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The Maker War: A scifi action-adventure novel for the whole family
What if you lived in a world where you could 3D print a perfect version of anything you wanted—in an instant? And what if you could, just as quickly, rip apart any object and break it down into the dust of the universe? In the next century, this earth-shattering technology is a reality. Matter, not money, has become the key to power.Young Zavier Vik follows his war-hero sister into the Global Maker Corps to make the world safer. But, while Makers use their OzTech printers to create and build, their enemies—the Rippers—seek to destroy and take away what people have.The Maker Corps recruits cadets with conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and dyslexia, knowing these are strengths that feed “fluid thinking” in battle. Zavier and his squad members must work together, think quickly, and hold back the Ripper threat.Action-packed, entertaining, and surprising, "The Maker War" dares you to imagine what could be, if you could create whatever you imagine.This scifi adventure novel gets kids excited about STEM and turns non-readers into readers!AUTHOR’S The Maker War is a science-fiction adventure for readers of all ages from 11 and up. It is full of action sequences, teamwork, imagination, engineering, creative weapons, and peril. If it were a movie it would be rated similar to Star Wars movies, with extended battle sequences with some non-graphic death and loss of limb. It is family-friendly and contains no profanity or sexual content.
- GenresAmazon
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 20, 2019
143 people are currently reading
494 people want to read
About the author
D.M.C. Shaw
1 book10 followersD. M. C. Shaw grew up being enthralled by science fiction action and adventure movies. In fact, for many years he wanted to become the next Stephen Spielberg. He wrote many fantasy and science fiction short stories when he was younger and dreamed of a day when he would see his stories become reality.
Life took him a different, still wonderful, direction and he found a career in business consulting. His work allowed him to travel the world which helped him develop an appreciation for many different countries, cultures, and people. These new friends and experiences help shape the world of "The Maker War."
He also started a family and, as his children began to grow, they helped him rekindle his desire to tell fantastic stories. After playing with the idea of his made-up sci-fi universe and characters for many years, he decided to finally bring Zavier and the Maker Corps to life.
D. M. C. has dealt with ADHD throughout his life, so the experiences of characters in this book reflect many of his own. Thanks to the help of caring therapists and doctors, he has learned how to find success in life, and how to “stay fluid.” He regularly encourages those with similar issues to seek the same help.
He lives in the shadow of Utah’s Rocky Mountains with his wife and three children. When he’s not writing sci-fi books, he’s still paying the bills with business consulting. And when he’s not doing that, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing video games, and getting lost in sci-fi and adventure movies…just like he did when he was young.
Life took him a different, still wonderful, direction and he found a career in business consulting. His work allowed him to travel the world which helped him develop an appreciation for many different countries, cultures, and people. These new friends and experiences help shape the world of "The Maker War."
He also started a family and, as his children began to grow, they helped him rekindle his desire to tell fantastic stories. After playing with the idea of his made-up sci-fi universe and characters for many years, he decided to finally bring Zavier and the Maker Corps to life.
D. M. C. has dealt with ADHD throughout his life, so the experiences of characters in this book reflect many of his own. Thanks to the help of caring therapists and doctors, he has learned how to find success in life, and how to “stay fluid.” He regularly encourages those with similar issues to seek the same help.
He lives in the shadow of Utah’s Rocky Mountains with his wife and three children. When he’s not writing sci-fi books, he’s still paying the bills with business consulting. And when he’s not doing that, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing video games, and getting lost in sci-fi and adventure movies…just like he did when he was young.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 25, 2020
This book is constructed really well! Zavier, aka “Z” has such a complicated personality and it really draws you in. The setting is similar to our own world, with one major change- the technology to rip apart matter and reconstruct it within seconds. The book has many people with different personalities and that creates a strong sense of belonging between the characters and the reader. Some of the plot points did seem a little rushed, but it helped the reader stay interested and connected to the story! I really enjoyed this book!
April 2, 2020
The Maker War is an excellent book for anyone interested in STEM Disciplines, and especially for students in Middle School and High School. The author, D.M.C. Shaw, is able to craft a great story, full of sci-fi action and twists, while seamlessly working in a fantastic balance of based in reality science and excellent social emotional strategies. Readers are taken on a journey with the main character, Zavier, starting from an anxious kid who doesn't quite know how to deal with his ADHD and anxiety levels, and ending at a composed Maker, who is able to turn his issues into a positive and overcome the insurmountable odds stacked against him. This is a fantastic story, one that will be sure to keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end! I can't wait for the next entry in the Make War Universe!
January 14, 2020
In the future, you can 3D print anything you want or need. A world of instant gratification might sound like a dream come true, but in the Maker War, not all is as it appears.
Five teen cadets enter the Maker Academy to train to become Makers, or peacekeepers. Makers engage in battle with Rippers, who seem determined to destroy and tear down, rather than create and build.
Now, why would Rippers want to pull apart this Utopia?
I won’t spoil it for you. The answer to that question lies at the heart of the book. It’s an action-packed journey of discovery for the squad of five teens.
In the midst of the fast-paced action, the cadets still find time for reflection and plenty of light-hearted banter and ribbing, and even a budding romance. However, the teens begin to realize a heart of darkness looms beneath their world order.
Readers will get to know this world primarily through the lens of Zavier, or “Z”. Zavier is a thoughtful teen on the squad who was recruited to become a Maker for his creative or “fluid” thinking. The other two boys and two girls on his squad come from five parts of the world. Each of the teens have different skills, roles, and personalities. As a diverse creative team, they are skilled at coming up with solutions to the problems they face.
Adventure fans will appreciate the sheer velocity of action scenes. The cadets quickly move from training day skirmishes to underground espionage; to full-fledged battles and even a war on the moon!
What begins as training maneuvers with ping pong balls and candy escalates into scenes involving nameless and faceless human deaths. Caution: the violence may be too much for tender-hearted readers to face.
Science fiction and political fiction fans will appreciate the detailed world building that went into this novel. Exploring the pitfalls of capitalism, consumerism, and greed is a worthwhile pursuit: doing it while enjoying fast-paced sci-fi fantasy is an A+ bonus!
The ending also gives us a hint that we’ll see more Maker books in the future. I’d like to see how the teens come to terms with their roles as peacekeepers in their world.
The Maker War is both thrilling and thought-provoking. It’s fun for young adult action, fantasy, and science fiction fans.
Five teen cadets enter the Maker Academy to train to become Makers, or peacekeepers. Makers engage in battle with Rippers, who seem determined to destroy and tear down, rather than create and build.
Now, why would Rippers want to pull apart this Utopia?
I won’t spoil it for you. The answer to that question lies at the heart of the book. It’s an action-packed journey of discovery for the squad of five teens.
In the midst of the fast-paced action, the cadets still find time for reflection and plenty of light-hearted banter and ribbing, and even a budding romance. However, the teens begin to realize a heart of darkness looms beneath their world order.
Readers will get to know this world primarily through the lens of Zavier, or “Z”. Zavier is a thoughtful teen on the squad who was recruited to become a Maker for his creative or “fluid” thinking. The other two boys and two girls on his squad come from five parts of the world. Each of the teens have different skills, roles, and personalities. As a diverse creative team, they are skilled at coming up with solutions to the problems they face.
Adventure fans will appreciate the sheer velocity of action scenes. The cadets quickly move from training day skirmishes to underground espionage; to full-fledged battles and even a war on the moon!
What begins as training maneuvers with ping pong balls and candy escalates into scenes involving nameless and faceless human deaths. Caution: the violence may be too much for tender-hearted readers to face.
Science fiction and political fiction fans will appreciate the detailed world building that went into this novel. Exploring the pitfalls of capitalism, consumerism, and greed is a worthwhile pursuit: doing it while enjoying fast-paced sci-fi fantasy is an A+ bonus!
The ending also gives us a hint that we’ll see more Maker books in the future. I’d like to see how the teens come to terms with their roles as peacekeepers in their world.
The Maker War is both thrilling and thought-provoking. It’s fun for young adult action, fantasy, and science fiction fans.
January 13, 2020
Even though the plot in this book was determined for me, the story reminds me of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" series I loved as a kid.
I say that because I felt completely immersed in the adventure; from the prologue to the ending I was captivated.
I am a Developmental Editor and am extremely particular when it comes to evaluating how well an author executes a promising plot.
This author exceeded my extremely high expectations.
I cannot wait to enjoy whatever he comes up with next!
I thoroughly enjoyed the Global Maker Corps Fieldbook excerpts at the opening of each chapter.
They made me feel like a fellow cadet.
As an avid fan of Hogwarts, I am always on the lookout for fascinating academy setting stories.
It was thrilling to read this book and experience a world where the magic is technology.
The story sparked my creativity and inspired much meaningful thinking.
I have often wondered what it would be like to be able to create whatever I could imagine.
Through this book I was able to vicariously "live the dream" and observe the consequences of living the dream.
My favorite character in the story is Min. She is a beautifully written character.
I feel a special kinship with Min because, as the story says:
"Min wanted to help people and save lives. But what she hadn't realized before was that saving people— especially in war— meant putting herself in the middle of where so many people were in agony."
At the time of reviewing this book, I had just finished sitting Shiva for my 38 year old cousin who killed himself.
This story provided a fantastic adventure for me to escape into.
More importantly, to me, the author, skillfully and with sensitivity, explored the theme of anxiety in a manner which helped me process my own feelings of grief and anxiety in a meaningful way.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of adventure, technology, dystopian and superheroes and also for anyone who enjoys brilliantly creative and deeply meaningful stories.
I say that because I felt completely immersed in the adventure; from the prologue to the ending I was captivated.
I am a Developmental Editor and am extremely particular when it comes to evaluating how well an author executes a promising plot.
This author exceeded my extremely high expectations.
I cannot wait to enjoy whatever he comes up with next!
I thoroughly enjoyed the Global Maker Corps Fieldbook excerpts at the opening of each chapter.
They made me feel like a fellow cadet.
As an avid fan of Hogwarts, I am always on the lookout for fascinating academy setting stories.
It was thrilling to read this book and experience a world where the magic is technology.
The story sparked my creativity and inspired much meaningful thinking.
I have often wondered what it would be like to be able to create whatever I could imagine.
Through this book I was able to vicariously "live the dream" and observe the consequences of living the dream.
My favorite character in the story is Min. She is a beautifully written character.
I feel a special kinship with Min because, as the story says:
"Min wanted to help people and save lives. But what she hadn't realized before was that saving people— especially in war— meant putting herself in the middle of where so many people were in agony."
At the time of reviewing this book, I had just finished sitting Shiva for my 38 year old cousin who killed himself.
This story provided a fantastic adventure for me to escape into.
More importantly, to me, the author, skillfully and with sensitivity, explored the theme of anxiety in a manner which helped me process my own feelings of grief and anxiety in a meaningful way.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of adventure, technology, dystopian and superheroes and also for anyone who enjoys brilliantly creative and deeply meaningful stories.
February 3, 2020
We are already into a future of 3D printing but this story takes us into even more of the future when our world has split us even further. With everything able to be printed, consumed and printed again money is once again useless. Makers are trying to even the fields and protect people from being carelessly wiped out of existence. The story takes on another angle though with people with ADHD , anxiety and other issues focusing on learning and helping others and becoming the hero’s in the forefront rather than the hidden away. I love the interactions between the teens and how in the field they are the decision makers while the adults are second seat. I love sci-fi/dystopian/fantasy(although it’s more like future real life) but this really caught me up from the beginning. Well done!
April 26, 2020
Classic good versus evil that turns out to be shades of gray on all sides.
Violent war with amazing gadgets.
Teenagers serve as soldiers, creators and innovators that save the world.
Ending chapter alludes to one of them going off on her own and beginning her own evil.
The book begins slowly but picks up the pace quickly. Shaw pulls readers in with action and character development. Readers will connect with at least one of the characters and their backstory as the main five come from all over the world and unite together to form a solid unit.
Violent war with amazing gadgets.
Teenagers serve as soldiers, creators and innovators that save the world.
Ending chapter alludes to one of them going off on her own and beginning her own evil.
The book begins slowly but picks up the pace quickly. Shaw pulls readers in with action and character development. Readers will connect with at least one of the characters and their backstory as the main five come from all over the world and unite together to form a solid unit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2020
This was a fantastic book! I enjoyed every aspect from the technology the characters used to the characters themselves. It was really creative. I thought it was cool how the characters used silly ideas and created weapons out of them. I would love to read more of this world and these characters.
Read
June 11, 2021DNF @ 35%
Welcome to the Global Maker Corps! Learn to 3D print anything in an instance!
Zavier Vik has joined the Maker Corps to help protect the world. A talented maker, but with his own haunted past, he has been struggling to fulfill assignments. He freezes on the battlefield, lets his friends down, and often gets wrapped up in his own faults. Yet, when the Rippers attack Maker HQ, Zavier has to fight along side his friends to fulfill his duty, protect HQ, and overcome his own anxieties.
I honestly cannot say why I didn’t like this book. I’ve been trying to read it for quite a few weeks, and each time I picked it up, I found my mind wandering, and left disinterested by the plot. This was weird for me, especially since I tend to like books similar to the Maker Corps. Perhaps my headspace wasn’t in the right place for a fast-paced, action packed book.
Part of what I think caused me to not like this book was the way it was written. While it is WELL WRITTEN, some of the omniscient POV made me feel disconnected to the characters. This is a very personal take that I have mentioned while reviewing other books as well. I’ve never been a big fan of omniscient POV. Even though the narrative mostly followed Zavier, the constant switching disoriented me as the reader, and I was left not caring about their struggles or what was happening next.
Yet, with that being said, I could definitely see this working as an action packed movie or TV show, and I think in that situation I would love it! The different POVs and the action would work quite well on screen!
Yet, despite the fact I usually love stories like this, the omniscient POV plus my current headspace caused me not get into this story. Reading it became a chore.
So I ultimately decided to DNF this book at 35%.
Maybe someday I’ll try picking it up again. But, for now, I think it is my best option to leave the book here. Am I curious what happens? Somewhat. But not enough to try and force myself to read it.
Again, please don’t take my review as a reason NOT to read this book. In fact, I implore you to check this book out yourself! Just because I couldn’t get into it doesn’t mean you won’t!
I think if you like action packed sci-fi novels that focus more on plot than characters, then this is definitely a story for you! So check it out if it interests you. I might be back someday.
Welcome to the Global Maker Corps! Learn to 3D print anything in an instance!
Zavier Vik has joined the Maker Corps to help protect the world. A talented maker, but with his own haunted past, he has been struggling to fulfill assignments. He freezes on the battlefield, lets his friends down, and often gets wrapped up in his own faults. Yet, when the Rippers attack Maker HQ, Zavier has to fight along side his friends to fulfill his duty, protect HQ, and overcome his own anxieties.
I honestly cannot say why I didn’t like this book. I’ve been trying to read it for quite a few weeks, and each time I picked it up, I found my mind wandering, and left disinterested by the plot. This was weird for me, especially since I tend to like books similar to the Maker Corps. Perhaps my headspace wasn’t in the right place for a fast-paced, action packed book.
Part of what I think caused me to not like this book was the way it was written. While it is WELL WRITTEN, some of the omniscient POV made me feel disconnected to the characters. This is a very personal take that I have mentioned while reviewing other books as well. I’ve never been a big fan of omniscient POV. Even though the narrative mostly followed Zavier, the constant switching disoriented me as the reader, and I was left not caring about their struggles or what was happening next.
Yet, with that being said, I could definitely see this working as an action packed movie or TV show, and I think in that situation I would love it! The different POVs and the action would work quite well on screen!
Yet, despite the fact I usually love stories like this, the omniscient POV plus my current headspace caused me not get into this story. Reading it became a chore.
So I ultimately decided to DNF this book at 35%.
Maybe someday I’ll try picking it up again. But, for now, I think it is my best option to leave the book here. Am I curious what happens? Somewhat. But not enough to try and force myself to read it.
Again, please don’t take my review as a reason NOT to read this book. In fact, I implore you to check this book out yourself! Just because I couldn’t get into it doesn’t mean you won’t!
I think if you like action packed sci-fi novels that focus more on plot than characters, then this is definitely a story for you! So check it out if it interests you. I might be back someday.
May 21, 2020
Cute. Different. Makes you think.
As per the usual, I'll try not to give spoilers. Review: the Maker War by DMC Shaw. Sorry it took so long; I blame this coronavirus homeschool situation and my foggy brain. 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
First, the good. Different. Dystopian future, my favorite. Young adult, possibly middle grade aim but interesting enough that my 43 year old self enjoyed it. Plenty of humor, likable characters. Easy to hate characters. My favorite part of this book has to be the way Shae drew attention to disabilities such as dyslexia and ADHD and made them SUPER-ABILITIES. I think the term "fluid thinking" will always stay with me.
Now the bad: typos. Continuity. Such a great book and by the credits at the end, the author had a bunch of help. Why the jump boot continuity issues? All throughout the book that raked on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. There were several instances of typos as well. Not enough to make me stop reading though.
As a final note, I LOVED THAT ENDING!!!! Sincerely hope for a book 2. 💙💙💙
As per the usual, I'll try not to give spoilers. Review: the Maker War by DMC Shaw. Sorry it took so long; I blame this coronavirus homeschool situation and my foggy brain. 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
First, the good. Different. Dystopian future, my favorite. Young adult, possibly middle grade aim but interesting enough that my 43 year old self enjoyed it. Plenty of humor, likable characters. Easy to hate characters. My favorite part of this book has to be the way Shae drew attention to disabilities such as dyslexia and ADHD and made them SUPER-ABILITIES. I think the term "fluid thinking" will always stay with me.
Now the bad: typos. Continuity. Such a great book and by the credits at the end, the author had a bunch of help. Why the jump boot continuity issues? All throughout the book that raked on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. There were several instances of typos as well. Not enough to make me stop reading though.
As a final note, I LOVED THAT ENDING!!!! Sincerely hope for a book 2. 💙💙💙
August 31, 2020
Excellent science fiction/video game style read
Even though this book was science fiction/dystopian I kept picturing video game style technology as I was reading about makers creating things with their Ozs. Excellent war scene. A political undertone was also included in this book. I plan to see if there are other books in this series.
I won this book through a goodread.com giveaway.
Even though this book was science fiction/dystopian I kept picturing video game style technology as I was reading about makers creating things with their Ozs. Excellent war scene. A political undertone was also included in this book. I plan to see if there are other books in this series.
I won this book through a goodread.com giveaway.
August 19, 2022
I originally asked the library for this so my son would read it. Alas it it was too crowded for him, he would do better with a large print version. I totally enjoyed the book, until the very end. The end just made me sad, it seemed more of a intent on writing a sequel so leaving us wondering. The characters are likeable and understandable in today's shallow gaming sense. This book is very similar to the Ready Player One series and would likely make a good movie which my son would then watch.
July 14, 2020
Loved this from the start. Being a shop teacher who loves 3D printing this book was for me and it was amazing. I love the use of every body having different talents that are usually looked at as flaws and the inclusion of a soundtrack to read along with the book makes it feel like you are watching a movie!
August 28, 2020
This was a really good book and an interesting premise. Imagine having a device that could make anything out of the tiniest building blocks of matter. What would you make? What would you use it for? What if you had to go to war with such a device, what would you make?
How would you use this amazing machine?
What a fun story, it was well done and a fun journey.
How would you use this amazing machine?
What a fun story, it was well done and a fun journey.
May 16, 2020
This one I read because my 10 year old loved it, and I always try to read the books my kids love. It was... good. Maybe not a literary treasure, but it delivered a worthy message and was written well enough. Geared toward an adolescent audience.
Want to read
June 9, 2020The bok waws a quick read. Enjoyed it. Passed it on.
February 28, 2022
Ok book.
It's not a bad book. It is a decent action adventure Sci fi....I dont usually read this type of book, so it was a good first read.
It's not a bad book. It is a decent action adventure Sci fi....I dont usually read this type of book, so it was a good first read.
June 27, 2023
Won in a Goodreads give away but DNF.... Not a bad book just a little to middle grades for me. May try to finish sometime.
June 7, 2020
The Maker War is an excellent book for anyone interested in STEM Disciplines, and especially for students in Middle School and High School. The author, D.M.C. Shaw, is able to craft a great story, full of sci-fi action and twists, while seamlessly working in a fantastic balance of based in reality science and excellent social emotional strategies. Readers are taken on a journey with the main character, Zavier, starting from an anxious kid who doesn't quite know how to deal with his ADHD and anxiety levels, and ending at a composed Maker, who is able to turn his issues into a positive and overcome the insurmountable odds stacked against him. This is a fantastic story, one that will be sure to keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end! I can't wait for the next entry in the Make War Universe!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews