What do you think?
Rate this book
Suboptimized: A Novel
It's an obscene amount of money for a global tournament, and player Jay2517 is on the cusp of securing the top prize.
Although he's an expert at simulated combat, a separate server will test Jay like never before. When he discovers digital bioforms in his class project, the line between bot and life gets blurry, as they're less than agreeable to many of his commands. Despite his efforts, a faction looks to destroy themselves, along with the rest of their sapient brethren.
Jay and his team will need an elite performance against the fanatics, but it might not be enough to save one of them, let alone billions.
Although he's an expert at simulated combat, a separate server will test Jay like never before. When he discovers digital bioforms in his class project, the line between bot and life gets blurry, as they're less than agreeable to many of his commands. Despite his efforts, a faction looks to destroy themselves, along with the rest of their sapient brethren.
Jay and his team will need an elite performance against the fanatics, but it might not be enough to save one of them, let alone billions.
324 pages, Paperback
Published January 10, 2022
1 person is currently reading
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 8, 2022
I was very impressed by Mr. Palmer's novel. I thought it was going to be a good action read, but it was more engaging and philosophical in ways I didn't see coming, but more importantly, that compelled me to read more. This book doesn't have a boring moment in it, yet I walked away with so many thoughts about humanity, purpose, ethics, and even the intersection of self-defense and technology!
The characters are well written, believable, and the humor and interplay between them kept me turning page after page. I was riveted by subplots, and just when I was sure I could predict what was coming next, either a red herring or an unexpected but realistic call back set me straight, earning my trust in the author, and my respect for the story itself. I feel like I learned a lot about science and morality, while also diving into gaming and its sub-cultures.
I would recommend this to readers of nearly all genres as it does such a wonderful job of evoking so many emotions from the reader. But at no point is it boring and not a total joy to read! That's very hard to pull off, but this book does it!
The characters are well written, believable, and the humor and interplay between them kept me turning page after page. I was riveted by subplots, and just when I was sure I could predict what was coming next, either a red herring or an unexpected but realistic call back set me straight, earning my trust in the author, and my respect for the story itself. I feel like I learned a lot about science and morality, while also diving into gaming and its sub-cultures.
I would recommend this to readers of nearly all genres as it does such a wonderful job of evoking so many emotions from the reader. But at no point is it boring and not a total joy to read! That's very hard to pull off, but this book does it!
June 14, 2022
Fun, sarcastic sci-fi about school, gaming, and more than a little existentialism.
Like most teens, Jay is an apathetic student, until his professor locks down his computer. Desperate to compete in an upcoming gaming championship, Jay dives into the class project, hoping sheer perseverance and recruiting his younger sister will unlock enough checkpoints to restore his computer access in time to lead his team to victory. But more than an invasive professor stands in his way, including tired teammates, the project itself (he isn’t actually invested, no way), and an angry rival who’ll stop at nothing to bring him down.
Pick this one up for a real-feel look at gaming culture and kids mad about homework while wrestling with heavy questions while not fully knowing why they’re doing it. I don’t really understand why some of the side characters act like they did (just woke up and felt like making a change? Sudden pang of conscience?) but there’s not a lot of space for that in a short standalone I guess.
Like most teens, Jay is an apathetic student, until his professor locks down his computer. Desperate to compete in an upcoming gaming championship, Jay dives into the class project, hoping sheer perseverance and recruiting his younger sister will unlock enough checkpoints to restore his computer access in time to lead his team to victory. But more than an invasive professor stands in his way, including tired teammates, the project itself (he isn’t actually invested, no way), and an angry rival who’ll stop at nothing to bring him down.
Pick this one up for a real-feel look at gaming culture and kids mad about homework while wrestling with heavy questions while not fully knowing why they’re doing it. I don’t really understand why some of the side characters act like they did (just woke up and felt like making a change? Sudden pang of conscience?) but there’s not a lot of space for that in a short standalone I guess.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews