Suri Five

The Fringe Collection #2

by Jacob Whaler, Nancy Browning (Editor)

Consumed with grief and rage at the death of her mother from brain cancer, Suri channels her anger into a mysterious virtual reality war zone called the Game where she quickly rises to the top. A covert military unit is watching. Using a deep copy of Suri’s brain, they build Five, the ultimate artificial intelligence. As the digital embodiment of Suri's anger, Five is the perfect weapon for the cyberwar with China. But when Five is unleashed online, she slips off her chains, turns against her creators and, with all of Suri’s rage boiling inside, vows to annihilate humankind. As the military tries, and fails, to contain the damage, the truth finally dawns on them. Only Suri can stop Five. The Fringe Collection is a series of science fiction/thriller novels set in a dystopian/post-apocalyptic near-future. Each book is a fast-paced read with a strong female protagonist. You’ll be thinking about deep issues in the midst of non-stop action and suspense. The books contain elements of speculative fiction, mystery and cyberpunk in a techno-thriller setting and are recommended for ages 13 through adult. Each novel in The Fringe Collection is a standalone story; they can be enjoyed in any order.



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Genres: Science Fiction

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 29, 2016

About the author

I first learned about the power of words when, at the age of 14, I picked up a torn copy of The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury. It blew me away. I devoured his other books in quick succession: Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451. I didn't just read his books; I lived them. His novels and short stories were my secret world, not just a place of escape, but a universe where my imagination could soar beyond the limits of time and space. In high school I discovered other writers like J.R.R. Tolkien and Edgar Rice Burroughs. I fancied myself to be Strider or John Carter and made a sword from a machete, complete with a leather sheath.

My English teacher insisted that we try creative writing ourselves. To my surprise, I enjoyed it immensely. From time to time, there were fleeting thoughts about writing my own novels. By the time I went to college to study economics and philosophy, reading and writing were an essential part of my life. Along the way, I spent time in Japan and learned to read Japanese. Then came law school and work in international law firms. I still made time to read, but my writing consisted of drafting corporate documentation. It taught me once again the power of words, not only to stimulate our imaginations, but also to control the flow of money around the globe.

As time passed, I felt the urge to write my own novels. My inner voice said it couldn't be done, that novel writing was for other, loftier minds. Then one day, I got tired of the inner voice telling me what I could and couldn't do. With it screaming in my ears, I grabbed my laptop and began to write the kind of books I wanted to read. The rest is, well, history.

Reviews

[Todd Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was captivating, dark and gritty, and very well written. Jacob Whaler has done a magnificent job of taking me away to another world, with a plot that thoroughly kept my interest throughout the book. Suri still feels the pain of losing her mum, and she pretty much hates everyone. Except her little brother Tommy, who is one of the smartest people she knows. It continues to amaze her that he doesn’t kill and will only fight with bamboo sticks when they are playing ‘The Game’. It’s pretty much what they both live for, teaming up together to fight in The Game on the Mesh. Suri is what of the top players, and because of this she is invited by the programmers of the game to test out a new advanced helmet. However, Suri is warned by the Richard, the new boy at school, that the programmers have other intentions and it could be dangerous. Richard also plays the game, but of course Suri initially doesn’t trust him. As everyone that plays the game is trying to gather points at the expense of other players. Suri starts to wonder if it’s actually Tommy that the programmers are after. Tommy has the unique ability to sense what’s going to happen in the game before it happens. Suri’s got one hell of a fight on her hands if she is going to save her brother. Some stories can be predictable, but this was definitely not one of those, and I think that’s one of the things I enjoyed most about this book. Also, it has a bunch of wonderful characters. Well worth a read.

[Alicia Huxtable · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike anything I've read before in this genre.......and it was fantastic!!! The characters were so well thought out and written as was the storyline. Sucks you in completely right from the first word and it's a bit like quicksand, you might want to get out but you can't........until your finished. But even then, it feels like you should still be reading more

[Patiscynical · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tedious

The main character is a thoroughly unpleasant high school senior who constantly plays a mesh (internet) game. She is a bully, dull as ditch water, and has no redeeming qualities. This book is set mainly inside the Game, and to me, reading about someone playing a game is infinitely boring. I'd rather play than read about someone else playing.
Results: I can't finish this. I made it to chapter 8, but I feel I'm just wasting time.

[Charles Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

After her mother died, Suri allowed herself to be consumed by anger at everyone and everything, except her brother, Tommy, with whom she submerges herself in the Game, an interactive battle simulation that they are both expert at. What she doesn’t know until too late is that a secret government agency has designed the Game to identify and recruit fighters for the not-so-secret cyber war between the US and China. They make a copy of Suri’s brain, from which they construct an AI replica, Suri Five, which is deployed into the Web, resulting in the almost complete destruction of China. But, things go awry when Suri Five then turns her wrath on her creators, threatening to destroy everything unless they give her Tommy. Now, Suri must save the world by killing—herself.
Suri Five by Jacob Whaler is a riveting techno-thriller that follows Suri as she dives into the Web in an effort to defeat an AI that is more ruthless and capable than she is, even with the help of Richard, a new kid in her school who is not intimidated by her alpha-bully status. Well-paced, this story will keep you on the edge of your seat as Suri comes to a devastating realization—in order to save the world, she must sacrifice the thing that is most important to her. I found the font and spacing in this e-book a bit problematic, but the plot and writing were first-rate.
I received a free copy of this book.

[Royce Sears · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was contacted by the author and asked to review this novel.

Suri Five addresses Artificial Intelligence, a topic that I thoroughly enjoy, and it happens to be a major theme in the novel I just recently finished writing. The author uses the idea of making a digital copy of a human brain in order to obtain true duplication of human intelligence. The model for the AI is based on a teenage girl, Suri, who excels in a virtual reality world known as The Game.

I found Suri Five to be a curious style of virtual-reality based story-telling that lends itself well to fantastic flights of the imagination. The story got off to a bit of a slow start, with the author falling into the sci-fi author's trap of too much world-building via exposition while the character is in the midst of an action scene. Despite the rough start, Suri Five is an engaging read with well-developed characters who draw the reader into a Matrix-like virtual reality world and provide the reader with an unexpected twist at the end.

[Scott Golightly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 of The Fringe Collection, but it is not a sequel. I was confused for the first few pages since this book does not start where the first one ends, nor does it reference any events from the first book. Once I got my head wrapped around that fact, I found that I started enjoying the book more.
The story seemed fairly well-paced, although there were a couple of points where I wondered where the story was going. I thought I had reached the finishing scenes and then saw that I was only 75% of the way through the book. I was worried that there would be a long, drawn-out conclusion, or worse, a lot of story after the action had ended, but the author took the story in an unanticipated direction, and I found myself right back in the action and enjoying the book.

[Charles Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when the U.S. build an Artificial Intelligence based on the mind of an eighteen year old bully girl?

To make matters worse, we weaponised the AI. Then we anger it. This is the premise of _Sufi Five_. This novel is one of the better Dystopian AI novels I've ever read; which puts it on par with _2001: A Space Odyssey_, _When H.A.R.L.I.E. Was One_, and Asimov's Robotics novels--at least in my opinion.

[Sydnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hmm

A really good book. Ended with heart break and chills. Not gonna lie: I wanted Suri to kill the B-guy (can’t spell his name for my life) and then I wanted her to, not destroy the world, but take control and pretty much conquer it- change the government force people to live the right way, Tommy’s way. But I’m just a raging spiteful bitch like that. I don’t think I could’ve stopped myself.

[Bob Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping and Visually Stimulating

I would've given it a 5 star but the typos and random sentence's just detracted from how good this book really is. Suri and Tommy's relationship was so real the way an older sister would look out for their younger brother. Definitely a good read.

[Kah Juay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't finish the book. I really tried, and read the book till Chapter 17 before I had to give it up. The protagonist is simply too unlikable, and I feel more for the bullied people around her. Suri needs counselling to deal with her grief, and her irrational anger of blaming others.

[Patricia Grigg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a story taking an old theme making the story into something entirely mind-blowing. I suggest you jump in and have a wild ride of your own. Many thanks to the author.

[Escape Into Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suri Five is a fast paced cyber punk/dystopian/science fiction book about what happens when the government creates an AI who becomes self-aware and starts to wreak havoc on the world. Their only hope is the rage filled teenager whose brain they illegally copied to make the AI.

**********************************

I am going to start by saying this had to have been one of the best cyberpunk/dystopian books that I have read to date. The book sucks you in and then takes you on a wild ride following Suri. Then it spits you out and makes you think about what you just read. Because fighting wars digitally and with AI’s are definitely in our future. As well as a world that totally relies on the Internet (known as the Mesh) for everything. If you think about it, its scary and that is what made this book so good.

I thought that the class separation (just rich and poor with no middle class) is spot on also. The middle class is quickly disappearing and unfortunately, this is something that I can see happening. And the wall, don’t even get me started on that.

What also makes this book good is that Suri is a totally unlikable character. She is a self admitted bully with severe anger issues that started when she was 8 and her mother died of a brain tumor. The only time she was nice was when her younger brother, Tommy. Then she acted like a normal human being who wasn’t consumed by anger. To be honest, that was the only saving grace that she had in my eyes because I couldn’t stand her. I actually said out loud, and my SO just gave me this look when I said it, “Girl, you need therapy and meds”.

I liked Richard (or Dick as Suri decided to call him) a lot but I did think he was a fool to keep coming back and trying to warn Suri about The Game. She even got him expelled from school by hacking into the school’s system after he dared to try to talk to her during school. I don’t think he liked her that much but I do think that he felt that he needed to warn her about Blodgett. I mean, he was always there to save her. At one point in the book, I thought that there was going to be a romance blossoming and I was so thankful that nothing happened from it. To be honest, romance wouldn’t have fit into this book.

Blodgett was so slimy in this book. He did things so underhand, like get a copy of Suri’s brain under the guise that she had the same type of brain tumor that her mother did. What an awful, underhand thing to do to people. And all the training in The Game that he did had a double purpose too. I felt so dirty after reading the scenes with him in it that I wanted to take a shower.

Suri Five, I kinda felt bad for but at the same time I was chilled by what I read. I mean, she didn’t ask to be brought to life, she didn’t ask to be an exact copy of Suri and have her rage issues and she definitely didn’t ask to be a weapon of war. But however, she was self-aware and once she turned off her fail safe, she could have made the choice to not do what she did. Instead, she turned into what Suri couldn’t be in real life, a mass murderer.

Oh and I do have to mention her name. Her same is actually Suri V. Take a good long look at it. So fitting for the book!!!

There is a huge plot twist that actually broke my heart. I did not see it coming and when it happened, I cried. It literally broke my heart. I couldn’t understand why it had to be that person but at the same time I understood….if that makes sense.

The end of the book was actually pretty sad too. The last words of the book wrenched my heart. Arrgggh.

How many stars will I give Suri Five: 5

Why: I really enjoyed reading Suri Five. Like I stated above, it is a very fast paced book with scenarios that could actually happen….given time. After I finished reading it, I had to stop and think about it.

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Older teen

Why: Violence and some mild language.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Men have become the tools of their tools.’ — Henry David Thoreau

Author Jacob Whaler has lived and worked in New York City, Tokyo and Los Angeles, but now keeps his writing station secret. He states ‘I have experienced the power of words in my own life, and my belief in that power to fire our imaginations and lift our minds to new heights pushes me to write. In my professional life, I've used words to build meaning into arcane corporate documents that control the flow of hundreds of millions of dollars around the globe. Words are powerful. But I believe they can move more than just money. Words can move minds. That’s why I've become a writer of novels. Back in high school, I learned to program computers. It's a different kind of writing, a different kind of language. But like any good writing, it's a string of written instructions that has an effect on the real world. I'd like to think that the words of my novels are like computer code for human brains.’ His biographical data is scant, but the words here quoted tell us more about Jacob and his art than any resume could. SURI FIVE is his sixth novel.

Jacob’s ability to make surreal/science fiction/fantasy palpable visual and credible is one of his many strong points as a writer. An example of how he sculpts his main character by placing her in the new before the story takes off is here: ‘I slowed the pace near the end of my morning jog. It was late summer, first day of school. A man dropped out of an oak tree behind me, slammed into the pavement and rolled. Staggering to his feet with a forehead dripping blood, he grinned and ran after me. Heart exploding beneath my nano-shirt, I shifted into a sprint. But no matter how hard I pushed, the crazy man was gaining on me, his feet thudding the pavement louder, heavier, closer. The sound told me everything: he was poor, from the Fringe, with old shoes of recycled carbon that made a cheap slapping noise with every stride. Thin, out of shape and not used to running, he was running anyway, desperation in every breath. Don’t look back, I told myself. Keep moving. He can’t keep up this pace for long. He’ll give up. Get tired. Go away. As I rounded a turn, another pair of feet leapt out of the bushes and landed on the pavement behind me, joining in the chase. There were grunts of recognition between them. Same shoes, same desperation. They were hunting me, a lone high school girl out for a sunrise run. So cliché.’ And so we meet Suri.

The author’s website offers a fine synopsis: ‘A monster lurks inside Suri. Eight years ago, her mother died from brain cancer. She’s eighteen now and still consumed with grief and rage. After hacking into a virtual reality battleground called the Game, she discovers an outlet for her anger and hones a vicious fighting style. A covert government unit has been watching. Convinced that Suri is the perfect weapon in the cyberwar with China, they make a deep copy of her brain. From it, they construct Five, Suri’s alter ego and the ultimate artificial intelligence. Unleashed on the world with all of Suri’s rage and memories, Five infiltrates China’s online network. Millions die in her wake. And then, Five changes her programming, turns against her creators and vows to destroy the human world. With instant access to all information, she is ruthless, cunning and untouchable. Only one person knows Five well enough to stop her. Suri.’

Creative, addicting and beautifully SURI FIVE establishes the solid stance in writing science fiction that challenges imagination and intellect. This is a very solid book.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

China and the Unites States divided the world and are not at war. Suri is one of the best Game players. Now instead of a game, her actions become real as she agrees to cross the DMZ to attack China to save her brother Tommy from the deadly game. Along the way, she finds some unexpected help. The plot weaves gaming with artificial intelligence with politics. The book is appropriate for junior and high school students. There are some grammatical errors, but the errors might be appropriate considering the age and educational focus of the protagonist.

The author randomly chose me to receive this book free because I frequently review books within the genre. Although encouraged, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Chessy The Cat · Rating 2 out of 5]

An Artificial Intelligence With An Attitude

Suri is a high school senior with a lot of anger that she has been feeding since the death of her mother six years ago. Her 12-year old brother, Tommy, joins her regularly playing a virtual reality Mesh game. They are two of the best players. A clandestine government agency has been studying their tactics and want to use a model of Suri’s brain to fight the cyber war with China. Will Suri agree? Will she be able to protect Tommy from this agency? How will this affect her family?

Whaler’s novel, Suri Five, is a cyber punk dystopian thriller. It has a good storyline with believable characters and a fast pace. There are several twists that keep you guessing and a surprise ending that had me saying “No!”.

What was disappointing for me was the bad editing. I don’t mean a few typos here and there. There were several major plot holes and continuity errors that should have never seen the light of day. These were distracting and ruined the chapters where they were located. I pointed the first two within the first three chapters to the author. So, hopefully, he will hire a good editor and upload a corrected copy before you have a chance to read it.

2 out of 5 stars due to editing.

I received this book for free from the author for review consideration. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.

[Linda Romer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suri Five by Jacob Whaler
-Men have become the tools of their tools-Henry David Thoreau

I loved Suri Five. This book is a gamers dream. I'm not much of a gamer, but I am a lover of Science Fiction. This book has plenty of both. I enjoy the thought pattern of this Author. I have read a few of his books and loved them all, this one as well. He pulls you into the story and you feel like your playing the game. I really enjoyed the characters in this novel. Suri for sure was my favorite, I could even imagine being her while reading. Suri is a strong and determined character with a lot of pent up anger, but you still manage to like her and cheer her on. I also enjoyed Richard [dick], his character was a true, never relenting friend.
The plot is fascinating, a cyber war of sorts between The United States and China.
The outcome climatic as always with Author Jacob Whaler's Novels. I encourage you to give this book a try, it truly is excellent
I give Suri Five 5 stars for its Riveting read and clever characters.
I would recommend this book to everyone.

[10914 Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suri Five completely broke my heart. This was a long, intense, action-packed, and captivating read. I was initially confused for the first few chapters of the book. It was more of being thrown into a new world and needing to adjusting right away, but once I kind of figured everything out, I was able to get right into the story. The ending is absolutely mind blowing! I actually thought I could predict the ending and that it would be much different than it turned out to be. Boy, was I wrong! SHOCKER! In a good way. :)

P.S. the cover is amazing!

[Jake Nebeker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short read was a great adventure. I have never read science fiction, and this was a great book to start. Jacob Whaler has a great voice and a real talent to grab the reader. I’ll be looking for his other books soon.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting perspective on AI and its threat to society.

[Catey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read!

Interesting premise and story! Really enjoyed this. Clever title too - how did I miss that? Would like to know/read Richard's story...

[Philip Lightbear]

Good story line, now continue it!!