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Cyber Seed #1–4
Cyber Seed Quadrilogy: The Complete Box Set
Some inventions change the world. Others send it straight to hell... Grab all four books in the thrilling CYBER SEED QUADRILOGY for one low price, in this great value 1200-page sci-fi box set! When Kurt Jacobs imagines the ultimate gadget — one capable of replacing phones, credit cards, keys and TVs — the idea consumes his every waking moment. When the Sycamore corporation buys into Kurt's creation and The Seed becomes a reality, his every dream comes true. Power like this has never existed. The launch of The Seed, a powerful microchip implant that turns each user's palm into a fully functioning trackpad and effectively turns them into walking computers, breaks all sales records. Alongside the augmented reality UltraLenses which act as the system's display, it immediately renders all handheld devices obsolete. But amid all of the awe and optimism, there is far more going on behind the curtain than Kurt or anyone else could ever have predicted... Cyber Seed Quadrilogy imaginatively chronicles The Seed's colossal impact on a society unprepared to handle it, from the high hopes of launch day to the breakneck descent into corporate dystopia. Remarkable apps and groundbreaking features that make life easier and more enjoyable... unprecedented surveillance and privacy abuses in a world where your eyes can no longer be trusted... both sides of a timely story unfold in this 1200-page complete series box set. And Kurt Jacobs, the guilt-wracked genius responsible for it all, may well be the only man who can do anything to put things right... This box set contains all four books in the CYBER SEED QUADRILOGY, previously published individually 1) Sycamore 2) Sycamore 2 3) Sycamore X (10-story collection) 4) Sycamore XL (12-story collection) Imaginative new technologies, devious conspiracies, and a whole lot of action-packed drama... dive in to the thrilling CYBER SEED QUADRILOGY today! (From the author of the blockbuster international bestseller, Not Alone)
1009 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2019
417 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 29, 2021
Liked the concept and the technology but not the characters
January 5, 2020
Way too much mundane technical detail. Couldn't finish.
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December 13, 2019Cyber Seed Quadrilogy provides all the instalments of the Sycamore series under one roof for a great price. It makes for a monster read at over 1000 pages.
The series consists of two books and then a couple added bonus books (Sycamore X and Sycamore XL) that I especially enjoyed that explore the concepts of Sycamore through multiple short stories. Really great stuff.
I enjoyed all the predictions of where the internet, advertising and the incessant nature of social media are headed in the future. The author has a great imagination. Just when some of the ideas in the book seem over the top, I think of the reality today of targeted advertisements that I get after I've searched something with Google or Amazon. Or the alternate reality photos you see on Instagram after they've been edited with face and body-perfecting apps. Or how my location history of everywhere I've been for years is available using Google timeline - hopefully no one else can get at it. I can think of a ton of creepy things today that occur in the name of my convenience. This series just extrapolates further.
Most of the ideas in the Sycamore books come from today's reality. These books are chock full of ideas of where it's all going and it's fun to ponder.
Sycamore is a great story and the character development is fully fleshed out. I feel I knew each character intimately by the series end.
Well worth the read.
The series consists of two books and then a couple added bonus books (Sycamore X and Sycamore XL) that I especially enjoyed that explore the concepts of Sycamore through multiple short stories. Really great stuff.
I enjoyed all the predictions of where the internet, advertising and the incessant nature of social media are headed in the future. The author has a great imagination. Just when some of the ideas in the book seem over the top, I think of the reality today of targeted advertisements that I get after I've searched something with Google or Amazon. Or the alternate reality photos you see on Instagram after they've been edited with face and body-perfecting apps. Or how my location history of everywhere I've been for years is available using Google timeline - hopefully no one else can get at it. I can think of a ton of creepy things today that occur in the name of my convenience. This series just extrapolates further.
Most of the ideas in the Sycamore books come from today's reality. These books are chock full of ideas of where it's all going and it's fun to ponder.
Sycamore is a great story and the character development is fully fleshed out. I feel I knew each character intimately by the series end.
Well worth the read.
October 30, 2019
*the author graciously sent me an advanced copy*
Kurt Jacobs has developed a chip (dubbed the seed) to help people navigate around the new reality in their lives -- the design will do almost anything you want. Just buy and have this tiny chip inserted into your palm and you're good to go. No more house or car keys to get lost. The "seed" will open them for you! Check the weather faster than you can snap your fingers, and so much more. Clunky old UltraLenses out -- the "seed" in! Need to contact someone faster than plain old email or texting? Scribble the message in your palm and BAM, message sent and received! Kurt was so happy to see the birth of new technology designed by him for people everywhere. Except his control over new designs, new pop up ads, and maybe even an infringement on privacy was not how he envisioned his "seed" to be. And as with new things, they rarely ever turn out to be what you want. Cyber Seed is an intriguing Quadrilogy that lets the reader peek into the not so distant future that's all shiny on the outside, but as Kurt Jacobs discovers, that inside is far from being shiny, too. As always, Falconer can envision something that makes the reader think. Really think. Is technology this advanced really a good thing? He has penned another "can't put it down" series that you will love.
Kurt Jacobs has developed a chip (dubbed the seed) to help people navigate around the new reality in their lives -- the design will do almost anything you want. Just buy and have this tiny chip inserted into your palm and you're good to go. No more house or car keys to get lost. The "seed" will open them for you! Check the weather faster than you can snap your fingers, and so much more. Clunky old UltraLenses out -- the "seed" in! Need to contact someone faster than plain old email or texting? Scribble the message in your palm and BAM, message sent and received! Kurt was so happy to see the birth of new technology designed by him for people everywhere. Except his control over new designs, new pop up ads, and maybe even an infringement on privacy was not how he envisioned his "seed" to be. And as with new things, they rarely ever turn out to be what you want. Cyber Seed is an intriguing Quadrilogy that lets the reader peek into the not so distant future that's all shiny on the outside, but as Kurt Jacobs discovers, that inside is far from being shiny, too. As always, Falconer can envision something that makes the reader think. Really think. Is technology this advanced really a good thing? He has penned another "can't put it down" series that you will love.
August 25, 2021
Prophetic
I'm not sure how to go with this series. I'm reminded that I never thought much of Brave New World nor of 1984. As time goes by, I become more frightened by the prophesy of 1984. Cyberseed is almost an update of 1984 as it explores a future where everybody is tuned into Facebook, and become so involved that their world exists only in Facebook. There is no Big Brother. Instead there's a behind the scenes manipulator known as Isaiah Amos. His power over everyone's thoughts and ideas is ubiquitous and plenary. He can make people kill themselves. He can make people disappear. Against this power Kurt, the inventor of the seed, must rebel. Against insurmountable odds, Kurt must stop this maniac from controlling the world. As impossible as it may be, he succeeds. I think this is where I have a problem with this book. As it becomes impossible to get away from Alexa, and as censorship is becoming the norm, I'm becoming to think that the happy ending found in cyberseed does not exist. Although the technology doesn't now exist, it's much more likely than I believed the world of 1984 to exist when I read that book (before 1984). One would think people would not give up their freedoms as easily as it now appears they would. For that reason I fear that this story is as prophetic as was 1984.
I'm not sure how to go with this series. I'm reminded that I never thought much of Brave New World nor of 1984. As time goes by, I become more frightened by the prophesy of 1984. Cyberseed is almost an update of 1984 as it explores a future where everybody is tuned into Facebook, and become so involved that their world exists only in Facebook. There is no Big Brother. Instead there's a behind the scenes manipulator known as Isaiah Amos. His power over everyone's thoughts and ideas is ubiquitous and plenary. He can make people kill themselves. He can make people disappear. Against this power Kurt, the inventor of the seed, must rebel. Against insurmountable odds, Kurt must stop this maniac from controlling the world. As impossible as it may be, he succeeds. I think this is where I have a problem with this book. As it becomes impossible to get away from Alexa, and as censorship is becoming the norm, I'm becoming to think that the happy ending found in cyberseed does not exist. Although the technology doesn't now exist, it's much more likely than I believed the world of 1984 to exist when I read that book (before 1984). One would think people would not give up their freedoms as easily as it now appears they would. For that reason I fear that this story is as prophetic as was 1984.
March 22, 2020
That was a really good read. The characters were interesting and consistent and while the plot was necessarily simplified it made for very interesting reading that isn't totally far fetched.
I also very much enjoyed the accompanying short stories taking advantage of the main books to flesh out some of the other characters. They were well written and the short lengths worked particularly well having read the books first and therefore the stories already had the context.
A recommended read for people who like science fiction and are interested in the direction that some technologies are going in.
For anyone who does think this is far fetched, read this news story, not yet 24 hours old about surveillance of people with Coronavirus. https://www.businessinsider.com.au/co...
I also very much enjoyed the accompanying short stories taking advantage of the main books to flesh out some of the other characters. They were well written and the short lengths worked particularly well having read the books first and therefore the stories already had the context.
A recommended read for people who like science fiction and are interested in the direction that some technologies are going in.
For anyone who does think this is far fetched, read this news story, not yet 24 hours old about surveillance of people with Coronavirus. https://www.businessinsider.com.au/co...
March 4, 2020
A scary and not all that impossible, this tale tells of technology going wild at the hand technology company that acquires a bit of technology that they use to take control of every day life to the betterment of their bottom line at the expense of the privacy and freedom of the citizenry. The developer of the "bit" has been part of the company, but begins to rebel against the practices and ends up joining a clandestine resistance movement to overthrow the company and bring the head to justice. An interesting and maybe a wakeup call to be wary of big tech companies and where they may be headed.
December 14, 2019
A decent sci-fi romp through an innovative AR dystopia
I enjoyed reading this 4-book set, and I thought the choice of AR as a topic was unique and intriguing. I did think that the protagonist was a it weak -- his skilled additions to the plot all take place before the story starts, after which he's basically an empty vessel for the reader to inhabit in order to experience the rest of the story. That said, I still thought it was enjoyable enough for everyone to read at least once.
I enjoyed reading this 4-book set, and I thought the choice of AR as a topic was unique and intriguing. I did think that the protagonist was a it weak -- his skilled additions to the plot all take place before the story starts, after which he's basically an empty vessel for the reader to inhabit in order to experience the rest of the story. That said, I still thought it was enjoyable enough for everyone to read at least once.
February 12, 2020
Excellent exploration of how destructive tech could easily become
Thoroughly enjoyed the set. Character development is good. Some likeable, some not so much. Makes one think! Recommended for those who blindly think all innovations should be widely adopted as soon as they are available.
Thoroughly enjoyed the set. Character development is good. Some likeable, some not so much. Makes one think! Recommended for those who blindly think all innovations should be widely adopted as soon as they are available.
December 10, 2019
Great Read!
I found this series to be very engaging. The characters and storyline were well developed, yet not predictable. The stories in Sycamore X and XL were a welcome bonus. Great reading!!
I found this series to be very engaging. The characters and storyline were well developed, yet not predictable. The stories in Sycamore X and XL were a welcome bonus. Great reading!!
April 19, 2020
Warning to the future developers
An absolutely amazing look into the future when the innovators are so impressed with what they can do and don't stop to ask themselves if it's what they should do.
An absolutely amazing look into the future when the innovators are so impressed with what they can do and don't stop to ask themselves if it's what they should do.
December 15, 2019
Fantastic and Terrifying
A distinct warning for anyone who thinks that allowing big business or any government to have total control of your life is a good idea.
A distinct warning for anyone who thinks that allowing big business or any government to have total control of your life is a good idea.
December 31, 2019
Great story will be a classic
Great Story, very thorough character and world building. I think this book will be known as a classic in years to come.
Great Story, very thorough character and world building. I think this book will be known as a classic in years to come.
February 11, 2020
Good story
A bit too long, but not a bad story overall.
Too much bad spelling and grammar, proof readers ARE needed printed books don't have as many errors
A bit too long, but not a bad story overall.
Too much bad spelling and grammar, proof readers ARE needed printed books don't have as many errors
June 11, 2021
Scary glimpse at a possible near future!
Amazing series! If you like future tech fiction with in depth characters and plenty of drama this is the set for you!
Amazing series! If you like future tech fiction with in depth characters and plenty of drama this is the set for you!
January 25, 2022
I enjoyed this book, 1984 on steroids! Things like this are already taking place and I don't see an end to the possibilities, all you need is a trump/ Kim Jong hybrid and you're away.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews