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A Cyberpunk Saga #1
Into Neon
“Star Wars Meets Blade Runner In An Awesome Adventure!” -Amazon Review (5 Stars)
Moss’ life is going nowhere until a mysterious woman knocks on his door and leaves him with the key to take down one of the world’s largest corporations. When he discovers a familial connection to the stranger, Moss leaves the comfort of his home with his best friend for the sprawling megacity.
There, he joins a group of ruffians dedicated to freeing people from the yoke of the evil companies. Police-for-hire, motorcycle gangs and betrayal threaten them at every turn.
Can Moss help this small group of rebels fight the power before it’s too late? Find out in Into Neon: A Cyberpunk Saga.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 3, 2019
433 people are currently reading
887 people want to read
About the author
Matthew A. Goodwin
33 books59 followersMatthew A. Goodwin has been writing about spaceships, dragons and adventures since he was twelve years old. His passion for fantasy began when he discovered a box set of the Hobbit radio drama on cassette tape in his school’s library at the age of seven. He fell in love with fantasy worlds and soon discovered D&D and Warhammer miniatures.
Not wanting to be limited by worlds designed by others, he created Thutopia (now called the Thuton Empire), a fantasy world of his own which he still writes about to this day.
Like many kids with an affinity for fantasy, a love of science fiction soon followed. He loved sweeping space operas and gritty cyberpunk stories which asked questions about man’s relationship to technology. That led him to write his first published work, Into Neon: A Cyberpunk Saga, which takes place in a larger science fiction universe.
He has a passion for travel and wildlife and when he is not off trying to see the world, he lives in San Francisco with his wife and son.
Not wanting to be limited by worlds designed by others, he created Thutopia (now called the Thuton Empire), a fantasy world of his own which he still writes about to this day.
Like many kids with an affinity for fantasy, a love of science fiction soon followed. He loved sweeping space operas and gritty cyberpunk stories which asked questions about man’s relationship to technology. That led him to write his first published work, Into Neon: A Cyberpunk Saga, which takes place in a larger science fiction universe.
He has a passion for travel and wildlife and when he is not off trying to see the world, he lives in San Francisco with his wife and son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
August 25, 2023
This novel is about an engineer employed to use cyberspace to repair glitching machines in the food supply chain, which is controlled by an empire that only a few realize is actually evil.
How does the protagonist finally realize the corporation is evil? I dunno. I didn’t see many examples of it.
His call to rise up against “the man” occurs when he gets a surprise visit from a strange, sexy warrior woman who tells him that it is evil and that she has arrived to tell him that his deceased father intends for him to fight the power. ✊And the time is now! He’s confused, but he’s onboard! I was confused how his motivation developed. Did the visitor use Jedi mind tricks to impel him? Or was he programmed as a sleeper cell, way back when he was a child, to activate when told “your father says to join us?” Or was it just an inborn instinct he wouldn’t question, so that at certain stage in life, he’d need to rebel? I only know that this wasn’t a decision based on empirical evidence.
The hero’s call to action should be a pivotal point in the story, gripping the reader with a sense of excitement and danger, a soupçon of relief that a decision has been made, and some eagerness to continue reading. I just didn’t buy the way his call to action was presented.
There are interesting world-building tidbits we can contrast to our own. One that stood out for me was how he got dressed. I didn’t realize that it’s so hard to put on clothing that it needs a “solution.” (The wardrobe-related technology that’s not in this book but I would love to have is one that rehangs and refolds the clothing you’d tried on but flung on the bed instead in the rush to get ready… To me, THAT would be useful.)
So, how does he get dressed? He holds out his hands and clothing covers his body. I thought that was a strangely magical, utopian idea for a dystopian novel. This idea is presented so earnestly, at least twice, when the protagonist gets dressed. And sadly, it’s so lacking action it’s the opposite of Wallace and Gromit, which involves being shot from bed into your clothes and down a chute to your breakfast like a caffeinated Rube Goldberg machine. No, it’s quite earnest and motionless in this serious book.
After he gets dressed, he’s ready for action. If you’re worried I’ll ruin the plot, skip over the rest of this paragraph. So there’s lots and lots of action, and then some more action, some blood and pain, some cybernetics, and then the sexy woman warrior swoops in to save the day. Sort of.
The ideas in this offering feel a bit undeveloped, but the writing and presentation are, well, ok. My biggest suggestions for improvements are to pare down redundancy, especially in explaining how he’s reacting, feeling, and thinking. Show it instead. And add more physical details regarding the setting that helps illustrate the book’s theme.
Sadly, even though I’ve read the whole thing, I’m left with that unfulfilled feeling like I’ve DNFed yet another book.
How does the protagonist finally realize the corporation is evil? I dunno. I didn’t see many examples of it.
His call to rise up against “the man” occurs when he gets a surprise visit from a strange, sexy warrior woman who tells him that it is evil and that she has arrived to tell him that his deceased father intends for him to fight the power. ✊And the time is now! He’s confused, but he’s onboard! I was confused how his motivation developed. Did the visitor use Jedi mind tricks to impel him? Or was he programmed as a sleeper cell, way back when he was a child, to activate when told “your father says to join us?” Or was it just an inborn instinct he wouldn’t question, so that at certain stage in life, he’d need to rebel? I only know that this wasn’t a decision based on empirical evidence.
The hero’s call to action should be a pivotal point in the story, gripping the reader with a sense of excitement and danger, a soupçon of relief that a decision has been made, and some eagerness to continue reading. I just didn’t buy the way his call to action was presented.
There are interesting world-building tidbits we can contrast to our own. One that stood out for me was how he got dressed. I didn’t realize that it’s so hard to put on clothing that it needs a “solution.” (The wardrobe-related technology that’s not in this book but I would love to have is one that rehangs and refolds the clothing you’d tried on but flung on the bed instead in the rush to get ready… To me, THAT would be useful.)
So, how does he get dressed? He holds out his hands and clothing covers his body. I thought that was a strangely magical, utopian idea for a dystopian novel. This idea is presented so earnestly, at least twice, when the protagonist gets dressed. And sadly, it’s so lacking action it’s the opposite of Wallace and Gromit, which involves being shot from bed into your clothes and down a chute to your breakfast like a caffeinated Rube Goldberg machine. No, it’s quite earnest and motionless in this serious book.
After he gets dressed, he’s ready for action. If you’re worried I’ll ruin the plot, skip over the rest of this paragraph. So there’s lots and lots of action, and then some more action, some blood and pain, some cybernetics, and then the sexy woman warrior swoops in to save the day. Sort of.
The ideas in this offering feel a bit undeveloped, but the writing and presentation are, well, ok. My biggest suggestions for improvements are to pare down redundancy, especially in explaining how he’s reacting, feeling, and thinking. Show it instead. And add more physical details regarding the setting that helps illustrate the book’s theme.
Sadly, even though I’ve read the whole thing, I’m left with that unfulfilled feeling like I’ve DNFed yet another book.
April 22, 2021
INTO NEON is a quick, easy read full of interesting characters and a unique cyberpunk flavoured setting.
If you’re looking for hard, fact-driven sci-fi, this probably isn’t the book for you. But if you want a fun, entertaining story to kill a few hours with, you won’t be disappointed!
I was especially appreciative of the inclusivity of the characters.
The writing isn’t complex. It reads a bit like YA but with some more adult themes, and the character development at the end felt a bit rushed. But for a first book from the author I was very impressed, and the world and plot were interesting enough that I’ll definitely stick with the series.
So if you’re looking for a fun, easy read with sci-fi action and a classic heist style storyline, you’ll love INTO NEON!
If you’re looking for hard, fact-driven sci-fi, this probably isn’t the book for you. But if you want a fun, entertaining story to kill a few hours with, you won’t be disappointed!
I was especially appreciative of the inclusivity of the characters.
The writing isn’t complex. It reads a bit like YA but with some more adult themes, and the character development at the end felt a bit rushed. But for a first book from the author I was very impressed, and the world and plot were interesting enough that I’ll definitely stick with the series.
So if you’re looking for a fun, easy read with sci-fi action and a classic heist style storyline, you’ll love INTO NEON!
April 8, 2020
"Into Neon: A Cyberpunk Saga" is the first book in an ongoing series by newcomer Matthew A Goodwin. I stumbled on the book rather by accident, thought the cover art was pretty legit, and thought I'd give it a try. Turned out to be a good idea!
The novel follows main character Moss, who is a well-meaning but ignorant stooge for a corporately run planet Earth. Little does Moss know, however, that his small and comfortable world is about to be turned upside down. When a mysterious visitor gives Moss gives an item that could take down the evil corporations that run earth, our protagonist is thrust headlong into a world he never knew existed, a world in which he is completely out of his element. Will Moss be able to untangle a tantalizing familial mystery and find the gumption to stop a seemingly invincible foe?
At first blush, "Into Neon" has all the marks of a clichéd cyberpunk story: evil corporations, gritty locales, weird characters, dystopian noir, and the list goes on. However, from page one, the story grabs you and never lets go. While the book does feature the above attributes, it uses them in a way that is novel and fresh. I found myself refreshed and delighted by the storytelling, and was more than happy to tag along for the wild ride. The story is engaging and original, while also moving at a fast pace. "Into Neon" does an admirable job of creating that strong mood that every cyberpunk story needs, while also balancing it with razor-sharp action and suspense. If you're used to cyberpunk that wallows in ponderous, slow stupor, look elsewhere. This is a moody novel that moves at lightspeed!
The great plot of "Into Neon" is matched by its superlative characterization. I was particularly impressed with author Goodwin's deft handling of Moss's character. Soft corporate hack is turned into strong resistance hero in a way that is compelling and believable, while also being done in a short amount of time. The rest of the cast is delightfully eccentric and bizarre, with great entertainment value, while also highlighting how technology has become so invasive in the human body. Some of the dialogue was so off-the-wall and funny it had me laughing out loud.
The novel is well-written, and effectively uses its rather short length. I appreciate that the story is self-contained, but also leaves room for expansion, should you like to read more of the books in the series--and I will read them for sure! One particular quality of the book that I found effective was its use extremes in the setting. The book begins in a bland, sterile environment (any THX 1138 fans out there?) that moves to the bright, sensory overload reminiscent of Blade Runner, and I was fascinated by this use of extremes. Also evident is the author's strong grasp of where technology and society are heading in the future. While entertaining to boot, the novel acts as a sort of cautionary tale, in the way that the very best books do.
"Into Neon: A Cyberpunk Saga" is quality science fiction that expertly balances a thoroughly cyberpunk plot with the speed of an action thriller. Matthew Goodwin pilots the novel with a sure hand, and I look forward to his future output. Read the book and I think you'll agree that Mr. Goodwin is going places.
The novel follows main character Moss, who is a well-meaning but ignorant stooge for a corporately run planet Earth. Little does Moss know, however, that his small and comfortable world is about to be turned upside down. When a mysterious visitor gives Moss gives an item that could take down the evil corporations that run earth, our protagonist is thrust headlong into a world he never knew existed, a world in which he is completely out of his element. Will Moss be able to untangle a tantalizing familial mystery and find the gumption to stop a seemingly invincible foe?
At first blush, "Into Neon" has all the marks of a clichéd cyberpunk story: evil corporations, gritty locales, weird characters, dystopian noir, and the list goes on. However, from page one, the story grabs you and never lets go. While the book does feature the above attributes, it uses them in a way that is novel and fresh. I found myself refreshed and delighted by the storytelling, and was more than happy to tag along for the wild ride. The story is engaging and original, while also moving at a fast pace. "Into Neon" does an admirable job of creating that strong mood that every cyberpunk story needs, while also balancing it with razor-sharp action and suspense. If you're used to cyberpunk that wallows in ponderous, slow stupor, look elsewhere. This is a moody novel that moves at lightspeed!
The great plot of "Into Neon" is matched by its superlative characterization. I was particularly impressed with author Goodwin's deft handling of Moss's character. Soft corporate hack is turned into strong resistance hero in a way that is compelling and believable, while also being done in a short amount of time. The rest of the cast is delightfully eccentric and bizarre, with great entertainment value, while also highlighting how technology has become so invasive in the human body. Some of the dialogue was so off-the-wall and funny it had me laughing out loud.
The novel is well-written, and effectively uses its rather short length. I appreciate that the story is self-contained, but also leaves room for expansion, should you like to read more of the books in the series--and I will read them for sure! One particular quality of the book that I found effective was its use extremes in the setting. The book begins in a bland, sterile environment (any THX 1138 fans out there?) that moves to the bright, sensory overload reminiscent of Blade Runner, and I was fascinated by this use of extremes. Also evident is the author's strong grasp of where technology and society are heading in the future. While entertaining to boot, the novel acts as a sort of cautionary tale, in the way that the very best books do.
"Into Neon: A Cyberpunk Saga" is quality science fiction that expertly balances a thoroughly cyberpunk plot with the speed of an action thriller. Matthew Goodwin pilots the novel with a sure hand, and I look forward to his future output. Read the book and I think you'll agree that Mr. Goodwin is going places.
July 15, 2019
As someone who reads a lot of fantasy novels, I was excited to read this book in the cyberpunk genre. The story is well written - the characters are relatable, the world- building vividly described and the plot is compelling. The book is a fun read that is easy to become engrossed in, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
May 15, 2021
An interesting story that’s worth reading on a lazy day.
July 8, 2021
I was given a free review copy of this audio book, at my request, and am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review.
I struggle with the rating for this book. This book has a lot of good and interesting ideas, but also a few minor points holding it back. This is where the 5 star system is inadequate, this book is a solid 3.5.
This book falls into a familiar trope of global corporations running the world and the oppressed workers thinking they are lucky for it. There is nothing particularly new here, but it is put together in an interesting way and while some elements feel cliché, overall it all works well.
The main character, Moss, is interesting. He feels real and has believable motivations. His lack of motivation in the beginning to his desperate desire for change in the end is a compelling journey and is easy to experience. The character has a well written backstory, but it is intentionally left full of holes, a lot of which are filled in along the way. At times the character is a little to quick to accept change or take big risks, and otherwise act in a way contrary to how he should behave. When this happens other characters will often call him out for this, and the book just kind of brushes this off. Clearly, the author was aware of the inconsistencies and decided to push the story along despite this. This may have been the correct move, as the book maintains a quick pace and doesn't slow down too much when it gets going. For the book to constantly slowing down for character growth would be detrimental to the pace. However, I feel that the author could have addressed the issue a bit better, for example more internal struggle or having the main character dragged into situations rather than walk willingly, etc.
The secondary characters are varied. Some are given their own in depth histories, with emotions and goals/drives. Some are given vague backgrounds and mostly just operate there with an occasional word in, edge wise. The characters who are explored are consistent and straightforward, almost to the point of blandness. They are, however, likeable for the most part, so this doesn't become much of an issue. I feel, though, that with a little more effort the secondary characters could have been more complex and deeper, but this absence isn't a major issue.
There is no primary antagonist, but organizations/groups. This fits in with the trope of evil corporations. In this case, the evil Corp doesn't have a face, and it's just a struggle against the system. This is fine, and frankly it was nice not to have a evil CEO constantly directing things and generally being bad.
The settings are typical cyberpunk, dystopian, evil mega Corp settings. Multi story, self contained high rises for the company people a d slums for non company people. There was some interesting ideas, in the beginning, about remote controlling robots for work, but it is used mostly for context and back story, rather than plot.
The plot is fairly straight forward. There are few twists and turns which are more for complications rather than for suspense. The book is fairly short, at just over 6 hours, with world building and character development, there isn't a lot of time for a deep and complex plot. There is also little new here. It's mostly rearranged ideas and plots from other stories. It all comes together in a fun and interesting way, but had the book been longer it could have had the time to develop something a bit more in depth.
The voice narration, by Zachary Johnson, is OK. He brings the main character to life, he is easy to listen to and he does some voice differentiation in the male voices. However, his female voices need work and just in general he needs more voices. A lot of the male voices sounded the same and his female voices, didn't sound female. Overall, it was fine, but I did find it hard to figure out who was talking in some of the group conversations.
All in all this is a good book that has some minor issues. A lot of the issues revolve around length and depth of the book. I feel the book sould have been a bit longer with some more complexity to the plot and characters. The author did a good job at setting up a lot of interesting ideas, but didn't explore them thoroughly. The voice narration was solid for the core characters, but lost character differentiation as characters were added, and female voices need work. The characters are likeable and it is an easy book to get lost in.
***spoilers***
The plot line of an evil corp who wants to kill its employees/replace with robots never rings true to me. A typical company wants to keep employees low in order to max profits, to compete with other companies and expand to other markets. In a dystopian world, the mega corps are more about power and control. Less employees is less power and control. There is no real monetary gain to be made from killing employees off, expanding control is done with more resources and control, which is accomplished with bodies to lord over.
I struggle with the rating for this book. This book has a lot of good and interesting ideas, but also a few minor points holding it back. This is where the 5 star system is inadequate, this book is a solid 3.5.
This book falls into a familiar trope of global corporations running the world and the oppressed workers thinking they are lucky for it. There is nothing particularly new here, but it is put together in an interesting way and while some elements feel cliché, overall it all works well.
The main character, Moss, is interesting. He feels real and has believable motivations. His lack of motivation in the beginning to his desperate desire for change in the end is a compelling journey and is easy to experience. The character has a well written backstory, but it is intentionally left full of holes, a lot of which are filled in along the way. At times the character is a little to quick to accept change or take big risks, and otherwise act in a way contrary to how he should behave. When this happens other characters will often call him out for this, and the book just kind of brushes this off. Clearly, the author was aware of the inconsistencies and decided to push the story along despite this. This may have been the correct move, as the book maintains a quick pace and doesn't slow down too much when it gets going. For the book to constantly slowing down for character growth would be detrimental to the pace. However, I feel that the author could have addressed the issue a bit better, for example more internal struggle or having the main character dragged into situations rather than walk willingly, etc.
The secondary characters are varied. Some are given their own in depth histories, with emotions and goals/drives. Some are given vague backgrounds and mostly just operate there with an occasional word in, edge wise. The characters who are explored are consistent and straightforward, almost to the point of blandness. They are, however, likeable for the most part, so this doesn't become much of an issue. I feel, though, that with a little more effort the secondary characters could have been more complex and deeper, but this absence isn't a major issue.
There is no primary antagonist, but organizations/groups. This fits in with the trope of evil corporations. In this case, the evil Corp doesn't have a face, and it's just a struggle against the system. This is fine, and frankly it was nice not to have a evil CEO constantly directing things and generally being bad.
The settings are typical cyberpunk, dystopian, evil mega Corp settings. Multi story, self contained high rises for the company people a d slums for non company people. There was some interesting ideas, in the beginning, about remote controlling robots for work, but it is used mostly for context and back story, rather than plot.
The plot is fairly straight forward. There are few twists and turns which are more for complications rather than for suspense. The book is fairly short, at just over 6 hours, with world building and character development, there isn't a lot of time for a deep and complex plot. There is also little new here. It's mostly rearranged ideas and plots from other stories. It all comes together in a fun and interesting way, but had the book been longer it could have had the time to develop something a bit more in depth.
The voice narration, by Zachary Johnson, is OK. He brings the main character to life, he is easy to listen to and he does some voice differentiation in the male voices. However, his female voices need work and just in general he needs more voices. A lot of the male voices sounded the same and his female voices, didn't sound female. Overall, it was fine, but I did find it hard to figure out who was talking in some of the group conversations.
All in all this is a good book that has some minor issues. A lot of the issues revolve around length and depth of the book. I feel the book sould have been a bit longer with some more complexity to the plot and characters. The author did a good job at setting up a lot of interesting ideas, but didn't explore them thoroughly. The voice narration was solid for the core characters, but lost character differentiation as characters were added, and female voices need work. The characters are likeable and it is an easy book to get lost in.
***spoilers***
The plot line of an evil corp who wants to kill its employees/replace with robots never rings true to me. A typical company wants to keep employees low in order to max profits, to compete with other companies and expand to other markets. In a dystopian world, the mega corps are more about power and control. Less employees is less power and control. There is no real monetary gain to be made from killing employees off, expanding control is done with more resources and control, which is accomplished with bodies to lord over.
Read
February 18, 2025I dont typically rate and review DNFs unless there is something specific I feel needs to be conveyed. So I won't speak on the plot, characters, etc.
What I do feel like I need to say (any my own personal reason for DNFing) is that I would encourage SA and abuse survivors, particularly women, to be careful with this one. There are definitely worse, but the clearly male voice, the iffy perspective on women, and the fact that sexual content often comes up out of nowhere with no warning means that it could be a bit painful.
It's a book written by a man for a male audience and I got the sense that the sexual content was there to add to the edginess because that's what is (sadly) whats expected in the genre. As a woman I'm the same space this is the type of content I understand but avoid. It's not necessarily rapey or aggressive, but it's not thoughtful which, at least for me personally, can be worse. The portrayal of nihilistic sexual content as "normal" or "expected" may be more unsafe for some than a well telegraphed rape scene that you just skip.
Anyway. This is not a review. I'm not going to comment on the actually quality of the story or the writing. I don't think that's fair.
And I'm not indicating that the perspective of this writing is violent or aggressive.
It's actually probably pretty tame in comparison to many if not most. I have my own perspectives and I won't go into those. I'm just saying to my cyberpunk loving girlies out there, and maybe any men who may be sensative to this stuff, maybe not this one.
What I do feel like I need to say (any my own personal reason for DNFing) is that I would encourage SA and abuse survivors, particularly women, to be careful with this one. There are definitely worse, but the clearly male voice, the iffy perspective on women, and the fact that sexual content often comes up out of nowhere with no warning means that it could be a bit painful.
It's a book written by a man for a male audience and I got the sense that the sexual content was there to add to the edginess because that's what is (sadly) whats expected in the genre. As a woman I'm the same space this is the type of content I understand but avoid. It's not necessarily rapey or aggressive, but it's not thoughtful which, at least for me personally, can be worse. The portrayal of nihilistic sexual content as "normal" or "expected" may be more unsafe for some than a well telegraphed rape scene that you just skip.
Anyway. This is not a review. I'm not going to comment on the actually quality of the story or the writing. I don't think that's fair.
And I'm not indicating that the perspective of this writing is violent or aggressive.
It's actually probably pretty tame in comparison to many if not most. I have my own perspectives and I won't go into those. I'm just saying to my cyberpunk loving girlies out there, and maybe any men who may be sensative to this stuff, maybe not this one.
July 28, 2021
Into Neon is described as Star Wars meets Blade Runner and while I like that description and do agree, to me, Into Neon was more Blade Runner + Cyberpunk 2077 + The Matrix + a little bit of the Black Mirror episode where they live where they work: Fifteen Million Merits. I enjoyed the storyline, plot points, and characters. At first, I thought it would be more of a solo journey/mission like Blade Runner (1&2). I'm glad it wasn't as I enjoyed all the side characters and their interactions with the MC and dialogue/banter.
The narration was really great and sucked me into this sci fi, cyberpunk, bookworld !
With the way it ended, I need the next one ASAP!
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Audiobook Empire. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it. It was my choice to listen to this audiobook and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
The narration was really great and sucked me into this sci fi, cyberpunk, bookworld !
With the way it ended, I need the next one ASAP!
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Audiobook Empire. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it. It was my choice to listen to this audiobook and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
May 20, 2021
Great start to what I expect to be an epic saga.
This adventure lays the ground work with great characters. The setting and theme is pure cyber punk. It was an easy read and I was left wanting more.
This adventure lays the ground work with great characters. The setting and theme is pure cyber punk. It was an easy read and I was left wanting more.
June 9, 2020
I felt like I was reading an episode of Black Mirror! A page turner until the very end! I don’t tend to finish books, let alone continue reading, if I’m not hooked by the first chapter. This book had me hooked at page 3! The use of vivid vocabulary had a movie playing in my head the entire read. The attention to details in this new world, and the development of certain characters really invests the reader in their lives allowing you to connect with them. This book takes you on a crazy journey leaving you questioning everything Moss does within and outside of the Burbs, especially when it comes to his role within the group and how he handles certain situations.
Also let’s talk about main characters... I know the book revolves around Moss but let’s all just agree that Gibbs is a badass who knows how to steal the show occasionally... until you meet Patchwork and then this book has you falling in love with a new character all over again near the end. All I have to say is I couldn’t read this book quick enough to see what would happen in the next chapter and who they were going to meet or fight off next! So many twists and turns, I’m excited to see what comes next!
Also let’s talk about main characters... I know the book revolves around Moss but let’s all just agree that Gibbs is a badass who knows how to steal the show occasionally... until you meet Patchwork and then this book has you falling in love with a new character all over again near the end. All I have to say is I couldn’t read this book quick enough to see what would happen in the next chapter and who they were going to meet or fight off next! So many twists and turns, I’m excited to see what comes next!
October 28, 2020
What a fun ride!
Into Neon is a popcorn movie in book form. It features a likable hero, interesting side characters, and a plot that makes you turn pages. All of this imbedded into a colorful, neon, cyberpunk world, filled with righteous rebels, evil corporations, biker gangs, and lots of rain - everything you'd expect from the genre!
We follow the main character, Moss, who lives a boring life as an engineer in the sterile world of a corporation. Until one day, a pink-haired girl stumbles into his apartment and turns his life upside down.
Moss leaves his home's controlled environment and dives into the cyberpunk world outside, where he finds plenty of adventures and new friends. It turns out that his parents were rebels fighting the corporation, and now it's his turn to continue their cause...
I recommend this book to sci-fi fans who are seeking a fun time. Into Neon is the first book in a series, and I'm curious how Moss' story will continue!
Into Neon is a popcorn movie in book form. It features a likable hero, interesting side characters, and a plot that makes you turn pages. All of this imbedded into a colorful, neon, cyberpunk world, filled with righteous rebels, evil corporations, biker gangs, and lots of rain - everything you'd expect from the genre!
We follow the main character, Moss, who lives a boring life as an engineer in the sterile world of a corporation. Until one day, a pink-haired girl stumbles into his apartment and turns his life upside down.
Moss leaves his home's controlled environment and dives into the cyberpunk world outside, where he finds plenty of adventures and new friends. It turns out that his parents were rebels fighting the corporation, and now it's his turn to continue their cause...
I recommend this book to sci-fi fans who are seeking a fun time. Into Neon is the first book in a series, and I'm curious how Moss' story will continue!
August 4, 2020
If you love cyberpunk but have become tired of the anti-hero trope then Matthew A. Gooodwin's Into Neon is for you. Into Neon looks at the dystopian landscape of Thutoworld through the eyes of Moss, a genuine protagonist that is thrust into a gritty underworld in a quest to discover the truth about his past and its effect on his future destiny. With a cast of colorful characters to guide him on his journey and fast paced cinematic action and dialogue, Into Neon brings "heart" to cyberpunk that is genuine and refreshing.
July 25, 2019
This is a great, fun read if you're into cyberpunk. The world the author weaves around the reader is as dark, grimy, and lethal as it needs to be and full of everything a Deus Ex/Neuromancer fan requires, while the characters are interesting and easy to like. I appreciated the little jokes sprinkled here and there like easter eggs in games. I'm hoping there will be a next book in set in this world.
July 10, 2019
Ready Player One meets Divergent and The Matrix
A creative and compelling read from a first-time published author. As I read, I could totally see the scenes unfolding in front of me thanks to the vivid storytelling; when is the movie coming out?!? For now, I’ll settle for the next saga!
A creative and compelling read from a first-time published author. As I read, I could totally see the scenes unfolding in front of me thanks to the vivid storytelling; when is the movie coming out?!? For now, I’ll settle for the next saga!
August 28, 2019
A new face in cyberpunk literature! A great first book, a little predictable at times, but still very enjoyable. Looking forward to more!
July 3, 2020
A real gem of a book. Great character and world building throughout. Really looking forward to continuing on this journey with Moss and Co.
July 25, 2021
I loved the dystopian feel of the world Matthew Goodwin created. It’s that futuristic world that feels pretty good while you’re on the inside, but where everything’s regulated Then you get to the outside and WOAH! Night and day difference! Suddenly you can see ThutoCo (the corporation) for the evil entity that it is!
I’m new to the Cyberpunk genre but if this is how the series starts, I can’t wait to see how it continues!
Zachary Johnson did a fantastic job narrating this book. I loved the subtle differences in each character and how he gave each of them a life of their own, beyond what was written on the page. This was my first experience with Zachary’s narrating and I’ll definitely be listening to more of his works in the near future!
I won’t say Into Neon is information overload … so many things happen, and I feel like there was just too much for me to get sucked into the audiobook, like I normally do. I read the last 1/4 of Into Neon on Kindle Unlimited and feel like I absorbed more of what was going on in the story, as well as being able to read it quicker. While I loved the narration done by Zachary Johnson, I feel like I would have absorbed more of the entire story had I gone the print route instead of audio.
What an intriguing cast of characters!
The characters in this book are so well-done. First you have Moss, who is just this normal guy, living in a corporation-controlled world. Average, almost boring. Suddenly, he’s tossed into what can only be describe as a dangerous “real world” and to be honest, I thought he’d crack. I didn’t expect Moss to last a day with his new companions. So imagine my shock when he not only survives, but steps up.
Gibbs. Is there a serious bone in his body? Gibbs comes along for the ride, saying Moss needs him to keep him safe. But Gibbs is always cracking jokes and acting tough … to cover up how scared he is. He gets shot at right away and doesn’t play a large part of the story, but I enjoyed his character.
The new companions: Bern (Burn?), Stan & Judy (I think they were a couple 💋), Ynna (read: EEN-uh), Patchwork (he was my favorite … just a kid, though!), Issy (read: Izzy). And I there were more but with the audio, I didn’t keep up quite as much as I should have. Of all the new companions, I think I liked Patchwork the best. He joins toward the end of the book and seriously, he’s just a kid! But he’s some tech whiz and takes Rosetta’s place when she dies (early on, not a spoiler!). He’s full of himself but rightly so.
Long story short, Into Neon has some fantastic characters and I’m intrigued to see how some of the storylines develop as the series continues.
I’m new to the Cyberpunk genre but if this is how the series starts, I can’t wait to see how it continues!
Zachary Johnson did a fantastic job narrating this book. I loved the subtle differences in each character and how he gave each of them a life of their own, beyond what was written on the page. This was my first experience with Zachary’s narrating and I’ll definitely be listening to more of his works in the near future!
I won’t say Into Neon is information overload … so many things happen, and I feel like there was just too much for me to get sucked into the audiobook, like I normally do. I read the last 1/4 of Into Neon on Kindle Unlimited and feel like I absorbed more of what was going on in the story, as well as being able to read it quicker. While I loved the narration done by Zachary Johnson, I feel like I would have absorbed more of the entire story had I gone the print route instead of audio.
What an intriguing cast of characters!
The characters in this book are so well-done. First you have Moss, who is just this normal guy, living in a corporation-controlled world. Average, almost boring. Suddenly, he’s tossed into what can only be describe as a dangerous “real world” and to be honest, I thought he’d crack. I didn’t expect Moss to last a day with his new companions. So imagine my shock when he not only survives, but steps up.
Gibbs. Is there a serious bone in his body? Gibbs comes along for the ride, saying Moss needs him to keep him safe. But Gibbs is always cracking jokes and acting tough … to cover up how scared he is. He gets shot at right away and doesn’t play a large part of the story, but I enjoyed his character.
The new companions: Bern (Burn?), Stan & Judy (I think they were a couple 💋), Ynna (read: EEN-uh), Patchwork (he was my favorite … just a kid, though!), Issy (read: Izzy). And I there were more but with the audio, I didn’t keep up quite as much as I should have. Of all the new companions, I think I liked Patchwork the best. He joins toward the end of the book and seriously, he’s just a kid! But he’s some tech whiz and takes Rosetta’s place when she dies (early on, not a spoiler!). He’s full of himself but rightly so.
Long story short, Into Neon has some fantastic characters and I’m intrigued to see how some of the storylines develop as the series continues.
September 7, 2021
I am not much of a writer myself, so this review will be quite brief. As a Cyberpunk obsessed person, I found this book to be a really fun and action packed read. I got a really good sense of the characters and felt like I was with them as a part of their journey. I would definitely recommend this to any Cyberpunk/Science fictions fans! I have already ordered the next book and hope it arrives soon!
September 14, 2022
Action packed government takedown
This was my first venture into the cyberpunk sci fi genre and I was not disappointed. The author did a great job juggling so many moving parts and piecing them together throughout the book. This was very well thought out. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.
This was my first venture into the cyberpunk sci fi genre and I was not disappointed. The author did a great job juggling so many moving parts and piecing them together throughout the book. This was very well thought out. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.
May 5, 2021
Into Neon, A Cyberpunk Saga is a true page-turner. The great descriptive writing and in-depth character development transports you to this futuristic world. A fast paced plot and engaging story. Really well done.
July 7, 2021
I liked it, really engaging cyberpunk story looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
May 24, 2021
What a great book.
Thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the world.
Hope to read more of this.
Thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the world.
Hope to read more of this.
April 23, 2020
3.5/4 - Cool world and characters.
I guess I’m stuck between 3.5 and 4 star rating because I like the world a lot but the protagonist seems to get lost in the grit of the world and supporting characters. The world building was 💯 - I knew the environment and the technology. Where I lost traction was with Moss. He has considerable growth from beginning to end but I feel like he was overshadowed by Burn and Ynna. Maybe I have a bias because I loved Ynna’s story: Deadly In Pink.
It should be also said that I don’t have much experience with the cyberpunk genre so I could be way off in terms of assessment. I will read the next book in the series.
I guess I’m stuck between 3.5 and 4 star rating because I like the world a lot but the protagonist seems to get lost in the grit of the world and supporting characters. The world building was 💯 - I knew the environment and the technology. Where I lost traction was with Moss. He has considerable growth from beginning to end but I feel like he was overshadowed by Burn and Ynna. Maybe I have a bias because I loved Ynna’s story: Deadly In Pink.
It should be also said that I don’t have much experience with the cyberpunk genre so I could be way off in terms of assessment. I will read the next book in the series.
June 13, 2020
Great world-building, terrific characters (Chicken Thumbs and Patchwork are personal favourites) and brilliant action - this is cyberpunk at its best. The attention to detail, such as the names of corporations and logos is impressive. There are also a couple of well-conceived and executed twists (no spoilers!).
I love how the author has imbued every element of the story with cyberpunk (technology in particular), making for a very immersive read.
The way Moss, the main character, grows and develops and forms bonds with a range of fascinating characters is very well done.
I'm so excited at the prospect of more from this author and the incredible Sci-Fi universe he has created!
I love how the author has imbued every element of the story with cyberpunk (technology in particular), making for a very immersive read.
The way Moss, the main character, grows and develops and forms bonds with a range of fascinating characters is very well done.
I'm so excited at the prospect of more from this author and the incredible Sci-Fi universe he has created!
January 6, 2021
Cyberpunk Popcorn
Cyberpunk popcorn goodness. This ain't Bladerunner, and that's good. Prototypical cyberpunk settings and tropes, but the characters are fun and the story is well-told. The Kindle version is only 263 pages, which is great. A fast read. The story itself is severely filmable, and would be a great replacement for another notch in an existing franchise. I purchased all four books at once, but this book could stand on its own if necessary.
If you're swallowed up in the Cyberpunk 2077 hype, or a fan of films like Ex Machina, Blade Runner, the Matrix, then this is the book to read.
Cyberpunk popcorn goodness. This ain't Bladerunner, and that's good. Prototypical cyberpunk settings and tropes, but the characters are fun and the story is well-told. The Kindle version is only 263 pages, which is great. A fast read. The story itself is severely filmable, and would be a great replacement for another notch in an existing franchise. I purchased all four books at once, but this book could stand on its own if necessary.
If you're swallowed up in the Cyberpunk 2077 hype, or a fan of films like Ex Machina, Blade Runner, the Matrix, then this is the book to read.
April 21, 2020
Drawn in by the cover. My attention was held by clever lines, well placed humor, constant action, great descriptions, and some solid world-building. The book raises a good question about whether our significance is tied to playing the part of a hero in our story. A lot of characters are introduced at one point and there was an optimism, which seemed more suited to a YA audience, though the content of the book is definitely adult. I caution readers to only read this book while enjoying a meal, and yes, I am still craving a delicious slice of pizza.
June 6, 2020
Apparently this is the author's first published novel. It definitely held my interest and kept me reading and wanting to keep reading. I actually just wish it was longer and expanded the story a bit more than it did. It's a very brisk 250ish pages. The author did a great job of describing the world. I could picture the street markets and neon futurecity vividly. The characters all had good characterization as well. The action scenes were also exciting to read. I'm definitely interested in picking up the next book of the series to continue Moss' story.
July 3, 2020
Good versus corporate evil
This book showed a number of ways to describe characters and did it well for the key players. The protagonist was well conceived and navigated through the story well. The description of the environment was vague and seemed to leave it to the screenplay writer's whimsy. The good versus evil portion pitted the underdog with the cast corporations. That helped to keep momentum in the reading. That, too could have used some expansion, potential for political or philosophical underpinnings. I enjoyed this but it could have exhibited more depth.
This book showed a number of ways to describe characters and did it well for the key players. The protagonist was well conceived and navigated through the story well. The description of the environment was vague and seemed to leave it to the screenplay writer's whimsy. The good versus evil portion pitted the underdog with the cast corporations. That helped to keep momentum in the reading. That, too could have used some expansion, potential for political or philosophical underpinnings. I enjoyed this but it could have exhibited more depth.
September 4, 2020
The book does it‘s job at world building and it moves forward at a nice pace, but really kinda misses the point of cyberpunk. Evil corporations against brave underdogs is not Cyberpunk. It is style-over-substance approach to a Hollywood tale. I missed the shades of grey in this one, which would have made it a little bit more interesting.
For a debut novel it is impressive though.
For a debut novel it is impressive though.
July 9, 2020
This is good Sci-Fi
If you want action, action and even more action, this is the story for you. This is a Certified thrill ride. Our hero moves from a bee hive to a wild, unexplored place. Best read in a long time.
If you want action, action and even more action, this is the story for you. This is a Certified thrill ride. Our hero moves from a bee hive to a wild, unexplored place. Best read in a long time.
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