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The Archon #1
The Last Physicist
Being a mage isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Especially when you’ve witnessed the end of the world and the demise of all you’ve ever loved.
As a particle physicist, William Jenkins is as unsuited to survival on an alien world as any normal thirty-something post-doc could be. Thankfully, he’s not alone. With an A.I., magic, scientific curiosity and most improbably, a deity on his side, Will must come to terms with his new reality before otherworldly terrors forever extinguish the light of hope on this new world.
Meanwhile, as the forces of darkness amass to invade her home, Effni Naridia, Qaseri Ranger and Guardian of her peoples, must face her own demons. By undertaking a trial, Effni could determine not only the fate of her city, but unravel a mystery aeons in the making.
The Last Physicist features elements of progression fantasy and Gamelit, and is perfect for those who enjoy stories by Andrew Rowe, Will Wight and Andy Weir.
Warning. This novel contains questionable quantum mechanics, general relativity and magic.
Note: this book also features profanity, vivid depictions of violence, pain and gore, along with depictions of mental health issues (including PTSD, generalised anxiety and depression) some readers may find distressing.
As a particle physicist, William Jenkins is as unsuited to survival on an alien world as any normal thirty-something post-doc could be. Thankfully, he’s not alone. With an A.I., magic, scientific curiosity and most improbably, a deity on his side, Will must come to terms with his new reality before otherworldly terrors forever extinguish the light of hope on this new world.
Meanwhile, as the forces of darkness amass to invade her home, Effni Naridia, Qaseri Ranger and Guardian of her peoples, must face her own demons. By undertaking a trial, Effni could determine not only the fate of her city, but unravel a mystery aeons in the making.
The Last Physicist features elements of progression fantasy and Gamelit, and is perfect for those who enjoy stories by Andrew Rowe, Will Wight and Andy Weir.
Warning. This novel contains questionable quantum mechanics, general relativity and magic.
Note: this book also features profanity, vivid depictions of violence, pain and gore, along with depictions of mental health issues (including PTSD, generalised anxiety and depression) some readers may find distressing.
667 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 12, 2021
465 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
April 21, 2021
Creative, detailed, But overdone
This book has a creative spin on the “taken from earth to a new world with magic”.
Pros:
The detail is never lacking and there is an in-depth explanation on everything. Not overly done on the banter and in my opinion minimal POVs when you just want to stay with main character’s story line.
Cons:
The book eventually crosses the line to be overly detailed when you want it to just get to the point. The MC, as I understand, is going through a lot of ground breaking and traumatic experiences but the need to constantly explain that as often as it did is overwhelming and negatively affects the plot. It creates a repetitive trend of the mc battling emotional trauma to then dig deep and find whatever willpower he inevitably has to overcome his current setback or obstacle. This is done so many times that it makes you wonder how each obstacle can even be considered different.
The abilities were difficult to understand because limitations or the entire scope of them were not properly described a majority of the time. If they were, any restrictions were subsequently ignored to give the MC leeway to overcome whatever obstacle he encountered.
This book has a creative spin on the “taken from earth to a new world with magic”.
Pros:
The detail is never lacking and there is an in-depth explanation on everything. Not overly done on the banter and in my opinion minimal POVs when you just want to stay with main character’s story line.
Cons:
The book eventually crosses the line to be overly detailed when you want it to just get to the point. The MC, as I understand, is going through a lot of ground breaking and traumatic experiences but the need to constantly explain that as often as it did is overwhelming and negatively affects the plot. It creates a repetitive trend of the mc battling emotional trauma to then dig deep and find whatever willpower he inevitably has to overcome his current setback or obstacle. This is done so many times that it makes you wonder how each obstacle can even be considered different.
The abilities were difficult to understand because limitations or the entire scope of them were not properly described a majority of the time. If they were, any restrictions were subsequently ignored to give the MC leeway to overcome whatever obstacle he encountered.
May 15, 2021
not bad but not great either.
The MC is kind of a joke of a physicist. IDK if the author hasn't met many hard-science/ML people or what but it feels rather poorly written and tell-don't-showy. People in those disciplines tend to have an issue with generalizing too far rather than not generalizing enough. The fact we had to go over how magic has rules and can be analyzed by experiments multiple times and the character has to get beaten over the head with it before catching on is kind of an anathema to the background the MC is supposed to have. Also he think the magic doesn't have rules because its not magic, more like cultivation...as though thats some kind of meaningful distinction. So after showing us all this bone-headedness, it feels like the author has to remind us that he's very smart so we get characters telling us how he thinks in terms of 'facts and rules and hard edges!' when they peer into his mind.
The power levels seem all over the place. I find this to be pretty important in progression fantasy because if the expectations don't match how easy/difficult a fight is, it starts to feel like the rules that govern how the world works don't really matter and are just arbitrary coat of paint. This happens pretty frequently, with the MC fighting things like 20 levels higher than him multiple times. In book this means that if they devote one one millionth of their power to fighting him, they should win. This doesn't actually happen.
(slight spoilers)
The ultimate resolution of the book feels rather contrived in the sense that in the negotiated agreement, the heros basically get everything and the badguys get nothing. Its like both groups have a gun at each other's throat, and the MC is like 'if you want to negotiate, put your gun away' and they simply do. So then its a hostage negotiation in which the MC gets most of what he wants, but he doesn't have to give up the hostages, i.e. there's seemingly no reason why the MC couldn't just do what he did to create the standoff a second time. Also, In the final battle, there's a big fight between the 2 secondary characters and some random strong baddie. But then literally 2 seconds later their victory feels entirely meaningless due to the negotiated settlement the MC achieves which makes all the baddies stop attacking. Had they retreated instead of fighting it head on, it would have resulted in the same outcome.
There are other smaller things, the MC seems to constantly complain about nearly dieing at the end of every fight, but then I can't remember him avoiding a single fight in the whole book except when he sees some kind of god so powerful it could seemingly destroy the planet. This time he only gets closer to investigate before almost dieing. Also, each time he takes on some new challenge, he does so in a very head on fashion. You'd think 3 ranged characters with a speed advantage against an army would consider hit and run tactics. That literally never happens.
All these things combine to make the book less satisfying. I generally enjoy books that combine science and fantasy and I think the concepts here are interesting but I found the execution to be a bit lacking.
The MC is kind of a joke of a physicist. IDK if the author hasn't met many hard-science/ML people or what but it feels rather poorly written and tell-don't-showy. People in those disciplines tend to have an issue with generalizing too far rather than not generalizing enough. The fact we had to go over how magic has rules and can be analyzed by experiments multiple times and the character has to get beaten over the head with it before catching on is kind of an anathema to the background the MC is supposed to have. Also he think the magic doesn't have rules because its not magic, more like cultivation...as though thats some kind of meaningful distinction. So after showing us all this bone-headedness, it feels like the author has to remind us that he's very smart so we get characters telling us how he thinks in terms of 'facts and rules and hard edges!' when they peer into his mind.
The power levels seem all over the place. I find this to be pretty important in progression fantasy because if the expectations don't match how easy/difficult a fight is, it starts to feel like the rules that govern how the world works don't really matter and are just arbitrary coat of paint. This happens pretty frequently, with the MC fighting things like 20 levels higher than him multiple times. In book this means that if they devote one one millionth of their power to fighting him, they should win. This doesn't actually happen.
(slight spoilers)
The ultimate resolution of the book feels rather contrived in the sense that in the negotiated agreement, the heros basically get everything and the badguys get nothing. Its like both groups have a gun at each other's throat, and the MC is like 'if you want to negotiate, put your gun away' and they simply do. So then its a hostage negotiation in which the MC gets most of what he wants, but he doesn't have to give up the hostages, i.e. there's seemingly no reason why the MC couldn't just do what he did to create the standoff a second time. Also, In the final battle, there's a big fight between the 2 secondary characters and some random strong baddie. But then literally 2 seconds later their victory feels entirely meaningless due to the negotiated settlement the MC achieves which makes all the baddies stop attacking. Had they retreated instead of fighting it head on, it would have resulted in the same outcome.
There are other smaller things, the MC seems to constantly complain about nearly dieing at the end of every fight, but then I can't remember him avoiding a single fight in the whole book except when he sees some kind of god so powerful it could seemingly destroy the planet. This time he only gets closer to investigate before almost dieing. Also, each time he takes on some new challenge, he does so in a very head on fashion. You'd think 3 ranged characters with a speed advantage against an army would consider hit and run tactics. That literally never happens.
All these things combine to make the book less satisfying. I generally enjoy books that combine science and fantasy and I think the concepts here are interesting but I found the execution to be a bit lacking.
April 15, 2021
Crunchy Science turns magic story that needs a serious editing pass
Well developed story with scientist turned magic user trying to understand and survive the world he finds himself in. Lots of sciency details for those who like the HOW of their magic.
There are however a number of plot errors (references to the wrong magic type or contradicting previous statements, a large number of grammatical errors where the wrong word is used (grizzle/gristle, horde/hoard, peak/peek, site/sight) multiple times and places.
Most problematic are the sections of missing text between chapters, most notable at the end of the story. The two d chapters ending and the epilogue start mid sentence and mid thought.
A good story but be prepared for issues.
Well developed story with scientist turned magic user trying to understand and survive the world he finds himself in. Lots of sciency details for those who like the HOW of their magic.
There are however a number of plot errors (references to the wrong magic type or contradicting previous statements, a large number of grammatical errors where the wrong word is used (grizzle/gristle, horde/hoard, peak/peek, site/sight) multiple times and places.
Most problematic are the sections of missing text between chapters, most notable at the end of the story. The two d chapters ending and the epilogue start mid sentence and mid thought.
A good story but be prepared for issues.
March 20, 2022
I have mixed feeling regarding this novel. On the one hand it’s a fairly standard adventure story in which our hero, Will, has to learn to master his power to save a world. On this level, it’s a bit slow moving, but is still entertaining. It’s also a LitRPG in which Will learns to master his powers as if he’s in a game, guided by his AI (more on the AI later). This was quite well done, but isn’t exciting in and of itself. And while on some levels the author tried to make this about truly understanding the way magic works, it kept coming back to how many levels Will accumulated. On yet another level, it’s an interesting story about what AIs will do after the end of the world. I think that’s the tale that future stories in this series will illuminate more fully, but we meet at least three of them in this novel and they are by far the most interesting thing going on.
So why mixed feelings when each thread of the story was by itself entertaining? The novel as a whole never quite came together for me. In the first two chapters, the earth is destroyed and with it every person on it except our hero and it never felt real to me, perhaps because Will’s bouncy personality never really seemed to try to come to grips with what happened. I realize that the destruction of the earth was just a plot device to explain how a physicist got involved in a fantasy world, but if you’re going to include it, it needs to matter, and I never felt like it did. I also had a hard time liking Will. I did, eventually, but it took a while. Mostly he annoyed me for a great many chapters and that’s obviously not a great thing when he’s the hero of the story.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
So why mixed feelings when each thread of the story was by itself entertaining? The novel as a whole never quite came together for me. In the first two chapters, the earth is destroyed and with it every person on it except our hero and it never felt real to me, perhaps because Will’s bouncy personality never really seemed to try to come to grips with what happened. I realize that the destruction of the earth was just a plot device to explain how a physicist got involved in a fantasy world, but if you’re going to include it, it needs to matter, and I never felt like it did. I also had a hard time liking Will. I did, eventually, but it took a while. Mostly he annoyed me for a great many chapters and that’s obviously not a great thing when he’s the hero of the story.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
July 12, 2022
I did not finish this book. I stopped at around 70% because my eyes were just glazing over (and I have the audiobook, so it means the book was putting me to sleep). However, I can't say that I disliked it, really.
There were a lot of things to pull me into the book, one major hook being that the MC is black. I was really curious about how different of an experience it would make for me. I obviously don't know much about black people in the US, because I couldn't really find any. Maybe some colloquialisms?
The MC resonated with me in another way: his feeling of chasing after mirages and not living life on his own terms is something I'm very familiar with. So that worked.
Unfortunately, this (audio)book has issues.
1. There are a lot of contradictions and incoherences in this book. Some are minor and peripheral, like elapsed time that keeps changing, or scale that is off-skelter. Others are more fundamental, like matrix/inception paradox right in the middle of the tale.
2. The MC is an emo teen, even though he is supposed to be an adult. That was hard to deal with. He is literally carried through most of the book by a Godlike A.I and a long string of Deus Ex Machina moments. I don't enjoy petulant MC, especially when it doesn't match their presented personae.
3. The author is in love with the magic system. They spend agonizingly long moments gushing over this or that whatever-mancy and its esoteric effects, going at it like it were a treatise. It was really tedious. I lost interest when I couldn't separate the magics anymore.
4. The author is not good at world-building. Everything is info-dump. They even go as far as giving "examples" of how the world is supposed to work. Talk about a sure way to kick your reader from their suspension of disbelief. There's little wonder, little exploration. Everything is just... data, in huge chunks.
5. The author must have just gotten their hands on a thesaurus, because damn! Flowery language abounds! The overly convoluted language has the unfortunate side-effect of drawing attention to itself, and away from the story.
6. fake deaths. Need I say more?
7. The isekai story is ridiculously cliché. I actually prefer the parts that happen on Earth. They feel more... grounded (pardon the pun).
The narrators do a good job trying to inject life into this book, and the multi-voice thing is something I'm slowly starting to enjoy more. But there's only so much they can do to redeem an uninspired story.
In conclusion, I can't be bothered to finish the book because I have no incentive. There's nothing I'm looking forward to, I expect no clever plot twists. Just more power-creep, and eventually getting the girl.
Meh.
There were a lot of things to pull me into the book, one major hook being that the MC is black. I was really curious about how different of an experience it would make for me. I obviously don't know much about black people in the US, because I couldn't really find any. Maybe some colloquialisms?
The MC resonated with me in another way: his feeling of chasing after mirages and not living life on his own terms is something I'm very familiar with. So that worked.
Unfortunately, this (audio)book has issues.
1. There are a lot of contradictions and incoherences in this book. Some are minor and peripheral, like elapsed time that keeps changing, or scale that is off-skelter. Others are more fundamental, like matrix/inception paradox right in the middle of the tale.
2. The MC is an emo teen, even though he is supposed to be an adult. That was hard to deal with. He is literally carried through most of the book by a Godlike A.I and a long string of Deus Ex Machina moments. I don't enjoy petulant MC, especially when it doesn't match their presented personae.
3. The author is in love with the magic system. They spend agonizingly long moments gushing over this or that whatever-mancy and its esoteric effects, going at it like it were a treatise. It was really tedious. I lost interest when I couldn't separate the magics anymore.
4. The author is not good at world-building. Everything is info-dump. They even go as far as giving "examples" of how the world is supposed to work. Talk about a sure way to kick your reader from their suspension of disbelief. There's little wonder, little exploration. Everything is just... data, in huge chunks.
5. The author must have just gotten their hands on a thesaurus, because damn! Flowery language abounds! The overly convoluted language has the unfortunate side-effect of drawing attention to itself, and away from the story.
6. fake deaths. Need I say more?
7. The isekai story is ridiculously cliché. I actually prefer the parts that happen on Earth. They feel more... grounded (pardon the pun).
The narrators do a good job trying to inject life into this book, and the multi-voice thing is something I'm slowly starting to enjoy more. But there's only so much they can do to redeem an uninspired story.
In conclusion, I can't be bothered to finish the book because I have no incentive. There's nothing I'm looking forward to, I expect no clever plot twists. Just more power-creep, and eventually getting the girl.
Meh.
May 21, 2021
Good, but imo too long for what it was. The MC's reactions to his ridiculous situation are understandable, but there is only so much existential angst I can take in a book before it starts to wear.
A couple of minor typos but otherwise very well written (major irony there as I mistyped "minor typos") and lots of action for those who like that. What it also had a lot of is the MC nearly (and at least once actually) dying every time he gets in a fight. This is something the MC would also like to stop, but it seems there is a type/flavour of book that likes to do this to the MC and I don't particularly appreciate it.
There should be another one following this, and there is lots of story to work with, but I can hope that future books are a bit more compact.
A couple of minor typos but otherwise very well written (major irony there as I mistyped "minor typos") and lots of action for those who like that. What it also had a lot of is the MC nearly (and at least once actually) dying every time he gets in a fight. This is something the MC would also like to stop, but it seems there is a type/flavour of book that likes to do this to the MC and I don't particularly appreciate it.
There should be another one following this, and there is lots of story to work with, but I can hope that future books are a bit more compact.
October 6, 2025
"The Last Physicist (The Archon, #1)" by Dominic Stal
Dominic Stal introduces readers to a gripping adventure in "The Last Physicist," the inaugural book of The Archon series. With a fusion of science fiction, mystery, and thrilling suspense, Stal crafts a captivating narrative that unfolds in a world teetering on the brink of extraordinary discoveries and imminent danger.
Plot Overview:
"The Last Physicist" follows the journey of a brilliant physicist thrust into a web of enigmatic occurrences, wherein scientific breakthroughs intertwine with ominous secrets. As the protagonist delves deeper into uncovering the mysteries behind unexplained phenomena, they find themselves entangled in a race against time to avert impending catastrophe.
Stal's Narrative Style:
Stal's writing style adeptly blends intricate scientific concepts with an engaging storyline, catering to both enthusiasts of the genre and casual readers alike. The narrative is infused with a palpable sense of urgency, keeping readers engrossed as the mystery unfolds.
Characterization:
The characters are skillfully developed, each with their unique motivations and complexities. The protagonist's journey is portrayed with depth and authenticity, navigating the twists and turns of scientific intrigue while facing personal dilemmas.
World-Building:
Stal crafts a compelling and immersive world, seamlessly integrating advanced scientific theories with an aura of mystery and foreboding. The intricacies of the setting create an atmosphere that feels both familiar and tantalizingly unfamiliar.
In Conclusion:
"The Last Physicist (The Archon, #1)" is a promising beginning to Dominic Stal's series. With a captivating plot, well-rounded characters, and a skillful blend of science and suspense, this book sets the stage for an enthralling journey through a world where scientific breakthroughs may hold the keys to unraveling profound mysteries.
Read
December 15, 2021The book was good at first.
The MC knows science and stuff and uses them creatively.
Then he meets a girl.
You know the rest.
Dropped it.
The MC knows science and stuff and uses them creatively.
Then he meets a girl.
You know the rest.
Dropped it.
April 28, 2021
I would have given it six stars if that were a possible rating.
I, like most of you taking the time to read a LitRPG review on Amazon or Goodreads, read. A lot.
I rarely write a review. Things that bother other sophisticated readers rarely bother me. Any book I finish gets three stars. Why is that you may be asking? Well, if a book can hold my attention long enough for me to finish said book, it has to be a decent book. How people can finish a book that they plan to rate a one or two star, I will never understand. Life is short, there are millions of stories. Move on. Next.
A four start rating from me, (Who cares? I know.) means that the book not only held my attention but left me wanting more. Even if most of the time I can see the logical conclusion to the arc of the story. I want to verify it. I am hooked.
A five star is rare. It has everything the four star has but it also has one of two things. It has a premise I have not considered or remember coming across before or I have no clue how it will end.
This book has a little LitRPG, a little Wuxia and Xianxia with just enough hard science to really work.
My first instinct was to think that the MC got a little OP, a little to fast. I usually like a little more build up. I’m glad he did. I noted I thought there was a little Wuxia/Xianxia and it really is just enough. It was a nice montage scene, written in a way that I understand the process but didn’t have to spend all that time doing mental math.
I enjoyed the hard science, and by hard science, I mean terms and definitions that I just assumed to be factual. I’m reading a fantasy book, I am not reading a research paper in order to argue against the authors Thesis. Yet. :)
Great read. I cannot wait until the next book.
I, like most of you taking the time to read a LitRPG review on Amazon or Goodreads, read. A lot.
I rarely write a review. Things that bother other sophisticated readers rarely bother me. Any book I finish gets three stars. Why is that you may be asking? Well, if a book can hold my attention long enough for me to finish said book, it has to be a decent book. How people can finish a book that they plan to rate a one or two star, I will never understand. Life is short, there are millions of stories. Move on. Next.
A four start rating from me, (Who cares? I know.) means that the book not only held my attention but left me wanting more. Even if most of the time I can see the logical conclusion to the arc of the story. I want to verify it. I am hooked.
A five star is rare. It has everything the four star has but it also has one of two things. It has a premise I have not considered or remember coming across before or I have no clue how it will end.
This book has a little LitRPG, a little Wuxia and Xianxia with just enough hard science to really work.
My first instinct was to think that the MC got a little OP, a little to fast. I usually like a little more build up. I’m glad he did. I noted I thought there was a little Wuxia/Xianxia and it really is just enough. It was a nice montage scene, written in a way that I understand the process but didn’t have to spend all that time doing mental math.
I enjoyed the hard science, and by hard science, I mean terms and definitions that I just assumed to be factual. I’m reading a fantasy book, I am not reading a research paper in order to argue against the authors Thesis. Yet. :)
Great read. I cannot wait until the next book.
April 17, 2021
Excellent creativity; awful writing. The book reads like a rough draft. Every page is replete with typos, awkward sentences, inscrutible transitions, pacing issues, and just about every grammar violation you can think of. The result is a story that is impossible to immerse into. The idea of magic and modern physics converging is becoming a popular theme, and this writer has promise in that regard, but unless he is willing to do the hard work of editing and polishing his prose, the creativity will go nowhere. I would encourage Mr. Stal to take some writing workshops, read some books on creative writing and get an editor. If he is able to elevate his writing to a professional standard his creative ideas may make for interesting reading.
April 22, 2021
Not for me
I really could not get into this book. I don’t think it is a quality issue but rather a issue of taste. The title gives away the issue, this is thinking persons book. I don’t want to think too much when reading. Every issue is reasoned out and discussed, which I found boring.
I really could not get into this book. I don’t think it is a quality issue but rather a issue of taste. The title gives away the issue, this is thinking persons book. I don’t want to think too much when reading. Every issue is reasoned out and discussed, which I found boring.
April 25, 2021
I saw this and thought it might be good and I was not disappointed. There are a few scenes that drag on too long, a few that don't drag on long enough and some where more details would be nice but at 667 pages this book gives you that "well fed" feeling in your brain when you finish it until you stand up and your brain decides to ask for desert (or in this case a second book) and there isn't one yet. The author did an amazing job for what seems to be his first work and I really hope he continues to write (especially more of this). The book itself plays out sort of like a grand tabletop adventure where the DM was okay with letting you make a custom class but only had vague ideas of where he wanted to take the story because he wasn't really into it on the first night, then when you pick back up the next week the DM has clearly not slept all week and got way more into creating his story and world building then anyone expected and now that the DM is into it all he cares about is killing the custom class character he let you make to try and get you to start again within the rules, anyways that is how the story felt it was playing out to me and I feel like there was even reference to that possibility in the book. if you like LitRPG, Science Fiction, Magic, table top games, fantasy races both classic and entirely new then you will probably enjoy this book.
May 16, 2021
Amazing
This book by far blows most of the litrpg/cultivator/reborn in a new world novels out of the water. The progression is fast paced, the descriptions intuitive and detailed, but not oppressive. The main character is a smart (very smart), but normal guy. He's not some combat master or Gary sue, for things don't just happen to him at random, nor does he have the ultimate mulligan following him around.
He's frightened, weaker than his opponents, and kisses his bastion of safety goodbye.
Please read this. I await the next installment.
This book by far blows most of the litrpg/cultivator/reborn in a new world novels out of the water. The progression is fast paced, the descriptions intuitive and detailed, but not oppressive. The main character is a smart (very smart), but normal guy. He's not some combat master or Gary sue, for things don't just happen to him at random, nor does he have the ultimate mulligan following him around.
He's frightened, weaker than his opponents, and kisses his bastion of safety goodbye.
Please read this. I await the next installment.
July 29, 2021
A Daniel black substitute done right.
Actual rating of 4.5. This was basically a Daniel black-esq book with an A.I twist with less harem elements and much more self doubt in the part of the MC. This was a surprisingly long book, and at times I lost interest; ultimately I gave it a high rating because I could appreciate the story telling, character development, world-building and the token effort at explaining some physics concepts. I would definitely recommend if you are looking for well done isekai trope novel.
Actual rating of 4.5. This was basically a Daniel black-esq book with an A.I twist with less harem elements and much more self doubt in the part of the MC. This was a surprisingly long book, and at times I lost interest; ultimately I gave it a high rating because I could appreciate the story telling, character development, world-building and the token effort at explaining some physics concepts. I would definitely recommend if you are looking for well done isekai trope novel.
April 13, 2021
Cracking read
Well written, with some minor changes to grammar, the plot is well laid out and executed, it presents both action and adventure in generous volumes, the MC and supporting characters are engaging, nothing over powered, the story even presents a number of variations of the Fermi paradox and paradoxes of free will that stem from causal loops. This story is full of detail and is one of only a few that I have found to be genuinely entertaining so far this year and true value for your reading dollar.
Well written, with some minor changes to grammar, the plot is well laid out and executed, it presents both action and adventure in generous volumes, the MC and supporting characters are engaging, nothing over powered, the story even presents a number of variations of the Fermi paradox and paradoxes of free will that stem from causal loops. This story is full of detail and is one of only a few that I have found to be genuinely entertaining so far this year and true value for your reading dollar.
April 17, 2021
Good book highly recommend
Very good to read slow in some places that really picked up. I enjoyed the power of the main character three times he had to fight others Who are more powerful. And the character development was very good highly recommend this book
Very good to read slow in some places that really picked up. I enjoyed the power of the main character three times he had to fight others Who are more powerful. And the character development was very good highly recommend this book
May 10, 2024
stopped at ch 19,the writer disappeared three years ago and i won't live with a cliffhanger
April 22, 2021
Great first book!!!!
Great characters and world building. I like how the protagonist used his self identification to determine how he manipulates magic. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
Great characters and world building. I like how the protagonist used his self identification to determine how he manipulates magic. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
April 17, 2021
Really promising new progression fantasy
June 5, 2021
Good fun read, this kinda feels like what the follow-up to Ready Player One should have been instead of that awful Armada. A nerdy hero, game elements, (I think this is referred to as litRpg?) fantasy, AI, and low rent physics all mix into a enjoyable but obvious first time novel that shows great promise.
December 29, 2021
There are lots of great concepts here but they are mired in overly complex language with terrible grammar. I think Stal was going for purple prose but doesn't yet have the skills to pull it off.
The other major failing is the author's over-use of exposition. Just because two characters are talking, doesn't mean it isn't exposition. There's a lot of this. In addition, since we're exposed to every thought that passes through the mind of the protagonist, there's really nothing left for the reader to work out for themselves. Nothing is implied, everything is explicit.
This novel is best when it is covering the more mundane elements of its fantasy world. It felt like every time the story strayed into meta-physics, it became drawn out, convoluted, and self-indulgent.
I won't be reading the next book, mostly because I am overly sensitive to poor grammar. How much does a decent copy-editor cost these days?
The other major failing is the author's over-use of exposition. Just because two characters are talking, doesn't mean it isn't exposition. There's a lot of this. In addition, since we're exposed to every thought that passes through the mind of the protagonist, there's really nothing left for the reader to work out for themselves. Nothing is implied, everything is explicit.
This novel is best when it is covering the more mundane elements of its fantasy world. It felt like every time the story strayed into meta-physics, it became drawn out, convoluted, and self-indulgent.
I won't be reading the next book, mostly because I am overly sensitive to poor grammar. How much does a decent copy-editor cost these days?
May 8, 2021
Definitely a lot of Daniel Black at the beginning (was in fact reason I read this) but this is firmly in GameLit territory, which is a genre I don't like. Super-dense, usually a plus for me, but the writing wasn't particularly enjoyable (the typos didn't help.) Would rather reread Demons of Astlan if I wanted a word avalanche. Skimmed several times. Adding more and more A.I. as the plot went on seemed a bit bullshit.
April 30, 2021
This was an interesting LitRPG book, in that it had real scifi elements in it, and even made a real attempt to explain how our main character wound up where he did. I like that. It also tried hard to validate all the skills and magic abilities the main character obtained. Not sure the author succeeded, but I sure got to give the author credit for the incredible effort. If you're not a hard scifi fan, you may have a hard time trying to internalize this book, but for those who live for scifi, and hard scifi to boot, you're likely to be thrilled with this offering.
December 19, 2021
There's a really interesting premise behind this book. I loved the angle of a physicist exploring a magical world with his research AI, coming to terms with magic through a scientific lens. This is a concept I haven't come across much before and it was something I enjoyed throughout the first half of this book.
However, this concept starts to take a back seat when the main character meets the intelligent life of this new world and gets sucked into their conflict. The big problem with this new direction is that it isn't what the first half of the story was setting up. Therefore this conflict felt under-developed while at the same time the driving conflict to this point (scientist learning to survive in a new existence and somehow make up for his mistake that ) gets pushed to the side.
As a result of this, everything past the first half of the story didn't quite work for me. It lost my interest as my mind was still engaged with the earlier story that had been set up.
I think that this was just a case of an author trying to do too much. This book should just have been about Will learning to survive in a world filled with magic and finding his place in the magical society while reconciling his scientific mind with this new reality. It would have given the good concepts of the first half of the book more room to develop, and it also would have given the author more time to develop the characters and conflict of the second half of the story that would make that story more meaningful in book 2.
So overall, this wasn't a bad read, it was just a little jumbled and chaotic. I think I'd be tempted to give the second book a go when that comes out and see if this series can regain some of that promise that hooked me in the first place.
However, this concept starts to take a back seat when the main character meets the intelligent life of this new world and gets sucked into their conflict. The big problem with this new direction is that it isn't what the first half of the story was setting up. Therefore this conflict felt under-developed while at the same time the driving conflict to this point (scientist learning to survive in a new existence and somehow make up for his mistake that ) gets pushed to the side.
As a result of this, everything past the first half of the story didn't quite work for me. It lost my interest as my mind was still engaged with the earlier story that had been set up.
I think that this was just a case of an author trying to do too much. This book should just have been about Will learning to survive in a world filled with magic and finding his place in the magical society while reconciling his scientific mind with this new reality. It would have given the good concepts of the first half of the book more room to develop, and it also would have given the author more time to develop the characters and conflict of the second half of the story that would make that story more meaningful in book 2.
So overall, this wasn't a bad read, it was just a little jumbled and chaotic. I think I'd be tempted to give the second book a go when that comes out and see if this series can regain some of that promise that hooked me in the first place.
May 25, 2021
Alert
“This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
By all accounts, this is a perfectly worded review. Unfortunately, some of our fellow readers are offended that I am not pouring my heart out and offering a detailed and intimate breakdown of my thoughts on the books. As such they have reported me to the authorities and I have been warned against continuing my bad behavior. I will not. So I may be banned. If so, it was a fun journey with you.
If I enjoy a book, my goal is to promote it and help the author by encouraging others to read it. I am not going to share my reasoning, thoughts on the book, or any opinions that would influence your decision to read it. I am simply saying that I liked it. I would like you to read it and make your own decision. After all, you are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
As always, I am open to debates and arguments, but also vain enough to seek acknowledgement, so feel free to roast me or applaud my efforts. Either is acceptable, because if you are paying attention to me then you are at least considering the book. And THAT my friends is exactly why you see my comments here.
Cheers
“This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
By all accounts, this is a perfectly worded review. Unfortunately, some of our fellow readers are offended that I am not pouring my heart out and offering a detailed and intimate breakdown of my thoughts on the books. As such they have reported me to the authorities and I have been warned against continuing my bad behavior. I will not. So I may be banned. If so, it was a fun journey with you.
If I enjoy a book, my goal is to promote it and help the author by encouraging others to read it. I am not going to share my reasoning, thoughts on the book, or any opinions that would influence your decision to read it. I am simply saying that I liked it. I would like you to read it and make your own decision. After all, you are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
As always, I am open to debates and arguments, but also vain enough to seek acknowledgement, so feel free to roast me or applaud my efforts. Either is acceptable, because if you are paying attention to me then you are at least considering the book. And THAT my friends is exactly why you see my comments here.
Cheers
November 2, 2021
aside from the fact that the initial premise is flawed. as there is no way a 500 tev is enough to create a black hole(had it been we would be in a black hole given cosmic rays), the premise of a physicist magician is appealing, but there is so much melodrama and inexplicable nerfing such as an attack that was previously was easily countered before doing damage when encountered again; enemies poping out of nowhere and doing damage even when mc is in a time dilated state in which his body should be strengthened according to the rules the author layed out; mcs healing magic is constantly nerfed; i.e. he was able to heal himself numerous times as he was being burned alive like it was nothing yet he could not heal himself while his legs are crushed? it is asinine because his magic prevented him from dyeing while being eaten yet in this situation it does not work even when he is at a higher power level that equates to orders of magnitude of more power? it is all incredibly contrived.
the stupidest thing in my opinion is the mc not using a certain magic because it feels "icky"
all in all while the premise kept me reading, the rest was just stupid.
the stupidest thing in my opinion is the mc not using a certain magic because it feels "icky"
all in all while the premise kept me reading, the rest was just stupid.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2022
I am super conflicted about this book. Overall I’m glad I read it, but there were a few things that I struggled with.
I loved the thought/inginuity/creativity that went into this. The weaving of science and magic into a system with such depth was extremely intriguing. Almost confusing at times. For some it might be too much physics jargon though.
I was warned from other reviews about how bad he mopes to himself so I went into the book ready for it. I can definitely see where other people came from. Ultimately it makes sense why, it just makes the story drag and gets old.
Also I hate dumb MCs. This guy was dumb. Th plot armor was strong with this one. Without which his stupidity would have killed him off immediately.
In retrospect I am glad I read it. The magic system was extremely well done and entertaining and of course sound booth theaters narration was spot on like usual. Even though I’m glad I read it I’m not sure I could recommend it to others.
I loved the thought/inginuity/creativity that went into this. The weaving of science and magic into a system with such depth was extremely intriguing. Almost confusing at times. For some it might be too much physics jargon though.
I was warned from other reviews about how bad he mopes to himself so I went into the book ready for it. I can definitely see where other people came from. Ultimately it makes sense why, it just makes the story drag and gets old.
Also I hate dumb MCs. This guy was dumb. Th plot armor was strong with this one. Without which his stupidity would have killed him off immediately.
In retrospect I am glad I read it. The magic system was extremely well done and entertaining and of course sound booth theaters narration was spot on like usual. Even though I’m glad I read it I’m not sure I could recommend it to others.
May 30, 2022
I suspect many people would hate this book. I am loved it. An odd combination of hard SF and D&D type magic adventure. The main character (Will) is a post-doc physicist at Fermi Labs with special link to an AI for analyzing a results of high energy particle experiment when he and his AI are shoved though the multiverse into world with magic. He has internalized the AI, who gives him UI for using the magic. A good 3rd of the book reads like a D&D Player Handbook written as Platonic dialog. He uses his physics understanding and AI to apply general relativity, particle physics and thermodynamics to understand the magic in the world. Eventually, he runs into the Queen's sister, who NOT A PRINCESS.
The book summary has my favorite warning ever; "Warning: This novel contains questionable quantum mechanics, general relativity and magic." I really like it, but it would not be for everyone.
The book summary has my favorite warning ever; "Warning: This novel contains questionable quantum mechanics, general relativity and magic." I really like it, but it would not be for everyone.
April 16, 2021
Good first entry.
Truthfully I would probably rate this book about 5 out of 10 but with the way Amazon does reviews I don't want to tank the author because this is at its heart a good story. The main character gets lost in a lot of self reflection and flashbacks which can get a bit tedious to read through as they don't seem to make a ton of sense. The author also loves his fight scenes so if you love fights described in excruciating detail you will love these. There is a little bit of Crunch in the book but it seems pretty subjective to the AI and main characters.
For the most part this is a fun but slow moving at times fantasy, that is well written with few grammatical errors which I am sure will be cleaned up in the future. If you like Magic done by someone using the scientific method this is worth the read. I will give the next book a read when it comes out.
Truthfully I would probably rate this book about 5 out of 10 but with the way Amazon does reviews I don't want to tank the author because this is at its heart a good story. The main character gets lost in a lot of self reflection and flashbacks which can get a bit tedious to read through as they don't seem to make a ton of sense. The author also loves his fight scenes so if you love fights described in excruciating detail you will love these. There is a little bit of Crunch in the book but it seems pretty subjective to the AI and main characters.
For the most part this is a fun but slow moving at times fantasy, that is well written with few grammatical errors which I am sure will be cleaned up in the future. If you like Magic done by someone using the scientific method this is worth the read. I will give the next book a read when it comes out.
May 7, 2021
This is good, very good, with a few problems that knocked a bit off the experience. For one, it really needs a proper copyedit. The spellchecker has replaced some words with other, similarly-spelled ones that make no sense. Aisha becomes Alisha for a few pages. Missing punctuation. And so on. Plot-wise, I am not a huge fan of the “reality crashes in, and they spend 15 chapters gibbering and vomiting” part. It’s not fun and after a while it’s like, yes, I get it, I actually am a psychologist but I’m reading this for pleasure so please, skip ahead a bit. Also the ending verges on a cliffhanger, which is unnecessary. If I like the book I’ll read another. If I don’t you’ve just pissed me off. Finally I was really hoping Isk would come back faster. I liked them!
Overall very enjoyable, with a few forgivable flaws. Hope there is another!
Overall very enjoyable, with a few forgivable flaws. Hope there is another!
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