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Tuners
Jon Xiong’s mother died when his family fled their home country. Before he discovers the truth, a murderous cult shows up at his door.
A secretive organization called the Tuners comes to his aide. He learns that the Order of the Flame are harvesting teens with the rare ability to tune.
Both the Tuners and the religious zealots want him because he can distinguish the subtle differences of the cosmic background noise between universes and use it to travel between them.
His newfound band of interdimensional explorers teach him their ways and how to fight, and now he is a foot soldier stuck between those who would maintain order in the multiverse and those who would destroy it. All Jon needs to do is survive, and maybe he’ll figure out what happened to his family.
A secretive organization called the Tuners comes to his aide. He learns that the Order of the Flame are harvesting teens with the rare ability to tune.
Both the Tuners and the religious zealots want him because he can distinguish the subtle differences of the cosmic background noise between universes and use it to travel between them.
His newfound band of interdimensional explorers teach him their ways and how to fight, and now he is a foot soldier stuck between those who would maintain order in the multiverse and those who would destroy it. All Jon needs to do is survive, and maybe he’ll figure out what happened to his family.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2020
73 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Frale
64 books121 followersAaron Frale writes Science Fiction, Horror, and Fantasy usually with a comedic twist. Time Burrito is the audience favorite. He also hosts the podcast Aaron’s Horror Show and screams and plays guitar for the prog/metal band Spiral. He lives with his wife, his son, and two cats in the mountains of Montana.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 17, 2020
A wild mashup of dimensional travel vs rebellion
If you liked Stargate or Push or Looper...and dream of exploring a multiverse...you'll love this novel.
Had me imagining many fascinating possibilities.
If you liked Stargate or Push or Looper...and dream of exploring a multiverse...you'll love this novel.
Had me imagining many fascinating possibilities.
May 21, 2020
This is a "YA" novel (which I didn't realize when I purchased and started to read it). That isn't meant to criticize the novel nor to categorize it in a way that makes it less appealing. But even though there are adults in the story (Jon's dad and Hector Gonzalez), the protagonist and his friends are all "young adults" on the youngish side of adult; I'm not their target demographic.
The main protagonist, Jon Xiong, is self-centered and petulant. Am I judging him? Perhaps a bit but I don't think that I was ever as self-centered as he is in the story. There is some character movement away from this position by the end of this first novel (of three), there is not a lot.
One thing (and not the only thing) I liked about the novel was that it included some *thoughtful* (parallel universe) "science" that would appeal to people outside of the YA demographic. The author has clearly spent time thinking about this and coming up with a system that seems consistent and plausible.
One thing I struggled with was using static as a means of tuning (hence the title) between different bubble universes. I'm a musician and know about pitches and I also know about noise; white noise is an equal distribution across all frequencies while pink emphasizes lower frequencies and blue the higher frequencies. If you are trying to distinguish between different noise signatures, I'd almost think that an electronic device with filters and a means of graphically displaying the frequencies would be better than a "one in a billion" human being. Then save those signatures and allow the TF3 to select a specific world. Trivial overall but I struggled with this concept.
The story kept moving and growing and the end of this novel set the stage for the second novel in the series.
I can't tell that the person who did the book cover actually read the book.
The main protagonist, Jon Xiong, is self-centered and petulant. Am I judging him? Perhaps a bit but I don't think that I was ever as self-centered as he is in the story. There is some character movement away from this position by the end of this first novel (of three), there is not a lot.
One thing (and not the only thing) I liked about the novel was that it included some *thoughtful* (parallel universe) "science" that would appeal to people outside of the YA demographic. The author has clearly spent time thinking about this and coming up with a system that seems consistent and plausible.
One thing I struggled with was using static as a means of tuning (hence the title) between different bubble universes. I'm a musician and know about pitches and I also know about noise; white noise is an equal distribution across all frequencies while pink emphasizes lower frequencies and blue the higher frequencies. If you are trying to distinguish between different noise signatures, I'd almost think that an electronic device with filters and a means of graphically displaying the frequencies would be better than a "one in a billion" human being. Then save those signatures and allow the TF3 to select a specific world. Trivial overall but I struggled with this concept.
The story kept moving and growing and the end of this novel set the stage for the second novel in the series.
I can't tell that the person who did the book cover actually read the book.
March 24, 2021
( Format : Audiobook )
"I'm looking for a man."
Told at least initially in the first person, Tuners introduces a very interesting idea, that not only do multiple universes exist, it is possible to move between them for some people, those who have the rare ability to hear and recognize the different sounds each one makes
Although he does not yet know if, Jon is one such person..Just 17, having been brought to America by his Chinese father, the whole fami!y running from something or someone. His mother and sister hadn't made it. One afternoon in the Mall, Jon sees and follows a fair haired woman only for her to disallear. And so begins his journey, and battle, in other worls.
Narration is by Sean Winkless Hall, who reads well, his pleasant voice easy on the ear. The writing, also, is in a relaxed and easy style but, after an initially intriguing start, and an ironically humorous attitude, it becomes more banal and, sadly, predictable. Lots of priestly posturing and dastardly doings. A fun young adult story with promise - but, sadly, not for me.
My thanks to the rights holder of Tuners, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy via Audiobook Boom. I'm sure this would appeal to younger, teenage readers but not so much for the more mature.
"I'm looking for a man."
Told at least initially in the first person, Tuners introduces a very interesting idea, that not only do multiple universes exist, it is possible to move between them for some people, those who have the rare ability to hear and recognize the different sounds each one makes
Although he does not yet know if, Jon is one such person..Just 17, having been brought to America by his Chinese father, the whole fami!y running from something or someone. His mother and sister hadn't made it. One afternoon in the Mall, Jon sees and follows a fair haired woman only for her to disallear. And so begins his journey, and battle, in other worls.
Narration is by Sean Winkless Hall, who reads well, his pleasant voice easy on the ear. The writing, also, is in a relaxed and easy style but, after an initially intriguing start, and an ironically humorous attitude, it becomes more banal and, sadly, predictable. Lots of priestly posturing and dastardly doings. A fun young adult story with promise - but, sadly, not for me.
My thanks to the rights holder of Tuners, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy via Audiobook Boom. I'm sure this would appeal to younger, teenage readers but not so much for the more mature.
June 20, 2020
A great opening book for this trilogy. It pulled me in and held me transfixed.
Jon Xiong lives with his father, and to call it a 'strained' relationship is an understatement. I'm sure readers of all ages from 13 to 99 will fully relate to this - I know I did. As you read further, you begin to understand why his father is the way he is. Jon is a selfish and self-centred kind of guy, with an eye only for his hobbies, and girls, of course. Which is how his adventure begins...
The tempo builds as the twisty and turny story unfolds, and entwines Jon's life with the people and the organisation known as the 'Tuners'. I loved the worldbuilding, as I've come to expect with an Aaron Frale book.
Entertaining and leaves you wanting more.
Jon Xiong lives with his father, and to call it a 'strained' relationship is an understatement. I'm sure readers of all ages from 13 to 99 will fully relate to this - I know I did. As you read further, you begin to understand why his father is the way he is. Jon is a selfish and self-centred kind of guy, with an eye only for his hobbies, and girls, of course. Which is how his adventure begins...
The tempo builds as the twisty and turny story unfolds, and entwines Jon's life with the people and the organisation known as the 'Tuners'. I loved the worldbuilding, as I've come to expect with an Aaron Frale book.
Entertaining and leaves you wanting more.
November 2, 2020
Tuners is a book with a very good idea at its core. It displayed a great variation of different universes and introduces an interesting method for inter-dimensional travel. At the same time, the novel has pacing issues and problems with pulling off the plot twists. The author has talent, but at the same time, there are some areas where improvement is needed in order for the book to go from “good” to “great”. I’d recommend the book to someone looking for a quick read, though not someone looking for hard sci-fi.
My full review can be found here
My full review can be found here
January 26, 2025
An interesting story about people called tuners who through music frequencies can move between worlds. Jon was such a person but when he was recuited there was more than met the eye. There was another group called Cultists who tried to capture tuners. Jon had to learn fast in order to survive but would it be soon enough even with training. A well written book and well worth reading.
July 11, 2024
Compelling, creative Sci-Fi
Tuners kept me tuned nearly nonstop until the end. I definitely need more of this series. Good writing, great description, vivid characters, marvelous tech and an inventive cosmic twist on world-building give the drama real feel.
Tuners kept me tuned nearly nonstop until the end. I definitely need more of this series. Good writing, great description, vivid characters, marvelous tech and an inventive cosmic twist on world-building give the drama real feel.
March 21, 2021
Great concepts, memorable characters and lots of action. Tight storytelling that moves the plot along at a great clip. I will be reading the sequels very soon.
March 25, 2021
Good Read
Different take on the multiverse theory. Makes for good and interesting reading. Twists and turns you don't see coming. Good Read.
Different take on the multiverse theory. Makes for good and interesting reading. Twists and turns you don't see coming. Good Read.
May 6, 2024
I really like the premise. One in a billion people are sensitive to gaps between parallel universes and are able to travel between alternate dimensions. This creates a ragtag group of fighters from all over the multiverse who go on missions to save the worlds and experiment with various iterations of advanced technology under different gravitational conditions.
My least favorite part of the book is that the main character has Average Teenage Boy Syndrome where he’s the least experienced and least interesting person in the group. He falls victim to some typical YA tropes like falling for the one teenage girl in his group and fighting with his dad over silly secrets. There’s nothing groundbreaking there, but it isn’t bad enough to detract from the novelty of the overall concept, which is still a neat premise to explore.
My least favorite part of the book is that the main character has Average Teenage Boy Syndrome where he’s the least experienced and least interesting person in the group. He falls victim to some typical YA tropes like falling for the one teenage girl in his group and fighting with his dad over silly secrets. There’s nothing groundbreaking there, but it isn’t bad enough to detract from the novelty of the overall concept, which is still a neat premise to explore.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews