4 out of 4 stars
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The Earth is dying. Every day, we see new threats warning us about the impending doom of our planet. Global warming, as contentious a subject as it may be, is a real danger. In Cyberside, the Earth has reached the point in the future where it is no longer habitable. However, people have come up with a way to ensure the continuation of the human race; or some form of it, anyway. As a digitised version of the Earth, the Cyberside is a place where humanity is able to transfer its combined consciousness and live on.
In this new realm, Taciturns are men and women that hunt and kill the monsters that exist in the Cyberside. James, one such man, gets tasked with slaying a Scry. These monsters murder people by absorbing their identities, memories, skills, and everything else that makes them human - until only dust remains. This particular Scry, however, has other plans. Cornering James into a conversation, they reach an agreement. The Scry, Matilda, employs James to help her find answers about who she really is. They form a tentative relationship whereby they can find the answers that she’s looking for; the answers that, unbeknownst to them, end up threatening the existence of the whole Cyberside.
I am a big fan of dystopian novels. The idea of a digital version of Earth is such a unique one, and that on its own is an endorsement. I was expecting to find a bit of RPGlit similar to Ready Player One, but instead, this book is so much more than just the premise of a digital world. The characters were intricate, the plot was multi-layered and exciting, the dialogue was effortless, and the pacing was just right. Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The main characters, James and Matilda, are polar opposites. The job description of Taciturn describes James perfectly. He is broody and introverted and keeps very much to himself. Conversely, Matilda is a bit wild. She wears her emotions on her sleeve and makes rash decisions. When embarking on a journey with two such characters, one can only expect to witness some very interesting exchanges. I couldn’t help but fall in love with both of these characters. As the book progresses, the relationship between them evolves. I love that their developing bond is not neat or conventional. There are ups and downs and plateaus – it was wonderful to read.
It is clear that the authors, Aleksey Savchenko and Bert Jennings, have backgrounds in computer programming and gaming. My only scruple about this book was that, often, I felt a bit left out of what was going on in this highly innovative digital sphere. It was a bit too advanced for me. I would suggest that the authors dumb it down slightly – which I have no doubt they probably thought that they already had! That being said, it did not take away from my enjoyment of the book. The parts I found difficult to understand slowly became clearer as the story advanced.
This book has been professionally edited. I found a small number of errors, but they were few and far between. Cyberside is deserving of a perfect 4 out of 4 stars. I would recommend this book to sci-fi fans, as well as seasoned gamers. There are a few Easter eggs roaming around the pages that I think would be well appreciated by such an audience. I read on Amazon that there is a second book in the pipeline – to which I found I was very excited. I applaud the authors for leaving no cliff-hanger and focusing on finishing the book with no stone left unturned. I look forward to seeing what happens next in the Cyberside.
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Cyberside
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