On the verge of abandoning his life-long project, an obsessive physicist hires the innovative service of an android Muse to help him finish his work. But when things start to go missing from his life, he must learn that not all is worth sacrificing on the altar of science before he has nothing left to live for.
Do you want to know what's next for poor-but-brilliant Yanni? Do you wanna meet the Muse? Then read this unique sci-fi thriller that toys with the very concept of inspiration.
From ScifiSelect: "Inspired by Dan Simmons’ Ilium, this fast-paced world blossomed into dozens of intertwined stories spanning all subgenres, from mystery to action to young adult and is certain to keep you at the edge of your seat.
What is the god complex universe?
The gods are back in town. Skyscrapers pop out of nowhere all over Athens. Corporations rename themselves as Greek gods. It all started with the Greek crisis of 2009 and will forever change the world as we know it. Some say that CEO’s have gone mad. Others, that they know damn well what they are doing. That there is something solid amongst the myth. In the day of inter-connectivity and social media admiration, can the myths come back to life?
What happens when a corporation gets a god complex? Find out in our series of books on Kindle. Described as light cyberpunk, definitely sci-fi and with a fresh twist on Greek mythology.
George Saoulidis writes sci-fi with a mythic twist—ancient Greek gods, cyberpunk futures, and the occasional romantic comedy. Based in Athens, he’s the creator of God Complex, Cyberpink, and dozens of quirky, unsettling stories. If it’s weird, witty, or a little icky, it’s probably his.
Join the Mythographers, download the free starting library and begin reading right now:
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Again with all the information given in the synopsis and none in the actual story. *Cue dramatic eye roll*
Crying Over Spilt Light is a book that's kind of difficult to explain simply because even though I've read it, and I understood most of what was going on, I feel like this book needs to be read in order to grasp the full effect. It's easy to say that it's about a man who's stuck in the labyrinth of his mind and his goal is to find the answer to his life-long project. To find that Eureka moment. See? Easy. Thing is though, as annoyed as the layout of this book made me, I can't say I hated it, because I didn't.
Another thing: I'm glad I waited a while to write this review because I was so pissed off and I honestly have no idea why. I was ranting about this book but none of the rants make sense. Again I say, read the book because what I say wouldn't come close to what you'll experience. *Ignore my 2 star rating. That's my stubbornness taking effect.
'[About light] "It spills out, like milk from a fallen bottle. And there is no use crying over spilt milk.'"
I'll be honest and say I didn't like the story because it's true. Then why continue the book if I seemed to hate it that much? But as I said, I didn't hate it but the plot was not something I enjoyed. I continued reading because the author's writing was amazing. I'm actually in a state of awe over how much I loved the writing. It's been a while since an author's work was able to pull me in like that and I felt that it [the story] deserved to be finished. Forgetting that this book-novella actually- was only 90 pages, it was a very quick read.
I've come to realise whilst reading this novella that I do not like androids. I seem to have developed a deep dislike for them and probably won't be picking up another book that features them ever again. My reasons for the low rating (even though I keep saying that you should still read this book) is because 1. I don't like androids 2. I didn't like the actual story (it wasn't bad, I just didn't like it) and 3. the time jumps annoyed me. We kept having flashbacks, then jumping to the future and I started wondering what really was. I wasn't confused by this per se, but I would've appreciated if the story was told in chronological order. I will admit that it added a bit of dramatic flare and called for a need of extra thought to be put in the reading...it also appealed to my like on unpredictability but my opinion remains what it is.
So while I didn't like this book, I know there are others out there who'll fall in love with it. If not the story itself, then definitely the writing. This is my personal recommendation to whomever would wish to read it.
Yes, I know that this review was basically me contradicting myself the entire time but my brain is still in shambles over this dang book.
This book was definitely a pleasant surprise. This is actually the first Sci-Fi thriller that I have read. At first I was a bit confused because the chapters jump around. I found myself backtracking, thinking that I must have skipped something but as I read onward the pieces started to fall into place. I found the author's approach worked very well in delivering this particular story and the fact that it was kept short and direct complimented the content perfectly. I found that this book had a cold brilliance that I really appreciated despite that fact that I normally lean toward stories with a happier tone.
The concept behind this story is uniquely Greek, and the author has executed it very well!
The author has developed the main and secondary characters very well given that this is a novella. My personal issue is the continued use of flashbacks to explain the characters motivation for their actions yet not really resolving the whys. The continued use of that technique broke the continuity of the storyline for me.
Given the restricted depth a novella gives an author and the (IMHO) overuse of flashbacks without knowing the background of the world the characters inhabit are the main reasons I really didn't enjoy it very much. I would like to read more from the author and see if my opinion changes.
Was given this book in exchange for honest review.
Hmm, what could I say? This book was excellent. The writing style is decent, and the characters ' development is also very good. I love how the author refers to Greek Mythology and other scientific theories in his / her writing. One of my favourites books that I've read in this year.
I really enjoyed reading Crying Over Spilt Light. The story and characters were great. I enjoy reading about Greek mythology and liked the mix with sci-fi. I recommend this book.
I really enjoyed the complex writing style of this author - Crying Over Spilt Light combines mythology with intriguing characters. The plot is fast paced, dark, exciting and gripping. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!
kindle unlimited but got both over time from freebie days
Hire A Muse, Get A Nobel Prize
On the verge of abandoning his life-long project, an obsessive physicist hires the innovative service of an android Muse to help him finish his work. But when things start to go missing from his life, he must learn that not all is worth sacrificing on the altar of science before he has nothing left to live for.
Do you want to know what's next for poor-but-brilliant Yanni? Do you wanna meet the Muse? Then read this unique sci-fi thriller that toys with the very concept of inspiration.
This is Book 1 of the Hire a Muse series.
What is the god complex universe?
The gods are back in town. Skyscrapers pop out of nowhere all over Athens. Corporations rename themselves as Greek gods. It all started with the Greek crisis of 2009 and will forever change the world as we know it. Some say that CEO’s have gone mad. Others, that they know damn well what they are doing. That there is something solid amongst the myth. In the day of inter-connectivity and social media admiration, can the myths come back to life?
What happens when a corporation gets a god complex? Find out in our series of books on Kindle. Described as light cyberpunk, definitely sci-fi and with a fresh twist on Greek mythology.
Crying Over Spilt Light: A God Complex Sci-Fi Story (Hire a Muse Book 1) K Slow Up (Hire a Muse Book 2)
( Format : Audiobook ) "Chasing the end of the Rainbow." Crying Over Spilt Light is a curious, well written and narrated book, sparse whilst still being replete with detail, rather beautiful, as when the author describes the dust mites in the air. It is a book of contrasts. So, too, is the narration by Denise Kahn. Her very pleasant, soothing voice s well paced and modulated and her voicings of the protagonists distinctive, sympathetic and true to life. At the same time, she manages to induce a feeling of one that is mechanical, one tonal, despite being anything but. Most intriguing.
The story is a simple one - a physicist is attempting to find the equation to tie up light to facilitate the building of a quantum computer and, at the same time, earn himself a Nobel prize. But after years of trying he still cannot find that Eureka moment. A friend recommends his hiring a Muse to eliminate distractions. And she does - toys, pictures and people. The writing style is at first confusing, segments moving and interspersing themselves in time. It needs a careful listen (or two) but it is short, engaging and worth the effort. A parable.
While this was a fairly interesting listen, the world felt a bit too sparse and it would probably have worked better if it had been part of a collection of short stories set in the same world that would have allowed the author more time to build it up.
The story mainly focused on Yanni, a theoretical physicist struggling to make a crucial breakthrough, while being haunted by an Einstein quote "A person who has not made his great contribution to science before the age of thirty will never do so" as his own thirtieth birthday is rapidly approaching. In an attempt to help him out, his friend suggests he gets a Muse, an android assistant designed to optimise his life to eliminate anything that could distract him from making progress with his work, but is everything as it first seems?
The narrator did a reasonable job with this book, but didn't really elevate a book that could have benefited from it.
Overall, this is a decent short listen, but the shorter format doesn't really do the larger world justice.
[Note - I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
Every character in this book is a two dimensional cliche. Nagging wife, nosy neighbor, bachelor best friend (who apparently has to fight women off when they discover he’s an architect). If this were presented as how Yanni sees people in an effort to illuminate his own character flaws it would be forgivable, and perhaps that was the intent, but it just misses the mark. In addition to the characters personalities the dialogue leaves me wondering if the author has ever held an actual conversation with another human being.
The storytelling style is another disappointment for me. I typically really enjoy non-linear storytelling but somehow in this story it felt off. Perhaps it’s because there were so many timelines without transitions or clues to hint which one we were in at this point. I know other reviewers said they found this confusing. I wouldn’t exactly say I was confused; it was more like I was jolted from the story. I didn’t find myself being drawn in as I tried to suss out the story but instead feeling even more disconnected than I already had.
I honestly don’t think I’d have finished this book if it wasn’t fulfilling a category for the Read Harder challenge.
I have mixed feelings about this story and am left with no idea how to rate it. So for now, I’m leaving that part blank.
Interesting concept, and mostly, I liked how it was executed. I recently watched Ex Machina and can see many similarities with that film. I did enjoy Saoulidis’ writing style, all the science, different locale (Greece), the various character interactions and much more. My problem with this, and I think it may be quite personal- (I didn’t check the length 1st & perhaps I was expecting a novel?)- was the ending. I felt the story was flowing along nicely then, BAM, suddenly it was all over. I felt left hanging, too many questions still unanswered, but this is a novella. I might have been ok if I was expecting a short story.
If you like short sci-fi, I’d say give it a go. As for me, I will be reading more from this author. I’ll just check the length 1st. 😉
"Crying Over Spilt Light" is a short story with an intriguing premise. Yanni is a young Greek physicist who is desperate to make his big contribution to science before he turns thirty. He is trying to create a way to contain light, but it keeps eluding him. In desperation, he turns to an android--gynoid, technically--"muse" who watches over him and takes care of him while he finishes his proof. But then things take a sinister turn.
The concept behind the story is fascinating, and the writing has sections where it approaches the lyrical. Readers should be aware that the story is told in a somewhat non-linear fashion, which is only appropriate for a story about theoretical physics, but means you need to pay attention to what's going on with the plot. An interesting novella for fans of what you might call "conceptual" or "deep thought" sci fi.
First: this is a short story. Took me less than an hour and a half to read. Second: The chapters are scrambled. The aim of the scientist's experiment is revealed so late in the story (70% through) that I thought maybe it was a time-travel story and the mixing-up would be a clever device, but no. I see absolutely no good reason for it. It adds nothing but confusion. Third: Though most of the writing clearly expresses the concepts, grammatically, it often slightly missed the mark and native English speakers will recognize that the writer's first language is Greek. Still, very readable. Fourth: While not really a cliff hanger, it is also not really the end of the story and given that it's such a short read, that might bother some people.
For all of that, it was more readable than most indie books, the plot moved along very quickly and I was interested in the outcome.
Don’t get me wrong, the author George Saoulidis got a great story here but I had to listen to it three times to understand it and what is going on. I believe that there are two problems with this book, the first is easy: awful narration, the second I’m having a hard time putting my finger on it but I know it’s there because after listening to it three times and finally getting the complete picture it was brilliant a truly masterpiece which I believe needs to be redone because people deserve to hear about this excellent story and understand it easily.
About recommending this audiobook I really can’t say, great story but needs retelling.
In exchange for an honest review I’ve received this audiobook.
Does having a Muse make it easier to have the physics breakthrough that you have been working towards your whole life? Is a Nobel Prize worth changing your whole life?
I was left confused within the story. A scene would happen and then it was yesterday but then it was after the other scene. It seems petty, but the numbering of the chapters/sections annoyed me - Chapter i, i^2, i^3, i^4, 2i... It's a short book - it's got a numbered separator every two pages or so. Why not just have dashes or asterisks within the chapters? [Petty but it disturbed my reading.]
I had requested and received audiobook version of this book for free from the publisher, in exchange for an unbiased review.
When the synopsis of this book claims to tell a unique story, it means it. It floats a completely unique concept and weaves a great story around it. I was left with my mouth open from the very start. Its a short story, running only for ~ 2 hours and I wish it was longer.
The narration by Denise Kahn does complete justice to the content. The delivery perfectly complements the story and makes for a great listen.
This was an cool & interesting story. The ending wasn’t expected but also not unexpected either. I did wonder how our main protagonists could just go on not talking to his wife & children for so long and not push the matter. I look forward to other books from this world as well. Narration was excellent.
I was voluntarily provided this review copy at no charge by the author, publisher and or narrator.
I enjoyed this short tale, the only reason it's rated at 3 stars is because of the way that the chapters flow ( or don't in this case ) A lot of time there are answers before the question, consequences before the deeds. It's a short tale so i put up and shut up but if it'd been a full length novel it'd lost more precious stars as i lost chunks of sanity. A great twist on a classic myth though and regardless of it's downsides it was certainly worth the time it took to read.
Incredible! Mind twisted, knotted, crumpled, stomped on then blown.
The mind numbing insanity leaking from the pages wouldn't allow me to close the book until it was done, then had me craving more. An intricately woven web of horror and desire expressed perfectly in a sensual outflow of emotion. A definite must read.
an interesting and emotional read. Hire a Muse to help you overcome a crisis. That is what Yanni did based on advice from his friend Nikos. Things turn out differently than planned with a very surprising ending. Well worth reading
This is a wish fulfillment story similar to writer's block. I bet a lot of writers will empathize with Yanni where he just wants to get work done, and there are distractions, buzzsaws, neighbors and drooling kids. I somehow came up with a story about a Muse that removes all distractions. The story is inspired (ha!) by a short story named "Source of inspiration" by Michalis Manolios, who is an often awarded Greek science-fiction author. Collection in Greek: ... και το τέρας by Μιχάλης Μανωλιός
I received a free kindle copy of Crying Over Spilt Light by George Saoulidis from StoryCartel in exchange for a fair review.
I gave this surprising book about a frustrated physicist seeking to obtain a Nobel prize for his work four stars. He obtains an android muse who is geared to remove all distractions. And she certainly does that in an most surprising fashion.
For me, one drawback was the use of possibly Greek words with no translation or glossary. The other was mentioning a name for a character (the muse) which was not identified until much later in the book. I was left guessing who it was. It is still recommended reading.