Reconciliation

Bloodlight Chronicles #1

by Steve Stanton

?Zakariah Davis and his wife Mia are among those infected with an alien virus that vastly prolongs life, and their blood has become a black-market staple due to its rejuvenating effects. Their teenage son Rix does not carry the Eternal virus, and Zakariah is consumed by the search for an “activated sample” with which to inoculate him. Zakariah’s brain has been surgically wired for direct connection to the global computer system where economic activity is conducted by avatars in virtual cyberspace. He gets busted and burned for trying to transport Canadian grain without a permit, and escapes as a fugitive, separated from his family and friends. He is trapped by a power-group known as the Eternal Research Institute, and travels offplanet through a commercial wormhole along with his new business partner and surgical cyber-twin, Helena Sharp, who is seeking the Source of the virus for her own purposes. In the Cromeus colonies, on the other side of time and space, Zakariah will risk everything to give his son Eternal life.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

264 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

About the author

Steve Stanton writes science fiction novels about the future of the human brain, artificial intelligence, transhumanist immortality, and the mystery of consciousness. His short stories have been published in sixteen countries in a dozen languages, spanning categories from cyberpunk to space opera. A trilogy of novels, The Bloodlight Chronicles, was published by ECW Press in Toronto from 2010 to 2012. His fourth novel, Freenet, is now available in bookstores and libraries!

Reviews

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

NOTE: This review is based on an ARC provided by the publisher. Changes may have been made to the final version.

Call it two and a half stars. I started out really liking this blend of cyberpunk and pure sci-fi, but it lost me around the halfway mark. There's too much going on in this book: hackers and space travel and extragalactic colonies, clones and mindwiping and alien viruses and I don't know what all. (I think the clone is what started me going, "Wait, what, really?") There are even too many main characters, too many POVs, and the ones not introduced in the first chapter felt like hangers-on, poseurs.

Even when I was enjoying this, it was only ever interesting, never exciting. I liked all the cyberpunk elements; I was curious to know the Source of the virus. I even wanted to know more about the Beast, but by the time that was revealed, I'd stopped caring. The mindwipe is, I think, where this novel lost me. It felt like a climax, and the rest of the plot was just sort of there. There was a second climax, involving the Beast, but like I said, I didn't care by that point. The lack of excitement was really getting to me, and the whole selective lack of memory deal (seriously, the events that happened with the cannon, his wife and son, but not anything else in his life?) just seemed to be an excuse to drag things out.

In all, this was a valiant effort, but really not worth it. And the relationship between Rix and Niko is CREEPY.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cyber punk story set in a very different future offers much for a first novel by an author and first book in the Bloodlight Chronicles trilogy. It took a while to get into the story but once I did I was hooked and am really looking forward to the other volumes in the series. Eternal's are people who appears almost vampire like, their blood rejuvenates them, they will live longer, be healthier. But in order to become eternal you must receive the alien virus, The internet can be plugged right into with wet ware. So we have Eternals, humans, virtual space, space travel and more all in a tightly written story packed with action.

Cast of Characters:
Zakariah Davis - Eternal, v-Space guru
Mia Davis - Eternal, wife of Zak, warrior
Rix David - human, son of Zak and Mia,
Jimmy - Zak's longtime friend and associate
Niko Davis - clone of namesake, sister to Zac
Phillip Davis - Zak's estranged father, power broker
Helena Sharp - rich, Director of the Eternal Research Institute
Dr. Silus Mundazo - Head researcher at the Eternal Research Institute
Colin7 - Clone of first human to have his intellect loaded into the machine
Colin McPherson - scientist, creator of wormhole technology, see above
…

This story revolves around Zakariah, and his story revolves around getting an activated sample of the virus for his son Rix. There is almost no length he will not go to; to protect his son in this way. Sometimes life get's far more complicated than we ever expect or plan and that is what has happened to Zak yet again. And as we will find out a number of people have been pulling strings to get Zak to help them with their plans and use the bait of the sample for his son. Zak is now partnered with Helena Sharp and the ERI on a trip across the galaxy.

The book is well written, especially for a first novel. It is packed with action both in the physical and the virtual world. There is a little romance, and some spiritual overtures. The book is almost a mash up between Alfred Bester and Robert B. Parker. Is it a William Gibson, no, but it is close and fans of that style will definitely enjoy the read. And with two follow up book there story has numerous places it can go. While writing this review I found numerous negative reviews of the book. I was very surprised, what also surprised me was that rates for each book in the series goes up. So overall a great beginning give it a try.

Read the review on my blogBook Reviews and More.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cyber punk story set in a very different future offers much for a first novel by an author and first book in the Bloodlight Chronicles trilogy. It took a while to get into the story but once I did I was hooked and am really looking forward to the other volumes in the series. Eternal's are people who appears almost vampire like, their blood rejuvenates them, they will live longer, be healthier. But in order to become eternal you must receive the alien virus, The internet can be plugged right into with wet ware. So we have Eternals, humans, virtual space, space travel and more all in a tightly written story packed with action.

Cast of Characters:
Zakariah Davis - Eternal, v-Space guru
Mia Davis - Eternal, wife of Zak, warrior
Rix David - human, son of Zak and Mia,
Jimmy - Zak's longtime friend and associate
Niko Davis - clone of namesake, sister to Zac
Phillip Davis - Zak's estranged father, power broker
Helena Sharp - rich, Director of the Eternal Research Institute
Dr. Silus Mundazo - Head researcher at the Eternal Research Institute
Colin7 - Clone of first human to have his intellect loaded into the machine
Colin McPherson - scientist, creator of wormhole technology, see above
…

This story revolves around Zakariah, and his story revolves around getting an activated sample of the virus for his son Rix. There is almost no length he will not go to; to protect his son in this way. Sometimes life get's far more complicated than we ever expect or plan and that is what has happened to Zak yet again. And as we will find out a number of people have been pulling strings to get Zak to help them with their plans and use the bait of the sample for his son. Zak is now partnered with Helena Sharp and the ERI on a trip across the galaxy.

The book is well written, especially for a first novel. It is packed with action both in the physical and the virtual world. There is a little romance, and some spiritual overtures. The book is almost a mash up between Alfred Bester and Robert B. Parker. Is it a William Gibson, no, but it is close and fans of that style will definitely enjoy the read. And with two follow up book there story has numerous places it can go. While writing this review I found numerous negative reviews of the book. I was very surprised, what also surprised me was that rates for each book in the series goes up. So overall a great beginning give it a try.

Read the review on my blogBook Reviews and More.

[Jasmyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure where to start with this one – probably because I was very lost at the beginning. I thought that perhaps I had picked up a second in a series, but I could find no reference to a first book anywhere. The book in a nutshell is vampires meet cyperspace, but this isn’t clear at first.

The Eternals are somehow “chosen” to become immortal in a non-aging sense. People can link to cyberspace by hooking up with a cord coming out of their head which seems to be connected to microchips they have had implanted in their brain. Ok – so far I’m following, but then come the strange references to levels and ranks in the cyberworld with no real explanation of what they mean.

Now, if you take the Eternals and the cyberworld somewhat out of the equation, the realtionships between the people are fascinating. The story revolves around a father, mother, and son. The parents are both Eternals and are trying to find a way to “infect” their son as well. They travel to the ends of the known universe (literally) to try and find this virus. However, beyond this the relationship was rather odd. Perhaps as a result of being so virtual based, the family’s responses to each other seemed overly strained and impersonal.

2/5

[Alexander Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very plot driven novel. The plot barrels forward with nary a moment to catch its breath. It's a fun plot, lots happens, good twists and turns - a real page turner. Character development is the literary equivalent of a drive by shooting, but I thought that it worked for this action driven story. The prose is a delight to read. The occasional pop culture/book reference for a splash of fun. This is the most old school cyberpunk novel I've read since 1984. Cyberspace, counter culture, computer cowboys, and all the rest.

The plot is about various factions vying for control of immortality potion, but this is just an excuse to write a fun, stylish action SF. Cyber action, not small arms. The characters are mainly interesting, just one or two that are a bit of a cyberpunk cliché. There isn't much introspection or inner monologue being shared. Characters are tossed about by the plot, but they do change, and grow in a way that matches their events.

A fun, fast paced read with very good prose.

[K. Counihan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars Fast Moving, but too much going on

If you put in some extra work it is a good story. There is a lot of information to take in early on. Especially at a fast pace. I read the first 100 pages twice, then finished the book and it made everything that was going on a lot clearer. On to book 2....

[Amy L. Campbell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note: received as a review copy from the publisher. Final edition may have some discrepancies.

This has a whole lot of great ideas going for it: a mysterious virus that makes people live forever but seems to be noncommunicable; a population group that is being hunted because they have said virus and everyone else wants to be infected; an internet world similar to Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash with a bit of the Matrix thrown in (but minus the killer robots). What it doesn't have is full fleshed characters. The ending has some redeeming qualities to it, but they weren't explored as well as I would have liked and left me feeling like I read 250 pages of back story that needed more back story to fully flesh out the characters and the world.

My first impression was, "Oh, Stanton is throwing me into a world by using terminology in a different way so I can become immersed in it" and then he would pull me back out of it by using outdated slang.

I don't think this is a bad novel, it just wasn't quite for me. It's basically the Action Movie version of a book, which I'm sure some people will absolutely love. I like something a little more well rounded than this.

The reviewer is a 2009 graduate of Kent State University's Master of Library and Information Sciences program, an alumna of Antioch College, and the author of the blog A Librarian's Life in Books.

[Jennifer Osterman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this book is intriguing - a virus of immortality is infecting the populace, but it doesn't pass from person to person in the normal way. One man infected with the virus sets out to seek its source to infect his son. In the process, he is running from those who would study the virus, those who want the virus for themselves, and those who are after him for illegally transporting grain.

Some of the feel of this book reminds me of Tad Williams' "Otherland" series...but with quite a different writing style. Mr. Williams is not known for brevity of description. (Ha, ha!)

I agree with the reviewer who noted that even after reading the backstory I was wishing for more backstory. The action was so densely packed that I felt like I was riding a roller-coaster. Roller-coasters are fun, but in this case, I felt whisked past some of the more intriguing, deeper ideas and the character development in favor of more excitement. I like thrillers and books that build tension, but I do need some time to catch my breath from time to time! I just don't think this was the book for me.

I will, however, make sure that other people know about it - several people have seen me reading the book and have expressed interest in reading it.

I received a review copy for this book from the publisher.

[Kirsten Pilkerton · Rating 2 out of 5]

The storyline: there's an alien virus that has infected a select portion of humanity that gives them eternal life. Who wouldn't want that right? But, the kicker is, no one can figure out how to catch the virus, and it seems there are a few "select" people who can get it. It is here, where Zakariah wants to find an activated virus to give to his son, Rix, and goes through some pretty spectacular things in process. Also playing a role in the background is an attempt by some other people in reaching the singularity, because (darn it) they aren't capable of getting the virus.

Merits of the story: Stanton is best known for his short stories, and one can easily see why. The entire book reads like a short story. I'm not trying to bash the plot line, it is interesting, but it could be more developed. The story could easily be stretched out into a longer novel for the better. It actually could be turned into a screenplay quite easily and has action sci-fi potential. I would have preferred more details, but it is readable as is. Stanton pays homage to Heinlein, and has an almost Bowman-turned-Star Child incident, but not quite. With that being said, it is a decent read, but I'm not overwhelmed with it.

[SFReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few cyberpunk novels crossed my door over the last year, The Bloodlight Chronicles being one of them. Stanton sets out to weave an epic tale set in the future where cyberspace is nearly as real as the grim life of the accepted reality. And when mankind has embraced the stars and even lives on other worlds, who is to say what reality is more accurate than the other?

The situation on Earth grows in complexity when an alien virus grants certain people immortally. This worked fine for the net-runner, Zak, and his wife, Mai, for they both had the virus, but when their son, Rix, did not inherit their gift, it throws their little family into turmoil. Once they discover this is the case, they become involved with a plot to help gain their son the immortally they each enjoy.

The Bloodlight Chronicles: Reconciliation review at SFReader.com

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very action-centric book. Fast-paced, futuristic, and just creepy enough to keep you on your toes, The Bloodlight Chronicles is the story of a bloodborne virus that allows one to live forever and the desperate desire to acquire the virus to enable one to live forever.

It's definitely a unique story, and it has a lot of twists and turns to keep you guessing, but my main problem with the story is that there was just SO much going on that I had a hard time getting to know the characters. Without that connection, I found myself getting lost within the story, and not in the best way.

I really enjoyed how the tension and action built to a worthy conclusion, and I just wish I had felt more of a chord or connect with the characters because it would have strengthened my opinion of the book and story, itself. All in all though, it has a nice voice and a great concept.

[Andrea Love · Rating 2 out of 5]

Received for review from netgalley.

The premise for this book is fascinating: a virus that creates immortality, and the fight of the human race to be infected, the government's efforts to control those infected, and the broader black market for goods, and blood.

It was only after completing the book that I read the author bio, and my frustrations in reading the book made more sense. Stanton in well known for his science fiction short stories and this book read like a long short story. The reader was forced to fill in a lot of gaps on their own and this left the characters underdeveloped, but the action was intense and highly present throughout. Not a bad read, but I'd look for a short story collection.

[Bill · Rating 1 out of 5]

This should have been right up my alley but I couldn't finish it (and I can generally get through anything). The story didn't make much sense and just didn't seem to get me interested, but mostly it was a pet peeve: the author's habit of randomly stringing together computer/electronics jargon and hoping it sounded futuristic. Sorry, I (and probably 30% of the rest of the population) know what those words mean; it completely ruins the suspension of disbelief.
I'll leave the positives to someone less disappointed.

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

was a bit hard to follow in the beginning doesnt have very clear transitions and the point to some of the things going on is lacking and not explained; then there are some points that are trying way too hard with the technical jargon and some that need a more technical approach..
would have stopped reading it ages ago but i didnt have anything better to do. not worth reading

[M Beal · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was really confusing. Being one of three books I had to use google to discover which of the three is the first one in the trilogy. It seemed there was never a wrap up to the continuous things that pop up. Vampires meet cyberpunk with some sci-fi thrown in for spice. Out of curiosity I will read the other two books

[Asta.jokuba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good one.
After first ten pages wanted to drop it, but as it was the least boring thing to do at that moment, kept on going.
And I'm glad I've read it - it gets intresting in the middle and keeps pace up till the end.

Looking forward to read the sequel.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have a rating system where the only books I rate 1 star are those I cannot make myself finish it (and I always try to finish books, even ones I don't like). This was one of the books. I did not feel connected to it and there was way too much going on.

[Rending · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting good, ending redeemed it.

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't get into this. The character and location descriptions are extremely lacking. Gave up after chapter 3.

[David]

I loved it

[Allie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope. Not good. Not interesting. I read about half. Not my cup of tea.

[David W. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really, really wanted to like this book. Combining vampires and cyberspace, what a great concept. Unfortunately, the writing is horrible. I put it down once, but forced myself to go back to it hoping it would get better, but it never did.