The Adventurion

by M.R. Mathias

When Fizz and Rodger, two twelve year old boys, get caught up in a DTB (Direct To Brain) virtual reality experiment they are thrust into the Advanced Technology Gaming company server where virtual worlds are created for video games, and military training units. Trying to get away, they manage to find their way out of the server into the surreal Ethernet where websites and online game worlds actually exist. A wild and thrilling adventure ensues as the boys fight (and think) their way through several virtual worlds to find an elusive "Extraction Point".

A dangerous World War II game scape, an online dragon hunt, and a gripping space battle on the Starship Parallax are but a few the thrills they find.

Along the way Rodger makes a habit of lying and smarting off which causes him to be taken captive by ethereal aliens. Fizz is forced to try and save the day in a climax that will have even the adult readers curling their toes and cheering him on.

This is a quality read for intelligent kids, and adults who want to go on a thrilling ride through the inner workings of the digital world we live in.

*A Snippet*

Fizz only counted to six before the first of the bright crimson spotted antelope came leaping out of the trees to cross the stream. The creatures resembled mountain goats, but some of them had a single spiraled horn that was about a foot long sticking out from in-between their eyes. They had dirty white fur with a big splash of bright red on their backs. It looked like someone had poured a half a bucket of paint over each of them. It wasn’t paint though. It was the randomly chosen color pattern that some computer had given the species. There were dozens of them. More than that, there were hundreds of the swiftly leaping deer. They jumped alertly with their front legs drawn in and sailed twenty to thirty feet with each leaping bound. Agile and fleet, they leapt right past, and even directly over, the boys where they stood.

The passing of the huge herd of computer formed creatures sounded like an actual stampede might sound. Dan was screaming over the din to the people in the control room, “We’re okay! Do not abort yet! I DO! NOT! ABORT!”

For some reason, Rodger was pulling franticly, yanking at Dan’s belt, and shaking his head no. Fizz would have wondered more about it, but he was frozen stiff because he had just seen something big and dark out in the forest. He suddenly knew why Rodger was going crazy trying to get Dan’s attention. The herd of red and white goat-deer weren’t just running through the forest; they were being chased, or hunted. They were running away from something.

“No I didn’t see that,” Dan yelled to the control room. “I’m looking, I—”

A powerfully large harmonic roar blasted through the forest, causing all three of them to tremble with fear. It sounded like that Dolby stereo thing that they play really loudly at the beginning of movies, only this was louder and all rough and angry. It sounded again and Fizz felt the low rumbling part of the growl vibrate through his whole chest.

“Come on boys! Whatever made that sound could be dangerous!” Dan knelt between them and pulled them both into a hug. “We’re aborting in five… four…”

“There it is!” Rodger yelled.

“Three… two…”

Fizz turned to see a big, dark green, tiger-striped bear, or maybe it was an extra-furry, over sized tiger. He wasn’t really sure if it was either. All he knew was that it was big and dark with red glowing eyes.

110 pages, Kindle Edition

About the author

M. R. Mathias is a member of the Authors Guild who cares for his wife, a Breast Cancer Warrior who has Parkinson's. After raising two boys into fine young men, they and two dogs split their time between a modest smalltown home, and an apartment built on a floating dock on Lake Ultura (aka Lake Texoma) which foots into an amazing State Park brimming with all sorts of wildlife. Like the wizards of old, he tends to the animals who share the area and inspire the creatures in his works. He likes to fish, write, play guitar, and he builds all sorts of things out of reclaimed wood. He sold over two million eBooks most of them before eBooks were cool. His work is critically acclaimed, and has earned multiple literary awards, including a coveted Locus Poll nomination.

**Featured in the March 2020, Publisher's Weekly article, "As Luck Would Have It"

"The Master of Epic Fantasy" - Kindle Nation Daily, Nov. 2017

Mathias has authored several fantasy series and compiled an admirable list of accolades along the way.

--Devious Arcana, (ongoing)

--The Wardstone Trilogy (3 Books)

-- Perpetual Fantastica Fantastica (4 Books)

--The Dragoneer Saga (6 Books)

--The Legend of Vanx Malic (10 Books)

--The Crimzon and Clover Short Story Series (8 Books)

--Master Zarvin's Adventures (3 Books)

--Dragon Racers (3 books)

If you are a Kindle Unlimited user, treat yourself to some of the best "hidden gem" fantasy ever written.

Find M. R. Mathias online: mrmathiasbooks .com

Here is what others are saying about M. R. Mathias:

"There are few writers in the genre of fantasy that can equal the creative mind of M.R. Mathias - now acknowledged as a master in this genre of dragons and dwarves, and magic, and spells, and all aspects of fantasy."-- Top 100, Hall of Fame, Vine Voice, Book Reviewer, Grady Harp

"M.R. Mathias imagines a setting that will entice readers and lead them, along with his characters, on a breathtaking adventure." -- Readers Favorite Book Awards review of M. R. Mathias's 2017 Award Winning novel "A Gossamer Lens" from The Legend of Vanx Malic series

"M.R. Mathias is a master at world building and is so good with creative descriptions that you can almost feel the wind whipping through your hair as you soar along on the back of a dragon." -- Readers Favorite Awards review of M. R. Mathias's 2015 "Gold Medal" Award Winning novel "Blood and Royalty" from The Dragoneer Saga"

"You've (Mathias) already achieved much, much more than so many people who like to think of themselves as writers." -- @Gollancz The Deputy Publishing Director of SF, Fantasy & Horror list of the Orion Publishing Group, 2013

Reviews

[Michelle, the Bookshelf Stalker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fizz and Rodger are charming, naïve, and too curious for their own good at the beginning of the story. They accidently find themselves involved in a virtual reality experiment and they have to find a way to escape out of the game.

What I really liked about the book is it was not just about action and adventure (though there is plenty of that- the “creatures” the boys face along the way makes for quite the adventure). The book also shows how two pre-teen boys need to use their wits in surviving, and how they have to mature quickly without the help of adults.

There was an unexpected twist at the end that I liked. I really did not expect it and after thinking about it, I thought it was the perfect ending to the book.

Overall, a good solid book that is perfect for the pre-teen or teen boy (and girl)!

[T.K. Toppin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised to find how engrossed I became with this story. A young adult tale about two boys who 'accidentally' enter the ether and into a video game. What a cool concept. Twists and turns and adventure at every corner - just like a virtual game. Looking forward to reading more adventures from Adventurion.

[Russell Quinton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for young people

The book was interesting. It was written in a juvenile sort of way. OI recommending for young people. 12 to 16.