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The N00b Warriors #1
The N00b Warriors
A blog started the forever war--a global war set in the not so distant future between two groups (the Rebels and the Coco's)
Dylan Austin has grown up with the war being a constant background to his life; his dad has just returned from war missing a leg; his older sister is missing and presumed dead from the war; and all through school war has been embedded into everything they teach. Teens have been raised on educational war video games, and their minds are polluted with the idea that war is just a game.
Unlike most kids Dylan's age, he does not eagerly await the day he can serve the Rebel cause. At sixteen, Dylan is one of the weakest kids in his class, and is always picked last for war games; he's not even good at the government issued video games that are supposed to make you more combat ready. Unfortunately for Dylan, war has come early, and he has no other choice but to fight.
No one suspected he could last a single day in battle, but after Dylan, along with two of his friends, wins an unusual battle inside the Disneyland amusement park in Anaheim, he becomes something that no one (not even himself) ever a hero and leader.
Dylan is sent with his two friends, Trinity and Hunter, to Seattle, where the fighting is worse than anywhere else in the country. He is expected to lead a company of over two dozen into one of the worst combat zones anyone has ever seen--but first he has to earn their trust and respect.
The longer Dylan fights, the more he learns that true leadership has little to do with physical strength. He also begins to learn the true origins (and absurdity) of the war that he is forced to fight in, and looks for a way to stop it.
Dylan Austin has grown up with the war being a constant background to his life; his dad has just returned from war missing a leg; his older sister is missing and presumed dead from the war; and all through school war has been embedded into everything they teach. Teens have been raised on educational war video games, and their minds are polluted with the idea that war is just a game.
Unlike most kids Dylan's age, he does not eagerly await the day he can serve the Rebel cause. At sixteen, Dylan is one of the weakest kids in his class, and is always picked last for war games; he's not even good at the government issued video games that are supposed to make you more combat ready. Unfortunately for Dylan, war has come early, and he has no other choice but to fight.
No one suspected he could last a single day in battle, but after Dylan, along with two of his friends, wins an unusual battle inside the Disneyland amusement park in Anaheim, he becomes something that no one (not even himself) ever a hero and leader.
Dylan is sent with his two friends, Trinity and Hunter, to Seattle, where the fighting is worse than anywhere else in the country. He is expected to lead a company of over two dozen into one of the worst combat zones anyone has ever seen--but first he has to earn their trust and respect.
The longer Dylan fights, the more he learns that true leadership has little to do with physical strength. He also begins to learn the true origins (and absurdity) of the war that he is forced to fight in, and looks for a way to stop it.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2010
18 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 30, 2024
- Every champion starts as a beginner, and the journey is what makes us strong.
- Friendship can bloom in the unlikeliest of places, especially when there are dragons to slay.
- Failure isn’t the end; it’s just another way to learn how to succeed.
- The world might see us as underdogs, but underestimation is our greatest weapon.
- Friendship can bloom in the unlikeliest of places, especially when there are dragons to slay.
- Failure isn’t the end; it’s just another way to learn how to succeed.
- The world might see us as underdogs, but underestimation is our greatest weapon.
June 19, 2012
In a world where boys are sent off to fight in a man’s war, the only thing more absurd is why they’re fighting.
Douglas has set up a story line with the potential to be fantastic. Video games bleeding into real life, a war started over blog posts, the government buying into video game companies and supporting capitalism. All of it sounds like if you mixed it together you’d get a fantastic read. Unfortunately this endearingly absurd plot gave way to the downright bizarre and confusing. Dylan, our “hero”, does nothing to gain your sympathies and he doesn’t seem to have any personality at all. The dialogue doesn’t flow and most of the descriptions are clunky at best. The flow improves towards the end of the book, but it’s too little too late. The war is the central plot point, but it’s far from the video game experience described in the summary. The descriptions a reminiscent of “All Quiet On the Western Front”, with almost total trench warfare and low tech weapons. In a world supposedly controlled by video game companies, where every child is issued a PSP, it seems odd there aren’t any high tech or radio controlled weapons. The enemy seems to change almost constantly. What is described as a “civil war”, ends up having an opposing side comprised what changes from Canadians, to French-Canadians, to just The French, to people who look “vaguely middle eastern”. Nowhere is it discussed that the Coco Puffs are Americans just like the Frosted Flakes. The plot does pick up after the discovery of the golden Wii, but then is quickly bogged down by paragraphs of description that are hard to slog through. It’s hard to tell if Douglas is trying to be political with this book or just funny, either way it falls short of the mark.
There is apparently a graphic novel version of this book out as well, and that may be a much better read than the text version. The plot lends itself to a graphic novel much better than a book
Douglas has set up a story line with the potential to be fantastic. Video games bleeding into real life, a war started over blog posts, the government buying into video game companies and supporting capitalism. All of it sounds like if you mixed it together you’d get a fantastic read. Unfortunately this endearingly absurd plot gave way to the downright bizarre and confusing. Dylan, our “hero”, does nothing to gain your sympathies and he doesn’t seem to have any personality at all. The dialogue doesn’t flow and most of the descriptions are clunky at best. The flow improves towards the end of the book, but it’s too little too late. The war is the central plot point, but it’s far from the video game experience described in the summary. The descriptions a reminiscent of “All Quiet On the Western Front”, with almost total trench warfare and low tech weapons. In a world supposedly controlled by video game companies, where every child is issued a PSP, it seems odd there aren’t any high tech or radio controlled weapons. The enemy seems to change almost constantly. What is described as a “civil war”, ends up having an opposing side comprised what changes from Canadians, to French-Canadians, to just The French, to people who look “vaguely middle eastern”. Nowhere is it discussed that the Coco Puffs are Americans just like the Frosted Flakes. The plot does pick up after the discovery of the golden Wii, but then is quickly bogged down by paragraphs of description that are hard to slog through. It’s hard to tell if Douglas is trying to be political with this book or just funny, either way it falls short of the mark.
There is apparently a graphic novel version of this book out as well, and that may be a much better read than the text version. The plot lends itself to a graphic novel much better than a book
January 18, 2012
This book has some really original, gripping ideas and can be very absorbing. What let it down, however, was the flatness of the characters, and of their emotional responses - even given the trauma of being children thrown into war, their emotional responses didn't feel convincing, and so it was harder and harder to care what happened to them. The relentless violence, too, happens in quite a distanced way, and becoming wearing. It becomes harder than it should be to remain engaged with the characters and what is happening to them.
Still, with all that said, I read through it quickly and compulsively, and I will definitely read the sequel to find out where this plot is going. It's creative and definitely interesting, and the concept is fascinating. I particularly enjoyed the blog posts that initially fostered the war, and the bizarre commercialisation of all the child killing and destruction. I have a weakness for dystopian YA fic, after all, and so much respect for self-published authors who keep the faith in their vision and creativity amnd make it available despite the publishing industry - and I think this was a tale worth sharing. Kudos to the author.
Still, with all that said, I read through it quickly and compulsively, and I will definitely read the sequel to find out where this plot is going. It's creative and definitely interesting, and the concept is fascinating. I particularly enjoyed the blog posts that initially fostered the war, and the bizarre commercialisation of all the child killing and destruction. I have a weakness for dystopian YA fic, after all, and so much respect for self-published authors who keep the faith in their vision and creativity amnd make it available despite the publishing industry - and I think this was a tale worth sharing. Kudos to the author.
February 12, 2011
I liked the general idea of it but the characters were so awful. The hero appeared to have no redeeming qualities except he wasn't a total jerk. The incorrect use of "sense" instead of "since" in the second line of the book really threw me also. Felt poorly edited.
Couldn't finish it. Got about 40% of the way through the book and had to stop after a vivid description section on one character popping a pimple. Vulgar and gross. UGH.
Couldn't finish it. Got about 40% of the way through the book and had to stop after a vivid description section on one character popping a pimple. Vulgar and gross. UGH.
April 30, 2012
Not really my type of thing. The book follows a group of young men and women as they go into war. There were lots of references to random modern day video games and cereals, but they were not used in normal context. They were names of people and places and different activities. It was a bit weird. I'm not a video game player though so I may have liked it more if I was really into that type of thing...
March 31, 2011
One of the worst books I have ever read. It was free, but I still want my money back. Proper review to come later...
June 21, 2011
stopped reading about halfway through. Got it free on amazon, that's as much as its worth.
February 20, 2019
Combine the movie Idiocracy with the insanity and horrors of World War I, and you sort of have what is in this book.
I had some issues with how the book started out and carried on, but the story behind the words kept me going. One of the problems I found was that there was so little reference to the pre-history of how things had come to the juncture that the main character found himself in. The blog entries that were in-between chapters sort of helped, but they were a weak patch against what this really needed, a basis for the environment we found ourselves thrust into.
I had some issues with how the book started out and carried on, but the story behind the words kept me going. One of the problems I found was that there was so little reference to the pre-history of how things had come to the juncture that the main character found himself in. The blog entries that were in-between chapters sort of helped, but they were a weak patch against what this really needed, a basis for the environment we found ourselves thrust into.
September 17, 2017
Thank goodness this was a free book.
While it had an interesting outline, this book is in need of a good editor: if there was a paid editor, they should refund their fee, promptly. If you like poor grammer, jerky to and froms between each scene, and bad character dialogue, this book is for you. If it remains free, I'd even say give it a pass: life is too short to waste on bad fiction.
While it had an interesting outline, this book is in need of a good editor: if there was a paid editor, they should refund their fee, promptly. If you like poor grammer, jerky to and froms between each scene, and bad character dialogue, this book is for you. If it remains free, I'd even say give it a pass: life is too short to waste on bad fiction.
May 20, 2017
What the hell? This is nonsensical and bizarre, a weird story with pseudo-seriousness sprinkled in to try to up the ante, but it doesn't work and it just seems like a shitty collage made out of various dystopian novels and game magazines.
DNF at 33%.
DNF at 33%.
August 6, 2020
This was the second time I read this book. I barely remembered the story I read about 10 years ago. I thought I had read the author had made changes in the story. It looked like I was reading for the first time. It's not a well developed book, the story is not very interesting, the characters are not very well developed, but it's an entertaining book. It made me think of several aspects of my own life and question why we do what we do.
November 22, 2011
The n00b Warriors
One of the most… Weird and surreal book that I have read recently and the ONLY thing going on my mind while reading this was: WTH is wrong with these people?!? This can’t happen can it?
You are in a war in which people are killing for what? Are you kidding me?
And the end game of this war is to There has to be more then fighting a useless war and letting people around the world get killed over an idea that no one can explain.
While reading, I have no idea what side I am on. Am I a rebel or am I a nationalist? More importantly, I question why am I fighting this war?
I know I am missing something and I have a theory: What is taking place is NOT reality and it’s a massive video game itself in which people are playing in. Like WoW only people here take it WAY more seriously. How else can you explain all the ‘officers’ in charge?
Example One
Take a game, any action team sports in the real world, or maybe a first person shooter game, whatever: Paintball, WoW, Unreal Tournament… A n00b WILL follow someone higher in rank (or someone who acts like they know what they are doing) in a game and be directed to do something dangerous and/or stupid and that higher ranked player might sometimes sit in the back and laugh while the rookies get themselves killed/eliminated from the game (sometimes, usually… Okay, I have done this many times myself…)
Example Two ->
Have you noticed for the most part that older adults are nowhere to be seen? Kind of like how on-line gaming is now? Most adults have ‘responsibilities’ and can’t be on ‘24hrs’ a day like younger folks can be… And the adults that we DO see are like the grandparents of today who some might have problems with using the Internet?
Example Three ->
It’s either that or everyone is smoking some serious stuff to make everyone here in this world delusional! I can’t explain this and I really want someone to try to explain this!
And yes, I can’t wait for book 2.
One of the most… Weird and surreal book that I have read recently and the ONLY thing going on my mind while reading this was: WTH is wrong with these people?!? This can’t happen can it?
You are in a war in which people are killing for what? Are you kidding me?
And the end game of this war is to There has to be more then fighting a useless war and letting people around the world get killed over an idea that no one can explain.
While reading, I have no idea what side I am on. Am I a rebel or am I a nationalist? More importantly, I question why am I fighting this war?
I know I am missing something and I have a theory: What is taking place is NOT reality and it’s a massive video game itself in which people are playing in. Like WoW only people here take it WAY more seriously. How else can you explain all the ‘officers’ in charge?
Example One
Take a game, any action team sports in the real world, or maybe a first person shooter game, whatever: Paintball, WoW, Unreal Tournament… A n00b WILL follow someone higher in rank (or someone who acts like they know what they are doing) in a game and be directed to do something dangerous and/or stupid and that higher ranked player might sometimes sit in the back and laugh while the rookies get themselves killed/eliminated from the game (sometimes, usually… Okay, I have done this many times myself…)
Example Two ->
Have you noticed for the most part that older adults are nowhere to be seen? Kind of like how on-line gaming is now? Most adults have ‘responsibilities’ and can’t be on ‘24hrs’ a day like younger folks can be… And the adults that we DO see are like the grandparents of today who some might have problems with using the Internet?
Example Three ->
It’s either that or everyone is smoking some serious stuff to make everyone here in this world delusional! I can’t explain this and I really want someone to try to explain this!
And yes, I can’t wait for book 2.
April 26, 2011
I picked this up as it looked intriguing and was cheap. What an excellent surprise it gave me!
I read a lot of Sci-Fi but never came across anything like this. What appears to be a far-fetched and nonsensical war across the US and the world makes more and more sense as the story progresses. The characters fill out and the progress of the unlikely hero, Dylan, becomes a dilemma of the human spirit and the knowing right from wrong as he goes from draftee through basic training and unwanted heroism. The trappings this force him to evaluate everything.
The writing style is a cross between reportage and gamer blog, quirky and very unusual, but this suits the style and politic of the story so perfectly. Its appeal is going to be mainly teens, but I’m proof that it can go further (or I’ve still not yet matured sufficiently).
Its going to be one of those books you either love or hate. For me I couldn’t put it down and I now wait for the next installment.
I read a lot of Sci-Fi but never came across anything like this. What appears to be a far-fetched and nonsensical war across the US and the world makes more and more sense as the story progresses. The characters fill out and the progress of the unlikely hero, Dylan, becomes a dilemma of the human spirit and the knowing right from wrong as he goes from draftee through basic training and unwanted heroism. The trappings this force him to evaluate everything.
The writing style is a cross between reportage and gamer blog, quirky and very unusual, but this suits the style and politic of the story so perfectly. Its appeal is going to be mainly teens, but I’m proof that it can go further (or I’ve still not yet matured sufficiently).
Its going to be one of those books you either love or hate. For me I couldn’t put it down and I now wait for the next installment.
February 9, 2011
A combination of Cory Doctorow's overall work with Card's Ender's Game. Clearly defines the folly and stupidity of war.
Despite (or deliberately because of) the blog posts of the Frosted Flakes and the Cocoa Puffs--the two warring factions--the reader never knows exactly why there's a war, nor the differences between the sides.
That's the point. There is no difference between warring sides if you look at war in the long telescope of history. Who was on the moral high ground? The Spartans or the Persians? The Thebans or the Athenians? The Romans or the Celts?
Territory, authority, governance. What's the difference between the antagonists? None.
Very well written book. I look forward to the second book of the series. What happens to the kids when they escape the professional heroes role they are assigned?
Lots of questions. Good book.
Despite (or deliberately because of) the blog posts of the Frosted Flakes and the Cocoa Puffs--the two warring factions--the reader never knows exactly why there's a war, nor the differences between the sides.
That's the point. There is no difference between warring sides if you look at war in the long telescope of history. Who was on the moral high ground? The Spartans or the Persians? The Thebans or the Athenians? The Romans or the Celts?
Territory, authority, governance. What's the difference between the antagonists? None.
Very well written book. I look forward to the second book of the series. What happens to the kids when they escape the professional heroes role they are assigned?
Lots of questions. Good book.
October 22, 2015
I thought I was in for a rough read with the glaring grammar error, but for about half the book, it seemed to be well edited. Then I guess the proof reader got tired, and there were plenty of errors for the rest of the book. As far as the story went, I actually enjoyed it. I would have given it 4 stars except for the proof reading issues and the increasing levels of crassness and profanity as the book went on. Sure - there's worse out there, but for me it took away from the book, and I felt somewhat tricked to be invested in the plot and characters before it really started showing its true colors.
February 18, 2011
This book is kind of like The Hunger Games Trilogy in the sense where the government its controlling what you do. There is a civil war in the US that ends up including almost the whole planet. It was started over blog comments and they base most of the training on video games, which is most of the kids schooling as well. It is a little hard to follow at times and takes a while for somethings to make sense, but it was a quick, enjoyable read. Right now it is available for free on Amazon for Kindle.
February 9, 2016
It was a rough read in places (needed a little more polishing, but for a first novel - which you tend to read a lot of when you read a plethora of free books on the Kindle - the storyline was there), but the second one's coming out sometime this month (theoretically, so the autor says! ;D) and I'll probably read it again in addition to purchasing the second one. With today's political climate, I find it an all too realistic possibility that the country would explode into civil war and completely destroy itself.
June 15, 2011
This book was not easy to get into. I started it a few months ago and finally decided that I should try it again. I'm glad I did. Its about a society that has been in war and will continue to be in war forever, and no one really knows why they are still fighting. Kids get drafted way young as well as any other able bodied person. Video games are played by all, war video games. Everyone is issued a PSP.
Its a pretty interesting read, and I look forward to the second book.
Its a pretty interesting read, and I look forward to the second book.
January 8, 2011
I didn't expect this book to be much. I found it on my Kindle for one dollar and congratulated myself on finding cheap books with funny titles. The book started out no better then expected, with sorta choppy prose that didn't describe enough, but then things got sorta... disturbing. I loved the ending and am looking forward to the next book.
September 14, 2011
When i picked up this book the plane inrigued me to read it, it was ok at the start but then at about page 30 I could not put the book down i was on vacation and i was reading a book! but it was an amazing book i think EVERYONE should READ THIS BOOK
January 11, 2012
How in the world could this book work? Mash-up Ender's Game with Lord of the Flies, add in pretty much any war movie you can think of, throw in some video-game geekery and you should have an unwieldy mess. Instead, this is a pretty damned good read.
April 24, 2014
Terrible book
I would rate this as 0 stars if I could. The plot is terrible, the characters are static and stereotypical, and the grammar is poor. Save your money and don't purchase this book.
I would rate this as 0 stars if I could. The plot is terrible, the characters are static and stereotypical, and the grammar is poor. Save your money and don't purchase this book.
April 26, 2011
At first it was hard to understand the reason behind the war but eventually it was revealed.
Just have to say that I loved this book and the characters were great.
Just have to say that I loved this book and the characters were great.
February 4, 2011
Reads like an alternate reality which just might come to pass. Exaggerates the control of corporate world and its impacts on lives of children. One big argument against the consumerist culture.
February 5, 2011
I didn't enjoy this book at all. The premise was shaky at best and seemed completely implausible for the future.
Also, naming things after breakfast cereals? wtf.
Also, naming things after breakfast cereals? wtf.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2011
Enjoyed the book but was left with wanting more. Worth the read but more for school age kids still into games.
February 18, 2011
Good idea but poor execution.
Want to read
March 14, 2011currently still free
June 4, 2011
Brutal and pointless, just like the war described in this book. So bleak that I couldn't make myself finish it.
March 18, 2011
The editing was awful and the writing was immature, but it was an enjoyable read. The immaturity of the writing actually seemed appropriate given that the protagonist is a kid.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews