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Future Forfeit #1
Chromed: Upgrade
It’s 2150AD. There hasn’t been a corporate war… until now.
Mason Floyd is an augmented syndicate enforcer at the top of his game. His job is asset protection and acquisition, no questions asked.
Company tech is stolen on Mason’s watch. Rival megacorps want it, and they don’t mind killing him to get it. Framed for the theft, Mason runs. He tangles with off-grid rockstar Sadie Freeman on the grimy seam between the powerful and poor. Together they uncover a secret an entire city died to keep.
Hunted and desperate, they must team up to survive. Together Mason and Sadie can save the world. Apart, both are lost. They must trust each other or die.
Mason Floyd is an augmented syndicate enforcer at the top of his game. His job is asset protection and acquisition, no questions asked.
Company tech is stolen on Mason’s watch. Rival megacorps want it, and they don’t mind killing him to get it. Framed for the theft, Mason runs. He tangles with off-grid rockstar Sadie Freeman on the grimy seam between the powerful and poor. Together they uncover a secret an entire city died to keep.
Hunted and desperate, they must team up to survive. Together Mason and Sadie can save the world. Apart, both are lost. They must trust each other or die.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2018
About the author
Richard Parry
47 books309 followersRichard Parry has worked as a senior marketing manager in one of the world’s top tech companies, but it wasn't all cocaine parties. His debut novel Night’s Favor and its sequel Night’s Fall have been shortlisted for the Sir Julius Vogel Award “Best Novel” category.
His ever-growing list of novels spans urban fantasy, cyberpunk, and space opera, featuring flawed heroes, sharp dialogue, and a healthy dose of action. His Night’s Champion trilogy follows an alcoholic-turned-werewolf saving the world, while Future Forfeit explores a neon-drenched cyberpunk future where hacking the system is just the start. Meanwhile, Ezeroc Wars throws readers into the deep end of an interstellar war against a swarm species that doesn’t take no for an answer. Across over 20 novels (and counting), Richard delivers stories packed with heart, explosions, and the occasional bad decision.
Richard lives in Wellington with the love of his life, Rae. They have cats, who chase birds. The birds, who have the power of flight, don’t seem to mind.
His ever-growing list of novels spans urban fantasy, cyberpunk, and space opera, featuring flawed heroes, sharp dialogue, and a healthy dose of action. His Night’s Champion trilogy follows an alcoholic-turned-werewolf saving the world, while Future Forfeit explores a neon-drenched cyberpunk future where hacking the system is just the start. Meanwhile, Ezeroc Wars throws readers into the deep end of an interstellar war against a swarm species that doesn’t take no for an answer. Across over 20 novels (and counting), Richard delivers stories packed with heart, explosions, and the occasional bad decision.
Richard lives in Wellington with the love of his life, Rae. They have cats, who chase birds. The birds, who have the power of flight, don’t seem to mind.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
November 7, 2018
“It shouldn’t be illegal to make your own choices.”
“Heaven’s a place of possibility and freedom.”
This is the second time I’m reading Upgrade, and it seems to me more powerful, riveting and captivating. A warped and twisted reality with
darker undertones that takes you to the edge.Thought provoking, harsh and scary, a fearsome glimpse into the near future dominated by corporates and syndicate. Humanity controlled by links, a grim and gripping thriller. Every page turn is a surprise, unexpected, audacious. It’s about betrayal, compassion, trust, enemy or foe..Character in depth is wonderfully described, profound. One of the best in Cyberpunk! A masterpiece in its genre! Overlay, Overtime, lattice..incredible! I just love the tech in the story! As always, with an original and witty dialogue, fun and sarcastic. Richard Parry is a Wordsmith of the best kind. I seriously recommend the series! It’s worth a read and more! I am voluntarily leaving a review with no obligation of an advance copy I received from the author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
“Heaven’s a place of possibility and freedom.”
This is the second time I’m reading Upgrade, and it seems to me more powerful, riveting and captivating. A warped and twisted reality with
darker undertones that takes you to the edge.Thought provoking, harsh and scary, a fearsome glimpse into the near future dominated by corporates and syndicate. Humanity controlled by links, a grim and gripping thriller. Every page turn is a surprise, unexpected, audacious. It’s about betrayal, compassion, trust, enemy or foe..Character in depth is wonderfully described, profound. One of the best in Cyberpunk! A masterpiece in its genre! Overlay, Overtime, lattice..incredible! I just love the tech in the story! As always, with an original and witty dialogue, fun and sarcastic. Richard Parry is a Wordsmith of the best kind. I seriously recommend the series! It’s worth a read and more! I am voluntarily leaving a review with no obligation of an advance copy I received from the author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 28, 2018
This is a wonderful remaster of my all time favorite full book science fiction story ever.
I have the original paperback sitting proudly on my bookshelf which has a beginning and an end in one book. It’s excellence.
The remaster has been broken down into an affordable series of three books that the author, Richard Parry, has used to polish the original and I must say he’s done a fantastic job.
The original is a very long read coming in at around 575 pages. That length may have intimidated some readers back when first published, so Richard has broken it up into easier pieces and it’s much better for it. I feel the original may have been a little bit ahead of its time and now it’s even better.
This is an awesome sci-fi tale. It has intense action, Bladerunneresque/cyberpunk environments and elements, mystery, warring factions with awesome weaponry, dimensional science fantasy, a little romance and a pure sadness that will pull at your heart, all combined to make this an instant classic.
I hope if you’re a lover of science fiction that you’ll give this new “Upgrade” series remaster a try.
It’s worth every word and late night of continued reading.
Thank you Richard!
November 1, 2018
Like very many, I want to be better. This book uses a lot of wit plus some serious tech to show one of the ways. Mr. Parry has had a good long think about how the future will guide us in that direction, even allowing for do gooder keep everybody equal types. Behind this humerus front lies some serious thought in a good book. The missus had to call me three times for supper.
Read
September 26, 2022I won’t rate this book. It is overall quite good but there is one glitch I can’t get over with and since it’s a matter of personal taste it wouldn’t be fair to rate it on this basis.
So. it’s solid and good cyberpunk. Good settings, typical corporate environment, rain, chrome and all the stuff required. Characters are underdeveloped but the very good and sarcastic dialogues largely make up for it. The way Mason and Carter-his handler- intetact is great and fun.
Then there’s a mcguffin to retrieve and the book slides toward... fantasy. . I’m clearly not big on mash-ups and this took me out of the book, even though the cyberpunk part remains good till the end (of the volume, it’s a three-parter). I liked Mason, I liked Carter and wanted to know how the mcguffin situation would have been resolved. If it has remained a mcguffin instead of actually working the way it did actually.
Well, my loss.
So if you’re more open-minded than me give it a try. It’s well written, fast paced and as cyberpunk as can be. There’s just this one glitch...
So. it’s solid and good cyberpunk. Good settings, typical corporate environment, rain, chrome and all the stuff required. Characters are underdeveloped but the very good and sarcastic dialogues largely make up for it. The way Mason and Carter-his handler- intetact is great and fun.
Then there’s a mcguffin to retrieve and the book slides toward... fantasy. . I’m clearly not big on mash-ups and this took me out of the book, even though the cyberpunk part remains good till the end (of the volume, it’s a three-parter). I liked Mason, I liked Carter and wanted to know how the mcguffin situation would have been resolved. If it has remained a mcguffin instead of actually working the way it did actually.
Well, my loss.
So if you’re more open-minded than me give it a try. It’s well written, fast paced and as cyberpunk as can be. There’s just this one glitch...
November 10, 2018
This book took a while for me to catch the rhythm. The beginning had me a bit confused for quite a bit once it hit the slave and master part. Then you throw in the search for a demon and my brain was having a hard time fitting all of the moving pieces together.
I like Mason for the most part, however at times he seemed to be an almost caricature of a wanna be bad guy/good guy/bad guy/good guy…if you catch my meaning. His intimidation tactics were interesting to say the least. I enjoyed his sarcastic wit at times. I love a good blow everything to smithereens book with lots of tech and a fantasy and some mysticism to it.
Others have praised the book and it’s probably a case of me and not the story but a lot of the times I had a hard time following what was happening. Please understand I love this author and most of his stories I devour in one read. This one was a bit of pick up and put down and pick again for me. I just couldn’t get a good handle on it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I like Mason for the most part, however at times he seemed to be an almost caricature of a wanna be bad guy/good guy/bad guy/good guy…if you catch my meaning. His intimidation tactics were interesting to say the least. I enjoyed his sarcastic wit at times. I love a good blow everything to smithereens book with lots of tech and a fantasy and some mysticism to it.
Others have praised the book and it’s probably a case of me and not the story but a lot of the times I had a hard time following what was happening. Please understand I love this author and most of his stories I devour in one read. This one was a bit of pick up and put down and pick again for me. I just couldn’t get a good handle on it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 9, 2018
Cyber Punk. Not sure I knew exactly what that is. I do now. After reading the Tyche series, I was really pumped about Richard Parry. The Future Forfeit series is TOTALLY different. The characters are darker and deeper and that insessant mysterious rain! What a great mental picture that painted.
After the Tyche books and Upgrade, thought I'd take a break from Richard so settled in to a nice, calm and sunny James Michener novel (Chesapeake). But now I find myself missing Mason's story. So many loose ends plus Upgrade has a cliff hanger ending. The story and characters keep floating across my mind - mark of a good story and great writer.
I may have to set Michener aside and pop for a copy of Rogue. After all, Chesapeake has been on my list for 40 years. What's another few days...
I see where Amazon has the 3 book Chromed series set. If I were starting anew, I'd buy that.
After the Tyche books and Upgrade, thought I'd take a break from Richard so settled in to a nice, calm and sunny James Michener novel (Chesapeake). But now I find myself missing Mason's story. So many loose ends plus Upgrade has a cliff hanger ending. The story and characters keep floating across my mind - mark of a good story and great writer.
I may have to set Michener aside and pop for a copy of Rogue. After all, Chesapeake has been on my list for 40 years. What's another few days...
I see where Amazon has the 3 book Chromed series set. If I were starting anew, I'd buy that.
November 14, 2018
A Cyperpunk Short for everyone
As a come and go fan of Cyperpunk i don't normally go to much into this Genre outside some of the well k own ones. As RP has done a lot of good work in other genres i tried this one out as a previous short piqued my interest.
Imagine my surprise when i found myself enjoying this as much as i did his other best selling works. The characters are RP through and through very engaging and immersive so im happy and it isn't too tech filled with jargon for a relative newbie such as myself.
This would make a great starter for those who want to dabble an exploratory toe into this world.
This is part of an entire series now so will give extra enjoyment if you liked it as much as I do.
As a come and go fan of Cyperpunk i don't normally go to much into this Genre outside some of the well k own ones. As RP has done a lot of good work in other genres i tried this one out as a previous short piqued my interest.
Imagine my surprise when i found myself enjoying this as much as i did his other best selling works. The characters are RP through and through very engaging and immersive so im happy and it isn't too tech filled with jargon for a relative newbie such as myself.
This would make a great starter for those who want to dabble an exploratory toe into this world.
This is part of an entire series now so will give extra enjoyment if you liked it as much as I do.
November 12, 2018
Still a Great Read.
I read the original Upgrade not so long ago, and still enjoyed it second time around, but unlike the first Upgrade, the entirety of this story is not here, for more you'll have to wait until December, which for cyberpunk lover's everywhere is so sad.
Read the blurb, check the review's, purchase the book, and get ready for one hell of an action packed, awesome, at time's intense read.
Highly recommended.
🌠 🌠 🌠 🌠 🌠
I read the original Upgrade not so long ago, and still enjoyed it second time around, but unlike the first Upgrade, the entirety of this story is not here, for more you'll have to wait until December, which for cyberpunk lover's everywhere is so sad.
Read the blurb, check the review's, purchase the book, and get ready for one hell of an action packed, awesome, at time's intense read.
Highly recommended.
🌠 🌠 🌠 🌠 🌠
Read
January 19, 2019Everything there is to love about cyberpunk dark gray rainy the perfect picture of the scary future. The protagonist / hero is one bad MF and you don't know if you want to hate him or be him. This story starts off with a bang and continues brilliant plot twists deep and realistic characterization and builds to a mind-blowing twisted ending. All in all a masterful well written work bye a constantly improving author
November 12, 2018
I loved Upgrade, the original, and this reworked book is so much better. Parry's characters live and breathe, love and hate, laugh and cry, and it makes me want more of this world. Super tech and demons, what more could you want in a book? Can't wait for the next book in the series.
February 6, 2019
This book never really clicked for me. There were a lot of characters (maybe 30 or 40), who mostly all blend into one another, and not all of them get good explanations as to who they are or what their role is in the story. Perhaps because of this, I found the plot very hard to follow. There were a lot of subplots, and those that involved similar people doing similar kinds of things with motives/goals that were not fully clear were hard to disentangle. I know that the main plot involved some kind of betrayal against the company… and our chain-smoking, prostitute-obsessed macho man of a protagonist has to investigate this and exterminate the traitor… but then the company decides to exterminate him instead. Then there was also some poison rain or something, a slave girl with magic powers, and . I feel like you would need a notebook by your side to try to understand this book properly, and even then I get the sense the author is purposely leaving lots of stuff unexplained so people will buy the later books in the series. So, hmmm. While apparently this series has its fans, I'm not planning to continue with it.
As an aside, I also thought it was mildly hilarious that in Parry's vision of 2150, everyone is chain-smoking again like it's still 1950. Long-term social trends? Naw, what's that.
As an aside, I also thought it was mildly hilarious that in Parry's vision of 2150, everyone is chain-smoking again like it's still 1950. Long-term social trends? Naw, what's that.
November 21, 2018
The future is not so bright. Corporations rule the world and street hackers fight back.
This is an SF action romp with lots of intrigue, guns, and explosions, all wrapped together in a solid story. Very much in the Bladerunner genre, but with its own unique flavor.
The story is well written with strong characters who have depth along with mad skills. Oh, and more than a bit of snark. Do be warned that it is a bit of a page turner. Once you start, you will have a hard time putting it down and that feeling doesn't end when the book does. You will then want to pick up the next one and keep going.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
This is an SF action romp with lots of intrigue, guns, and explosions, all wrapped together in a solid story. Very much in the Bladerunner genre, but with its own unique flavor.
The story is well written with strong characters who have depth along with mad skills. Oh, and more than a bit of snark. Do be warned that it is a bit of a page turner. Once you start, you will have a hard time putting it down and that feeling doesn't end when the book does. You will then want to pick up the next one and keep going.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
November 14, 2018
He does what he is ordered to do and he just gets on with it but then some tech is stolen On his watch. He is framed for that there so he runs. Will he be able to find the real criminal? Can he clears his name? See how he gets on
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 10, 2018
Chromed upgrade by Richard parry.
This was a very enjoyable read. I lived the story and the characters. There were some characters I didn't like. I really do like Richard's books. 4*.
This was a very enjoyable read. I lived the story and the characters. There were some characters I didn't like. I really do like Richard's books. 4*.
November 27, 2018
Great Read
This cyberpunk adventure was exciting, fast paced, wonderful characters. Written with the past and future artfully arranged and crafted in a believable manner
This cyberpunk adventure was exciting, fast paced, wonderful characters. Written with the past and future artfully arranged and crafted in a believable manner
January 5, 2022
Better than I expected, honestly. Hews a *bit* close to the standard tropes, but it's got enough genuine creativity to keep me reading.
January 17, 2020
I accidentally deleted a previous review of this book and considered leaving it be, as I rarely post any of my opinions online, however this book is quite possibly the worst thing I have read in years.
I would say that it feels like someone writing to fill pages. Like, you ever see those 9 part "Series" with really nice art on the cover that are e-book only self published authors that fit a very very specific video-gamey niche sci fi weaboo setting like "This book is a super hero nanotech mmo harem" or stuff like that clogging up the Kindle store? Well this is on that level but worse as it tries to trick you into thinking its a classic pulpy retro-cyberpunk style story, at worst I was expecting a low rent version of a Shadowrun or Android tie in novel level of writing. How wrong I was.
I quit after 150 pages. As far as I can recall, the main character is a reader self insert ridiculous badass and is investigating something to do with hallucinatory rain and a conspiracy by his company. However, 90% of the page space is inane bickering dialogue between the main character and his corporate handler he talks to over his implant. It just drones on and on and on and reads like a bad script for a TV show more than a novel. There is little to no prose describing anything in the world, locations, people, technology, just constant yammering and playful "No YOU are an asshole...but I can't help but like you" kind of dialogue. It's embarrassing that an adult wrote this.
Even more embarrassing is the author's obvious cigarette and wiskey fetish. No joke, it regularly talks about how badass and amazing his brand of cigarettes are, how great his wiskey is, always doing both on the job and having lots of other characters comment on how amazing the quality of his cigs and booze are too. It all culminates in the point where his hacker/handler jacks into a robots sensory input and (through this robot) decides to try smoking for the first time (I think the main character suggests it) and tells the main character how amazing his brand of cigarettes are. I laughed out loud and quit the book right there.
I do want to say, there are some AMAZING self published or small press sci fi novels, even some good cyberpunk ones! Usually these are people who had a passion novel they worked on for years and had to resort to self publishing or small press and these can be quite good if they are smart enough to hire an editor. Then there are the kind we have here in Chromed (and presumably the other 30+ books the author has written), PROLIFIC beyond belief self publishing garbage chutes that dump page fillers with all the writing expertise of someone who thinks Halo is the most in depth and meaningful story ever told and thinks fanfiction is literature.
I would say that it feels like someone writing to fill pages. Like, you ever see those 9 part "Series" with really nice art on the cover that are e-book only self published authors that fit a very very specific video-gamey niche sci fi weaboo setting like "This book is a super hero nanotech mmo harem" or stuff like that clogging up the Kindle store? Well this is on that level but worse as it tries to trick you into thinking its a classic pulpy retro-cyberpunk style story, at worst I was expecting a low rent version of a Shadowrun or Android tie in novel level of writing. How wrong I was.
I quit after 150 pages. As far as I can recall, the main character is a reader self insert ridiculous badass and is investigating something to do with hallucinatory rain and a conspiracy by his company. However, 90% of the page space is inane bickering dialogue between the main character and his corporate handler he talks to over his implant. It just drones on and on and on and reads like a bad script for a TV show more than a novel. There is little to no prose describing anything in the world, locations, people, technology, just constant yammering and playful "No YOU are an asshole...but I can't help but like you" kind of dialogue. It's embarrassing that an adult wrote this.
Even more embarrassing is the author's obvious cigarette and wiskey fetish. No joke, it regularly talks about how badass and amazing his brand of cigarettes are, how great his wiskey is, always doing both on the job and having lots of other characters comment on how amazing the quality of his cigs and booze are too. It all culminates in the point where his hacker/handler jacks into a robots sensory input and (through this robot) decides to try smoking for the first time (I think the main character suggests it) and tells the main character how amazing his brand of cigarettes are. I laughed out loud and quit the book right there.
I do want to say, there are some AMAZING self published or small press sci fi novels, even some good cyberpunk ones! Usually these are people who had a passion novel they worked on for years and had to resort to self publishing or small press and these can be quite good if they are smart enough to hire an editor. Then there are the kind we have here in Chromed (and presumably the other 30+ books the author has written), PROLIFIC beyond belief self publishing garbage chutes that dump page fillers with all the writing expertise of someone who thinks Halo is the most in depth and meaningful story ever told and thinks fanfiction is literature.
June 28, 2019
This book was a massive disappointment based on what I expected just from reading the synopsis. What I expected was a rather gritty book about a man on the run from the company he used to work for. Getting the side character quickly and progressing with this escape while showing you a a nicely built world, maybe some fun enjoyable one of characters to build the world even more.
But instead of that, it was mostly something completely different. The main story that was hinted at in the synopsis didn't even start till about the 80% mark. With most of it being the main character Mason killing some people, interacting with various characters to minor amounts who all feel very similar, and some odd side plots and conspiracies that don't play a role really and never feel very well integrated. Then suddenly the book seems to start. It didn't build the world well at all, showing us minor hints at two different groups and larger focus on the main group he is a part of. Then through some rather generic cyberpunk style tech you would expect and call it good.
There are also some strange parts, I'm okay with technology so advanced it seems like magic, but this cyberpunk book actually seems to revolve around magic. It feels really odd and out of place, like your expecting a decent answer and at the moment it just seems to be...magic? Along with some other magical characters that start getting development in the last 20% of the book, but it just feels out of place.
Overall it feels like this book was a strange overly long prologue for future books. But didn't do enough for me to actually enjoy it and have it stand by itself. I highly doubt I will ever bother looking for a second book in this series if it ever gets made.
But instead of that, it was mostly something completely different. The main story that was hinted at in the synopsis didn't even start till about the 80% mark. With most of it being the main character Mason killing some people, interacting with various characters to minor amounts who all feel very similar, and some odd side plots and conspiracies that don't play a role really and never feel very well integrated. Then suddenly the book seems to start. It didn't build the world well at all, showing us minor hints at two different groups and larger focus on the main group he is a part of. Then through some rather generic cyberpunk style tech you would expect and call it good.
There are also some strange parts, I'm okay with technology so advanced it seems like magic, but this cyberpunk book actually seems to revolve around magic. It feels really odd and out of place, like your expecting a decent answer and at the moment it just seems to be...magic? Along with some other magical characters that start getting development in the last 20% of the book, but it just feels out of place.
Overall it feels like this book was a strange overly long prologue for future books. But didn't do enough for me to actually enjoy it and have it stand by itself. I highly doubt I will ever bother looking for a second book in this series if it ever gets made.
November 28, 2019
Great talent; abrupt ending
A kitchen sink Fiction story: cyborgs, noir detective scenes, highly nuanced dialog, clever spy plot twists, cool computer tech, zombies, excellently described fight scenes, sci-fi weaponry, world gates, magic, mind control, and a multi-layered plot. Feels like a mix of Blade Runner, Matrix, and every tv detective show with a lead actor who smokes and outsmarts everyone else. There are powerful and lyrical descriptions scattered throughout the story, although most of the imagery is dark. The characters are multi-faceted and intriguing. Reading this story is like peeling away layers of paint on a canvas. Not sure what the picture will be until it’s all cleared away.
What’s frustrating is that the book ends at the 90% point. Then follows 5% containing ads for other books, and then a few chapters of the next book. The story just stops with no resolution for anyone. All the characters are in a deeper mess. Not sure I care enough about any of them yet to bother reading the next book. I like the characters, but I don’t think the emotional stakes are very high by the end of the novel. Yeah, bad stuff is happening, but most every character has done something to tarnish whatever halo they might have worn, and there’s really no sympathetic hero or innocent victim. They could all die, and...so what? There’s no hint of a solution, just bad guys on the loose on all sides.
A kitchen sink Fiction story: cyborgs, noir detective scenes, highly nuanced dialog, clever spy plot twists, cool computer tech, zombies, excellently described fight scenes, sci-fi weaponry, world gates, magic, mind control, and a multi-layered plot. Feels like a mix of Blade Runner, Matrix, and every tv detective show with a lead actor who smokes and outsmarts everyone else. There are powerful and lyrical descriptions scattered throughout the story, although most of the imagery is dark. The characters are multi-faceted and intriguing. Reading this story is like peeling away layers of paint on a canvas. Not sure what the picture will be until it’s all cleared away.
What’s frustrating is that the book ends at the 90% point. Then follows 5% containing ads for other books, and then a few chapters of the next book. The story just stops with no resolution for anyone. All the characters are in a deeper mess. Not sure I care enough about any of them yet to bother reading the next book. I like the characters, but I don’t think the emotional stakes are very high by the end of the novel. Yeah, bad stuff is happening, but most every character has done something to tarnish whatever halo they might have worn, and there’s really no sympathetic hero or innocent victim. They could all die, and...so what? There’s no hint of a solution, just bad guys on the loose on all sides.
January 25, 2019
Makes James Cameron’s Terminator look like a wuss.
Richard Parry is an acquired taste. I was hooked with the first of his novels that I started, about two years ago. This is the 15th or 16th one of his that I have read since then.
This one is an intoxicating blur involving very high tech offensive and defensive tools wielded by men who talk like noire detectives from the 1950s and earlier. (And yeah, I do remember the ‘50s.) Many of the women in the novel are tougher than the main male characters. Everybody is chain-smoking cigarettes, and by the end of this novel, my Kindle has a reek of cigarette smoke.
The main character – Mason Floyd – Is doing fine until he trips over his long-lost moral compass and sidesteps the mission he was given. Now he has to try and protect the lives of three people while almost every person on Earth with a weapon is trying to kill him. His world becomes collateral damage.
Read the fourth paragraph of the Amazon blurb that is on the same page you use to purchase the book.
Don’t try to figure out what is going on. Richard Parry has already done that, and is going to be five steps ahead of you, regardless. Just join the rest of us on this ride.
This being Book #1 in a trilogy, I purchased all three at the start. Nobody writes blistering action as skillfully and as twisted as Richard Parry.
Richard Parry is an acquired taste. I was hooked with the first of his novels that I started, about two years ago. This is the 15th or 16th one of his that I have read since then.
This one is an intoxicating blur involving very high tech offensive and defensive tools wielded by men who talk like noire detectives from the 1950s and earlier. (And yeah, I do remember the ‘50s.) Many of the women in the novel are tougher than the main male characters. Everybody is chain-smoking cigarettes, and by the end of this novel, my Kindle has a reek of cigarette smoke.
The main character – Mason Floyd – Is doing fine until he trips over his long-lost moral compass and sidesteps the mission he was given. Now he has to try and protect the lives of three people while almost every person on Earth with a weapon is trying to kill him. His world becomes collateral damage.
Read the fourth paragraph of the Amazon blurb that is on the same page you use to purchase the book.
Don’t try to figure out what is going on. Richard Parry has already done that, and is going to be five steps ahead of you, regardless. Just join the rest of us on this ride.
This being Book #1 in a trilogy, I purchased all three at the start. Nobody writes blistering action as skillfully and as twisted as Richard Parry.
March 25, 2019
“Never go off the grid. That was the rule. It kept Mason alive.” One thing readers will quickly notice from these quoted sentences, aside from an outstanding and well written story, is lots of promised action and emotional impact as they react to the mental picture the author paints. The environment and events that transpire are detailed to the point of reality. The twists and turns in the action literally compel and drag the reader forward in the story line – whether willingly or not!
Mason is a strong, tough man who is good at his job. He follows the rules and gets it done. But when he is set up and tech goes missing, he has no choice but to escape and run while others in the corporate world chase after him to obtain what they think he has. He meets up with Sadie Freeman, and survival dictates they work together to resolve this mess! If he can’t clear his name, there is no place he will ever find safety.
I think that if the reader enjoys cyberpunk, this series will meet your every need! The writer has proven again and again that he is a skilled master of his craft, which will be immediately noted from the first word all the way through to the end. This is not a quick read – it will draw the reader deep into the book. But it is very well done and won’t fail to leave a lasting impression. And just for the record, his other series are equally amazing!
Mason is a strong, tough man who is good at his job. He follows the rules and gets it done. But when he is set up and tech goes missing, he has no choice but to escape and run while others in the corporate world chase after him to obtain what they think he has. He meets up with Sadie Freeman, and survival dictates they work together to resolve this mess! If he can’t clear his name, there is no place he will ever find safety.
I think that if the reader enjoys cyberpunk, this series will meet your every need! The writer has proven again and again that he is a skilled master of his craft, which will be immediately noted from the first word all the way through to the end. This is not a quick read – it will draw the reader deep into the book. But it is very well done and won’t fail to leave a lasting impression. And just for the record, his other series are equally amazing!
March 27, 2019
“Never go off the grid. That was the rule. It kept Mason alive.” One thing readers will quickly notice from these quoted sentences, aside from an outstanding and well written story, is lots of promised action and emotional impact as they react to the mental picture the author paints. The environment and events that transpire are detailed to the point of reality. The twists and turns in the action literally compel and drag the reader forward in the story line – whether willingly or not!
Mason is a strong, tough man who is good at his job. He follows the rules and gets it done. But when he is set up and tech goes missing, he has no choice but to escape and run while others in the corporate world chase after him to obtain what they think he has. He meets up with Sadie Freeman, and survival dictates they work together to resolve this mess! If he can’t clear his name, there is no place he will ever find safety.
I think that if the reader enjoys cyberpunk, this series will meet your every need! The writer has proven again and again that he is a skilled master of his craft, which will be immediately noted from the first word all the way through to the end. This is not a quick read – it will draw the reader deep into the book. But it is very well done and won’t fail to leave a lasting impression. And just for the record, his other series are equally amazing!
Mason is a strong, tough man who is good at his job. He follows the rules and gets it done. But when he is set up and tech goes missing, he has no choice but to escape and run while others in the corporate world chase after him to obtain what they think he has. He meets up with Sadie Freeman, and survival dictates they work together to resolve this mess! If he can’t clear his name, there is no place he will ever find safety.
I think that if the reader enjoys cyberpunk, this series will meet your every need! The writer has proven again and again that he is a skilled master of his craft, which will be immediately noted from the first word all the way through to the end. This is not a quick read – it will draw the reader deep into the book. But it is very well done and won’t fail to leave a lasting impression. And just for the record, his other series are equally amazing!
July 9, 2019
Finally a good cyberpunk story! Set in Seattle, rain all the time (I know--the usual CP tropes), body mods, high-tech weaponry, uplink implants. But we're dealing with time travel here, too, wormholes, and--scratching the surface of--what happens when technology meets telekinesis and other types of extreme brain talents. Deep enough story to keep me interested, which is saying a lot at this point. I've already bought the second book in the series and am reading it. One thing I will say is disappointing, however--the end of this book is rather dissatisfying. Luckily, it (I have the Kindle edition) also contains the first two chapters of the second book, so you can see where it's going.
May 3, 2025
On kobo (EPub 3 DRM-Free); 301 pages - different cover (April 30)
The future - the world is dominated by three corporations, each of which has a number of agents with varying degrees of physical enhancement up to and including full body conversion. Most people have links embedded - chips to enable direct communication; a few have no link, a status the corporations are seeking to make illegal. The protagonist is Mason Floyd, augmented enforcer for the Apsel syndicate who stumbles into something considerably unusual...
The world-building is good and there's a neat twist introducing something non-cyberpunkish into the narrative.
First third of an earlier book - Rebellion; as such there's no neat ending, rather a pause button...
The future - the world is dominated by three corporations, each of which has a number of agents with varying degrees of physical enhancement up to and including full body conversion. Most people have links embedded - chips to enable direct communication; a few have no link, a status the corporations are seeking to make illegal. The protagonist is Mason Floyd, augmented enforcer for the Apsel syndicate who stumbles into something considerably unusual...
The world-building is good and there's a neat twist introducing something non-cyberpunkish into the narrative.
First third of an earlier book - Rebellion; as such there's no neat ending, rather a pause button...
July 3, 2019
I follow goodread's ratings, so 3 stars means I liked it, which is a pretty good rating for a book (since I hardly like many books these days).
Its close to 4-star, but what kept it from being so for me was lack of details. This book is a little action oriented, and while I personally find cyberpunk genre to be very interesting (and comparatively less explored), I suspect a lot of the lingo will be unfamiliar for people who are not familiar with the genre.
Still, this is one of the better cyberpunk books I've read, and I fully recommend anyone interested in the genre to pick it up.
Its close to 4-star, but what kept it from being so for me was lack of details. This book is a little action oriented, and while I personally find cyberpunk genre to be very interesting (and comparatively less explored), I suspect a lot of the lingo will be unfamiliar for people who are not familiar with the genre.
Still, this is one of the better cyberpunk books I've read, and I fully recommend anyone interested in the genre to pick it up.
July 4, 2019
I liked this book and I'll continue to read the series. It's well written, has a good pace, pretty good characters, and the world building is consistent and interesting enough to keep you curious.
My main issue with it is that it's pretty bleak reading. I found myself not wanting to pick it up sometimes because of that. There is some humor and the characters are surprisingly upbeat sometimes (I particularly liked Mike). It's not like some books that torture their characters non-stop, but the world felt close to joyless.
My main issue with it is that it's pretty bleak reading. I found myself not wanting to pick it up sometimes because of that. There is some humor and the characters are surprisingly upbeat sometimes (I particularly liked Mike). It's not like some books that torture their characters non-stop, but the world felt close to joyless.
June 22, 2019
I liked it because I like a bit of Cyberpunk and am in the mood because of the upcoming(ish) release of Cyberpunk 2077 game. I don't particularly like the sudden intrusion of a fantasy aspect into the mix, even with the precedent set by Shadowrun books, but it was handled reasonably well, all things considered.
Nothing earth shattering or new but kept my interest and I will try the rest of the series.
Nothing earth shattering or new but kept my interest and I will try the rest of the series.
November 9, 2019
This took me a fair while to get into, because I really struggled between the two worlds, to make sense of anything. I really like the characters a lot, and the story itself, what we got of it.
But was left wholly unsatisfied by the end, not really a story on its own, more the first few chapters of a book to come.
I love series, but I feel strongly that each book should feel a complete book on its own, this one isn't.
But was left wholly unsatisfied by the end, not really a story on its own, more the first few chapters of a book to come.
I love series, but I feel strongly that each book should feel a complete book on its own, this one isn't.
January 24, 2019
Mason Floyd is an augmented corporate enforcer at the top of his game. However, his latest mission is about to go off the rails in a spectacular way...
As usual Richard Parry has written another brilliant book when first started reading did not think I would enjoy but can't get enough always looking to see what else he has written
As usual Richard Parry has written another brilliant book when first started reading did not think I would enjoy but can't get enough always looking to see what else he has written
August 18, 2019
Listed as Steam Punk, a future where a few companies seem to control everything and people are for the most part hooked to the net via implants and the company has operatives who are highly modified and augmented to carry out tasks for their company. I am afraid I didn't find it all that compelling a read.
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