The Thinking Machine

The Synthetic Albatross #1

by Ben Van Dongen

A Man and a Monster with the Same Name. In a city that spans most of the eastern sea-board, there is a creature that used to be a man. A stranger, from the shrinking wilds of the north, is called by a spirit to enter the city and destroy the abomination. The thing that shares his name. Zed.

140 pages, Paperback

Published April 23, 2018

About the author

Ben Van Dongen was born in Windsor Ontario. He likes to think that if he tried harder he could have been an Astronaut, but he is happier writing science fiction anyway. He wrote the novellas The Thinking Machine and The Neon Heart, co-authored the books No Light Tomorrow and All These Crooked Streets, and is one half of the founding team of Adventure Worlds Press. You can read more crazy notions on his website. BenVanDongen.com

Reviews

[Michael Drakich · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing novella set in a dystopian setting with world building reminiscent of stuff written by Philip K Dick. Although this book ends with a high action scene, it is the journey through this world that makes the ending almost anti-climatic. The operative word is 'almost'. The antagonist, who is unknown until the final encounter (an excellent build up of anticipation to find out), is a creature of unique design that makes the reader wonder how the protagonist has a chance at all. This highly recommended for any dystopian fan.

[Christian (C.M. Forest) Laforet · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are three things I love in this world. 1) Cyberpunk stories. 2) Chinese food. And 3) kittens with short legs. And guess what, The Thinking Machine has two of those things (I’ll leave it to you to find out which two).

The Thinking Machine follows a guy named Zed as he leaves the comfort of his country lifestyle to head into the city in search of…another guy named Zed. Sounds weird, I know, but hang in there, the story is worth it.

This thing is a cyberpunk thrill ride (fans of Blade Runner definitely need apply). The book itself is slim—its dimensions evokes pleasant memories of the classic sci-fi pulp novels of yesteryear—but it packs a punch. From the moment Zed enters the sprawling metropolis, the narrative goes ball-to-the-wall. This fast pace pairs quite nicely with the urgency of Zed’s own situation. Just as one plot thread is resolved, we are blasting toward the next.

The city in The Thinking Machine isn’t just window dressing either. It has character, and an immense presence felt throughout. In fact, there was so much going on in this place that I would love for Ben Van Dongen to come back to it. I need more!

As you can tell, I really liked this one. Its size, coupled with the fast pace of the story, created a perfect little escape from reality. Hopefully there are more stories to be told in this world, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they involve a stumpy-legged kitten (even in the background).

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest, I didn't expect much from this book. I picked it up at a mini comic con where I live and two authors were sharing a table selling their stuff. I bought this one and another, they autographed both and I was on my way. Well, this was a small book, but it was excellent. I can't wait to read the next one. I loved the characters, the writing, and I can't wait to meet Zed when he's at home. Well worth the time and money.

[Deborah James Van Dongen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It read very quickly and kept me engaged throughout. The characters were strong and interesting. It left me wanting more. Can’t wait for the next one!

[P.M.C. Smy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate the effort but it reads like a sketch of a novel more than a novel itself. Any dialogue scene is utterly confusing as there is rarely an attribution (he said etc) and I found that all the characters spoke with the same voice and style.
The author is going for something mysterious but I found I knew so little about the character I couldn’t care about him.
Also it felt like a video game, going from scene to scene.


Finally, it is riddled with errors (spelling and punctuation).

I think with a proper editor and a rewrite this idea could work.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though not the genre I usually read, I really enjoyed this book. I found some of the characters quirky and as I progressed in the story line, I grew fonder of the main character, Zed. I'm looking forward to reading the next book, The Neon Heart.

[Adam Hannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of good ideas, unfortunately it read like a video game script.

[Alex Fayborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though not the kind of novel I typically read, I really liked this one and I grew quite fond of the main character the more I read. I can't wait to read Neon Heart.