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jannellburton's review
4.0
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?).
zigalayho's review
5.0
I picked this book up for free on Amazon during one of the promotion days. I'm one of those serial free book downloaders. I download many, many books and read them as I have time. Finally, I decided to give Socket Greeny a chance.
Conclusion - this is a deep, theoretical story full of rich characters, mental mind twisters, technology, aliens, relationships, drama, love, action... I could go on.
The author has created a world that mattered enough to me that as soon as I finished book one, I had to immediately purchase book 2. I bought book 3 just as quickly after finishing the second.
Be aware that the story can get complex in its ideas at times, but it is well worth delving into.
Well done, Mr. Bertauski. You are a true story teller.
Conclusion - this is a deep, theoretical story full of rich characters, mental mind twisters, technology, aliens, relationships, drama, love, action... I could go on.
The author has created a world that mattered enough to me that as soon as I finished book one, I had to immediately purchase book 2. I bought book 3 just as quickly after finishing the second.
Be aware that the story can get complex in its ideas at times, but it is well worth delving into.
Well done, Mr. Bertauski. You are a true story teller.
woolfardis's review
1.0
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.
drey72's review
3.0
Socket Greeny is a teenager whose father is dead and mother works a ton and is never home. So he hangs out with his best friends Scooter and Chute all the time; but I imagine he'd still hang out with them all the time anyway. The three like playing in virtualmode, which is kinda like the next step for today's MMORPGS (massive multi-player online role-playing games)--it's virtual, there are multiple massive worlds, and everyone has avatars. But in virtualmode, you're there, and experiencing everything your sim does (within limits, of course). One day while in virtualmode, the three are attacked and Socket does something to save them.
Next thing you know, his mom's picking him up and taking him to a super-secret facility where he's poked and prodded. Talking droids offer him everything from advice to warnings. And he finds out that his mom works for the Paladin Nation, who're pretty much the entity that saves the world from ourselves, and he has special powers that the Paladin Nation is interested in.
The next section of the book details Socket's stay with the Paladin Nation, where he learns more about his father and meets new characters--some nice, some not so. Then he returns to the real world and finds out that the virtual sims (called duplicates) are mounting a coup, and it's a race against time to shut them off before the world as he knows it disappears (along with him in it).
The storyline jumps around in the beginning: here's Socket and his friends; wait, now there's Socket in the Paladin Nation. You bounce from his friends to unknown mind-readers and fantastical creatures. The story settles somewhat in the Paladin Nation while Socket makes his discoveries, then you're jumping back into reality where he's trying to patch up his friendships (well he had been gone for a while...). Overall, though, you'll enjoy meeting Socket and exploring the world where technology and science-fiction meet a stubborn teenager who's willing to mouth off if he thinks he can get away with it.
A bit lengthy in parts, but you'll be rooting for Socket and his friends.
Next thing you know, his mom's picking him up and taking him to a super-secret facility where he's poked and prodded. Talking droids offer him everything from advice to warnings. And he finds out that his mom works for the Paladin Nation, who're pretty much the entity that saves the world from ourselves, and he has special powers that the Paladin Nation is interested in.
The next section of the book details Socket's stay with the Paladin Nation, where he learns more about his father and meets new characters--some nice, some not so. Then he returns to the real world and finds out that the virtual sims (called duplicates) are mounting a coup, and it's a race against time to shut them off before the world as he knows it disappears (along with him in it).
The storyline jumps around in the beginning: here's Socket and his friends; wait, now there's Socket in the Paladin Nation. You bounce from his friends to unknown mind-readers and fantastical creatures. The story settles somewhat in the Paladin Nation while Socket makes his discoveries, then you're jumping back into reality where he's trying to patch up his friendships (well he had been gone for a while...). Overall, though, you'll enjoy meeting Socket and exploring the world where technology and science-fiction meet a stubborn teenager who's willing to mouth off if he thinks he can get away with it.
A bit lengthy in parts, but you'll be rooting for Socket and his friends.
suzrobinson1's review
4.0
I admit I loved the easy going writing of Tony Bertauski in his Claus, Flury, and Jack Frost books so I decided that I had to get the other books he has written. Once again, he didn't disappoint. The Discovery of Socket Greeny is more of a science fiction story than the others were. Socket is a typical sixteen year old boy interested in technology, virtual games, and a girl. He lives with his widowed mother, who tends to be more than consumed by her job. Things get a little weird for Socket and his mom is forced to show him her job as a part of the Paladin Nation. It opens up an entire different world that is more than Socket could have ever imagined. He is thrust into situations that he isn't sure he wants to be a part of but that makes you think that you would like to. The beginning of the trilogy leaves just enough open that it drives you to pick up the next book.
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