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Socket Greeny #1
The Discovery of Socket Greeny
Work has always come first for Socket Greeny's mother, ever since his father died. But when she shows him the inner workings of the Paladin Nation, he discovers why.
Paladins traverse the planet through wormholes to keep the world safe, but from what, they won't say. Although his parents were not actually one of them, Socket is different. He soon finds himself in the center of controversy and betrayal when he's anointed the Paladin Nation’s prodigy. He didn't ask for the "blessing" of psychic powers and the ability to timeslice and he doesn't want to be responsible for the world. He just wants to go home and back to school and be normal again.
But, sometimes, life doesn't give us that privilege, his mother tells him.
And when the world is soon threatened and the Paladins are forced into the public eye, Socket discovers what his mother means. If he doesn't embrace his true nature, life as we know it will change forever.
Paladins traverse the planet through wormholes to keep the world safe, but from what, they won't say. Although his parents were not actually one of them, Socket is different. He soon finds himself in the center of controversy and betrayal when he's anointed the Paladin Nation’s prodigy. He didn't ask for the "blessing" of psychic powers and the ability to timeslice and he doesn't want to be responsible for the world. He just wants to go home and back to school and be normal again.
But, sometimes, life doesn't give us that privilege, his mother tells him.
And when the world is soon threatened and the Paladins are forced into the public eye, Socket discovers what his mother means. If he doesn't embrace his true nature, life as we know it will change forever.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 13, 2010
70 people are currently reading
707 people want to read
About the author
Tony Bertauski
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He grew up in the Midwest where the land is flat and the corn is tall. The winters are bleak and cold. He hated winters.
He always wanted to write. But writing was hard. And he wasn’t very disciplined. The cold had nothing to do with that, but it didn’t help. That changed in grad school.
After several attempts at a proposal, his major advisor was losing money on red ink and advised him to figure it out. Somehow, he did.
After grad school, he and his wife and two very little children moved to the South in Charleston, South Carolina where the winters are spring and the summers are a sauna (cliche but dead on accurate). That’s when he started teaching and writing articles for trade magazines. He eventually published two textbooks on landscape design. He then transitioned to writing a column for the Post and Courier. They were all great gigs, but they weren’t fiction.
That was a few years later.
His daughter started reading before she could read, pretending she knew the words in books she propped on her lap. His son was a different story. In an attempt to change that, he began writing a story with him. They made up a character, gave him a name, and something to do. As with much of parenting, it did not go as planned. But the character got stuck in his head.
He wanted out.
A few years later, Socket Greeny was born. It was a science fiction trilogy that was gritty and thoughtful. That was 2005.
He has been practicing Zen since he was 23 years old. A daily meditator, he wants to instill something meaningful in his stories that appeals to a young adult crowd as well as adult. Think Hunger Games. He hadn’t planned to write fiction, didn’t even know if he had anymore stories in him after Socket Greeny.
Turns out he did.
He grew up in the Midwest where the land is flat and the corn is tall. The winters are bleak and cold. He hated winters.
He always wanted to write. But writing was hard. And he wasn’t very disciplined. The cold had nothing to do with that, but it didn’t help. That changed in grad school.
After several attempts at a proposal, his major advisor was losing money on red ink and advised him to figure it out. Somehow, he did.
After grad school, he and his wife and two very little children moved to the South in Charleston, South Carolina where the winters are spring and the summers are a sauna (cliche but dead on accurate). That’s when he started teaching and writing articles for trade magazines. He eventually published two textbooks on landscape design. He then transitioned to writing a column for the Post and Courier. They were all great gigs, but they weren’t fiction.
That was a few years later.
His daughter started reading before she could read, pretending she knew the words in books she propped on her lap. His son was a different story. In an attempt to change that, he began writing a story with him. They made up a character, gave him a name, and something to do. As with much of parenting, it did not go as planned. But the character got stuck in his head.
He wanted out.
A few years later, Socket Greeny was born. It was a science fiction trilogy that was gritty and thoughtful. That was 2005.
He has been practicing Zen since he was 23 years old. A daily meditator, he wants to instill something meaningful in his stories that appeals to a young adult crowd as well as adult. Think Hunger Games. He hadn’t planned to write fiction, didn’t even know if he had anymore stories in him after Socket Greeny.
Turns out he did.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
February 7, 2016
It's a YA novel, quick, fun, quirky, & interesting, like all his novels. I've been curious about it for some time since I read his first "Foreverland" novel. Glad I finally got around to it. He has quite few I keep meaning to get to. I'm never disappointed, although it's tough to do a good review of them since I'm never sure what would be a spoiler.
I put this on my fantasy shelf, although it's more SF. Still, there's psi powers & alien dragon things that make it fairly fantastic, in a good way. In any case, you can't go wrong giving this a shot.
Reread as part of The Socket Greeny Saga in which I gave it 5 stars. Full review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I put this on my fantasy shelf, although it's more SF. Still, there's psi powers & alien dragon things that make it fairly fantastic, in a good way. In any case, you can't go wrong giving this a shot.
Reread as part of The Socket Greeny Saga in which I gave it 5 stars. Full review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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February 7, 2018
Read as part of the Get Through The Crap On Your Kindle You Stubborn Eejit reading challenge.
A first-person YA alien invasion sci-fi attempt with good imagination but pitiful execution.
The synopsis does its job, and then some. One of those books that seems to have one major plot point and doesn't deviate at all. There is little explanation for most everything, including background, and that's a problem with sci-fi.
Typically YA with clichés abound, the only positive thing this book did was make me lust for Philip K. Dick in a way I haven't before.
A first-person YA alien invasion sci-fi attempt with good imagination but pitiful execution.
The synopsis does its job, and then some. One of those books that seems to have one major plot point and doesn't deviate at all. There is little explanation for most everything, including background, and that's a problem with sci-fi.
Typically YA with clichés abound, the only positive thing this book did was make me lust for Philip K. Dick in a way I haven't before.
July 2, 2013
This story went for a wild ride that had me clinging white-knuckle tight the whole way.
I picked this up based on a reading of first few pages a while ago and the vague, sterile cover kept it in my TBR pile for far too long.
The story makes up for the cover by astronomical units. Tony Bertauski's rich descriptions and deep characterization meshed very well with a thunderous plot and gut-clenching action.
You'll get no synopsis from me other than that The Discovery of Socket Greeny is an imaginative science fiction romp full of nanomachines, Artificial Intelligence, men in black, Virtual Reality, nanomachines, psychic powers, and big secrets. Yeah, I know I said nanomachines twice, I like nanomachines.
But not even the nanomachines held a candle to the depth of Socket Greeny's emotion and how eloquently Bertauski brought me in and shared his world.
I picked this up based on a reading of first few pages a while ago and the vague, sterile cover kept it in my TBR pile for far too long.
The story makes up for the cover by astronomical units. Tony Bertauski's rich descriptions and deep characterization meshed very well with a thunderous plot and gut-clenching action.
You'll get no synopsis from me other than that The Discovery of Socket Greeny is an imaginative science fiction romp full of nanomachines, Artificial Intelligence, men in black, Virtual Reality, nanomachines, psychic powers, and big secrets. Yeah, I know I said nanomachines twice, I like nanomachines.
But not even the nanomachines held a candle to the depth of Socket Greeny's emotion and how eloquently Bertauski brought me in and shared his world.
May 6, 2011
We all live every day in virtual environments, defined by our ideas. - Michael Crichton
Socket Greeny, sixteen, is pretty much left to his own devices. having lost his father when he was five and with a mother who rarely comes home, Socket occupies his time with school and visiting virtual worlds with friends Streeter and Chute. things change when he suddenly begins hearing people's thoughts and feeling everything around him even when in virtual mode. then his mother shows up at school and takes him with her to work. what he discovers and learns will drastically transform his world - both virtual and real.
i am not into video games and i cannot raise my interest further other than my admiration for the technology and science behind them. when i started reading this book, i found myself in that frame of mind. i thought i was going to be bored because i was struggling a bit with the first few chapters but like Socket, i discovered something that made me hold on. by the third chapter i was on a roll.
i think my being a very visual person helped a lot. my mind was filled with all sorts of images thanks to author Toni Bertauski's interesting word- and worldbuilding. my imagination just took off!
Socket's story is not just about self-discovery. it also talks about friendship, teenage angst, loyalty, responsibility and heroism.
The Discovery of Socket Greeny is the first part in the Socket Greeny Saga. the second one is The Training of Socket Greeny and the third installment is The Legend of Socket Greeny.
i still do not see myself getting into video games and traipsing virtual worlds anytime soon but i am positive about looking forward to reading the remaining two books in the series.
Disclosure of Material Connection: i am a member of the Book Lovin' Bitches E-book Tours and a copy was provided by the author. although payment may have been received by Book Lovin' Bitches E-book Tours, i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Socket Greeny, sixteen, is pretty much left to his own devices. having lost his father when he was five and with a mother who rarely comes home, Socket occupies his time with school and visiting virtual worlds with friends Streeter and Chute. things change when he suddenly begins hearing people's thoughts and feeling everything around him even when in virtual mode. then his mother shows up at school and takes him with her to work. what he discovers and learns will drastically transform his world - both virtual and real.
i am not into video games and i cannot raise my interest further other than my admiration for the technology and science behind them. when i started reading this book, i found myself in that frame of mind. i thought i was going to be bored because i was struggling a bit with the first few chapters but like Socket, i discovered something that made me hold on. by the third chapter i was on a roll.
i think my being a very visual person helped a lot. my mind was filled with all sorts of images thanks to author Toni Bertauski's interesting word- and worldbuilding. my imagination just took off!
Socket's story is not just about self-discovery. it also talks about friendship, teenage angst, loyalty, responsibility and heroism.
The Discovery of Socket Greeny is the first part in the Socket Greeny Saga. the second one is The Training of Socket Greeny and the third installment is The Legend of Socket Greeny.
i still do not see myself getting into video games and traipsing virtual worlds anytime soon but i am positive about looking forward to reading the remaining two books in the series.
Disclosure of Material Connection: i am a member of the Book Lovin' Bitches E-book Tours and a copy was provided by the author. although payment may have been received by Book Lovin' Bitches E-book Tours, i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
February 19, 2016
While this was an interesting story that kept me turning pages, I didn't fall in love with it like I did with Bertauski's The Annihilation of Foreverland. With that one, I absolutely HAD to have the next in the series immediately. With Socket Greeny, I bought the series as a set so I already have the next book, but I don't have that overwhelming desire to read it.
In most of my reviews, I normally give a briefing of what happened in story but in this case there is no point. Read the synopsis - it's basically the whole thing. I thought the book may have gone into more detail on the Paladin Nation and how they came to be but there is nothing. Somehow advanced humans live on Earth, have contact with alien species, have super-powers, evolved alongside us regular humans but we never noticed them. Sorry, not totally buying it. I need more to go on.
The story is told from the protagonist's (Socket Greeny) point of view. I have no problem with reading first person but you have to be careful when you write this way. If the POV is unconscious, you cannot continue with details of what's happening when they shouldn't know. This happened once in this story and it really pulled me out. I find these things annoying and should have been caught by an editor, beta-reader, or anyone who had their hands on it before publishing.
I did like this story and I will continue with the series but I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. You have to be able to suspend disbelief and overlook small anomalies such as the aforementioned.
In most of my reviews, I normally give a briefing of what happened in story but in this case there is no point. Read the synopsis - it's basically the whole thing. I thought the book may have gone into more detail on the Paladin Nation and how they came to be but there is nothing. Somehow advanced humans live on Earth, have contact with alien species, have super-powers, evolved alongside us regular humans but we never noticed them. Sorry, not totally buying it. I need more to go on.
The story is told from the protagonist's (Socket Greeny) point of view. I have no problem with reading first person but you have to be careful when you write this way. If the POV is unconscious, you cannot continue with details of what's happening when they shouldn't know. This happened once in this story and it really pulled me out. I find these things annoying and should have been caught by an editor, beta-reader, or anyone who had their hands on it before publishing.
I did like this story and I will continue with the series but I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. You have to be able to suspend disbelief and overlook small anomalies such as the aforementioned.
May 21, 2011
This novel presents a very possible reality, where technology is at the forefront and everyone and everything revolves around technology. Socket, the main character, will appear likable to the reader. His two best friends, Chute and Streeter, make for good supporting characters. Chute is the more likable of the two while Streeter, a brilliant hacker, lusts after Socket's girlfriend. Socket and his friends endure an attack, his "sim" is badly damaged. It is on this prophetic day that he discovers he can feel and and touch in virtual mode-a feat which should be impossible. After this day, Socket learns about his past and his parents in great, excruciating detail; he faces danger around every turn of the page.
The world the author creates could easily appear great to the reader. Who wouldn't want to transform themselves into any sort of person they wanted to be? The plot is excellent, a great idea for this technology-driven society. The characters will affect the reader separately. Some appear to support Socket throughout his many disappearances and problems while others, especially his mother, will leave the reader with a cold feeling. The reader will always remember that there lurks a traitor somewhere within the pages of this intriguing book. This novel is terrific for young adult and adults who enjoy mystery, action, drama, and a novel that touches on a possible future outcome for our own society.
I received this book to review; this in no way affects my review or thoughts on this novel.
The world the author creates could easily appear great to the reader. Who wouldn't want to transform themselves into any sort of person they wanted to be? The plot is excellent, a great idea for this technology-driven society. The characters will affect the reader separately. Some appear to support Socket throughout his many disappearances and problems while others, especially his mother, will leave the reader with a cold feeling. The reader will always remember that there lurks a traitor somewhere within the pages of this intriguing book. This novel is terrific for young adult and adults who enjoy mystery, action, drama, and a novel that touches on a possible future outcome for our own society.
I received this book to review; this in no way affects my review or thoughts on this novel.
September 10, 2012
The Discovery of Socket Greeny
By Tony Bertauski
Socket Greeny lives in an era of technology. After school, he hops into the virtualmode (a virtual world of fighting) and lives for the adrenaline rush. In fact, he practically prefers virtualmode to reality. In his actual reality, his mother’'s first priority is her work, so he’s always home alone. He doesn’t even know what she does for a living!
One day, his reality (or is it his virtualmode?) shatters. He learns exactly what his mother does; she works for The Paladin Agency. An almost alien race, called the Paladin’s, that can control the flow of time and protect the human race from harmful things (and sometimes protect the humans from themselves.) Who knew his mom worked for a whole different dimension? Socket’'s life took another tumble as he is controversially claimed as a Paladin Prodigy, his powers skyrocket off the charts. Amidst the Paladin’s fighting, the earth is threatened and it will be up to Socket to save the world, or destroy it.
I’'m such a sucker for science fiction stories. I love Socket Greeny and his story to death. The negatives are a medium amount of cussing and a handful or so of innuendos. Nonetheless it was a fantastic science fiction; I can’'t wait to see what happens to Socket next. I absolutely recommend this for science fiction fans.
http://www.rachelsbookreviews.com/sci...
By Tony Bertauski
Socket Greeny lives in an era of technology. After school, he hops into the virtualmode (a virtual world of fighting) and lives for the adrenaline rush. In fact, he practically prefers virtualmode to reality. In his actual reality, his mother’'s first priority is her work, so he’s always home alone. He doesn’t even know what she does for a living!
One day, his reality (or is it his virtualmode?) shatters. He learns exactly what his mother does; she works for The Paladin Agency. An almost alien race, called the Paladin’s, that can control the flow of time and protect the human race from harmful things (and sometimes protect the humans from themselves.) Who knew his mom worked for a whole different dimension? Socket’'s life took another tumble as he is controversially claimed as a Paladin Prodigy, his powers skyrocket off the charts. Amidst the Paladin’s fighting, the earth is threatened and it will be up to Socket to save the world, or destroy it.
I’'m such a sucker for science fiction stories. I love Socket Greeny and his story to death. The negatives are a medium amount of cussing and a handful or so of innuendos. Nonetheless it was a fantastic science fiction; I can’'t wait to see what happens to Socket next. I absolutely recommend this for science fiction fans.
http://www.rachelsbookreviews.com/sci...
June 9, 2012
I think this is the first time I read a science fiction book, and that is both good and bad. For one, because I wasn’t sure what to expect; and also because if I didn’t like it I would probably never read a science fiction book again. I’m more the romance-kind-of-chick. Yet –to my surprise –I found Discovery of Socket Greeny to be rather interesting and entertaining.
My first reaction to Virtualmode was: fucking cool. I can be like that sometimes. My brain just shuts down and no real useful word comes out. Putting that aside, it was really cool, okay!? Alright. Enough teasing. Discovery of Socket Greeny was overall a really great story. Socket was a really likeable character, and the way he acted and spoke made him really believable.
I had a little bit of a problem with all the technology. Though I consider myself fairly aquatinted with it, I did find myself in a riddle sometimes with all the new terms and devices.
The author’s attention to detail was perfect. I found that I could picture scenes with clarity and I simply loved that. On the other hand I wish we could have seen a little bit more of Socket’s relationship with his two best friends. I loved Chute to death, such a strong character!
Again Discovery of Socket Greeny was a quick and enjoyable read, and for a first time reading science fiction I’d like to think it went rather well.
My first reaction to Virtualmode was: fucking cool. I can be like that sometimes. My brain just shuts down and no real useful word comes out. Putting that aside, it was really cool, okay!? Alright. Enough teasing. Discovery of Socket Greeny was overall a really great story. Socket was a really likeable character, and the way he acted and spoke made him really believable.
I had a little bit of a problem with all the technology. Though I consider myself fairly aquatinted with it, I did find myself in a riddle sometimes with all the new terms and devices.
The author’s attention to detail was perfect. I found that I could picture scenes with clarity and I simply loved that. On the other hand I wish we could have seen a little bit more of Socket’s relationship with his two best friends. I loved Chute to death, such a strong character!
Again Discovery of Socket Greeny was a quick and enjoyable read, and for a first time reading science fiction I’d like to think it went rather well.
November 6, 2011
Socket Greeny is a normal teen. He enjoys video games over home work and virtual mode over class work. He and his friends Skeeter and Chute enjoy a good hack into other worlds in Virtual Mode. But little did Socket know soon his real life would be hacked into and he would disappear into another world he didn't even know existed. Socket Greeny is the future of the world but only his Mom and few friends of his Dad know it. Can Socket handle the weight of the world on his shoulders or does this new world get the best of him?
This book was great. I loved it. From start to finish there was not a dull moment. Of course not, this book is about teens. But not only that the author filled this world with interesting beings and characters that captured you from the start.
This book is part of a Trilogy and immediately after I finished it I bought the other 2 books.
I recommend this book for anyone who likes a good interesting story regardless of your favorite genre, this is one to read!
Melissa
Reviewer for 1000 + Books to Read
This book was great. I loved it. From start to finish there was not a dull moment. Of course not, this book is about teens. But not only that the author filled this world with interesting beings and characters that captured you from the start.
This book is part of a Trilogy and immediately after I finished it I bought the other 2 books.
I recommend this book for anyone who likes a good interesting story regardless of your favorite genre, this is one to read!
Melissa
Reviewer for 1000 + Books to Read
May 28, 2012
I really love this book! It was interesting and completely original. There were a handful of grammatical errors, like spelling, in the beginning but that soon faded out about halfway through the book.
I liked how the characters were nicely developed and the details provided great description, appealing to all the senses(well, imagination wise anyways). It felt like I was peeking into a whole nother world! I'd recommend this book to anyone! :)
I liked how the characters were nicely developed and the details provided great description, appealing to all the senses(well, imagination wise anyways). It felt like I was peeking into a whole nother world! I'd recommend this book to anyone! :)
January 12, 2011
Article first published as Book Review: The Discovery of Socket Greeny by Tony Bertauski on Blogcritics.
As technology takes hold in the world of today, imagine a world of tomorrow where virtual mode is used in every school system in the land. Leaving skin behind and entering into the internet, taking on a sim as a body, being who or whatever you want. But certain areas are approved through the schools and yet as with any rule, these are made to be broken, and other areas are hacked into, and small private wars are fought with other schools. Socket Greeny’s best friends are Chute, and Streeter. Streeter is the one with the computer savvy, and also the hacker extraordinaire. Chute is kind of like Socket’s friend, but also like his girlfriend as well.
On a day like any other, as they find themselves in their hacked universe, a small war ensues with the rival school. Socket’s sim is damaged beyond repair, and as his team covers him, protecting his simulated body from further damage, he makes an amazing discovery. He can feel, and touch, which should be impossible in virtual mode. This is only simulation and not real and yet, it feels real. No pain but definitely real. He sees a shadow of someone familiar, and yet his friends have no idea, they cannot see or hear anything unusual. But they do know that Socket is acting odd, talking to no one that is there. As they are attacked once more, Socket pulls from deep inside and causes time to stand still; giving his team time to get together, but with the stand still, the earth begins to split, right up the middle, enclosing everything in its path. He blacks out and when he awakes he is back in his chair at school, the virtual mode is down and all hell has broken loose.
And he feels wrong somehow. Everything is different, as he and his friends Chute and Streeter are escorted to the office for creating problems, he finds that his mom has called and will be picking him up. Now he knows that trouble has found him, and yet, when she picks him up she does not comment on his day. She takes him to her place of work. Here she introduces him to some of the people that she works for, and he finds that he will be tested and probed for his experiences and his thoughts.
His life as he knows it has just taken a huge curve, and he will be tested beyond endurance, and learn things about his parents that he never knew. He is in danger at every turn, and he continues to outpace his guides, in a game of life and death. Will he be able to help save the human race, or is it too late. Has it all been left too long? Will he ever be able to see Streeter and Chute again?
In The Discovery of Socket Greeny, Tony Bertauski takes us deep into the virtual mode, to a world of imagination. Everything you want to do and whoever you want to be is possible. He sets up a group of heroes, shining knights if you will, a group of those with extraordinary powers who have chosen to save the human race. Time is of the essence and Socket has become a part of a larger picture, one he is not ready for. The time has come for him to fulfill his destiny, and to step into his father’s shoes.
But who is he to trust when it is known that there is a traitor in their midst. He is pulled away from everything he knows and from his friends from home. His mom is acting like she does not know him most of the time, and he is never on his own. Everything he does is poked and prodded, and he is not ready to be what they want. An yet, he knows deep down that it is exactly what he wants, but will it be too late?
His friends stand by him even when he disappears for a length of time, and forgive him for much. They love him and will do whatever it takes to bring him back to who he was. Little do they know that they too are being sucked into a war that is soon to happen.
The characters are interesting, and at times quite brazen. I have problems understanding his mother, but she does have some redeeming qualities. When Socket needs her, he finds that he cannot always rely on her. The bad guys are deep from within the virtual mode itself and are ready to use it to take over the earth. There are some fun creative animals which show themselves to be quite useful, but are also very serious and yet frolicsome.
This is a great novel for the Young Adult, or even those that are just young at heart. It is fast paced with incredible insight. The friendships are close and the interplay among Sprocket, Streeter and Chute is just plain fun. This is just what I remember about being young, but Sprocket has to grow up fast, and I believe that there is just the right amount of adventure to keep you reading. I recommend this book for your young reader, and believe that they will enjoy the adventure.
This Book was received a a free E-Book from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.
As technology takes hold in the world of today, imagine a world of tomorrow where virtual mode is used in every school system in the land. Leaving skin behind and entering into the internet, taking on a sim as a body, being who or whatever you want. But certain areas are approved through the schools and yet as with any rule, these are made to be broken, and other areas are hacked into, and small private wars are fought with other schools. Socket Greeny’s best friends are Chute, and Streeter. Streeter is the one with the computer savvy, and also the hacker extraordinaire. Chute is kind of like Socket’s friend, but also like his girlfriend as well.
On a day like any other, as they find themselves in their hacked universe, a small war ensues with the rival school. Socket’s sim is damaged beyond repair, and as his team covers him, protecting his simulated body from further damage, he makes an amazing discovery. He can feel, and touch, which should be impossible in virtual mode. This is only simulation and not real and yet, it feels real. No pain but definitely real. He sees a shadow of someone familiar, and yet his friends have no idea, they cannot see or hear anything unusual. But they do know that Socket is acting odd, talking to no one that is there. As they are attacked once more, Socket pulls from deep inside and causes time to stand still; giving his team time to get together, but with the stand still, the earth begins to split, right up the middle, enclosing everything in its path. He blacks out and when he awakes he is back in his chair at school, the virtual mode is down and all hell has broken loose.
And he feels wrong somehow. Everything is different, as he and his friends Chute and Streeter are escorted to the office for creating problems, he finds that his mom has called and will be picking him up. Now he knows that trouble has found him, and yet, when she picks him up she does not comment on his day. She takes him to her place of work. Here she introduces him to some of the people that she works for, and he finds that he will be tested and probed for his experiences and his thoughts.
His life as he knows it has just taken a huge curve, and he will be tested beyond endurance, and learn things about his parents that he never knew. He is in danger at every turn, and he continues to outpace his guides, in a game of life and death. Will he be able to help save the human race, or is it too late. Has it all been left too long? Will he ever be able to see Streeter and Chute again?
In The Discovery of Socket Greeny, Tony Bertauski takes us deep into the virtual mode, to a world of imagination. Everything you want to do and whoever you want to be is possible. He sets up a group of heroes, shining knights if you will, a group of those with extraordinary powers who have chosen to save the human race. Time is of the essence and Socket has become a part of a larger picture, one he is not ready for. The time has come for him to fulfill his destiny, and to step into his father’s shoes.
But who is he to trust when it is known that there is a traitor in their midst. He is pulled away from everything he knows and from his friends from home. His mom is acting like she does not know him most of the time, and he is never on his own. Everything he does is poked and prodded, and he is not ready to be what they want. An yet, he knows deep down that it is exactly what he wants, but will it be too late?
His friends stand by him even when he disappears for a length of time, and forgive him for much. They love him and will do whatever it takes to bring him back to who he was. Little do they know that they too are being sucked into a war that is soon to happen.
The characters are interesting, and at times quite brazen. I have problems understanding his mother, but she does have some redeeming qualities. When Socket needs her, he finds that he cannot always rely on her. The bad guys are deep from within the virtual mode itself and are ready to use it to take over the earth. There are some fun creative animals which show themselves to be quite useful, but are also very serious and yet frolicsome.
This is a great novel for the Young Adult, or even those that are just young at heart. It is fast paced with incredible insight. The friendships are close and the interplay among Sprocket, Streeter and Chute is just plain fun. This is just what I remember about being young, but Sprocket has to grow up fast, and I believe that there is just the right amount of adventure to keep you reading. I recommend this book for your young reader, and believe that they will enjoy the adventure.
This Book was received a a free E-Book from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.
December 29, 2010
I got a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. It is the first book in a planned trilogy. When I read the synopsis it sounded interesting and appeared to be a middle grade sci-fi/cyberpunk type of story. I had mixed feelings about this book. I had trouble getting through the first half of the book, but found the second half to be incredibly interesting and engaging.
Socket Greeny and his friends love playing in virtualmode, where you can commence battles but never feel any of the dire consequences. That is until they are attacked unexpectedly and Socket...does something strange. All of this leads to Socket finding out he has the powers of the not-so-human Paladin race. Socket can do things like stop time and listen in to people's thoughts. The Paladins are trying the gradually advance humankind for the better, but their plans are accelerated when they find clones leaving virtualmode and inhabiting real human space. Now the future of humanity is at risk, and Socket with his unique powers may play a vital role in saving it.
The books starts out a little rough. You are introduced to Socket and his friends and then quickly they are torn apart and Socket is isolated. This made it hard to see any chemistry between this group of friends and hard to find the characters engaging; they were just names. Then a lot is thrown at the reader; I struggled to keep up with all the terminology and descriptions of metaphysical yet vaguly scientific stuff happening to Socket. Socket himself doesn't know what's going on and this comes across as confusion to the reader. I found some of the descriptions hard to follow and had a hard time forming a good picture in my mind of what was happening.
After the first portion things get better. We are introduced to the Paladin race and we get to know Socket a bit better. Socket actually develops some rapport with his new friends and finally the plot gains some momentum as we wait to see what will happen with the clones. By the end of the book I was actually attached to these characters and happy that I kept reading the book. I read the last third of the book straight through in one sitting.
Socket himself isn't all that complicated of a character. He misses his father and resents his mother, he resists authority and in general acts like a frustrated teenager. Initially I thought this sounded like a middle grade novel and it definitely isn't. I would put it more toward the young adult/older teen genre. There is a quite a bit of swearing; Socket acts out a lot and has a huge chip on his shoulder. This all makes Socket a character that you don't really like or sympathize with.
The book ends well and wraps up the main story but leaves another line of story open for book 2. Overall I have mixed feelings about this book. Some of the ideas are really interesting and by the end of the book I was engaged with the characters. The beginning of the book was pretty rough, didn't flow very well, and really dragged on for me. In the beginning I kept putting the book down after each chapter, I had a hard time staying interested...then the second half of the book I read right through in one sitting. This is a series I will keep my eye on in the future. I noticed that it is now on sale for $.99 on Kindle. If you have a Kindle and are into cyberpunk/sci-fi; I would check this book out. For that price it is worth giving it a read through to see whether or not it's something you'll get into.
Socket Greeny and his friends love playing in virtualmode, where you can commence battles but never feel any of the dire consequences. That is until they are attacked unexpectedly and Socket...does something strange. All of this leads to Socket finding out he has the powers of the not-so-human Paladin race. Socket can do things like stop time and listen in to people's thoughts. The Paladins are trying the gradually advance humankind for the better, but their plans are accelerated when they find clones leaving virtualmode and inhabiting real human space. Now the future of humanity is at risk, and Socket with his unique powers may play a vital role in saving it.
The books starts out a little rough. You are introduced to Socket and his friends and then quickly they are torn apart and Socket is isolated. This made it hard to see any chemistry between this group of friends and hard to find the characters engaging; they were just names. Then a lot is thrown at the reader; I struggled to keep up with all the terminology and descriptions of metaphysical yet vaguly scientific stuff happening to Socket. Socket himself doesn't know what's going on and this comes across as confusion to the reader. I found some of the descriptions hard to follow and had a hard time forming a good picture in my mind of what was happening.
After the first portion things get better. We are introduced to the Paladin race and we get to know Socket a bit better. Socket actually develops some rapport with his new friends and finally the plot gains some momentum as we wait to see what will happen with the clones. By the end of the book I was actually attached to these characters and happy that I kept reading the book. I read the last third of the book straight through in one sitting.
Socket himself isn't all that complicated of a character. He misses his father and resents his mother, he resists authority and in general acts like a frustrated teenager. Initially I thought this sounded like a middle grade novel and it definitely isn't. I would put it more toward the young adult/older teen genre. There is a quite a bit of swearing; Socket acts out a lot and has a huge chip on his shoulder. This all makes Socket a character that you don't really like or sympathize with.
The book ends well and wraps up the main story but leaves another line of story open for book 2. Overall I have mixed feelings about this book. Some of the ideas are really interesting and by the end of the book I was engaged with the characters. The beginning of the book was pretty rough, didn't flow very well, and really dragged on for me. In the beginning I kept putting the book down after each chapter, I had a hard time staying interested...then the second half of the book I read right through in one sitting. This is a series I will keep my eye on in the future. I noticed that it is now on sale for $.99 on Kindle. If you have a Kindle and are into cyberpunk/sci-fi; I would check this book out. For that price it is worth giving it a read through to see whether or not it's something you'll get into.
March 6, 2011
The story begins with an introduction to a concept known as virtual mode in a scene that makes me think of commercials for World of Warcraft. At first, it seems like a virtual reality version of the present day video game, but its possibilities are enumerated slowly over time, some more ominous than others. Beyond this, we discover a superior subset of the human species: the Paladins. Their technological advances, as well as their natural abilities, equip them to protect humankind at large from predation, natural disasters, and even themselves.
All of the unfolding events are seen through the eyes of a fifteen-year-old named Socket Greeny. Bertauski does a laudable job in exploring the adolescent psyche, showing his main character as a boy who is snarky, jaded, yet self-sufficient, who struggles with abandonment issues and hides vulnerability with sarcasm. Ultimately, however, he is guided by a strong moral compass that is as rooted in emotion as it is in thought. Sound familiar? It should – most of us have displayed aspects of these traits at one time or another. The duality of his personality is echoed in his mother and his literary foil, Broak. Both are initially rendered in grayscale, but over time, the author starts to color in the different parts that make them who they are. The naturalness of these revelations enrich the reading experience without making us feel like he is trying too hard.
The story itself is slow at first, and the first few pages very nearly lost my attention completely – the kiss of death for many a novel. Some of the futuristic terms were difficult to understand the first time around, thus adding to the disinterest. I was pleasantly surprised, therefore, when the next few chapters picked up the pace, creating a vacuum from which I am still trying to resurface. The tale is spellbinding, with a plot that is complex enough to please older readers yet understandable enough to appeal to a younger set. Socket’s attitude had me chuckling to myself many times, while his frustrations with the actions of those around him often mirrored my own—or was I imitating him? At some point, the distinction started to grow hazy, and by the end of the story, its existence was obliterated.
Part of the authenticity of the story comes from the simplistic way in which it is told. Some of the sentences are overflowing with information, while others are short and clipped, imitating the thought patterns of someone who is still relatively young. While I applaud the author’s ability to make us believe in his hero’s age, I often found myself tripping over one sentence or another. Subjects would shift partway through, tenses would change inappropriately, or verbs were used where gerunds would have been appropriate. Sometimes, all three flaws were present, leading to a jarring disharmony that only a fascinating plot could overcome. Thankfully, there was one present.
The Discovery of Socket Greeny is a book that both adult and children can enjoy. I am bumping it from middle grade to young adult, however, due to Socket’s favoring of profanity in the first few chapters of the story. Believable vocabulary words for a fifteen-year-old protagonist? Certainly. Appropriate language for a children’s book? Maybe not, though parents should decide for themselves where they would like to draw the line.
All of the unfolding events are seen through the eyes of a fifteen-year-old named Socket Greeny. Bertauski does a laudable job in exploring the adolescent psyche, showing his main character as a boy who is snarky, jaded, yet self-sufficient, who struggles with abandonment issues and hides vulnerability with sarcasm. Ultimately, however, he is guided by a strong moral compass that is as rooted in emotion as it is in thought. Sound familiar? It should – most of us have displayed aspects of these traits at one time or another. The duality of his personality is echoed in his mother and his literary foil, Broak. Both are initially rendered in grayscale, but over time, the author starts to color in the different parts that make them who they are. The naturalness of these revelations enrich the reading experience without making us feel like he is trying too hard.
The story itself is slow at first, and the first few pages very nearly lost my attention completely – the kiss of death for many a novel. Some of the futuristic terms were difficult to understand the first time around, thus adding to the disinterest. I was pleasantly surprised, therefore, when the next few chapters picked up the pace, creating a vacuum from which I am still trying to resurface. The tale is spellbinding, with a plot that is complex enough to please older readers yet understandable enough to appeal to a younger set. Socket’s attitude had me chuckling to myself many times, while his frustrations with the actions of those around him often mirrored my own—or was I imitating him? At some point, the distinction started to grow hazy, and by the end of the story, its existence was obliterated.
Part of the authenticity of the story comes from the simplistic way in which it is told. Some of the sentences are overflowing with information, while others are short and clipped, imitating the thought patterns of someone who is still relatively young. While I applaud the author’s ability to make us believe in his hero’s age, I often found myself tripping over one sentence or another. Subjects would shift partway through, tenses would change inappropriately, or verbs were used where gerunds would have been appropriate. Sometimes, all three flaws were present, leading to a jarring disharmony that only a fascinating plot could overcome. Thankfully, there was one present.
The Discovery of Socket Greeny is a book that both adult and children can enjoy. I am bumping it from middle grade to young adult, however, due to Socket’s favoring of profanity in the first few chapters of the story. Believable vocabulary words for a fifteen-year-old protagonist? Certainly. Appropriate language for a children’s book? Maybe not, though parents should decide for themselves where they would like to draw the line.
September 29, 2013
Disclaimer: The fact that I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review has not affected my rating.
I'm not sure if I have anything to complain about in this book. I suppose I keep trying to compare it to other sci-fi books I've read, but the only two that are similar to The Discovery of Socket Greeny are Ender's Game and The Annihilation of Foreverland (which happens to be another of Bertauski's works that I loved :D)
Onto the more substantial things. I loved the plot - it was rich in details and imagery, moved quickly, had lots and lots of action, kept me on the edge of my seat... I could go on and on. I especially like the combination of concepts Bertauski perfectly blended together - time travel (or slicing, in this case), clones (duplicates), dystopia (Paladin and the duplicates have dystopic elements, as well as the future - I'll talk about that later) and gaming (in this case, it's "Virtualmode", where your consciousness is put into a second character). Even alone, these elements could have made an amazing story, but Bertauski was able to put them together to make his story stand out and amaze me!
Another thing I liked was that the dystopic society presented in the book serves it purpose - it warns us about what could happen if we advance our technology enough & it happens to take over. I think in this book, it specifically applies to clones, or duplicates in this case. For example, clones in real life do get depressed when they find out they're just carbon copies. This is similar to both the duplicates' thoughts and .
Finally, the relationships between the characters also spoke out to me. One that specifically grabbed me at the end was Socket also has a complicated but well-portrayed relationship with his mother. On one hand, his mother must work late, discipline Socket, and keep secrets from him. However, on the other hand, she still deeply cares about him. Moreover, this is clearly shown -
Other factors I loved (but will not go into detail in, my review is already horrendously long) - the technology mentioned, Socket's voice (it's rare to find a male voice that sounds real), Socket's friendship with Streety, Socket's relationship with Chute, Socket's relationship with Spindle & Pivot, portrayal of Broak,... the list goes on and on.
Overall, PICK THIS ONE UP :D I really enjoyed it - it's a great and short sci-fi read!
I'm not sure if I have anything to complain about in this book. I suppose I keep trying to compare it to other sci-fi books I've read, but the only two that are similar to The Discovery of Socket Greeny are Ender's Game and The Annihilation of Foreverland (which happens to be another of Bertauski's works that I loved :D)
Onto the more substantial things. I loved the plot - it was rich in details and imagery, moved quickly, had lots and lots of action, kept me on the edge of my seat... I could go on and on. I especially like the combination of concepts Bertauski perfectly blended together - time travel (or slicing, in this case), clones (duplicates), dystopia (Paladin and the duplicates have dystopic elements, as well as the future - I'll talk about that later) and gaming (in this case, it's "Virtualmode", where your consciousness is put into a second character). Even alone, these elements could have made an amazing story, but Bertauski was able to put them together to make his story stand out and amaze me!
Another thing I liked was that the dystopic society presented in the book serves it purpose - it warns us about what could happen if we advance our technology enough & it happens to take over. I think in this book, it specifically applies to clones, or duplicates in this case. For example, clones in real life do get depressed when they find out they're just carbon copies. This is similar to both the duplicates' thoughts and .
Finally, the relationships between the characters also spoke out to me. One that specifically grabbed me at the end was Socket also has a complicated but well-portrayed relationship with his mother. On one hand, his mother must work late, discipline Socket, and keep secrets from him. However, on the other hand, she still deeply cares about him. Moreover, this is clearly shown -
Other factors I loved (but will not go into detail in, my review is already horrendously long) - the technology mentioned, Socket's voice (it's rare to find a male voice that sounds real), Socket's friendship with Streety, Socket's relationship with Chute, Socket's relationship with Spindle & Pivot, portrayal of Broak,... the list goes on and on.
Overall, PICK THIS ONE UP :D I really enjoyed it - it's a great and short sci-fi read!
November 11, 2010
I'd give this book 3.5 stars instead of three, but alas, GR won't let me.
Bertauksi starts out the first book in his series strong, immediately throwing Socket into life-changing digital mayhem within the first chapter. Though it grabbed my attention, in a sense it was a bit too strong. There is no opprotunity to see the depth of Socket's friendship with his two best friends, and as a result, they just become names that Socket misses when he is taken underground and studied by the Paladin Agency. This is sort of a shame because Chute and Streeter play an enormous role towards the end of the book. Socket himself is a very likeable character. He curses quite a bit, but the salty languge only works to create a more authentic character. He thinks, feels, and acts like a high school kid with a chip on his shoulder, but not to the point where he is annoying.
The middle of the book (when Socket is taken underground) is met with lots of cool new technology and fantastical elements. In a way, Bertauski has blended elements of everyone's favorite sci-fi flicks to create this futuristic Paladin-protected world. We get wormholes, computer-like wrist watches, robots with artificial intelligence, virtual realities, hoverboards, and then some! Sci-fi geeks and non-geeks alike will have no trouble keeping up with the new terminology and technological concepts because most of them are well described or are grounded enough in today's technology that they don't need to be described to death.
The story doesn't really pick up until the middle of the book, but when it does, boy does it pick up. Once Socket is released from Paladin custody, I could not put this book down. Socket's friends come back in a series of action-packed scenes that would not only make Tom Cruise geen with envy, but show a genuine friendship between the three that was not shown us before in the beginning of the book. Seriously, you can't get anymore extreme then fighting giagantic robotic spiders trapped in a virtual RPG world.
Overall, the book ends on a great note. This was probably the best sci-fi/cyberpunk story that I've read in a long time, regardless of my complaints about the beginning. I really can't wait to start reading the second book in the series!
For the full review on my blog, go to: http://oktopusink.blogspot.com/2010/1...
Bertauksi starts out the first book in his series strong, immediately throwing Socket into life-changing digital mayhem within the first chapter. Though it grabbed my attention, in a sense it was a bit too strong. There is no opprotunity to see the depth of Socket's friendship with his two best friends, and as a result, they just become names that Socket misses when he is taken underground and studied by the Paladin Agency. This is sort of a shame because Chute and Streeter play an enormous role towards the end of the book. Socket himself is a very likeable character. He curses quite a bit, but the salty languge only works to create a more authentic character. He thinks, feels, and acts like a high school kid with a chip on his shoulder, but not to the point where he is annoying.
The middle of the book (when Socket is taken underground) is met with lots of cool new technology and fantastical elements. In a way, Bertauski has blended elements of everyone's favorite sci-fi flicks to create this futuristic Paladin-protected world. We get wormholes, computer-like wrist watches, robots with artificial intelligence, virtual realities, hoverboards, and then some! Sci-fi geeks and non-geeks alike will have no trouble keeping up with the new terminology and technological concepts because most of them are well described or are grounded enough in today's technology that they don't need to be described to death.
The story doesn't really pick up until the middle of the book, but when it does, boy does it pick up. Once Socket is released from Paladin custody, I could not put this book down. Socket's friends come back in a series of action-packed scenes that would not only make Tom Cruise geen with envy, but show a genuine friendship between the three that was not shown us before in the beginning of the book. Seriously, you can't get anymore extreme then fighting giagantic robotic spiders trapped in a virtual RPG world.
Overall, the book ends on a great note. This was probably the best sci-fi/cyberpunk story that I've read in a long time, regardless of my complaints about the beginning. I really can't wait to start reading the second book in the series!
For the full review on my blog, go to: http://oktopusink.blogspot.com/2010/1...
May 14, 2011
This novel started out a little slow for me, because it just didn't grab my attention as much. Sure, virtualmode sounded cool, but it just didn't keep my focus. I think that's a personal thing. However, after the Paladin Nation was revealed, along with many its secrets and mysteries, I found myself more and more into the book.
Socket is a great protagonist. He's a fast thinker, adept at fighting, and has some pretty BA mental skills. But he's also a regular guy. I really enjoyed his dialogue and his narrative, except the load of cuss words kind of threw me off a bit. Then again, if the world as you know it may or may not be overtaken but an eviler group of unstoppable people, then yeah, I guess I can give a little leeway.
I loved all the supporting characters. Genius. Each had his or her own unique personality, and they created a reliable network of friends that Socket (and I) could count on. There were also the bad guys, which frankly, you didn't exactly know who they were until the end. Meaning, you weren't sure who was bad and who wasn't. There were so many intimidating characters, it was difficult to tell if they were banded together, if they were individual villains, or if they just had some social communication issues.
Bertauski's writing is obviously very good. I was entranced by the description of virtualmode and the Paladin headquarters, even if some parts were a little gruesome. I guess that's what comes out of fights. I felt myself being able to walk/crawl/run-for-my-life along with Socket as he fought for his own. He captured the identity of a teenage boy very well, and it's what made the entire experience seem more real.
The middle to the end was very fast paced and full of exploding things and all that good stuff. I really enjoyed the novel, however, it's not really something I will be looking for more, because I felt that the entire concept, the genre, really, is not really my type. Computers... are more guy things. As I said before, Bertauski's writing is skilled, but the book just wasn't for me. I think many other people would enjoy it though, especially if they were interested in futuristic settings with virtual computer worlds and secret agencies. Fans of spy books (e.g. Alex Rider), or maybe the Pendragon series by D.J. MacHale might try this one out.
Socket is a great protagonist. He's a fast thinker, adept at fighting, and has some pretty BA mental skills. But he's also a regular guy. I really enjoyed his dialogue and his narrative, except the load of cuss words kind of threw me off a bit. Then again, if the world as you know it may or may not be overtaken but an eviler group of unstoppable people, then yeah, I guess I can give a little leeway.
I loved all the supporting characters. Genius. Each had his or her own unique personality, and they created a reliable network of friends that Socket (and I) could count on. There were also the bad guys, which frankly, you didn't exactly know who they were until the end. Meaning, you weren't sure who was bad and who wasn't. There were so many intimidating characters, it was difficult to tell if they were banded together, if they were individual villains, or if they just had some social communication issues.
Bertauski's writing is obviously very good. I was entranced by the description of virtualmode and the Paladin headquarters, even if some parts were a little gruesome. I guess that's what comes out of fights. I felt myself being able to walk/crawl/run-for-my-life along with Socket as he fought for his own. He captured the identity of a teenage boy very well, and it's what made the entire experience seem more real.
The middle to the end was very fast paced and full of exploding things and all that good stuff. I really enjoyed the novel, however, it's not really something I will be looking for more, because I felt that the entire concept, the genre, really, is not really my type. Computers... are more guy things. As I said before, Bertauski's writing is skilled, but the book just wasn't for me. I think many other people would enjoy it though, especially if they were interested in futuristic settings with virtual computer worlds and secret agencies. Fans of spy books (e.g. Alex Rider), or maybe the Pendragon series by D.J. MacHale might try this one out.
January 27, 2011
Tony Bertauski succeeded in doing something so brilliant with this book. This book is the first in a well planned trilogy. I must admit that at first I had a hard time getting into the first half of this book as I wasn't really getting into the swing of things. But then after the second half started action started to deploy and I was completely into the book and finished in one night. And now I want to read the other books of the trilogy.
It starts with a normal teenager named Socket Greeny who doesn't know what his mother does for a living and who is never home, but the frig is always full up so he doesn't worry about details. He loves to fight and to get lost into his Sim in virtual mode with his 2 best buddies: Treeter and Chute. They go into battle mode and the consequences have little importance in there until one day they are attacked and Socket does something really strange. Once back into their skins, the 3 of them are ordered to the principle's office and Socket's mother is waiting for him in her car and takes him to a place where he's never been before.
Off to meet the Paladin's through a warp speed zone. He then discovers that he's not only in a weird place but he's also got some weird powers like these Paladins.
The Paladins are like more intelligent humans trying to save humans from themselves, and advance humankind for the better.
But their plan is sopped when they learn that some duplicates have succeeded in leaving the virtual mode and take place in the real world, and they mean the humans harm. Socket learns that he has a part to play in saving the humans and it's vital.
At one point in the book, there is a lot that is thrown in the face of the reader, but I have dealt with it well but I must admit that one can get a bit dizzy.
But the story is worth it.
Socket is your average teenage that has a chip on his shoulder, he grew up without his father since he died when Socket was very young. His mother is always working, Socket is always alone so he hates her for that.
But all in all I loved the book and I liked this character.
I would say that this is a Ya/older teen/cyber punk /sci-fi book.
It starts with a normal teenager named Socket Greeny who doesn't know what his mother does for a living and who is never home, but the frig is always full up so he doesn't worry about details. He loves to fight and to get lost into his Sim in virtual mode with his 2 best buddies: Treeter and Chute. They go into battle mode and the consequences have little importance in there until one day they are attacked and Socket does something really strange. Once back into their skins, the 3 of them are ordered to the principle's office and Socket's mother is waiting for him in her car and takes him to a place where he's never been before.
Off to meet the Paladin's through a warp speed zone. He then discovers that he's not only in a weird place but he's also got some weird powers like these Paladins.
The Paladins are like more intelligent humans trying to save humans from themselves, and advance humankind for the better.
But their plan is sopped when they learn that some duplicates have succeeded in leaving the virtual mode and take place in the real world, and they mean the humans harm. Socket learns that he has a part to play in saving the humans and it's vital.
At one point in the book, there is a lot that is thrown in the face of the reader, but I have dealt with it well but I must admit that one can get a bit dizzy.
But the story is worth it.
Socket is your average teenage that has a chip on his shoulder, he grew up without his father since he died when Socket was very young. His mother is always working, Socket is always alone so he hates her for that.
But all in all I loved the book and I liked this character.
I would say that this is a Ya/older teen/cyber punk /sci-fi book.
June 3, 2012
Like many sixteen-year-old boys, Socket Greeny plays video games with his friends. It’s no game, though, when his best friend, Streeter, hacks into another realm of a virtual-reality game and takes Socket and their other best friend, Chute, along with him. Socket is shocked to find that he can feel, smell and taste in this world, but no one else can. Then things get really weird. He meets a shadow that sounds like his long-dead father. Socket starts reading minds. And stopping time. After the virtual world crashes, Socket is taken by his mother to her company, a shadowy organization that has determined that Socket needs to be tested; but for what, Socket has no idea. All he knows is what the shadow told him: “The time has come to know who you are.”
During months of testing, Socket learns more about his abilities and the company, Paladin Nation, Inc., than he ever wanted to know. He just wants to return to Charleston, South Carolina and sit on the couch, eat pizza and play video games - or does he? The more he discovers about the Paladin and their reason for existing, his father’s plans for him, the Duplicates, Pivot and his abilities, and the abrasive and needling Broak, the more he is drawn into the race to save humanity.
Hovering somewhere between science fiction and fantasy, Socket Greeny is an intriguing tale. The writing, with the exception of a few misspellings and a clunky sentence or two, was well-executed with a nice flow, interesting characters and vivid descriptions. Since I am not a huge fan of SciFi, I appreciated the fact that the story kept one foot in “reality.” My only negative is this: I felt the characters were a little under-developed. I think the book would have had more meaning for me if there had been more depth to the primary characters and if the secondary characters had been less two-dimensional.
3 of 5 Stars
Ages: 14 and up. Occasional use of profanity.
The Discovery of Socket Greeny by Tony Bertauski was published on July 13, 2010 by Bertauski.
For more reviews, go to http://inkandpage.me
During months of testing, Socket learns more about his abilities and the company, Paladin Nation, Inc., than he ever wanted to know. He just wants to return to Charleston, South Carolina and sit on the couch, eat pizza and play video games - or does he? The more he discovers about the Paladin and their reason for existing, his father’s plans for him, the Duplicates, Pivot and his abilities, and the abrasive and needling Broak, the more he is drawn into the race to save humanity.
Hovering somewhere between science fiction and fantasy, Socket Greeny is an intriguing tale. The writing, with the exception of a few misspellings and a clunky sentence or two, was well-executed with a nice flow, interesting characters and vivid descriptions. Since I am not a huge fan of SciFi, I appreciated the fact that the story kept one foot in “reality.” My only negative is this: I felt the characters were a little under-developed. I think the book would have had more meaning for me if there had been more depth to the primary characters and if the secondary characters had been less two-dimensional.
3 of 5 Stars
Ages: 14 and up. Occasional use of profanity.
The Discovery of Socket Greeny by Tony Bertauski was published on July 13, 2010 by Bertauski.
For more reviews, go to http://inkandpage.me
June 17, 2012
Let me start off by saying that I absolutely despise any book that could qualify as sci-fi and this goes off the charts with it. But in all truth I actually loved this book... a lot.
The characters were all written in a way that has you with little to question about their personalities. Socket, the protagonist of the book (obviously) was just as you would think a teenage boy would think (one with decent manners that is). Even the characters that appeared only briefly in the book were well written in their parts. Socket's father, who never appeared himself in the book was well written in the way that everybody described him. Broak, the protagonist was created in such a way that made me truly question his sanity and wonder why he was so cruel. Was he just born the way? Did somebody teach him to be like that? There were just a few things about characters that I feel could have been further described, like why some mental capabilities were stronger in some characters than others, etc.
Overall I liked the story a whole lot which is high praise from me for this genre of book. The story line was strong and well written to the point where it was only questioned once by me what was going on (but it was over something so small that I am stupid not to have realized what was still going on). The world that was created, Paladin Nation, was very believable in it's entirety. I especially loved the creatures he created, the grimmets, who I would personally love to have as a pet. Overall the story was good and the world believable.
As for the writing though, there were some area's where things seemed to repeat twice or where words seemed to be skipped. I cannot stand to see these things very often but by Part III of the book they were few and far between. Also note that in Kindle books stuff like that happens in almost every book.
All in all I liked the book immensely but the few errors that made it a little more difficult to read were a small setback as well as minor confusions with characters (descriptions and why's?).
The characters were all written in a way that has you with little to question about their personalities. Socket, the protagonist of the book (obviously) was just as you would think a teenage boy would think (one with decent manners that is). Even the characters that appeared only briefly in the book were well written in their parts. Socket's father, who never appeared himself in the book was well written in the way that everybody described him. Broak, the protagonist was created in such a way that made me truly question his sanity and wonder why he was so cruel. Was he just born the way? Did somebody teach him to be like that? There were just a few things about characters that I feel could have been further described, like why some mental capabilities were stronger in some characters than others, etc.
Overall I liked the story a whole lot which is high praise from me for this genre of book. The story line was strong and well written to the point where it was only questioned once by me what was going on (but it was over something so small that I am stupid not to have realized what was still going on). The world that was created, Paladin Nation, was very believable in it's entirety. I especially loved the creatures he created, the grimmets, who I would personally love to have as a pet. Overall the story was good and the world believable.
As for the writing though, there were some area's where things seemed to repeat twice or where words seemed to be skipped. I cannot stand to see these things very often but by Part III of the book they were few and far between. Also note that in Kindle books stuff like that happens in almost every book.
All in all I liked the book immensely but the few errors that made it a little more difficult to read were a small setback as well as minor confusions with characters (descriptions and why's?).
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April 27, 2011Title Thoughts: Definitely suits the book.
Cover Thoughts: I think it's a good fit for the book.
WARNINGS: There is some cussing.
I enjoyed this book. There's the mystery of what exactly is really going on. After a few chapters, Bertauski sucks you in in a rather sneaky way. Until I took a break, a short one I might add, I didn't realize how drawn into the story I was. I had so many questions about this world and what was happening or what would happen next.
I enjoyed Socket's character. He's a teen who has a vulnerable side but also a strong side because he accepts the Paladin nation without freaking out and breaking down. There were moments though. I found that I really liked Spindle. He and his faceless-ness were fascinating to me.
Addict's Last Words: Bertauski writes a good novel whose world is eerily like ours but with a way higher level of technology.
To Buy or To Borrow: Since I'm not much of a sci-fi person, it would be a borrow for me. But if you are, then this would probably be a buy for you.
Disclosure: I am a member of the Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours and a copy was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Cover Thoughts: I think it's a good fit for the book.
WARNINGS: There is some cussing.
I enjoyed this book. There's the mystery of what exactly is really going on. After a few chapters, Bertauski sucks you in in a rather sneaky way. Until I took a break, a short one I might add, I didn't realize how drawn into the story I was. I had so many questions about this world and what was happening or what would happen next.
I enjoyed Socket's character. He's a teen who has a vulnerable side but also a strong side because he accepts the Paladin nation without freaking out and breaking down. There were moments though. I found that I really liked Spindle. He and his faceless-ness were fascinating to me.
Addict's Last Words: Bertauski writes a good novel whose world is eerily like ours but with a way higher level of technology.
To Buy or To Borrow: Since I'm not much of a sci-fi person, it would be a borrow for me. But if you are, then this would probably be a buy for you.
Disclosure: I am a member of the Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours and a copy was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
April 27, 2011
I have to say it took a bit for me to get into this book, once I got past the first couple of chapters though it picked up. The basic premise, this is set in the future of the human race where we are watched over by a superior race known as the Paladins, though they are not known to the "normal" humans. Everything is done through the internet, learning, reading, teaching...it's definetly a future world where kids go to class and sit back to jump into "virtualmode" and download into their Sims. A bit matrix like only with simple patches behind the ears instead of the skull deep penetrating probe. By the time I got half way through the book I knew there was no way we would be learning it all in Book 1 and now am curious to see what happens to Socket next. He is a character that many young adults will be able to relate to I think. A sort of latch key kid, no real interest in anything. He's not a jock, not a goth, not a nerd, he's just plugging along through life with his two best friends Chute and Streeter but still feels that something is missing, that he's different.
Then things change, he begins to change and his mom takes him to her work. He discovers the world of the Paladins, starts finding out about what his father was doing before he died and Socket's world turns upside down. He has passed the point of going back to his "normal" life and realizes that there is much more going on than what he knew.
Now he has to figure out his role, what he is suppose to do now, and all the while he can't tell his best friends one thing...will he be able to help save humanity, will he be able to keep his best friends, will he live to see the next day?
Then things change, he begins to change and his mom takes him to her work. He discovers the world of the Paladins, starts finding out about what his father was doing before he died and Socket's world turns upside down. He has passed the point of going back to his "normal" life and realizes that there is much more going on than what he knew.
Now he has to figure out his role, what he is suppose to do now, and all the while he can't tell his best friends one thing...will he be able to help save humanity, will he be able to keep his best friends, will he live to see the next day?
February 23, 2014
I'll write a real review once I'm finished reading, but I thought I'd let people know that this is a free download from kindle, and so far its pretty good, though I'm only on chapter 2. Right now it comes across as funny and interesting.
Aha, I never did write a real review. This was a pretty great book. I had a few (very few) caveats, because I'm contrary that way, but mostly this was well written, had a clear voice and a great ending. I've only just realized that this is in fact a series and I look forward to the rest of the books.
This book follows a teenage boy with very distinct and strong mental powers through his training to become part of an elite society of "protectors". At certain points the world that is built here gets turned on its head, and it's up to Socket and his friends to help these "protectors" out. It's an interesting twist of sci-fi/ fantasy with an underlying thread of plausibility that is both creepy and enjoyable. In Greeny's world people interface with computers and VR in a way that could become a reality in the (fairly near) future, and though the rest of the details are a bit more far fetched, this particular aspect makes this fictional world feel uncomfortable close at hand and slightly dangerous. It is definitely geared towards a younger audience, however I found it an enjoyable read for any age.
I feel I should mention that I started to read Bertauski's Foreverland series, and it is just as good (if not better than) the Socket Greeny series. It's darker, a lot more troubling and maybe a bit more plausible in it's over all theme, though it still falls in to sci-fi/fantasy genre.
Aha, I never did write a real review. This was a pretty great book. I had a few (very few) caveats, because I'm contrary that way, but mostly this was well written, had a clear voice and a great ending. I've only just realized that this is in fact a series and I look forward to the rest of the books.
This book follows a teenage boy with very distinct and strong mental powers through his training to become part of an elite society of "protectors". At certain points the world that is built here gets turned on its head, and it's up to Socket and his friends to help these "protectors" out. It's an interesting twist of sci-fi/ fantasy with an underlying thread of plausibility that is both creepy and enjoyable. In Greeny's world people interface with computers and VR in a way that could become a reality in the (fairly near) future, and though the rest of the details are a bit more far fetched, this particular aspect makes this fictional world feel uncomfortable close at hand and slightly dangerous. It is definitely geared towards a younger audience, however I found it an enjoyable read for any age.
I feel I should mention that I started to read Bertauski's Foreverland series, and it is just as good (if not better than) the Socket Greeny series. It's darker, a lot more troubling and maybe a bit more plausible in it's over all theme, though it still falls in to sci-fi/fantasy genre.
April 23, 2011
www.booksforcompany.com
The Discovery of Socket Greeny is something totally different from what l would usually read but l am very glad l did read this book, it offers some refreshing ideas with interesting relationships to back up a great storyline.
The thing which made this book for me was the characters. Socket is a very strange name but once you see pass that he is a character with so much depth and very likeable. The more l read this book the more l started to really warm to him, he is so caring and l love his actions and feelings about the characters around him. The relationship that Socket has with his mum is one which is very complex and interesting to read about and definitely made him show more of his character to the readers.
My main reason for giving it a lower rating and not 4.5 like l would have liked to is because l actually found myself not understanding quite a lot of it. I felt some words were used without being explained or without being reminded what they meant and therefore l lost the concept of what was going on which can happen easily when so much is going on. Also with such advanced technology l felt more things needed to be explained in more depth. Apart from not understanding what was going on or how something had happened, l did really enjoy this.
Overall this is a refreshing read with a storyline that is very fast paced and includes a lot of very advanced technology which l enjoyed reading about.
~
Ratings :
Plot : 4/5
Cover : 3/5
Page Turner : 3.5/5
Characters : 4/5
Ending : 4/5
The Discovery of Socket Greeny is something totally different from what l would usually read but l am very glad l did read this book, it offers some refreshing ideas with interesting relationships to back up a great storyline.
The thing which made this book for me was the characters. Socket is a very strange name but once you see pass that he is a character with so much depth and very likeable. The more l read this book the more l started to really warm to him, he is so caring and l love his actions and feelings about the characters around him. The relationship that Socket has with his mum is one which is very complex and interesting to read about and definitely made him show more of his character to the readers.
My main reason for giving it a lower rating and not 4.5 like l would have liked to is because l actually found myself not understanding quite a lot of it. I felt some words were used without being explained or without being reminded what they meant and therefore l lost the concept of what was going on which can happen easily when so much is going on. Also with such advanced technology l felt more things needed to be explained in more depth. Apart from not understanding what was going on or how something had happened, l did really enjoy this.
Overall this is a refreshing read with a storyline that is very fast paced and includes a lot of very advanced technology which l enjoyed reading about.
~
Ratings :
Plot : 4/5
Cover : 3/5
Page Turner : 3.5/5
Characters : 4/5
Ending : 4/5
June 4, 2012
Okay. First off, I would to say thanks to the author for giving me this book to read and review.
Next, SPOILER ALERT!
This book was pretty good. The sci-fi technology was really interesting to read about. As was the whole idea of advanced humans, who protected humanity. I loved the plot of how the virtual-mode duplicates tried to take over the human world. I also loved how the main character learned how all of this went on! He invades important people, and the thoughts of them flow into his head.
Not only, does our protagonist have the ability to read people's minds, he can freeze time, well sort of, in his own special way. I just love all this stuff above that have mentioned. [plot, idea, and abilities]
The one thing i dislike about this book was the characters. Socket, Spindle, Chute, Pike, Pivot, and Broak. Though all the characters did what these type of characters were expected to do, and had all their traits thoroughly fleshed out. I just hated all of them, for some unexplainable reason. I dont know why I hate them, but if I were to meet this group of people out in the world, I would take one look at them and start hating. Just their personalities,(too expected and perfect for what they were needed for) just irked me. Maybe I'm just weird. Oh well.
This book as a whole though, I did enjoy. It was pretty good. And I'm positive others will enjoy this book, and maybe its characters too. Read it yourself and decide.
Next, SPOILER ALERT!
This book was pretty good. The sci-fi technology was really interesting to read about. As was the whole idea of advanced humans, who protected humanity. I loved the plot of how the virtual-mode duplicates tried to take over the human world. I also loved how the main character learned how all of this went on! He invades important people, and the thoughts of them flow into his head.
Not only, does our protagonist have the ability to read people's minds, he can freeze time, well sort of, in his own special way. I just love all this stuff above that have mentioned. [plot, idea, and abilities]
The one thing i dislike about this book was the characters. Socket, Spindle, Chute, Pike, Pivot, and Broak. Though all the characters did what these type of characters were expected to do, and had all their traits thoroughly fleshed out. I just hated all of them, for some unexplainable reason. I dont know why I hate them, but if I were to meet this group of people out in the world, I would take one look at them and start hating. Just their personalities,(too expected and perfect for what they were needed for) just irked me. Maybe I'm just weird. Oh well.
This book as a whole though, I did enjoy. It was pretty good. And I'm positive others will enjoy this book, and maybe its characters too. Read it yourself and decide.
June 6, 2012
I thought that this book had a thrilling and inventive plot. It was pretty interesting to see the 'future'. I thought it was a fascinating interpretation. Usually, Sci-fi stories are not on my 'to-read' list, but the summary looked so good that I decided to try it. And it paid off.
'The Discovery Of Socket Greeny' is an engrossing narrative set in the future. Obviously, technology is more advanced and I had a little bit of trouble adjusting to the fact that I didn't know what any of these new-fangled devices did. I did catch on after a while, but I read with some hesitance.
The story started to pick up 1/4 of the way through which was a little disappointing. But it was worth it as I got a lot more background on what was happening. I'm not going to spoil anything, but I do believe that the Paladin Society was perfect in its setting out.
The dialogue was snappy and I liked how the author used typical teenage behaviours and 'futurised' them. The descriptions were perfectly vivid, which was a feature that I enjoyed, and the writing flowed nicely. In my opinion though, grammar and spelling could use a once-over. The characters were a bit under-developed but I liked their personalities well enough.
I think it's safe to say that this book deserves a 4 star rating. Just don't give it to anyone younger than 12 for the language.
'The Discovery Of Socket Greeny' is an engrossing narrative set in the future. Obviously, technology is more advanced and I had a little bit of trouble adjusting to the fact that I didn't know what any of these new-fangled devices did. I did catch on after a while, but I read with some hesitance.
The story started to pick up 1/4 of the way through which was a little disappointing. But it was worth it as I got a lot more background on what was happening. I'm not going to spoil anything, but I do believe that the Paladin Society was perfect in its setting out.
The dialogue was snappy and I liked how the author used typical teenage behaviours and 'futurised' them. The descriptions were perfectly vivid, which was a feature that I enjoyed, and the writing flowed nicely. In my opinion though, grammar and spelling could use a once-over. The characters were a bit under-developed but I liked their personalities well enough.
I think it's safe to say that this book deserves a 4 star rating. Just don't give it to anyone younger than 12 for the language.
October 15, 2010
I am a little torn when it comes to this book. Do not get me wrong, I truly did enjoy it, it was just getting into it, and a couple things in the story that made me say "Hmm?" but overall enjoyable.
As for the getting into the story, at least the first third was a little hard to keep interested in, but definitely by the second half of the book I was unable to stop reading! I put aside a book I'd been waiting a year for, because I was sucked in!
The "salty" language made it feel more genuine. There was no coming up with words to replace the colorful language of a typical High School student. I like Socket. He is a lovable character. He is sort of your typical image of a HS boy with a rebellious streak. One thing I didn't necessarily feel or see was his "relationship" with Chute. It's told that they are a couple, but you don't even get a hint of that feeling until after Socket was ripped away and returned. I'd have liked to feel there was a tie from the start other than of just friends.
It's an interesting take on a futuristic society, and on Paladins. It's a fun read with some adult language, which you'd hear in just about any HS today.
I will definitely be reading the next one! :)
As for the getting into the story, at least the first third was a little hard to keep interested in, but definitely by the second half of the book I was unable to stop reading! I put aside a book I'd been waiting a year for, because I was sucked in!
The "salty" language made it feel more genuine. There was no coming up with words to replace the colorful language of a typical High School student. I like Socket. He is a lovable character. He is sort of your typical image of a HS boy with a rebellious streak. One thing I didn't necessarily feel or see was his "relationship" with Chute. It's told that they are a couple, but you don't even get a hint of that feeling until after Socket was ripped away and returned. I'd have liked to feel there was a tie from the start other than of just friends.
It's an interesting take on a futuristic society, and on Paladins. It's a fun read with some adult language, which you'd hear in just about any HS today.
I will definitely be reading the next one! :)
June 3, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. It is engaging with a good storyline, likeable trio of main characters, and nasty villains. It is a book that will appeal to adults as well as children. The futuristic games that are available and played by the characters and the possibilities of creating and becoming sims (simulated people) to act out and explore the virtual world will appeal to anyone who has ever played a strategy computer game. Betauski has a good grasp of what teenagers are doing and thinking and is able to create realistic characters.
Though I really liked this book, I only rated it 3 stars because I think it would have been so much better if there was a lot more background on Socket Greeny before the story line started. This book takes place in the future and Socket then goes into the future's, futuristic organization. If there was more description of his daily life, school life, student activities and family issues before the main plot starts, the book would have been much clearer and the reader would have been able to follow the story easier. This length of this book could easily have increased by 50% without losing any of the action or dragging out the story.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I will recommend it and definitely read the rest of the series.
Though I really liked this book, I only rated it 3 stars because I think it would have been so much better if there was a lot more background on Socket Greeny before the story line started. This book takes place in the future and Socket then goes into the future's, futuristic organization. If there was more description of his daily life, school life, student activities and family issues before the main plot starts, the book would have been much clearer and the reader would have been able to follow the story easier. This length of this book could easily have increased by 50% without losing any of the action or dragging out the story.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I will recommend it and definitely read the rest of the series.
June 2, 2012
I normaly do not read sy-fy stories...transporting, wormholes, back and forth tends to confuse me..and I don't like to be confused. Typical teens with very creative names, Socket, skeeter, chute, broken, pike, and others make this story very interesting. I loved that Chute is a girl and a strong character and not a typical love craze teen. Although the story could have use a little more romance, I can overlook it.. The story reminded me a little of a movie called "total recall" where the customer can pay for a session to be transported to another world and live out their dream, but here instead of their dreams their trasported to a sort of games....more like "halo". I was blown on all the detail that the author put into the story. It was so discriptive that I could picture the scene, down to the flower in the vase on the table that came out off the floor along withe chair for socket to sit down. The story kept me on the edge of my sit and I could not put it down!
http://www.amazon.com/Discovery-Socke...
http://www.amazon.com/Discovery-Socke...
April 12, 2020
Another great series from Tony Bertauski. Having read the 'Foreverland' series, I knew that this would be good, but it wasn't quite what I expected.
Socket Greeny is a teenager, caught up in a web of advanced tech, trying to keep up with things whilst avoiding confrontation from the usual jocks and struggling to keep his emotions in check. During the course of this first book, we are introduced to an array of artificial beings, bent on the earths destruction, and the only way to save our planet falls into the hands of a group of unlikely teenagers (with a little help from some very interesting characters). There are some great environments described, both virtual and otherwise, and the interaction between the different races / species is well put together.
I was quite impressed with the overall story, but found the conclusion to be a bit of a disappointment, having built up quite dramatically. The characters are likeable and have quite a lot of depth, but this series so far hasn't grabbed my attention in the way that the other offerings from this author have. Definitely one for sci-fi fans, and gamers may well appreciate this too.
Socket Greeny is a teenager, caught up in a web of advanced tech, trying to keep up with things whilst avoiding confrontation from the usual jocks and struggling to keep his emotions in check. During the course of this first book, we are introduced to an array of artificial beings, bent on the earths destruction, and the only way to save our planet falls into the hands of a group of unlikely teenagers (with a little help from some very interesting characters). There are some great environments described, both virtual and otherwise, and the interaction between the different races / species is well put together.
I was quite impressed with the overall story, but found the conclusion to be a bit of a disappointment, having built up quite dramatically. The characters are likeable and have quite a lot of depth, but this series so far hasn't grabbed my attention in the way that the other offerings from this author have. Definitely one for sci-fi fans, and gamers may well appreciate this too.
May 9, 2011
When this book submission came to me , I had debated whether or not to give it a try. Sci Fi really isn't my genre but as I sat at my desk I kept rereading the blurb and I finally decided to give it a try.
I will admit I was confused and wasn't sure from the way it started out which way this book was going, not sure if it was because partly due to the fact it was in the virtual world then as I continued on I started to feel the connection and the bonds of these friends.
Another thing that ran through my mind that maybe this is one book my son would actually enjoy. He isn't much of a reader and found it hard to find anything that might peek his interest. He is a big video gamer and I think this topic would be just right for him.
I really enjoyed the way Tony wrote and though at the beginning I was confused it didn't take long to really find the groove, once I got past the hump it was a fast read.
Would I recommend ? Yes in fact, I will be telling my son about it and I also mentioned to my best friend who's favorite genre is Sci Fi.
I will admit I was confused and wasn't sure from the way it started out which way this book was going, not sure if it was because partly due to the fact it was in the virtual world then as I continued on I started to feel the connection and the bonds of these friends.
Another thing that ran through my mind that maybe this is one book my son would actually enjoy. He isn't much of a reader and found it hard to find anything that might peek his interest. He is a big video gamer and I think this topic would be just right for him.
I really enjoyed the way Tony wrote and though at the beginning I was confused it didn't take long to really find the groove, once I got past the hump it was a fast read.
Would I recommend ? Yes in fact, I will be telling my son about it and I also mentioned to my best friend who's favorite genre is Sci Fi.
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