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Red Nexus
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Foreword Reviews INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award Finalist and has received five stars from Reader's Favorite
Once part of the Tokyo elite, Wen Harkwell lost his status when his mother died, and now he’s forced to labor in the depths of the city, far from the easy life of the Heights, struggling to support his thirteen-year-old brother Sammy. By day he toils in a factory and by night he digs for scrap in the infamous Heap under the city. One night Wen is drawn to an old book he finds and risks taking it home—a quick decision with devastating consequences.
Soon after, Sammy is kidnapped, and when Wen turns to a friend and coworker for help, the two find themselves embroiled in a secret high-tech operation that will stop at nothing to maintain their ciphered code. When Wen realizes that the same corporation connected to his mother’s disappearance is behind the attack, he knows he must do whatever it takes to save his brother—even if it means working for the enemy.
ISBN-10: 1505870941
ISBN-13: 978-1505870947
Foreword Reviews INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award Finalist and has received five stars from Reader's Favorite
Once part of the Tokyo elite, Wen Harkwell lost his status when his mother died, and now he’s forced to labor in the depths of the city, far from the easy life of the Heights, struggling to support his thirteen-year-old brother Sammy. By day he toils in a factory and by night he digs for scrap in the infamous Heap under the city. One night Wen is drawn to an old book he finds and risks taking it home—a quick decision with devastating consequences.
Soon after, Sammy is kidnapped, and when Wen turns to a friend and coworker for help, the two find themselves embroiled in a secret high-tech operation that will stop at nothing to maintain their ciphered code. When Wen realizes that the same corporation connected to his mother’s disappearance is behind the attack, he knows he must do whatever it takes to save his brother—even if it means working for the enemy.
ISBN-10: 1505870941
ISBN-13: 978-1505870947
257 pages, Paperback
First published March 9, 2015
15 people are currently reading
713 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 5, 2017
A gritty, dystopian tale of a young man trying to make his way and raise his brother after the disappearance of his mother. Red Nexus takes us through the seamy underside of life in the lower levels of the new mega city, literally built, layer on layer, on the bones of the old city. Wen is a factory worker who moonlights as a scavenger, travelling into the lower levels to find salvage which can be sold on the black market.
On one visit, he finds an old book which will change his life in ways he could never imagine, endangering his life as well as that of his brother and everyone else he holds dear, taking him to the heights of the upper class business world with all of it's corruption and corporate warfare.
Chartier tells a dark but compelling story peopled by richly drawn characters, both endearing and disturbing. The ever hopeful Sammy, Oscar and the cynical salvage crew, old Joe the homeless man, the always perky Jenna and so many more each add their layers of vivid colour to the dark and almost surreal future world the author has painted.
Red Nexus is one of the best new S.F. stories I have read recently and I highly recommend it.
On one visit, he finds an old book which will change his life in ways he could never imagine, endangering his life as well as that of his brother and everyone else he holds dear, taking him to the heights of the upper class business world with all of it's corruption and corporate warfare.
Chartier tells a dark but compelling story peopled by richly drawn characters, both endearing and disturbing. The ever hopeful Sammy, Oscar and the cynical salvage crew, old Joe the homeless man, the always perky Jenna and so many more each add their layers of vivid colour to the dark and almost surreal future world the author has painted.
Red Nexus is one of the best new S.F. stories I have read recently and I highly recommend it.
April 8, 2017
Excellent story. Engaging, smartly written. We follow a character while discovering things as he does, not arriving to conclusions before hand, like too many modern stories.
Realistically the only complaint I have is the chapter lengths. I'm a reader that splits my reading time from chapter to chapter, and I found before I was really able to get into the story the chapters seemed to be never ending. Fortunately the story gets interesting quickly and that soon passed.
If you like a near dystopian universe and are looking for a smart read, this is the book for you.
Realistically the only complaint I have is the chapter lengths. I'm a reader that splits my reading time from chapter to chapter, and I found before I was really able to get into the story the chapters seemed to be never ending. Fortunately the story gets interesting quickly and that soon passed.
If you like a near dystopian universe and are looking for a smart read, this is the book for you.
August 23, 2017
This was an indiefab finalist, but the truth is that I'm having a hard time knowing what to say about it. Chartier's world-building here is impressive and complete, but the novel as a whole felt something less than complete--as if the story-telling (as opposed to the world-building) was a bit rushed, just pulled together as a mechanism for exploring the universe and ideas. From the beginning, I had a hard time engaging with the characters or feeling them to be more than superficial, and as things went on, it seemed like the points where conflict was at its highest were just rushed through. By the time I was catching up to the story and the emotion, it was already moving on.
All told, I just felt as if it was rushed, and lacking depth of character, though the ideas were there. It just needed to be slowed down--truth be told, this probably could have been a full series and been more engaging, as opposed to a single, relatively short book.
I'd read more from the author if it weren't self-published, but I can't help feeling that this would have benefited from more time and development, prior to publication.
All told, I just felt as if it was rushed, and lacking depth of character, though the ideas were there. It just needed to be slowed down--truth be told, this probably could have been a full series and been more engaging, as opposed to a single, relatively short book.
I'd read more from the author if it weren't self-published, but I can't help feeling that this would have benefited from more time and development, prior to publication.
April 17, 2017
Super good sci fi book. I gave it 3 stars instead of four only because some of the story felt rushed at the end. It was missing a few details about some minor characters. I think 3 1/2 stars would have been more accurate. Solid book, though! Very interesting futuristic story. Looking forward to another book by this author.
June 19, 2022
I met Benoit at the Niagara Falls Comic Con in 2018, and bought Red Nexus off of him, along with a poster of the front cover. I put it on my wall not long after, but left the novel on my bookshelf for quite some time. That poster has been on my wall since, something that I've stared at while going through university. It wasn't until I just recently graduated that I finally got the urge to read Red Nexus in order to ease me back into writing.
While this novel is a bit rough, there is a lot of love and care put into it.
Pros:
-I liked Wen a lot and couldn't help but sympathize with him. While I initially thought his concept with Sammy was a bit cliche, I was still attached to him. I am going through a similar period in my life right now trying to find a good job and make a name for myself, so I saw a lot of myself in Wen. I kind of regret putting this novel off for so long, but I also feel like I read it at the right time in my life.
-I was worried Wen was going to be too unlikable, or too broody, but he read as just a guy to me living in a kind of sucky world. So while he could be negative, it didn't feel too overwhelming. I also liked the chemistry between him and Taz, and him with Andrei.
-To me, the characters carried the novel when they got the spotlight. There was not a character that I did not like at all--liked to hate, sure, but not HATE.
-I liked the diversity in this novel, it's another thing that caught my attention and why I wanted to read it.
-While I'm usually turned off by dystopias, this strayed enough from YA dystopia as an adult Sci-Fi dystopia novel that I got into it.
-The worldbuilding was extensive--it felt like a real place.
Cons:
-The pacing was not the best. It felt too fast for most of the novel, and the formatting did not help. There were huge paragraphs that could have been broken down into multiple smaller paragraphs, while sometimes the action was just too quickly done in a single sentence to transition Wen somewhere else. This would aid in formatting and pacing. I've started writing myself, so the whole time I was picking out these big paragraphs and odd transitions.
-Because of the weird pacing, this novel could have been its own trilogy. I thought a lot of the act 3 conflict was just not developed beforehand, and felt like it came out of left field. If the novel was longer, or an entire series, this could have been expanded on. For example, the CEO of DaiSin being multiple centuries old, the brains powering DaiSin, etc. While Joe was set up, there was still a lot that was just dumped on you at the end that wasn't shown earlier.
-The beginning was rough, including the beginning paragraph. I had to reread it multiple times to make sure I really understood what was going on. While I appreciate the instant hook, it was also overwhelming and confusing.
-I was a bit confused that Wen was 'crippled' with neural implants. To me, I read this as Wen as HoH/deaf with the implants acting as hearing aids, but I now realize it was the DaiSin programming. It just felt a bit vague on the back of the book.
-This is more of a nitpick, but I graduated in a degree in biochemistry and still can't make out the genetic surgeon and him using his daughter's DNA to help Zella transition. I couldn't help but like her and find it interesting, as I was considering a similar concept myself. It just felt a little jarring and vague.
Overall, I had a fun time with this novel. If it ever gets published again through a traditional publishing company and got edited significantly, I would be interested in giving it another go.
While this novel is a bit rough, there is a lot of love and care put into it.
Pros:
-I liked Wen a lot and couldn't help but sympathize with him. While I initially thought his concept with Sammy was a bit cliche, I was still attached to him. I am going through a similar period in my life right now trying to find a good job and make a name for myself, so I saw a lot of myself in Wen. I kind of regret putting this novel off for so long, but I also feel like I read it at the right time in my life.
-I was worried Wen was going to be too unlikable, or too broody, but he read as just a guy to me living in a kind of sucky world. So while he could be negative, it didn't feel too overwhelming. I also liked the chemistry between him and Taz, and him with Andrei.
-To me, the characters carried the novel when they got the spotlight. There was not a character that I did not like at all--liked to hate, sure, but not HATE.
-I liked the diversity in this novel, it's another thing that caught my attention and why I wanted to read it.
-While I'm usually turned off by dystopias, this strayed enough from YA dystopia as an adult Sci-Fi dystopia novel that I got into it.
-The worldbuilding was extensive--it felt like a real place.
Cons:
-The pacing was not the best. It felt too fast for most of the novel, and the formatting did not help. There were huge paragraphs that could have been broken down into multiple smaller paragraphs, while sometimes the action was just too quickly done in a single sentence to transition Wen somewhere else. This would aid in formatting and pacing. I've started writing myself, so the whole time I was picking out these big paragraphs and odd transitions.
-Because of the weird pacing, this novel could have been its own trilogy. I thought a lot of the act 3 conflict was just not developed beforehand, and felt like it came out of left field. If the novel was longer, or an entire series, this could have been expanded on. For example, the CEO of DaiSin being multiple centuries old, the brains powering DaiSin, etc. While Joe was set up, there was still a lot that was just dumped on you at the end that wasn't shown earlier.
-The beginning was rough, including the beginning paragraph. I had to reread it multiple times to make sure I really understood what was going on. While I appreciate the instant hook, it was also overwhelming and confusing.
-I was a bit confused that Wen was 'crippled' with neural implants. To me, I read this as Wen as HoH/deaf with the implants acting as hearing aids, but I now realize it was the DaiSin programming. It just felt a bit vague on the back of the book.
-This is more of a nitpick, but I graduated in a degree in biochemistry and still can't make out the genetic surgeon and him using his daughter's DNA to help Zella transition. I couldn't help but like her and find it interesting, as I was considering a similar concept myself. It just felt a little jarring and vague.
Overall, I had a fun time with this novel. If it ever gets published again through a traditional publishing company and got edited significantly, I would be interested in giving it another go.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2018
Wen is just trying to survive, raising his thirteen year old brother, Sammy, in a post apocalyptic Tokyo. They live on the lowest levels, never seeing sunlight, fortunate
just for the small space they occupy since their mother's disappearance when Sammy was just four. After his day job, Wen is a scrapper on the unlivable surface of the city, an illegal activity to make ends meet. When Sammy goes missing, as their mother before him, Wen literally delves into the mind of the beast in this intriguing story of espionage, political unrest and betrayal on all sides. If you love gaming or computers this is a great book for you! Totally a novice in those fields? You won't be left behind in this study of human motivations! Looking for action it's all here! Beautifully worded prose, Benoit Chartier has every base covered! I received this book free and am voluntarily posting this review.
just for the small space they occupy since their mother's disappearance when Sammy was just four. After his day job, Wen is a scrapper on the unlivable surface of the city, an illegal activity to make ends meet. When Sammy goes missing, as their mother before him, Wen literally delves into the mind of the beast in this intriguing story of espionage, political unrest and betrayal on all sides. If you love gaming or computers this is a great book for you! Totally a novice in those fields? You won't be left behind in this study of human motivations! Looking for action it's all here! Beautifully worded prose, Benoit Chartier has every base covered! I received this book free and am voluntarily posting this review.
July 7, 2017
Red Nexus is a great read. Even more so if you are into the matrix side of cyberpunk in a corporate-controlled world. It is a very detailed setting and Benoit does a good job of bringing out the external and internal struggles Wen faces. I'm glad I picked it up at Ottawa Comiccon.
The reason I didn't give this five stars is the quantity of detail that is crammed in there and only seen once before the story takes us elsewhere. It is well paced for an action movie but I would also have enjoyed to spend a bit more time in each area/relationship and explore people's motivations before moving on. I think that two books could have been written from this one.
I don't know where things would go in a sequel but I'd be keen to find out. Keep up the good work.
The reason I didn't give this five stars is the quantity of detail that is crammed in there and only seen once before the story takes us elsewhere. It is well paced for an action movie but I would also have enjoyed to spend a bit more time in each area/relationship and explore people's motivations before moving on. I think that two books could have been written from this one.
I don't know where things would go in a sequel but I'd be keen to find out. Keep up the good work.
August 14, 2017
I bought Red Nexus at FanExpo 2016 as an encouragement for a self-published author. Little I knew then that, in the near future, I'll become one myself. Red Nexus was a pleasant surprise. It's well written, abundant in details that show the author's familiarity with Tokyo's neighborhoods which he extrapolated into the future. The characters are properly defined and the technologies brought forward are credible. I'll sure purchase Benoit's next book.
January 11, 2023
Definitly worth a read. Im not big on the sci-fi genre but Benoit has convinced me on it.
Wen's journey in this book is well written and you can clearly see him growing as the story progresses. Additionally the world as decribed by Benoit is extremely specific and makes a reader feel that they are a part of it.
The only downside I feel is the ending, which is a bit abrupt and rushed, thus marked it 3 instead of 4 stars
Wen's journey in this book is well written and you can clearly see him growing as the story progresses. Additionally the world as decribed by Benoit is extremely specific and makes a reader feel that they are a part of it.
The only downside I feel is the ending, which is a bit abrupt and rushed, thus marked it 3 instead of 4 stars
April 10, 2025
This was a wonderful story. I love to dystopian setting and the imagery that goes along with it. The world is so unique and I truly felt like I was following alongside Wen throughout. My primary pull to this novel was its incorporation with neuroscience and what is essentially whole brain emulation. The war on the government fought through neural networks is a crazy concept but may not be so far off from what is expected in our future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2020
3.5-4 stars. Really interesting premise, interesting characters. I don't normally read SciFi but made an exception for this book as I picked it up at a local Comicon. Looking forward to seeing how the world is further developed!
October 15, 2023
I enjoyed the story very much. It took about half a chapter to fully get hooked but once I did I was with Wen throughout the entire tale and look forward to reading the next adventures. Thank you for writing this story.
March 31, 2022
This book was amazing!! I’m glad I came back to get it! I definitely cried when Sammy “died” which shows that it was very well written! I’m totally buying the second book!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2023
Loved the book! I enjoyed the world the story was set in as well as the characters.
I recommend this book.
I recommend this book.
January 10, 2024
It's a great read!!! I was sad when I came to the end of the book, would love to know how Wen made out as CEO!!
August 9, 2024
I really enjoyed the book, I fond it hard to get into it but once you you in I wanted to finish it..:-)
November 2, 2015
Red Nexus by Benoit Chartier
Reviewed by Martin Bueno
November 2015 (Ottawa Review of Books)
In the futuristic dystopian Asian world of Benoit Chartier’s Red Nexus, citizens live in apartment buildings of staggering heights. The privileged classes bask in the sun-drenched higher levels while poor hard-working souls like the novel's hero, Wen Harkwell, languish on the sombre lower levels. And the homeless roam at the street level in near-perpetual darkness occasionally punctured by a priceless patch of light the size of a palm.
When their mothers dies, Wen, and his school-aged brother, Sammy, lose their status and are forced to eke out an existence by becoming slave labour. To make ends meet, Wen joins a group of night scavengers who work the garbage heaps of the lower streets policed by armed robots.
In Wen's world, Japanese multinational corporations like DaiSin not only dominate employees by demanding allegiance but also control them both physically and mentally with their neural electrode implants casting the population in a ‘virtual world’ similar to ‘the Matrix’ where battles are fought on a computer-generated landscape against rival organizations. Wen is drawn into one of these battles when the same multinational that took their mother kidnaps his younger brother Sammy. Wen and his friends embark on a rescue effort, transporting him “virtually” behind enemy lines. Before long, he finds himself embroiled in ever larger conflicts, which continually test his stealth, bravery and determination.
The combat scenes of this intense, highly imaginative action story would thrill any Science Fiction enthusiast. The pages explode into exciting military conquests that test loyalty to leaders and hurl motivated individuals like Wen, ever humble about his accomplishments, into leadership roles, which tests the limits of old friendships.
Benoit Chartier’s Red Nexus is as entertaining as some of the best action movies, and at the same time compels us to reflect on values we set on family, and raises disturbing questions about what could become of corporate allegiances, should we allow them to take control of us.
To quote Wen’s arch enemy Nabeen Singh: “If you don’t take it, Someone else will”
Red Nexus is self-published through Createspace and available from Amazon.com and Amazon.ca. In Ottawa, copies can be purchased from Black Squirrel Books and Books on Beechwood.
Ref: http://www.ottawareviewofbooks.com/#!...
Reviewed by Martin Bueno
November 2015 (Ottawa Review of Books)
In the futuristic dystopian Asian world of Benoit Chartier’s Red Nexus, citizens live in apartment buildings of staggering heights. The privileged classes bask in the sun-drenched higher levels while poor hard-working souls like the novel's hero, Wen Harkwell, languish on the sombre lower levels. And the homeless roam at the street level in near-perpetual darkness occasionally punctured by a priceless patch of light the size of a palm.
When their mothers dies, Wen, and his school-aged brother, Sammy, lose their status and are forced to eke out an existence by becoming slave labour. To make ends meet, Wen joins a group of night scavengers who work the garbage heaps of the lower streets policed by armed robots.
In Wen's world, Japanese multinational corporations like DaiSin not only dominate employees by demanding allegiance but also control them both physically and mentally with their neural electrode implants casting the population in a ‘virtual world’ similar to ‘the Matrix’ where battles are fought on a computer-generated landscape against rival organizations. Wen is drawn into one of these battles when the same multinational that took their mother kidnaps his younger brother Sammy. Wen and his friends embark on a rescue effort, transporting him “virtually” behind enemy lines. Before long, he finds himself embroiled in ever larger conflicts, which continually test his stealth, bravery and determination.
The combat scenes of this intense, highly imaginative action story would thrill any Science Fiction enthusiast. The pages explode into exciting military conquests that test loyalty to leaders and hurl motivated individuals like Wen, ever humble about his accomplishments, into leadership roles, which tests the limits of old friendships.
Benoit Chartier’s Red Nexus is as entertaining as some of the best action movies, and at the same time compels us to reflect on values we set on family, and raises disturbing questions about what could become of corporate allegiances, should we allow them to take control of us.
To quote Wen’s arch enemy Nabeen Singh: “If you don’t take it, Someone else will”
Red Nexus is self-published through Createspace and available from Amazon.com and Amazon.ca. In Ottawa, copies can be purchased from Black Squirrel Books and Books on Beechwood.
Ref: http://www.ottawareviewofbooks.com/#!...
April 30, 2016
Red Nexus is an interesting take on the future world of human and technology integration. With humanity capable of accessing the "NET" with the right implants, mostly obtained by the higher class, we're brought to see a new world of business warfare and corporate espionage, a war raged in the minds of employees at information super companies. At the same time we see the struggling lower classes disenfranchised and left to live out on the hard streets of Shinjuku1. Red Nexus spins a story of mystery and discovery reminiscent of "Blade runner" while finding a way to pull "Matrix" elements into the stew, all while keeping a flowing and engaging narrative I might add, glued together with a splash of Arthur C. Clarke-like open spaces. (I always appreciate a writer that can make me feel small in a big space). On the lower, filth ridden streets of a new Tokyo, here we meet Wen and his brother Sammy.
From the beginning Sammy feels as annoying and bothersome as a real little brother while Wen feels genuine in his apathy to simply keep his family together especially after tragedy has hit home before. The Characters throughout are believable and interesting each in their own way, there is a connection to be found throughout the reading experience and a powerful theme of brotherhood and teamwork against an ever growing establishment.
Topped off with a really focused and vile villain this book is a great experience and I look forward to seeing it one day attempted to be brought to live action, I think it could be a real visual experience if respected and cared for in an adaptation.
simply put
Red Nexus by Benoit Chartier is a great time.
From the beginning Sammy feels as annoying and bothersome as a real little brother while Wen feels genuine in his apathy to simply keep his family together especially after tragedy has hit home before. The Characters throughout are believable and interesting each in their own way, there is a connection to be found throughout the reading experience and a powerful theme of brotherhood and teamwork against an ever growing establishment.
Topped off with a really focused and vile villain this book is a great experience and I look forward to seeing it one day attempted to be brought to live action, I think it could be a real visual experience if respected and cared for in an adaptation.
simply put
Red Nexus by Benoit Chartier is a great time.
June 25, 2015
As you can likely tell from my blog title, I read a lot of science fiction and fantasy. It is the genre I first grew to love as a kid because of the range of imagination that can be shown. I don't read as widely as I should anymore and Red Nexus proved that to me.
The key feature of Red Nexus was a dark, vibrant technological world I couldn't get enough of. Honestly, I don't know whether I've been reading too many character-driven novels but I probably would have happily had nothing happen while exploring the world building. As a consummate political science nerd, what is your system of government exactly? Please write 20 - 200 pages for me.
The plot and Wen care nothing for my wishes though. From the moment Sammy gets kidnapped, there are a few short moments before careening from one chaos to the next. Red Nexus could probably be listed for someone who likes action movies Though this is written from Wen's perspective, I would've liked to see a bit more depth in some of the secondary characters.
My only other quibble is on occasion the dialogue doesn't read as smoothly as it could. I'll concede that this is genre-wide issue for me. And oh, what a wide and wonderful place Red Nexus is. If you're looking for some sci-fi with some philosophical heft and good world building, you've got the book.
Full disclosure: a copy of the novel was kindly given to me by the author.
Originally posted on GalacticTides: http://galactictidesx.blogspot.ca/201...
The key feature of Red Nexus was a dark, vibrant technological world I couldn't get enough of. Honestly, I don't know whether I've been reading too many character-driven novels but I probably would have happily had nothing happen while exploring the world building. As a consummate political science nerd, what is your system of government exactly? Please write 20 - 200 pages for me.
The plot and Wen care nothing for my wishes though. From the moment Sammy gets kidnapped, there are a few short moments before careening from one chaos to the next. Red Nexus could probably be listed for someone who likes action movies Though this is written from Wen's perspective, I would've liked to see a bit more depth in some of the secondary characters.
My only other quibble is on occasion the dialogue doesn't read as smoothly as it could. I'll concede that this is genre-wide issue for me. And oh, what a wide and wonderful place Red Nexus is. If you're looking for some sci-fi with some philosophical heft and good world building, you've got the book.
Full disclosure: a copy of the novel was kindly given to me by the author.
Originally posted on GalacticTides: http://galactictidesx.blogspot.ca/201...
July 26, 2015
Smell The Book Review
8 out of 10
This is the second book I have had the pleasure of reviewing for Benoit. The first was The Calumnist Malefesto. I found Red Nexus well written and an interesting take on a familiar theme. The story itself feels like a combination of The Matrix, Neuromancer and other such science fiction novels. readers are familiar with the theme of "virtual worlds" where users log in and feel like they are physically in these other worlds as they perform tasks, complete missions and suffer real physical consequences if they experience harm.
We follow the life of Wen Harkwell who cares for his brother, Sammy, after the death of their mother. Sammy turns up missing one day and Wen must enter into the heart of those he knows have kidnapped him in order to save Sammy. The story is about family and loyalty, even several hundred years in the future.
My usual rule for how I gauge the level of writing is whether or not I feel invested in the happenings of the protagonist. I found myself rooting for Wen in the search for his brother, and the battles and weapons that Wen is able to create in his virtual world is a unique twist on the "jacked in" theory of future technology.
There's some twists, some surprises, and I look forward to more from Benoit!
8 out of 10.
Chris
8 out of 10
This is the second book I have had the pleasure of reviewing for Benoit. The first was The Calumnist Malefesto. I found Red Nexus well written and an interesting take on a familiar theme. The story itself feels like a combination of The Matrix, Neuromancer and other such science fiction novels. readers are familiar with the theme of "virtual worlds" where users log in and feel like they are physically in these other worlds as they perform tasks, complete missions and suffer real physical consequences if they experience harm.
We follow the life of Wen Harkwell who cares for his brother, Sammy, after the death of their mother. Sammy turns up missing one day and Wen must enter into the heart of those he knows have kidnapped him in order to save Sammy. The story is about family and loyalty, even several hundred years in the future.
My usual rule for how I gauge the level of writing is whether or not I feel invested in the happenings of the protagonist. I found myself rooting for Wen in the search for his brother, and the battles and weapons that Wen is able to create in his virtual world is a unique twist on the "jacked in" theory of future technology.
There's some twists, some surprises, and I look forward to more from Benoit!
8 out of 10.
Chris
April 17, 2016
I found the story immensely entertaining. The characters are believable and easy to identify with. The world building is superb and as a dystopian novel stands out as one of the best ones I’ve ever read.
Some of the ideas presented are eerily precognitive. Watching how giant corporations control our lives more and more leaves almost no doubt that some point in the future they may even control our very thoughts and use us as soldiers against each other in this real world of ours. The technology described in the story, though complex, was broken down and described in such a way as to be easily understandable by the non-tekkies among his reading audience, and require very little suspension of disbelief.
Identification with the main character is paramount and I had no problem identifying with Wen. His strengths and vulnerabilities make him a consummate Everyman, struggling against powerful and unique adversaries, with only his courage and loyalty to guide him. He is someone whose side I am definitely on. What I found heroic about him was his ability to maintain his individuality in a world where most everyone else became simply a numbered slave. Those aspects of the story truly impressed me with this author’s ability to connect, and tell a story well.
Bravo, sir. I understand he is working on a sequel. I will be watching for it.
Some of the ideas presented are eerily precognitive. Watching how giant corporations control our lives more and more leaves almost no doubt that some point in the future they may even control our very thoughts and use us as soldiers against each other in this real world of ours. The technology described in the story, though complex, was broken down and described in such a way as to be easily understandable by the non-tekkies among his reading audience, and require very little suspension of disbelief.
Identification with the main character is paramount and I had no problem identifying with Wen. His strengths and vulnerabilities make him a consummate Everyman, struggling against powerful and unique adversaries, with only his courage and loyalty to guide him. He is someone whose side I am definitely on. What I found heroic about him was his ability to maintain his individuality in a world where most everyone else became simply a numbered slave. Those aspects of the story truly impressed me with this author’s ability to connect, and tell a story well.
Bravo, sir. I understand he is working on a sequel. I will be watching for it.
January 24, 2016
I cold bought this book at Toronto Fan Expo without knowing much about it and I was pleasantly surprised. The writing was good, the setting was very interesting and I liked most of the characters. I thought the first half was detailed, exciting and overall really enjoyable. However, it lost a bit of that in the second half which I felt was rushed from scene to scene and could have been fleshed out some more. I liked a lot of the ideas that were presented, I just wish some of them could have been explored deeper before moving on to the next scene. Sometimes something heavy would happen, but I don't feel like I got to read much of the aftermath or the reactions of the characters. If it had another 50 or so pages in the second half this one would be a 5 star from me, but if you happen to see this at a Comic Con or Fan Expo, it's worth picking up.
May 27, 2016
Benoit Chartier's Red Nexus novel is a rollicking potpourri of sci-fi, action, suspense and dramatic elements set in a futuristic Japan.
Yet the hero, Wen Harkwell, and his 13-year-old brother Sammy, have a rapport reminiscent of a struggling single father, such as when Wen looks around their pigs' sty of an apartment on page 27.
"Always a million things to do and no compunction to do any of them unless the situation became dire."
Now that's a line that any busy parent can relate to.
Yet the hero, Wen Harkwell, and his 13-year-old brother Sammy, have a rapport reminiscent of a struggling single father, such as when Wen looks around their pigs' sty of an apartment on page 27.
"Always a million things to do and no compunction to do any of them unless the situation became dire."
Now that's a line that any busy parent can relate to.
September 16, 2016
A very detailed and atmospheric future Tokyo--replete with a garbage-strewn underworld--makes Red Nexus a compelling read. I'm a sucker for a good screwed-up family dynamic, so the tension between protagonist Wen and his little brother Sammy hit the right buttons. The shift midway between Wen's earlier life as a covert garbage-picker/thief to fighter pilot is abrupt, but the galloping prose and headlong plotting helps helps with the transition. A strong finish.
December 21, 2023
This book was so awesome! Words cannot fathom how much I thank myself for buying the book at Fan Expo. Severely underrated. The world building was especially superb. Thank you, Chartier, for helping me discover my new love for Cyberpunk, and furthering my love for dystopian novels.
Want to read
April 26, 2016Picked this up at CAPE 2016. Will be reading it soon!
August 31, 2016
3.5 stars
I bought this book on a whim at Comic Con and was pleasantly surprised. Loved the plot but it was a bit rushed in the second half of the book... Overall a great read!
I bought this book on a whim at Comic Con and was pleasantly surprised. Loved the plot but it was a bit rushed in the second half of the book... Overall a great read!
Read
July 14, 2017Was leaving for the lake and decided to take my new book with me. First time ever reading this author and was looking forward to passing some time doing what I enjoy the most - reading!
Excellent choice!! From the moment I opened the book I was immersed! Every chance I had my nose was in it and away I went.....had the book devoured over the weekend. Soon as up in the morning, grab a coffee out to the deck and book in hand.
Thoroughly enjoyed and will be on the prowl for the author next time I am in a book store to see what other goodies he has out there.
Definitely recommend this book!!
Excellent choice!! From the moment I opened the book I was immersed! Every chance I had my nose was in it and away I went.....had the book devoured over the weekend. Soon as up in the morning, grab a coffee out to the deck and book in hand.
Thoroughly enjoyed and will be on the prowl for the author next time I am in a book store to see what other goodies he has out there.
Definitely recommend this book!!
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