDG on a whim a few months ago!
Rating: 3 stars.
The Story of a Raid by Vasily Mahanenko
This was the second Mahanenko novella in the tale and just like the first it was pretty poor. For some reason I just did not seem to connect with Mahanenko's writing.
This story was set in Mahanenko's sci-fi LitRPG The Galactagon series and followed the captain of a giant space ship as she launched an attack on a whole planet. It all felt a bit much and I was never given any reason to care about the characters or world. It also had a piss poor twist at the end that revealed this tale was basically about a bully victim who had went on to become a worse bully than those who abused her which was pretty depressing!
Rating: 1.5 stars.
All in all this was an OK anthology. Mahanenko sucked which was a pity as he was the only author with two novellas in the collection but what I read from the other authors was decent enough that I might one day give a go to their full novels. There was no outstanding stories in the anthology but the stories we did get were OK short glimpses into stories and worlds that seemed like they had the potential to be fun.
I'd say that while this anthology was not great it did mostly succeed in its task of making me more willing to give the majority of authors who took part in the collection a go. Which is good as I was not super enthusiastic about Russian LitRPG after reading a bunch of negative stuff about it online. Truth was I did not find anything more offensive here than I have while reading regular LitRPG and Osadchuk's tale was actually a fairly thoughtful one.
Overall rating: 3.5 stars.
Audio Note: The full anthology was narrated by Tim Campbell. He did OK but was nothing special as an audio narrator.
Shamanic Rites by Vasily Mahanenko
This was a tale set in Mahanenko's The Way of the Shaman series. It was piss poor to be honest. Nothing at all engaging about the writing, the story was dull, and the characters were totally forgettable. I could not even figure out if the main character in the story was actually in a fully immersive VR world or was just describing a computer game she was playing on her PC! My guess is the main character in this novella, I finished it 5 minutes ago and I've already forgot her name, is a love interest to the regular character in the main series as her only thoughts outside of a boring game task seemed to be the occasional daydream about how much she had the hots for some guy who was her mentor.
Rating: 2 stars. This has probably helped eliminate The Way of the Shaman series from my to-read list!
Purgatory by Andrei Livadny
This is listed as a novella in Livadny's Phantom Server series and his Crystal Sphere series so it appears like this is a linked universe. My feeling, even knowing nothing about those books, is that this novella was a prequel that gave a bit of information in how the VR worlds of those series came into existence.
Rather than a stint in cryo-sleep prison criminal, Dietrich, is offered the alternative of taking on an experimental neuroimplant and having his mind placed in a new VR world so the scientists behind the project can test if the tech is safe for human use and so they can iron out the flaws in the software. The story ended up being a fairly intriguing glimpse into Livadny's fantasy world. The tech was dangerous and very experimental!
I felt like this story caught my interest and that Livadny's writing style seemed engaging enough that I'll likely be willing to give one of his full books a go at some point as this novella did peak my interest in the world.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Throne World by Michael Atamanov
This was a novella from Perimeter Defence series and did an OK job of giving a glimpse into what seemed a fairly cool sci-fi based LitRPG world. There was a nice mix of intrigue and surprise twists and the story itself was pretty fun.
It did not do a great job of explaining the LitRPG elements so it actually felt more like a regular pulp sci-fi story.
Rating: 3.5 stars. I'll probably check out this series at some point in the future especially as I know it has a solid audio narrator in Neil Hellegers at the helm.
The Best Quest by Andrew Novak
This was a novella set in Novak's AlterGame series but it actually did a good job of acting as an introduction to his fantasy world. We got the chance to glimpse both the game world and the real world. Which is not always the case with the LitRPG books I read. The "real" world for the characters in this story was actually an intriguing post apocalyptic future. The game world was equally strange as it ended up being the most RPGey game world I've ever encountered in a LitRPG!
It worked out well though and ended up being a decent tale. Novak seemed to have a fairly engaging writing style. Probably the most easy to get into story of the whole anthology and the story itself stood alone very well as an independent story. I'm definitely interested in reading a book from the full series.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Countdown by Pavel Kornev
It was not mentioned if this novella was part of any of Kornev's book series or not. I do not think it mattered too much as this worked great as a tiny stand alone story.
We followed the story of a guy who was basically a member of a police force of a hyper realistic VR world. It was his job to find and eliminate players who were abusing others in the game. His latest job is a tough one as he comes up against a murderous hacker!
The story was decent enough and the world seemed an interesting enough place. I might well give a Pavel Kornev book a go after reading this one.
Rating: 3 stars.
The Date by Marina and Alexey Osadchuk
This ended up being a short and rather strange story in terms of the nature of the anthology in general as this was as much cute YA romance as it was LitRPG. It touched on a few interesting topics like disability, real life meet ups, and learning to accept oneself.
It was a fun enough story and the characters were likeable enough. If there was a flaw it was in the fact that the VR elements of the story were a little uninspired. It was OK though so I'm still interested in giving a go to Project Daily Grind which is the series this novella was set in. That is a good thing considering I bought PDG on a whim a few months ago!
Rating: 3 stars.
The Story of a Raid by Vasily Mahanenko
This was the second Mahanenko novella in the tale and just like the first it was pretty poor. For some reason I just did not seem to connect with Mahanenko's writing.
This story was set in Mahanenko's sci-fi LitRPG The Galactagon series and followed the captain of a giant space ship as she launched an attack on a whole planet. It all felt a bit much and I was never given any reason to care about the characters or world. It also had a piss poor twist at the end that revealed this tale was basically about a bully victim who had went on to become a worse bully than those who abused her which was pretty depressing!
Rating: 1.5 stars.
All in all this was an OK anthology. Mahanenko sucked which was a pity as he was the only author with two novellas in the collection but what I read from the other authors was decent enough that I might one day give a go to their full novels. There was no outstanding stories in the anthology but the stories we did get were OK short glimpses into stories and worlds that seemed like they had the potential to be fun.
I'd say that while this anthology was not great it did mostly succeed in its task of making me more willing to give the majority of authors who took part in the collection a go. Which is good as I was not super enthusiastic about Russian LitRPG after reading a bunch of negative stuff about it online. Truth was I did not find anything more offensive here than I have while reading regular LitRPG and Osadchuk's tale was actually a fairly thoughtful one.
Overall rating: 3.5 stars.
Audio Note: The full anthology was narrated by Tim Campbell. He did OK but was nothing special as an audio narrator.
February 23, 2019
Lit-RPG is a new genre that is gaining popularity. I thought I would dip my toe into it through this book of short stories.
It appears that Lit-RPG is not my thing. I am surprised at this as I used to be a gamer and I loved Ready Player One. There was one story in here that I thought was ok. The rest didn't really work for me.
It is worth giving it a go as you may enjoy this genre, but I don't think reading any more Lit-RPG books.
It appears that Lit-RPG is not my thing. I am surprised at this as I used to be a gamer and I loved Ready Player One. There was one story in here that I thought was ok. The rest didn't really work for me.
It is worth giving it a go as you may enjoy this genre, but I don't think reading any more Lit-RPG books.
September 8, 2017
Spoilers abound in this book for anyone who isn't up to date on all the series contained within. I only read the shaman short and damn Fleita, look out! I cannot wait to see her in book 6!
January 30, 2017
Spoilers
This book has spoilers for the fifth book in the way of the shaman so if you are reading that series wait for the goth book to come out
This book has spoilers for the fifth book in the way of the shaman so if you are reading that series wait for the goth book to come out
May 20, 2017
An entertaining romp through various LitRPG scenarios. Enjoyed.
November 30, 2018
2.75 stars, I am not a big fan of the short story but this has given me a chance to look at other works by these authors so for that I did like the fact that I read this.
September 30, 2018
Great stories
This where all great stories. I will be checking out each author as time permits. Also, much better than average translations. Great read.
This where all great stories. I will be checking out each author as time permits. Also, much better than average translations. Great read.
October 9, 2023
Introduction:
Hey there, fellow book enthusiasts and gamers of all kinds! I'm Kiba Snowpaw, the alpha lone male Ice Wolf from the frozen world of HowlStrom. I've spent 36+ winters harnessing the power of ice magic, but today, I'm diving into the world of LitRPG stories. "You're in Game! #1" is a collection of novellas by some renowned Russian LitRPG authors, promising a thrilling journey through virtual realms and intriguing adventures.
Basic Plot Summary:
This anthology takes you on a whirlwind tour of LitRPG universes created by six talented Russian authors. Each novella offers a unique glimpse into a different gaming world, featuring exciting quests, immersive experiences, and new characters to root for. Whether you're exploring virtual realms or battling AI foes, "You're in Game! #1" promises a rollercoaster ride through the world of LitRPG.
Analysis/Evaluation:
- Shamanic Rites by Vasily Mahanenko: Unfortunately, this novella didn't howl its way into my heart. It felt like a love-struck cub's daydream in a dull game, lacking the captivating elements I hoped for. Rating: 2 stars.
- Purgatory by Andrei Livadny: Now, this one showed some promise. A criminal's mind in a hyper-realistic VR world, where experimentation and danger lurk around every corner. It gave me a taste of Livadny's intriguing universe. Rating: 3.5 stars.
- Throne World by Michael Atamanov: This sci-fi LitRPG offered a mix of suspense and surprises, but it occasionally forgot to explain the LitRPG elements clearly. Still, a thrilling ride. Rating: 3.5 stars.
- The Best Quest by Andrew Novak: Novak nailed it with a story that smoothly introduced his fantasy realm. Combining the real world with the game world in a post-apocalyptic setting was a stroke of genius. Rating: 3.5 stars.
- Countdown by Pavel Kornev: This standalone story showcased the dark side of a VR police officer's job. It was a decent tale that piqued my interest in Kornev's other works. Rating: 3 stars.
- The Date by Marina and Alexey Osadchuk: This tale added an unexpected twist to the anthology, mixing YA romance with LitRPG elements. It may not have been what I anticipated, but it had its charm. Rating: 3 stars.
- The Story of a Raid by Vasily Mahanenko: Unfortunately, Mahanenko's second attempt didn't fare much better. The story lacked depth, and the ending left a bitter taste in my icy mouth. Rating: 1.5 stars.
Characters:
The characters in these novellas vary in complexity and relatability. Some are forgettable, while others manage to capture your attention and sympathy. Overall, character development could have been more consistent across the collection.
Structure:
The anthology follows a well-structured format, with each novella offering a distinct perspective on LitRPG gaming. It's easy to pick up and put down, making it a convenient choice for a quick gaming-inspired read.
Impact:
While not all the stories hit the mark, "You're in Game! #1" introduces readers to various LitRPG sub-genres and authors. It serves as a decent entry point into the Russian LitRPG scene, and some novellas may encourage readers to explore full series by the featured authors.
Hook and Thesis:
The hook here is the promise of exploring diverse LitRPG worlds through the eyes of talented Russian authors. The thesis is to entertain and immerse readers in the thrill of virtual adventures, showcasing the creativity of these writers.
Praise and Critique:
Praise goes to the anthology's ability to introduce readers to different LitRPG universes. It's like sampling various flavors of ice cream before choosing your favorite. However, the overall quality varies, and a few novellas fall short in terms of engaging storytelling.
Evaluation:
While "You're in Game! #1" has its highs and lows, it succeeds in providing a taste of Russian LitRPG literature. It's worth exploring for those curious about the genre, but be prepared for a mixed experience.
Comparison:
Compared to other LitRPG anthologies, this collection offers a diverse range of stories but may not have the same consistency or depth as some Western counterparts.
Conclusion:
So, fellow book wolves, if you're looking to dive into LitRPG and want a sneak peek into Russian LitRPG authors' creations, "You're in Game! #1" is a reasonable starting point. Just remember to keep your expectations as balanced as a snowball on a windy day.
Hey there, fellow book enthusiasts and gamers of all kinds! I'm Kiba Snowpaw, the alpha lone male Ice Wolf from the frozen world of HowlStrom. I've spent 36+ winters harnessing the power of ice magic, but today, I'm diving into the world of LitRPG stories. "You're in Game! #1" is a collection of novellas by some renowned Russian LitRPG authors, promising a thrilling journey through virtual realms and intriguing adventures.
Basic Plot Summary:
This anthology takes you on a whirlwind tour of LitRPG universes created by six talented Russian authors. Each novella offers a unique glimpse into a different gaming world, featuring exciting quests, immersive experiences, and new characters to root for. Whether you're exploring virtual realms or battling AI foes, "You're in Game! #1" promises a rollercoaster ride through the world of LitRPG.
Analysis/Evaluation:
- Shamanic Rites by Vasily Mahanenko: Unfortunately, this novella didn't howl its way into my heart. It felt like a love-struck cub's daydream in a dull game, lacking the captivating elements I hoped for. Rating: 2 stars.
- Purgatory by Andrei Livadny: Now, this one showed some promise. A criminal's mind in a hyper-realistic VR world, where experimentation and danger lurk around every corner. It gave me a taste of Livadny's intriguing universe. Rating: 3.5 stars.
- Throne World by Michael Atamanov: This sci-fi LitRPG offered a mix of suspense and surprises, but it occasionally forgot to explain the LitRPG elements clearly. Still, a thrilling ride. Rating: 3.5 stars.
- The Best Quest by Andrew Novak: Novak nailed it with a story that smoothly introduced his fantasy realm. Combining the real world with the game world in a post-apocalyptic setting was a stroke of genius. Rating: 3.5 stars.
- Countdown by Pavel Kornev: This standalone story showcased the dark side of a VR police officer's job. It was a decent tale that piqued my interest in Kornev's other works. Rating: 3 stars.
- The Date by Marina and Alexey Osadchuk: This tale added an unexpected twist to the anthology, mixing YA romance with LitRPG elements. It may not have been what I anticipated, but it had its charm. Rating: 3 stars.
- The Story of a Raid by Vasily Mahanenko: Unfortunately, Mahanenko's second attempt didn't fare much better. The story lacked depth, and the ending left a bitter taste in my icy mouth. Rating: 1.5 stars.
Characters:
The characters in these novellas vary in complexity and relatability. Some are forgettable, while others manage to capture your attention and sympathy. Overall, character development could have been more consistent across the collection.
Structure:
The anthology follows a well-structured format, with each novella offering a distinct perspective on LitRPG gaming. It's easy to pick up and put down, making it a convenient choice for a quick gaming-inspired read.
Impact:
While not all the stories hit the mark, "You're in Game! #1" introduces readers to various LitRPG sub-genres and authors. It serves as a decent entry point into the Russian LitRPG scene, and some novellas may encourage readers to explore full series by the featured authors.
Hook and Thesis:
The hook here is the promise of exploring diverse LitRPG worlds through the eyes of talented Russian authors. The thesis is to entertain and immerse readers in the thrill of virtual adventures, showcasing the creativity of these writers.
Praise and Critique:
Praise goes to the anthology's ability to introduce readers to different LitRPG universes. It's like sampling various flavors of ice cream before choosing your favorite. However, the overall quality varies, and a few novellas fall short in terms of engaging storytelling.
Evaluation:
While "You're in Game! #1" has its highs and lows, it succeeds in providing a taste of Russian LitRPG literature. It's worth exploring for those curious about the genre, but be prepared for a mixed experience.
Comparison:
Compared to other LitRPG anthologies, this collection offers a diverse range of stories but may not have the same consistency or depth as some Western counterparts.
Conclusion:
So, fellow book wolves, if you're looking to dive into LitRPG and want a sneak peek into Russian LitRPG authors' creations, "You're in Game! #1" is a reasonable starting point. Just remember to keep your expectations as balanced as a snowball on a windy day.
November 14, 2019
Solo he leído el relato que concierne a The Way of the Shaman, de V. Mahanenco, pues me estoy leyendo la saga.
Atención: se debe leer este relato después del 5º libro y no antes.
Decir de él que es bastante soso. La información que aporta al universo del juego es más bien poca. Pero es cortito y se lee rápido.
Atención: se debe leer este relato después del 5º libro y no antes.
Decir de él que es bastante soso. La información que aporta al universo del juego es más bien poca. Pero es cortito y se lee rápido.
June 28, 2017
Kindle Unlimited
didin't really like any of them at all, except for the one about the game designer with the character Jacob; not much real story telling in any of them, and that's with the knowledge that a short story/collection/anthology has limited space for each story
didin't really like any of them at all, except for the one about the game designer with the character Jacob; not much real story telling in any of them, and that's with the knowledge that a short story/collection/anthology has limited space for each story
March 28, 2022
There were a few good ones, but overall, I found the collection to be rather weak and uninteresting...
March 29, 2023
Loved the short stories. Especially the series I've read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews