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Vicarious
The real world is only where you breathe…
In High Earth, entertainment is everything. Virtual Worlds. Games. Steaming shows. Simulations—there’s something for everybody. You don't ever even have to leave your home.
For Asher Reinhart, nothing compares to Ignis: Live, a reality show that pushes human beings to their very extremes. As a volunteer director, he closely monitors the lives of those living on an Interstellar Ark, believing they're the last of humanity.
Mission is the show's brightest young star. Born in hiding, her intelligence and near-perfect genetics have allowed her to rise up the ranks faster than any before her. But now that it's her turn to provide for the Ark, everything changes...
With Mission's life placed in danger, Asher is forced to choose: between the show he loves, or the woman whose existence has been the focus of his attention since the day he was born.
The 100 meets The Truman Show in this science fiction story about the power of human connection, from USA Today Bestselling and Nebula Award-Nominated author Rhett C. Bruno. It’s perfect for fans of Hugh Howey, Kim Stanley Robinson, and Michael Crichton.
In High Earth, entertainment is everything. Virtual Worlds. Games. Steaming shows. Simulations—there’s something for everybody. You don't ever even have to leave your home.
For Asher Reinhart, nothing compares to Ignis: Live, a reality show that pushes human beings to their very extremes. As a volunteer director, he closely monitors the lives of those living on an Interstellar Ark, believing they're the last of humanity.
Mission is the show's brightest young star. Born in hiding, her intelligence and near-perfect genetics have allowed her to rise up the ranks faster than any before her. But now that it's her turn to provide for the Ark, everything changes...
With Mission's life placed in danger, Asher is forced to choose: between the show he loves, or the woman whose existence has been the focus of his attention since the day he was born.
The 100 meets The Truman Show in this science fiction story about the power of human connection, from USA Today Bestselling and Nebula Award-Nominated author Rhett C. Bruno. It’s perfect for fans of Hugh Howey, Kim Stanley Robinson, and Michael Crichton.
442 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2021
152 people are currently reading
511 people want to read
About the author
Rhett C. Bruno
70 books649 followersRhett is happy to hear from his fans and can be reached at rcbruno44@outlook.com. Please subscribe to his newsletter for exclusive access to updates about his work and the opportunity to receive limited content and ARCs.
http://rhettbruno.com/newsletter/. Or join his facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Rhett...
Rhett Bruno grew up in Hauppauge, New York, and studied at the Syracuse University School of Architecture where he graduated cum laude.
He has been writing since he can remember, scribbling down what he thought were epic short stories when he was young to show to his parents. When he reached high school he decided to take that a step further and write the “Isinda Trilogy”. After the encouragement of his favorite English teacher he decided to self-publish the “Isinda Trilogy” so that the people closest to him could enjoy his early work.
While studying architecture Rhett continued to write as much as he could, but finding the time during the brutal curriculum proved difficult. It wasn’t until he was a senior that he decided to finally pursue his passion for Science Fiction. After rededicating himself to reading works of the Science Fiction author’s he always loved, (Frank Herbert, Timothy Zahn, Heinlein, etc.) he began writing “The Circuit: Executor Rising”, The first part of what he hopes will be a successful Adult Science Fiction Series.
Since then Rhett has been hired by an Architecture firm in Mount Kisco, NY. But that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to work on “The Circuit” and all of the other stories bouncing around in his head. He is also currently studying at the New School to earn a Certificate in Screenwriting in the hopes of one day writing for TV or Video Games.
http://rhettbruno.com/newsletter/. Or join his facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Rhett...
Rhett Bruno grew up in Hauppauge, New York, and studied at the Syracuse University School of Architecture where he graduated cum laude.
He has been writing since he can remember, scribbling down what he thought were epic short stories when he was young to show to his parents. When he reached high school he decided to take that a step further and write the “Isinda Trilogy”. After the encouragement of his favorite English teacher he decided to self-publish the “Isinda Trilogy” so that the people closest to him could enjoy his early work.
While studying architecture Rhett continued to write as much as he could, but finding the time during the brutal curriculum proved difficult. It wasn’t until he was a senior that he decided to finally pursue his passion for Science Fiction. After rededicating himself to reading works of the Science Fiction author’s he always loved, (Frank Herbert, Timothy Zahn, Heinlein, etc.) he began writing “The Circuit: Executor Rising”, The first part of what he hopes will be a successful Adult Science Fiction Series.
Since then Rhett has been hired by an Architecture firm in Mount Kisco, NY. But that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to work on “The Circuit” and all of the other stories bouncing around in his head. He is also currently studying at the New School to earn a Certificate in Screenwriting in the hopes of one day writing for TV or Video Games.
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April 18, 2021
A mixed bag.
Asher Reinhart, a young man and one of the two main POVs, is born into a post-apocalyptic world where not much inhabitable space is left and people spend most of their time in VR and are obsessed with several entertainment programs. The most popular of those being Ignis: Live, a reality tv show that is set on an asteroid turned spaceship that is orbiting Earth. While its inhabitants actually believe they have left the blue marble behind for good and are on their way to the Tau Ceti system for about half a century.
Asher is the chief director of the show and is obsessed with its star, a young woman called Mission who is the second main POV of this book. Mission is chosen to become a birthmother in a world that has placed strict limitations on reproduction, for obvious reasons, but is someone who herself was born illegally. Asher’s obsession with her starts to interfere with his job and threatens to reveal Ignis’ real purpose to its inhabitants.
I thought this premise was quite interesting and it, along with the mostly good world-building, carries the book for about half its length. Unfortunately, characterization is a clear weak point and there is just not enough plot to justify this being 400+ pages long.
The characters and the writing are the main reasons I can’t rate this higher. In the beginning I thought that Asher was just somewhat unlikeable, but problems are adding up in his arc. His and other characters’ motivations and actions are often either immature, not believable, only benefitting the plot’s progression instead of being in line with the actual character’s personality, or – especially in the last 25% of the book – are just plain stupid. Mission on the other hand is a rather bland character. She’s only special because the author is telling us that she is. I don’t see why Asher, and the whole world basically, would become obsessed with her.
The last quarter of the book almost brought my rating down even further, because of extensive eye-rolling (see my updates for a few examples – serious spoilers though). But I think there are enough parts here that warrant a two-star rating. It feels like a missed opportunity, though.
Thanks to NetGalley and Aethon Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Asher Reinhart, a young man and one of the two main POVs, is born into a post-apocalyptic world where not much inhabitable space is left and people spend most of their time in VR and are obsessed with several entertainment programs. The most popular of those being Ignis: Live, a reality tv show that is set on an asteroid turned spaceship that is orbiting Earth. While its inhabitants actually believe they have left the blue marble behind for good and are on their way to the Tau Ceti system for about half a century.
Asher is the chief director of the show and is obsessed with its star, a young woman called Mission who is the second main POV of this book. Mission is chosen to become a birthmother in a world that has placed strict limitations on reproduction, for obvious reasons, but is someone who herself was born illegally. Asher’s obsession with her starts to interfere with his job and threatens to reveal Ignis’ real purpose to its inhabitants.
I thought this premise was quite interesting and it, along with the mostly good world-building, carries the book for about half its length. Unfortunately, characterization is a clear weak point and there is just not enough plot to justify this being 400+ pages long.
The characters and the writing are the main reasons I can’t rate this higher. In the beginning I thought that Asher was just somewhat unlikeable, but problems are adding up in his arc. His and other characters’ motivations and actions are often either immature, not believable, only benefitting the plot’s progression instead of being in line with the actual character’s personality, or – especially in the last 25% of the book – are just plain stupid. Mission on the other hand is a rather bland character. She’s only special because the author is telling us that she is. I don’t see why Asher, and the whole world basically, would become obsessed with her.
The last quarter of the book almost brought my rating down even further, because of extensive eye-rolling (see my updates for a few examples – serious spoilers though). But I think there are enough parts here that warrant a two-star rating. It feels like a missed opportunity, though.
Thanks to NetGalley and Aethon Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
September 9, 2021
Want a book that's Ready Player One and The Truman Show and The 100, all rolled in one? Get set for Vicarious!
Asher Reinhart is a resident of High Earth, a futuristic earth set a few hundred years into the future. Global warning has destroyed most of the planet and the leftover denizens reside in this hi-tech piece of land left above water. In their AI and VR filled easy-going lives, the main entertainment comes from virtual reality shows. And Asher is the chief director of the best shows out there, Ignis Live.
Mission is born in hiding because as per the strict rules of her land, she is an "illegal" child. With her intelligence and beauty, she soon rises up the ranks until she finds herself struggling between her heart and her duty. All she knows is that she must do her part to ensure the future of humans. Earth has been decimated and the citizens around her are the last survivors of humankind, all aboard the spaceship named Ignis, and travelling to a safer unknown destination. What she and the others don't know is that what's routine life and a daily struggle for survival for them on Ignis is nothing but VR entertainment for citizens of High Earth, who are getting their adrenaline rush vicariously through the "show".
The concept of the book is amazing. Though the world is set in a distant future with technology we can't even imagine, you find yourself mesmerized by the story. The utter callousness and selfishness of the High Earth citizens is akin to that of the ultra-rich people who live in their wealthy abodes without a shred of sympathy for the less-privileged. You can't help feeling for Mission and her fellow survivors on Ignis, and how their lives are being commercialised for entertainment while they themselves do whatever they can for survival. It's horrendous to think of humans behaving this way; then again, it's completely believable too.
As the book is written from two perspectives: those of Asher and Mission, the story keeps you mostly engaged. It is a quick-paced plot until about the 55% mark. Then it seems to lose its way a bit with a lot of unnecessary secondary offshoots. The final 20% gets the narrative back on track and takes it to an unexpected finale that will leave you yearning for more. There are some things left unexplained, so it might be that the author is planning for a sequel. But even if it's a standalone, the story ties up the more important threads of the tale and our imagination is enough to fill in the rest of the blanks the way we want.
The book would have done even better if the latter half had cut out on the fluff and kept the narrative as taut as in the first half. It was at least 50 pages longer than needed. Still, if for nothing else, it's worth a read for the sheer imagination of the author and the vast scope of the story. As a dystopian sci-fi book, it's scarily amazing. I’ll go with a 4.25 for this one. The haphazard middle is the main reason for the deduction in the rating, though a couple of minor plot points were slight irritants. This is my first Rhett C. Bruno work, and I have a feeling it won't be the last.
The audiobook is narrated by Wil Wheaton and Katherine McNamara. Need I say anything else about the quality of the narration? They are supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! It's not just a narration, it's an outstanding performance. They make the 13 hours long audiobook go by in a whizz.
Thank you, NetGalley and Podium Audio, for the Advanced Audio Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Follow me on Instagram: RoshReviews
Asher Reinhart is a resident of High Earth, a futuristic earth set a few hundred years into the future. Global warning has destroyed most of the planet and the leftover denizens reside in this hi-tech piece of land left above water. In their AI and VR filled easy-going lives, the main entertainment comes from virtual reality shows. And Asher is the chief director of the best shows out there, Ignis Live.
Mission is born in hiding because as per the strict rules of her land, she is an "illegal" child. With her intelligence and beauty, she soon rises up the ranks until she finds herself struggling between her heart and her duty. All she knows is that she must do her part to ensure the future of humans. Earth has been decimated and the citizens around her are the last survivors of humankind, all aboard the spaceship named Ignis, and travelling to a safer unknown destination. What she and the others don't know is that what's routine life and a daily struggle for survival for them on Ignis is nothing but VR entertainment for citizens of High Earth, who are getting their adrenaline rush vicariously through the "show".
The concept of the book is amazing. Though the world is set in a distant future with technology we can't even imagine, you find yourself mesmerized by the story. The utter callousness and selfishness of the High Earth citizens is akin to that of the ultra-rich people who live in their wealthy abodes without a shred of sympathy for the less-privileged. You can't help feeling for Mission and her fellow survivors on Ignis, and how their lives are being commercialised for entertainment while they themselves do whatever they can for survival. It's horrendous to think of humans behaving this way; then again, it's completely believable too.
As the book is written from two perspectives: those of Asher and Mission, the story keeps you mostly engaged. It is a quick-paced plot until about the 55% mark. Then it seems to lose its way a bit with a lot of unnecessary secondary offshoots. The final 20% gets the narrative back on track and takes it to an unexpected finale that will leave you yearning for more. There are some things left unexplained, so it might be that the author is planning for a sequel. But even if it's a standalone, the story ties up the more important threads of the tale and our imagination is enough to fill in the rest of the blanks the way we want.
The book would have done even better if the latter half had cut out on the fluff and kept the narrative as taut as in the first half. It was at least 50 pages longer than needed. Still, if for nothing else, it's worth a read for the sheer imagination of the author and the vast scope of the story. As a dystopian sci-fi book, it's scarily amazing. I’ll go with a 4.25 for this one. The haphazard middle is the main reason for the deduction in the rating, though a couple of minor plot points were slight irritants. This is my first Rhett C. Bruno work, and I have a feeling it won't be the last.
The audiobook is narrated by Wil Wheaton and Katherine McNamara. Need I say anything else about the quality of the narration? They are supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! It's not just a narration, it's an outstanding performance. They make the 13 hours long audiobook go by in a whizz.
Thank you, NetGalley and Podium Audio, for the Advanced Audio Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Follow me on Instagram: RoshReviews
May 9, 2021
3.5 Rounded up.
I am still on my READING BAN, but still listening to audiobooks! So I can’t get through any of my physical or e-ARCs, but I was lucky enough to get Vicarious on audio on Netgalley and was excited to listen to it. It has Will Wheaton narrating with Katherine McNamara. The last thing I listened to that Will Wheaton narrated was the uber-popular Ready Player One. Although I enjoyed it, my reading tastes have evolved since then. I was interested to see what kind of stuff he has been narrating lately.
So in a nutshell and without spoiling the plot, it focuses on the characters Asher and Mission. Set in the distant future, Asher is the director of an extremely popular VR entertainment show called Ignis: Live. The show is a continuous stream of the lives of a colony on a space ship. Mission is one of the residents aboard, but she doesn’t realise her entire life is being played out for billions of people on earth to see in virtual reality. Mission doesn’t even realise there is an earth left!
I really enjoyed the two perspectives. The two totally different storylines and completely different PLOTS in this novel were really refreshing and engaging. I found it enthralling! The life of Asher on New Earth and his character development were exciting, and of course, the story of Mission aboard the Ignis was so completely different to Ashers, and even more compelling.
I don’t want to spoil anything by saying much more about the plot. But it has elements of The Truman Show and I couldn’t help but think of a short-lived tv show on Netflix I watched a few years ago called Ascension (actually really loved that show even though it had such a short run. It was really similar to the premise of this).
It delves into deeper themes especially class, equality and justice. As well as technology and addiction. It did remind me a bit of Ready Player One in that it had the emersion in technology. But it was very different – and in my opinion a lot more rich and enjoyable.
Overall, I really enjoyed the two narrators in the audio version. I can’t say anything negative about Will Wheatons performance, I found it extremely entertaining and he managed to create unique voices for each of his characters. MacNamara on the other hand – I found to be very monotone. Every character she narrated sounded the same and I enjoyed her parts a lot less. But then, after about halfway her narration improved quite a lot. However, she just didn’t have that knack for making her characters sound completely different. Maybe it is because I listen to a LOT of audiobooks and I am very fussy about narrators!
I also didn’t like the way the author used the word “whore”. He must have used that word 20 times in the book and it felt like he was just using it for the fun of it. I get that sometimes it was the right word. But when I swear like a trooper, and even I feel that the word was over-used... It was probably over-used.
I was also not too keen on the ending. HOWEVER, overall I really enjoyed it. I think that Vicarious is unique and I love the technology-rich setting in the world with all it’s morally grey people and circumstances. I think if you enjoy easy sci-fi with a good plot, you should enjoy this one!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the audiobook of Vicarious in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews check out my:
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I am still on my READING BAN, but still listening to audiobooks! So I can’t get through any of my physical or e-ARCs, but I was lucky enough to get Vicarious on audio on Netgalley and was excited to listen to it. It has Will Wheaton narrating with Katherine McNamara. The last thing I listened to that Will Wheaton narrated was the uber-popular Ready Player One. Although I enjoyed it, my reading tastes have evolved since then. I was interested to see what kind of stuff he has been narrating lately.
So in a nutshell and without spoiling the plot, it focuses on the characters Asher and Mission. Set in the distant future, Asher is the director of an extremely popular VR entertainment show called Ignis: Live. The show is a continuous stream of the lives of a colony on a space ship. Mission is one of the residents aboard, but she doesn’t realise her entire life is being played out for billions of people on earth to see in virtual reality. Mission doesn’t even realise there is an earth left!
I really enjoyed the two perspectives. The two totally different storylines and completely different PLOTS in this novel were really refreshing and engaging. I found it enthralling! The life of Asher on New Earth and his character development were exciting, and of course, the story of Mission aboard the Ignis was so completely different to Ashers, and even more compelling.
I don’t want to spoil anything by saying much more about the plot. But it has elements of The Truman Show and I couldn’t help but think of a short-lived tv show on Netflix I watched a few years ago called Ascension (actually really loved that show even though it had such a short run. It was really similar to the premise of this).
It delves into deeper themes especially class, equality and justice. As well as technology and addiction. It did remind me a bit of Ready Player One in that it had the emersion in technology. But it was very different – and in my opinion a lot more rich and enjoyable.
Overall, I really enjoyed the two narrators in the audio version. I can’t say anything negative about Will Wheatons performance, I found it extremely entertaining and he managed to create unique voices for each of his characters. MacNamara on the other hand – I found to be very monotone. Every character she narrated sounded the same and I enjoyed her parts a lot less. But then, after about halfway her narration improved quite a lot. However, she just didn’t have that knack for making her characters sound completely different. Maybe it is because I listen to a LOT of audiobooks and I am very fussy about narrators!
I also didn’t like the way the author used the word “whore”. He must have used that word 20 times in the book and it felt like he was just using it for the fun of it. I get that sometimes it was the right word. But when I swear like a trooper, and even I feel that the word was over-used... It was probably over-used.
I was also not too keen on the ending. HOWEVER, overall I really enjoyed it. I think that Vicarious is unique and I love the technology-rich setting in the world with all it’s morally grey people and circumstances. I think if you enjoy easy sci-fi with a good plot, you should enjoy this one!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the audiobook of Vicarious in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews check out my:
YouTube
Blog
November 30, 2021
Thank you, NetGalley and Podium Audio, for the Advanced Audio Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I am especially grateful that I got the audio version of this book, because it was narrated by Wil Wheaton and Katherine McNamara.
Plus, I’m always up for a bit of science fiction. And this book sounded like one of those easy, non-science heavy, endlessly entertaining stories that still manage to make you think about one or two important things and maybe even question your own stand on the matter.
This is a utopia/dystopia or something (it was described as perfect for fans of 'The Truman Show'). And I, like most bookworms around the world, got sick of those stories after reading so many of them a few years ago. I've been avoiding them all this time. But it's been so long since I read the last one - I kind of started to miss them.
Because of all of this, I was really looking forward to listen to Vicarious and get lost for a day or two in a world, sometime in a distant future, where virtual seems more real than actual life.
Vicarious had a really solid, entertaining premise. The setting, though not quite my thing, was done pretty well. The two main characters were mostly easy to understand and like. However, there were a few instances where their motives and decisions didn’t make much sense.
The story started out great, then got a bit lost and slowed down quite a bit, before speeding up again towards the end. I was struggling to push through the slow part, often loosing focus and going back to re-listen several bits. But the book managed to hold my attention for the most part.
There were many weird stuff going on. Mostly good weird, but it made me cringe a few times. And then, some things I just didn’t like. For example, there were several massive issues being featured in this book. The problem was – the story only brushed on them, failing to make a real impact. I wish they were left out altogether.
Also, this story was told from two points of view. But, one of them is in the first person and the other is in the third person. That was a bit confusing and kept pulling me out of the story.
I did like the ending, though. But I’ll keep it spoiler free, so that’s all I’m going to say.
❤️️ ❤️️ ❤️️
I am especially grateful that I got the audio version of this book, because it was narrated by Wil Wheaton and Katherine McNamara.
Plus, I’m always up for a bit of science fiction. And this book sounded like one of those easy, non-science heavy, endlessly entertaining stories that still manage to make you think about one or two important things and maybe even question your own stand on the matter.
This is a utopia/dystopia or something (it was described as perfect for fans of 'The Truman Show'). And I, like most bookworms around the world, got sick of those stories after reading so many of them a few years ago. I've been avoiding them all this time. But it's been so long since I read the last one - I kind of started to miss them.
Because of all of this, I was really looking forward to listen to Vicarious and get lost for a day or two in a world, sometime in a distant future, where virtual seems more real than actual life.
Vicarious had a really solid, entertaining premise. The setting, though not quite my thing, was done pretty well. The two main characters were mostly easy to understand and like. However, there were a few instances where their motives and decisions didn’t make much sense.
The story started out great, then got a bit lost and slowed down quite a bit, before speeding up again towards the end. I was struggling to push through the slow part, often loosing focus and going back to re-listen several bits. But the book managed to hold my attention for the most part.
There were many weird stuff going on. Mostly good weird, but it made me cringe a few times. And then, some things I just didn’t like. For example, there were several massive issues being featured in this book. The problem was – the story only brushed on them, failing to make a real impact. I wish they were left out altogether.
Also, this story was told from two points of view. But, one of them is in the first person and the other is in the third person. That was a bit confusing and kept pulling me out of the story.
I did like the ending, though. But I’ll keep it spoiler free, so that’s all I’m going to say.
❤️️ ❤️️ ❤️️
June 29, 2021
I got a kick out of this book, which I describe as THE TRUMAN SHOW meets BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (but without Cylons and space battles).
While this books seems a touch lighthearted on the surface, the darkness runs deep. Man's inhumanity to man reaches a different level when it is in the name of entertainment. A stark view on classism and financial privilege, this "haves and have-nots" story provides interesting twists and turns.
While this books seems a touch lighthearted on the surface, the darkness runs deep. Man's inhumanity to man reaches a different level when it is in the name of entertainment. A stark view on classism and financial privilege, this "haves and have-nots" story provides interesting twists and turns.
May 8, 2021
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ever since I saw that Kat was going to be a narrator for Vicarious, well, it's safe to say that I was really excited. Like, super excited. She is definitely an actor that I have fallen in like with and I was very intrigued to see how she would do with this book. As for Wil, well, it's safe to say that he does an amazing job narrating books.
Now I'm not going to lie. This book started off pretty well with me. I think the entire world and what was happening with each character definitely intrigued me. I was also getting so many ready player one vibes and I was loving it. I'll admit that it didn't flow the same way as RPO but I was still sitting back and enjoying it all.
Since I'm in the mood of spitting out the truth, I'll even state this this was snagged by some boring parts. Yes, it tends to happen with some bigger books and when you get vibes from other books you've read beforehand. Yet, I still kept strong with the book hoping it will get better. Eventually.
In the end, it did and I actually really enjoyed this one.
Ever since I saw that Kat was going to be a narrator for Vicarious, well, it's safe to say that I was really excited. Like, super excited. She is definitely an actor that I have fallen in like with and I was very intrigued to see how she would do with this book. As for Wil, well, it's safe to say that he does an amazing job narrating books.
Now I'm not going to lie. This book started off pretty well with me. I think the entire world and what was happening with each character definitely intrigued me. I was also getting so many ready player one vibes and I was loving it. I'll admit that it didn't flow the same way as RPO but I was still sitting back and enjoying it all.
Since I'm in the mood of spitting out the truth, I'll even state this this was snagged by some boring parts. Yes, it tends to happen with some bigger books and when you get vibes from other books you've read beforehand. Yet, I still kept strong with the book hoping it will get better. Eventually.
In the end, it did and I actually really enjoyed this one.
June 14, 2023
The best programming on this world isn't seen through a screen or a transmitter.
3.5 stars
This was advertised as Truman Show meets Ready Player One. Since I love the latter, I had to read this. And had I been focused on that comparison, I would have been in for a huge disappointment! RPO is a completely different reading experience but I get where the parallels are seen. Part of me was also reminded of The 100 but I can't tell where that came from.
I liked the writing style and I loved the characters as well as the story based on the Ignis. Mission is everything, I loved her from the start. Asher is different. He is a difficult character totally focused on the show that airs Mission's life. The way he lives and thinks is really strange but this was the author's intention... His development almost balances the terrible first impression out. Almost. In the beginning, I only conintued because I wanted to know more about everything on the Ignis. Basically suffered through Asher's chapters.
The ending! I usually find myself mentioning the ending of a book because a) it was mean cliffhanger or b) I hated it or c) it was completely wonderful and refreshing. Here, a lot happens and while I had some ideas where it might go, I never saw this coming. Loved the way it was solved1
May 18, 2021
Imagine you’re watching an episode of Chopped. The mystery ingredients are Ready Player One, The Truman Show, Children of Men, The hand maids tale, and Michael Bay’s portrayal of women. One contestant decides to make a smoothie, and they serve it on a plate, then try to save it with a clever description like “It’s a deconstructed rustic soup”. That was my experience listening to the vicarious audiobook (Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy).
What was good: The concept. Truman Show meets Ready player one!? Yes please!
Also, the narrators, both Wil Wheaton and Katie McNamara did a nice job adding texture to this story, but they couldn’t save it.
What was bad: Pretty much everything else. I struggled with this one right from the beginning. I saw a lot of reviews commending the world building but while the elements of the world seemed cool enough, I felt like I was getting a tour on Zillow, not living within the world, and I think there were two reasons why.
1. Definitely too much tell, not enough show
2. I realize this is nitpicky (and I swear I’ve never disliked a book for this before) but the dialogue tags were a mess. Someone giving me writing advice once said that when a writer uses said as a dialogue tag it’s invisible. I didn’t realize how right they were until now.
Because of those 2 things, I felt at distance with the world, but that wasn’t the worst part of the book. The worst thing was the characterization and uses of women. The female lead, Mission, isn’t really developed and it feels a lot like those terrible romantic comedies where some dreamboat guy is like “you were beautiful and you didn’t even know it”. Asher, the main character falls in love with her instantly, then fetishizes her for 15 years even working to get to a position where he can kind of control her life (even if his influence is minimal). It’s all super creepy and in EXTREMELY poor taste. I walked away wanting to take a shower.
The last major problem is Asher. He wasn’t likable, and his actions/motivations seemed forced. Add in the whole creepy stalker vibe and I was glad to be done with him when I finished the book.
Would have given it a 1 star but thought the narrators deserved credit for their solid work.
What was good: The concept. Truman Show meets Ready player one!? Yes please!
Also, the narrators, both Wil Wheaton and Katie McNamara did a nice job adding texture to this story, but they couldn’t save it.
What was bad: Pretty much everything else. I struggled with this one right from the beginning. I saw a lot of reviews commending the world building but while the elements of the world seemed cool enough, I felt like I was getting a tour on Zillow, not living within the world, and I think there were two reasons why.
1. Definitely too much tell, not enough show
2. I realize this is nitpicky (and I swear I’ve never disliked a book for this before) but the dialogue tags were a mess. Someone giving me writing advice once said that when a writer uses said as a dialogue tag it’s invisible. I didn’t realize how right they were until now.
Because of those 2 things, I felt at distance with the world, but that wasn’t the worst part of the book. The worst thing was the characterization and uses of women. The female lead, Mission, isn’t really developed and it feels a lot like those terrible romantic comedies where some dreamboat guy is like “you were beautiful and you didn’t even know it”. Asher, the main character falls in love with her instantly, then fetishizes her for 15 years even working to get to a position where he can kind of control her life (even if his influence is minimal). It’s all super creepy and in EXTREMELY poor taste. I walked away wanting to take a shower.
The last major problem is Asher. He wasn’t likable, and his actions/motivations seemed forced. Add in the whole creepy stalker vibe and I was glad to be done with him when I finished the book.
Would have given it a 1 star but thought the narrators deserved credit for their solid work.
May 10, 2021
This is like Ready Player One meets The Truman Show. It's an interesting idea and I enjoyed the story and main characters. In a future Earth where people are split into those living a rich, virtual life and those who are poor and outcast in the real world, a television show has been developed with characters who don't know they're on a show. Mission thinks she's on a spaceship bound for another world after Earth was destroyed. Everyone has a purpose to keep the ship running and the population from depleting. In reality, the ship is going nowhere and is outfitted with cameras to show every moment of their lives.
Having characters who don't know they're on a show is an interesting idea and I liked seeing how people like Asher watched and cared for them and eventually try to get them out. Asher also has a lot of character development as he realizes what life is like for outcasts and decides that it's not okay to play with people's lives.
I did think a few parts of this were a bit slow which is why this got four stars. Most of it was entertaining, it just lagged in the middle. The ending is pretty open and not as happy as I normally like. I want more answers and think a sequel is possible. I wouldn't mind seeing what happens with the characters on their new journeys and if Earth is changed for the better.
The narrators are great, I always enjoy Wil Wheaton!
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to Podium Audio and NetGalley for the copy.
Having characters who don't know they're on a show is an interesting idea and I liked seeing how people like Asher watched and cared for them and eventually try to get them out. Asher also has a lot of character development as he realizes what life is like for outcasts and decides that it's not okay to play with people's lives.
I did think a few parts of this were a bit slow which is why this got four stars. Most of it was entertaining, it just lagged in the middle. The ending is pretty open and not as happy as I normally like. I want more answers and think a sequel is possible. I wouldn't mind seeing what happens with the characters on their new journeys and if Earth is changed for the better.
The narrators are great, I always enjoy Wil Wheaton!
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to Podium Audio and NetGalley for the copy.
March 20, 2021
I loved this! Such a clever story, full of feeling, awe, hatred, empathy, pain, you name it, and wonderfully painted descriptions.
THIS IS REALITY TV. Everything is so believable that it could happen right now... This is advertised as "The 100" meets "The Truman Show". I disliked "The 100" immensely, and it's not much like "Truman" either. This is far better than both of these.
The 10,000 people on the ship Ignis believe that they are the last of humanity and are travelling to a new, safer, home. Their rules are hard and fast, and death awaits those who choose to defy them. Life on board has been balanced to a number for generations. Ignis is an Ark going nowhere. "Ignis: Live" is one of the most popular reality shows, watched by everyone on High Earth (the only safe area, where life is perfect and easy, and our main character is a volunteer in his job) and The Outskirts (outwith High Earth, where the filthy poor and rule breakers live. The majority are virtual reality addicts and will sell their soul to get a fix).
I loved getting to know the characters, their personalities (or lack of), and the distinctly different locations. It's a powerful story on a parallel with the modern-day obsession of constant reality TV entertainment. I thoroughly enjoyed this work and will read more by Mr Bruno in the future. Just one thing more to say. I think this would make a fantastic series.
I chose to voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this work via NetGalley, which I then honestly reviewed. All opinions are my own.
THIS IS REALITY TV. Everything is so believable that it could happen right now... This is advertised as "The 100" meets "The Truman Show". I disliked "The 100" immensely, and it's not much like "Truman" either. This is far better than both of these.
The 10,000 people on the ship Ignis believe that they are the last of humanity and are travelling to a new, safer, home. Their rules are hard and fast, and death awaits those who choose to defy them. Life on board has been balanced to a number for generations. Ignis is an Ark going nowhere. "Ignis: Live" is one of the most popular reality shows, watched by everyone on High Earth (the only safe area, where life is perfect and easy, and our main character is a volunteer in his job) and The Outskirts (outwith High Earth, where the filthy poor and rule breakers live. The majority are virtual reality addicts and will sell their soul to get a fix).
I loved getting to know the characters, their personalities (or lack of), and the distinctly different locations. It's a powerful story on a parallel with the modern-day obsession of constant reality TV entertainment. I thoroughly enjoyed this work and will read more by Mr Bruno in the future. Just one thing more to say. I think this would make a fantastic series.
I chose to voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this work via NetGalley, which I then honestly reviewed. All opinions are my own.
April 17, 2021
A wonderful Science Fiction book
I really enjoyed this book. It was kind of like a mash-up between the movie “The Truman Show” and the book “A Brave New World,” with a bit of the Matrix thrown in. I liked the development of the characters as they learn and grow, and I relished the exploration of reality and how that, also, can change and grow. The ending was fitting and poetic. This book was well worth the money!
I really enjoyed this book. It was kind of like a mash-up between the movie “The Truman Show” and the book “A Brave New World,” with a bit of the Matrix thrown in. I liked the development of the characters as they learn and grow, and I relished the exploration of reality and how that, also, can change and grow. The ending was fitting and poetic. This book was well worth the money!
April 20, 2021
I have been reading the author's books for years and he writes a great book. This latest one is as well. It is a very interesting but disturbing look into our future. Yes you do see a similarity to The Truman Show, Ready Player One, and other books/tv shows. Definitely worth reading!
April 28, 2021
Wow
What an interesting book! I loved it. The narration was excellent. I recommend this book. It was well written. The characters jumped off the pages; they felt so real.
What an interesting book! I loved it. The narration was excellent. I recommend this book. It was well written. The characters jumped off the pages; they felt so real.
February 1, 2021
Rhett C. Bruno is an author who is without doubt at the top of his game, continually putting out work that simply stuns and thrills in so many ways and is as varied as you can imagine. "Vicarious"** is no exception as we are treated to an amazing tale where we are constantly on the razor's edge between utopian and dystopian realities in a future Earth existing "only" at the highest points where mankind has managed to avoid catastrophic, global sea level rise. And yet throughout, we must question exactly what constitutes reality through so many layers of misdirection, deception and even outright cruel and even deadly lies.
"Vicarious" is a decidedly deliberate read where I found myself making slower - no, that's not right - more CAREFUL progress than any other book of any genre in quite some time. It certainly wasn't for lack of thrills or interest in the eclectic cast or shocking reveals. Instead I realized it was because I was constantly scanning for clues as to what was truly there. We're never quite sure what we're seeing is what's really, well, real. And every single part of this book can be taken as a clue as to what is truly happening or going to happen next.
But whereas this book may not have the visceral anger and accelerated sense of violence - or even the all-too-present smell of raw sewage and blood pouring from it as it frantically did in "The Roach", it is no less of an emotional journey. And I'll tell you this upfront as well: it is not an uplifting book per se - and truth be told I found myself in tears at the ending - but the feelings we have for these players are no less powerful and no less sympathetic. What would any of us do when faced with these decisions or actions? Would we even want to open our eyes or be satisfied to continue to live a seemingly sterilized existence merely in the name of existing? Can any of us deny that part of our daily lives can be construed as already being on this path of instant gratification without true fulfillment or even any concern whatsoever for anything vaguely resembling truth?
I'll conclude here because I would not want to reveal any parts of the book to future readers. I will add this - somewhere I read that the book could be compared to "Ready Player One" (not even close and I'll only acknowledge the mildly entertaining book in this regard) or even "The Truman Show" (meh, not really, but if it helps to imagine that multiplied by a million then sure, go for it). Obviously I don't agree with this synopsis but if that helps you move ahead, then fine. Personally I think it was as unique as the very naming of Mission and all the others that we meet including Helix, Asher and so many more.
Oh to be witness to whatever the future holds for our "star" and all the others. I'd watch that any day.
**[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for honest reviews incl. goodreads and Amazon France once the book is released there (they only accept reviews for foreign language books once these are released and proven to have been purchased)]
"Vicarious" is a decidedly deliberate read where I found myself making slower - no, that's not right - more CAREFUL progress than any other book of any genre in quite some time. It certainly wasn't for lack of thrills or interest in the eclectic cast or shocking reveals. Instead I realized it was because I was constantly scanning for clues as to what was truly there. We're never quite sure what we're seeing is what's really, well, real. And every single part of this book can be taken as a clue as to what is truly happening or going to happen next.
But whereas this book may not have the visceral anger and accelerated sense of violence - or even the all-too-present smell of raw sewage and blood pouring from it as it frantically did in "The Roach", it is no less of an emotional journey. And I'll tell you this upfront as well: it is not an uplifting book per se - and truth be told I found myself in tears at the ending - but the feelings we have for these players are no less powerful and no less sympathetic. What would any of us do when faced with these decisions or actions? Would we even want to open our eyes or be satisfied to continue to live a seemingly sterilized existence merely in the name of existing? Can any of us deny that part of our daily lives can be construed as already being on this path of instant gratification without true fulfillment or even any concern whatsoever for anything vaguely resembling truth?
I'll conclude here because I would not want to reveal any parts of the book to future readers. I will add this - somewhere I read that the book could be compared to "Ready Player One" (not even close and I'll only acknowledge the mildly entertaining book in this regard) or even "The Truman Show" (meh, not really, but if it helps to imagine that multiplied by a million then sure, go for it). Obviously I don't agree with this synopsis but if that helps you move ahead, then fine. Personally I think it was as unique as the very naming of Mission and all the others that we meet including Helix, Asher and so many more.
Oh to be witness to whatever the future holds for our "star" and all the others. I'd watch that any day.
**[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for honest reviews incl. goodreads and Amazon France once the book is released there (they only accept reviews for foreign language books once these are released and proven to have been purchased)]
May 12, 2021
This book has a good premise, but is not well executed for the following reasons:
There are two points of view, one is in the first person and the other is in the third person. Why do it like that?
The book is making a very crude reflection on living in the real world, instead of the virtual, but it feels like it's written by a highschooler.
The "mothers" and "birth-mothers" are never properly explored, even though it is central to the plot.
It is full of internal inconsistencies, like that Asher never leaves his "smart-dwelling" but later everyone spends all their time outside.
The first reaction is ALWAYS violence. ALWAYS. In none of the the three settings loyalty, community or teamwork are seen. Maybe a little with the Unplugged, but not really.
The book is written in a kind of light way, and it fails to address any of the deep issues it brushes on, including mass murder.
Anything inconvenient is brushed aside or glossed over, or just not explored. Need a character not to remember - mind wipe them. Need them to remember - fail to mind wipe them.
Clearly the residents of the Igneous are deeply stupid, since they don't know any basic science.
It should have been thrilling, but instead is, at best, mildly interesting. Most of the "twists" were obvious. By the end I just wanted it to finish.
There are two points of view, one is in the first person and the other is in the third person. Why do it like that?
The book is making a very crude reflection on living in the real world, instead of the virtual, but it feels like it's written by a highschooler.
The "mothers" and "birth-mothers" are never properly explored, even though it is central to the plot.
It is full of internal inconsistencies, like that Asher never leaves his "smart-dwelling" but later everyone spends all their time outside.
The first reaction is ALWAYS violence. ALWAYS. In none of the the three settings loyalty, community or teamwork are seen. Maybe a little with the Unplugged, but not really.
The book is written in a kind of light way, and it fails to address any of the deep issues it brushes on, including mass murder.
Anything inconvenient is brushed aside or glossed over, or just not explored. Need a character not to remember - mind wipe them. Need them to remember - fail to mind wipe them.
Clearly the residents of the Igneous are deeply stupid, since they don't know any basic science.
It should have been thrilling, but instead is, at best, mildly interesting. Most of the "twists" were obvious. By the end I just wanted it to finish.
April 14, 2021
Many years ago - what seems like a lifetime ago, I bumped into Rhett C. Bruno when he was a burgeoning writer and still a practicing civil architect. I will always remember how stunned I was at how well he was able to pull off the short story This Long Vigil. I was so impressed that I wrote a review and I wrote to him, telling him how impressed I was. That was in 2015, and from there Rhett has consistently and constantly impressed me with his development as a writer, his storytelling abilities, his evocative imagery, his powerful narrations, and his characters that seem true to life. Like you actually know them. The emotions he evokes are real.
Vicarious is the latest jewel in his crown. I was fortunate to read an early draft of Vicarious some time ago, and I was just stunned by how well written it was, and I remember telling Rhett that he absolutely HAD to finish and publish this book. I am so overjoyed that he did just that. It has gotten immeasurably better since that early draft, and it is a book you should read - particularly in these trying times.
This book is full of hairpin plot twists, Tesla accelerations that will throw you back in your chair, and it will grip you with enough g-force that you cannot put it down. I don't want to go into plot details because it is the nature of the live-action seeming book that giving away a part of it will give away too many spoilers.
What I can say is that I agree with the other reviewers, the book description is accurate, and the book description does not capture one whit of this absorbing gem. Trust me. You're going to be sleep-deprived. This one sucked me in like a Hoover run amok.
Asher Reinhart and Mission, our two main characters and protagonists, are on a collision course from the opening paragraphs. Asher has known the show Ignis-Live all his life. It has been his dream to work on it, and now he directs it. Mission, a beautiful near genetically perfect young woman, thinks she is on the last generational Ark ship of humanity, searching for a new Earth. But in reality, they are in High Earth orbit, and they are living out their lives to satisfy the addicted entertainment needs of the privileged few who live their own version of near-perfect (and meaningless) lives in High Earth. Earth is now a "haves and haves not" world, between the perfection and unattainability of High Earth, and the Breakers in the Outskirts, where the VR addicts and desperate struggle to survive.
This is a book of the highest of emotions. Love, hate, anger, angst, fear, passion, longing - the book is a constant and heavy emotional roller coaster. It is so worth the read that I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If you are looking for some real distraction from your own life and an experience that will get you even more involved than GOT, you really should read this book. You are pulled along as Mission discovers that the perfectly balanced and regimented lives of the Ignis crew are not as perfect as they seem. Nor as balanced. As this brilliant woman begins to see that the world is not quite as she has been taught it is, and Asher begins to more and more insinuate himself into her world, cataclysmic events are nothing you could expect or are prepared for.
As for me, I can't wait to see what Rhett brings us next. Whatever it is, I'll be reading it.
Vicarious is the latest jewel in his crown. I was fortunate to read an early draft of Vicarious some time ago, and I was just stunned by how well written it was, and I remember telling Rhett that he absolutely HAD to finish and publish this book. I am so overjoyed that he did just that. It has gotten immeasurably better since that early draft, and it is a book you should read - particularly in these trying times.
This book is full of hairpin plot twists, Tesla accelerations that will throw you back in your chair, and it will grip you with enough g-force that you cannot put it down. I don't want to go into plot details because it is the nature of the live-action seeming book that giving away a part of it will give away too many spoilers.
What I can say is that I agree with the other reviewers, the book description is accurate, and the book description does not capture one whit of this absorbing gem. Trust me. You're going to be sleep-deprived. This one sucked me in like a Hoover run amok.
Asher Reinhart and Mission, our two main characters and protagonists, are on a collision course from the opening paragraphs. Asher has known the show Ignis-Live all his life. It has been his dream to work on it, and now he directs it. Mission, a beautiful near genetically perfect young woman, thinks she is on the last generational Ark ship of humanity, searching for a new Earth. But in reality, they are in High Earth orbit, and they are living out their lives to satisfy the addicted entertainment needs of the privileged few who live their own version of near-perfect (and meaningless) lives in High Earth. Earth is now a "haves and haves not" world, between the perfection and unattainability of High Earth, and the Breakers in the Outskirts, where the VR addicts and desperate struggle to survive.
This is a book of the highest of emotions. Love, hate, anger, angst, fear, passion, longing - the book is a constant and heavy emotional roller coaster. It is so worth the read that I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If you are looking for some real distraction from your own life and an experience that will get you even more involved than GOT, you really should read this book. You are pulled along as Mission discovers that the perfectly balanced and regimented lives of the Ignis crew are not as perfect as they seem. Nor as balanced. As this brilliant woman begins to see that the world is not quite as she has been taught it is, and Asher begins to more and more insinuate himself into her world, cataclysmic events are nothing you could expect or are prepared for.
As for me, I can't wait to see what Rhett brings us next. Whatever it is, I'll be reading it.
May 25, 2021
Actual rating: 3.5 Stars
I received a free copy from Podium Audio on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first ever audiobook from NetGalley and I'm so excited because the NetGalley shelf app is finally accessible in my country! I really worried about not being able to listen to this after I got approved for the arc, because I found out that the app doesn't cover many countries yet (it's apparently still rather new-ish), but then last week I checked up on it again and it worked! So this means, I'm probably gonna request way too many other audiobooks that I don't have the time for and should actually be studying instead! :P
Vicarious was a very interesting read, the audiobook was read by Wil Wheaton and Katherine McNamara (are they the sole purpose why I wanted to read this book? I won't tell!). And I think they are a very dynamic duo and did a great job on this work! High Earth is a futuristic, dystopian world, where virtual reality and tv shows are a huge thing. And Asher, our protagonist #1, is a director of Ignis: Life, one of the most famous shows, where Mission, our protagonist #2 lives, without knowing that her entire life is broadcasted to High Earth and only serves for their entertainment. Everybody is obsessed with her and so is Asher. And when he realises that her life is in danger, he tries everything to save her and pays a high toll for it himself.
This whole story felt like a The 100 meets Ready Player One world-setting and it was fascinating from the very beginning. I can't say that I'm a big fan of the ending, it's not the usual happy ending that one would expect, but then again this is a dystopian science-fiction novel, so what did I think might happen? I'm pretty sure, that this book will make a lot of readers re-think a lot of passages and anecdotes that the story tells, so it's definitely worth a read. But it definitely isn't one of my favourite sci-fi books either.
Then again, I might just need to re-listen to the audiobook to fully get the entire story again. At times, it felt hard for me to concentrate and listen, because I just can't sit still and listen to an audiobook and do nothing else. So I'm bound to miss some important parts.
I received a free copy from Podium Audio on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first ever audiobook from NetGalley and I'm so excited because the NetGalley shelf app is finally accessible in my country! I really worried about not being able to listen to this after I got approved for the arc, because I found out that the app doesn't cover many countries yet (it's apparently still rather new-ish), but then last week I checked up on it again and it worked! So this means, I'm probably gonna request way too many other audiobooks that I don't have the time for and should actually be studying instead! :P
Vicarious was a very interesting read, the audiobook was read by Wil Wheaton and Katherine McNamara (are they the sole purpose why I wanted to read this book? I won't tell!). And I think they are a very dynamic duo and did a great job on this work! High Earth is a futuristic, dystopian world, where virtual reality and tv shows are a huge thing. And Asher, our protagonist #1, is a director of Ignis: Life, one of the most famous shows, where Mission, our protagonist #2 lives, without knowing that her entire life is broadcasted to High Earth and only serves for their entertainment. Everybody is obsessed with her and so is Asher. And when he realises that her life is in danger, he tries everything to save her and pays a high toll for it himself.
This whole story felt like a The 100 meets Ready Player One world-setting and it was fascinating from the very beginning. I can't say that I'm a big fan of the ending, it's not the usual happy ending that one would expect, but then again this is a dystopian science-fiction novel, so what did I think might happen? I'm pretty sure, that this book will make a lot of readers re-think a lot of passages and anecdotes that the story tells, so it's definitely worth a read. But it definitely isn't one of my favourite sci-fi books either.
Then again, I might just need to re-listen to the audiobook to fully get the entire story again. At times, it felt hard for me to concentrate and listen, because I just can't sit still and listen to an audiobook and do nothing else. So I'm bound to miss some important parts.
April 18, 2021
Loved it
Loved it
Loved it
Loved it
Loved it
May 18, 2021
Beautiful story. It was an all too believable vision of the future with parallels to our own world. I had trouble putting this one down.
June 9, 2021
This was a hard book to rate. I loved the voice performances (Wil Wheaton and Katherine McNamara), and the story was gripping, but I disliked some of the directions the story took (and the fate of the main characters)... and the characters themselves were a bit of a problem. Asher is not as likeable as I might have liked, and Mission has the problem Bella has in the Twilight books - she is only special because the author says so, as she really doesn't have any actual qualities that would make her special. At least Asher has agency in one part of the story (the rest of the time he is reactive). Mission, on the other hand, has no agency at all - she only reacts to the world and doesn't actively try to do much of anything.
I also don't quite understand the actions Asher took to save Mission. It would seem to me that turning Craig Helix into the law enforcement part of High Earth for conspiracy to murder 270 human beings would have made more sense than what he actually did. I would like to have found out what happened to Craig Helix after the end of the novel - did he get any consequences at all? I didn't like the fates of any of the characters, to be honest. Then again, these characters really didn't take any actions of their own devising to earn better fates for themselves. The two characters who actually had agency (Craig Helix and the old cyborg woman) were not POV characters. With the exception of one act of sabotage, Asher chose to bend to the will of these two warring characters at every turn. Mission had to act at the whim of her mother and the elite of the Ignis at every turn, and never really made a single decision to act outside of that.
I think if I had read this as a book (instead of listening to the audio), this would be a 1-star book. Wil Wheaton and Katherine McNamara were spectacular to listen to, and I added a star to the story for that. They gave a believability to the story that the story didn't really earn, and that takes some real acting talent. Indeed, the only reason I chose to listen to this book was because Wil Wheaton was one of the performers.
I also don't quite understand the actions Asher took to save Mission. It would seem to me that turning Craig Helix into the law enforcement part of High Earth for conspiracy to murder 270 human beings would have made more sense than what he actually did. I would like to have found out what happened to Craig Helix after the end of the novel - did he get any consequences at all? I didn't like the fates of any of the characters, to be honest. Then again, these characters really didn't take any actions of their own devising to earn better fates for themselves. The two characters who actually had agency (Craig Helix and the old cyborg woman) were not POV characters. With the exception of one act of sabotage, Asher chose to bend to the will of these two warring characters at every turn. Mission had to act at the whim of her mother and the elite of the Ignis at every turn, and never really made a single decision to act outside of that.
I think if I had read this as a book (instead of listening to the audio), this would be a 1-star book. Wil Wheaton and Katherine McNamara were spectacular to listen to, and I added a star to the story for that. They gave a believability to the story that the story didn't really earn, and that takes some real acting talent. Indeed, the only reason I chose to listen to this book was because Wil Wheaton was one of the performers.
March 7, 2021
A Character-Driven Sci-Fi Adventure in the Tradition of Snowpiercer
Rhett C. Bruno’s Vicarious is a deep dive into a virtual sci-fi world of haves and have-nots. With the elites living a luxurious life of illusion aboard the Interstellar Ark, the less lucky of the species live below—if you can call their existence “living.” Bruno’s novel grapples with topics like privilege versus poverty, with the Ark acting like a futuristic Titanic where the rich thrive on the backs of the suffering poor “below decks.” Asher Reinhart is, at first, a Kool-Aid drinking member of the upper crust, but his affection for Mission—whose only sin is growing up—opens his eyes what life aboard the Ark really means in human terms. Think how the rich got the lifeboats off the Titanic while the steerage passengers drowned, and you’ll get the gist of the novel’s atmosphere.
Beautifully written and crafted with characters first, Bruno’s novel asks hard questions often central to the best science fiction: how much of our humanity must we sacrifice to survive? And once we come out the other side, was the cost worth the results?
Rhett C. Bruno’s Vicarious is a deep dive into a virtual sci-fi world of haves and have-nots. With the elites living a luxurious life of illusion aboard the Interstellar Ark, the less lucky of the species live below—if you can call their existence “living.” Bruno’s novel grapples with topics like privilege versus poverty, with the Ark acting like a futuristic Titanic where the rich thrive on the backs of the suffering poor “below decks.” Asher Reinhart is, at first, a Kool-Aid drinking member of the upper crust, but his affection for Mission—whose only sin is growing up—opens his eyes what life aboard the Ark really means in human terms. Think how the rich got the lifeboats off the Titanic while the steerage passengers drowned, and you’ll get the gist of the novel’s atmosphere.
Beautifully written and crafted with characters first, Bruno’s novel asks hard questions often central to the best science fiction: how much of our humanity must we sacrifice to survive? And once we come out the other side, was the cost worth the results?
April 7, 2021
ARC provided by NetGalley.
I usually don't read sci-fi books but this one seemed very interesting.
Unfortunately, I wasn't 100% into the story and at the begging it was hard for me to focus and put the pieces of the story all together.
However, the plot and the concept is really good!
If you love sci-fi and distopia this one is definitely for you !!
I usually don't read sci-fi books but this one seemed very interesting.
Unfortunately, I wasn't 100% into the story and at the begging it was hard for me to focus and put the pieces of the story all together.
However, the plot and the concept is really good!
If you love sci-fi and distopia this one is definitely for you !!
September 2, 2021
I struggled with the second half of this. The pacing was frustrating and some of the character decisions made little sense or felt forced by plot more than their own personalities. Even so, it ended in an interesting way that I enjoyed.
Wil Wheaton's audio narration was a big help. I don't think I'd have stuck with it the whole way without that.
Wil Wheaton's audio narration was a big help. I don't think I'd have stuck with it the whole way without that.
October 12, 2021
The ending completely ruined the book. Disappointing.
April 26, 2021
Vicarious by Rhett C. Bruno was so refreshing! Finally, a sci-fi novel with well-developed characters. I was engrossed from the first sentence to the last. I absolutely could not stop listening!
Synopsis:
Asher lives in luxury on High Earth, the only part of the planet that has not flooded. He is so obsessed with the virtual reality show Ignis: Live that he gets a job working on the show.
The Ignis is a spaceship whose residents are on a pilgrimage to restart the human race on another planet…or so they think. Mission is a little girl who grows into an intelligent, beautiful woman on the show. She is the star of the show and the true object of Asher’s obsession.
When the show’s ratings start to slip, the creator will go to any lengths to get back into the #1 spot. When Asher finds out that Mission’s life is in danger, he bursts into action. Can he save her? How much will it cost him? Is everything too high a price?
Story Review:
Not only is the plot original, but Bruno pours his heart into the development of his characters. Asher’s passion for Ignis: Live is contagious. He is addicted to the show. As a reader of the book, you will be addicted too. You can’t help it! We see the show through Asher’s eyes. His preoccupation with Mission leads to some very complicated emotions. When someone is willing to risk everything for another person, what does that really mean?
The last hour of Vicarious had me completely enthralled. The plot twists are unpredictable and wild. I highly recommend this book to sci-fi and reality TV fans alike. What do you get when you combine sci-fi, virtual reality, and Rhett C. Bruno? You get a home run!
Narration Review:
Audiobooks with multiple narrators are my jam! Wil Wheaton does a great job narrating Asher’s point of view in Vicarious. Katherine McNamara is brilliant as the voice of Mission’s point of view! She captures the spirit of Mission and the entire population of the Ignis masterfully. She has just become one of my favorite female narrators. I can’t wait to find more books that she has narrated!
Source:
I received a free copy of Vicarious at my request in exchange for an honest review.
Sensitivity Warnings:
The vast majority of Vicarious does not contain anything worth a sensitivity warning. The outskirts of High Earth depict typical post-apocalyptic filth of humanity conditions, including a scene describing a physically disabled prostitute.
Synopsis:
Asher lives in luxury on High Earth, the only part of the planet that has not flooded. He is so obsessed with the virtual reality show Ignis: Live that he gets a job working on the show.
The Ignis is a spaceship whose residents are on a pilgrimage to restart the human race on another planet…or so they think. Mission is a little girl who grows into an intelligent, beautiful woman on the show. She is the star of the show and the true object of Asher’s obsession.
When the show’s ratings start to slip, the creator will go to any lengths to get back into the #1 spot. When Asher finds out that Mission’s life is in danger, he bursts into action. Can he save her? How much will it cost him? Is everything too high a price?
Story Review:
Not only is the plot original, but Bruno pours his heart into the development of his characters. Asher’s passion for Ignis: Live is contagious. He is addicted to the show. As a reader of the book, you will be addicted too. You can’t help it! We see the show through Asher’s eyes. His preoccupation with Mission leads to some very complicated emotions. When someone is willing to risk everything for another person, what does that really mean?
The last hour of Vicarious had me completely enthralled. The plot twists are unpredictable and wild. I highly recommend this book to sci-fi and reality TV fans alike. What do you get when you combine sci-fi, virtual reality, and Rhett C. Bruno? You get a home run!
Narration Review:
Audiobooks with multiple narrators are my jam! Wil Wheaton does a great job narrating Asher’s point of view in Vicarious. Katherine McNamara is brilliant as the voice of Mission’s point of view! She captures the spirit of Mission and the entire population of the Ignis masterfully. She has just become one of my favorite female narrators. I can’t wait to find more books that she has narrated!
Source:
I received a free copy of Vicarious at my request in exchange for an honest review.
Sensitivity Warnings:
The vast majority of Vicarious does not contain anything worth a sensitivity warning. The outskirts of High Earth depict typical post-apocalyptic filth of humanity conditions, including a scene describing a physically disabled prostitute.
June 3, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley, Podium Audio, Rhett C. Bruno, Wil Wheaton (narrator), and Katherine McNamara (narrator) for the opportunity to listen to Vicarious in exchange for an honest review.
I used the NetGalley Shelf app to listen to this audiobook. Part of my interest in requesting id the big-name narrators who have done a number of other audiobooks that I adore. They are brilliant voice actors and really bring the characters to life. I feel that, because of the narrations, Vicarious is better as an audiobook.
This is a fantastic science fiction novel with a complex world. It was a bit hard to get into at first, as there is quite a bit going on and not a lot of description or explanation. The reader kind of figures it out along the way and has a general idea from the book blurb. This story takes place on High Earth, not quite the world as we know it. This world is full of technology drowning out what life once was. People divulge in all forms of digital entertainment, such as virtual reality, simulations, and of course television shows. Asher is the volunteer director of a show called Ignis. In this show, people believe themselves to be the last of humanity and have a very interestingly organized world structure on an interstellar ark. The catch? It's a reality TV show featuring really people; they have no clue they are being watched for the entertainment of a mass populace of human beings.
Mission is destined to be a mother on Ignis. This isn't quite what he wants, and she can't even be with the person she is in love with. That's just not how this society operates. When an explosion occurs on the interstellar ark, Mission finds herself in quite a bind.
Asher has an obscure attachment to Mission, and when she is in real trouble, he will do whatever it takes to save her, even if it goes against the regulations of being the show director.
This book is fantastic for dies-hard sci-fi fans, but if you aren't too into the genre, this book would be very hard to approach. As I mentioned, there is quite a lot going on and it can be a bit hard to follow at times, but the premise is quite interesting and made for an intriguing read once my brain was able to organize the information accordingly.
I used the NetGalley Shelf app to listen to this audiobook. Part of my interest in requesting id the big-name narrators who have done a number of other audiobooks that I adore. They are brilliant voice actors and really bring the characters to life. I feel that, because of the narrations, Vicarious is better as an audiobook.
This is a fantastic science fiction novel with a complex world. It was a bit hard to get into at first, as there is quite a bit going on and not a lot of description or explanation. The reader kind of figures it out along the way and has a general idea from the book blurb. This story takes place on High Earth, not quite the world as we know it. This world is full of technology drowning out what life once was. People divulge in all forms of digital entertainment, such as virtual reality, simulations, and of course television shows. Asher is the volunteer director of a show called Ignis. In this show, people believe themselves to be the last of humanity and have a very interestingly organized world structure on an interstellar ark. The catch? It's a reality TV show featuring really people; they have no clue they are being watched for the entertainment of a mass populace of human beings.
Mission is destined to be a mother on Ignis. This isn't quite what he wants, and she can't even be with the person she is in love with. That's just not how this society operates. When an explosion occurs on the interstellar ark, Mission finds herself in quite a bind.
Asher has an obscure attachment to Mission, and when she is in real trouble, he will do whatever it takes to save her, even if it goes against the regulations of being the show director.
This book is fantastic for dies-hard sci-fi fans, but if you aren't too into the genre, this book would be very hard to approach. As I mentioned, there is quite a lot going on and it can be a bit hard to follow at times, but the premise is quite interesting and made for an intriguing read once my brain was able to organize the information accordingly.
April 26, 2021
Hol-l-l-y Gods! What a beautiful piece of speculative fiction, and one of the best tales I've EVER had the pleasure of reading/listening too!
In case you don't already know Rhett C Bruno's work is always hard hitting, and tightly written! You may want to check out his Luna Missile Crisis when you have a chance...
I found myself immediately embroiled in both Mission's and Asher's characters. The first thing that struck me was how much I actually liked both of 'em, and how utterly different their lives and lifestyles were! Bruno capitalized on my empathy and ran with it! Immediately tying me up in knots as I struggled with not only their emotions, but my own as worried about them 🙃! But did Bruno hold back? Hell No! I think he was laughing, as he put the pedal-to-the-metal, and ran over my emotions! LOL
Then for the piéce de résistance, he upped the ante on it by grabbing two of the best narrator's Ever... taking an already 5⭐ book, and Cranking it all the way up to 11⭐'s!
Go ahead and dive into this audio book! You won't be sorry, even if you get a bit beat-up emotionally by it!
In case you don't already know Rhett C Bruno's work is always hard hitting, and tightly written! You may want to check out his Luna Missile Crisis when you have a chance...
I found myself immediately embroiled in both Mission's and Asher's characters. The first thing that struck me was how much I actually liked both of 'em, and how utterly different their lives and lifestyles were! Bruno capitalized on my empathy and ran with it! Immediately tying me up in knots as I struggled with not only their emotions, but my own as worried about them 🙃! But did Bruno hold back? Hell No! I think he was laughing, as he put the pedal-to-the-metal, and ran over my emotions! LOL
Then for the piéce de résistance, he upped the ante on it by grabbing two of the best narrator's Ever... taking an already 5⭐ book, and Cranking it all the way up to 11⭐'s!
Go ahead and dive into this audio book! You won't be sorry, even if you get a bit beat-up emotionally by it!
May 25, 2021
The idea of 'reality shows' where real people are dying isn't particularly new - I loved Running Man back in the day. But this was still a great read.
Wealth inequality and the increasing gap between the haves and have nots is real. We're not quite at the point where sticking people in orbit for our pleasure (although I'll volunteer just to get a ride up!), but how much trauma do participants on reality TV go through today? How many Jeremy Kyle participants self-harmed, turned to substance abuse, or even killed themselves? But the show was allowed to go on past many of them, so is the premise behind this so far fetched?
The only complaint I have is that many of the other characters had potential, and we never really got to see it. Yeah, it would have dragged things out, but WHAT WAS Vivienne's DEAL !? WHY WAS SHE IN THE OUTSKIRTS EARLIER? I NEED TO KNOW :D
Wealth inequality and the increasing gap between the haves and have nots is real. We're not quite at the point where sticking people in orbit for our pleasure (although I'll volunteer just to get a ride up!), but how much trauma do participants on reality TV go through today? How many Jeremy Kyle participants self-harmed, turned to substance abuse, or even killed themselves? But the show was allowed to go on past many of them, so is the premise behind this so far fetched?
The only complaint I have is that many of the other characters had potential, and we never really got to see it. Yeah, it would have dragged things out, but WHAT WAS Vivienne's DEAL !? WHY WAS SHE IN THE OUTSKIRTS EARLIER? I NEED TO KNOW :D
June 16, 2021
Vicarious is an interesting combination of genres that work surprisingly well together. The exploration of the futuristic world and its inhabitants is there but leaves more to be desired. Sometimes the motivation behind a character's action doesn't feel justified or rational. However, if you are looking for your next virtual reality fix after Ready Player One and want something that experiments a little bit more with the idea then please go ahead and give Vicarious a listen.
April 14, 2021
High Def
Completely immersive. I love how Rhett's writing sucked me directly into this world. I don't know how Rhett, or his character Reinhart, kept it all straight. It's so colorful and the characters are likeable. Or not, depending. I highly recommend this story, and Rhett C. Bruno as an author.
Completely immersive. I love how Rhett's writing sucked me directly into this world. I don't know how Rhett, or his character Reinhart, kept it all straight. It's so colorful and the characters are likeable. Or not, depending. I highly recommend this story, and Rhett C. Bruno as an author.
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