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Alternis
Narrated by Firefly star Summer Glau.
The battlefield has gone digital. And national survival could be one combo move away.
A video game designer discovers that the game she created is the seed for an ambitious top-secret project to keep the world from plunging into war—and Team USA wants her on board. In this game, nations compete for real-world resources. But not everybody is playing by the rules.
The battlefield has gone digital. And national survival could be one combo move away.
A video game designer discovers that the game she created is the seed for an ambitious top-secret project to keep the world from plunging into war—and Team USA wants her on board. In this game, nations compete for real-world resources. But not everybody is playing by the rules.
- GenresAudiobookScience Fiction
365 pages, ebook
Published May 15, 2019
51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 4, 2021
It's a risky business, reading anthologies by a group of authors. Not only do we get a set of totally different stories, ideas about how a story should be, but it's impossible for every author in the book to write the way a reader would enjoy. Now imagine how much riskier it gets when you have four authors write one story.
I really enjoyed the chapters by Andrea Pillips and Jacqueline Koyanagi. They were fun, engading and made me want to actually finish the book. But there were also two other writers and unfortunately their chapters made it very clear they were written by men. In the back of your mind, you're always aware that men just see the world in a different way. But it was never as apparent to me as when I was reading Alternis.
It just kind of left like they were undermining all the hard work their female co-writers have done. The characters themselves didn't seem as the same people when written by Broaddus and Myers, somehow more caricature-ish, childish even, sexist.
So I'm left with a difficult question: how to rate this book. Because on one hand I loved the premise, I loved what I saw of the characters from some chapters, I loved parts of the writing. On the other hand, I can't understand why it was this grup of people that was put together to write a book...
I really enjoyed the chapters by Andrea Pillips and Jacqueline Koyanagi. They were fun, engading and made me want to actually finish the book. But there were also two other writers and unfortunately their chapters made it very clear they were written by men. In the back of your mind, you're always aware that men just see the world in a different way. But it was never as apparent to me as when I was reading Alternis.
It just kind of left like they were undermining all the hard work their female co-writers have done. The characters themselves didn't seem as the same people when written by Broaddus and Myers, somehow more caricature-ish, childish even, sexist.
So I'm left with a difficult question: how to rate this book. Because on one hand I loved the premise, I loved what I saw of the characters from some chapters, I loved parts of the writing. On the other hand, I can't understand why it was this grup of people that was put together to write a book...
April 17, 2019
This new release from Serial Box will be a delightful romp for anyone who loves role-playing games. The authors in this project have created a cohesive, mostly plausible near-future world where resources are scarce, power outages plentiful, and world wars look possible across multitudes of borders. Against that backdrop, we have Tandy: a geeky, awkward young woman stuck in a miserable job, who has spent the past ten years plodding away at programming her own RPG. When she finds out someone has actually stolen her game and changed it in a VR simulation, she's crushed--and also taken into American government custody. It turns out, her game has been stolen to become a battleground for a different sort of world war--and with her intimate knowledge of the game, she's their new recruit.
There are a few worldbuilding points that I found a stretch--like why Tandy wasn't pulled into the project earlier on--but the idea of nations battling via online PVP is an incredible cool concept. For me, the book became stronger the deeper it gets into Alternis and the more integrated she becomes with her party. The book has fun playing with RPG tropes--there are Easter eggs aplenty--and there are also some fun, fresh twists.
Readers who love RPGs will enjoy a trip into Alternis. I hope more books are to come, because there's a lot more potential for, ahem, expansion packs.
There are a few worldbuilding points that I found a stretch--like why Tandy wasn't pulled into the project earlier on--but the idea of nations battling via online PVP is an incredible cool concept. For me, the book became stronger the deeper it gets into Alternis and the more integrated she becomes with her party. The book has fun playing with RPG tropes--there are Easter eggs aplenty--and there are also some fun, fresh twists.
Readers who love RPGs will enjoy a trip into Alternis. I hope more books are to come, because there's a lot more potential for, ahem, expansion packs.
May 5, 2019
I got the chance to read an eARC of Alternis courtesy of Serial Box.
This is an “I liked it more than the stars” review, with a couple of factors that worked against the story for me.
The first one is the basic premise that nations are settling their differences via MMORPG. I can argue that it’s not a big stretch past things that have happened in the real world, and I can remind myself that it’s a starting premise, not a sudden twist reveal, and move on. For the most part, I did so.
The advantage of this premise was in allowing us a variety of players, not only the usual dedicated gamers and the one friend who’s there to be the noob. People are there because their government perceives advantage in it, which adds a level to the interaction within the main party we follow.
I enjoyed the story itself, both the game-world story and the glimpses we get of the real world. This isn’t a “fair” game world, and some changes along the way add complexity to the players’ decisions. There are hints about what might be driving some of the changes that I wanted to learn more about. That’s the second aspect that frustrated me - a pair of late reveals, in-game and real-world, that set us up for Season 2 and gave us new questions, but leave me wanting to know Now.
A comment on the multiple authors and writing styles - for me, it was perceptible at a level that I was aware of, but not in a bad or intrusive way. I felt like I understood one character better when they were being written by one author.
I enjoyed the read, and I appreciate the opportunity. I hope I’ll be back for those answers to my unanswered questions in due course.
This is an “I liked it more than the stars” review, with a couple of factors that worked against the story for me.
The first one is the basic premise that nations are settling their differences via MMORPG. I can argue that it’s not a big stretch past things that have happened in the real world, and I can remind myself that it’s a starting premise, not a sudden twist reveal, and move on. For the most part, I did so.
The advantage of this premise was in allowing us a variety of players, not only the usual dedicated gamers and the one friend who’s there to be the noob. People are there because their government perceives advantage in it, which adds a level to the interaction within the main party we follow.
I enjoyed the story itself, both the game-world story and the glimpses we get of the real world. This isn’t a “fair” game world, and some changes along the way add complexity to the players’ decisions. There are hints about what might be driving some of the changes that I wanted to learn more about. That’s the second aspect that frustrated me - a pair of late reveals, in-game and real-world, that set us up for Season 2 and gave us new questions, but leave me wanting to know Now.
A comment on the multiple authors and writing styles - for me, it was perceptible at a level that I was aware of, but not in a bad or intrusive way. I felt like I understood one character better when they were being written by one author.
I enjoyed the read, and I appreciate the opportunity. I hope I’ll be back for those answers to my unanswered questions in due course.
Read
April 26, 2019I wrote two episodes of this series!
June 6, 2021
This review is for the Realm podcast "Ctrl-Alt-Destroy" read by Summer Glau. It is a repackaging of the 2019 Serial Box series
Alternis
.
First off, it helps to understand going in that this is an example of the LitRPG sub-genre, which borrows features of role playing games, both table-top and computer-based, and lifts them into the narrative, even going so far as listing character stats in chapter headings. You can imagine the narrative strictures this can entail, but this story sidesteps most complications by declaring the existence of a virtual world by fiat, offering little explanation as to how it arises, or who authored it. Needless to say, once you have established the game plot, you get built-in conflict, tension, and drama---even humor, though this is mostly directed at the RPG-savvy.
One begins to wonder how many ways one can motivate a LitRPG plot, but I'd say the story succeeds despite the necessary contrivances. Basically, the world is in a downward spiral, and countries vie for resources by sending 4-person teams to compete against each other in a fully immersive virtual reality game called Alternis.
The POV is the American team, which is severely outclassed. Team USA needs to win, as the country is in dire straits. Frequently, an episode begins with a vignette out in pre-apocalyptic RL, often depicting the hardscrabble life of a family member of a player. So it is out of desperation that when the U.S. government discovers Tandy Kahananui, a game programmer who claims to have authored the bulk of Alternis before her code was stolen, she is kidnapped, convinced to play for her country, and hot-swapped into the U.S. team mid-game. Tandy quickly finds she is an Archer in her own game, and that she has miles to go to prove her worth to her newfound teammates: the ex-military, crusty Ben (Wizard); the BIPOC diplomat Etta (Healer); and the headstrong, youthful, pro gamer Dante (Fighter). The arcs of the characters are distinct and well-formed, helped by dividing each chapter into the third-person limited POV of single team member. Ben's character arc is especially noteworthy, as he gets an entire episode on his own, though little ultimately becomes of it, unfortunately.
As is often the case with serialized multi-author fiction, the plot leaves unresolved several details in its harried wake, and the ending is definitely rushed, with the introduction of a Checkhov's Gun shortly before it saves the day. Indeed, one might say this trope is so overused here--as is the RPG wont--that it is more accurately categorized as a Checkhov's Armory. But I was having such a good time listening to Summer Glau that I did not mind. Yes, I admit with some sheepish reluctance, this podcast really grew on me. I guess I should not be surprised, since I loved Ready Player One so much. I have my vices. I digress.
Had the podcast ended before the Epilogue, or maybe after a peek at its post-boss "shawarma moment," it would have all been fine. Even if the plot simply hand-waved over that last mission, which was being set up as an anti-climactic cake-walk anyway, I would have been OK with that. But. BUT! Realm had to go and wreck everything with a minimally motivated that pissed me off enough to burn a star. Really, Realm? WTF?!
So maybe skip the Epilogue y'all, and keep your itchy trigger finger on the pause button, because it happens fast. Season 1 is free, but I don't think there's going to be a Season 2, which is a shame. It's been two years, and I imagine Glau's voice doesn't come cheap.
First off, it helps to understand going in that this is an example of the LitRPG sub-genre, which borrows features of role playing games, both table-top and computer-based, and lifts them into the narrative, even going so far as listing character stats in chapter headings. You can imagine the narrative strictures this can entail, but this story sidesteps most complications by declaring the existence of a virtual world by fiat, offering little explanation as to how it arises, or who authored it. Needless to say, once you have established the game plot, you get built-in conflict, tension, and drama---even humor, though this is mostly directed at the RPG-savvy.
One begins to wonder how many ways one can motivate a LitRPG plot, but I'd say the story succeeds despite the necessary contrivances. Basically, the world is in a downward spiral, and countries vie for resources by sending 4-person teams to compete against each other in a fully immersive virtual reality game called Alternis.
The POV is the American team, which is severely outclassed. Team USA needs to win, as the country is in dire straits. Frequently, an episode begins with a vignette out in pre-apocalyptic RL, often depicting the hardscrabble life of a family member of a player. So it is out of desperation that when the U.S. government discovers Tandy Kahananui, a game programmer who claims to have authored the bulk of Alternis before her code was stolen, she is kidnapped, convinced to play for her country, and hot-swapped into the U.S. team mid-game. Tandy quickly finds she is an Archer in her own game, and that she has miles to go to prove her worth to her newfound teammates: the ex-military, crusty Ben (Wizard); the BIPOC diplomat Etta (Healer); and the headstrong, youthful, pro gamer Dante (Fighter). The arcs of the characters are distinct and well-formed, helped by dividing each chapter into the third-person limited POV of single team member. Ben's character arc is especially noteworthy, as he gets an entire episode on his own, though little ultimately becomes of it, unfortunately.
As is often the case with serialized multi-author fiction, the plot leaves unresolved several details in its harried wake, and the ending is definitely rushed, with the introduction of a Checkhov's Gun shortly before it saves the day. Indeed, one might say this trope is so overused here--as is the RPG wont--that it is more accurately categorized as a Checkhov's Armory. But I was having such a good time listening to Summer Glau that I did not mind. Yes, I admit with some sheepish reluctance, this podcast really grew on me. I guess I should not be surprised, since I loved Ready Player One so much. I have my vices. I digress.
Had the podcast ended before the Epilogue, or maybe after a peek at its post-boss "shawarma moment," it would have all been fine. Even if the plot simply hand-waved over that last mission, which was being set up as an anti-climactic cake-walk anyway, I would have been OK with that. But. BUT! Realm had to go and wreck everything with a minimally motivated that pissed me off enough to burn a star. Really, Realm? WTF?!
So maybe skip the Epilogue y'all, and keep your itchy trigger finger on the pause button, because it happens fast. Season 1 is free, but I don't think there's going to be a Season 2, which is a shame. It's been two years, and I imagine Glau's voice doesn't come cheap.
July 27, 2019
I listened to the audiobook version, read by Summer Glau.
It's a fun story, which I've heard compared to both Quag Keep and The Hunger Games. Sure, the gaming aspect is better done, and the proxy war is consensual, and no one outside the game gets to observe it... I think we can honestly call this one it's own thing.
The central conceit is that in the fairly near future, the potential destruction of actual war becomes so high that (presumably) every nation on Earth agrees to proxy wars through a super secret MMO. The story is set in the midst of a crisis, so it's not sure if regular diplomacy has somehow been subsumed into the process or not and there are several other points which are unclear. Part of that is because what the characters are told about what's going on doesn't seem to mesh. There are a number of mysteries to be investigated here, and the first season just touches on them and moves on (but they are clearly part of the story, not just laziness). [I'm being a bit vague to avoid spoilers for subplots which don't get resolved].
What is resolved is the story of Tandy, a hobbiest game designer whose creation gets her swept up in a story of world war and international intrigue. She's a flawed hero, whose self doubt and insecurity complicate her involuntary integration into Team USA, but who proves her worth and saves the day in the end.
Only, of course, it's not the end. (At least, I hope not). I'm really enjoying the world of Alternis, and am intrigued by the world which houses it.
It's a fun story, which I've heard compared to both Quag Keep and The Hunger Games. Sure, the gaming aspect is better done, and the proxy war is consensual, and no one outside the game gets to observe it... I think we can honestly call this one it's own thing.
The central conceit is that in the fairly near future, the potential destruction of actual war becomes so high that (presumably) every nation on Earth agrees to proxy wars through a super secret MMO. The story is set in the midst of a crisis, so it's not sure if regular diplomacy has somehow been subsumed into the process or not and there are several other points which are unclear. Part of that is because what the characters are told about what's going on doesn't seem to mesh. There are a number of mysteries to be investigated here, and the first season just touches on them and moves on (but they are clearly part of the story, not just laziness). [I'm being a bit vague to avoid spoilers for subplots which don't get resolved].
What is resolved is the story of Tandy, a hobbiest game designer whose creation gets her swept up in a story of world war and international intrigue. She's a flawed hero, whose self doubt and insecurity complicate her involuntary integration into Team USA, but who proves her worth and saves the day in the end.
Only, of course, it's not the end. (At least, I hope not). I'm really enjoying the world of Alternis, and am intrigued by the world which houses it.
May 31, 2020
This was a great litRPG and it's definitely one of my favorite books that I've listened to this year! The book is sure to please anyone who enjoys this relatively new scifi genre!
Other than the premise being a little thin: it's hard to believe that any world leaders would gamble their political careers, and their countries very existence, on which team will win a MMO, in order to end international conflict in the real world! Uh-huh... yeah a trifle thin, but once you get past that little hiccup and dive into the book, I believe you're gonna find yourself completely caught up in the magic of the storyline and you'll just wanna play harder! And like me you'll be totally immersed into this virtual reality game. I also enjoyed getting to know the 4 players, getting their POV's was an awesome addition. There's so many delightful surprises (easter eggs) and just enough in-game stats to keep it real, but not so many as to be annoying...
As a plus, the book has been released in its entirety, and it's completely binge worthy! Thank the gods for that, as I'm pretty sure it would have driven me CrAZy waiting for each weekly post! And, "Oh My... that ending!!!
I sure hope that there's gonna be a second season!
Let's me take the time to talk about Serial Box and how unique it is! Serial Box' premise is that people don't always make/take the time to read a full novel, so what they do is portion out a story into an easily digestible amount and then dole it out weekly. They're also unique because you receive, both the eBook and the audio version, and I don't know of any other company that gives you both for one relatively low price! And lastly I want to point out that they always seem to get fantastic narrators, like for instance Summer Glau!
Summer Glau was just fantastic. Bringing all her acting prowess to bear, she attacked this novel with gusto and verve!
Other than the premise being a little thin: it's hard to believe that any world leaders would gamble their political careers, and their countries very existence, on which team will win a MMO, in order to end international conflict in the real world! Uh-huh... yeah a trifle thin, but once you get past that little hiccup and dive into the book, I believe you're gonna find yourself completely caught up in the magic of the storyline and you'll just wanna play harder! And like me you'll be totally immersed into this virtual reality game. I also enjoyed getting to know the 4 players, getting their POV's was an awesome addition. There's so many delightful surprises (easter eggs) and just enough in-game stats to keep it real, but not so many as to be annoying...
As a plus, the book has been released in its entirety, and it's completely binge worthy! Thank the gods for that, as I'm pretty sure it would have driven me CrAZy waiting for each weekly post! And, "Oh My... that ending!!!
I sure hope that there's gonna be a second season!
Let's me take the time to talk about Serial Box and how unique it is! Serial Box' premise is that people don't always make/take the time to read a full novel, so what they do is portion out a story into an easily digestible amount and then dole it out weekly. They're also unique because you receive, both the eBook and the audio version, and I don't know of any other company that gives you both for one relatively low price! And lastly I want to point out that they always seem to get fantastic narrators, like for instance Summer Glau!
Summer Glau was just fantastic. Bringing all her acting prowess to bear, she attacked this novel with gusto and verve!
July 6, 2019
I received an eARC from SerialBox.
This was my first attempt at reading a serial written by different authors, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I took the approach of reading one or two episodes at a time, and I loved it. The authors did a great job of maintaining a steady voice while also showing different points of view. That was something I worried about at first, but I was pleased to see that the stories linked smoothly overall.
The book contains all episodes of Season One. Alternis is a VR MMORPG with a twist: it is the game played by teams from each nation of the world as they vie virtually for real-life resources. The problem is that Alternis was a game that Tandy had been developing for the past 10 years - and it wasn't finished. Tandy is the lead character, the one the series seems to center around - although Alternis itself is the true main character. The series follows the four players on the American team and a few other, minor characters. There are lots of in-jokes and references that long-time gamers will recognize and get a kick out of (at least I did!). There is enough action to keep it interesting, though there are also some lulls. There were several hints of things that were not fully developed in this season, and I hope they will be addressed in Season Two. I hope there is a Season Two, because Season One drew me in and kept me interested until the end. I highly recommend this for people who enjoy gaming and adventure stories.
This was my first attempt at reading a serial written by different authors, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I took the approach of reading one or two episodes at a time, and I loved it. The authors did a great job of maintaining a steady voice while also showing different points of view. That was something I worried about at first, but I was pleased to see that the stories linked smoothly overall.
The book contains all episodes of Season One. Alternis is a VR MMORPG with a twist: it is the game played by teams from each nation of the world as they vie virtually for real-life resources. The problem is that Alternis was a game that Tandy had been developing for the past 10 years - and it wasn't finished. Tandy is the lead character, the one the series seems to center around - although Alternis itself is the true main character. The series follows the four players on the American team and a few other, minor characters. There are lots of in-jokes and references that long-time gamers will recognize and get a kick out of (at least I did!). There is enough action to keep it interesting, though there are also some lulls. There were several hints of things that were not fully developed in this season, and I hope they will be addressed in Season Two. I hope there is a Season Two, because Season One drew me in and kept me interested until the end. I highly recommend this for people who enjoy gaming and adventure stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2019
I received an eARC of this book courtesy of Serial Box.
This book is a love letter to geeks and gamers. It has elements that recall movies like WarGames, Matrix, Tron, etc. - all filtered through an MMORPG with a thin framing story. There are plenty of geek culture references, which serve as knowing winks to the characters and reader alike.
The story is pretty campy (intentionally). Think Dr. Who levels of campiness. So if you're familiar with geek/gaming tropes and want to have some fun in a near future world that doesn't take itself too seriously, this may be up your alley.
This book is a love letter to geeks and gamers. It has elements that recall movies like WarGames, Matrix, Tron, etc. - all filtered through an MMORPG with a thin framing story. There are plenty of geek culture references, which serve as knowing winks to the characters and reader alike.
The story is pretty campy (intentionally). Think Dr. Who levels of campiness. So if you're familiar with geek/gaming tropes and want to have some fun in a near future world that doesn't take itself too seriously, this may be up your alley.
December 20, 2019
Alternis
Shallow stock characters who seem to have only one emotion each, an unbelievable premise about countries playing a game instead of going to war and a story that’s at least twice as long as it needed to be. Summer Glau did a great job bringing Alternis to life, but she (and we) deserved better material. After the amazing Dead Air this one from Serial Box was a big disappointment, unfortunately.
(Stopped listening after 5 episodes)
Shallow stock characters who seem to have only one emotion each, an unbelievable premise about countries playing a game instead of going to war and a story that’s at least twice as long as it needed to be. Summer Glau did a great job bringing Alternis to life, but she (and we) deserved better material. After the amazing Dead Air this one from Serial Box was a big disappointment, unfortunately.
(Stopped listening after 5 episodes)
September 1, 2021
It was already renamed Carl-Alt-Destroy when I listened to it. Heard as podcasts. Binged! While this may not be perfect writing, and the first 45 minutes are slow and unlikely, the story pulls you in and entertains even as it raises points to ponder. Glau is excellent at narration—you frequently forget it’s one voice—and consistent from character to character.
This story had me grinning as I walked (exercise), it’s that entertaining.
I hope there will be a season 2-10 SOON. 😁
This story had me grinning as I walked (exercise), it’s that entertaining.
I hope there will be a season 2-10 SOON. 😁
June 6, 2021
Not as good as other Realm titles so far, but Alternis (now titled: Control-Alt-Destroy) is a wonderful litRPG adventure. I wish it had a second season/book! Outlandish concept but its litRPG, most are pretty out there. Characters are wonderful, and stats and levels explained well. Death DOES get explained thankfully!
November 21, 2022
Different title now, listed as “Ctrl-Alt-Destroy”.
Interesting premise and I was enjoying the production, but it feels like it ended in the middle of things, on a cliffhanger. I keep looking for a second season to wrap up all the loose ends, but there’s nothing. Almost like Realm/Serial Box dropped the title.
Interesting premise and I was enjoying the production, but it feels like it ended in the middle of things, on a cliffhanger. I keep looking for a second season to wrap up all the loose ends, but there’s nothing. Almost like Realm/Serial Box dropped the title.
July 15, 2020
I listened to the audiobook, and enjoyed Summer Glau's narration. Once you suspend your disbelief about the basic concept, the story was engaging and often very funny. The enhanced audiobook sound effects worked really well for this story because of the video game theme.
November 9, 2020
Some parts I really enjoyed. The ending, not so much.
November 9, 2020
I just binged this story, it was great. And great sound fx.
I need a season 2 soon
I need a season 2 soon
October 1, 2021
Even if you're not a 'gamer', this was amazing. The narration is excellent, the story gripping and the musical theme absolutely gorgeous and so very fitting with the storyline. Damn twist at the epilogue, though. And all I can say is there better be a Season 2 for this or I'm going to be very disappointed.
The battlefield has gone digital. And national survival could be one combo move away.
A video game designer discovers that the game she created is the seed for an ambitious top-secret project to keep the world from plunging into war—and Team USA wants her on board. In this game, nations compete for real-world resources. But not everybody is playing by the rules.
The battlefield has gone digital. And national survival could be one combo move away.
A video game designer discovers that the game she created is the seed for an ambitious top-secret project to keep the world from plunging into war—and Team USA wants her on board. In this game, nations compete for real-world resources. But not everybody is playing by the rules.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews