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Socket Greeny #2
The Training of Socket Greeny
A year has passed since the Paladin Nation was exposed to the public. Their mission is still to protect humanity from whatever may threaten them. Previously, it was the human duplications, but now that they've been extinguished their biggest challenge is dealing with the complications of public image.
Socket Greeny, now 17 years old, has been a Paladin cadet for the past year and is nearing the final test. But that's the least of his problems. He's trying to live two lives: one as a superhero while hanging onto his normal life. While fearlessly dealing with his masochistic trainer, he's trying to salvage his deteriorating relationship with his girlfriend back home. But Socket's greatest challenge is to find his true enemy. He discovers that fear has many faces.
Socket Greeny, now 17 years old, has been a Paladin cadet for the past year and is nearing the final test. But that's the least of his problems. He's trying to live two lives: one as a superhero while hanging onto his normal life. While fearlessly dealing with his masochistic trainer, he's trying to salvage his deteriorating relationship with his girlfriend back home. But Socket's greatest challenge is to find his true enemy. He discovers that fear has many faces.
262 pages, ebook
First published September 17, 2010
13 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Tony Bertauski
72 books764 followersGet my books FREE. Tell me where to send them at http://bertauski.com
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 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 7, 2016
Read as an audio book, part of The Socket Greeny Saga. Full review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is a logical extension & answers some things I wondered about from the first one. There was a bit too much philosophy for me, but the point of the book is figuring out just what makes humans people. I really liked the way addiction was handled, too. 4 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is a logical extension & answers some things I wondered about from the first one. There was a bit too much philosophy for me, but the point of the book is figuring out just what makes humans people. I really liked the way addiction was handled, too. 4 stars.
June 11, 2011
Article first published as Book Review: The Training of Socket Greeny by Tony Bertauski on Blogcritics.
Having been involved in the destruction of the Duplicates, those copies of the human race, out to destroy the human population, Socket Greeny is back. In The Training of Socket Greeny, Tony Bertauski has further developed his story of Socket Greeny and brought us another installment of a great science fiction tale. Socket is the protagonist and now very involved in the training program for the Paladin Nation.
The training is harrowing involving many techniques we associate more with martial arts and mind control than actual physical power. Socket struggles to understand why his trainer, Pon, continues to use Duplicates as targets. Eradicated during the first war, why are they still considered the enemy? Trying to clear his mind of such questions, he must concentrate to win this latest round, which involves a replicate of his mother.
This exercise is to get him to a level where he can destroy the Duplicate before it murders his replicated mother. Even as Socket continues his attacks, the program learns his process making it more difficult to beat. Trying to use the different techniques learned through his trainer, he hopes this time to win. His day is not complete until he beats the program. He must be ready for the Realization testing, which will determine whether he becomes a Paladin.
After succeeding at saving his replicated mother, Socket takes the time coming to him to return to his home and look up his friends Chute and Streeter. As he relaxes, he realizes that he feels different. Is the stress of training causing his entire system to break down?
When he struggles to locate his friends, he finds that Streeter is going through an addiction, one he must control himself, and that Chute has made a life of her own, one that does not involve her friendship with either Streeter or himself. Yet the connection is still there. As usual, unable to leave things alone, Socket ends up using his new skills when he and his friends are threatened.
Punishment for using his skills is swift restricting further leave until after testing. Socket Greeny is returned to base to continue his training. When Pon steps in as a sparring partner, anger sparks within Socket, which unleashes a power that creates major damage to Pon. But Socket cannot remember what he has done or how. After he heals, Pon continues as trainer but only with instruction, Socket no longer sees him. What did happen and how did Socket cause it?
Pon is hiding a secret; one the Paladin Nation must see themselves. When the discovery occurs, a new war breaks out. Can Socket help the Paladins save the human population a second time?
Socket has grown and developed new and frightening abilities while working and training with Pon. Chute and Streeter too have grown, creating a chasm in their relationships that will be difficult to redress. As Socket tries to bridge the gap, he continues to break rules initiated by the Paladin Nation, which puts him at odds with everyone involved. He is beginning to lose himself, beginning to become invisible to those he is close to, which is a result of becoming a Paladin.
Pon has become a force in Socket’s life. He is trustworthy and loyal, and yet Socket is not sure of him. He does not understand the forces behind Pon, which drive him. Pon is a strong and charismatic trainer; he brings to mind the training received by David Carradine in Kung Fu. Pon is elusive, brave and above all, full of wisdom.
The characters continue to grow and develop, and while you miss who they were, you enjoy watching the changes. They are still the same group of kids, but have developed more into separate individuals, and with Socket being the pivotal character, he keeps them safe and together.
The Paladin Nation seems a lot like boot camp with the officers and rules. It has its positives as well as negatives, and sets high expectations for its recruits.
Tony Bertauski has done an amazing job building a world full of characters that you can relate to. He has put together a race of Duplicates that can be anyone at any time. I would recommend this book for the young adult reader that enjoys action and science fiction. It is full of both, a read that is hard to put down.
This book was received as a free download from the Author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.
Having been involved in the destruction of the Duplicates, those copies of the human race, out to destroy the human population, Socket Greeny is back. In The Training of Socket Greeny, Tony Bertauski has further developed his story of Socket Greeny and brought us another installment of a great science fiction tale. Socket is the protagonist and now very involved in the training program for the Paladin Nation.
The training is harrowing involving many techniques we associate more with martial arts and mind control than actual physical power. Socket struggles to understand why his trainer, Pon, continues to use Duplicates as targets. Eradicated during the first war, why are they still considered the enemy? Trying to clear his mind of such questions, he must concentrate to win this latest round, which involves a replicate of his mother.
This exercise is to get him to a level where he can destroy the Duplicate before it murders his replicated mother. Even as Socket continues his attacks, the program learns his process making it more difficult to beat. Trying to use the different techniques learned through his trainer, he hopes this time to win. His day is not complete until he beats the program. He must be ready for the Realization testing, which will determine whether he becomes a Paladin.
After succeeding at saving his replicated mother, Socket takes the time coming to him to return to his home and look up his friends Chute and Streeter. As he relaxes, he realizes that he feels different. Is the stress of training causing his entire system to break down?
When he struggles to locate his friends, he finds that Streeter is going through an addiction, one he must control himself, and that Chute has made a life of her own, one that does not involve her friendship with either Streeter or himself. Yet the connection is still there. As usual, unable to leave things alone, Socket ends up using his new skills when he and his friends are threatened.
Punishment for using his skills is swift restricting further leave until after testing. Socket Greeny is returned to base to continue his training. When Pon steps in as a sparring partner, anger sparks within Socket, which unleashes a power that creates major damage to Pon. But Socket cannot remember what he has done or how. After he heals, Pon continues as trainer but only with instruction, Socket no longer sees him. What did happen and how did Socket cause it?
Pon is hiding a secret; one the Paladin Nation must see themselves. When the discovery occurs, a new war breaks out. Can Socket help the Paladins save the human population a second time?
Socket has grown and developed new and frightening abilities while working and training with Pon. Chute and Streeter too have grown, creating a chasm in their relationships that will be difficult to redress. As Socket tries to bridge the gap, he continues to break rules initiated by the Paladin Nation, which puts him at odds with everyone involved. He is beginning to lose himself, beginning to become invisible to those he is close to, which is a result of becoming a Paladin.
Pon has become a force in Socket’s life. He is trustworthy and loyal, and yet Socket is not sure of him. He does not understand the forces behind Pon, which drive him. Pon is a strong and charismatic trainer; he brings to mind the training received by David Carradine in Kung Fu. Pon is elusive, brave and above all, full of wisdom.
The characters continue to grow and develop, and while you miss who they were, you enjoy watching the changes. They are still the same group of kids, but have developed more into separate individuals, and with Socket being the pivotal character, he keeps them safe and together.
The Paladin Nation seems a lot like boot camp with the officers and rules. It has its positives as well as negatives, and sets high expectations for its recruits.
Tony Bertauski has done an amazing job building a world full of characters that you can relate to. He has put together a race of Duplicates that can be anyone at any time. I would recommend this book for the young adult reader that enjoys action and science fiction. It is full of both, a read that is hard to put down.
This book was received as a free download from the Author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.
January 14, 2011
For the full review, please visit my blog: http://oktopusink.blogspot.com/2011/0...
After finishing the first book in the series, there was just no way that I could forget about Socket and his friends--especially since the sequel promised to be just as exciting (if not moreso) than the first. And it was!
The Training of Socket Greeny is the second book in the Socket Series, and like the first book, wastes no time getting into the action. A year has passed since Socket first saved the world, and since then he's been extensively training so he can be admitted as an official Paladin soldier. Even though we don't get dragged through every single training exercise, we see enough to realize how much Socket's powers have grown--and boy, have they grown. As if time stopping and mind reading wasn’t enough, Socket discovers that he has an even stronger power, one that is revered throughout the Paladin Agency. It was fun to see him try and figure out how to use it, let alone figure out what it was in the first place.
However, even though Socket has made himself a respectable candidate, he’s still the same guy with the teenage-chip-on-my-shoulder spunk that I adored from the first book. I like to see characters that grow but still remain true to who they really are. Torn between maintaining his relationship with his two best friends and becoming the savior of the world, he handles the drama like any normal teenager would—with frustration, hope, and a bit of sadness when he realizes that maybe he can’t be two people at once (which was a very sad scene, by the way). I liked seeing more of his friends, even if their get togethers were strained from the pressures of life. In addition, we learn more about Streeter and Chute and they grow just as much as Socket does by the end of the book, especially after Socket demonstrates to what length he’s willing to go in order to save them (even if it’s from themselves).
However, even though I enjoyed the fast pacing of some of the scenes in this book, sometimes things were happening so fast and things were so abstract that I wasn’t able to follow what was going on. This wasn’t a huge issue because immediately after these scenes happened (and I mean, immediately), they were explained, but still, I had to go back and reread what had happened to understand who was being attacked, who had died, what sort of information was being revealed to Socket, ect. This was an especially issue towards the end when mass pandemonium erupts. Even though that scene was just made of pure unfiltered awesome, it took a little time and thought to put together what was going on.
Overall, I enjoyed The Training of Socket Greeny even more than the first book, and eagerly await the conclusion of this series in book three, The Legend of Socket Greeny. I recommend this series to anyone looking for a modern(ish) and intense sci-fi read!
After finishing the first book in the series, there was just no way that I could forget about Socket and his friends--especially since the sequel promised to be just as exciting (if not moreso) than the first. And it was!
The Training of Socket Greeny is the second book in the Socket Series, and like the first book, wastes no time getting into the action. A year has passed since Socket first saved the world, and since then he's been extensively training so he can be admitted as an official Paladin soldier. Even though we don't get dragged through every single training exercise, we see enough to realize how much Socket's powers have grown--and boy, have they grown. As if time stopping and mind reading wasn’t enough, Socket discovers that he has an even stronger power, one that is revered throughout the Paladin Agency. It was fun to see him try and figure out how to use it, let alone figure out what it was in the first place.
However, even though Socket has made himself a respectable candidate, he’s still the same guy with the teenage-chip-on-my-shoulder spunk that I adored from the first book. I like to see characters that grow but still remain true to who they really are. Torn between maintaining his relationship with his two best friends and becoming the savior of the world, he handles the drama like any normal teenager would—with frustration, hope, and a bit of sadness when he realizes that maybe he can’t be two people at once (which was a very sad scene, by the way). I liked seeing more of his friends, even if their get togethers were strained from the pressures of life. In addition, we learn more about Streeter and Chute and they grow just as much as Socket does by the end of the book, especially after Socket demonstrates to what length he’s willing to go in order to save them (even if it’s from themselves).
However, even though I enjoyed the fast pacing of some of the scenes in this book, sometimes things were happening so fast and things were so abstract that I wasn’t able to follow what was going on. This wasn’t a huge issue because immediately after these scenes happened (and I mean, immediately), they were explained, but still, I had to go back and reread what had happened to understand who was being attacked, who had died, what sort of information was being revealed to Socket, ect. This was an especially issue towards the end when mass pandemonium erupts. Even though that scene was just made of pure unfiltered awesome, it took a little time and thought to put together what was going on.
Overall, I enjoyed The Training of Socket Greeny even more than the first book, and eagerly await the conclusion of this series in book three, The Legend of Socket Greeny. I recommend this series to anyone looking for a modern(ish) and intense sci-fi read!
March 16, 2012
The story of Socket Greeny continues. In The Training of Socket Greeny, Socket works on developing his powers as a Paladin, while maintaining some sense of self. As his old life begins to slip away, however, he finds himself struggling to meet the needs of his loved ones and the demands of a race that sees human attachments as little more than hindrances. As he fights to preserve all that he holds dear, he uncovers a sinister plot that could very well end the world as we know it. Quite the plateful for the average seventeen-year-old. Fortunately, Socket Greeny soon shows that he is anything but average.
In the second installment of the Socket series, readers are promptly dropped back into the world of Paladins and servys and grimmets. For those who remember the original novel, the sequel makes it easy to fall back into the story without all of those pesky reminders that plague many a book from a series. For the uninitiated, however, the lack of explanation will likely prove frustrating; I highly recommend reading The Discovery of Socket Greeny first. It makes for a much more cohesive tale.
For the first two-thirds of the novel, my assessment was that this book is better than Discovery, in terms of connection to the protagonist and the accessibility of his internal and external conflicts. Bertauski showed that he has grown as a storyteller and improved upon his ability to make the reader care. With that said, the last third of the novel was something like a confused blur, or a stream-of-consciousness relaying of a psychedelic experience: limited in comprehensibility and kind of trippy. It brushed upon the metaphysical, but for a young adult novel, the questions of presence and understanding may be a bit much; it was certainly heavier than I'd anticipated. Incidentally, much of it reminds me of Buddhist concepts of worldview, but I digress.
Mind-bending descriptions aside, the novel is easy to read, as the language is accessible and quite adept at sticking to the story. While there is some profanity, I have little doubt that it is verbiage to which the average teenager has already been exposed. My only real gripe is that last few chapters of the novel felt sloppy compared to the rest, with confusion of words such as eminent/imminent and allude/elude, as well as the loss of some grammatical correctness and consistency in tense. Many may not care; unfortunately, I found that it detracted from what was shaping up to be an enjoyable experience.
When it comes down to it, The Training of Socket Greeny is about the maturation and development of a teenage world savior, rather than a basic rundown of the boy's schedule and a trite recitation of how it tired it made him feel. It is this aspect that allows young adult readers to connect with the work and invest in its characters. The superpowers and the heroism simply are, to make use of a terribly hackneyed cliche, icing on the cake.
Hide and Read
(Review copy provided by the author)
In the second installment of the Socket series, readers are promptly dropped back into the world of Paladins and servys and grimmets. For those who remember the original novel, the sequel makes it easy to fall back into the story without all of those pesky reminders that plague many a book from a series. For the uninitiated, however, the lack of explanation will likely prove frustrating; I highly recommend reading The Discovery of Socket Greeny first. It makes for a much more cohesive tale.
For the first two-thirds of the novel, my assessment was that this book is better than Discovery, in terms of connection to the protagonist and the accessibility of his internal and external conflicts. Bertauski showed that he has grown as a storyteller and improved upon his ability to make the reader care. With that said, the last third of the novel was something like a confused blur, or a stream-of-consciousness relaying of a psychedelic experience: limited in comprehensibility and kind of trippy. It brushed upon the metaphysical, but for a young adult novel, the questions of presence and understanding may be a bit much; it was certainly heavier than I'd anticipated. Incidentally, much of it reminds me of Buddhist concepts of worldview, but I digress.
Mind-bending descriptions aside, the novel is easy to read, as the language is accessible and quite adept at sticking to the story. While there is some profanity, I have little doubt that it is verbiage to which the average teenager has already been exposed. My only real gripe is that last few chapters of the novel felt sloppy compared to the rest, with confusion of words such as eminent/imminent and allude/elude, as well as the loss of some grammatical correctness and consistency in tense. Many may not care; unfortunately, I found that it detracted from what was shaping up to be an enjoyable experience.
When it comes down to it, The Training of Socket Greeny is about the maturation and development of a teenage world savior, rather than a basic rundown of the boy's schedule and a trite recitation of how it tired it made him feel. It is this aspect that allows young adult readers to connect with the work and invest in its characters. The superpowers and the heroism simply are, to make use of a terribly hackneyed cliche, icing on the cake.
Hide and Read
(Review copy provided by the author)
January 8, 2012
In the first book, The Discovery of Socket Greeny, Bertauski takes us through Socket’s discovery that he has special abilities and dealing with his new found knowledge of the Paladin nation that both his mother, and deceased father were a part of.
In Training, the book picks up pretty much right where the first leaves off. No rambling catch up, just straight into the action of Socket’s training.
In this second book Bertauski gives us a deeper look into Socket’s emotions when dealing with his training, leaving his friends, and the absence of his father. His emotional turmoil doesn’t seem disingenuine and isn’t there “just because he is a troubled angsty 17 year old”. Bertauski does a great job of showing Socket trying to balance his hectic training schedule and having a real life which is trainer, Pon, is highly against. Streeter faces addiction troubles while Socket wonders what is still brewing between he and Chute…while he isn’t being sleep deprived for days at a time at Pon’s request for endless training.
The problems in Training are also bigger than they were in Discovery. While the duplicates have seemingly been held off, they have already set a bigger plan into motion that only Socket can realize. I don’t want to give away too much plot wise because it was an enjoyable ride. Socket really grows more in this book making him an much more believable and enjoyable character to take this ride with.
Some of my favorite things in this book were Socket actually trying to deal with things in his life, not just being cranky, stomping around, and not dealing with it. Socket is strong and powerful without being All powerful. Despite his abilities his still distractible at times and gets his butt handed to him, which he chooses to graciously accept as his error and works to rectify (even if he isn’t happy about it). Also, the grimmets. I love the grimmets so much and was glad that they were very much in this book as well because they make me squeal with joy like a little girl.
I will definitely be looking forward to the third installment in this series!
In Training, the book picks up pretty much right where the first leaves off. No rambling catch up, just straight into the action of Socket’s training.
In this second book Bertauski gives us a deeper look into Socket’s emotions when dealing with his training, leaving his friends, and the absence of his father. His emotional turmoil doesn’t seem disingenuine and isn’t there “just because he is a troubled angsty 17 year old”. Bertauski does a great job of showing Socket trying to balance his hectic training schedule and having a real life which is trainer, Pon, is highly against. Streeter faces addiction troubles while Socket wonders what is still brewing between he and Chute…while he isn’t being sleep deprived for days at a time at Pon’s request for endless training.
The problems in Training are also bigger than they were in Discovery. While the duplicates have seemingly been held off, they have already set a bigger plan into motion that only Socket can realize. I don’t want to give away too much plot wise because it was an enjoyable ride. Socket really grows more in this book making him an much more believable and enjoyable character to take this ride with.
Some of my favorite things in this book were Socket actually trying to deal with things in his life, not just being cranky, stomping around, and not dealing with it. Socket is strong and powerful without being All powerful. Despite his abilities his still distractible at times and gets his butt handed to him, which he chooses to graciously accept as his error and works to rectify (even if he isn’t happy about it). Also, the grimmets. I love the grimmets so much and was glad that they were very much in this book as well because they make me squeal with joy like a little girl.
I will definitely be looking forward to the third installment in this series!
March 30, 2011
The book starts about where the first one left off. Greeny has now been in full training for the past year, discovering his powers.
With his trainer, he tries to gain control over all his powers so he can become one of the strongest Paladin.
The Paladins all think he is very special and put their hopes in him.
It's been a year now that the public knows about the Paladin nation and their main goal is to protect the humans. Before it was from the duplicates, but now something worse is working itself along the top of the Paladin nation, but no one has a clue yet except Greeny who has another gift which he doesn't yet control. He sees into the future. Greeny is now 17 years old. He has to pass the final test that will make him a true Paladin.
Greeny rarely gets the chance to go back home and see his friends, Streeter doesn't go to school anymore because he's hooked on his skin mode permanently, until Greeny succeeds in helping him out but not without some problems. Everytime he goes out to see his girlfriend back home, something bad happens.
But Greeny tries to hold on to his old life while trying to become a Paladin which his trainer says is impossible and he has to be forgotten by everyone. But Greeny doesn't see it that way.
Through his endless trainings with a tough trainer, Greeny must find his true enemy and he will learn that it can have many faces.
Will he succeed the final test?
I really loved this read, though there are some technical wording, it won,t keep you from understanding the story. The weird thing is at first when I started to read the first book, I didn't know if I would be enticed by this type of book, but I surprisingly was, goes to show you that even at 47 years old, you
should never be put off by any type of reading. Can't wait to read the final book in this trilogy.
I give this book a 4.5 stars.
With his trainer, he tries to gain control over all his powers so he can become one of the strongest Paladin.
The Paladins all think he is very special and put their hopes in him.
It's been a year now that the public knows about the Paladin nation and their main goal is to protect the humans. Before it was from the duplicates, but now something worse is working itself along the top of the Paladin nation, but no one has a clue yet except Greeny who has another gift which he doesn't yet control. He sees into the future. Greeny is now 17 years old. He has to pass the final test that will make him a true Paladin.
Greeny rarely gets the chance to go back home and see his friends, Streeter doesn't go to school anymore because he's hooked on his skin mode permanently, until Greeny succeeds in helping him out but not without some problems. Everytime he goes out to see his girlfriend back home, something bad happens.
But Greeny tries to hold on to his old life while trying to become a Paladin which his trainer says is impossible and he has to be forgotten by everyone. But Greeny doesn't see it that way.
Through his endless trainings with a tough trainer, Greeny must find his true enemy and he will learn that it can have many faces.
Will he succeed the final test?
I really loved this read, though there are some technical wording, it won,t keep you from understanding the story. The weird thing is at first when I started to read the first book, I didn't know if I would be enticed by this type of book, but I surprisingly was, goes to show you that even at 47 years old, you
should never be put off by any type of reading. Can't wait to read the final book in this trilogy.
I give this book a 4.5 stars.
June 15, 2011
Socket Greeny, the most powerful cadet in the Paladin Nation, is set to take his final test. The pressure is on for Socket, trying to live two lives, one in the Paladin Nation and one in the regular world where his Girlfriend and friends exist.
Socket's final test may become his final day in the Paladin Nation and Earth.
Lets Talk About It:
Book 2 - The Training of Socket Greeny
I was really happy to get back into the Paladin Nation and to read more about Socket. I felt really bad for Socket in this book. He had so much on his shoulders. The weight of the final test, the pressure from his trainer, the stress of his girlfriend and of Streeter.
I was proud of him too. He came through it all and ended up being the one, yet again, to save the Paladins from total destruction. I was pretty shocked by the final test and what happens (won't spoil it for you). I'll just say I totally didn't see it coming.
You won't be disappointed if you pick this one up, in fact make sure you pick up all 3!
Melissa
Reviewer for 1000 + Books to Read
Socket's final test may become his final day in the Paladin Nation and Earth.
Lets Talk About It:
Book 2 - The Training of Socket Greeny
I was really happy to get back into the Paladin Nation and to read more about Socket. I felt really bad for Socket in this book. He had so much on his shoulders. The weight of the final test, the pressure from his trainer, the stress of his girlfriend and of Streeter.
I was proud of him too. He came through it all and ended up being the one, yet again, to save the Paladins from total destruction. I was pretty shocked by the final test and what happens (won't spoil it for you). I'll just say I totally didn't see it coming.
You won't be disappointed if you pick this one up, in fact make sure you pick up all 3!
Melissa
Reviewer for 1000 + Books to Read
March 23, 2013
Another sold story based on the emerging capabilities of Socket Greeny. In this book Socket is 17, he is already a hero, and he's being trained to fully realize his abilities as a Paladin. Naturally, Socket has his Mr. Miyagi named Pon whose sole purpose is to push him, most time painfully,into developing his powers while guiding him on how to control his abilities. Another enjoyable book that compelled me to purchase and finish the authors third Socket Greeny novel The Legend of Socket Greeny>. These books are a lot of fun.
February 5, 2021
This book has everything I enjoy from Science Fiction to action scenes but the most important part is the story. Any book by Tony Bertauski has heart and a truly engaging story at its core. This book is no exception and follows on from book one in the series, The Discovery Of Socket Greeny, with the same class and intent. It's brilliantly written with each and every character brilliantly brought to life. Socket is now a hero of the Paladin nation after the events of book one but he's a cadet. His training is hard and it is relentless. I won't say more as I don't want to ruin it for future readers. If you've read the book one, and you really need to if you're to get the best from this one, then you'll know what to expect. Your expectations will be met and surpassed as Tony Bertauski takes our hero on another complex journey that may change everything. Highly recommended second instalment in an engrossing series.
September 18, 2019
Oh wow, that was rather exciting. I usually read for about an hour or so at bedtime but last night i picked up this story at 21% in and couldn't put it down until i'd totally devoured the lot.
The first third of the book mostly deals with Socket's training and how bad he's getting it from his trainer, his mother's interference, his own issues with it, etc.. Then, while supposed to be taking a break at home it all begins to unravel for Socket as he moves closer to his final test, and then, big badda kaboom!!! The last third of this book is relentless, and, for me at least, totally unputdownable.
Tony is a fantastic writer with a great imagination and the writing ability to convey it.
So, with that said, i'm off to dive straight into 'The Legend of Socket Greeny'.
The first third of the book mostly deals with Socket's training and how bad he's getting it from his trainer, his mother's interference, his own issues with it, etc.. Then, while supposed to be taking a break at home it all begins to unravel for Socket as he moves closer to his final test, and then, big badda kaboom!!! The last third of this book is relentless, and, for me at least, totally unputdownable.
Tony is a fantastic writer with a great imagination and the writing ability to convey it.
So, with that said, i'm off to dive straight into 'The Legend of Socket Greeny'.
March 23, 2022
The amazing journey continues!
The author's ability to describe this world is brilliant! With all the insanity going on in our world this is a series that can take you away to a place that, while it's filled with hardships, battles and such, makes the reader feel safe in their private world of fantasy and escape. Reward yourself for hanging in there! You've got to read this set of books! They're fantastic!
The author's ability to describe this world is brilliant! With all the insanity going on in our world this is a series that can take you away to a place that, while it's filled with hardships, battles and such, makes the reader feel safe in their private world of fantasy and escape. Reward yourself for hanging in there! You've got to read this set of books! They're fantastic!
June 13, 2017
I usually like training stories, but I just gave up on this after awhile.
February 28, 2018
3,5. A good read, but to much introspection for my taste.
May 30, 2017
The second book in the Greeny saga is even better than the first.
The training of a Paladin is tough work. Missing friends, missing life as he knew it. But Socket's destiny can't be avoided, and he's got to be ready for the task.
Along the way the reader is taken on a wild adventure, filled with struggles.
The struggle between technology and humanity
The struggle between who we are and who we are supposed to be
The struggle between good and evil
This is an exciting fast paced read. Bertauski has created a fun and interesting world infused with technological wonders and wonderful creatures.
This series is as good as if not better than many mainstream publisher's young adult fiction. It's definitely worth a look. If you like books like The Maze Runner, or other types of YA sci fi and fantasy this is the series for you.
The training of a Paladin is tough work. Missing friends, missing life as he knew it. But Socket's destiny can't be avoided, and he's got to be ready for the task.
Along the way the reader is taken on a wild adventure, filled with struggles.
The struggle between technology and humanity
The struggle between who we are and who we are supposed to be
The struggle between good and evil
This is an exciting fast paced read. Bertauski has created a fun and interesting world infused with technological wonders and wonderful creatures.
This series is as good as if not better than many mainstream publisher's young adult fiction. It's definitely worth a look. If you like books like The Maze Runner, or other types of YA sci fi and fantasy this is the series for you.
November 3, 2016
This series seems to be getting better and better. One of the main reasons I bought this series is because of the strange series name 'socket greeny' but it proves to be an entertaining read. I find the idea of the timeslicing quite cool; speeding up the body's metabolism to warp speed. I was slightly disappointed with the first books when they defeated the duplicates. From the sound of it, the duplicates have been around for a long time, and they seemed to be getting stronger and stronger, then in around a day, the Paladins defeat them. Suddenly they're gone. The second book was better because it continued with duplicates, and made them a more powerful enemy, which is something books like this needs.
I don't know if I missed anything, but if the grimmets could defeat the duplicates so easily, why didn't they defeat them in the first place if they're physic titans? They defeated the duplicates so easily.
I don't know if I missed anything, but if the grimmets could defeat the duplicates so easily, why didn't they defeat them in the first place if they're physic titans? They defeated the duplicates so easily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2015
The Training of Socket Greeny picks up right where the first book left off. There wasn't the mindless chapters getting you caught up to where the new story begins, which was fantastic. Socket has discovered the Paladin Nation and is beginning to feel its importance and his position within it. It's not easy for him to try to find the balance of what he should do and what he wants to do. The writing of Mr. Bertauski allows you to feel Socket's angst without it feeling like one of those "Whoa is Me the Poor Teenager" stories. I look forward to continuing the saga with his next installment about Socket, as well as the other books written by this author.
August 3, 2013
I had pretty much impossibly high hopes for this book after reading the first one. I still really enjoyed this installment of Socket's adventure, just not as much as the first. It brushed up against the line of "teenage angst" for me. I want to make it clear that it never crossed into that world fully, but it skirted the edge.
Similar to the first one though, this story was crisp and very well paced. It added richness to the story of Socket and he was forced to mature quite a bit in this one.
Similar to the first one though, this story was crisp and very well paced. It added richness to the story of Socket and he was forced to mature quite a bit in this one.
October 31, 2013
Socket Greeny is such an interesting character. He doesn't even know what he can do until he does it sometimes. We get to go along on his journey of discovery, watch his training, feel his conflicts while he tries to hang onto his old life during this upheaval. Can't wait for the next installment!
August 18, 2014
My main criticism of the first in this series, that the protagonist was in the dark about everything for most of the story, evaporated in the second book. Now he knows more than anyone else! Decent read but too much introspection going on. Lots of existentialism in this one. Perhaps the third one pulls it all together.
May 29, 2016
very slow.
the author worked really really hard to get all kinds of psychic and otherworldly enlightenment into the story - at times it was hard to follow and after a while - I didnt really care any more -
totally lost... just kinda waited until he got over it - and the story started up again...
going on to book 3... hope its better than book 2
the author worked really really hard to get all kinds of psychic and otherworldly enlightenment into the story - at times it was hard to follow and after a while - I didnt really care any more -
totally lost... just kinda waited until he got over it - and the story started up again...
going on to book 3... hope its better than book 2
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February 17, 2016BERTAUSKI STARTER LIBRARY is FREE!
Get 3 full-length novels and 1 novella…Just tell me where to send them.
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Get 3 full-length novels and 1 novella…Just tell me where to send them.
http://bertauski.com/
February 11, 2014
This one got a little too existential for my taste, but it was still a fun read.
April 3, 2014
I really loved the story of Socket. I could feel his struggle and I could understand why he was doing what he did or how he felt.
November 16, 2016
The plot was good but the ending felt like it dragged on.
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