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33rd out of 100 books
—
70 voters
Failstate (Failstate #1)
by
John W. Otte (Goodreads Author)
Robin Laughlin (aka. Failstate) is a contestant in a reality TV show called America’s Next Superhero. His goal? To become an official, licensed superhero. It doesn’t help matters that his powers are often out of control, that his handsome big brother is wining the hearts of the voters, or that Robin can’t even remove his mask or viewers would shriek from fright. When one o...more
Paperback, 416 pages
Published
April 1st 2012
by Marcher Lord Press
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I was really excited to read Failstate by John W. Otte because 1) it’s about superheroes, 2) it’s about a superhero tv reality show, and 3) the cover looked pretty awesome. “Being a superhero was hard enough. Being one on reality television…Why had I thought this was a good idea?” I loved the reality show concept and the idea of competing for a vigilante license and the VOC (Vigilante Oversight Committee.) Robin, aka Failstate, is a Fantastic character, and Otte really nails the male teen psyche...more
Failstate is about Rob Laughlin a wannabee super hero and his "perfect" older brother. The catch? They are both on the same reality tv show about super heros. When a friend gets murdered he is determined to find the killer and win the heart of a girl, but will his older brother ruin everything?
As a teenage girl who is sick of books with no plot line and boring characters Failstate is a breath of fresh air. I started it at 9PM and didn't put it down until 3AM. The verdict? This book is amazing. T...more
As a teenage girl who is sick of books with no plot line and boring characters Failstate is a breath of fresh air. I started it at 9PM and didn't put it down until 3AM. The verdict? This book is amazing. T...more
Rob Laughlin has powers, but he doesn't have control over them. From the first page, we discover that our world has superheroes; they are such a part of life that they are licensed. As 'Failstate' Rob volunteers to compete on a wannabee superhero reality TV show, which he seems about to get dumped from. His imminent fall apparently is being accelerated by his rival, Gauntlet, who is superpopular, effortlessly super. But Rob knows Gauntlet's secrets.
Rob has his own secrets, making it difficult to...more
Rob has his own secrets, making it difficult to...more
Where was this book 15 years ago when i needed it? It is everything Marvel Universe is missing. I grew up loving Spider man and the x-men, but i always knew that their was nothing Christlike in their behavior. They didn't care for God.
John Otte successfully accomplishes what i would never wish on my worst enemy. He builds a cast of superheroes and villians who do not seem over the top and yet maintain that bit of credibleness that they need to have in order to know accept that they are really s...more
John Otte successfully accomplishes what i would never wish on my worst enemy. He builds a cast of superheroes and villians who do not seem over the top and yet maintain that bit of credibleness that they need to have in order to know accept that they are really s...more
Review by Jill Williamson
Robin Laughlin (aka. Failstate) is a contestant in a reality TV show called America's Next Superhero. His goal? To become an official, licensed superhero. It doesn't help matters that his powers are often out of control, that his handsome big brother is wining the hearts of the voters, or that Robin can't even remove his mask or viewers would shriek from fright. When one of his competitors is murdered, Robin sets out to find the killer, hoping for justice and to prove he...more
Robin Laughlin (aka. Failstate) is a contestant in a reality TV show called America's Next Superhero. His goal? To become an official, licensed superhero. It doesn't help matters that his powers are often out of control, that his handsome big brother is wining the hearts of the voters, or that Robin can't even remove his mask or viewers would shriek from fright. When one of his competitors is murdered, Robin sets out to find the killer, hoping for justice and to prove he...more
Taking the popular reality T.V. show theme into the realm of superheros, this novel follows a charming, clumsy hero named Failstate (aka Robin). He's competing to be "America's Next Superhero", but other than his loyalty and overall nice-guy-ness, nothing sets him apart from his fellow contestants. Add to the mix that fact that he's up against his older brother, Gauntlet, and you have a reluctant hero who is sympathetic in the extreme. But when a superhero is murdered, Robin decides that this is...more
I’m starting to think of Marcher Lord Press the same way I think of Pixar Studios. I remind myself each time I pick up their newest book that sometime some book has to fall short of the high standards of its predecessors. And then I walk away stunned that somehow the new book has knocked expectations out of the park. Failstate has definitely raised the bar for future releases.
It seems best to start with the two partial complaints I had while reading the story. I say partial because they are both...more
It seems best to start with the two partial complaints I had while reading the story. I say partial because they are both...more
Robin Laughlin lives a double life. Most of the time, he's just your ordinary teenager, but every now and then, when duty calls, the mask goes on and Robin becomes Failstate, an amateur superhero. But when competing for an official government vigilante license on America's Next Superhero sets him at odds with his brother Ben (aka. Gauntlet), and one of his co-competitors is murdered, life, like his powers, seems to be spiraling out of control.
Determined to find the killer, Robin struggles to ove...more
Determined to find the killer, Robin struggles to ove...more
1 like · like · see review
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Okay, there have only been a few books that pull me in as this one did to the point of ignoring those around me. I started reading this one day and read close to 300 pages, planned to stay up all night and finish it but went to bed and read the last 100 pages the next day. Fabulous storyline, characters, adventure, and sci-fi. Enjoyed every minute. The writer is talented for creating such rounded out characters and intrecite storylines that all come together and make sense. I'm glad I heard ther...more
It had to happen… a reality show to pick the next teen superhero! One caped contestant gets voted off every week, and Rob “Failstate” Laughlin knows his days are numbered. He isn’t the superhuman, shiny, photogenic hero America expects. But the darkness he hides behind grunge clothes and a Halloween mask drives him like no other. He fights for redemption, propelled by a painful past and a desperate faith, in a way that the others may not understand. A rare Christian-centered approach to the clas...more
What do you get when you combine reality TV, superheroes, a coming of age story, and sibling rivalry in one package? You get Failstate.
Robin Laughlin has amazing mental powers that he fears played a role in the death of his father. Determined to make good, he enters a reality TV contest to become America's next superhero adopting the identity of Failstate. He struggles in the competition with his homemade constitution and superpowers that lack the excitement of scrapping physical heroes like Gau...more
Robin Laughlin has amazing mental powers that he fears played a role in the death of his father. Determined to make good, he enters a reality TV contest to become America's next superhero adopting the identity of Failstate. He struggles in the competition with his homemade constitution and superpowers that lack the excitement of scrapping physical heroes like Gau...more
Failstate had me from the get-go. The concept of this book is awesome, and its execution is stellar. This may be John Otte's debut novel, but he's proved with it that he's no amateur. You'll cheer for Robin as me makes his way through the superhero game show, and as he unravels the mystery of one of his fellow contestants' murder. I can't wait for the sequel.
Failstate was an amazing twist on a super hero story! Absolutely loved it, kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! A riveting read for everyone!
Superheros with a slight Christian twist. Robin Laughlin can't control his super powers, suffers from neglect at home, and lacks social success. Never-the-less, he constantly tries to be better and 'save the world.' I think this is a story that many teen boys would love. The Christian ideas strengthen his resolve without being preachy. I can't say that the story swept me away, but it was a solid action oriented plot.
Well, of course, I'm going to rate this five stars. :D
4 likes · like · see review
Failstate is my hero. Seriously, I would love to have his powers, but only if I could control them. John does a great job mixing teenage angst, family drama and coming-of-age awkwardness with a superhero conspiracy. And Failstate is competing in a reality show! What's not to love?
Jun 13, 2013
Hinata Kirihara
marked it as to-read
May 20, 2013
Jill
marked it as to-read
Apr 30, 2013
Zach Spivak
marked it as to-read
Apr 29, 2013
David
marked it as to-read
Apr 25, 2013
Debora Wilder
marked it as to-read
Apr 06, 2013
Beretta3901
marked it as to-read
Apr 01, 2013
Roland Mann
is currently reading it
Apr 01, 2013
Langston Jenkins
marked it as to-read
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| Favorite Character? | 1 | 3 | Sep 29, 2012 07:02pm |
