Vasily Mahanenko's new LitRPG series, set in the universe of his World of the Changed!
Modern times. Genius physicist Artyom Kuchaev found himself facing the darker side of the world we live in. Integrity is met with a laugh, the rat race instead full of people out to grab whatever they can. Where big money is on the line, no betrayal, even of loved ones, is a bridge too far. But Artyom couldn’t bring himself to conform. Instead, he decided to make a change in himself if not in the world around him. His work, surroundings, country...
However, the world wasn’t ready to let the genius go. It was benefiting too much from him. In one moment, everything was turned upside down: Artyom’s freedom was exchanged for prison, his noisy colleagues for morose cellmates, and his spacious labs for tiny offices in a restricted research institute. All that remained was his drive to make the world a better place. And that just left the tiny detail of how to actually make that happen.
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Vasily Mahanenko is a fantasy author working in the new genre of LitRPG - the MMO-based fantasy and sci fi. His Way of the Shaman series took Russian literature by storm in 2012.
Vasily dipped into his college-days insider knowledge as a hardcore gamer in order to create a believable world of the virtual-reality MMO game. His bestselling series combines fiction and video games, telling the story of Shaman and his friends stuck in the ruthless reality of Barliona. He used his more than ten years' experience as an ERP implementation project manager to approach his writing in a well-organized manner, working to a strict schedule, a set of deadlines and even a budget. At the moment, the series boasts six novels with the seventh one in the works - this time the author expands on stories of Shaman's companions and those who helped and supported him in his trials and tribulations.
The first book of the series has already been translated into English, with more translations to follow, aiming to make the Way of the Shaman series available to the English-language reader in its entirety.
Vasily's other passion is space exploration which is why he now works on a follow-up series entitled Galaktiona. Set in a space-simulator based world, the first book of the series in already finished while Vasily works on its sequel.
The last book by this author was The Cub, which I really enjoyed. So when I saw Idea was coming out, I lined up to read it.
It's weird. Artyom is a physics professor at Moscow State who uncovers the secrets of levitation. We don't get to see much about it, but he's been nominated for a Nobel Prize.
Shortly after that, he's kidnapped by a shadowy operation that's been in existence since at least WWII and probably longer. He's given a number, his eyes are replaced, and his body had been perfected through DNA regeneration to last a hundred years or more. The modified eyes are the game system, but this is no game.
He's given tasks, and non compliance (or less than satisfactory compliance) results in pain.
Slowly, Artyom starts to figure things out. This book ties back to a couple of other series by the same author, as it revolves around noa, the lifeblood of the planet. With it he manages to escape, and after he does (with some help, which didn't really make much sense), what does he do?
He decides to mimic the hell he's just escaped to rehabilitate others.
I won't spoil what happens after that, but I will say that this book requires a massive suspension of disbelief. Not just about the massive conspiracy happening around the world where our brightest and best scientists are being taken and used as slaves, but the lack of morals of the main character, Artyom.
Even the ending had me shaking my head. This book doesn't really read like one of Vasily's other series. It's janky, and shifts around really quickly instead of building to something bigger. The technology used isn't really explained, and whoever Artyom had been before his kidnapping, he's not that person now.
Which makes this series really hard to rate. I could easily give it three stars for how strange the storyline is. Whether you believe in dark conspiracy theories or not, this one takes it to a whole other level, almost making it more real because it's something you've never considered.
It certainly worked that way for me.
It's not a five star book, so I'm going to give it a very flexible 4/5*. Subtract one if you don't like anything dark or weird, almost nonlogical stories.
If you're a huge fan of Russian LitRPG who can overlook anything and everything, give is +1 star.
Honestly, I don't think I'll continue this series should a book two come out.
I received a review copy of this book. An interesting concept. It's not exactly LitRPG, but it is leading up to it. This book lays the foundation for something that looks like it could be really interesting. Basically, building a LitRPG world out of reality from the ground up. I've often wondered what that kind of thing would look like, and here's one view of that possible future. Depending on how other books in the series pan out, this could turn out to be a very interesting series indeed. And, though it's not really LitRPG yet, I think most LitRPG fans will enjoy a peek behind the scenes so to speak, and if the rest of the series progresses along this same vein, this could turn out to be a series every bit as good as the system apocalypse, or other offerings in that same general storyline. Highly recommended.
“This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
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.
I will happily discuss the book with you on Goodreads if you are so inclined. 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.
I received an ARC of this book. I found it to be both interesting and a bit disturbing. At what point do you have the right to basically brainwash someone, even if it is for their own good and to save their life? What makes your idea of what is right for you, right for anyone else? What makes it ok to enforce your idea of what is right on other people? Most importantly who then keeps those with this power in check? It's an interesting moral dilemma that one man will need to answer as he tries to make the world a better place.
Long time reader and fan of Vasily and he continues to thrill with his robust imagination.
If you haven’t read any previous World of the Changed books, do NOT read this until you have. So much is explained in this book that you really need the other stories to support it. If you, like me, have been to this World before, this is a great read.
My only complaint is knowing I have to wait for the next book. This is tempered however by how quickly he produces a new book !
I had some hit and miss books with the author. I hope this one works out.
This author knows how to make you sympathize with the protagonist, and accept what he does as justified. The start of this book made you so angry at the injustice.
I'm not sure if I'm supposed to recognize things in this book, as I only read the first book of the series I think this book is based on.
I finished the book and I don't think I care enough to try the sequel. It was too fantastical? It just felt off, they explaining away all these devices as scientific. I don't know why.
But there are some translation issues. The grammar is readable, but it doesn’t always make for good reading. Concepts that didn’t translate correctly, or simply cultural things that don’t match in English.
It’s an almost monotone way of speaking. The rhythm of English story-telling is missing, or I’m too aware of being an observer.
Although I enjoyed a previous series, this book felt like it was trying to be too many things. I would have liked to have seen this “idea” broken out into three books and gone much deeper into each of the parts. I liked the book ok, but would just call it sci-if at this point instead of RPGLit. This is not a strong recommend. I would recommend only to die hard fans and even that with a grain of salt.
Its not often im at a loss for words but this book is awesome it makes you think this could actually be happening now, its a book i could not put down i had to read till the end and i can not wait for book 2 to come out. I think ive found another great author its not harems or other worlds but the idea is fantastic.
Another book with variation for Noa particles. It is becoming boring. Like fast food in McDonalds, tasty to eat at first, but eventually you feel full with empty callories. There are better series to continue with more elaborate plot. Why not continue those? I'm getting reluctant of new books by the author. And all started so good...
I really did not like this book. I really had to force myself to finish it. Please do yourself a favor and do not get this book. The main character is unlike able and wooden. The plot was predictable and uninteresting.
Loved it! Very original, complex, and with excellent pacing and plot elements to keep you engaged. I just wish the next entry in this series was out. Balanced MC with a very interesting cast of characters. Lots of suspense, action, and drama.
While it isn't a traditional LITRPG, it has potential to become one. Note the series is titled Starting Point. That is exactly what this book does. It is a starting point.