The Lightning Stenography Device

by M.F. Sullivan

Get hooked up with the most far-out piece of literature you've read in THE LIGHTNING STENOGRAPHY DEVICE is a subversive blend of science fiction and fantasy, and a one-of-a-kind literary trip.

The first marketable thought to text device is released for public consumption in 2031. That same year, author Cassius Wagner will have a seizure. At least, that is what the novel the novel to which he awakens in fragments one morning after a late night of writing. This novel.

Terrified to have a prophetic manuscript unfurling at his heels, his desperation to evade his fate prevents him from considering that his lover and editrix, Katherine Beauvoir, might be wrestling with a destiny of her own--one which seems to concern the discovery of a human skull.

Told in four parts which peak with the magic-rich fable of a sublingual Huntress as she fights to save her King, THE LIGHTNING STENOGRAPHY DEVICE is a mystical voyage of psychological literary fiction perfect for fans of Philip K. Dick's VALIS Trilogy, and is sure to leave them questioning not just the boundaries of literature, but of reality.
Be sure to check out M.F. Sullivan's next LGBTQ+ cyberpunk/horror book, THE HIEROPHANT'S DAUGHTER (Disgraced Martyr Trilogy #1), available now!

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Ebooks

472 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

An Ohio native who attended college in Virginia before moving by train to Arizona, MF Sullivan is an author and playwright currently living in Southern Oregon. Sullivan is the author of DELILAH, MY WOMAN (2015) and THE LIGHTNING STENOGRAPHY DEVICE (2018), as well as the forthcoming DISGRACED MARTYR TRILOGY (2019-2020). All her work is available on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, Painted Blind Publishing's Aer.io store, and your local indie bookseller.

The release schedule of THE DISGRACED MARTYR TRILOGY is as follows:

THE HIEROPHANT'S DAUGHTER: May 19th, 2019

THE GENERAL'S BRIDE: August 14th, 2019

THE LADY'S CHAMPION: January 9th, 2020

THE DISGRACED MARTYR TRILOGY - OMNIBUS EDITION: October 31st, 2020

Keep up with news, essays from MF Sullivan, and info about her other forthcoming works at paintedblindpublishing.com!

Reviews

[MarilynW · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very hard for me to get into and when I saw the part about a horse massacre, I decided not to go further. The two brothers didn't speak like two farmers from CO but maybe that's because they were more scientist than farmer, Others may like this book and I know I'm not giving a full review of the book but maybe it' will helps others decide if they want to read the book. I received this book in advance, to review, from NetGalley. and Painted Blind Publishing.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a hard book to get through, unfortunately, but not for the normal reasons.

For one, I did kinda like the premise and have always wanted to see it done in ways more glorious than the way Stephen King did it, namely the automatic typewriter from Tommyknockers, pouring out a novel telepathically, but what LSD did, here, turned it into an existential/literary/religious/meta twisty-turny writer's wet dream.

Don't get me wrong. I'm a writer, too, and a part of me really gets off on the deep writer's angst bits, but most of the first half of the novel is devoted to it. I slipped from enjoying it intellectually and fell into "this is pretentious". I should have liked it more by natural inclination, but I didn't.

And then, apart from it being too long, I don't think anyone else would like it unless you're pretty much just like me and this author, enjoying the literary meta ride.

But then, the novel took on a very different turn and stuck close to actual storytelling. It turned into a fantasy with tons of great allusions and allegories and they were told with a strong voice both familiar and not *SO* usual that we are kept guessing. It was a pleasure to read.

Unfortunately, it wasn't the whole novel. If it had been *most* of the novel, I probably would rate this higher and clap. But it wasn't. Something just felt off.

Still, the whole novel was a very big LSD trip, even so, and I can appreciate the idea even if I didn't quite enjoy the ride. :)

[Evelina | AvalinahsBooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 31%

This book is kind of killing me with boredom, and it's just too long to keep soldiering through it. 31% in, and I am still not sure where this is going. So either it's too smart for me, or just not my thing.

You could enjoy this is you like really tough literature, and I mean high brow, where you have to keep cracking at what things mean.

This was not for me.

[La La · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 on the blog.

MIND BLOWN! This book is super slow to start, but it was psychologically intriguing and rutting around in the philosophical, so I stuck with it. Around 20% the different characters begin to relate to each other and the plot picks up speed. The first half of the book takes place in 2031 and then switches to unknown times. The writing was engaging and I filled my Kindle with highlighted quotes and I never do this.

Now, I'm not saying it was intentional on the author's part, but the story in the second half of the book seemed to evolve from a biblical type narration through parables, fables, folk stories, classic fairytale style, to modern Fantasy; and I loved it. This is a book I will need to re-read to be able to more fully absorb its undercurrents and shadows of meaning.

This isn't a book for the lighthearted reader. It is dense, and the themes are psychologically and philosophically heavy. There is also a good dose of spiritual content within both halves of the book, not preachy, but thought provoking. This was a good combination for me. I saw quite a few reviews here giving this book one and two stars because it went over their heads. How does that make any sense? I really wish people would stop doing that.

I was approved for an eARC, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I will be reviewing this title on the blog and will add the link when I post it.

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 1 out of 5]

Netgalley #33

Many thanks to M F Sullivan, Painted Blind, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

Ok.
I was reading this book, minding my own business, not really agreeing with the author but I at least understood what he was talking about then BOOM!!!!
It went off the deep end. Yeah, I seriously do not know what happened in section four. It was the most bizarre ending to the most obscure novel I have ever read in my entire life. After awhile I just skipped to the last few pages to prove what I thought was going on to satisfy my mind and quit it. The first section I really liked. It was eerie and foreboding and biblical. Really good. Just each section after that kept going downhill until it became schizophrenic. I did not enjoy this at all.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an epic book. Before you start this book I highly recommend reading MF Sullivan’s first novel “Delilah My Woman”, that book is linked to this one in little ways and having that knowledge of the first book makes those links more effective. There are four parts to this novel and each one manages to stand well on it’s own. Part 1 is about the creation of the device and discovering what it can do. The device is called the Lightning Stenography Device (Or LSD for short), it’s a headband you wear and it transforms your thoughts into text, a new form of writing. It is found that the device will write whilst you are sleeping…and that is where parts 2 and 3 kick in.

Part 2 follows Cassius, a renowned writer and his denial of the device and eventual acceptance. Part 3 follows Kitty, also a writer, who has already accepted the device but now is denying what it can do. There is much discussion of God, consciousness and whether anything is real or just God’s imagination. It is incredibly intriguing and whilst reading this I am working my way through The Brothers Karamazov at work, similar thoughts on God and I’ve gotta admit that this beats Karamazov hands down.

Then as we reach part 4, for this reader at least the LSD really starts to kick in. Kings and Queens and Witches and talking Animals and all kinds of madness. It took me a while to figure out what is going on, it is one of those things open to interpretation, each reader is going to come up with their own opinion of what is going on and that is the genius of this book. I don’t know if I’m correct but part 4 was very similar to Dante’s Inferno, travelling through the afterlife to get to paradise.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, even though at times it felt above my head, still taking things slow helped me keep up. If I were to be picky I do have one problem with the book, the jump between parts 3 and 4 is not smooth, it does feel like you are starting a brand-new story, a better link up would have helped this reader.

Top writing from a very talented author.

Blog review is here. https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2018...

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

2031 is the year that the first thought to text transcription device is released to the public. That's also the same year that Cassius Wagner, an author, has a seizure. At least, that is what his novel says - the fragmented novel which he wakes up to after a late night of writing. Afraid he has the makings of a prophecy on his hands, he's desperate to change his fate which prevents him from noticing that his editor might just be dealing with her own destiny.

DNF @ 10%

As soon as I saw this novel on NetGalley, I knew I wanted to give it a shot because the concept behind it sounds exactly like something I could get behind. I mean, a thought to text device that transcribes a possible prophecy about it's sleeping user? That sounds like there would be so much potential, if you ask me. I was thoroughly expecting to be hooked. Unfortunately, though, I ended up giving up at only 10% of the way into this story. I feel terrible about quitting, but I just couldn't force myself to slog on after dragging myself through the first tenth of the novel. I wasn't expecting a lighting paced read since it's billed as literary fantasy, but come on - at least make me want to have an excuse to continue on. The Lightning Stenography Device was just far too slow, boring, and stuffy for my taste. I've got too many books and not enough time to keep pushing my way through this one. Ah, well. I can't win them all. Thanks anyway, NetGalley.

[Vicky]

Wow. That was something different!
This book looked to be unusual from the get-go: with a wonderfully exotic premise, and containing fantasy- my kryptonite- I picked it up with gusto. What I got out of it was something that could either be seen as a modern classic or, at times, very dense.
The Lightning Stenography Device is what’s at the heart of this book. Often shortened to LSD, it’s a device that transmits your thoughts straight to words on a computer screen. However, it also seems to have its own agency, and when people start unconsciously producing work in their sleep- work which seems oddly prophetic, and which they have no memory of writing- things start to get a little more confusing. Or a lot.
Read the rest of my review here:
https://roaringbookworm.wordpress.com...

[Caitlin Farley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Literary fantasy with a pinch of horror and an existential twist that may leave some readers confused. The invention of the first thought to text transcription device is revolutionising the way authors work. Cassius Wagner is against the idea at first, but his author and editor girlfriend, Katherine, persuades him to try it. He’s so enamoured with the ease at which the device interprets his ideas that he soon purchases his own Lightning Stenography Device. One night he falls asleep while writing, and awakes to a story. The story you’re reading right now, in fact. As if that wasn’t strange enough, the story says that Cassius is going to have a seizure.

The Lightning Stenography Device became existential very fast. Sullivan questions consciousness and the concept of God through the metaphor of writing. The narrative hints at this in different ways throughout the book, but the concept that God might observe us as an author studies and develops characters and plots within the worlds they create is the most complete and compelling. By forcing the characters to question their existence and awareness, the reader too must face these questions. This is a fascinating theme, and one I’ve never encountered before although I must confess having wandered over it in my thoughts while writing. There is, however, a point where it becomes anathema. Characters begin to sound like demented cultists and this, I feel, robs much of the impact from this subject.

This book isn’t what I was expecting at all, but I enjoyed it for the most part. The Lightning Stenography Device explores the narrative of four characters, each of which is compelling and relatable in their own way. These alternate viewpoints produce very different stories, from the eerie to the fantastical. M.F Sullivan’s prose is enchanting to read. The writing style changes according to the tale being told, providing each character with a distinct voice. Thus, while the first section is rather formal, the second is less so. The last section presents a peculiar shift to the utterly fantastical. Since this comprises a little over half the novel, in some ways it makes the previous sections seem like a massive prologue. The Lightning Stenography Device is a gripping novel for intellectual readers, but it left me feeling like I’d been ranted at by a religious fanatic.

I received a free copy of The Lightning Stenography Device from StoryCartel in exchange for an honest review.

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel as though M.F. Sullivan’s The Lightning Stenography Device is a book that will divide readers – you’ll either love this one or you will struggle to get through it. I feel as though there will not be many people in the middle ground between.

The Lightning Stenography Device is a book with a wonderful premise, one that sucked me in instantly. I was intrigued by all the possibilities, and I wanted to know more. Such is what had me jumping into the book, and what convinced me to continue turning pages.

It is one of those books you will need to take your time with. I’m the kind of person who reads a book a day, quite often multiple books a day, but every so often a book comes along that I need to sit and read at a slower pace. The Lightning Stenography Device was one such book, as it had a lot of information and I needed to make sure I took it all in. It’s a heavy read, one with a lot of detail, and if you’re not careful some of the information may go over the top of your head.

I’ll be completely honest, this book wasn’t quite what I had anticipated but it was enjoyable enough. As I said, though, it will not be for everyone.

[Armando Negron · Rating 2 out of 5]

This will go down as one of the oddest books I've read recently. It is indeed a very interesting premise, here we have a contraption called the "Lightning Stenography Device" (conveniently shortened to the acronym LSD) which allows you to transform your thoughts into written words. I'm pretty sure that professional writers could only salivate at the thought of such an invention. Funny that one of the characters in the story (most of the characters are writers) pokes fun at another for writing a story about a writer... this is just the tip of the iceberg in this Inception-esque tail. It's like taking a few drops of LSD, you go on a journey and it can be a little difficult to place yourself through it.

The book is divided into four main parts, the first one being the shortest and the last one probably the longest. The first part is a sort of introduction on the main premise of how the LSD works, and the discovery that it may also work while sleeping. This is the key element that creates the conflicts in the story. What is the source of stories when the unconscious mind is in control? If we are not the one consciously "dictating" words to a device to be placed in a computer, then who is responsible for this? Is it God? Well, the characters in the story go through great lengths to try to explain this mystery. Unfortunately they fall victim to going around in circles talking endlessly about topics that can be somewhat irrelevant to solving the mystery. It's talking for the sake of talking, talking without saying anything at all.

One of the most interesting dilemmas of the book happens when they realize that this unconscious writing is actually narrating what is happening presently in their lives, and the more pages you turn then you get yourself into the future. Can a book tell me what will happen? If I read the book, am I able to change the course of the story? Or, will my conscious efforts to change the story lead to the events actually happening? Am I actually a free person, or just God's pawn in a pre-determined story? These are all questions the characters have to ask themselves. If you are told you are going to have a seizure, how will you feel? Nevertheless, I can only imagine how out of this world it would feel to read a narration of what I'm doing and will eventually do. In this story there are characters that shamelessly just read what will happen, while another refuses to give in and read it. Makes one think, if faced with the scenario, what will I do? There are also many debates about God, and the existence of this supreme being. Not being much of a believer, I found these debates overwhelming and too much of an attempt at trying to hammer in explanations where they didn't fit.

And then enter the final part of the book, called "Felicity". I mentioned a seizure from one of the characters earlier in my review. After reading this chapter for about an hour I was wondering if I had a seizure myself. Then I was wondering if the editor had made a mistake and pasted a whole different novel within the book. It is THAT different. Just prepare yourself to fully switch gears to a story that is completely different from what you've been reading. To the point that you will be talking about witches, kings, the after life, and talking animals. In the last page of the book the author tries to bring this together, but I fail to see it being effective.

Taking aside the Game of Thrones final chapters, my biggest complain with the book is that I feel that the main story with the LSD, Enoch/Hermes, Kathy and Cassius, is kind of left hanging. There is no firm resolution to what happened with them. The book creates many questions, but gives few answers. I will be closely following the author to see if future books will give more light about the mysteries of the Lightning Stenography Device.

** I received a free copy of this book as an ARC by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[William Bitner Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre - Fantasy/Metaphysical
Pages - 472
Publication Info - Painted Blind Publishing (March 19, 2018)
Format - Kindle
Stars - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“The Lightning Stenography Device” by M.F. Sullivan is a literary evolution. Told in four parts, with each part being a story unto itself and later inter-woven into the whole. The first three parts are pretty much near future fiction and stick to the same cast of characters and storyline. Part 4 deviates from the first 3 parts and takes you on a mind altering journey. Be prepared to think and get involved. This is not an easy read, but it is well worth every single minute I spent reading it. It’s complex, visionary and at times involved, but by books end you will have a better understanding of why the deviation or change in storyline was taken. I think the hardest part about reviewing this book is that it really does not fit into any specific genre, but bends many to the point of redefining them. If that’s hard to get your head around, well that’s kind of what this whole book tends to do. This was one of the most unusual and interesting books I’ve read in a very long time. I am looking forward to checking out more of M.F. Sullivan’s work.

M.F. Sullivan is a playwright and author of two novels.

From back cover: The first marketable thought to text device is released for public consumption in 2031. That same year, author Cassius Wagner will have a seizure. At least, that is what the novel says: the novel to which he awakens in fragments one morning after a late night of writing. This novel.

Terrified to have a prophetic manuscript unfurling at his heels, his desperation to evade his fate prevents him from considering that his lover and editrix, Katherine Beauvoir, might be wrestling with a destiny of her own--a destiny which seems to concern the discovery of a human skull, and the true identity of the device's mysterious creator.

Told in four psychedelic parts which peak with the fable of a sublingual Huntress as she fights to save her King, The Lightning Stenography Device blurs the speculative fiction and fantasy genres to explore the fabric of literature, the boundaries of reality, and the limits of human consciousness.

[Sean Randall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Right up to Felicity I was very much enjoying myself. I clearly lack the cerebral capacity to appreciate the ending of this novel, unfortunately.

[Sammie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Filled with surrealism and philosophy, The Lightning Stenography Device forces the reader to question what they think they know about life and existence and is likely to appeal to fans of The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Summary:

The Lightning Stenography Device, or LSD for short, boasts the ability to aid in writing by translating someone’s conscious thoughts into text on a computer screen. What it wasn’t supposed to do was work when the user was unconscious. Yet, when one of the creators wakes after falling asleep with the device on his head, it’s to find that he’s written a story in his sleep. Not just any story, but a prophetic one. One that ends, ultimately, with his suicide.

Fast-forward to 2032, and the LSD has hit the mass market. Katherine and her husband Cassius, both writers, pick some up with the idea of making their writing easier. Cassius, especially, who has been struggling to finish a novel he’s been working on. But then he falls asleep at his desk, and when he wakes, it’s to a manuscript that predicts his future, right up until he has a seizure. Determined that the story is not a self-fulfilling prophecy, and desperate to prove he’s not losing his mind, Cassius seeks out the remaining inventor of the device, a man who calls himself Enoch.

What they conclude is that Katherine is the key at the center of all of this, and what she isn’t telling them is that she’s produced her own prophetic manuscript. One that ends with her holding a skull, and she’s terrified of what that might mean for her own future. Together, they must uncover the mystery behind the manuscripts, and if they’re not writing the books themselves, who is? Something other than the conscious mind? God, perhaps?

But in the beginning, there was the Word, and after that, there came Consciousness and Matter. Together, they created Earth and her inhabitants. All Matter wanted was to stay forever with Consciousness, and all Consciousness wanted was to create humans and watch them grow. But humans have a way of ruining things. For them to evolve, they must consume Consciousness, and now Matter has no choice but to look for him again. She believes she might find the answers she seeks through a young human named Felicity, who, cursed by a witch though she is, wants only to find her Man, the King.

The Good:

- The prose itself is quite lovely. I think this is more of an acquired taste, though. Like wine or stinky cheeses. There were some places where the sentences got a bit convoluted, especially in the first section, but overall, I really enjoyed the actual writing. It had a very archaic, literary lilt to it, but not so much that I couldn’t follow it.

- The fourth part, Felicity, is pretty much everything I’ve ever wanted in a book. There’s a tragic love story between deities and a whole mythological backstory that hooked me right from the beginning, and I was invested in it, darn it. I loved every bit of it. There’s a kickass protagonist who is as confused about the world as the rest of us, a mouthy sword, a talking snake, magic, illusions, sacrifice. If the first 60% of the book disappeared and this last 40% had been the entire book, this would have gotten 5 stars. I would have bought several dozens copies and just started chucking them at strangers on the street while shouting, “READ THIS.” I want a whole book focusing around those characters. Hell, I want a whole series of books written in that style.

- I want more characters like the Sword. A.k.a. the Silver Flower and Silver Snake. Because, you know, Felicity doesn’t have language, but she does what she can. Give the girl a break. This was by far my favorite character, and every book should have one. His voice was wonderful, and he basically came to life for me. Have I mentioned that I loved the character? I couldn’t get enough of him. There was something about him that reminded me of C-3PO, but less robotic and so much better. I could go on, but probably, it would devolve into a bunch of fangirl gibberish but, gah, this character was perfect!

- I legit need an LSD. The device, not the drug, thanks. I actually loved the premise here, especially the idea of what happens with the unconscious versus the conscious. I found the general basis of the philosophy to be interesting, and there were plenty of moments that made me pause and think (which is what a book like this is meant to do, so that’s good). I mean, just the ethical issues alone of a thought-to-text device and all the possible implications of unconscious vs. conscious writing. What would you do if you wrote something prophetic in your sleep and had to decide whether or not to read it? Would you want to know the future, even if you couldn’t change it?

The Bad:

- The philosophy was hard to follow. I mean, I like philosophical things. If it gets me thinking, great. If it causes me a full-on existential crisis, even better. The philosophy here, especially in Cassius’ part, and sometimes in Katherine’s, was just hard for me to follow. It was dull and seemed repetitive and circular, where I felt like I was being beaten over the head with the same thing which I wasn’t understanding, and that was fine because it wasn’t actually moving forward towards anything anyway. I mean, maybe that’s just me and I was too stupid to get it (and hey, that’s a definite possibility), but it’s not like I went into this blind. I’ve been reading philosophy since I was a single-digit age, and now I’m … considerably older. There were some great concepts there, but I felt like sometimes it pushed too hard instead of just letting the ideas stand on their own.

- I may have skipped some parts. Okay, I definitely did. There were parts where the internal monologues became too much and I just couldn’t anymore. But mostly, it was the philosophy. There came a point where I stopped following all together and my eyes glazed over. I do confess, though, that I definitely did just skim past some parts where I would have otherwise been tempted to just put the book down and leave it at that. I’m glad I did, because the last part was worth it, but this was dangerously close to being a DNF for me.

- I’m sure there’s a connection between the parts, but … I don’t know what it is. The first three all involve the LSD and they comprise 60% of the book. Then, that whole storyline disappears entirely to introduce Consciousness, Matter, and Felicity. Well, it doesn’t disappear completely. There are certainly parallels between the characters, the storyline, and the themes. However, the connections just felt far too subtle to me. At first, when I started reading part four, I was entirely confused and wasn’t sure I was even reading the same book. Totally different world, totally different feel. There is a connection at the end, but like I said, it left me feeling disappointed and, frankly, confused. Which brings me to my next point.

- I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS. I didn’t understand the ending. There was a tenuous attempt to tie the fourth part into the first three, and I just … I didn’t get it. I don’t know, maybe I’m just dumb. I feel like I need a SparkNotes version of this book to understand parts of what the author was going for. I’m also not sure there was really a satisfactory ending to the first three parts, and there were things in that I expected to be resolved that weren’t, questions that were raised and seemingly left unanswered.

Overall:

This one was REALLY HARD to review. I almost feel like I need to separate the book into entirely different stories, because there’s that much a distinction between them, and it was extremely jarring. Each one had different reasons I found them interesting, but the second was far more interesting to me than the first. I just didn’t see how they connected or fit together to form one cohesive story. The first three parts, I would give a two, and the last part, I would give a five, so together, I’d give this a three? THIS IS SO HARD. *flails*

In the end, it was a good read. There were definitely sections of the first three parts that kept me interested, and there was a lot of mystery and intrigue, but Felicity’s part was the best part of the book, in my opinion. That, at the very least, deserves to be read.

Disclaimer: I received a free ARC copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mark Martinico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this is an unusual creature. I quite liked it. I didn’t completely love it, but I liked it. This is a story with four separate narrators, presented one at a time, the first three of which collectively provide a synoptic view of the events of the first half of the book. I fear though that some readers may fault the direction in which the fourth narrator goes in the second half of the book, as it is rather unexpected, and decidedly different. I myself don’t fault that, and in fact would tell others to just go with it, as the last half of the book is a heck of a narrative in its own right. I think the only thing that slightly dissatisfied me as a reader, is that the wrap-up/resolution/conclusion is so quick, and feels as if it leaves some things hanging, even though really it doesn’t. The writing is quite solid, the pacing is good, and the individual narrators each have a distinct voice. I think the key is to go into this knowing that this is not some by-the-numbers sci-fi thriller/mystery that you’d find at that sad little “book store” at the airport, next to Nora Roberts and James Patterson. This is that you-haven’t-heard-of-it-before book that a friend tries to passionately explain to you at 1am, making nonsensical comparisons, telling you in rambled speech that it starts like Philip K. Dick by way of Vladimir Nabokov, and ultimately ends up like C.S. Lewis by way of Hunter S. Thompson, with maybe a little of Genesis and the Gospel of John by way of William Burroughs snuck in here & there, but remains elegant the whole way. And that just leaves you confused, but still you’re interested. Or maybe you’re more of an airport book person, and the fact that this isn’t about chicken soup & souls turned you immediately off; I don’t know. I myself received this book from netgalley.com in exchange for writing a review. But I didn’t just read it because it was free. There were plenty of other free alternatives available, but this one’s description intrigued me. And ultimately I’m glad I selected it.

[Ash Friend · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like a deep dreaming art generator. Or the synesthesia-dreams one might experience after taking ayahuasca. Or experiencing a very lucid dream, or mushroom-fueled psychiatric session guided by a psychiatrist with somewhat dubious ethics but impeccable aesthetic taste.

The book operates on multiple levels-- the surface story is somewhat reminiscent of a Pynchon novel, with a sympathetic but quirky protagonist desperately trying to be seen by their lover. A sinister genius with a new technology steps into the story and changes things irrevocably.

Entwined with the surface story is an allegorical tale in a dreamworld of talking swords, feral women, opinionated horses, and fairy tale logic. The heroine of this story also struggles with the problem of connection and communication and the stakes are terribly high.

The two stories are intricately intertwined and it's a fun exercise to find the points of connection. Both stories have a wound-like vulnerability that makes you feel an ache while at the same time, they burst with brilliance, with deft and beautiful prose.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of the book is about a device that transcribes thoughts to "paper". For some people the device writes a story while they sleep - and that story is prophetic. The characters are interesting and dynamic. A lot of weird stuff happens, and I love it.

The second half of the book is completely different and I thought it was amazing. I couldn't put it down until the end. It's a pure fantasy with magic and witches and kings. Taken as a whole, the book was really good. It was all very philosophical. Honestly, I would read a 600 page book about The Huntress and the King. Amazing imagery.

[Atsu · Rating 3 out of 5]

[2.75/5]

Two brothers, Hermes and Enoch, managed to create a device which can perfectly re-transcript one's thoughts into words without the actual act of writing. They call it the Lightning Stenography Device, or LSD, and for anyone who's ever tried to write something (anything, really), this is a dream come true. But what does it mean when the LSD start to re-transcript real, actual events and thought processes, prophesy them even, when the user is asleep?

“You know why I love reading, Cassius? It's because you're there without being there at all.”

Boy oh boy, this book, THIS BOOK. This was definitely a strange one, I've been having a love-hate affair with it for a couple of weeks and almost DNF-ed it a few times.
It's composed of 4 parts, each one focused on one character, and let's just say that the first half of the book is very... intellectual. Now, I don't mind smart books; hell, most books are smarter than me! But LSD delves quite a lot into philosophical concepts, challenges what is Being, Life and God in long dialogues (or monologues), mostly between “Enoch” and Cassius. After a while, it all feels very self-indulgent, like an essay written by the author through the characters' dialogues. I'm pretty sure it was a conscious choice (Katherine's Part feels so relatable after Cassius' Part, because she's confronted by those two madmen trying to convince her, just like I was confronted by them earlier), and I'm not saying questioning the act of writing and being is not interesting, but the way it was done was... so tiring.

Then comes the second half, and I fell a little bit in love. I'm not going to say much, but the moment you recover from the whiplash and finally (FINALLY) understand what was going on in this book all along, it feels really good. But not good enough to forgive how tedious most of the book is, and how many times I thought about giving up. As a result, I wouldn't recommend LSD if you want a quick/easy read.

Thank you M.F. Sullivan, Painted Blind Publishing and NetGalley for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen Puchner Oneil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked it. The plot and details were good. I’m not a word y person but it was great and I enjoyed reading it. Can’t wait to start another of her books!! My new favorite author

[C.E. Clayton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m going to just come out and say this upfront: this is a weird book. Absolutely gorgeous in terms of writing and its literary finesse, but the story is… odd. In short, “The Lightning Stenography Device” (or LSD for short, ha) is about a thought to text device (basically you think instead of typing, taking away all hesitation from getting words on the page) that has managed to write a story while a pair of writers was asleep. Which is cool! These stories somehow predict the future! Crazy, right? Except this sparks an insanely long, prose filled philosophical debate/discussion on who is doing the writing—basically a debate of religion and who, or what I suppose, is God. That debate takes up about half the book I’d say, and it’s interspersed between the 4(ish) characters we are introduced to via their own sections. These sections highlight someone’s experience of using the LSD and the “story” it tells before it ends with a head scratching epiphany that would be so incredibly beautiful and satisfying if it didn’t take so damn long to get to.

This book is not going to be for everyone, in fact, it may not be for most people. There is no trigger warnings or overly brutal scenes (outside of a few but those are rather fleeting), and the language is mild in terms of profanity. But this book is nothing but purple prose that only hints at an interesting story on occasion. The author is a phenomenal writer, her use of language and subtly is just lovely, but it’s over use will leave a lot of people putting this book on the DNF pile. You have to be really dedicated to literary fiction and enjoy reading lovely words on a page first and foremost. You have to enjoy the philosophical debate on God because the core of the story doesn’t shine enough for that to solely keep a reader’s attention. The book is going to be boring AF for you, because it’s mostly just a group of intellectual writers talking about who wrote their stories while asleep. Honestly, I was hoping the author would have dropped Cassius and Enoch completely and just focused on Katherine and elaborate on her damaged family because that was, by far, more interesting. That and Felicity because that’s where the book is best, but it takes so long to get there, the reader has to wade through so much literary fluff, that most people simply will not get to the good parts.

The sad thing is, Felicity’s section was so rewarding! You get beautiful writing and more semblance of a plot and an actual story. Things start to happen as we venture forth into the fantasy section of the book! Where King’s and Queen’s and talking Swords and the underworld (known as Elysium) come together to form a wonderful metaphor for literally everything else in the book. Would the book have made sense if we just had Felicity’s section? Or that section came much sooner in the story? I’m not sure… probably not. Which, again, is really too bad, because that last section was the most gratifying. Literary fiction at its finest, truthfully! So why am I not rating this book higher? Because of the tedium it took to get to the end result.

I pride myself in always finishing a book, but even this one tested my patience. I found myself caring less and less and getting more and more lost in the overly highbrow dialogue and redundant existential crisis that both Cassius and Katherine experience. I struggled to find what purpose Enoch had for, well, anything to be honest. I wanted to throttle Cassius for the second half of his section, and he felt so… fake for all of Katherine’s that he no longer felt like a real character to me. I wish Katherine had not succumbed to the same trap that her lover and Enoch had, because she felt too strong for that, but alas, she does and her fear feels all the more forced because of it. But the writing itself, swoon! So again, this book is weird, not for everyone, and exceptionally hard to rate.

If you love literary fiction and just want to enjoy good writing that doesn’t need a heady plot, or you just want to expand your mind (I guess?) or just literary horizons, give this book a try. But remember: it’s a painfully slow read, but a beautiful one, especially for the last section of the book. But if none of this sounds like your cup of tea, then save yourself the time because you’ll end up not finishing it and that’s not fair to you, or the author. Personally, the lovely prose and last section were not enough to completely overcome the annoyance I was beginning to feel with the slowness of the book, the overly highbrow dialogue, and the lackluster plot for something that’s synopsis sounded so good! So while Sullivan’s prose is serious writing goals, the story, and therefore the book itself, is a 2.5 stars for me. Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy for review!

[K Fray · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't for the life of me remember where exactly I found this book. I know it was a NetGalley book that got lost to the annals of archives, and I had to go back through and track it down again so that I could read it and review it. (Not that I've done a great job of that lately, but hey, we're not talking about that...) This one had an interesting premise, that spoke to me as an author. The Lightning Stenography Device (or LSD as they so creatively acronymed it to) is a contraption you put on your head, and then the device takes your thoughts and pens them to the page. So literally you can write as fast as you can think.

Neat, right?

Mmmmm.

The trouble I had with this book is twofold: One, it was trying very very hard to be clever--and if you have to try that hard, you're failing; and two, it was about three books mushed into one. Not that it was long, but that it had three completely separate stories which only mingled with each other by virtue of the fact that they'd been bound together. (Metaphorically at least, for my e-book copy.) All three stories were interesting, if a bit confusing to follow...but I'm not sure how they're all supposed to fit together.

We begin with the creators of the Device, who realize that there are certain individuals who can use the Device while asleep, and have their unconscious create. Nifty! I'm okay with this so far. Stuff happens; spoilers, sweetie. Flash forward...an uncertain amount of time (it felt like it could be close to 100 years, but I know there's not a chance for that to be true) and now we're following Cassius, who is an author who has made some very questionable decisions in his life, both personally and professionally. We follow Cassius and his entourage, as he deals with whether or not he wants to have anything to do with this Device. Okay, fine. We meet one of the creators...maybe...and weirdness begins to pop up. Still fine.

Part three follows Cassius's girlfriend Katherine. Still present-day (inasmuch as we're in present day, I think it takes place in 2031 or so), still weird, still not certain about this whole Device thing. The stories told in sleep seem to be prophetic, and this of course sends everyone into a Ragnarok-esque disaster mode, doing all that they can to keep it all from coming about and in the process, doing exactly what they're meant to do in order for the event to come to pass. Katherine doesn't want to read her novel. Etc etc. I'm still...basically following.

The final part of the book is where it entirely loses me. Part four, as far as I'm concerned, is a story entirely on its own and has literally nothing to do with the rest until the final sentences. I had a few ideas as to what it was at first, and then decided it couldn't be that...and then maybe it was...? I'll be honest, the last part was probably my favorite piece of the book, once the story had evened out in part four, until just before the very end. I'd read a whole book of just that.

And then at the end, it just feels like they toss everything up in the air and try for a Big Reveal™ and fall flat on their face.

I never want to step away from a book and say "please just let me be done so that I don't have to read this anymore." That's not why I read. That's not the goal. The three rules I hold to any piece of entertainment are these: What was it trying to do? Did it accomplish it? Was it worth doing?

Here are my answers. 1) It was trying to be a Smart And Clever Book. 2) No. 3) ?!?!?!?!

I can't tell you if it was worth doing, because I don't truly know what the author was intending from it. I like the idea of it all. I think the author has a nice way of words, and can structure sentences well. They're a good writer--but for the purposes of whatever this story was, they're a bad storyteller. Piecemeal yes, they tell individual stories well. But you can't make a cohesive book out of short stories you decided needed to be together.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Lightning Stenography Device by M. F. Sullivan was not what I expected. I can sum it up in one word – boring. I tried multiple times to finish. In the end I could not force myself beyond 28% complete. Therefore, it goes to the DNF list with no regrets.

I knew going in the book was classified as literary fantasy; therefore, I expected the pace to be slow and the story thought provoking. I got the slow part, but never in a million years would I count it as thought provoking. Maybe I did not read far enough to get into the real philosophical parts.

I also did not read far enough to comment on the characters and other aspects of the book. Below is the synopsis of the book as provided by the publisher. In closing, this book was just not for me. However, I believe there is a small audience for books of this type.

I received a free copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

For more of my reviews, and author interviews, see my book blog at www.the spineview.com.

Synopsis:
The first marketable thought to text device is released for public consumption in 2031. That same year, author Cassius Wagner will have a seizure. At least, that is what the novel says: the novel to which he awakens in fragments one morning after a late night of writing. This novel. Terrified to have a prophetic manuscript unfurling at his heels, his desperation to evade his fate prevents him from considering that his lover and editrix, Katherine Beauvoir, might be wrestling with a destiny of her own--a destiny which seems to concern the discovery of a human skull, and the true identity of the device's mysterious creator. Told in four psychedelic parts which peak with the fable of a sublingual Huntress as she fights to save her King, THE LIGHTNING STENOGRAPHY DEVICE blurs the speculative fiction and fantasy genres to explore the fabric of literature, and the boundaries of reality.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.

It took me longer to read this book than others of the same size. The premise of the book, an electronic device that turned thought into text was fascinating and thought provoking (no pun intended). I found myself reading some of the text slowly in order to absorb what the author was intending.

The book starts with the creation of a new, esoteric device by two brothers. The Lightning Stenography Device, or LSD. Now what? The brothers have definitely different reactions to the success of their endeavors. When two writers test the device, their reactions are also different from each other. One accepts the device for what it is, and one is terrified of it. But each one continues to use it creating their own stories. This part of the story is filled with philosophical discussion of God and consciousness. If that is not what you are looking for, hang in there! Do not put it down.

There is so much more to this story and the writers than you will believe at this point in the book. A tale of kings and queens, greed and love and purity; the descent into afterlife reminiscent of Dante’s Inferno, sacrifice, and redemption.

I recommend this book to any and all who love thoughtful literature. This is one of the best.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what to say about this book. I gave it a shot and it didn't deliver.

The Lightning Stenography is about two brothers who have created a device that records thoughts and prints them out. One brother is having his thoughts/dreams recorded and interprets that this is a book his mind is writing. I thought this sounded interesting and I decided to give the book a shot. Unfortunately, the book is too philosophical and steeped in debate about the existence of God. One brother is slightly pro, the other more con. This leaves the book open to a potentially interesting subject for a more religious person. But personally, I don’t find the subject or debate interesting and I couldn’t care less.

The dialogue between the brothers didn’t move the story along with enough substance to hold my interest. There were many long sentences, that while trying to give the characters a sense of self, felt unnecessary and like filler. The book also spent a great deal of time debating whether we are the authors of our lives, or if the thoughts being recorded by the device are deciding how we live our lives. I think the premise had potential but it really fell short for me. At times I felt like I was reading a textbook for a college class. Maybe, I am not on the same level mentally as the author or the subject was too deep and required a level of thought I don't possess. Either way, I can’t recommend this book, it was far too heavy and slow for my taste.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF, but not because it was completely terrible. Mostly because it was a bit of intellectual hard slog.

Don't be misled by the 2 star review, I am following the Netgalley system of responding to "would you recommend this book?" with "not really, it depends"

Hermes accidentally invents software to decode the human consciousness via a device known as the Lightning Stenography Device, or LSD. Enoch is jealous, and many strange happenings ensue

The majority of people I know would not be interested in reading this book.
However, there are a select few out there who are looking for the feeling that this book gives you
An aura of "WTF" with a bit of "woah" thrown in and some floaty brain-feels

This book is for you if you enjoy existentialism, I Heart Huckabees (the popular movie), Sophie's World, anything offbeat or otherworldly, and maybe (just maybe) a passing interest in hallucinogenics.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't expect this book to be as deep as it turned out to be. I really went into it thinking it would be a light, but interesting, science fiction. I almost stopped reading it several times because I felt lost in the twists and turns. Since I hate to not finish a book, however, I kept on and eventually got comfortable with being a little lost for a while. This book is deeply philosophical and isn't a light read by any means, but I liked the directions it took my thoughts. I finished it days ago, but find myself going back to different parts of the book. If you're looking for a light read, definitely give this a pass. If you want to be challenged, then dive right in and you won't be disappointed.

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, that was a trip. And if it wasn't interesting in some places, making me think about some ideas expressed, I'd say it was hours I'd never get back.

I want to thank NetGalley for letting me read this one. It was worth the thoughts.

The idea of a machine that could write for you without spell check and fumbling fingers seemed unique, until I realized that the paralyzed people already had that kind of thinking machine.

The Lightning Stenography Device, shortens to LSD. Drug use is implied often. And that kind of lucid writing, as if from an impaired writer, rambles forth. There are many deep philosophical views that are turned into sagas of gods and angst.

Mostly, this felt like an anthology of short stories tied loosely together. Just not my kind of book.

[Tex · Rating 1 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review) Death by Prose.
I could not finish the book. I tried but just could not push through the dense and confusing prose. When I stopped I was only at 32% after 21 hours of trying to give it my all. I can only sum up the experience as follows: it felt as if I was reading scrambled eggs that needed to be unscrambled to uncover and understand what the author was really trying to cook. DNF NO RECOMMENDATION

[Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. I try to always tell the truth and in the course of reading this novel I almost gave up on it. The first 2 parts were excruciating slow to read but when the Huntress appeared on the scene and Felicity this story flew by and I really those 2 sections. So if you can hang in there, you will be rewarded with an awesome read. Highly recommended.

[Sheri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really don't know what to say about this book. First off, it was way too techy for my personal taste. Secondly, I don't typically like books set in the future. The characters were good, well developed but I couldn't relate to them.

I think that lovers of sci fi would enjoy it.

*Thank you to the author/publisher/Netgalley For the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest opinion*